You asked for it, the Flarenut Wrench Brands that DON'T slip are these

[unslow1]

I've had a couple that needed a pipe wrench to take out.

That's my go to on O2 sensors.

 

[demarpaint]

You can usually put a box wrench on a bleeder, and being a closed ring, even a cheap box wrench will likely outperform a Snap On flare nut wrench. Plus box wrenches will be thinner wall.

I agree. On bleeders the only wrenches I've ever used were either a 6 point socket, or a 6 point box or combo wrench. Living in NY I'd rather not tempt fate if I don't have to.

 

[Odd-job]

Have a set of Cman RP and SK line wrenches. As a DIY'er, I'd take both, use whichever fit the tightest.. Recently picked up Knipex flare nut pliers. I'll be doing some brake work on the avatar this spring, we'll see if the Knips were money well spent.

Got a link or product # for the Knipex?

Seth

Raptors?

 

[Torque Test Channel]

We want to test some Knipex vs no name, and people will be mad we're not including the Raptors. But at 10" long in their shortest form, using a near 1-foot long set of pliers in place of a small wrench like a flarenut wrench... it's not as apples to apples as some other pliers options

 

[CallumRD1]

We want to test some Knipex vs no name, and people will be mad we're not including the Raptors. But at 10" long in their shortest form, using a near 1-foot long set of pliers in place of a small wrench like a flarenut wrench... it's not as apples to apples as some other pliers options

Could you try pliers wrenches? A 7" (180mm) pair of those is reasonably compact and exceedingly difficult to round off a fastener with.

 

[Odd-job]

We want to test some Knipex vs no name, and people will be mad we're not including the Raptors. But at 10" long in their shortest form, using a near 1-foot long set of pliers in place of a small wrench like a flarenut wrench... it's not as apples to apples as some other pliers options

Definitely see what you are saying. Maybe these deserve a different category lumped in with pipe wrenches (traditional vs Swedish style) and 10 inch Malco Eagle Grips?

 

[Torque Test Channel]

Could you try pliers wrenches? A 7" (180mm) pair of those is reasonably compact and exceedingly difficult to round off a fastener with.

Yes, for sort of episode 3 in this hand tool series we just purchased new Knipex Pliers wrenches in 7" and 5" as well as 7" Cobra pliers, and a recent sort of knock off of the cobra pliers. Plan to test those vs just like a regular wrench, probably a combination wrench open and box end. It's not a pliers shoot off to find what the best pliers are, but more like which of these options slip 1st on soft stuff?

And with those 6 or so tool ends tested on the various fasteners, the episode might be closer to a more easily watchable 10-15mins.

 

[will335i]

My main takeaway is I'm going to go grab a pair of those 7LW Vise Grips! They look like a good "uh oh" option.

The Snap On results definitely backed up what everyone has said about them. Still not sure I use them enough to justify the cost, but maybe I will start buying them one at a time as jobs come up.

Other US brands did well, but the results are a little more shaky than the score indicates IMO. The Matco 1/2" side didn't test out very well, and the SK 9/16" side didn't either and broke. That seems to point to some inconsistency in their manufacturing processes. The designs might be robust, but they still need to be manufactured well. Value wise though, tough to ignore the SK's are almost 1/3 the price of Snap On.

I almost want to go grab a Craftsman set, but as pointed out they switch out tools so often I'd be afraid of getting a dud made from a different supplier.

I think what some fail to take into account is the criticality of the systems when considering the cost of the tools to work on them. If a brake, fuel, or turbo oil line are damaged then the vehicle could experience a catastrophic failure. No not everyone needs to spend snap-on money but if the condition of the fitting is in question or you can't afford to have a vehicle down while waiting for the replacement parts then it is definitely worth it. Specially if you can get away with just one or two specific sizes.

Ebay is a great place to find them for a discount too if you are looking. I got a great deal on a set because they have owner marks on them but only one of the wrenches showed any sign of use.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

I just watched this last night. Well done. You did a nice job of empirical testing. The only problem I have is that I’m not working on clean threads with wide open access. I’m working on rusty fittings, at weird angles, little to no visibility, and with little clearance to actually turn the wrench. If it rounds, it just gets worse.

I have the newer Craftsman, and a set of SnapOns. The SO are better but the nuts are soft and round off anyway.

I had the same situation needed to soak 15+ year rusted brake lines with PB Blaster for 2 days, used heat and the SO 12mm took it right off. The CM ones were loose perhaps CM has their own version of 12mn.

 

[Steve_P]

As I said earlier, I think the key to the SO's success is the broaching on the business end. It's definitely not the material or hardness. They're getting the contact line away from the corner of the nut; and this is how you don't round soft nuts- it's not the wrench "spreading" on a tube nut when you shear off the corners. There's no "spreading" in this test until the hex bit portion. And the 9/16 SK exploded before it could yield enough so that the bit could rotate. This was a good lesson of the negatives of high hardness with the SK explosion: at ~RC50 the yield strength can be ~90% of the ultimate. You don't notice any deflection and then then it catastrophically fails and things go flying; which is why you don't use screwdrivers as pry bars.
I looked at my SO, cman RP, and CMan pro (SK) and the SO has the most aggressive reliefs in the corners. This moves the contact line away from the corner of the nut. The new SK do appear to have more of a corner relief than my cman pros, which is good.

 

[Old Donn]

Raptors?

Knipex Raptors. Part #8741250. Got them on Amazon.

 

[Iridium rand]

You get a free comparison of a bunch of different line wrenches that took 40 hours of work, and you're going to complain about 30 seconds or less of ads? Have you ever watched a YouTube video that didn't have ads?

Not to mention the ads literally pay for the tools he’s testing he doesn’t get or accept any of them free for objectivity

 

[Iridium rand]

Somewhat surprised nobody makes an open end with something to clamp the ends together once it’s on the nut and pull/hold them together, maybe a latch with a captive screw similar to certain hose clamps. would be less convenient to use but invaluable when dealing with a tough one I’d imagine. I know the vise grip crescent wrench combo works quite well

 

[89MustangGX]

Thanks for the video. I have an SK set and a Craftsman Pro USA set (same thing), and have been happy with both. I asked in another thread what the upgrade to SO would do different, and got the typical responses, but this makes it clear that there is a difference. Whether *I* would see it is still questionable, but I know if I found a deal on a set I might upgrade.

One brand I've been waiting on (still waiting) is Icon. Rather than the middle of the road HF Quinn, I'd like to see how the "tool truck comparison" Icon would do in this test. They aren't out (yet?), but my detective skills spotted them on the picture in the bottom of the Icon tool box drawer that they put on display in HF. Even if not as good as SO, if you could get SK performance (or better?) for import price, it could be a viable competitor.

 

[LXCam]

Somewhat surprised nobody makes an open end with something to clamp the ends together once it’s on the nut and pull/hold them together, maybe a latch with a captive screw similar to certain hose clamps. would be less convenient to use but invaluable when dealing with a tough one I’d imagine. I know the vise grip crescent wrench combo works quite well

Not being dismissive of your testing OP as I’ve been down the road of buying multiple sets thru the years only to bite the bullet and go with snap on. They are no doubt the best.

However there is or maybe was another style that absolutely will not come loose on you.

So to answer 89’s question there is basically that style. The harder you crank, the tighter they get. The biggest problem is getting them to fit when there’s not sufficient space to do so

 

[gigamel]

 

[Iridium rand]

Not being dismissive of your testing OP as I’ve been down the road of buying multiple sets thru the years only to bite the bullet and go with snap on. They no doubt the best.

However there is or maybe was another style that absolutely will not come loose on you.

So to answer 89’s question there is basically that style. The harder you crank, the tighter they get. The biggest problem is getting them to fit when there’s not sufficient space to do so

Wow, not what I had in mind but that’s a very creative solution! Much simpler and looks more convenient to use than what I was thinking too, wonder how durable they are only because the style/coloring screams “cheap pot metal pocket knife” in my head

 

[LXCam]

Wow, not what I had in mind but that’s a very creative solution! Much simpler and looks more convenient to use than what I was thinking too, wonder how durable they are only because the style/coloring screams “cheap pot metal pocket knife” in my head

These babies are damn stout, it’s a legit tool. But in the ten or so years I’ve had them, I’ve only had one time it was the only tool that worked. They certainly aren’t the first ones I grab.

 

[Steve_P]

Thanks for the video. I have an SK set and a Craftsman Pro USA set (same thing), and have been happy with both. I asked in another thread what the upgrade to SO would do different, and got the typical responses, but this makes it clear that there is a difference. Whether *I* would see it is still questionable, but I know if I found a deal on a set I might upgrade.

One brand I've been waiting on (still waiting) is Icon. Rather than the middle of the road HF Quinn, I'd like to see how the "tool truck comparison" Icon would do in this test. They aren't out (yet?), but my detective skills spotted them on the picture in the bottom of the Icon tool box drawer that they put on display in HF. Even if not as good as SO, if you could get SK performance (or better?) for import price, it could be a viable competitor.

I was wondering how long it'd take for someone to send a set of the SO flare nut wrenches to Taiwan, or China, and say, "copy these; and specifically duplicate the geometry of the business ends". Because the testing makes clear that SO has the best geometry of anything tested.

 

[colintrax]

I think they work pretty good

 

[unslow1]

I think one of the primary things this test did was let us know how close or far apart brands are. That pretty much goes for all their tests. Is it worth the price to go Snapon? Most people would probably say no. Most people that wrench for a living might have a different opinion. Then once you start choosing between other brands how much of a difference is there really? Then these kinds of tests really point out ones that are flat out not good performers for the money spent. Then it's also nice to see the cheaper options that do pretty well.

 

[gigamel]

We don't normally post threads. But seeing as though the list of brands in this one was put together here, viola:

Great video
At 16:09 you say:
"We assuming you don’t toss out a wrench each and every time one slips on a fastener"

Do you have to toss a wrench if it slips?
Did you measure the tolerance/spread after each test? - any change?
Just wondering - thanks again

 

[Odd-job]

This thread got me, well not as bad if I upgraded my SK flare wrenches to Snap on.

Was pleasantly surprised these Irwins are made in Taiwan unlike their other locking pliers. Better get these before China decides its a good time to invade Taiwan.

Sorry I can't get one of the pics rotated right.

 

[jsmeece]

This thread got me, well not as bad if I upgraded my SK flare wrenches to Snap on.

Was pleasantly surprised these Irwins are made in Taiwan unlike their other locking pliers. Better get these before China decides its a good time to invade Taiwan.

Sorry I can't get one of the pics rotated right.

Yep, got me too, bought the 4LW, 7LW, and 10LW this week all three for about $40.

 

[disaster master]

We don't normally post threads. But seeing as though the list of brands in this one was put together here, viola:

Snap-On, even at its price, might just be worth it. You decide.
Others that are nothing to shrug at are S-K and Matco. With a few other surprises as well

We shot nearly 200 clips of over 100 tests to make this one, so yeah recommending more brands for this category here might be overlooked for QUITE some time before picking up another flarenut wrench I'm afraid.

But we're excited about maybe testing some other hand tools types, we've already purchased another category we want to settle a debate on amongst ourselves.

I don't care much about a flare nut wrench except how much torque can it put on a fare nut with a hollow steel line in it. TTC didn't test the purpose of the wrench, evenly apply load over all surfaces of a flare nut to increase bite without crushing or rounding. Tighten the flare nut to failure, directional wrench, flip it over.
I have two sets of Snap On, ASE and metric, not particularly impressed in northeast Ohio.
And stop torquing on bleed screws and drain plugs, they need be barely snug.