Snap-on Flank Drive Plus vs. Matco Opti-Torque Pro

[tdls87]

I've been researching wrench sets for awhile and i have narrowed it down to Snap-on Flank Drive Plus or Matco Opti-Torque Pro combination wrench sets. I have seen and felt both brands while on the trucks.

The Matco wrench has a nice beam that isn't skinny but, isn't awkwardly thick, just about perfect. The Opti-Toque doesn't have teeth in the open end so it doesn't mark fasteners or make sounds when applying to the fastener.

The Snap-on Flank Drive Plus has a pretty skinny beam, it doesn't seem very comfortable, but i have a friend thats a mechanic says he loves them. (He also has a set of Matco's Opti-Torque Pro's that he loves as well) I have seen multiple guys say the teeth mark fasteners and make funny noises and such.

They both are right about the same price so that doesn't apply to the comparison. The chrome quality was about the same also.

I have seen other threads on this topic on here but none of them ever came up with a distinct advantage or disadvantage.

Any opinions and discussion are welcomed and greatly appreciated

 

[not-required]

I was just thinking about this exact same question. I am interested in this comparison also.

 

[davesnothere]

I love the FDP.
But, I've never seen the matco whatchamajiggers.

That being said, I've never seen, felt, or used a matco product that I didn't like the S/O equivalent of better.

 

[Grimsaviour]

Ive been getting along with a set of craftsman wrenches for years now. They arent nearly as pretty and i wouldnt know if they grip as good but they work for me. What i do use a lot more is gear wrenches, love those.

 

[shampoop]

Matco opti-torque sounds new. Flank drive plus has been out a while. Buy flank drive plus used for half of. Win win.

 

[not-required]

Matco opti-torque sounds new. Flank drive plus has been out a while. Buy flank drive plus used for half of. Win win.

Thats the thing. I have a student discount with matco, so should I get it with my student discount or are the SO's so much better that I should get those instead?

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

If you don't like the "teeth" on the open end of the Snap-on's, just get the regular flank drive wrenches instead of the flank drive "plus". I prefer them to the plus as I don't like marring fasteners unless it is required.

 

[Fedwrench]

I have both brands and the open ends perform just as well. Opitorque isn't new. It's been around for at least 10 years. Ask yourself this, how often do you use an open end of a wrench to break a fastener loose?
I stongly recommend either brand if you do any front end work. I like the slightly thicker beam if the Matco wrench better.
However, let me cloud the waters a bit by giving you an excellent alternative to FDP plus or Optitorque at a fraction of the truck price, Williams Supercombo wrench.
They're US made, fully polished, have a thick comfortable beam, and have the notches on their open end similiar to mac's knuclesaver and matco's optitorque. Great wrenches at a third of the price of a truck brand.
http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Williams-MWS-5A-Hand-Tools-Wrenches-Combination-Metric-Sets

 

[franzdom]

Those Williams look really good. Are they the same lengths as the standard length SO?

 

[Honda guy]

I've never tried the Matco's, so can't give an opinion there. I've had a set of the flank drive plus for the past 12+ years and use them every day at work.

The pros: Open end grabs rounded fasteners way better than regular open end. Jaws have never spread. IMO the beam isn't uncomfortable at all. Never noticed any fastener damage or any clicking noise. Good chrome, no flaking.

The cons: Price. I paid around $325 for my 10mm-19mm set, and I'm sure they've gone up. Co-worker has mentioned that his SK wrenches (have slightly wider beams) are more comfortable.

 

[tdls87]

If you don't like the "teeth" on the open end of the Snap-on's, just get the regular flank drive wrenches instead of the flank drive "plus". I prefer them to the plus as I don't like marring fasteners unless it is required.

I like the idea of no teeth. That's why i'm not rushing out and buying Snap-on FDP wrenches, but i'd still like to have the technology of the flutes in the open end, like williams supercombo's, Matco Opti-Torques, and gearwrench also has a version of this.

Do you think Snap-on's Regular flank drive wrenches would perform better than say Matco's Opti-Torque wrenches? Would the Snap-on open ends cancel out the Opti-Torque technology because they wouldn't spread as much in the first place?

 

[Farmrod]

let me see if i can find my data from a test I did with Snap On FDP and FD, Mac Knuckle savers, Matco Opti torque, craftsman pro and raised panel.. I was honestly shocked at the outcome the matco Broke one side of the open end off on the third pull the knuckle savers spread so bad they just round off the hex stock both craftsman rounded off the hex and the snap on FD started to round off the hex but the grabbed ahold the only one that grabbed from the start was the FDP but it did make substantial marks on the hex there is no a issue in my line of work with marking up a fastner but if I were to need a wrench that would get the job done and not mark up a fastner too bad id go with the FD

 

[tdls87]

let me see if i can find my data from a test I did with Snap On FDP and FD, Mac Knuckle savers, Matco Opti torque, craftsman pro and raised panel.. I was honestly shocked at the outcome the matco Broke one side of the open end off on the third pull the knuckle savers spread so bad they just round off the hex stock both craftsman rounded off the hex and the snap on FD started to round off the hex but the grabbed ahold the only one that grabbed from the start was the FDP but it did make substantial marks on the hex there is no a issue in my line of work with marking up a fastner but if I were to need a wrench that would get the job done and not mark up a fastner too bad id go with the FD

That would be great!

 

[tdls87]

let me see if i can find my data from a test I did with Snap On FDP and FD, Mac Knuckle savers, Matco Opti torque, craftsman pro and raised panel.. I was honestly shocked at the outcome the matco Broke one side of the open end off on the third pull the knuckle savers spread so bad they just round off the hex stock both craftsman rounded off the hex and the snap on FD started to round off the hex but the grabbed ahold the only one that grabbed from the start was the FDP but it did make substantial marks on the hex there is no a issue in my line of work with marking up a fastner but if I were to need a wrench that would get the job done and not mark up a fastner too bad id go with the FD

When you say "it made substantial marks on the hex" What did the damage look like? Was it sharp protrusions coming from the hex?

 

[Farmrod]

The damage was slight indentions into the hex where the "teeth" grabbed onto the hex nothing too crazy just a lot more substantial marking than on the hex where the others grabbed (or slipped)

 

[earlthegoat2]

I dont think it really matters. The business end of combination wrenches is the box end and if it is 12 point (as it should be unless it is a specialized application) then flank drive or opti torque is a moot point indeed. If you really use that open end a lot and need a good grip regardless of marring the fastener then the SO would be the way to go.

If it was me, I would get the regular Flank Drive SOs.

 

[Chadro]

Knuckle Savers FTW

 

[Sterff]

I love the FDP.
But, I've never seen the matco whatchamajiggers.

That being said, I've never seen, felt, or used a matco product that I didn't like the S/O equivalent of better.

That's the opposite for me. Ecspecially when it comes to Snap-on's pliers. They have a cheap feel to me.

 

[tdls87]

So i'm kinda getting the sense that regular flank drive OEX style SO wrenches are the way to go for all around use. i.e. Using on finished fasteners and other delicate things and still have the opened end strength of SO.

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

So i'm kinda getting the sense that regular flank drive OEX style SO wrenches are the way to go for all around use. i.e. Using on finished fasteners and other delicate things and still have the opened end strength of SO.

The non FD+ OEX wrenches are very nice, but FD+ is a really useful feature I would not want to be without. I would want to get both or on a budget get the FD+ set from SO and get a cheaper USA made set with regular open ends (SK, Craftsman Pro, etc)

 

[tdls87]

let me see if i can find my data from a test I did with Snap On FDP and FD, Mac Knuckle savers, Matco Opti torque, craftsman pro and raised panel.. I was honestly shocked at the outcome the matco Broke one side of the open end off on the third pull the knuckle savers spread so bad they just round off the hex stock both craftsman rounded off the hex and the snap on FD started to round off the hex but the grabbed ahold the only one that grabbed from the start was the FDP but it did make substantial marks on the hex there is no a issue in my line of work with marking up a fastner but if I were to need a wrench that would get the job done and not mark up a fastner too bad id go with the FD

Did you ever get that data from your test? Do you have any pics? Really interested in it.

 

[tdls87]

Has anyone had a Snap-on Flank Drive Plus wrench ever mar a bolt or nut. If so do you guys have any pics of the damage done?

 

[Chris Adams]

I have the 'toothy wrenches' as my wife calls them, mostly in Williams, but with some Snap On and even Proto.
The Williams are thicker, beefier, than the Snap On wrenches.

The Williams cost a small fraction as much.

Still almost never use the open end. Many of my Flank Drive wrenches are virgins.
There just aren't that many times you NEED a super strong open end.

In actual order of choice in an 18 month period;
Gear wrench,
short SK wrench (not real short, but shorter than Cman, Snappy, etc.)
super long wrench,
standard length wrench,
stubby wrench,
flank drive wrench.

I expected the flank drive plus to be my go to.
Didn't work out that way.

 

[tdls87]

I have the 'toothy wrenches' as my wife calls them, mostly in Williams, but with some Snap On and even Proto.
The Williams are thicker, beefier, than the Snap On wrenches.

The Williams cost a small fraction as much.

Still almost never use the open end. Many of my Flank Drive wrenches are virgins.
There just aren't that many times you NEED a super strong open end.

In actual order of choice in an 18 month period;
Gear wrench,
short SK wrench (not real short, but shorter than Cman, Snappy, etc.)
super long wrench,
standard length wrench,
stubby wrench,
flank drive wrench.

I expected the flank drive plus to be my go to.
Didn't work out that way.

I also would say my flex gearwrenches are my go to for the majority of my jobs. But when i need a regular combination it's usually to put an impact on the other side of it or breaking a crazy stuck fastener loose.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

snap on has better resale

 

[nathan_454]

I have both only because I bought the Matco's first, then after two years of frustrations of rounding fasteners, spreading jaws, etc, I bought a set of flank drive plus wrenches. since then I am much happier, more productive, and less bruised knuckles!!!!

 

[tdls87]

snap on has better resale

I agree. Resale is a big plus as well for Snap-on.

 

[tdls87]

I have both only because I bought the Matco's first, then after two years of frustrations of rounding fasteners, spreading jaws, etc, I bought a set of flank drive plus wrenches. since then I am much happier, more productive, and less bruised knuckles!!!!

Have you used the regular Snap-on Flank Drive OEX series wrenches? If so how do they compare?

 

[Bart Simpson]

Here are a couple videos that may give you some more info on the subject of FD+ compared to other wrenches.

Snap-on Flank Drive Plus and Special Application Wrenches

Snap-on Reversible Ratcheting Combination Wrenches

Here are a couple of older GJ threads that touched on the FD+ subject.

snap-on flank drive vs flank drive plus

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15891

4-way Angle Head Open Wrenches, Flank Drive Plus or Not?

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=436589

 

[Farmrod]

Did you ever get that data from your test? Do you have any pics? Really interested in it.

Gotta see if its still on the work computer if not I'll just try to get some more wrenches and do the test over

 

[tdls87]

Gotta see if its still on the work computer if not I'll just try to get some more wrenches and do the test over

Hey thanks a million man!! Hey if it ain't too much of a bother could you also get a pic of a bolt or nut that has had the FDP open end torqued on it.

 

[ciscotex]

Found this ancient thread while trying to figure out what Opti-Torque was. FWIW, a few of us have Matco, Snap-On, and Stahlwille box and sockets. Hands down, everyone will grab a Stahlwille before either of the others. They are not as pretty as SO, but edge of combinations doesn't cut you quite as much, but the main thing is the steel is superior to any of the others. Sounds like a bell when tapped with another wrench. They also have their own version of broaching so that the fastener is turned on the flanks, not the points. Personally, I won't buy a box or socket without it.

Just my opinion, I have no vested interest, just passing it on FWIW.

Paul

 

[Nocturnal-G]

Found this ancient thread while trying to figure out what Opti-Torque was. FWIW, a few of us have Matco, Snap-On, and Stahlwille box and sockets. Hands down, everyone will grab a Stahlwille before either of the others. They are not as pretty as SO, but edge of combinations doesn't cut you quite as much, but the main thing is the steel is superior to any of the others. Sounds like a bell when tapped with another wrench. They also have their own version of broaching so that the fastener is turned on the flanks, not the points. Personally, I won't buy a box or socket without it.

Just my opinion, I have no vested interest, just passing it on FWIW.

Paul

What's a box and sockets? Box end wrenches with a socket? Combo wrench? I'm confused.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

......They also have their own version of broaching so that the fastener is turned on the flanks, not the points. Personally, I won't buy a box or socket without it.

Just my opinion, I have no vested interest, just passing it on FWIW.

Paul

Who do you think owns the original patent on the "flank drive" socket and boxed end wrench? A Snap-on employee came up with it and, until the patent ran out, they were the only ones allowed to use that design. Virtually every company making boxed end wrenches or sockets now use a version of that design.

 

[bob15]

Who do you think owns the original patent on the "flank drive" socket and boxed end wrench? A Snap-on employee came up with it and, until the patent ran out, they were the only ones allowed to use that design. Virtually every company making boxed end wrenches or sockets now use a version of that design.

Wrong. Kelsey-Hayes invented it (1961) and it was Utica/Bonney who used it first. Look at the lobular Bonney wrenches and sockets....

Snap On was 1963.