Why are wrenches so short? I fail to get enough leverage.

[sparky 1971]

I don't have any high dollar wrenches. I do have a lot of wrenches. Craftsman raised panel combinations in 12 and six point, double box, double box offset, stubby, midget, and long pattern. Gearwrench in both standard and X-frame, And I recently bought some Eastwood XL double box. I also have a wrench extender. I.can't think of a single time I used something other than a boring Craftsman raised panel combination wrench. I'm sure there are specific instances where A wrench made a difference, but I can't tell you when it happened. The same with ratchets. II have all of the long versions but almost always go for the "standard" length SK round heads.

EDIT: I also have the 1/2" drive Astro Nano sockets as well as their double box ratcheting wrench that is made for the sockets and an XXL Gearwrench in whatever the appropriate size is for the sockets. I know I've never used those in the 6+ months I've owned them.

What I have done is slip a piece of pipe over a standard length Craftsman wrench. I've done that many times over the years.

 

[ecotec]

This looks like a pretty good deal. Not extra-long, but no skips in the smaller sizes and even includes some bigs:

Gearwrench 22 piece long-pattern set

Edit: Just want to also say I love long pattern wrenches. I don't even own any stubbies except for a couple cheapies I cut in half for some long forgotten job. For short stuff I prefer to use a ratchet. To each his own.

I like options. I have combination wrenches in long pattern, regular length, Armstrong/ Craftsman (which is between regular length and short pattern), short pattern, and stubbies… and different lengths in many other styles of wrenches as well.

 

[dchawk81]

I don't have any high dollar wrenches. I do have a lot of wrenches. Craftsman raised panel combinations in 12 and six point, double box, double box offset, stubby, midget, and long pattern. Gearwrench in both standard and X-frame, And I recently bought some Eastwood XL double box. I also have a wrench extender. I.can't think of a single time I used something other than a boring Craftsman raised panel combination wrench. I'm sure there are specific instances where A wrench made a difference, but I can't tell you when it happened. The same with ratchets. II have all of the long versions but almost always go for the "standard" length SK round heads.

My truck's SCR has two mounting straps. One can be accessed with an extra long socket on an impact wrench. The other can only be accessed with a wrench because the exhaust stack elbow is in the way. A short socket won't go over the stud because it's too long and the long socket can't fit between the stud and the exhaust.

The extra long (about 17") wrench lets me get enough oomph into it to get it tight. Can't use a 6 point because there isn't enough rotation room to get another bite and doubling wrenches makes the angle such that you're going to keep hitting the cab of the truck every time you swing. The straight 12 point wrench lets you get a full 1/4 or so turn at a time.

Ratcheting wrench head won't fit between the strap opening.

The alternative is to remove the exhaust.

I have all kinds of stupid weird stuff like that.

 

[sparky 1971]

There's lots of extra long wrenches available, but they're usually truck brands.

Shoot me a size and I'll shoot you a part number.

XL wrenches come in all brands. Mine are branded Eastwood and I have no clue who makes them.

The standard by which all combination wrench lengths are compared to is:

1/2 inch combination wrench standard length should be at a minimum, 8 inches long.
13 millimeter combination wrench standard length should be at a minimum, 207 millimeters (8.14961 inches) long.

Anything shorter than that, you're dealing with big box store soccer mom grade tools.

Thank you for those posts. You obviously spent a lot of time and put a lot of thought into them before posting. Together, with your insight and my photo, we can prove to the world that Snap On is an inferior product. Craftsman, Gearwrench, SK, and even Eastwood have slain the mighty Snap On dragon.

BTW, thank you for using the 1/2" example since it's the only Snap On wrench I own.

 

[jonesg]

I bought this aviation length set for $45.
low profile, 12 point.
very handy to remove brake calipers bracket with hard to reach bolts .

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087WLD5DW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[nadogail]

I have a few Proto long pattern combination wrenches, I have found them to be very nice.

 

[Wrench97]

XL wrenches come in all brands. Mine are branded Eastwood and I have no clue who makes them.

Thank you for those posts. You obviously spent a lot of time and put a lot of thought into them before posting. Together, with your insight and my photo, we can prove to the world that Snap On is an inferior product. Craftsman, Gearwrench, SK, and even Eastwood have slain the mighty Snap On dragon.

BTW, thank you for using the 1/2" example since it's the only Snap On wrench I own.

Ming and Ping

 

[ez-duzit]

I bought this aviation length set for $45.
low profile, 12 point.
very handy to remove brake calipers bracket with hard to reach bolts .

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087WLD5DW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

These appear to be made in China.

 

[bcradio]

My truck's SCR has two mounting straps. One can be accessed with an extra long socket on an impact wrench. The other can only be accessed with a wrench because the exhaust stack elbow is in the way. A short socket won't go over the stud because it's too long and the long socket can't fit between the stud and the exhaust.

The extra long (about 17") wrench lets me get enough oomph into it to get it tight. Can't use a 6 point because there isn't enough rotation room to get another bite and doubling wrenches makes the angle such that you're going to keep hitting the cab of the truck every time you swing. The straight 12 point wrench lets you get a full 1/4 or so turn at a time.

Ratcheting wrench head won't fit between the strap opening.

The alternative is to remove the exhaust.

I have all kinds of stupid weird stuff like that.

Sounds like you're a perfect candidate for some mid depth sockets!

 

[RPH]

Lighter, less material, easier to maneuver, can use a weaker/cheaper forge and a smaller tool etc...

How so? Most forging lines handle more than one die. Smaller power supply for forging is still going to be in the 500kW range. Coils are specific to billets dimensions. Forging is temperature for the metallurgic mix of the billet for final product. Power on the unit can come and down plus velocity of billets through coil. Coupling efficiencies of the coils matter. Forging is dirty, hot, loud work.
Whether automation or by hand. Been in both types.

 

[KnurledNut]

XL wrenches come in all brands. Mine are branded Eastwood and I have no clue who makes them.

Thank you for those posts. You obviously spent a lot of time and put a lot of thought into them before posting. Together, with your insight and my photo, we can prove to the world that Snap On is an inferior product. Craftsman, Gearwrench, SK, and even Eastwood have slain the mighty Snap On dragon.

BTW, thank you for using the 1/2" example since it's the only Snap On wrench I own.

I keep a set of those short pattern Snap-on SAE wrenches in my field kit and really like the size.

 

[Wamsutta]

XL wrenches come in all brands. Mine are branded Eastwood and I have no clue who makes them.

Thank you for those posts. You obviously spent a lot of time and put a lot of thought into them before posting. Together, with your insight and my photo, we can prove to the world that Snap On is an inferior product. Craftsman, Gearwrench, SK, and even Eastwood have slain the mighty Snap On dragon.

BTW, thank you for using the 1/2" example since it's the only Snap On wrench I own.

That one Snap-on wrench you have is not their standard length version, and your Eastwood wrench is not a combination wrench.

 

[jonesg]

These appear to be made in China.

I threw them away.

 

[LWB]

It's nice to have the bases covered

Stubby' s
Regular length
Long pattern (Combination or DBE)
Aviation type (DBE)

Not to mention chrome/impacts with various extensions and socket lengths.

Why wouldn't you want that? Other than stubby I use them all regularly and I'm no pro. Just yesterday it seemed like I had the whole box out doing an alignment and some parts replacements. Right tool for the job. Why suffer. None have to be expensive.

 

[AEAdam]

This post, links to a chart I made relating a few popular wrench brands to the federal stds. This will give you an idea of what the std wrench length is, and how different brands measure up.

You will note Snap On make very long wrenches. If you find decent wrenches in that size range I think you will be happy with them. Snap on std length is long pattern per the std. Snap On long pattern is really an XL wrench.

My basic set are Snap On long patterns and never once have I thought “these are too long”. In fact, I really like the zero offset double box ratchets which are even longer.

When it comes to wrenches, people have their preferences, but Snap On are really the pinnacle. So many pros end up with them for reasons beyond truck service. They really are that good.

That said, at least on paper, there are a couple other excellent wrenches to look at. My advice- don’t knee jerk to a single reviewer’s opinion. You can look at the data in a smart way. You want strong, thin, tight-fitting, and long. Last I looked, Williams, Icon, and FACOM all looked pretty good to me. Wright grip, a perennial favorite on GJ for their outstanding strength, are shorter and thicker, which, to my thinking, makes them less desirable.

 

[AEAdam]

The problem is that whole "room to swing them" part. Precious few occasions will afford such access. I use stubby and standard wrenches 10:1 compared to something I wish was longer.

If I need leverage, I have sockets and breaker bars that work quite well. Or a Nitrocat 1250k.

Not my experience. My opinion, opposite. The longer patterns get my hand out of the restricted space I’m working in. In fairness, few automotive situations exist where I just can’t get to a fastener at all. So I’m cracking something loose with a wrench, then ripping the bolt out with 1/4” drive or….

 

[jmarkwolf]

I understand that I can do the double wrench trick but why are wrenches so short? Could someone please recommend some decent wrenches?

You may be overtightening your fasteners.

Just for fun, use a torque wrench on some fasteners as an experiment. You may be surprised how little torque is required on a given fastener for optimal strength.

I know I was.

 

[Samuel D]

You may be overtightening your fasteners.

Just for fun, use a torque wrench on some fasteners as an experiment. You may be surprised how little torque is required on a given fastener for optimal strength.

I know I was.

I think studies have shown that people actually tend not to tighten fasteners enough more often than they crank them too hard, worsening with larger fasteners.

In the case of people with little connection to the physical world, this tendency is certainly true. For years I cycled with software engineers and finance people in a big city (and also school teachers and bakers and all sorts … great mixed crowd). Some of these people were fit and good cyclists with bicycles I could never afford, but most of them were comically bad at wrenching.

One guy got his foot stuck on his pedal when two of three cleat screws came undone leaving no way to twist the cleat to unclip it, but with the remaining screw binding him to the pedal. After sorting that mess out I checked the screws in the cleat of his other foot and found they were about as tight as I could make them with my fingertips. These are M5 screws. He explained he wanted to be able to remove them when the time came for new cleats.

I have wondered if this under-tightening tendency is why wrenches have got longer as society has moved away from mechanical work. That and that hands must be softer and muscles limper nowadays, on average, than when the DIN standards (etc.) were drawn up.

But I’m with you. I tend to over-tighten fasteners if left to my own devices. A torque wrench is a good education even if you don’t always use it.

Another education is to deliberately wring the head off a few bolts of different sizes.

 

[AEAdam]

I have wondered if this under-tightening tendency is why wrenches have got longer as society has moved away from mechanical work. That and that hands must be softer and muscles limper nowadays, on average, than when the DIN standards (etc.) were drawn up.

Respect. I think longer wrenches require better materials, design, and manufacturing. Long wrenches expose a manufacturer’s capabilities.

Ditto long ratchets. Snap On has really pushed the industry to produce high tooth count, strong tools in never before seen lengths like the FLL80.

That starts with analysis and testing in engineering, involves metallurgy, and in process inspection, and lastly, in my opinion, the prevalence, quality, and low cost of carbide tooling in high speed machining.

So, sorry I could have said this faster: changes reflect the capabilities in the supply side, not the demand side.

 

[AEAdam]

More from above - Snap On innovates based on their capabilities. As the industry leader, others will attempt to match. Watch out for companies copying the form factors without the engineering and technology that underpins it.

 

[lardy1]

Tryin' to remain objective here, but...........

 

[dchawk81]

Sounds like you're a perfect candidate for some mid depth sockets!

For the SCR, nothing but a wrench fits between the end of the one stud and the exhaust. It's solved with a $15 extra long Duratech from Amazon. 21mm hex so plenty of bite for even a cheap wrench.

 

[threewood]

Snap On makes a nice long pattern set. Others do as well.

 

[Fedwrench]

Change where you buy your wrenches

Seriously, I don't think there has ever been as wide of a selection of wrenches available as there are today.

I mean you have midget, stubby, standard, long, and extra long patterns just in combination wrenches. If you want some really long wrenches, look at the extra long zero offset boxed end wrenches.

Gearwrench and others offer some really long Gearbox type wrenches with a fixed boxed end on one end, and a ratcheting boxed end or ratcheting flex head boxed end on the other end. Sometimes those wrenches are too long to use. Choices have never been better than they are today. If you can't find a long wrench, you're doing it wrong.

 

[KnurledNut]

I mean you have midget, stubby, standard, long, and extra long patterns just in combination wrenches. If you want some really long wrenches, look at the extra long zero offset boxed end wrenches.

Bro, dont forget XXXL combos!

 

[threewood]

SuperXXLong flex ratcheting box end wrenches are out there too.

 

[Firebrick43]

This post, links to a chart I made relating a few popular wrench brands to the federal stds. This will give you an idea of what the std wrench length is, and how different brands measure up.

You will note Snap On make very long wrenches. If you find decent wrenches in that size range I think you will be happy with them. Snap on std length is long pattern per the std. Snap On long pattern is really an XL wrench.

My basic set are Snap On long patterns and never once have I thought “these are too long”. In fact, I really like the zero offset double box ratchets which are even longer.

When it comes to wrenches, people have their preferences, but Snap On are really the pinnacle. So many pros end up with them for reasons beyond truck service. They really are that good.

That said, at least on paper, there are a couple other excellent wrenches to look at. My advice- don’t knee jerk to a single reviewer’s opinion. You can look at the data in a smart way. You want strong, thin, tight-fitting, and long. Last I looked, Williams, Icon, and FACOM all looked pretty good to me. Wright grip, a perennial favorite on GJ for their outstanding strength, are shorter and thicker, which, to my thinking, makes them less desirable.

Once again you are giving out bogus measurements because you don't own them nor have you measured them yourself but are relying on vague general dimensions not actual measurements.


Snap On OEXM130B = 0.2752" = 6.99mm, a full mm off from the general dimensions pulled from the snap on catalog. *measurement taken at thickest part*


Wright 11-13mm = 0.2758"= 7.00mm *measurement taken at thickest part*

Less than .001" difference, or 10 microns.


A 14mm wright is actually thinner than snap on do you want me to post pictures of it?

 

[AEAdam]

Once again you are giving out bogus measurements because you don't own them nor have you measured them yourself but are relying on vague general dimensions not actual measurements.

Snap On OEXM130B = 0.2752" = 6.99mm, a full mm off from the general dimensions pulled from the snap on catalog. *measurement taken at thickest part*


Wright 11-13mm = 0.2758"= 7.00mm *measurement taken at thickest part*

Less than .001" difference, or 10 microns.

If you keep repeating a lie it doesn't make it true.

A 14mm wright is actually thinner than snap on do you want me to post pictures of it?

I recall this came up before. I used manufacturers’ websites for the dimensions in the chart.

I just checked Wright’s and they list the 11-13 as 6.73mm thick at the open end. I doubt I rounded that up. The specificity suggests accuracy to me, rather than Snap Ons whole numbers. I don’t recall checking my wrenches against the Snap on catalog. I have several wrenches I could check and beautiful digital mics in my machine shop to check them with. Should be fun.

If you are happy, yes please, measure your entire set of wrenches and compare your actuals to the manufacturers website and publish your results, I’d be interested to see if Wright is publishing more accurate measurements their tools than Snap On.

Due to the slight draft of the open end try box end dimensions or other dimensions. I would not assume open end is max thickness. My guess is it would be the dimension at the bottom of the U if that makes sense.

My point is and remains, wrench buyers can use manufacturers data to compare wrenches, and compare them to know stds. Don’t trust so called long wrenches are actually long. This stuff about thicknesses is a rabbit hole, but interesting to me.

As an heavy industry product design engineer, I typically would use fed stds to evaluate tool clearances etc. Tools fatter than the std may not work in some circumstances. I believe Snap on tools routinely undercut the fed stds. We actually use the Snap On catalog to calculate clearances, since our shop and our customers use Snap On tools. If their catalog is wrong, I’d like to know it! I’ve been designing for 30 years and have never designed something with tool clearance problem. Some of that is me being conservative. I do recall before we had team boxes in our shop, mechanics custom ground wrenches to fit stuff. But who knows what they started with. When I tell you industry sometimes designs around Snap on, I’m not kidding.

 

[Firebrick43]

I recall this came up before. I used manufacturers’ websites for the dimensions in the chart.

I just checked Wright’s and they list the 11-13 as 6.73mm thick at the open end. I doubt I rounded that up. The specificity suggests accuracy to me, rather than Snap Ons whole numbers. I don’t recall checking my wrenches against the Snap on catalog. I have several wrenches I could check and beautiful digital mics in my machine shop to check them with. Should be fun.

If you are happy, yes please, measure your entire set of wrenches and compare your actuals to the manufacturers website and publish your results, I’d be interested to see if Wright is publishing more accurate measurements their tools than Snap On.

Due to the slight draft of the open end try box end dimensions or other dimensions. I would not assume open end is max thickness. My guess is it would be the dimension at the bottom of the U if that makes sense.

My point is and remains, wrench buyers can use manufacturers data to compare wrenches, and compare them to know stds. Don’t trust so called long wrenches are actually long. This stuff about thicknesses is a rabbit hole, but interesting to me.

As an heavy industry product design engineer, I typically would use fed stds to evaluate tool clearances etc. Tools fatter than the std may not work in some circumstances. I believe Snap on tools routinely undercut the fed stds. We actually use the Snap On catalog to calculate clearances, since our shop and our customers use Snap On tools. If their catalog is wrong, I’d like to know it! I’ve been designing for 30 years and have never designed something with tool clearance problem. Some of that is me being conservative. I do recall before we had team boxes in our shop, mechanics custom ground wrenches to fit stuff. But who knows what they started with. When I tell you industry sometimes designs around Snap on, I’m not kidding.

I have brought this up and published numbers several times yet you continue to use inaccurate ones.

I have found nothing in snap ons dimensions close. Other than length being a few mm there is not much use of them.

They are not cast, they are forged in multiple dies, There is not draft in that direction and they are hand sanded/polished so one wrench thick/thin is going to be different than another sample of the same brand/model. Also dies wear the more they are used.
The feature that is going to have any precision (or should be I should say) is the broaching where the wrench makes contact with the fastener.

 

[In My Garage]

I understand that I can do the double wrench trick but why are wrenches so short? Could someone please recommend some decent wrenches?

Well get the long ones.

I on the other hand bought the shorter OEXM 6 to 19 mm wrenches from Snap-On way back in 1975. I guess I ate my wheaties and back then had stronger arms.

 

[AEAdam]

Well get the long ones.

I on the other hand bought the shorter OEXM 6 to 19 mm wrenches from Snap-On way back in 1975. I guess I ate my wheaties and back then had stronger arms.

OEXMs are very long. Much longer than say, Craftsman.

 

[dnschmidt]

Way **** around with short combination wrenches, Bust out the THOR and get 'er done.

 

[Fedwrench]

Way **** around with short combination wrenches, Bust out the THOR and get 'er done.

The Thor Impact is a little on the large side, might not fit.
Just get a set of Astro 3/8 drive nano sockets and the Astro 78318, long ratcheting flex head handle, and you'll probably never lack leverage again.

 

[dchawk81]

The Thor Impact is a little on the large side, might not fit.
Just get a set of Astro 3/8 drive nano sockets and the Astro 18318, long ratcheting flex head handle, and you'll probably never lack leverage again.

Did you mean 78318?

 

[Fedwrench]

Did you mean 78318?

Yes, I did. Sorry,

 

[dchawk81]

Yes, I did. Sorry,

All good.

 

[In My Garage]

OEXMs are very long. Much longer than say, Craftsman.

I guess I have the first part wrong. My Snap-On combination wrenches are short.

 

[bonneyman]

SuperXXLong flex ratcheting box end wrenches are out there too.

Droll worthy indeed!

So I looked up the price.

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

 

[dchawk81]

Droll worthy indeed!

So I looked up the price.

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

To be fair, it's like having an piece set. So it's really not THAT bad.

 

[Boogerman]

Long pattern wrenches very common, outside of box store commodity brands. In SAE, I prefer long pattern because do milwright type work, not auto. In metric, prefer standard length because clearance in auto environment needs standard or short. Use ratchets/sockets lot more too for auto.




My favorites out of all

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