Crowfeet or Foot or what the hell?

[03protege]

So I have always wondered what a crowsfoot was and the other night I finally decided to look up how to use one and why do you use it.

Needless to say I instantly decided I needed a set.

So sears wants to take about $50 from me for these things(metric and SAE), but I have made it thus far I can't see myself using it all that much.

Does anyone have any recommendations on what brand is a great value, or is the Cman a good price? I am particularly interested in metric but I wouldn't mind getting both.

Also do I want flare nut or regular? I cannot justify both but I don;t quite understand the difference. I know what a flare nut is but why wont the standard one work and visa versa.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Flare nut is good for hydro fittings, regular for other stuff. If you can find the US Cman, I've had good luck with my sets. I have metric and SAE in both...never have too many tools!

 

[tkonetzke]

Watch the new bags of cman crowsfeet set. At first glance I saw usa on the back, I had the sae set in my hand inline at the register. Looked at the back again and saw made in china, distributes in the usa by sears(or something to that affect). Out of line to return them to the shelf.
My larger sets are sunex(china), but I wont buy chinese craftsman simply because I dont like how sears bastardized the name.

 

[hunterguy86]

They are helpful in really tight spots when you can't get a wrench or a socket on a fastener. You stick an extension in the square hole of the crowfoot and then a ratchet or breaker bar on that.

I bought gearwrench in sae and metric

 

[smothers33]

standard crowsfoot would turn anything a flare nut can but a flare nut has a better "grip'on the bolt. only really useful on brake lines, injector lines on diesels, or any type of line or hose where you cant put a socket or box end wrench but dont want to risk stripping the bolt with a open end wrench. with that said I wouldnt waste the money on flarenut version. just make sure you use the right size wrench and make sure you have as good of a grip as possible on the bolt and you wont have a problem.

Im sure the craftsman set is fine its not a bad price. craftsman would be the cheapest brand I would trust with these though.

 

[CWP1616L]

I'd say the 12 point flare nut style will give you more bites in tight spots.

 

[skyking]

I have them up to 3" in Snappy. Very job specific. Only used to bail your *** out on a hidden bolt or nut.
I would put the money elsewhere. I keep a box of garage sale China tools and my cutting torch for special needs. A good "wrench "can make any tool he needs !

 

[86k10]

I would get the flare nut ones. I have a set each in standard and metric and they are Chicom CM that I bought from a pawnshop new. They are fine. I don't think there is a situation that it will fail any worse than a US made CM one.

I still like the US better but I got these for $30 each set. The only times where they become handy in my experience is on fuel/oil lines, that is why I went with the flare nut style. If there isn't a line on it I would just use a socket.

 

[genevabuck]

Unless you are a pro, get flare nut and cheap one on eBay. They are VERY rarely used.

 

[O_M_Jeep]

I keep my 5/8 crowfoot in my pocket, keeps me from having to dig out an 8pt socket for square plugs on drive differential housings, crowfoot on my 24" ratchet and out it comes, easy as can be and fits in a pocket nicely.

Love mine.

 

[Carson_13]

Some power steering lines its the only way to go. I never understood the use until nothing else would work. lol

 

[Hammell]

Got one, a 36mm snap on, used for hydrolic fittings and lines on heavy equipment. Dam handy in tight spots.

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

I got the combined set from Craftsman about six months ago and it was all made in the US.

 

[Altec]

I use flare nut crows feet a lot more on older cars, but I've had uses on newer cars too. And I wouldn't be afraid to use them on other fasteners too. Just today I was pulling the coffee can (Evap canister) off a Civic, and one of the 10mm bolts is half way under a bracket, and up into the car about 3". A 10mm flare nut crows foot, and a 6" extension made quick work. A open end crows foot would most likely have spread. A torque adapter would have been the only other option.

I personally suggest name brand imports for flare nuts in both SAE, and metric, and the best you can afford for open ends. Only because you are more likely to spread a open end.

Around these parts crows feet are a bit "old school." My Dad can break out a flare nut crows foot and get to a brake, or fuel fitting in seconds that I would have tore my hand up to get to and I'm lefting standing there thinking "Damn, why didn't I think of that?" They pretty much have as many uses as you want... Including a poor mans long pattern with a breaker bar...

 

[TwoInch]

i use the flare nut crowfeet occasionally. last time i can recall was on a power steering line... i dont own the regular style.

 

[pipsters]

Flarenut wrenches are pretty short, one benefit of the flarenut crows feet is you can put some good torque with a longer ratchet.

If you are a homeowner, they can save your ***. I replaced my sink and they saved our *** allowing me to unhook the facet from the sink and take the unit out. I have no idea how I would've done it without my crowsfeet.

I bought mine late last year and got the SK made flare nut sets for $56 a piece from Sears, and the 21 pc Sears set for around $70. I noticed if you want US, Zorotools sells the 21 pc US made "Industrial" branded set now for around $120.

 

[TheCarbideRat]

They can get you out of a jam.

 

[Big-Foot]

Flare Crows Feet - especially helpful in getting automatic transmission cooling lines off / on the transmission side in a very tight tunnel.. Use mine frequently for this..

I had a Chinese set, but the darned things splay out and round off the fittings. Chunked those into the junk tools drawer (loaners) and bought a MAC set and no more worries.

 

[Murphy4570]

Get the flarenut ones, and a quality brand at that.

I use mine mostly on hard to reach power steering fittings on power steering racks when doing rack jobs, as well as other oddball things here and there. Last time I recall using them was on a fuel filter fitting on a filter buried next to the frame rail. They will save your bacon when you need them.

 

[03protege]

Awesome thanks for the help everyone, I guess I will start keeping my eyes peeled for a good deal.

 

[mvptrukin]

I think when members ask general questions like this they should describe the situations how the tools will be used . Are you a beginning mechanic, DIYer who seeks to take on more difficult jobs to save money by working on your daily driver, toys, etc.? For a Pro--- crowfeet wrenches are necessary in both open end and flarenut. If I was a DIYer I wouldn't go crazy and buy all kinds of sets. Do what I call a wrench survey of the vehicle you do work on--what size are the brake line fittings, automatic transmission fluid lines, fuel injection lines---then go buy the crowfeet flarenut wrenches in that size. Some members have mentioned that you can use the flarenut crowfeet in place of the open end crowfeet--while this is true remember the flare nuts are always thicker--that's the advantage of the open end ones. S•K makes fine crowfeet in flare and open end.

 

[03protege]

I think when members ask general questions like this they should describe the situations how the tools will be used . Are you a beginning mechanic, DIYer who seeks to take on more difficult jobs to save money by working on your daily driver, toys, etc.? For a Pro--- crowfeet wrenches are necessary in both open end and flarenut. If I was a DIYer I wouldn't go crazy and buy all kinds of sets. Do what I call a wrench survey of the vehicle you do work on--what size are the brake line fittings, automatic transmission fluid lines, fuel injection lines---then go buy the flarenut wrenches in that size. Some members have mentioned that you can use the flarenut crowfeet in place of the open end crowfeet--whlile this true remember the flare nuts are always thicker--that's the advantage of the open end ones. S•K makes fine crowfeet in flare and open end.

I am a DIYer in the process of pulling the engine/transmission to replace my engine bearings. My car has 160k miles and I do all the work on it, necessary or otherwise.

I like the idea of buying only the sizes I need, but I thought getting a kit would cost about the same amount (staying within the same brand)

 

[mvptrukin]

The truck brands don't give a price break between buying individual pcs. or entire sets unless they are on sale. Crowfeet wrenches are a speciality item, tools that aren't used every day---I am a pro and have sizes that have never been used. Just buy the sizes you need and see how you like them! With all the new flex flarenut wrenches that are being made today I think the regular crowfeet flarenut wrenches are going to become dinosaurs.

 

[franzdom]

Flarenut wrenches are pretty short, one benefit of the flarenut crows feet is you can put some good torque with a longer ratchet.

If you are a homeowner, they can save your ***. I replaced my sink and they saved our *** allowing me to unhook the facet from the sink and take the unit out. I have no idea how I would've done it without my crowsfeet.

I bought mine late last year and got the SK made flare nut sets for $56 a piece from Sears, and the 21 pc Sears set for around $70. I noticed if you want US, Zorotools sells the 21 pc US made "Industrial" branded set now for around $120.

basin wrench

Everyone should have one of these in addition to the other crow feet.

 

[jetmech09]

I have the USA craftsman at work. I rarely use them but when I do, I seriously need them. I don't see much use for the flare style, but most of the fasteners I see are not corroded. I can see how spreading would be an issue on the standard style. I think the c-mans are a great value, considering the same set from snappy is damn close to 300 bills

 

[heyutokyo]

I have a 9 piece set of MAC crows feet/foot. I bought them brand new but I rarely use them. I would be willing to sell them for the right price. Send me a PM if interested.

 

[Toolhorder]

Flare Crows Feet - especially helpful in getting automatic transmission cooling lines off / on the transmission side in a very tight tunnel.. Use mine frequently for this..

I had a Chinese set, but the darned things splay out and round off the fittings. Chunked those into the junk tools drawer (loaners) and bought a MAC set and no more worries.

What's the difference? lol

 

[FiendFX]

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-10-p...p-00904363000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

Crows are much thinner. best for tight spots

 

[Big-Foot]

What's the difference? lol

The MAC set does not splay out... Regardless of their country of origin, they are far superior to the junk set I had..

 

[dandan111]

I wish i had a set to tighten my header bolts a while back. Couldnt get the bolts tight enough and these may have done it. Sold the car so problem solved.

 

[6-Speed]

I used a crowsfeet with a torque wrench to tighten a strut stem nut to "approximate" torque. You can get a little more accurate by applying some basic math principles.

 

[tyheuser]

Best deal you can get is on Allen brand crowfoot sets on ebay metric or sae 10 peice sets for under $30 shipped. There made in USA by Danahar tools Im sure there the same as armstrong or usa craftsman. I bought those sets and there a nice tool!!

 

[Man of Many Vices]

I keep a box of garage sale China tools and my cutting torch for special needs. A good "wrench "can make any tool he needs !

Thanks. Now I know what to do with all those bent or slightly damaged tools that I can't bear to throw away... especially those tarnished pebble Plvmbs that I'm short a wrench or two to make a complete set (just kidding).

 

[RCStocker]

Best deal you can get is on Allen brand crowfoot sets on ebay metric or sae 10 peice sets for under $30 shipped. There made in USA by Danahar tools Im sure there the same as armstrong or usa craftsman. I bought those sets and there a nice tool!!

I have not seen them that cheap. Allen, KD, K and Gearwrench are all made by the same company.
As far as I can see Craftsman are the cheapest sets. You can get 10 percent of on Craftsman days and another 5% with a Sears card.
They go on sale once in a while. I would buy an older set and not ones from China.

I just price them out new and C-mans are the lowest price I have seen. Check E bay but I have not seen them for under $45

I stand corrected. There is a set for a buy now price of $25. I can't believe it. I sold my last set for $45. I guess I got lucky. How much is the shipping?

 

[tyheuser]

Metric Set 29.95 shipped

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Allen-10-pc...8-/400329887767?forcev4exp=true&forceRpt=true

SAE Set 28.75 shipped

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Allen-10-pc...4-/390466392770?forcev4exp=true&forceRpt=true

I bought the SAE set a month ago and have used them quite a bit. I believe they just added that metric set because it wasnt there a month ago I just orded them tonight there high quality and USA stamped cheaper then craftsman.

I have cornwell flare nut crowfoots to and I usually use that style if possible but for this price I had to have both! lol

 

[03protege]

Metric Set 29.95 shipped

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Allen-10-pc...8-/400329887767?forcev4exp=true&forceRpt=true

SAE Set 28.75 shipped

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Allen-10-pc...4-/390466392770?forcev4exp=true&forceRpt=true

I bought the SAE set a month ago and have used them quite a bit. I believe they just added that metric set because it wasnt there a month ago I just orded them tonight there high quality and USA stamped cheaper then craftsman.

I have cornwell flare nut crowfoots to and I usually use that style if possible but for this price I had to have both! lol

You can also order it on there website and they have some individuals that are not included in the set.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Very happy with my old Bonney crowsfoot wrenches. Haven't used them on a regular basis, but have never let me down when I needed them. (The big one is 1 1/2", never had to use it yet)

 

[tyheuser]

You can also order it on there website and they have some individuals that are not included in the set.

Damnit I wish I would of looked on there, I see theres a 22mm but what other sizes are there? there website search kinda blows

 

[Mickey O]

Seldom used invaluable tool. I use them a lot (relatively speaking) on plumbing stuff and always wondered why plumbers don't use them, can't recall ever seeing a plumber with a set. Also, with the right extensions, quite handy as distributor wrenches. And of course there are a pile of motorcycle and car/truck applications. One of those tools that can be buried in the toolbox that you would pay twice the price for them when you need one.

 

[03protege]

Damnit I wish I would of looked on there, I see theres a 22mm but what other sizes are there? there website search kinda blows

KD tools 21mm. Don't know if you would have a use for that. I searched cripes for "crowfoot"

Which if you don't know KD is the same as the Allen, both Danaher and both discontinued.