Cheapest flare wrenches that work, or just get crowsfoot flares?

[signcrafter]

What are the cheapest flare wrenches that aren't junk? I have a nice set of snap on SAE but my metric is mostly craftsman and some others mixed in but it's not a complete set and seems like I'm always missing the one size I need. Thinking about getting a new set so I don't have to worry about not having the size I need.

Or should I keep what I have and maybe add the wrench or two I need and pick up a set of crowsfoot flare wrenches? Are crowsfoot flares nice to have? If so what is the cheapest set that works decent?

 

[Chadwilliam1]

Gearwrench

 

[akhappy]

Buy a used set of Snap On metric flare nut wrenches off of ebay for 80$, that's what I did....

 

[rsanter]

I often use the snap on crows foot with a 3/8 breaker bar when I need a second flair nut wrench so that's always one direction to go.
The older RP craftsmans are good for the money. Also,older proto

Bob

 

[jim1987]

Ever craft at Napa. I remember $30 or so per set. Very complete sets too. I wanna say 1/4-3/4 and 10-19. Beefy but not bearing. Tight fit. Lifetime warranty. Can't beat them for the price.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

I misread the question cheapest best value I say gear wrench, that being said I plan to buy metric snap on wrenches eventually. I have never needed standard flare wrenches. Somebody tell me what vehicle require those?

 

[Ruger_556]

I misread the question cheapest best value I say gear wrench, that being said I plan to buy metric snap on wrenches eventually. I have never needed standard flare wrenches. Somebody tell me what vehicle require those?

Older diesel engines in heavy equipment etc... Seems like I ran across a SAE brake line fitting once too.

 

[bareass172]

I bought used but great shape SK on Ebay for like $30. It was a good deal, I watched a lot go higher, but for that price I couldn't pass on them. I think they're as good as my SnapOn SAE set.

 

[montess84]

Snap on is all that really works
I need a new set the c man look really nice 6 PC set 60$ but I know better .
I been thinking of trading in my worn old c mans for new but I bet there worse , the lifetime warranty ***** when u know not to use it !!

 

[Ronny]

Take it from me,the cheapest never work.
Get the best you can afford even if you have to save a few weeks to get them, and my recommendation is the Snap on LW 204 .They fit most flare nuts on fuel and brakes most folks will ever encounter. I work on a lot of cars every day which can be fifty years old and more. So the brake nuts will be frozen solid,but these things work like a charm everytime . You can even fit a 3/8 drive breaker bar in them and really torque a rusted flare nut undone.

 

[wvrailroader]

Buy a used set of Snap On metric flare nut wrenches off of ebay for 80$, that's what I did....

Never worked for me. Every metric Snap On set I found sold for a price that makes me think they were made of gold. Thirty seconds before the auction ends, the price goes sky high because it is Snap On.

 

[Ronny]

A friend of mine was on vacation in the UK and saw these things made by hazet being used on rusty brake pipes and got me to import a full set for him...these are eye bleeding expensive...but made to last forever and work brilliantly.

 

[4x4gearhead]

In my experience, the old raised panel craftsmans werent bad. I use a sae snap on set, most of what I work on is rusty. My metrics are a matco set I got cheap off my dealer as he went out of business. In my mind cheap flare nut wrenches are just a headache. I have heard a lot of people suggest GW when this comes up but I dont have any first hand experience.

 

[sonvolt]

I have an set of SK that are great, Proto are good as well to stay below the SO $$.

 

[wvrailroader]

I have an Armstrong SAE set that I got fairly cheap. So far they have worked well for me.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

 

[n8n]

Sub'd, as I have a similar question to OP. Have SAE Snap-On set but RP Cman for metric, and not happy with them. Is SK 'good enough' or just save for more Snappy? I'm an old car guy so flare wrenches get (ab)used hard.

Sent from my XT897 using Tapatalk

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Is SK 'good enough' or just save for more Snappy? I'm an old car guy so flare wrenches get (ab)used hard.

SK are excellent, they're the only other brand of Flare Wrenches to get as much praise as Snap-On around here.

I just upgraded from my Craftsman set to a used SK set, and couldn't be happier. Granted, I was surprised how well the Chinese Craftsman set held up over the last few years. Never slipped or rounded anything off, they were a little bulky though.

 

[SCscoutguy]

To me for the money spent you can't beat the SK flare wrenches. I find them to be at least equal if not better quality than the Snap On's and they are more reasonably priced used. If you can find them on ebay as a set the old Indestro made flare wrenches are probably the best quality I have ever seen.

 

[n8n]

SK are excellent, they're the only other brand of Flare Wrenches to get as much praise as Snap-On around here.

I just upgraded from my Craftsman set to a used SK set, and couldn't be happier. Granted, I was surprised how well the Chinese Craftsman set held up over the last few years. Never slipped or rounded anything off, they were a little bulky though.

I ended up taking one of my old cars (late 80's VW GTI 16V) to a shop because my c'man (old USA) RP flare wrenches couldn't get the lines loose from the prop valve. I still haven't upgraded my metrics since then though, is why I'm asking...

I'll have to get on the 'bay and compare used Snappy to new SK price wise (seems to be almost no used SK out there.)

 

[Jeeper]

Take it from me,the cheapest never work.
Get the best you can afford even if you have to save a few weeks to get them, and my recommendation is the Snap on LW 204 .They fit most flare nuts on fuel and brakes most folks will ever encounter. I work on a lot of cars every day which can be fifty years old and more. So the brake nuts will be frozen solid,but these things work like a charm everytime . You can even fit a 3/8 drive breaker bar in them and really torque a rusted flare nut undone.

How do those work? I have never seen them before. Couldn't find them on the snappy site other than the original press release.

 

[sz0k30]

Are crowsfoot flares nice to have?

Its not whether they're nice to have or not. Sometimes, due to clearance issues and the room to actually do the job, they are the only thing that will work.

Removing and attaching the power steering hoses to the P/S gear on my 67 Impala. Required a crowsfoot flare and a long extension on a ratchet. No room for a flare wrench.

 

[signcrafter]

Is this gearwrench set decent, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NI93SE/?tag=atomicindus08-20 It's perfect for my budget! But I also know that flare nut wrenches are one of those things where spending an extra buck or two will make you a lot happier in the end. But the gearwrench are about half the price of SK.

What about this williams set, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DNTR4S/?tag=atomicindus08-20 Isn't williams a part of snap on? Are these the same as snap on but not the chrome finish?

 

[n8n]

Is this gearwrench set decent, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NI93SE/?tag=atomicindus08-20 It's perfect for my budget! But I also know that flare nut wrenches are one of those things where spending an extra buck or two will make you a lot happier in the end. But the gearwrench are about half the price of SK.

What about this williams set, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DNTR4S/?tag=atomicindus08-20 Isn't williams a part of snap on? Are these the same as snap on but not the chrome finish?

Would be interested in above as well, but the Williams ones are Taiwan COO (and I would assume that the GearWrench ones are as well; I didn't look) just so you know. If they were USA made I might have given them a try. Not that there's anything wrong with a quality Taiwanese tool, but if there are reasonably affordable, similar quality USA made tools available, that would be my preference.

http://www.snaponindustrialbrands.com/Cat-20-1-421/double-head-flare-nut-wrenches.htm

 

[Larch]

I have a mix for my metric, SK, Blackhawk USA, and Napa USA. The SK and Blackhawk are nearly identical. They are top of the line, the Napa are nice as well. My standard are Snap-on, I would put the SK and Blawkhawk up against the any day. If you shop around at Pawn shops Ebay ect. you can put a set together on the cheap.

 

[theoldwizard1]

In my experience, the old raised panel craftsmans werent bad.

+1 !

I have the HF metric set that I bought years ago. I still have not used them !

 

[bareass172]

I'll have to get on the 'bay and compare used Snappy to new SK price wise (seems to be almost no used SK out there.)

I've been watching for awhile now trying to round out my metric set. Typically, if you're patient, you can get the SK for at least half of the SO sets. That's not a hard rule, but I bought my 5 pc SAE SK set for $20 (a steal IMO) and see them sell for under $40 often enough if you're patient. I never see the SO go under $50, and mostly the prices get so high I stop watching so I'm not totally sure what the top end is.

What about this williams set, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DNTR4S/?tag=atomicindus08-20 Isn't williams a part of snap on? Are these the same as snap on but not the chrome finish?

I would love to buy some Williams stuff as it's price is so much lower than many other brands, but they are definitely not the same as SO and the only ones I've ever found worth owning (outside of DIY use) is the supercombos. I wouldn't trust either the GW or Williams for everyday hard use, but that's not based on first hand experience with the flares, just experience with their other wrenches.

 

[treblarefils]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Flare-Nut-SAE-Metric-Set-6-Piece-HFNW6PC/203541511

I got this set to change out a fuel filter. Was rusted a bit and really on there good. These worked with out any issue and I cranked pretty good too. No spreading that I could tell. Identical to the gearwrench and probably made by them.

 

[n8n]

I misread the question cheapest best value I say gear wrench, that being said I plan to buy metric snap on wrenches eventually. I have never needed standard flare wrenches. Somebody tell me what vehicle require those?

Seriously? Any old american car, pre-late '70s. I use SAE all the time, but then again I do tend to work on 50's and 60's cars a lot.

 

[crewchief888]

my flarenut wrenches arent a set, i've picked them up "as needed" over the years.

mixed batch of SO, matco, mac, and SK.

some were bought new,
some used
as low as $1 each at pawn shops and flea mkts

 

[atwageman]

I personally use SO and Wright. Wright are great for the money if one is not willing to pay SO$$$

 

[Loscaldazar]

The husky are probably the same as the Gearwrench ones, seeing as how Danaher makes most of the Husky tools.

Ironically enough the Northern Tool, Gearwrench and Craftsman full polished flare nut wrenches are exactly the same, but everyone complains about how bad the Craftsman versions are, and how good the gearwrench version are. I love this forum some times.

I got a 6 piece SAE set and a 6 piece Metric Snap On set for under $100 shipped each (about the only Snap On tools I actually own). If I it was me, and I couldn't get a good deal on snap on flare nut wrenches, I'd go for SK. They are cheap enough (especially used) that there should be no reason to have to get the Gearwrench ones.

 

[BlksnshN]

Is this gearwrench set decent, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NI93SE/?tag=atomicindus08-20 It's perfect for my budget! But I also know that flare nut wrenches are one of those things where spending an extra buck or two will make you a lot happier in the end. But the gearwrench are about half the price of SK.

What about this williams set, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DNTR4S/?tag=atomicindus08-20 Isn't williams a part of snap on? Are these the same as snap on but not the chrome finish?

I bought both the standard and metric GearWrench sets and have been very happy with them.

 

[dewmor]

Just found this deal for the Gearwrench flare nut wrench sets. Buy the 6pc SAE set for $44.56 plus shipping, get the 6pc metric set free. It's from National Tool Warehouse. I've never dealt with them but I'm pretty sure there are lots of folks here on GJ that can chime in about them.

Link for 2for1 Gearwrench flare nut wrench sets

 

[BlksnshN]

^ That is an awesome deal.

 

[Supe]

What's the common SAE size for brake/fuel lines for older pre-90's GM's?

 

[rtole]

I have the gearwrench flex heads. Pro use (but dont seem to need em but once a week) They have never let me down. I did break down and get a set of snap on flare crowsfeet after a string of power steering hoses. Those flex heads are great. So much more options than a fixed head. I gave my craftsman raised panel flare wrenches to my dad after I got the gw set.

 

[tomshep]

Buy a used set of Snap On metric flare nut wrenches off of ebay for 80$, that's what I did....

+1.

You will regret no getting good flare wrenches. Nothing is worse than rounding a flare nut.

I have SO and MAC. Both are good. Watch ebay and in classifieds. You will get a set and have good quality.

Tom

 

[Adam.C]

Buy a used set of Snap On metric flare nut wrenches off of ebay for 80$, that's what I did....

+2 I paid more than that tho. Clean sets in new condition go closer to $200 than $80.

Unlike an open end wrench, flare nut wrenches are designed to fit tighter. They must be precisely made so that pressure is spread over a greater area and also across multiple faces.

Manufacturers make tools that look like flare nut wrenches, but in use they may function similar to open end wrenches. By my estimation cheap flare nut wrenches, if they aren't of the the highest quality, are no bargain.

Btw I was working on something I thought was metric but used 3/4" fittings instead of 19mm. I was glad I bought SAE Flare nut wrenches. I recommend getting both sets.

 

[Danglerb]

I bought used Snapon, when you really need a good line wrench its not just getting the fitting apart, its not wrecking some no longer available essential fitting.

 

[monomach]

If you're using them professionally, price is the last thing that should matter when picking line wrenches. That's a tool that can cost you a whole lot of time when something goes wrong.

As a rule, I don't do business with Snap-On (bad dealer)...but I haven't found a different brand of line wrench I can work with.

If I lived somewhere without salty winter roads and rusty fittings, I'm sure I could get by with something else...but I'm in the middle of the worst of it, so Snappy it is. Nothing else I've used fits quite as well.

Wright probably would, as most of their tools are the best you can get, but I'd want to try one before buying and no one around here has them.