Sunex Flare Nut Wrenches

[Handyandy23]

Anyone tried the Sunex flare nut wrenches? They are a very good price and seem to get good reviews online. I know Sunex makes some decent quality stuff, I own some of their sockets and I'm quite happy with them. But flare nut wrenches are a different animal.

I'm just looking for something affordable and decent quality. DIY level work a few times a year. COO doesn't mean much to me as long as quality is good, although someone on Amazon called them "USA made", which I'm guessing is false.

I'm open to any other suggestions, but these are $50 CDN, and other comparable options like GearWrench are double the price (and I'm guessing nowhere near double the quality). I just want something that doesn't spread like my current super cheap Princess Auto set.

 

[Tallpilot]

Sunex makes decent impact sockets. Their wrenches are not so good. I built my flare nut set from used Snap-on on eBay. I highly recommend you do the same. Even with the currency conversion and shipping you should be able to do less than $35 per wrench. Take your time; they pop up constantly.

 

[M635_Guy]

I have a Carlyle set, and they're very decent.

 

[zippster]

I had a set of metrics. They fit loose and the 8mm one I tried to use opened up. Bought a set of SK and they fit sloppy. Returned those and got a set of Snap on's and have had no issues. YMMV

 

[Handyandy23]

Sunex makes decent impact sockets. Their wrenches are not so good. I built my flare nut set from used Snap-on on eBay. I highly recommend you do the same. Even with the currency conversion and shipping you should be able to do less than $35 per wrench. Take your time; they pop up constantly.

Thanks for the suggestion, just being in Canada does make that type of plan very difficult. Looking at what's on eBay right now, the best it seems you can expect to do for a single SO wrench is about $20 USD. Which is about $28 CAD. Shipping is $17 CAD from the US to Canada, which I can attest is the bare minimum shipping charge between Canada and US through the post office with tracking (from selling items myself). Then tack on eBay's customs charges that are mandatory now through their Global Shipping Program, which is another $10 CAD. So now you're up to $55 CAD per wrench.

I can get the SK metric set for about $140 CAD, which to me is a much better deal and much less time consuming than buying SO singles at $50+ a pop. Still getting a little spendy for my taste though.

 

[Handyandy23]

I have a Carlyle set, and they're very decent.

Unfortunately NAPA in Canada doesn't carry Carlyle. We have UltraPro, just not sure if they are the same tools with a different name, or a different product.

I had a set of metrics. They fit loose and the 8mm one I tried to use opened up. Bought a set of SK and they fit sloppy. Returned those and got a set of Snap on's and have had no issues. YMMV

Interesting. The SKs don't have great ratings on Amazon either. Kind of rules out spending more on those.

Sunex doesn't sound much better than what I've currently got either.

 

[Wamsutta]

How many sizes do you need right now?

 

[oldwino]

Agree with Tallpilot. I bought the Sunnex set Based on price and not impressed. Loose fit on the couple I tried. Sold the set and bought used Snapons in the sizes I normally use.

 

[spyerx]

I have sk and proto. I prefer the sk. They fit tight and don’t bend. Bought about 10 yrs ago... use mostly on old Porsche’s haven’t had a line i could be break free yet.

 

[Tallpilot]

Thanks for the suggestion, just being in Canada does make that type of plan very difficult. Looking at what's on eBay right now, the best it seems you can expect to do for a single SO wrench is about $20 USD. Which is about $28 CAD. Shipping is $17 CAD from the US to Canada, which I can attest is the bare minimum shipping charge between Canada and US through the post office with tracking (from selling items myself). Then tack on eBay's customs charges that are mandatory now through their Global Shipping Program, which is another $10 CAD. So now you're up to $55 CAD per wrench.

I can get the SK metric set for about $140 CAD, which to me is a much better deal and much less time consuming than buying SO singles at $50+ a pop. Still getting a little spendy for my taste though.

That stinks. I was expecting the shipping to be less than that. I knew it would be high but not that bad.

 

[demarpaint]

I passed on Sunex for flare nut wrenches. I went with Stahlwille, the last thing I need is a problem when dealing with a flare nut. They cost a lot more, but well worth it imo.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Check Gray, too.

 

[VolvoRyan]

SK has worked fine for me. A lot of flare nut wrenches may get bad reviews because many times the job is simply impossible.

I have no doubt that Snap-On is better. If/when I do it over again, I'll go Snap-On. Flare nut wrenches should be the most expensive tools in your tool box.

-Ryan

 

[snickers muncher]

Not much to add except that my metric GearWrench are a loose fit. The SAE GearWrench worked ok on some transmission lines though.

I'd stay away from GearWrench.

 

[DFB]

Geeze did that ring a bell and I seemed to remember someone posting before here on TGJ about their huge disappointment in those Sinex flare wrenches

you can read that all here

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=439893&highlight=sunex+flare+wrenches

 

[Tallpilot]

Geeze did that ring a bell and I seemed to remember someone posting before here on TGJ about their huge disappointment in those Sinex flare wrenches

you can read that all here

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=439893&highlight=sunex+flare+wrenches

Pretty sure Tekton used that same oem. Dave doesn’t like to share trade secrets so he won’t confirm but my guess is they discontinued them because they were junk.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

SK has worked fine for me. A lot of flare nut wrenches may get bad reviews because many times the job is simply impossible.

I have no doubt that Snap-On is better. If/when I do it over again, I'll go Snap-On. Flare nut wrenches should be the most expensive tools in your tool box.

-Ryan

Bolded the truth. Maybe not the most expensive tool, but you HAVE to have good ones.


SK does decently, in some situations I prefer them to my snap on. The SK will spread and slip, the snap on will just rip the corners off. Flare nut wrenches are typically used on PITA fittings with high consequences for rounding. I myself bought cheap flare nut wrenches, suffered immensely, and then bought good ones. Don't be like me; do it once when buying flare nut wrenches.





OP: What is your application? For just brake lines you could buy the normally needed sizes from basically any supplier for under $75.

 

[toolaholic]

I passed on Sunex for flare nut wrenches. I went with Stahlwille, the last thing I need is a problem when dealing with a flare nut. They cost a lot more, but well worth it imo.

Stahlwille is the snap on of Europe . Can’t do much better than that .

 

[demarpaint]

Stahlwille is the snap on of Europe . Can’t do much better than that .

Exactly, and they were reasonably priced imo.

 

[Handyandy23]

Geeze did that ring a bell and I seemed to remember someone posting before here on TGJ about their huge disappointment in those Sinex flare wrenches

you can read that all here

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=439893&highlight=sunex+flare+wrenches

Thanks for the link, read through it all. Just kind of disappointing there was no hands-on use of them to determine anything about fit or usability. Only whining about COO and the finish on them.

Not saying it makes me want to buy them, but it's like guessing how fast a car goes by looking at how glossy the paint is.

 

[Handyandy23]

Bolded the truth. Maybe not the most expensive tool, but you HAVE to have good ones.


SK does decently, in some situations I prefer them to my snap on. The SK will spread and slip, the snap on will just rip the corners off. Flare nut wrenches are typically used on PITA fittings with high consequences for rounding. I myself bought cheap flare nut wrenches, suffered immensely, and then bought good ones. Don't be like me; do it once when buying flare nut wrenches.





OP: What is your application? For just brake lines you could buy the normally needed sizes from basically any supplier for under $75.

Immediate need is brake lines, but would like a reasonable assortment of sizes to do me for anything I would come across in the future.

Anyone know off hand the common sizes for brake line fittings on a 2010 Silverado? I'm assuming everyone is into metric sizes nowadays? I'm leaning towards the SK's now, just trying to decide if the 3 piece 10-14mm set is enough, or if it's worth it getting the 6 pc set going up to 21mm.

 

[mfewtrail]

If you decide on the SK wrenches, check out Clark's Tool & Equipment out of Kansas. They had the cheapest prices as of a few months ago at least.

 

[Mr_B]

the sunex are a poor effort, can't believe they put their name on that **** .
They loose and awful poor jaw finishing .
Is one of those tools only worth buying decent.
snapon, gedore, stahlwille, sk do pretty good, for imports carlyle and welzh have fairly usable sets, welzh being much like snapon in design and fairly decent fit but not equal in jaw rigidity .
larger sizes useful if work on diesels or hydraulics, larger ones also don't slip as easily so you could get a cheaper 6pc set and a single top brand in your common brake size .

 

[lbpd716]

If COO doesn't matter - just go with the Snap On - EBay, piece at a time if needed..

Again I will be the broken record and recommend the fat open/flare combos..

 

[lbpd716]

Managed to hobble this set together for less than 20 per wrench on average, 8 to 20 (waiting on 16mm in mail)

 

[DFB]

Pretty sure Tekton used that same oem. Dave doesn’t like to share trade secrets so he won’t confirm but my guess is they discontinued them because they were junk.

I had a couple set of those older Tekton flare on my tool table to flip. Heads were generally big overall, and much larger than like say my old USA Craftsman set.

Never got to try them out as they all sold, I did plan on putting a set into my toolbox at the end of the season if there were any left.

IIRC they were sized bigger on the top end than what I had. And I have some tractor fittings that they might have worked on.

Have to say overall, the chrome finish looked really good though

 

[m6z]

Quality over quantity with flare nut wrenches.

 

[Tallpilot]

I had a couple set of those older Tekton flare on my tool table to flip. Heads were generally big overall, and much larger than like say my old USA Craftsman set.

Never got to try them out as they all sold, I did plan on putting a set into my toolbox at the end of the season if there were any left.

IIRC they were sized bigger on the top end than what I had. And I have some tractor fittings that they might have worked on.

Have to say overall, the chrome finish looked really good though

My set ended up in the truck when I bought the Snap-ons. They do have thick heads but they don't contact as much of the fastener as the Snap-on.

 

[Mr_B]

My set ended up in the truck when I bought the Snap-ons. They do have thick heads but they don't contact as much of the fastener as the Snap-on.

This is a good point, I always buy ones with point of hex to the middle of jaw line same as snapon jaw style as then the front jaws wrap around the corners aiding in extra bite.
The style like sunex and tekton had is not great and total junk when real low production quality.
I don't rate Sunex very high anyway and putting their name on junk like that shows how little they really involved with design and manufacture .

 

[M635_Guy]

My set ended up in the truck when I bought the Snap-ons. They do have thick heads but they don't contact as much of the fastener as the Snap-on.

That's a useful shot. Just went out and took a similar pic of my Carlyle:

Seems pretty tight, and good contact

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Immediate need is brake lines, but would like a reasonable assortment of sizes to do me for anything I would come across in the future.

Anyone know off hand the common sizes for brake line fittings on a 2010 Silverado? I'm assuming everyone is into metric sizes nowadays? I'm leaning towards the SK's now, just trying to decide if the 3 piece 10-14mm set is enough, or if it's worth it getting the 6 pc set going up to 21mm.

The fittings on the ABS block or either 14 or 15 mm, but you should use a flare nut crows wrench to break those free. Everything else is metric.

 

[Wamsutta]

Stahlwille is the snap on of Europe . Can’t do much better than that .

I've heard that Facom is the Snap-on of Europe.

 

[M635_Guy]

I've heard that Facom is the Snap-on of Europe.

I keep hearing that Snap On is the Snap On of Europe...

 

[Mr_B]

That's a useful shot. Just went out and took a similar pic of my Carlyle:

Seems pretty tight, and good contact

Yes the Carlyle and Welzh sets are fairly decent low cost options (both look likely same OEM or at least same decent jaw design)

The europe guys get bummed big time with snapon, more expensive than US and worse service/warranty and a lot more import products .

 

[Tonyuk]

How much rust are you dealing with here?

If the line is badly corroded then its usually easier to just cut it at the fitting and flare a new one on.

I have a few brands, but mostly use Facom and a Gedore set.

What brand are you working on? VAG for example use 11mm as a common size for brake fittings so i would just buy a good quality single. Saves you a lot over a set when it might have sizes you'll never use at the moment.

 

[Tallpilot]

That's a useful shot. Just went out and took a similar pic of my Carlyle:

Seems pretty tight, and good contact

Yes the Carlyle and Welzh sets are fairly decent low cost options (both look likely same OEM or at least same decent jaw design)

The europe guys get bummed big time with snapon, more expensive than US and worse service/warranty and a lot more import products .

Looks like those are the way to go as far as Asian manufacturers. Everything else is not worth the hassle. Such a simple tool to have so few decent options.

 

[toolaholic]

Here’s a sampling of my flare nut wrenches. Yes the proto is a 10 point . I have a set in sae and metric . Then a hodge podge of 6 points.

 

[Wamsutta]

i keep hearing that snap on is the snap on of europe...

LOL!

 

[Fedwrench]

I've heard that Facom is the Snap-on of Europe.

I think that was the opinion many years ago before Facom was swallowed up by stanley and they moved a good chunk of their tool production from France to Taiwan, just my view though.

Back to the subject at hand, Sunex tools need to be judged on a tool by tool basis. Some sunex stuff is good but, some of it isn't as good as it used to be. Some items that used to be made in Taiwan are now made in China, people's republic of. Quality has slipped.

As for flare nut or line wrenches, I understand that snap on is expensive but, if you add up all of the time & energy spent trying to find something as good as snap on but, at a fraction of the price, you'll be ahead if you just get the snap on.

Now you guys know that I use many different brands of tools but, I have always said that for all things flare nut, snap on has no equal. sometimes, it's just better to take the pain of higher price up front, than to suffer the consequences of a poor performing tool.

 

[WittHay]

Cheap basic set in Canada is those Canadian Tire Mastercraft ones sold on the plastic pouch. 3 SAE and 3 metric sizes. For $40 cad they work ok. Probably based on Apex Gearwrench, Slightly higher priced are the brands sold in the parts stores like Jet or UltraPro. They all kind of look the same. Polished chrome and 5 point contact

I was lucky and had a set of made in Canada Snap-on flare nut wrenches with the V-grooves since I was young. They worked good on anything that had a remote chance of loosening without rounding off. Some things are just to far gone to come off with anything but heat and a vise grip.