tool for straighting fins on AC

[RustyTRanch]

I know I've seen this before on some web site

but I can not find it.

Does anybody know what I am talking about?

If so do you know where it is?

thanks

Mike

 

[Thomas]

Harbor Freight has them. Harbor freight may have a web presence.

 

[B.G. Smith]

They are called "fin combs" and are usually available at places like Thermal Supply and Johnsons AC. They come with "teeth per inch" so yuou neeed to know how many fins per inch are in the radiator/AC condenser you want to straighten. Some places sell them individually (by teeth per inch) and some have several mounted on a handle with different tpi. Southerlands has one with about 4 or 5 combs mounted on it. If you can't find one, holler and I will pick one up for you, I think the multi comb one at Southerlands is about $10. 00. bg

 

[1tuffram]

go to www.harborfreight.com and look up item 37892-OARA. It is a radiator fin straightener and runs $5 bucks. I have one and it works ok. I found if the fins on the a/c condensor or intercooler are really dinged up you need to use a small blade screw driver first and then follow with the fin staightener tool. One other thing I noticed, you can only do this for short periods of time, my eyes started to ache after awhile from tring to line up the fin straightener tool in the grooves on the a/c condensor.



The tool won't make your a/c condensor, intercooler or radiator look like brand new, but all in all I say it works pretty good. For only $5 plus s/h it makes a good addition to the toolbox.

 

[RustyTRanch]

Thanks for the help

I just got one ordered.

later

mike

 

[Amianthus]

Try www.ntxtools.com too. You will also want to wet the fins. It makes it a little easier to pull the comb.

 

[Big White Beast]

Learn something new here all the time!

Never knew they made one of these



Just got into working on my truck and the first thing I noticed is my knees kept bumping the A/C cooler. Little knee marks all over it.



Tried straightening them out with a little screwdriver. It works but is tedious. This tool should work great. Too bad the local Harbor Freight didn't stock them. Cost me more to ship it than buy it



Oh well any price in the name of making my life easier



Garrett

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Here's another option, go to http://www.eastwoodcompany.com/ and do a search for FIN . At the bottom of the page will be a kit that include a fin rake (6 different spacings) and a pair of pliers specifically for doing the initial straightening if they are really bent for ~$24. Their website doesn't allow linking directly to a product or I would have done that. I agree with someone above that you WILL go crosseyed and get a headache when doing this so do it in a few sessions!



P. S. Just looked at the Harbor Freight cost for the fin rake (looks like the same one) - WAY cheaper

 

[TREEMAN]

Napa also sells a fin comb which has about 5 different fin spacings which should cover any other vehicles you may have.

Ian

 

[EMDDIESEL]

Hey, if you feel like paying 600% more, try the Snap On guy

 

[Lazy-Boy]

Condenser fins

I even found one at the Home Depot. Back around the plumbing section if I recall. Think it was 2 or 3 dollars.