dr bob

Plus chocolate is a disappearing resource. At least with my wife. Tools are a longer term investment, not an expense. That's my story yer onner and I'm sticking to it.

Reality is that I've never gotten any noise at all about tool purchases. It's one of the habits she doesn't try to regulate.

dr bob

Went by the H-F store today to pick up a set of the 'swivel flare nut metric crowfoot sockets" part no 97952. Two hangers for them on the rack, and the one set left had a missing tool from the set so didn't get them. A quick search by part number on their website says discontinued or not available on their website. I'll go back in a week and see if they have restocked. May also call my baby bro' down in OC and see if his store has them. $28/set.

But.... (drum roll please!) it may be practical to get the regular flare nut crowfoot sockets and use them with a universal. The H-F set has only one pivot pin in the swivel. It might be enough for shallow angles but only for small turns between bites. The double-swivel in most standard universal joints would almost double the available drive angle, and maybe add another flat between bites of the wrench.

I have a cellphone picture of the set at the store if there's interest.

borland

There are a number of those swivel head flare wrenches on eBay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GearW...motiveQ5fTools

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AP-6-...motiveQ5fTools

http://cgi.ebay.com/GEARWRENCH-3-PC-...item2eaa718a89

dr bob

The tools I was looking at are used with ratchet/extension/torque wrench. Torque wrench capability is pretty interesting, but would need a little calculation to correct or the angle and the offset of the tool. Still better than the 'that's not going anywhere!' method of tightening popular with some of this stuff.