SO: Flare Nut Wrench? or Flare Nut Crowfoot set?

[Marc Benjamin]

So I have say up to $300 Snap-On credit and Flare Nut wrenches are on my list. While I don't need them right now and most likely maybe once a year really, I'm in the process of filling my boxes so I might as well get the flank drives since I have a credit.



I've had my eye on: Set, Wrench, Metric, Flare Nut Double End, 6-Point (6 pcs.) (9 to 21 mm)

Then I remembered I also had Crowfoot's (Crowfeet?) on my list as well when I saw: Set, Wrench, Metric, Crowfoot Flare Nut, 6-Point (10 pcs.) (10 to 19 mm)

So I'm thinking of trying to kill two birds with one stone and just get the flare nut Crowfoot's instead of the actual wrenches. Both are Flank Drive's anyway plus the crowfoot's are about $60 cheaper.

What do you guys think? Anyone got both and think that an occasional home user can get away with just the crowfoots.


PS. I already have an assortment of SO Dual 80's across the drive sizes, sockets and flank drive combination wrenches.

 

[bob15]

Go with the wrenches and skip the crowfoot set. I have 6 and 12 point in both wrench and crowfoot sets. I use the wrenches night and day more than the crowfeet. To me and what I work on, I find the crowfeet can be ackward to use in places....not saying they don't have a place, but I find the wrenches typically easier to use in 99% of the places I need a tubing wrench.

I would also look at getting a set of 12 point tubing wrenches as well. I'm not sure if Snappy makes them anymore, but Bonney's come up on e-bay all the time and are an excellent wrench.

 

[Dave455]

Definitely go with the wrenches!

The crowfoot are a specialised tool, and while you really need them sometimes, you need the wrenches a lot more!

I don't own a whole set of Snap On, but wish I did. Buy 'em once and they really will last a lifetime!

 

[mailpup]

It depends somewhat on what you will be working on but for general use regular flare nut wrenches would probably be best. I use my flare nut crowfoot wrenches mostly on rack and pinion steering gear R & R because of the lack of swing room in that area. Occasionally I need them for fuel filter removal (some Hondas and Toyotas). Mine happen to be Snap-on. I'm just a home shadetree mechanic myself but I also have a set of Snap-on flare nut sockets that come in very handy from time to time.

I would also look at getting a set of 12 point tubing wrenches as well. I'm not sure if Snappy makes them anymore, but Bonney's come up on e-bay all the time and are an excellent wrench.

Proto makes 12 point flare nut wrenches. I have a metric set. Because I like options I also have a set of John Deere 12 point metric flare nut crowfoot wrenches.

 

[blown94conv]

I'd get the wrenches over crowsfeet. They are just easier to use, at least for me.

 

[bcradio]

They are different tools and have different purposes... one will not substitute the other unfortunately. If you work on cars a good deal, then you will want both eventually. However, you will likely use the wrenches 100 to 1 over the crowsfoot.

 

[Wakefield]

They are different tools and have different purposes... one will not substitute the other unfortunately. If you work on cars a good deal, then you will want both eventually. However, you will likely use the wrenches 100 to 1 over the crowsfoot.

Do the double ended wrenches have a higher max. torque capacity than the crow's foots?
(I believe that is said to be the case when comparing regular open end crow's foots with standard open end or combination wrench open ends)
The wrench that has an extra thick open end on one end and a flare nut end on the opposite end? (Nice!) (And extra $ ?)

 

[RECox286]

I have both also, and use the wrenches a lot, the crowsfoot when

and where the wrenches won't work. Start with the wrenches.

Uncle Bob

 

[wornoutoldman]

I will go against the consensus here and say crowsfoot. You can attach a breaker bar to those and do anything you could do with a wrench. That said, you can get in more spots with a crowsfoot via, extension, wobble extension and so on.

FWIW I have both.

 

[lugnut71]

I agree, buy the crowfeet, only line wrenches I own are the smaller sizes like 1/2" and below. Keep in mind all you got to do is break the fitting loose with it.

 

[Murphy4570]

Get both. The wrenches you'll use a lot more, but the crowsfeet will save you *** on impossible to reach stuff, like steering rack hydraulic line nuts for example.

 

[Verg]

As some have said here Both. Wrenches are great for most stuff, but when you need a crows foot you NEED a crows foot. i do not like the double sided flare nut wrenches, but love the Open end flare nut end wrenches. The first time i had to use one i was 100% sold.

 

[fsae0607]

What Murphy4570 said...

Crowsfoot saved my *** when I re-sealed the rack on my MIL's Rav4.

 

[DRhodes]

I would get the wrenches now, and the crowsfeet when you need them.

 

[OctoMan]

The wrenches would be much more useful. By design the crowfeet are hard to use if you put a breaker bar on them. Crowfeet are used quite a bit in aviation but not much else. Get the wrench set they're very beefy and are a great tool.

 

[Marc Benjamin]

So the majority consensus is that the flare nut wrenches take priority then. Thanks for the insight gang.

I know that a Flare Nut Crowfoot + breaker bar (or ratchet) doesn't really equal an actual Flare wrench, I just wonder how much of a practical difference is there really?

I mean, does the crowfoot jiggle and/or pop off a lot or something? I'd test it myself but I don't have access to either.

Since some asked, the family cars that I do basic (so this buy is really more of a want not really a need) work on are mostly Honda's/Acura's and Toyota's.

 

[mailpup]

Even though I recommended regular flare nut wrenches as a first priority, you could get by with flare nut crowfoot wrenches. I don't think crowsfeet will feel jiggly although they might not be as solid as regular flare nut wrenches. Flare nut crowfoot wrenches will often come in handy if you have to replace your power steering hoses (the fittings at the rack end) or rack and pinion steering gear itself. When changing the fuel filter on some older Accords, the ones with the filter buried near the firewall way down below the brake master cylinder, a crowfoot will be handy because of the lack of swing room.

I'm not so sure it is an either/or situation. You'll want to use the right tool for the job so you might need both depending on the job.

 

[rlitman]

I know that a Flare Nut Crowfoot + breaker bar (or ratchet) doesn't really equal an actual Flare wrench, I just wonder how much of a practical difference is there really?

I mean, does the crowfoot jiggle and/or pop off a lot or something? I'd test it myself but I don't have access to either.

As said above, crowsfoot is generally an aviation tool. But it does have one other use. It allows you to use a torque wrench with your flare nut.

That being said, I'd still start with the flare nut wrenches, even though you could probably get by, by using the crowsfoot version.

My biggest issue with using them with a breaker bar is that the bar swivels, and I do not like a free swiveling wrench. When I do something like this, I usually reach for an old breaker bar I have that looks like a big allen key with a square drive on each end. It basically turns a crowsfoot into a deep offset wrench.

 

[Wakefield]

As said above, crowsfoot is generally an aviation tool. But it does have one other use. It allows you to use a torque wrench with your flare nut.

That being said, I'd still start with the flare nut wrenches, even though you could probably get by, by using the crowsfoot version.

My biggest issue with using them with a breaker bar is that the bar swivels, and I do not like a free swiveling wrench. When I do something like this, I usually reach for an old breaker bar I have that looks like a big allen key with a square drive on each end. It basically turns a crowsfoot into a deep offset wrench.

A good reason to have an old "Ell handle" -or for a tool company to bring them back.

 

[rsanter]

I have both
When I need a second flair nuts wrench of the same size or when I need one where I can angle the head a little I put the crows foot on the end of a 3/8 breaker bar and it works great. It also allows me to put the crows foot on at 90degrees to get around an obstacle.

If you don't think you will need them much I would recommend getting the crowsfoots as you can use them in more ways

Bob