It looks like EZ Red designed their butterfly sockets for fasteners on which you’d normally use a flare wrench but can’t get the wrench around the fastener. Just wrap the butterfly socket around the fastener and when you close it, stick a 1/2″ ratchet or breaker bar into the square drive hole to turn it.
The shape of the sockets suggests they put the force on the flats on the fastener rather than the corners, so they’ll work with damaged or worn nuts. EZ Red even claims you can use the sockets for either metric or SAE applications.
Their small set includes 7/16”, 1/2”, 9/16”, and 5/8” sockets. Their medium set includes 11/16”, 3/4″, 13/16”-7/8”, and 15/16” sockets. Finally their large set includes only three sockets:1-1/16”, 1-1/8”, and 1-1/4”. Supposedly each socket can also be used on the closest metric equivalent size.
Look to pay anywhere between $60 and $90, depending on which set you get, where you buy it, shipping charges, and taxes if applicable.
Butterfly Sockets [EZ-Red]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
7 Responses to Socket With Butterfly Wings
Leave a Reply
TM on Flickr
![RICH-CON No. 2 [shows Logo on side of plane]](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7236/7230831382_240f44f2f4_s.jpg)
Recent Comments
{ If you need an old vice, there are many on ebay! } – May 19, 6:08 PM
{ I have had little experience with Honda although people I know who own them swear by them. I have owned and used B&S powered lawn... } – May 19, 3:53 PM
{ Not having a starter on my Tiller is BS! I have one on my Snow blower and it works like a champ! No battery just... } – May 19, 2:37 PM
{ I have that same Sears vice and beat the crap out of it, and it just keeps coming back for more, for about 1/10th the... } – May 19, 9:32 AM
{ Where do I get these? } – May 18, 7:48 PM
BRILLIANT!!!
these look pretty cool – can’t think of too many situations where I’d actually need them, but they’d be nice to have…. price seems a bit steep, so I won’t be including them in my toolbox… yet
We carry ratcheting flare nut wrench sets made by Proto on our Plumbing trucks. The business end of these opens up to provide access to the fitting – and helps get them into tight spaces.
http://www.alexgs.com/product/proto-3800a.html
I think that I’ve seen less expensive versions made by Mountain Tools.
KD (Danaher) also makes flex-head flare wrenches like their # 81697 that help you get into awkward spots – but with these you do have to be able to slip the head over the fitting.
EZ Red did not design these. These sockets have been offered in the past by different vendors.
Dammit Joe, you’re right!
I don’t know who actually designed these and yet I used the word designed. Even though I’m working for peanuts — unsalted and not even shelled — I still need to do my best to get information right.
Thanks for keeping me honest.
[...] Socket With Butterfly Wings It looks like EZ Red designed their butterfly sockets for fasteners on which you’d normally use a flare wrench but can’t get the wrench around the fastener. Just wrap the butterfly socket around the fastener and when you close it, stick a 1/2″ ratchet or breaker bar into the square drive hole to turn it. [...]
I doubt EZ Red designs anything. They probably just rebrand whatever they happen to find on the Asian tool market, the same as brands like AmPro, Titan, Performance Tool, and so so many others.