^^^Very true. The consumer is part to blame in this idea that tool finish is of major importance, often tool co's are just giving the consumer 'what they want'. Most hand tool reviews or threads on new tools talk about the chrome finish and next to none talk about the tolerance or get out some calibers. Few companies like Stahlwille finish tools in a way that promotes function & longevity. All my well used mirror polished chrome hand tools look pretty poor with chips, scratches, rust & other nasties where my Stahlwille wrenches & sockets may have the odd dent or wear mark but almost look as good as they were new. Mirror polish tools look great on store shelves or in tool polishers collections where they never see real work. I really kinda hate this obsession with chroming every hand tool these days.
New Flare Nut Wrenches - Your Thoughts?
- Thread starter cjarvis
- Start date
jonesg
Well-known member
Hairdressers would find those wrenches wretches. Are mechanics filling their ranks with shirt lifters now?
Acting like NYT food critics.?
I had shiny new at work, imports and US stuff. It did the job without any extatic emotions or other weird stuff.
I had expensive tools at work too. The Indian made turned the same bolts.
Now there are odd things going back 80 years because I had to see how well an old Barcalo wrench actually worked in the real world. And dome Stanley Workmaster, Cornwell and whatnot from just about anywhere and any time.
Suprise. No real difference in the lot.
A good quality correct fit wrench can be a rust brown flea market buy or fresh off the truck. In onr case the tool simply outlasted the former owner.
What entered rotation a year ago brown is now bare steel finish with a bit of CV grease on them. Tool polishing the honest way, putting them to work.
I had expensive tools at work too. The Indian made turned the same bolts.
Now there are odd things going back 80 years because I had to see how well an old Barcalo wrench actually worked in the real world. And dome Stanley Workmaster, Cornwell and whatnot from just about anywhere and any time.
Suprise. No real difference in the lot.
A good quality correct fit wrench can be a rust brown flea market buy or fresh off the truck. In onr case the tool simply outlasted the former owner.
What entered rotation a year ago brown is now bare steel finish with a bit of CV grease on them. Tool polishing the honest way, putting them to work.
neophyte
Well-known member
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.
The marks on the chrome are are were the electrodes held the tool while in the chrome bath, as has been mentioned by other posters. These marks are pretty common amongst different manufacturers. I’ve heard Snap-On may avoid the issue by switching the electrode positions and replating the wrenches, but can’t confirm. I have plenty of Armstrong wrenches(RIP) with similar marks. The broaching looks similar to the armstrong as well.
The main issue should be whether the wrench can properly turn a fully corroded, soft, mild steel, nut without rounding it off.
The Fall
Well-known member
Proto makes high quality tools. However, one of their flare nut wrenches started to round an old fuel line connection to a carburetor we were working on. I pulled out an SK line wrench and it broke the partially rounded flare nut free without resorting to vise grips. It left an impression on me of something stressed on this board: you need high-quality line wrenches.
I only use SK flare nut wrenches now, with the exception of the Snap-on one I picked up at a pawn shop.
I only use SK flare nut wrenches now, with the exception of the Snap-on one I picked up at a pawn shop.
nah tekton has 5 flats vs the usual 4 flats plus 2 corners
23ford
Well-known member
Stooge is correct lame post let's get on to something important
Schurkey
Well-known member
SK advertises the quality of their finish. "Superchrome", they call it. I like SK tools. I've bought SK tools.
I would not be pleased with the internal finish of that wrench, unless Photo 4 isn't representing reality. (I've taken pictures of cam lobes where the photo looked much worse than the cam lobe seemed in person.) If this were some junk generic tool where there is no advertising of the quality of the finish, and the tool worked, that might be acceptable. That isn't the case here. I expect better of SK.
I would not be pleased with the internal finish of that wrench, unless Photo 4 isn't representing reality. (I've taken pictures of cam lobes where the photo looked much worse than the cam lobe seemed in person.) If this were some junk generic tool where there is no advertising of the quality of the finish, and the tool worked, that might be acceptable. That isn't the case here. I expect better of SK.
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