Flare Nut Wrenches

[Chevy350]

Hi everyone, Im new here and but have been reading posts for about 3-4 months now and the amount of info on this forum is great! I'm just a weekend mechanic/DIY'er who likes quality tools.

I'm looking at picking up a set of flare nut wrenches. I have read the threads on the craftsman pro/sk/snap on and it seems the snap on is a clear winner. My question is how do Cornwell, or Williams compare to the snap on wrenches. I'm in no hurry to buy these and just keeping an eye on ebay. Just seeing if the other two brands are worth it for flare wrenches. Thanks again!

I apologize if this thread has been made, I did a search and didn't get the answer i was looking for.

 

[Mickey O]

I have Cornwell and Snap On (both older), either is fine, don't know about Williams but if it's anything like their other tools I suspect they would be great, just watch out for the Imports Williams is now putting their name on.

 

[t100]

I have Craftsman, Cornwell and MAC. I only used them when changing fuel filters on my vehicles. I have nothing bad to say about any of them, but, since all my cars were from California, so the nuts were coming off like butter even they were never touched after 10 years out of the factory.

 

[gofastman]

I have never tried them but the GearWrench ones look fairly beefy
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000XQ5MJA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Chevy350]

I like the GearWrench stuff but Im on the Made in USA bandwagon.

 

[Mickey O]

I like the GearWrench stuff but Im on the Made in USA bandwagon.

Good man, good bandwagon to be on.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

I have the SK, Cornwell and Snap-on. The Snap-ons have a slight edge and I do prefer them for anything rusted. For the easy stuff, anything will work. It's the hard ones that separate the good wrenches from the bad ones..... The Cornwell and SK are pretty much on par with each other (both of them open up and slipped on a rusted hydraulic fitting for a friends baby D6. The Snap-on "snatched it off" without any problem.

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

I would try to avoid SK.....

 

[Homoudont]

I saw a set of metric snap on flare nut wrenches go off on ebay for $15 yesterday. Just keep your eye open and I'm sure you can find a decent set for low $$$.

I have a master mechanic set and they are junk. Rounded off all 3 brake line fittings I tried them on. I've since bought a set of Cman Pro's but haven't had a need to use them yet.

 

[tw33k2514]

Take it from someone who has done it ... rounding off a brake line nut *****.. a lot. This is the one thing other than ratchets that I will insist you need from Snap-on. They fit better, and grab better than any other one I have used.

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

If are removing brake lines, it better to cut the line off and use socket to remove it.. another trick.... if you want to heat one up remove the wrench, acts as heat sink...

 

[MOPARHOUND!]

I have the SK, Cornwell and Snap-on. The Snap-ons have a slight edge and I do prefer them for anything rusted. For the easy stuff, anything will work. It's the hard ones that separate the good wrenches from the bad ones..... The Cornwell and SK are pretty much on par with each other (both of them open up and slipped on a rusted hydraulic fitting for a friends baby D6. The Snap-on "snatched it off" without any problem.

I'm an SK fan, ........but my experience is like the above. Most Craftsman polished flare nut wrenches are made by SK.

Snap-On is the brand for flare nut wrenches.

 

[Chief]

My C-man wrenches, don't fit as nicely as my buddy's Snap-on. I noticed this while wrenching on the car. Without getting into tolerances etc, when wrenching on an item subject to warping/stripping, I would not go the cheap route. Spend the cash and get something that fits. This coming from a guy who does not use flare nut wrenches a lot

 

[M900]

I have Cornwell and Snap On (both older), either is fine, don't know about Williams but if it's anything like their other tools I suspect they would be great, just watch out for the Imports Williams and snap-on** is now putting their name on.

Fixed! 10 characters


(**various snap-on tools, not commenting on flare nut wrenches)

 

[Big Bad Jon]

If I were a weekend warrior I would go with the combination flare/open end, offered by Snap On. There is a difference with the Snap On's.

 

[rsanter]

I have the snap on ones and love them
I also have the Cman raised panel version (non-pros) and they are decent

bob

 

[chevy302dz]

If you're working on anything that has been on the road in winter and constantly exposed to salt Snap On's are the best. Otherwise any good brand should be fine other than regular Craftsman, this is one wrench they never got right even the older ones spread under medium pressure Cman pros are alright and on par with SK.

 

[rhandwor]

Before you buy them take a new bolt with the size head you are interested in as not all companies are sized properly. I don't think they spread but are sloppy to begin with I have a few that are sloppy I don't use because they will slip. You can feel the slop if their not properly made.

 

[stricht8]

How are the MAC flare nut wrenches?

 

[Mickey O]

How are the MAC flare nut wrenches?

Mac are fine. Not a big fan of the Craftsman raised panels or the SK, but I'd put the Cornwells up against the Snap On. I think most of the high end ones are fine. I have Proto, Armstrong, Snap On, Mac, Cornwell, Craftsman, S-K Blue Point, Easco, Duro Chrome (real good) and probably a few other brands, none have ever been a problem besides the raised panel Craftsman, the S-K I just don't like.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I have the Snap-on open end, flare nut end wrenches, and I also have the Kobalt branded, JH Williams made wrenches. (USA made) From afar they look like the Snap-on ones. I would like to see if they still sell the metric ones, or if it is only the SAE under the Williams name, as I would have NO problem with them, based on my experience.

 

[Nix]

I'm also looking to buy flare nut wrenches. The consensus from the various threads on the topic seems to be that Snap On are the best. I've also seen it mentioned that the Gearwrench ones are copies of Snap On. So...has anyone had a chance to compare the two? I'm trying to get the best SAE and Metric sets I can (new) for under $100 total (preferably closer to $75.00).

 

[Delray]

The best I have and the ones I always use are the Snap On open end/flare box end type. Craftsman Pros are more in the $75-$100 price range and are worth the money but if you work on rusty stuff you may be better off with a good set of used Snap On's.

 

[comedyman809]

Good man, good bandwagon to be on.

its a pricey bandwagon too!

its getting to the point that someday we will not be able to afford to buy american.

wait, that day has come already. just surrender, because just about everything we buy today is made elsewhere.

pretty soon, even the air we breath will be imported.

 

[Nix]

The best I have and the ones I always use are the Snap On

That's why I'm trying to figure out just how good of a copy the Gearwrenches are. I don't use ebay and Snap On is pretty much non-existant on craigslist in this area. We don't even have pawn shops around here.

 

[sk farmer]

if you want to spend some money and get vintage, build a set of proto or plomb pebble line wrenches. i am working on a proto set. when my next ebay shows up will have a complete set up to 15/16 and and a 1 1/8 plus a few extras. they feel good and sure look pretty.i really don't think you would go wrong with any name brand us made line wrench. the only ones that are a unanimous fail are the raised panel cman. the cman pro and the sk are ok as they are one and the same. most of the dislike of the sk is from people who do not like their warranty change, not because they won't work. get what you like and don't worry about it. as a weekend warrior you will never wear them.
if you have gone without them this long i surely would not drop hundreds of dollars on a new set from s-o. used won't be cheap either. i am sure there are many things you need worse and would use more.

 

[wendell]

As opposed to opening an new thread;
Does Snap On make the line wrench/ open end combos in sizes larger than 5/8? I have the 5 piece set RXS605B and would like to build it out. As far as I can see on the SO site, they only go to 5/8.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

As opposed to opening an new thread;
Does Snap On make the line wrench/ open end combos in sizes larger than 5/8? I have the 5 piece set RXS605B and would like to build it out. As far as I can see on the SO site, they only go to 5/8.

The open end/flare nut end I have seen up to 1". Although I think some of the larger size are discontinued, or industrial only (don't know about the later). I believe you will see up to a 3/4" on Ebay.

 

[K5blazer83]

I have a set of standard USA made MAC's and a metric set of Snap-On and I think both or very good quality. No rounded hardware here. Both are of the older generation of both brands.

 

[wendell]

The open end/flare nut end I have seen up to 1". Although I think some of the larger size are discontinued, or industrial only (don't know about the later). I believe you will see up to a 3/4" on Ebay.

Thanks. I've yet to come across anything bigger than 5/8 but now I have hope.

 

[Avgas]

Who makes a 12 point flare nut wrench set?

 

[The Muffin Man]

I have a set of Cornwell flare nut wrenches. They are top notch!

 

[nikonica]

^^ Regarding makers of 12-point flare nut wrenches:

Proto at least makes them. I have sets in SAE and metric. One neat thing Proto and a few other manufacturers offer are "combination" flare nut wrenches, with the flare nut wrench on one end and a thicker-than-normal open-end-wrench on the other end. From Proto at least these are available in 6- and 12-point styles.

 

[Joe H]

That's why I'm trying to figure out just how good of a copy the Gearwrenches are.

I am tempted to get a set to try them. They look really good from the pictures on their website. I wonder how good they actually are. The price is certainly right.

 

[Thedroid]

I have a set of the cornwells also. Can't see the son's being any tougher.

 

[TNottingham]

I also really want a set of the snappys but I decieded to try out the gear wrench flex head double sided flare nut wrenchs, so far they look really nice for $150 for both metric and sae from sears. I was wondering if anybody has any experience with these?

BTW
Just ordered my Krl 722 on sale
should be here next week..... boooyyyyyahhhhhh!!!!!

 

[Paladin]

Who makes a 12 point flare nut wrench set?

Keep your eye out on the "Bay" for Bonney 12-pt flarenut wrenches. They look nice...

 

[Merkava_4]

How are the MAC flare nut wrenches?

I got some. The beams are narrow and very square.

Wear padded gloves when using them!!