Aluminum AN Wrenches ??
- Thread starter Weedwaka
- Start date
87ELC2
Member
I also have the Summit branded ones. No complaints in 9 years...
mag99
Well-known member
Don't be tempted and buy that AN-adjustable wrench! My buddy bought one, after a couple of uses, it marks and chews the fittings just like a steel wrench.
The jaws wont stay tight enough, and since they are aluminum, they slip and round themselves, and spread like this ^.
Get summit, or speedway grade or better if you can afford to.
The jaws wont stay tight enough, and since they are aluminum, they slip and round themselves, and spread like this ^.
Get summit, or speedway grade or better if you can afford to.
WVU Tuba Dale
Well-known member
I just wrapped the jaws of a steel wrench with some masking or 'lectrical tape and it seemed to work fine for me. You could try that if you only have a few fittings to do.
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
I have never figured out why people feel a need to get aluminum AN wrenches, when there isn't a single one in a hangar of 500 jet mechanics.
Plain and simple, they're a gimmick.
Plain and simple, they're a gimmick.
alexigtivr6
Active member
Another AME (aircraft mechanic) here. Never used an aluminum wrench on AN fittings either. Same thing. I dont think anyone in the hanger has one
You aircraft mechanics may not be using them but are you TRYING to not mar the finish on the fittings you work with? I think these wrenches are for people building cars they are planning to show or want to look nice, and they do not want a bunch of nicks and **** in there anodized AN fittings.
-Dan
-Dan
What he said . Im a fussy pants.
-B-
Well-known member
How do you guys keep the fittings from getting ugly with standard wrenches ?
I need to keep under hood fittings etc looking perfect.
Do not over torque and use a clean undamaged wrench , this is why weekenders need the Al wrenches.
garfunkle24
Well-known member
I think you're wrong. Even with a perfectly clean, unworn wrench, I don't think you could torque most fasteners to spec without leaving any markings whatsoever. I'm talking concourse show quality here. Any wrench that had close enough tolerences to not mark a fastener or AN fitting whatsoever would have to be a press fit that you beat onto the fastener. Which I'm pretty sure would mark it.
But the electrical tape idea would work fine.
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
If we were damaging fittings, we wouldn't be allowed to use them. If they're getting nicked, quit jacking up your wrenchs.
How do you guys keep the fittings from getting ugly with standard wrenches ?
I need to keep under hood fittings etc looking perfect.
What's the difference between a steel wrench with no burrs, and an aluminum wrench with no burrs?
If you have good wrenches, it won't damage the fittings at all. Well, assuming proper torque. For some reason many people with cars and such insist on using retard torque on all the fittings, even though planes have flown for years with half the torque on them.
voidifused
Well-known member
I run into them the Rare time at work, never had an issue with the right size wrench that's clean so long as you take care when working on it. I think people get them for the pretty color's
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-B-
Well-known member
You are joking right the fittings are not that soft in fact you will find brass fittings to far softer. I have never had an issue in marking them up it only happen with over torquing that they become marked.
rsanter
Well-known member
for a show can where you so not want to mark up the fittings, buy the aluminum AN wrenches.
for the race cars we never used them.
one thing you can do is get some aluminum sheetmetal and cut strips that will fit inside a slightly larger wrench. basically you are making soft jaws for a wrench
bob
for the race cars we never used them.
one thing you can do is get some aluminum sheetmetal and cut strips that will fit inside a slightly larger wrench. basically you are making soft jaws for a wrench
bob
paramudduck
Well-known member
Thanks folks, I had seen those things floating around. Always wondered why they were made. Well now I guess I know!
Does this mean I have to quit using my MAC long patterns and buy some of them?
Does this mean I have to quit using my MAC long patterns and buy some of them?
paramudduck
Well-known member
Don't feel stupid. It was a good question. But like any other you will get a lot of divergent opinions.
If you're working on a show car and don't want to have the slight extra worry they may be useful. I've used my Macs on race cars for a while and never seen any real damage from not using the AN wrenches.
The aircraft guys work on them all the time with very strict requirements. They just use the regular one as well. But ultimately it's up to you and what you want. They do look pretty in a open roll in the trunk at a show...
If you're working on a show car and don't want to have the slight extra worry they may be useful. I've used my Macs on race cars for a while and never seen any real damage from not using the AN wrenches.
The aircraft guys work on them all the time with very strict requirements. They just use the regular one as well. But ultimately it's up to you and what you want. They do look pretty in a open roll in the trunk at a show...
Shocker
Well-known member
I think they look nice in the box.
Tanners here.
Tanners here.
jtrace
Well-known member
I have I think its an 8 pc set maybe 6 I don't recall (had a meeting tonight with Jim Beam lol) I got them years ago from a guy on Long Island getting out of racing. Got a set of scales a bead roller, the wrenches, turntables,caster/camber gauge,toe plates tire pyrometers and whole buch of other stuff for I think it was a grand. I use them but don't think I would have them if I didn't get them in the package deal...
John
John
crashbumper
Well-known member
I just put some tape in the normal wrenches and thats it. None of the fittings look ugly, and they are all black summit brand fittings. I thought their anodizing would be substandard compared to Earl's, Russell or Mr. Gasket but none have any noticeable signs of damage.
nightrain00
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2008
- Messages
- 134
I don't know about air craft but the buses I work on use all sorts of AN fittings but they are steel not aluminum. They also clearly arent anodized and no one cares if they get marked up. Maybe that is why they make the wrenches from aluminum?