AN Fittings Advice Required

[RGG]

I'm new to these fittings and would like to get an idea from you about how to go about the real world practicalities of assembly and disassembly.


Do you buy two sets of AN spanners, using one to hold and one to undo/tighten?

Or buy one set of spanners and one adjustable wrench; the wrench to hold and the spanner to undo/tighten?

Added to that, do you protect the fitting by applying tape to the wrench jaws?

Or some other technique?

I guess I'm saying is it best to have two sets of spanners, or is that overkill?

The kit set up would be used on a regular basis so I don't mind some decent investment but on the other hand if that's not necessary I could look at a budget oriented solution.

I'm very interested in real world as well as best practise solutions.

Thanks very much and I look forward to hearing any suggestions.

Edited by RGG on Wednesday 6th December 16:42

[Belle427]

I managed with some vice protectors and just taking care with a normal spanner but this was a one off small project.

[M11rph]

Knipex Plier Wrench. Reassuringly expensive!

They are smooth jawed and when you grip them they tighten on the fitting rather than camming out under load like a normal adjustable.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/chrome-plated-plastic-180...

The last three digits on the product code is the size. Mine in the pic below are 180mm...

[MK3 Dan]

AN Fitting Vice grips and then a set of spanners would be my go too.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204236050754?hash=item2...

[SturdyHSV]

Aluminium AN vice grips as above, some can be quite hard work to get together, you don't want to be doing that by hand, it is vastly easier with the hose / fitting held in the vice and your force being used to press / tighten the end in place.

I have an adjustable AN wrench, so also aluminium.

I have also just used a normal adjustable wrench and put some soft tape around the jaws so it doesn't mark the fittings, for example when tightening in situ on the car where you can't put it in a vice.

[normalbloke]

Also, just as importantly are decent cutters for anything braided. Apologies if already covered.

[RGG]

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to present some good ideas and pointers.

It's looking like it's going to be something like -

One set of spanners.

One adjustable wrench possibly two.

PVC tape.

Magnetic bench jaws - I didn't have these on my radar but are clearly needed.

Some quality cutters.