New Flare Nut Wrenches - Your Thoughts?

[cjarvis]

What do you think about the broaching and the chrome plating, and who do you think made the wrenches?

I'll post up who made them later. In the meantime, I'm curious to know your thoughts on the quality.

 

[jacked_72]

tekton

 

[Stooge]

my thoughts are this is a lame post especially with the "i'll post them up later, in the meantime..." like your a damn radio host or something

Enough with these daily posts of perfectly usable tools with slight blemishes and trying to make it into a big deal

 

[cjarvis]

my thoughts are this is a lame post especially with the "i'll post them up late, in the meantime..." like your a damn radio host or something

I'm attempting to solicit an unbiased opinion on the tools themselves without bringing brand loyalty into the equation. I'm genuinely curious to see what others find acceptable (or not).

 

[drtyler]

They look perfectly usable to me. What do you see that would indicate otherwise?

 

[cjarvis]

They look perfectly usable to me. What do you see that would indicate otherwise?

I never implied that they weren't usable.

Again, the questions were: What is your opinion on the quality of the broaching and the chrome plating? Who do you think made them?

 

[AA/FC]

Snap-on. My set of SO flare wrenches had ****** chrome inside the broach like the wrench in the pictures..... then I used 'em and they look like normal used wrenches now.


.

 

[seber]

They look just fine.

 

[Can I try?]

Looks like SK to me, and absolutely useable.

 

[jumbojak]

Looks like SK to me, and absolutely useable.

Yes they do.

 

[toolenthusiast]

 

[Tonyuk]

They look like the Halfords one's I have, i think anyway it's been ages since they were new.

 

[Wamsutta]

Those unplated spots inside the wrench opening is where they put the plastic adapter to hang the wrench from for chrome plating. It's impossible to have any tool completely chrome plated because you need to be able to hang it from somewhere. And then the striations you see are from the broaching process.

 

[jfrey123]

I’m impressed by the level sounding responses. My lurking over the past year led me to believe responses would be: “If it’s a brand I like, than those marks are normal, but if it’s a brand I hate then OMG they’re obviously garbage!”

 

[cjarvis]

I’m impressed by the level sounding responses. My lurking over the past year led me to believe responses would be: “If it’s a brand I like, than those marks are normal, but if it’s a brand I hate then OMG they’re obviously garbage!”

That is precisely why I haven't revealed the brand yet. Call it a blind test if you will.

I'm still following the thread and I will reveal the brand once a few more responses roll in.

 

[Robert Haas]

Why do I smell yet another my cheap tool is better then your truck tool thread???

 

[Shane6377]

Chrome and broaching look perfectly usable to me. I’d be more concerned with the tolerance and steel alloy myself.

Could have come from any maker... everyone has a few imperfections. One example won’t sway my opinion on any brand.


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[Hiball]

Chrome and broaching look perfectly usable to me. I’d be more concerned with the tolerance and steel alloy myself.

Could have come from any maker... everyone has a few imperfections. One example won’t sway my opinion on any brand.


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+1 Unfortunately SK’s interior finish/methods drives people crazy.

 

[Stadger]

I'm guessing that it's the SK #378 flare nut wrench set that you posted as ordering 5-4-18.

 

[jdlong]

I am most concerned about the elasticity of the alloy and tolerances for fit up. Elasticity more than anything because a good fit is useless when if the wrench spreads. The pics leave me clueless.

 

[jimmyin3D]

i bet they work great too

 

[Farmall450]

I'm guessing that it's the SK #378 flare nut wrench set that you posted as ordering 5-4-18.

Got 'em

 

[ndnchf]

I don't think these are broach cut, rather they are forged on a mandrel. They look fine to me, so long as they are sized for a close fit.

 

[73surffisher]

I'm guessing that it's the SK #378 flare nut wrench set that you posted as ordering 5-4-18.

Now thats some good sleuthing

 

[Hiball]

My worst looking sockets are SK.

From use or improper lighting while taking pictures?

 

[cjarvis]

I'm guessing that it's the SK #378 flare nut wrench set that you posted as ordering 5-4-18.

That, my friend, was cheating!

The sole purpose of my post was to see what the forum crowd thought about the quality of the tool based on finish. Mission accomplished: the vast majority only seem care that the tool works well.

 

[WWheeler]

Snap-on. My set of SO flare wrenches had ****** chrome inside the broach like the wrench in the pictures..... then I used 'em and they look like normal used wrenches now.

Dayum, I would have been wrong because I was going to say the same. My Snap-on's look a LOT like that when I got them. Still do.

Best line wrenches EVER.

I often have to work on hydraulic lines that were installed decades ago apparently by Magilla Gorilla's bigger uncle. Kept rounding them with every set of spreading wrenches (mostly older USA Crapsman) before I finally ponied up for these which after using them for a year or so now I'm confident will be the last set I ever need.

 

[bob15]

Those are terrible. I couldn't work with that tarnish/possible rust on them. And the flats aren't a mirror finish. I could never use them in that condition.....

Ooooohhhh, the humanity of it........

 

[Specs]

As the brand and markings were already guessed, I don’t get OP’s attempt at gauging member’s powers of deductions. If you just wanted members to type in capslock “We iz dumb u iz smurt” asking outright may have yielded better results.... we don’t even get a cookie

 

[Hiball]

I think they were factory seconds.

Doubtful... There obviously where some bad cosmetic tools coming out the SK plant prior to ideal taking over, and maybe after during there initial runs. I would suspect the majority of those tools have either been put in service by someone who didn’t care about the interior coating not being uniform or warranted by now. I’d be willing to bet there are 100’s of threads pertaining to interior coating concerning SK sockets here at GJ, but can’t say I remember seeing many about broken tools... In the end the consumer who forked out the cash has the ulitimate say, I personally know what’s important to me and my hands.

 

[Specs]

^^^ there is an unmarked s&k ratchet on ebay for $15.00 tempting me, with a curvy finger like in cartoons... never mind it sold... but we all know the design
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-8-Drive-Chrome-Ratchet-MADE-IN-THE-USA-/192536897266

 

[6PTsocket]

There is an old saying: Caulk and paint make a carpenter what he ain't. Also, if you can't weld well, weld a lot. Both apply here in that a good chinese Chrome job can hide a lot of structural flaws. The good tools you buy because of reputation, not appearance. Anybody can make **** look good.

In other words, anyone who makes a decision based solely on looks deserves what they get. Your post is geared towards the ignorant.

A good finish neither proves nor disproves the quality underneath. If you pay top dollar it should be for a quality tool and a good finish. The OP was right in so far that people will make excuses for their favorite brand. SnapOn has generally maintained very high finish standards. While people buy them for how well they function, it would not go over well if you paid through the nose for a ratchet with a crappy plating job or rough machining. Using an analogy similar to yours, how would you feel if you bought a high end car whose paint was full of orange peel or there were bad wrinkles in the leather seats? Neither is a functional problem. Some of the well finished imports function very well. It is not always to cover their sins. Not everybody is ignorant for buying them.

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[Tonyuk]

the vast majority only seem care that the tool works well.

Unfortunately I doubt that, there's a couple of large 'arguments' going on often in here about tools etc.. usually concerning the place they were made.

I'll second that the sk's are great flare nut spanners, I got a set not long ago to go along with a set of facoms and they've been very good, no spreading or rounding. I didn't even hear of SK until seeing a few posts about them on here. Good value in the UK too since they were only about £100 delivered.

 

[anndel]

What do you think about the broaching and the chrome plating, and who do you think made the wrenches?

I'll post up who made them later. In the meantime, I'm curious to know your thoughts on the quality.

SKs. I have sockets that have poor chrome plating on the interior of the sockets and they look excatly like those line wrenches. They work great and didn't hurt performance. Nonetheless, I'd still buy SK as their tools costs less than Snap-ons and I don't use them everyday.

 

[Jim c]

Cal van , or sk? Those are my two guesses. Who knows. Looks like some one took the time to make a decent tool.

 

[CR888]

The perceived intentions of the OP would slightly different if he said 'I've been using these tools for a while and have some issues with there performance, what'cha'all think'? But his concerns appear to be purely based about finish on unused tools which will ruffle the feathers from those who use tools a lot & judge them on function. Its tricky when people who buy tools for complete different reasons come together to discuss what they expect a good tool to be.

 

[cjarvis]

6PTSocket understands where I was going with this and why I asked the question the way I did. I was trying to gauge GJer's sense of perceived quality based on level of finish. I did not, in any way, complain about the broaching or plating, nor would I waste my time doing so. I bought the SK wrenches based on recommendations made here, over the course of many threads, and they're sitting in my tool box, where they'll stay.

 

[Robert Haas]

Cjarvis you are the first person on Garage journal I will be putting on ignore.

Life is too short to be trolled by the likes of you. The admins need to give you a little time out.

This place is a gold mine of information but threads like this just waste time and piss me off.

 

[6PTsocket]

6PTSocket understands where I was going with this and why I asked the question the way I did. I was trying to gauge GJer's sense of perceived quality based on level of finish. I did not, in any way, complain about the broaching or plating, nor would I waste my time doing so. I bought the SK wrenches based on recommendations made here, over the course of many threads, and they're sitting in my tool box, where they'll stay.

I wasn't bothered by your post and have seen many that were of little interest to me or seemed pointless and I just did not follow the discussion but whatever you said sure drove a bunch of people up the wall and brought out some nasty comments. I think we could use a little tolerance here. Not everybody looks at things the same way. Uncivil comments aimed at others p...s me off a lot more.

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[Specs]

I'm attempting to solicit an unbiased opinion on the tools themselves without bringing brand loyalty into the equation. I'm genuinely curious to see what others find acceptable (or not).

I use use tools that are second handed, “vintage,” chewed up, spit out “blemished” and everything else short of broken. They are my go to and even though im the third, fourth and maybe even fifth owner, I know im gonna be the last owner. That’s right Im goin out “Pharaoh style” with my tools. And there will be a mummies curse too

My point? Finish doesnt mean anything if function isnt there. I like my tools from a time that Pride WAS quality control. And even though technology makes getting a tool manufactured quicker and cheaper and strong enough as back in the day, I prefer the kinda tool that was built by men who did it to support families knowing they were exposing themselves to Hazzardous conditions to work in foundries to forge tools that until I can figure out how to break them, will oulast me. That’s conviction that isnt found in today’s chrome finish.