What flare nut wrench to choose?

[vicelord]

Hello i am from Romania. I need a flare nut wrench and serched what is available new in my country.
I found only 4 brand's that i could chouse.
Mob IUS Coo: Romania ~ 11$
WGB Coo: Germany ~ 15$
Jonnesway Coo: Taiwan ~ 6$
King Tony Coo: Taiwan ~ 10$
What do you think will be the best to get? I only work casualy on brakes but want to have specialised tool (i rounded 2-3 nuts to the day and had to change the whole brake line).
Also what will be the best combination to get i basicaly need only 10 but i saw i can get 8-10 , 10-11 or 10-12.

Regards

 

[jmm]

I've never used WGB flare nut wrenches, but I have some of their DOEs and off-set box-end wrenches that are quite nice, very tough too. Never heard of the other brands, but if I were you I'd go with the Mob IUS wrenches just out of curiosity (being Romanian and all). Not to slight the Taiwanese models...the price is right, and if they seem to be of good quality it'd be hard to turn them down. Good luck.

 

[bonneyman]

Do you have access to ebay? Find the old Bonney (Loc-Rite) flare wrenches. Although, they were only made in SAE, not metric.
Proto makes a similar set (I think they're called Torque-Plus?)in metric. Maybe someone stateside could buy them and ship to you. Not cheap, but maybe an option.
Here's pics of my Bonneys.

 

[TheGrooveking]

I have Craftsman, S-K, Proto, Bonney and Snap On and will report if you can do eBay you will not go wrong with Bonney or Snap On.

TheGrooveking

 

[mobiledynamics]

For metric, how does the SK compare to Proto in this ?
SK seems polished and the Proto looks RP

 

[jconley6]

Just bought a set of SK metric flare nut wrenches. They are fully polished and look good. They worked well for the power steering lines on my Accord.

 

[Lotek]

Most likely an 8/10 and a 12/13 would be a useful set, it depends on what you are working on. Look around and check fuel line fittings etc. for sizes that you may need. Another option is an open/line wrench combination for each size, once you have cracked the fitting loose, the open end is faster.

 

[vicelord]

Hello yes i can do ebay but p&p kills me.
I worked today on a skoda brake cilinder and i needed 11 my personal car needs 10 so for now i will get a 10-11 from Jonnesway.

regards

 

[TheGrooveking]

For metric, how does the SK compare to Proto in this ?
SK seems polished and the Proto looks RP

The Protos I have I don't like because the opening on the flare nut end are broached so that two of the six corners are right at the opening of the wrench. I prefer flare nut wrenches where all six corners of the fastener are engaged with the wrench.

TheGrooveking

 

[theknurl]

Hello i am from Romania. I need a flare nut wrench and searched what is available new in my country.
I found only 4 brand's that i could chose.
Mob IUS Coo: Romania ~ 11$
WGB Coo: Germany ~ 15$
Jonnesway Coo: Taiwan ~ 6$
King Tony Coo: Taiwan ~ 10$
What do you think will be the best to get? I only work casualy on brakes but want to have specialized tool (i rounded 2-3 nuts to the day and had to change the whole brake line).
Also what will be the best combination to get i basically need only 10 but i saw i can get 8-10 , 10-11 or 10-12.

Regards

vicelord;
here is a SnapOn one on US Ebay;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-On-Too...H_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ac1d5f971&vxp=mtr

if the seller does not want to ship overseas to Romania, PM me i transship for 3 motorcycle forums

MVAgusta.net
MVAgustaUK.net
ApriliaForum.com

 

[shoturtle]

The wbg are good wrenches. I have their large combo wrenches. And they are pretty tough and are very well made.

I would not bother getting anything from the states. With shipping and everything it will be more expensive then the wbg. If you are working on motorcycles 8-10 is usesful cars 10-11 or 10-12 is more useful.

 

[billymade]

As noted above; I have found the snapon line wrenches to be superior to others I have used. As you have experienced; cheap line wrenches can end up costing you allot in down time and the need for new parts, lines. Seeing how the snapon on ebay can be reasonable; if you can afford the price and wait for them, I would say get snapon. I would think that in Europe; German brands, like Stahwille, Hazet, Gedore, etc. would make high quality wrenches as well. Good luck and let us know what you do!

 

[Carla]

Tube fitting or 'line' wrenches are one of the situations in which its foolish.......in my personal opinion......to have anything less than the best one can get.

One really must have at least two sets, one in the 6-point 'Snap-On' pattern, and one in the 12-point 'Plomb/Proto' style. The 6-point style is necessary for breaking tight fittings loose with minimal damage, but there will be locations where the 12-point type is necessary for handle swing clearance.

'Crowfoot' line wrenches are a necessity for some fitting locations, and a nice time-saving convenience for many others......that is the class of tool which can be 'cheap at the price' if your working time is worth anything......... : )

cheers

Carla

 

[sberry]

You can buy a ton of this and just as easy never use it too. I agree that decent line wrench set in the popular sizes in most cases are tools worth owning for decent equipped garage and there is legitimate dispute about a quality engineered tool.

This seems to be a tool problem down on the list following cman ratchet, I am pretty straight forward but a set of these in Crows foot could be lifesavers. I have mostly Proto 6 pts but the Cman style have poorly engineered bosses,buttress, it simply gives. Seems my bud had SK and they were good, I have actually been in that 6 vs 12 pt jamb up, PS line here or there maybe but its pretty rare, rare enough I don't have every tool they ever invented.

I find it just as easy to work around the occasional problem, make something up quick from old tools etc. Bend a wrench. Get it started with vise grip.

 

[shoturtle]

Did anyone read that the OP is not in the US, and that paypal is expensive. Also does anyone realized how much it would add to the price when shipping across the pond. Add all that up, while the US brands are nice. It makes little sense to order something form the US to the EU. On top of that, the OP will have a hell of a time trying to warranty it in Romania.

If you want to suggest something that is shipped, at least keep it within the EU. Where the shipping is not as expensive.

 

[dirtydogintex]

Did anyone read that the OP is not in the US, and that paypal is expensive. Also does anyone realized how much it would add to the price when shipping across the pond. Add all that up, while the US brands are nice. It makes little sense to order something form the US to the EU. On top of that, the OP will have a hell of a time trying to warranty it in Romania.

If you want to suggest something that is shipped, at least keep it within the EU. Where the shipping is not as expensive.

+1
sorta like all the European stuff some promote here on the mainland? *L*

Curiosity is getting me - what sort of availability/reputation does Bahco have in Romania?

 

[shoturtle]

At least one can get allot of the European stuff and warranty them in the US. But snap on, proto and armstrong and others are not going to be easy to get or warranty in Romania. And it is not worth the wait time to get the wrench from the US, at least a week.

 

[theknurl]

vicelord;
a SnapOn;
RXFMS911B+RXFMS1012B
weigh with packing < 5 oz, shipping will be $12.75, 3-5days to Romania

i transship things for 3 motorcycle forums, i do not charge except for actual costs

shoturtle;
i have 5 SnapOn tool boxes amongst others, full of tools
so far i have warrantied a SnapOn 3/8" torque wrench
and some Allen wrench tips......since '59
my GrandFathers 5/8" drive SnapOn 1895 wrenches still work just fine
the last wrench that will need to be warranted will be a flare nut wrench, they are designed to protect hollow nuts

 

[dirtydogintex]

Boy howdy that's less than what some on ebay want to ship similar items across the USA to Houston!! *L*
Not bad as shipping goes....

 

[shoturtle]

Yes, I have not had any issues with any of my tools from the Europe as well. But the simple point is if the OP needs it, it will be available for the OP when getting something supported locally.

Your first point. About 13 dollars just for shipping, then the cost of the tool it self. So the OP is going to pay at least 25 dollars total and that is being a used SO wrench, forget about it if it were new. Getting a 15 euro wrench locally is still cheaper.

 

[theknurl]

Boy howdy that's less than what some on ebay want to ship similar items across the USA to Houston!! *L*
Not bad as shipping goes....

that number was almost half of that previous to Jan 27th of this year

here's the USPS rate calculator;
http://ircalc.usps.com/Default.aspx?country=10143

3-5 days to most of the World (most of the time)

 

[dirtydogintex]

Yes, I have not hand any issues with any of my tools from the Europe as well. But the simple point is if the OP needs it, it will be available for the OP when getting something supported locally.

You first point. About 13 dollars just for shipping, then the cost of the tool it self. So the OP is going to pay at least 25 dollars total and that is being a used SO wrench, forget about it if it were new. Getting a 15 euro wrench locally is still cheaper.

I agree.... that's why I was asking about Bahco.

New or used ebay tools are rarely the most cost effective way to fly....

 

[shoturtle]

Base on the OP's location. It is best to stay with something that can be picked up locally or shipped within the EU. And there are a bunch of good EU options, WBG, Bahco, Famco, Hazet, Gedore, Hayco and a couple other EU brands are available.