Flare wrenches

[RLRRLRLL]

Im looking to buy a set of flare wrenches after doing a few master cylenders at my house without them. Sure you can do it without them, but when you round off a nut on a brake line...you kinda have to bend a new line. My local sears does not carry any in stock, and almost everyone there is retarded. I work at autozone so i can get some Great Neck ones with my 20% discount. I know great neck tools aint the best, but would they surfice fine with stuff like that?

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

They'll suffice, I'd personally go with a better brand for a flare nut.

 

[Merkava_4]

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

That GW does look good,The Cornwell industrial finish set fits me good.

 

[mikevango]

Those will do you fine for now. I am looking to get a set too. I think I want something other than craftsman so they don't get mixed up with my brothers. I will be looking for a USA set.

 

[krusty the clown]

if your installing crappy chinese made autozone parts, you might as well use crappy chinese made autozone tools......

 

[RLRRLRLL]

aight..ill have to talk to the only guy at sears thats worth dealing with. or i might stop by napa and see what they got.

 

[mikevango]

if your installing crappy chinese made autozone parts, you might as well use crappy chinese made autozone tools......

Wohoo! :
you mean the gearwrench right. Haha

 

[RLRRLRLL]

if your installing crappy chinese made autozone parts, you might as well use crappy chinese made autozone tools......

Actually, they are crapy mexico parts for the most part. Some USA parts, but not many. Even napa has alot of parts from overseas.

 

[back2class]

I have a 6pc craftsman pro metric set that is brand new (made by sk). $45 shipped

 

[Merkava_4]

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http://www.tooltopia.com/search.aspx?find=81906
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[Flathead Red]

I just ordered the gearwrench SAE set through Amazon for $42 shipped. I got tired of searching EBay, Sears was out and I can't afford $75 for SK or any truck brand. They are the same ones Merkava 4 has in the tooltopia link. just cheaper through Amazon

Flathead Red

 

[RLRRLRLL]

ah, thanks for the link merk. ima have to wait till another pay check comes around and order both sets, unless i get the itch and just go buy some from a store.

 

[sanddrag]

I've been happy with my SAE and Metric sets of the SK-made Craftsman Professional ones I picked up at my local Sears about a year ago. They still stock them here. I got them for $35 per set, but I think they're up to $40 now.

 

[Danglerb]

Flare wrenches I decided should be as good as I can get, so I bought used Snapon.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

I have Cornwell, SK and Snap-on flares and I have to admit, the first two are nice but... The Snap-ons are my "go to" when the lines are in bad shape. Replaced the rear wheel cylinders on the 92 Ford truck (originals) last week. The SO snugged up nice and tight, one good bump with my hand and they broke loose. In all honesty however, all three are great and I would not feel that I had an inferior tool with any of them.

 

[RLRRLRLL]

ya..thats what im thinking. Most of my tools now are just your average stuff. but somthing like a flare nut needs somthing good to take off, i cant really see buying snap on ones as i dont use them much, i'll just keep shoping around and do some research on all the ones you guys recomended.

 

[crashbumper]

I bought a 10x12 Great Neck flare wrench because I didn't have one. It worked through probably 3-4 brake jobs.

As I was yelling 4 letter words underneath the car when the wrench broke causing me to punch the strut, I swore I would buy a nice set so this didn't happen again.

After that, bought a used Husky on here, and a few other SAE sizes of random brands.

 

[RLRRLRLL]

ah...no great neck...thats final lol. Im going to try to get a GOOD well rounded set going, as the shop i work for is shutting down soon, so i loose the use of my co-workers tools there, the stuff i dont have myself. So, that means i get to buy more tools! lol. As of now i got durlast 3/8 stuff, great neck 1/4 stuff. Which gets the job done, im thinking about throwing that stuff in my truck box for those crappy side of the road sittuations. Theres also plenty of times i drive somewhere to work on someone elses junk, so those tools are more then good enuf for that.

 

[RLRRLRLL]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944096000P#reviewsWrap

how are those? kinda on the cheap side which makes it questionable.

 

[sickytwisted]

. My local sears does not carry any in stock, and almost everyone there is retarded.

That explains a whole lot!:tard:

 

[Merkava_4]

how are those?

Those are pieces of ****.

 

[RLRRLRLL]

Those are pieces of ****.

Haha, that settles that.

 

[walrus]

How quick do you need them, I'd do Snapie or Cornwell used on EBAY, Check the classifieds on here, I just bought some Snappies on here, good deal, I'll have them till I die

 

[RLRRLRLL]

dont need them at the moment. ive been lookin at ebay actually. its just somthing id like to have in my personal box for when i need them, but you never know when you need them. I can always buy a cheapie to use if the moment comes before i buy good ones i guess.

 

[myslow2002gt]

When it comes to flare nut wrenches, I purchased Snap On from the beginning due to the high quality. I've been able to remove darn near every flare nut you can think of with a Snap On, no matter how damaged it was.

 

[Merkava_4]

dont need them at the moment.

I could start a lot of threads about stuff I want but "don't need them at the moment."

 

[walrus]

I could start a lot of threads about stuff I want but "don't need them at the moment."

Couldn't we all

 

[RLRRLRLL]

When it comes to flare nut wrenches, I purchased Snap On from the beginning due to the high quality. I've been able to remove darn near every flare nut you can think of with a Snap On, no matter how damaged it was.

I do have a snap on credit line that i havent charged nothing on yet...........hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Yes..its been very hard to not get anything with that yet.

 

[myslow2002gt]

I do have a snap on credit line that i havent charged nothing on yet...........hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Yes..its been very hard to not get anything with that yet.

Personally, I think Snap On makes the best wrenches for this purpose. A lot of other topics can be debated amongst brands, but I personally feel Snap On's are hands down winners in this department.

 

[rsanter]

Im looking to buy a set of flare wrenches after doing a few master cylenders at my house without them. Sure you can do it without them, but when you round off a nut on a brake line...you kinda have to bend a new line. My local sears does not carry any in stock, and almost everyone there is retarded. I work at autozone so i can get some Great Neck ones with my 20% discount. I know great neck tools aint the best, but would they surfice fine with stuff like that?

you do not need to bend a new line
you can remove the line, use a grinder to remove the flaired portion, slip on another fitting and then reflair the line.
clean out the line with brake cleaner and reinstall

bob

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I have two sets of each (metric/SAE). The prefered set, is the Snap-on open end, flare nut end wrenches. My old home set, I took into the shop once, when we didn't have a certain size (rectified). They were made my JH Williams and are the old Kobalt wrenches. They look like the Snap-on and I was yelled at by a couple in the shop for not getting them some (I bought the last set). IF you spot them on Ebay, or CL or elsewhere, I believe they are worth it. I am sure Williams would be as well, just never seen the metric ones.


I am hoping someone will eventually post some of the Wright ones at some point in time.
The raised panel Craftsman (I have a couple from an inheritance) are nothing more then a tool to put in a sell box (COMPLETE junk). The Craftsman pro's (SK) are better, but won't work well on cars in the rust bucket area.

 

[superautobacs]

I've read countless posts that praise the SO flarenut wrenches, but I don't think I've read any explanation as to WHY they are better.

So, tell me (us) what it is about their design that makes them any better than a Husky/KD/Gearwrench, etc.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I've read countless posts that praise the SO flarenut wrenches, but I don't think I've read any explanation as to WHY they are better.

So, tell me (us) what it is about their design that makes them any better than a Husky/KD/Gearwrench, etc.

I have never seen nor handled the Gearwrench ones. It has been YEARS since my HD had the Husky ones and I never used one on something tough. My experiences are based on Craftsman, Craftsman Pro, and a couple of other Dahaner sourced ones (helping people). The heads of the Craftsman spread open (don't maintain size) and stay spread. The SK sourced pro's (at least the ones I dealt with) spring. They open and close back up, at the worst times on rusty lines. They worked ok on newer vehicles (less rust) and on non butchered lines.
The Kobalts have the same basic Snap-on shape, just a little thicker handle. Their heads might not be ground to the same tolerance (I can see about 1mm difference with the heads lined up) and don't have as much behind them at the handle. There are those who have had good luck with other brands, then there are those of us, who had all kinds of "other peoples problems" thrown at us. I listened to the majority of my elders when they said Snap-on for these. I picked up the Kobalt (JH Williams) on Closeout and consider myself very lucky.

 

[sickytwisted]

Those are pieces of ****.

in reference to http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944096000P#reviewsWrap
I agree! 100%. I busted a couple, replaced them, and ended up selling them on this here forum. I didn't get much for them but it didn't really matter. The guy I sold them to was happy! I don't think I ever used a crappier wrench than those. no bull!

 

[gatewaysysop]

in reference to http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944096000P#reviewsWrap
I agree! 100%. I busted a couple, replaced them, and ended up selling them on this here forum. I didn't get much for them but it didn't really matter. The guy I sold them to was happy! I don't think I ever used a crappier wrench than those. no bull!

I'm confused. The only 2 reviews at that link are both 5 star and have only good things to say about the product. I don't have these, so I can't say either way.

Did you mean to say that you DIS-agree with that review??

 

[Jared]

I was always told not to cheap out on flare nut wrenchs because its a huge pain in the *** when you round a flare nut, Mine are snap-on they cost allot but they should last forever if i dont loose any.

 

[Hawk321]

I prefer SO flare nut wrenches, because they have flank drive and are made by a hard material. I can turn nuts even when they are rusty and rounded

Hazet and Facom doesn't have flank drive and are soft like butter..

Another great tool for flare nuts is Knipex plier wrench. It turns 100% rounded fasteners

 

[Joelfke]

i found a great used set of snapon ones metric and standard for 90 bucks

8mm-19mm and 1/4 - 7/8 ebay

 

[Fedwrench]

I've read countless posts that praise the SO flarenut wrenches, but I don't think I've read any explanation as to WHY they are better.

So, tell me (us) what it is about their design that makes them any better than a Husky/KD/Gearwrench, etc.

I think it's largely a matter of personal choice. However, two aspects pop into my mind instantly, fit and strength. The Snap on ones simply fit better than other brands. As has been mentioned, they're stronger and don't spread like other wrenches. There's also the the whole balance and feel aspect too. I have the swivel gearwrench line wrenches too and they perform well. One thing I don't like about the Craftsman Pro versions is that there's no off set. A lot of times I need that 15 degree handle offset to clear obstructions or for knuckle clearance. Back to the wrench end itself, the Snap on versions are perfectly square on each side of the hex and allow for off corner engagement. Many other brands such as the Craftsman and SK are beveled slightly on each side which reduces contact with the fitting. Considering the damage that can be done to a line fitting by using the wrong wrench or an ill fitting wrench, the extra work, pain, and agony that would follow makes using the best possible line wrench in the beginning worth its price.