Could someone recommend a good set of flare nut wrenches. I looked at the Craftsman regular and full polish sets but a mechanic friend told me that his Craftsman's have spread before under light use (I'm not sure what his idea of "light use" is though) and told me to go Snap-on or nothing because that is what he is currently using. I can't afford Snap-on so is there anything out there that would work well for occasional use on brass fittings. Has anyone used the Gearwrench flex sets or the Williams sets on Toolsdelivered.com?
Looking at line wrenches
- Thread starter CLee0507
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mrholeshot
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Williams are great. If you can find the USA Craftsman Pro (there is an SAE set in the classifieds) they are made by SK and are really quality peices
GeorgiaHybrid
Well-known member
Williams, SK or the older, made by SK, full polish Craftsmans. I second the Snap-on from your friend though if you can find a good used set.
mtkst19
Well-known member
my work box is snap on. the home box is bonney. i actually prefer the bonneys. early matco's are/were made by bonney too i assume, as i have a duplicate that says matco but looks identical to my bonney.
I got a pair I bought from Kmart years ago. They don't get abused much. I don't like to buy cheap tools, but I have a couple that have lasted.
Unless your a pro, I would probably just get the craftsman. What I like about them, is there is enough locations, to make the warranty easy to use.
I am not saying Craftsman is the best out there, by any means.
Unless your a pro, I would probably just get the craftsman. What I like about them, is there is enough locations, to make the warranty easy to use.
I am not saying Craftsman is the best out there, by any means.
If you shop around a little, you can find good prices on Snap-on. I got a new 4 or 5 pc. Std. set (without the package) for about the same price as the C-man Pro ones on ebay a little over a year ago. For the little bit I use them, it is better than I need, but they sure are nice!!!
GeorgiaHybrid
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You must have "special" nuts.....
Simplespeed
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Unfortunately, "unless your a pro" doesnt apply with line wrenches. The crappy stuff will round your nuts off and they you've got a whole nother problem. My SK and Matco line wrenches have been great. I literally threw my craftsmans in the trash, they didnt work so there was no point in putting them with my "at home" tools either.
mkdive
Well-known member
Im still partial to my 60+ year old Plomb set.....
AZ_Catskinner
Well-known member
I've got SK's at home and Macs at work - never rounded off a nut with either, but I do like the SK's better.
I agree with this statement. I found a very small leak on my compressor the other day at the check valve, so I began to disassemble to clean and re-tape. I needed to remove the unloader tube nut and it was on there good, made of brass and I couldn't even begin to turn it without starting to round it with an open end. I don't own any line wrenches yet so I (reluctantly) used a pair of Channellocks on it just to get it to budge so I could remove with the open end. I don't know if a cheap line wrench would have worked, but can't say it wouldn't either, I just wish I had a set though. So after I got it all back together (It did fix the problem of bleed down over night with very minimal wear from the pliers.) I inquired about decent quality line wrenches because I really don't care about ease of warranty if I'm going to screw up my work when I try to use the tool.
I have a mix of tools, primarily Craftsman and Gearwrench. They have all provided me with great service for years, as a matter of fact for the first time the other day I had Sears warranty a pair of needle nose pliers and a screwdriver with a broken tip. I really should just save for Snap-on for this application but my wife would probably shoot me if she found out how much one set of wrenches cost.
Bolster
Well-known member
Schweeeeeet!
Spookrider
Well-known member
Do you need a set or one or two wrenches to the job? If it only on or two you get one or two from Snap on? Maybe the 3/8 on. That what I did with my SK set I have, I sneak a Snap-On into the set.
I still have some available in my older classifieds sale post. Let me know if you're interesd in any of these.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83508
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83508
I abuse a line wrench more than any other kind. My car is full of aluminum to aluminum line connections and over time its like they weld themselves together. One to a cooler in my radiator was so bad I ended up cutting the hose using two long handle box end wrenches with a LOT of force on the other ends.
I bought a full set of snapon line wrenches, and added a couple Craftsman pro in the sizes where I need two of that same at the same time.
If I can I still use the box end of one of my HF extra long combo wrenches.
I bought a full set of snapon line wrenches, and added a couple Craftsman pro in the sizes where I need two of that same at the same time.
If I can I still use the box end of one of my HF extra long combo wrenches.
TAMPAGT07
Well-known member
Another plug for Snap-On...Bought mine about twenty years ago, and they've been awesome...
Yep! I have a hole in my Bonney collection, and wouldn't hesitate to stick a Bonney-made Matco in that spot.
crewchief888
Well-known member
i have a mixed bag of line wrenches,
some SO
some mac ( older)
some SK (older)
couple proto (12pt)
ive not a great fan of 12pt line wrenches. ive rounded off a couple of fittings with them that were fairly easy to remove with a 6pt.
i buy line wrenches as i need them, single wrenches when i can find them for a good price.
some SO
some mac ( older)
some SK (older)
couple proto (12pt)
ive not a great fan of 12pt line wrenches. ive rounded off a couple of fittings with them that were fairly easy to remove with a 6pt.
i buy line wrenches as i need them, single wrenches when i can find them for a good price.
not entirely sure what you can and cannot afford but i grabbed this set of Matco flare wrenches off ebay some time back for my weekend box, ran me about $70 shipped.
Nice complete set and they tend to go quite a bit lower than SO which usually get $100-$150 for the 5/6pc set. Honestly i really only grab the 9/11 and 10/12 with any regularity.
If you're only looking for Standard sizes hunt down Napa or old USA Husky sets on ebay. They dont show up too often but often enough. They literally sell for about $15-$20.
Nice complete set and they tend to go quite a bit lower than SO which usually get $100-$150 for the 5/6pc set. Honestly i really only grab the 9/11 and 10/12 with any regularity.
If you're only looking for Standard sizes hunt down Napa or old USA Husky sets on ebay. They dont show up too often but often enough. They literally sell for about $15-$20.
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SMKS
Well-known member
To the OP:
Do you need SAE or metric? According to the Williams catalog, they don't offer USA-made metric flare nut wrenches, only imported. They have imported and USA-made SAE sets.
The imported Williams tools I've seen are nice, but I haven't looked at or used the line wrenches.
The line wrenches are on page 104 in the online catalog.
http://digimag.rrd.com/JHWilliams317/
Do you need SAE or metric? According to the Williams catalog, they don't offer USA-made metric flare nut wrenches, only imported. They have imported and USA-made SAE sets.
The imported Williams tools I've seen are nice, but I haven't looked at or used the line wrenches.
The line wrenches are on page 104 in the online catalog.
http://digimag.rrd.com/JHWilliams317/
Yeah thanks, I noticed that last night while looking around. I wonder why they don't make a metric USA set? It doesn't really bother me as long as it's a quality tool. I do want both sets SAE & Metric. I use both combination sets frequently, own an older Chevy pickup. Anyway I haven't ordered any yet because my buddy says he has some I could look at/buy if I want. For under $40 though those Williams imported ones look OK, I would be willing to try them.
What about the raised panel Craftsman's, I think are still US made, are they decent?
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944096000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1#reviewsWrap
The only ones I saw in the store were the non-pro full polish sets. I own a combination set of the raised panels and they have been great, I just wish they were longer sometimes though.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944096000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1#reviewsWrap
The only ones I saw in the store were the non-pro full polish sets. I own a combination set of the raised panels and they have been great, I just wish they were longer sometimes though.
Hank McMauser
Well-known member
also wondering what you guy's think of the USA made KD wrenches they have at cripe
http://www.cripedistributing.com/tools-60611-11mm-flare-wrench-p-6595.html
http://www.cripedistributing.com/tools-60611-11mm-flare-wrench-p-6595.html
AZ_Catskinner
Well-known member
The USA made KD's are pretty good stuff. The heads are a little on the thick side, and hard to get into some places.
I've got a couple of the raised panel Craftsmans in my road box and they are good wrenches for the price, but I sure as hell wouldn't want them for every day use.
I've got a couple of the raised panel Craftsmans in my road box and they are good wrenches for the price, but I sure as hell wouldn't want them for every day use.
bart1
Well-known member
Groovy
Well-known member
I have polished Craftman pros had them for 10+ years work great just did brakes lines on a 65 GTO they had never been taken off, those and PB blaster like butter. Been in saltwater been used hard no problems
bart1
Well-known member
I'd try the classifieds here or maybe try Ebay.
Hank McMauser
Well-known member
I've got some of the ones from cripe ordered 2 of each size they have left(they are definitely out of stock on 13/14mm, I found it elsewhere on amazon for about $12 shipped), I will probably put one set up for sale here, Debbie at cripe seemed to think one of the larger sizes were sold out as well, I'm crossing my fingers.
Toolhorder
Well-known member
I got used SO ones. Pretty cheap but great quality. Most of the other brands tend to spread when you apply torque.
Can't speak for German tools as I don't own much of them. I find german tool owners to be like most German car owners. They think they have something special but it's really just overpriced junk. I mean they don't have chrome and no lifetime warranty....
Can't speak for German tools as I don't own much of them. I find german tool owners to be like most German car owners. They think they have something special but it's really just overpriced junk. I mean they don't have chrome and no lifetime warranty....
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tonydanzah
Well-known member
can anyone say anything good or bad about armstrong line wrenches?