Any experience with Craftsman flare wrenches?

[mf44]

Hello,

I need a few flare wrenches for a project (just a weekend DIYer). I had ordered some Gearwrench ones from a thread in Hot Deals, but the seller turned out to be a bust so have since cancelled. I just got $10 in points to use at Sears, so I was looking at these:

http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-...-00944196000P?&prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=L2

Any experience with them? My Craftsman stuff so far has held up ok, but it's all older USA made stuff. Not sure where these are made. I generally have no aversion to foreign made tools, if they are of ok quality and have some sort of warranty (see my interest in Gearwrench above), but it's hard to tell what's good and not, looking at a photo online.

As I said, I'm just a DIYer, and need these to swap out some brake calipers with rebuilt units and new hoses. I'd be up for other suggestions, too, but since I'm only going to be using them sparingly, want to keep the price reasonable.

Thanks!

Mike

 

[pipsters]

I have the 9 pc set of those. They work fine. People will say to get Snap-On...honestly these things are all too short (no matter who makes them) to put any sort of torque on them to spread them IMO. I bought the missing 16x18mm on ebay from Cripe for around $6 shipped.

I would really reconsider and get the 9 pc because it includes SAE. A lot of those types of nuts you will be using them on are SAE. Just food for thought.

When I need torque I use a flare nut crowsfoot with a breaker bar or long ratchet.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

They are excellent wrenches. I've got the metric set, and they seem to be every bit as good of quality as my 20 year old SK SAE set.

A buddy of mine uses the Craftsmans day in and day out on hydraulic systems and they've never given him any problems.

 

[cide1]

I have the Craftsman, no complaints. These are not something that takes a ton of torque, but at the same time, do require precision to not damage the brass fasteners of tubing.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

I've been using the crafty raised panel flare wrenches for over 30 years with no issues

I also have a set of snappys, crafty pros and gearwrenches. I see no difference performance wise between the different brands

I also have a set of gearwrench flex wrenches. These are longer that the other makes and the flex head comes in handy at times

 

[Altec]

I have the 9 pc set of those. They work fine. People will say to get Snap-On...honestly these things are all too short (no matter who makes them) to put any sort of torque on them to spread them IMO.

You haven't tried hard enough.

I work in the the town of Rust Hole located next to salt water in the county of "We love road salt." I do more brake, and fuel lines then any man should have to... I can't afford to have a wrench fail. I do a few a week on a slow week...

However, in better conditions for now-and-then use the Craftsman ones are great. Most USA, or higher end imports will do. Just pay attention to the points on the broaching. If you notice a wrench only has 4 points in the broaching, run away. If it has 5, it's probably a good tool. Compare the opening on HF flare nut wrenches to your Craftsman wrenches to see what I'm talking about.

 

[Skin]

Hello,

I need a few flare wrenches for a project (just a weekend DIYer). I had ordered some Gearwrench ones from a thread in Hot Deals, but the seller turned out to be a bust so have since cancelled. I just got $10 in points to use at Sears, so I was looking at these:

http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-...-00944196000P?&prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=L2

Any experience with them? My Craftsman stuff so far has held up ok, but it's all older USA made stuff. Not sure where these are made. I generally have no aversion to foreign made tools, if they are of ok quality and have some sort of warranty (see my interest in Gearwrench above), but it's hard to tell what's good and not, looking at a photo online.

As I said, I'm just a DIYer, and need these to swap out some brake calipers with rebuilt units and new hoses. I'd be up for other suggestions, too, but since I'm only going to be using them sparingly, want to keep the price reasonable.

Thanks!

Mike

those wrenches are fine

 

[goodysgotacuda]

I have the Craftsman Professional flare wrenches, I don't recall them being very expensive..but I haven't had a complaint with them.

 

[Jim C.]

I have a set of the basic Craftsman raised panel SAE and metric wrenches. I've had them for years. I don't use them too often, but when I do, that've been fine and got the job done.

Jim C.

 

[dirtydogintex]

Long as you do your part (get all of the nut, not just part) they work well....

 

[bcradio]

I have the cman pro's and have had them spread and round nuts before. This was using them at fairly high torque though. I then purchased some used snap-on and I can hang from those things without worry.

If you are only doing occasional work in non rust prone areas then those will be fine. Otherwise I'd suggest you consider upgrading.

PS I'm a home wrench and I live in the desert (no rust) and I still felt the need to upgrade. I have not tried the RP version though.

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

I have used craftsman flare nut wrenches they are fine for non rusty fittings.(like master cylinders)
but once they are used on rusty fittings they will round out the tubing nuts.
if you are not in rusty/salty state they might just work, but i dont trust craftsman flare wrenches.
I have some craftsman stuff that I will use. but not flare nut wrenches
And if you are on flat rate, this will be your enemy,(losing time)
I had done a car brake lines/hoses on one side and the Craftsman just rounded off the brake line, I had to replace the line. On same car a few months later I replaced the rear brake hoses, used Snap On wrenches, and those suckers were removed, ie they were 10mm nuts,
I used a Snap On RXFMS1012B

 

[bimmerZ5]

i have those, along with the SAE set too... been using them for 9 yrs or so now... never had a problem. they aren't pretty to look at, but they work. most of the fittings i've used them on don't require high torque anyway so it's not like they get much abuse.

 

[Hiball]

I've had terrible luck with the craftsman flare wrenches, raised panel along with pro's. I very seldom work on anything New, to me honest it's always rusted up projects, so take that into consideration. I currently own some snap on along with cornwell and they have taken everything I've thrown at them. I really can't comment On the New stuff, it may be better than the older offerings and when I say "older", I'm talking about early 90's.

 

[uniballer]

I've got the professional set, useful but only use them two or three times a year. No slips or breaking of wrenches.

 

[Outlawmws]

You haven't tried hard enough.

I work in the the town of Rust Hole located next to salt water in the county of "We love road salt." I do more brake, and fuel lines then any man should have to... I can't afford to have a wrench fail. I do a few a week on a slow week...

However, in better conditions for now-and-then use the Craftsman ones are great. Most USA, or higher end imports will do. Just pay attention to the points on the broaching. If you notice a wrench only has 4 points in the broaching, run away. If it has 5, it's probably a good tool. Compare the opening on HF flare nut wrenches to your Craftsman wrenches to see what I'm talking about.

Mostlythis ^^^

If the flair nuts are rusted solid the craftsman will be iffy. If you are out of the "rust belt", probably fine. I've used my raised panels for over 30 years also, mostly with success, but the nasty rusted messes are not their strong suite.

 

[pfctblu]

I generally don't speak ill of Craftsman as I own a good amount of it and use it regularly. However, I returned the raised panel flare set and went with Gearwrench. Two of the Crafty RP flares didn't fit the proper sized fasteners correctly. I've never used the professional flares from Craftsman so I cannot comment.
The Gearwrench flare wrenches are pretty nice, fit correctly and work great...definitely worth the price of admission.

tooltopia is where I got mine

 

[FlyBy]

I have the Craftsman Pro full-polish wrenches and I love em. Picked them up on a sale a couple years ago. I do use them on things other than brake line fittings.

I also agree with those posting that it's not worth the snap-on price when these do the same exact job and perform just as well.

 

[bcradio]

I also agree with those posting that it's not worth the snap-on price when these do the same exact job and perform just as well.

It seems you did not read my post here because they certainly do not perform the same at all. And I am certainly not a Snap-On superfan.

 

[FlyBy]

It seems you did not read my post here because they certainly do not perform the same at all. And I am certainly not a Snap-On superfan.

I'll admit, I didn't read all of the posts in here

I've just had good results with them, but I'm not a full time pro mechanic. For what I've done so far they've performed well.

 

[Hiball]

I have the Craftsman Pro full-polish wrenches and I love em. Picked them up on a sale a couple years ago. I do use them on things other than brake line fittings.

I also agree with those posting that it's not worth the snap-on price when these do the same exact job and perform just as well.

I'll admit, I didn't read all of the posts in here

I've just had good results with them, but I'm not a full time pro mechanic. For what I've done so far they've performed well.

And now we know the rest of the story...

 

[jpickar]

I have a set of Cman flare nut wrenches. They are very good! Get them.

I do have a few SO and A Mac. I really love the mac and use it if that is the size nut I am working on. They are very strong and thin and easy to get into tight places.

You will like the Cman.

John

 

[e-tek]

I have a cheap import flare wrench set and they **** and spread as easily as a drunk $2 ***** (or so I've heard....). I also have a Crafstman set and they have never spread at all - they're as tight as a 15 year old virgin in a skirt with a cold wind (or so I've heard...)

 

[reddog289]

I have had good luck with the Craftsman Professional Metric set I have. But it's 10 yrs old ,So I can't say how well they are built now. Flare wrenches were one of the first in my lessons of buying good tools. First SAE set was Asian born. Rounded everything I used it on.
Went to the True Value store to buy me and got a set of Master Mechanic wrenches which have lasted 25 yrs. But I like alot of people, Don't swap out brake lines every day.

 

[rockchucker]

Bought my set 4-5 years ago. When I use them they work. There are all sorts of Inverted Flare Fittings on the Turbos and peripherals I work with.

One thing I really try to do though is to keep the Penetrating Fluid off of the Mating Surface for the Wrench. Before I use them I will clean the Fitting and the Wrench with Brakeleen to minimize the tendency to slip. If it doesn't want to go then give the Wrench a few taps with a Small Hammer on the outside of the end around the Fitting. This helps to act as an Impact Driver of sorts to aid in breaking things loose. Before it strips just stop and use a pair of Vice Grips. If you use them in a smart way you can help fix the Flare Nut if it is deformed.

 

[Wrench 2201]

I use this exact set at work. I don't use them everyday but the only nuts they rounded are the ones that would have been rounded by what ever I used. Mine are the USA type so I can't speak for the import type.
For your application these will be fine and last a good long while.

 

[LSU]

I have a 15 year old CM set. I've used them occassionaly w/o any trouble.

I might suggest you look at Ebay or CL for some older more sturdy CM tools if money is an object.

I'm not a CM basher but if you're using these tools on a professional or "time senstive basis" I'd got with a MAC, SnapOn or some other super high quality brand.

 

[RECox286]

I too have been using the Cman Flair Wrenches for over 30 years, and

in that time have broken 2 wrenches. I found one SO wrench that I was

able to add to my toolbox, and in so doing found that it was made

beefier, fit the fastener better, and felt heavier in my hand than the

comparable Cman wrench did. Since it is there, when I need that

particular size, I find myself consciously rooting, looking for that SO

wrench to go play with. I still use the Cman, but really appreciate the

SO. If I were still wrenching professionally, I would have the SO set.

Uncle Bob

 

[Skin]

People parrot that Snap-On is the best flare, but if thats just a matter of thickness, well then MAC and Matco Flare wrenches are slightly thicker, thus making the snap-on ones inferior!

 

[Wakefield]

Someone had a picture of a fancy German flarenut wrench that had a shelf above the wrenching gullet (the tube has to fit through it) that acted to stiffen the thing against spread.

 

[BMW Rider]

People parrot that Snap-On is the best flare, but if thats just a matter of thickness, well then MAC and Matco Flare wrenches are slightly thicker, thus making the snap-on ones inferior!

Sometimes more material is to make up for weaker metallurgy.

I have the Craftsman flarenut wrenches too - though they are very old so may not reflect the quality of the current offering - and they work fine most of the time. I have found that with the thicker head, they sometimes will not fit into tighter spots which is where the Snap-ons et-al will outperform.

 

[RCStocker]

Sense I buy out estates and shops I have had almost every brand made in flair tools.
The only ones that are worth a damn are Ridgid. Once you have used them you will never want to have another brand.

I am a contractor and I that is all I have ever used. I have different ones but Ridgid are so easy to use and they do a perfect job every time.

All others are like a cheap wrench that doesn't fit.

 

[Wakefield]

Are the Ridgid ones all of the kind that the jaws open to put it on and then you close the jaws around the fitting?

 

[kunkernator]

I am actually looking at the same thing the OP is, except the 9 piece set. Figured I might use the $10 SYWR on it. Isn't a full set supposed to bet 10 wrenches? What would that missing wrench be?

 

[RCStocker]

I generally don't speak ill of Craftsman as I own a good amount of it and use it regularly. However, I returned the raised panel flare set and went with Gearwrench. Two of the Crafty RP flares didn't fit the proper sized fasteners correctly. I've never used the professional flares from Craftsman so I cannot comment.
The Gearwrench flare wrenches are pretty nice, fit correctly and work great...definitely worth the price of admission.

tooltopia is where I got mine

You more than likely had a metric fliar nut if the C man did not fit.

I have Snap-on, SK and C man flair nut wrenches. I gruew up in Detroit and my first set were Craftsman. Things really rusted in the 50's and 60's.
I still have the set and they are like new. What in the hell does eveyone do to mess up thier tools. I don't care if it is rusted solid. Some times when things are rusted so tight I use a ****** pipe rench with a pipe. I mitht need to replace the line but I have everhting I need to bend an make up a new one.
I have never broken a wrench.

About the complaints about the flairnut wrenches being short. Everytime I go to use one I don't have room to rotate the ****** wrench. Most time space is a factor. I am glad they are short. I guess being an old farm boy I don't know my own strength at times. It is all those bails of hay I tossed around.

I have a 1959 VW I shortened and turned into a dune buggy. It has a 1962 Italian body. I know it is only about 1100 pounds total but I am old and I can still go pick up the back end and pull it around. I mean I can pick the back wheels up off the ground. I did it last week. You guys that can't break things loose need to go to the gym. If that does not help you need to pray and have some faith. LOL

I have restored several old tractors out of the 1920's You talk about rust and sitting out for 70 years in the weather. Rusted bolts are like women You need to baby them, lube them then sweet talk the hell out of them. They will come around sooner or later.

Yes, I have had to grind some heads off and drill out the bolt and re-tap the whole. Not everything will come out. I get it but you don't pound on your wrenches. They make striking wrenches for that and don't blame the ****** tool if you are using the wrong one and abusing it.

For 99 percent of all need the Craftsman will do the job. All my Craftsman tools are in the shop at the end of my tractor barn. They are the ones I use to fix all my equipment. I have all the good Snappie and other brands but they are in my machine shop or wood shop. I grew up with using Craftsman and they are like an old shoe. They fit and do the job just fine.

I use my offset ones more than my streight flair nut wrenhes. I like the 15 degree offset myself.

We need to have a contest to see who was dumb enough to have the worst abused tool. An abused tool contest would really show how smart people are.
Excuese me, your inteligence is showing.

 

[dankicksass]

Personally I think the only Craftsman flare wrenches worth owning are the SK-made CM-Pro from a few years back.

 

[Hiball]

We need to have a contest to see who was dumb enough to have the worst abused tool. An abused tool contest would really show how smart people are.
Excuese me, your inteligence is showing.

Kind of a ****** thing to say... Did you sneak into his garage and slip a set of calipers on his flare wrenches before he returned them? It's not completely out the realm to find a poor fitting wrench from time to time, regardless of brand.

 

[mf44]

Thanks for all the help guys. I decided to go with the 9 wrench metric/SAE set from Craftsman, as I remembered I also had a $10 off coupon from my birthday, making the difference moot. Thanks again for all the feedback!

 

[ndoran]

I wrench for fun and I have the pleasure of trying to remove brake lines that are 8 to 10 years old after winters of exposure to heavily salted roads. My experience is they are not coming apart without heating with a torch first. This is not the fault of my wrenches just the stuff is so rusty and this is on brakes lines that are not leaking.

Here is a photo of my wrenches, from left to right they are made by: Gray, Easco, Easco, Easco, SO, SO, SO, SO, SO, SO and Kamasa (Made in England).

I much prefer my SO SAE wrenches to my SO metric wrenches. I just did a set of brake lines and the SO wrenches could not move a single nut without the torch first. After heating I find any of these wrenches can free a frozen brake line.

For me I will not attempt brake lines without a torch being available unless it is on a car that is only a few years old.

Notice the change in the Snap On flare nut wrenches!

just my experience

 

[dirtydogintex]

Don't most of yall enjoy a good wreck?

We need to have a contest to see who was dumb enough to have the worst abused tool.

Great idea - an online 'Wall of Shame'!!

Entrants Participants could fess up and state if
the carnage was accidental
or
if they sorta figured beforehand (or should've) things would go south!

Prizes not required....

Don't most of yall enjoy a good wreck?