Does anyone use line wrenches that AREN'T Snap On?

[JayL]

Is this a good price $34.99

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00942013000P

tks

 

[Vinko]

Does anyone use line wrenches that AREN'T Snap On?

No why would you ask???

I have a set of Proto. I've used them only a few times to work on my 1951 Buick. But then again, I'm not a skilled mechanic by any means and I imagine that if I working working as a mechanic or a serious enthusiast of cars, I'd think differently about getting a better set.

Besides using my dad's Snap On stuff, my first Snap On tools were a full set of SAE Combo wrenches that I bought from a mechanic who was retiring and a set of green Snap On drivers that I got as a birthday present about 15 years ago.

 

[Junkman]

While working on my 1963 Chrysler, I had an assortment of Snap-On, New Britton, Proto, Herbrand, and Craftsman. I found that some fit better than another depending on the condition of the tube nut. I lucked out, and didn't round off any of the nuts, but there were a few that were so badly rusted, that the tubing just twisted. On those, it got a line replacement. The one "modern" Craftsman didn't fit any line nuts very well.

 

[eschoendorff]

While working on my 1963 Chrysler, I had an assortment of Snap-On, New Britton, Proto, Herbrand, and Craftsman. I found that some fit better than another depending on the condition of the tube nut. I lucked out, and didn't round off any of the nuts, but there were a few that were so badly rusted, that the tubing just twisted. On those, it got a line replacement. The one "modern" Craftsman didn't fit any line nuts very well.

Would this be a modern raised panel or a modern full polish?

 

[Cobra6]

For the $$$ - I like SK - especially if you don't use them every day -
But............
I got a set of Kobalt line wrenches before they changed the style 4 or 5 years ago - when they were made by JH Williams (polished chrome, good feel to them) - I tried to get several things when Lowe's changed their Kobalt line - they had some pretty good deals at clearance prices.

I got a pretty nice blue Kobalt two section stack-on tool box for about half price also.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

In the garage, we had Snap~on's and the Cra(p)sman (in this case) raised panel wrenches. Some of our customer base, brings things to you that they butcher (from not having the correct tools, don't use vise grips for everything).
After a break in a few years ago, we couldn't find the Snap~on ones. We has to use the Cra(I will let you finish), and saw them spread. We later that day found the Snap's (hadn't been stolen, luckly) after I ran home and brought back my JH Williams made Kobalts.
The Craftsman line wrench owner, took all his back and swapped them for the pro line. Which appear to be MUCH better quality (word on the net, was they thought SK made those).
As stated, I have my Kobalts for home (work fine and bought on closeout), but wanted some for my portable box. (could work on something that has been maintained, to something that is rusted in the field at my brothers farm). I picked up the Snap~on open end flare nut for that.

I think it all depends on if your working on your own stuff (since you maintain it) or other peoples abused junk.

 

[kythri]

I've got the SAE and Metric sets of the Craftsman Professional, which I thought several people (both in this thread and others) have confirmed that SK makes them...

The work great, but it's not as if I use them a LOT...

 

[JayL]

Re: What I've learned about line wrenches

I have a Gearwrench (non-ratcheting) metric set, which I bought when my opportunity to borrow Snap-ons dried up.

The Snap-ons are nearly 5x the price of the Gearwrenches, at local prices Even the US price differential would, for me, rule out the Snap-on tools.

Are the Snap-ons better ? Possibly, I would be willing to consider that they might be more durable, but I don't use them every day, or even every month, and the Gearwrenches certainly don't slip on, or chew up, the fasteners.



The Gearwrenches also feature curved drive faces - 'Surface Drive Plus'.

I just ordered these in Metric. Amazon's price is the same as Sears 50% off + Tax but with free shipping. Not a bad deal.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...t_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00993021000P?vName=Tools

Soon when these tools start showing ROIs I'm getting snap ons too.

 

[Jeepermike]

I know necro thread. Using a set of Masterforce/Menards line wrenches and they have a horrible fit. What is out there now that will do the job without rounding off the nuts?

 

[hangfirew8]

Yeah 11 year old thread resurrection. Options still include Snap-on and SK.

My SK's worked fine last year removing old brake lines to replace with NiCopp. Some were crazy stuck and I wished the wrenches were longer for more leverage but they took the fittings off. (And sometimes I was glad they were short for clearance issues.) Sometimes the brake line stuck to the inside of the fitting, but that's not the wrench's fault. But it was OK if they twisted because I was replacing them. The important thing is the junction blocks were still OK, and I got the old ones out.

To put new ones in I decided to make my life simpler and got some Craftsman flare nut crow's feet, made in Taiwan. They worked fine for the install. Fit seemed fine. No experience using them to remove, though. I wouldn't have bought Cman but a.) cost and b.) immediate availability. Now that Sears is closed and I've discovered Carlyle, I would probably just buy the single size tool needed and leave it at that.

I don't drink the Snap-on koolaid, but if a DIY're wanted to buy a single flare nut wrench or two, or the whole set if they could swing it, line wrenches would be the most justifiable reason to drop coin on the big brand name.

 

[BK13]

SK for SAE, Carlyle for metric. TBH, the Carlyles were not used on anything rusty, so the jury's still out.

 

[Ign]

Man I haven't seen a post from Ed since about, oh, 2007, so I had to click just to see if he had returned!

 

[JJ99SS]

I have a set of C Man Pro's that have performed perfectly for years. I recently added some Sunnex crowsfeet (flare nut) to the collection. It worked out beautifully when I used them with a small 3/8 breaker bar for some added leverage when doing a fuel filter on the Tacoma.

I could better apply, and control force on the fitting with a longer handled bar.

 

[oldwino]

bought a set of Sunnex for occasional use. Hated them...poor fit (decent finish though). gave them the old heave ho and hit the big white truck with red letters on the side. Trying to save a buck doesn't always work well.

 

[PJNJ]

15 years ago I picked up standard and metric sets of Husky's (Taiwan made) for $3 a set - HD was blowing them out. Worked well until that one really corroded, rusty line. Slowly purchased Snap On line wrenches on Ebay over the course of a few months until I had a sets of standard (except for 7/8) and metric. They're mismatched (different ages) but all have flank drive and they're NOS and used mixed in. But they only ran @$150 total.

Had a really corroded rusty line last year - Snappy's got it loose.

 

[Bob-B]

I still use my father's Williams SAE wrenches from the 40 & 50's. About 10 years ago, I bought Proto Blackhawk metric wrenches. Most of my wrenching is on old machine tools so the SAE stuff gets the most usage.

 

[anndel]

I have Snap-ons. The first set I had from the 1980's and still use them today. In my field tool bag I have Tektons.

 

[freudianfloyd]

I have a set of Crescent or Allen brand line wrenches. They have worked flawlessly for me every time I have used them, which is exactly zero times. I bought them because I did a lot of brake jobs, but have never even tried them. I almost bought a set of Craftsman line wrenches at Lowes the other day, but then realized I have a set already that I don't use, nicer ones aren't going to make me use them more than never.

 

[dalehsc]

As far as regular wrenches go, I have a mixture of Proto & Ultra Pro(Canadian NAPA)& Snap On. Crowfoot are Snap On. When I was in my own shop and doing a lot,and I mean a LOT, of brake line replacement, the Irwin 7LW vise grip was the ticket on small tube nuts.

 

[Gone Boating]

I have Tektons. Haven't used them a lot but they've been fine.

 

[ngk22r]

I'll tell ya one thing, the Snap-on ones work great

In all honesty, I use them so little. Probably one of the biggest wastes of money in my box. Although, I did use a cheap set once that expanded and wouldn't do it's job. It was probably made in China though.

I just use my Flank Drive Plus wrenches.

 

[f121]

Halfords Advanced (probably gear wrench), cost something like $30 for three double ended wrenches, lifetime warranty, no issues so far

 

[Professional Tool User]

I have both Craftsman and Snap on flare nut wrenches and both work fine.

 

[GrayFlattop]

Although I have Proto, Williams and a few SO line wrenches, I prefer using my vintage Bonney, Line Wrenches.

I can't remember the last time I rounded-off a fitting.

 

[crewchief888]

Have both snap on and mac both work great.

me too.
bought a couple of them new off the truck because i had to have them, the others, (std &MM) from flea mkts, pawn shops, and swap meets just to have them, and they were only $3-$4 each

 

[mudflap]

I use line wrenches almost every day.. and usually on older abused equipment. SO is worth the $$ on a couple things. Line wrenches being one, and snap ring pliers being the other.. Thats also what i tell the new Techs during orientation at the County shop.

 

[cowboy73]

I have SK SAE. I have Craftsman metric.

 

[DFB]

Craftsman SAE (2 sets)

I had a couple sets of the Tekton to sell from my tool table both a metric and SAE. Overall they weren't that popular and sat most of the season.

video

 

[Turbo442]

I saw these the other day in my buddies shop.


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[DGersic]

I have SAE and metric Craftsman line wrenches. They’re ok, not great. Got a couple of other unknown brand wrenches from AutoZone that I picked up because I needed something that day, and they were open.

The last set of lines I replaced on my truck, I had to pull the distribution block off the frame, cut the lines, and use a pipe wrench to get the nuts out. Corrosion from salt and age laughed at any puny little line wrench.


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[joetech]

I'm using Craftsman SAE and Pittsburgh Professional Metric. So far so good.

 

[nelstomlinson]

I have Snap On, SK, Proto and Bonney. No complaints about any of them.

 

[Corvair]

Just buying Snap-on flare nut wrenches and be done with it. I think I only need 3 for my Corvair anyway.

 

[Briancapecoral]

I have SK metric, and Proto sae. Both replaced cheap HF ones that broke during use.

 

[PugetDude]

Mine are old Craftsman. Never an issue.

 

[maxcarp709]

I bought a set of SAE line wrenches from Cornwell long ago .They have not held up well in fact they are worthless now.Snap On from now on!

 

[bonneyman]

Although I have Proto, Williams and a few SO line wrenches, I prefer using my vintage Bonney, Line Wrenches.

I can't remember the last time I rounded-off a fitting.

I'll take any opportunity to blow the Bonney horn!

 

[ChrisLS8]

I only use 10 or 12mm nowadays so I have a single SK double ended I got off Amazon for like 15 bucks

 

[22george]

Used craftsman for years with no problems. Bought larger sizes at flea market - what ever they had. Used some of them. Have had no issues.

 

[wood02]

Craftsman