flare nut wrenches necessary?

[BioNerd]

Hello,

What if you own a set of SK Tools X-Frame or WrightGRIP or Snap-on Flank Drive Plus? they aren't going to round the nut, they wont open or let go. does that render my flare nut wrenches useless?

have you seen their reviews?

thanks

 

[theoldwizard1]

I would still want flare nut wrenches ! The flare nut itself is made of very soft metal and you want MORE contacts points.

 

[DodgeMech]

i'm thinkin the whole flare nut wrench thing is only for up north where corrosion lives...i got my fdp wrenches and haven't ever had an issue with brake lines or anything else that uses flare nuts...but i am in southeast texas

 

[Finky198]

I would still want flare nut wrenches ! The flare nut itself is made of very soft metal and you want MORE contacts points.

This ^^^

using the right tool for the job will keep you from rounding them most of the time. If your completely replacing the lines just cut them and use a 6pt socket to avoid any issues. I would say Snap on is probably regarded as the best for flare nut wrenches

 

[1950mercury]

Flare nut wrenhes will not leave marks like fd+

 

[Empty Pockets]

I have and still use SO flare nut wrenches. I find them especially useful for brake lines and hydralic lines on farm machinery

 

[Rj555]

I have and still use SO flare nut wrenches. I find them especially useful for brake lines and hydralic lines on farm machinery

I use flared for brake, hydraulics and fuel lines. They are very useful.

 

[DanielC99]

Speaking of SO flare nut wrenches, I was over at my nephews for Thanksgiving and we were in one of his shops looking for stuff to fix a LP gas hose. I looked down and saw a standard SO flare nut wrench and mentioned that it was a very good wrench. And that I have not had much success with my old Craftsman flare nut wrenches.
When we got ready to leave he walked up and handed me 4 of the 5 pc SO standard flare nut 6 point double end wrench set, 1/4 - 13/16. The only one he couldn't find is the 1/4 - 5/16 wrench. He said he would let me know when he finds that one.
I have a 70's car I'm working on so the standard set is perfect.
Gotta love family...

 

[driz]

I did without for 40 years........lots of torch time broken stuff headaches. You can get a full metric sae set off amazon or Sears for around $50. You'll be glad you did.
As you have them believe me. Also don't sweat the fatter profile like some do. It's not that important almost always but for the very rare situation.


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[justme-]

i'm thinkin the whole flare nut wrench thing is only for up north where corrosion lives...i got my fdp wrenches and haven't ever had an issue with brake lines or anything else that uses flare nuts...but i am in southeast texas

Not just up north, but a real necessity up north. They are the correct tool for those applications. How many guys use only an adjustable wrench and a pair of vice grips? It'll work alot of the time in many cases but its not the correct tool for anything and it will cause accelerated wear to the fasteners.

Alot of people down south get away just as you have because of environment and luck.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Hello,

What if you own a set of SK Tools X-Frame or WrightGRIP or Snap-on Flank Drive Plus? they aren't going to round the nut, they wont open or let go. does that render my flare nut wrenches useless?


Yours??????

Mine;; NO Way .. Booger up the fittings on the fuel, hydraulic, air conditioning, or air brake systems on a piece of equipment
that can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $600,000 with your grippie type wrenches;;;;;; You had best have a fast pair of track shoes with You in them!! My flare nut wrenches were bought for a specific reason..

I personally dislike ANY wrench that leaves a mark on any type of fastener..


It really boils down to what You are working on, and Who owns it..

 

[Wakefield]

FD+ Wright Grip probably need hard metal to bite into--wonder if the tool companies will try putting grip serrations on the jaws of flare nut wrenches?

 

[four.cycle]

it only requires rounding off one soft brass compression nut to understand they "why" part of owning a set of flare nut wrenches.
I don't know why anyone would puzzle over it when you can pick up a full set on Ebay from $10 up to $50... probably even cheaper if you go Chinese.

 

[Eastsidetech]

Although I usually use flank drive plus on brakes and fuel. It's a must to have my flare but wrenches on Honda and Toyota fuel filters.

 

[P51Boilermaker]

Definitely good to have around, it boils down to the right tool for the job. Just like a screwdriver isn't a pry bar.

Sure, fd+ might work but for how long? Really want to risk stripping a brake line fitting and having to cut the tubing and flare it again with a new nut? No way. Flare nut wrenches have more contact points and are made specifically for softer fluid line fittings.

 

[928'er]

Btw, the HF set is pure junk...

Flare wrenches are not something you can cheap out on.

 

[larry_g]

Get yourself a backhoe with mechanical fuel injection and you'll understand the need for tubing wrenches.

lg
no neat sigline

 

[TNToy]

@larry_g you're not kidding. Anything with 6 or 8 fuel lines out and two in, with a mechanical injection pump REALLY makes you want a set of flare wrenches. Sine you really can't do the job at all without them.

 

[countryroad82]

i'm thinkin the whole flare nut wrench thing is only for up north where corrosion lives...i got my fdp wrenches and haven't ever had an issue with brake lines or anything else that uses flare nuts...but i am in southeast texas

I hate you........ Lol! Rub it in why dontcha! Living in the rust belt requires a relationship with rust and learning how to deal with it.

As for the original post, flare wrenches are still a must for me. I reach for the FD+ when I'm ready to just fawk those fittings up.

 

[LXCam]

Flare wrenches are not something you can cheap out on.

That's no BS. After trying three different manufacturers through the years and coming across far too many nuts that caused me to spread a few of them I finally broke down and bought both sets of the Snappy's. I hated spending that much money for them but I hope I'll never have to buy them again.

BTW count me in as one of those that doesn't like leaving marks.

 

[shoggoth80]

Line nuts are generally made of pretty soft stuff. They round off/get chewed up easily. I wouldn't get rid of your line wrenches.

 

[Jarhead0408]

That's no BS. After trying three different manufacturers through the years and coming across far too many nuts that caused me to spread a few of them I finally broke down and bought both sets of the Snappy's. I hated spending that much money for them but I hope I'll never have to buy them again.

BTW count me in as one of those that doesn't like leaving marks.

Cam, what other brands did you try before you went with Snap On?

I've got sae and metric sets from S•K.

 

[driz]

That's no BS. After trying three different manufacturers through the years and coming across far too many nuts that caused me to spread a few of them I finally broke down and bought both sets of the Snappy's. I hated spending that much money for them but I hope I'll never have to buy them again.

BTW count me in as one of those that doesn't like leaving marks.

How true. Get the usual chinese knockoff brand that will work fine with a regular wrench and they WILL spread or break. That's why you just don't want to go there. The only thing with the mid range ones I have is the thickness which mostly doesn't bother you. But if you set into a Forrest of lines all packed in tight you will want that high priced Snappy.

 

[sberry]

Hello,

What if you own a set of SK Tools X-Frame or WrightGRIP or Snap-on Flank Drive Plus? they aren't going to round the nut, they wont open or let go. does that render my flare nut wrenches useless?

have you seen their reviews?

thanks

Can you do what you need to do with what you have? There are places they are must have and last thing to worry about is a mark on a tubing nut on a common car.

 

[DodgeMech]

Get yourself a backhoe with mechanical fuel injection and you'll understand the need for tubing wrenches.

lg
no neat sigline

maybe i've just been lucky, but all the pumps and injectors i've dealt with worked just fine either with my normal fdp or my one crowfoot wrench i own...never needed line wrenches for those either...and i ain't scares of leaving some bite marks on those fittings

 

[BioNerd]

Thanks for all responses!
I own a craftsman pro complete set of sae and metric. I use them along with TFM 750 penetrating oil to loose em up as a first option.
Sometimes, lines are just impossible to reach and turn with a flare nut wrench, a good open end is the only choice I have, and believe me, I pray for luck.

My wrightgrips have been so good in these rare ocassions that I wanted to ask u guys that question.

Thanks!!

 

[goodysgotacuda]

Line wrenches are one of those tools that you need quality and you need to have on-hand WHEN you need it. If not, you'll screw around trying to make an end wrench work and round off the fitting.

When I deal with them, I grab my Craftsman Professional set [or insert other decent brand] and that is the first tool I put on a flared fitting. As mentioned, they are usually very soft and fairly stuck in there...you get "one shot" at it coming off without a fight.

They do have crowsfoot-type line wrench ends for those tight access areas, but I don't own any of those.

 

[sberry]

Its not something I would be looking to get rid of.

 

[OctoMan]

They provide more contact points on the fitting. Many times they're soft material like brass. I have a great set of Protos off Amazon for $50.

 

[wafrederick]

Yes.Lot of the brake lines,I cut and replace if the brake line fitting if it does not turn.This is when replacing wheel cylinders if the vehicle has drum brakes in the rear.Don't need a leak after the repair is done.I have seen so many rounded off and screwed up fittings because a flare nut wrench was not used on them.

 

[Flivver250]

Plenty of times and places to use them. Ponder this: why wouldn't you want to buy more tools? What does need have to do with it?

 

[sberry]

Yes.Lot of the brake lines,I cut and replace if the brake line fitting if it does not turn.This is when replacing wheel cylinders if the vehicle has drum brakes in the rear.Don't need a leak after the repair is done.I have seen so many rounded off and screwed up fittings because a flare nut wrench was not used on them.

If they are going to come loose or I an going to discard them I got nothing against a wrench but if I want to save it and not round the nut I use vise grips.

 

[driz]

True Sburry, especially if you're not in the rustbelt. Trouble is I have busted off so many or ruined those damned tiny fittings even with the grips. Rustbelt wrenching is a whole new dynamic that a lot of folks can't fully appreciate. That little extra stick is often enough to trash a casting. Another thing is that the very place you can't get at well with those grips is the LAST place you want that " oh ****" moment. After 40+ years of doing without I got some and it's really nice to grab some messy nut and think [emoji123] rather than " oh I hope I get away[emoji28] with this".


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[ultgar]

I personally like ratcheting flare wrenches when working with hydraulic or HVAC lines.......full contact on all 6 points. Proto sells fractional sizes and Facom and others have metric sizes. They go up to 32mm (1 1/4")

 

[P51Boilermaker]

I personally like ratcheting flare wrenches when working with hydraulic or HVAC lines.......full contact on all 6 points. Proto sells fractional sizes and Facom and others have metric sizes. They go up to 32mm (1 1/4")

Whoa! where can I get these?!

 

[BioNerd]

oops.

 

[ultgar]

Whoa! where can I get these?!

See http://www.ultimategarage.com/shop/...rds=70a+flare&search_in_description=1&x=0&y=0

SD

 

[sleepy127]

HJE also has those ratcheting flar enut wrenches and I think they are in the closeout section

 

[zkling]

Keep in mind, OP lives in California.

 

[BioNerd]

Keep in mind, OP lives in California.

Yeah, but the youngest cars I work on are vw buses from the 80s that come and go all over the place... the other cars we have in the shop are from mid 60s.

Yesterday, 1965 jaguar type e heater core: