Is there any reason to purchase open-end wrenches & not just purchase crowfoot or box-end wrenches?
Wrenches - Open-end vs. Crowfoot vs. Box-end
- Thread starter benjamming
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i have sets of all 3 in metric and standard in varying lengths from MATCO. they all have their own uses.
Sometimes an open ended wrench is the only thing that will fit in the available space.
I prefer the combination type. Box on one end open end on the other. You can solve more problems with one tool in your hand with a combination wrench.
I prefer the combination type. Box on one end open end on the other. You can solve more problems with one tool in your hand with a combination wrench.
You'll need the open end or an adjustable when you can't get over the end of a bolt. And, when it's a round with two flat surfaces (often seen on bicycle axles).
Do you ever work on a FWD car? If so, you need ever type of wrench that exists and some more besides.
Both my vehicles are FWD, so yeah, I've had to use the open-end, box-end, & crowfoot wrenches before. I was just wondering if I could buy a complete set of crowfoot wrenches & be able to cover ~ 90% of uses. It seems to me that the box-end wrench can be misused more often. It appears that I may be better off buying a complete set of standard combination wrenches, standard & metric, & purchase crowfoot wrenches as the need arises (such as the transmission cooler lines on my '94 Grand Am).
The crowsfoot wreches do come in handy,the flare nut ones for power steering lines you can't get to with a convential wrench.I have a set of them in metric from Harbor Freight which work for me.The short wrenches are to purchase too,they get into the tight spots where a long wrench canot go into
With Father's Day coming up I would watch for a big box name brand mega sale on those 88-piece toolkits. It'll have metric, standard, and some sizes you won't need now but will eventually. I would worry about the square drive on those crow's feet wearing out over time. Plus it's another place for slop to develop. Or do you mean 4-sided flare nut wrenches?
crow's foot flare nut
I've done ATF cooler lines, brake lines with flare nut wrenches and they're generally useless. Maybe a snap-on super high quality might be better but they don't seem to bite and slip, rounding off. Vise grips are better.
I do 95% of my initial breaking force with box end wrenches. Figure it doesn't round off the bolt heads as easily. A good combo open/box wrench will have an offset on the box side (usually useful) and no offset on the open side (odd tight spaces). Naturally this will not always be to your benefit.
I don't get your aversion to "misusing" box end wrenches... does that include hammering on the other end to bust tight stuff loose?
If you get the job done, you didn't misuse anything.
crow's foot flare nut
I've done ATF cooler lines, brake lines with flare nut wrenches and they're generally useless. Maybe a snap-on super high quality might be better but they don't seem to bite and slip, rounding off. Vise grips are better.
I do 95% of my initial breaking force with box end wrenches. Figure it doesn't round off the bolt heads as easily. A good combo open/box wrench will have an offset on the box side (usually useful) and no offset on the open side (odd tight spaces). Naturally this will not always be to your benefit.
I don't get your aversion to "misusing" box end wrenches... does that include hammering on the other end to bust tight stuff loose?
Except for things like flare nuts, I usually start with a 6 point socket if I can fit it on. On tighter stuff, I spare my ratchet and go with a breaker bar.
I have had good luck with flare nut wrenches. I have a couple of Craftsman going back to when Sears was building there reputation, not living off it. Also gotten the job done with Ace Hardware Master Mechanic. I have seldom resorted to vice-Grips.
I have had good luck with flare nut wrenches. I have a couple of Craftsman going back to when Sears was building there reputation, not living off it. Also gotten the job done with Ace Hardware Master Mechanic. I have seldom resorted to vice-Grips.
I bought this 28 piece 6-pt wrench set a couple years ago. I waited until there was a good sale online and got them for considerably less than $100 with free shipping. I know some Craftsman tools catch flak for being low-quality, but these things are bulletproof.
Wrench Link
b/c of the six point box end, there are some situations where they aren't ideal, but for those times I have my 12-point ratcheting wrenches.
This mix of six-point box ends and ratcheting wrenches means I seem to have the perfect wrench for almost any situation.
Wrench Link
b/c of the six point box end, there are some situations where they aren't ideal, but for those times I have my 12-point ratcheting wrenches.
This mix of six-point box ends and ratcheting wrenches means I seem to have the perfect wrench for almost any situation.
I need a good set of crows foot wrenches, Sears has a set with them set up to swivel. They aren't cheap, but I figure they'll get into some tight spots where a crows foot wrench might be needed, and to me its worth the added cost for the swivel feature.
Truth is you need a good set of box end wrenches too, open end one side box on the other. HTH
Truth is you need a good set of box end wrenches too, open end one side box on the other. HTH
That set of Craftsman wrenches looks pretty good for me. Thanks.
I really think that a ratcheting (flex would be nice as well) box end on a combination wrench is the best way to go. Are spline wrenches recommended?
SK Reversible G-Pro Combination Wrench Set
SK Universal Spline G-Pro Ratcheting Combination Wrench Set
Are these made in USA? A reviewer on Amazon said the 89700 kit was made in Taiwan. That appears to be true according to the SK website as well (doesn't say made in USA as some items do).
Where are Armstrong mfg? They are owned by Danaher so I assume USA, same as Craftsman. 52-807 is their 7mm (6-19mm) but I can't find a p/n for the set that this wrench is in. It is only listed as Metric Combination Ratcheting Wrench under Ratcheting Wrench, Reversible & Combination with 13 other wrenches. Their website is horrible. I'll see if a local distributor can make sense of it tomorrow.
Craftsman doesn't have a 7mm reversible ratcheting combination wrench. I guess I could buy a Craftsman set & get the 7mm as the 12-point combo wrench w/o ratcheting or flex. Of course, that applies to many mfg.
Proto SCVM-13S is another possibility. They are $217 after my 10% discount. They include 7-19mm & are 12-point. Where are they mfg? They are owned by Stanley.
Snap-On Flank Drive Plus are real expensive & real nice but only go down to 10mm.
Mac has a pretty poor website as well. They don't list the sizes that are in their wrench sets. Moving along...
Matco SRFBZXLM102T is only 10-19mm. This is their spline wrench set. Matco SGW85698 is 8-19mm. Are all Matco wrenches made in USA?
JH Williams only has 8-19mm for the flex ratchet combo wrench. They have 6, 8-19, 22, & 25mm in the standard ratchet combo wrench. Close but no cigar as I need 7mm included.
Wright Tool doesn't appear to have any ratcheting combo wrenches only double box end.
Cornwell ratcheting combo wrenches are 8-24mm. Where are they mfg?
SK Reversible G-Pro Combination Wrench Set
SK Universal Spline G-Pro Ratcheting Combination Wrench Set
Are these made in USA? A reviewer on Amazon said the 89700 kit was made in Taiwan. That appears to be true according to the SK website as well (doesn't say made in USA as some items do).
Where are Armstrong mfg? They are owned by Danaher so I assume USA, same as Craftsman. 52-807 is their 7mm (6-19mm) but I can't find a p/n for the set that this wrench is in. It is only listed as Metric Combination Ratcheting Wrench under Ratcheting Wrench, Reversible & Combination with 13 other wrenches. Their website is horrible. I'll see if a local distributor can make sense of it tomorrow.
Craftsman doesn't have a 7mm reversible ratcheting combination wrench. I guess I could buy a Craftsman set & get the 7mm as the 12-point combo wrench w/o ratcheting or flex. Of course, that applies to many mfg.
Proto SCVM-13S is another possibility. They are $217 after my 10% discount. They include 7-19mm & are 12-point. Where are they mfg? They are owned by Stanley.
Snap-On Flank Drive Plus are real expensive & real nice but only go down to 10mm.
Mac has a pretty poor website as well. They don't list the sizes that are in their wrench sets. Moving along...
Matco SRFBZXLM102T is only 10-19mm. This is their spline wrench set. Matco SGW85698 is 8-19mm. Are all Matco wrenches made in USA?
JH Williams only has 8-19mm for the flex ratchet combo wrench. They have 6, 8-19, 22, & 25mm in the standard ratchet combo wrench. Close but no cigar as I need 7mm included.
Wright Tool doesn't appear to have any ratcheting combo wrenches only double box end.
Cornwell ratcheting combo wrenches are 8-24mm. Where are they mfg?
The SK ratcheting wrenches are made in Taiwan.It says on the cardboard packaging.I do not buy SK tools in my area,I get a 41% discount of the list price through Century Trading Company out of Van Wert,Oh because of the automtive college I went to.SK does make the 7mm including Gearwrench.
Is 12-point or 6-point combination wrenches the better "go to" base set?
I prefer 12 point. When you are in a tight spot 12pt gives more angle options.
Thanks.
After all that previous rambling, I have pretty much decided on this Craftsman set for $189.99 ($10 sale) plus tax. It is 43 piece with (25) metric (6-30, 32), & (18) SAE (1/4 - 1 5/16). They are all 12-point. They are not the Craftsman Pro but the std Craftsman.
After all that previous rambling, I have pretty much decided on this Craftsman set for $189.99 ($10 sale) plus tax. It is 43 piece with (25) metric (6-30, 32), & (18) SAE (1/4 - 1 5/16). They are all 12-point. They are not the Craftsman Pro but the std Craftsman.
Those worked for me for years......
I have a Snap on set for metric now. I still have the American box wrenches like the type you are getting. I will probably get a ratcheting box wrench set at some point.
I have a Snap on set for metric now. I still have the American box wrenches like the type you are getting. I will probably get a ratcheting box wrench set at some point.
I like a flare nut wrench set for general use. It is almost as handy as open end, and has more surfaces in use than open end.
I took the Craftsman set back & ordered Wright Tool full polished SAE #915 & Metric #958 sets. They are much better with less slop, correct & consistent offset angles as well.
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