12 point flare nut wrenches...why?

[TheGrooveking]

I'm not stupid (well don't ask my wife) but anyhow I have some 12 point metric flare nut wrenches and can say almost everytime I enlist them in loosening some brake lines or other fittings they almost always slip. It is kind of like a ratcheting feeling when it slips to the next tooth or a few down. Of course this has helped to round over the corners of the fitting.

These are Matco's, I have 6 point in SAE and have never had this problem. What have you guys experience with 12 point flare nut wrenches.

TheGrooveking

 

[tonydanzah]

They work great in tight access low torque fittings, such as hydraulic hoses.

 

[FoMoCoPower]

If they almost always slip....why keep using them??

 

[nissan_crawler]

Only thing that works on planes. 6 point is worthless.

 

[bmxr4life87]

I have an older style snap on 12point that fits better than any other flarenut wrench I've used. The matcos will slip under enough torque

 

[MattT]

Same reason most box end wrenches are 12 point. For the times you can't get 60 degrees of turn. FWIW I've never needed a 12 point flarenut for automotive work but have needed them a bunch of times on industrial fluid lines.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I know there are liked 12 point brands here (most of them older it seems), but have any of you made your own? What brand and how well did they work? (wondering if certain brands of wrenches hold up to modding better)

 

[Merkava_4]

If all the Matco 12 points were slipping, I'd send them in and ask them to send me back 6 points.

 

[wreckercologist]

When Flank Drive was just coming out, it was first available on 12 point flair wrenches first before anything else. I can only assume they were intended for the aerospace/aircraft industries.

 

[TheGrooveking]

Guys I am fully aware and understand the need for a 12pt wrench from an access standpoint, its just that these seem to slip more than any other 12pt wrench. Of course I can't take them back seeing that I bought them in 1983, so one I feel it is my issue since I didn't really use them much before a few years ago, secondly they are Bonney made Matco wrenches so they are not going anywhere.

I was wondering what brand 12pt flare nut wrenches you guys are using?


TheGrooveking

 

[wreckercologist]

I have a set of these:http://www.stridetool.com/tools/hose_tubingtools/servicetools_04.html

They do OK but will slip if not perfectly square to the fitting (they begin to open) plus they are a little too thin for my taste. It would be nice if they had thicker jaws (more contact area) but then they wouldn't fit in some spots.

 

[MattT]

I was wondering what brand 12pt flare nut wrenches you guys are using?

I've used Armstrong and SO in the 1" to 2" range. I've never used a < 1". Both those brands will slip if you apply enough torque. What I've had to do when they slip is put a worm drive hose clamp around the wrench to stop it springing open.

12 points won't handle near as much torque as 6 points because they're thinner which allows them to spring open. SO 5/8" 6 point is rated 50% higher torque than 12 point. Use 6 points unless you need 12 points.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?tool=all&item_ID=2190&group_ID=267&store=snapon-store

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?tool=all&item_ID=2172&group_ID=265&store=snapon-store

 

[Goinlow]

Sounds stupid but you sure you have the right size? Like maybe it's metric?

 

[TheGrooveking]

Sounds stupid but you sure you have the right size? Like maybe it's metric?

Note, review my initial post, the issue is with the metric wrenches.

TheGrooveking