Extreme Grip Wrench from Sears

[xroad]

Sears Extreme Grip Wrench was a new product in the previous catalog. The latest catalog does not have them anymore. Discontinued?

I like the design of this tool. It is an open end wrench with the two "tips" shortened. In effect, the open wrench grabs the two sides of the nut instead of the corners.

I want to buy it but .....
1/ I already have a set of open wrenches.
2/ They are a bit on the price side, I am cheap.
3/ Available are 12x13, 14x15, & 17x19. I preferred a 9x10 or 10x11

I was going to grind off the tips of my extra open wrenches to make my own. Then I realize the chrome will start to peel if I create an "open wound" on the chrome. SO, Now I am rethinking. Maybe I'll do it on my non chrome crappy open end wrenches.

-xroad

 

[bchee]

They're still available on the website, and I've seen them at stores. I don't think what you're planning to do would achieve the same goal. It might give you a 'ratcheting' open end, but not an extreme grip. The extreme grip set is intended to turn one way for max force. I think a 'talon' wrench would work in a way similar to the extreme grip set.
I have Craftsman set like this, but I don't remember what they're called:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=91479

 

[bchee]

It's called the Clench Wrench, but I couldn't find it on Sears.com, so I don't know if it's sold anymore. The harder you pull, the more force it exerts, and it only engages the fastener on 2 sides, not the corners. It also 'ratchets,' in that when you turn in the opposite direction, the spring allows it to release without turning the nut.

 

[eschoendorff]

It's called the Clench Wrench, but I couldn't find it on Sears.com, so I don't know if it's sold anymore. The harder you pull, the more force it exerts, and it only engages the fastener on 2 sides, not the corners. It also 'ratchets,' in that when you turn in the opposite direction, the spring allows it to release without turning the nut.

That's not the same wrench that the OP is talking about....

http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_...ls+&+Outdoors&cName=Hand+Tools&sName=Wrenches

 

[Abodyracer]

We have these in stock at the store I work in. I can honestly say that I have never sold a set. Had several customers looking at them but they ultimatly went with a standard wrench set.

 

[JB740i]

It's called the Clench Wrench, but I couldn't find it on Sears.com, so I don't know if it's sold anymore. The harder you pull, the more force it exerts, and it only engages the fastener on 2 sides, not the corners. It also 'ratchets,' in that when you turn in the opposite direction, the spring allows it to release without turning the nut.

Would this work as well as a flare nut wrench???

 

[rsanter]

sorry but IMOP those are ****. dont bother.
bob

 

[Chris Adams]

During the 5 buck off coupon I bought those wrench sets in Metric and SAE.

They are very heavy, very sturdy and they do allow you to put lots of torque on a bolt.

Doing some casual testing I was able to snap off several grade 8 bolts with them.

That is, I was able to deliberately over tighten bolts till the heads snapped off the shank.


They can mark a bolt head, same as a flank drive open end wrench if you lean into it.

You couldn't make them out of regular wrenches as they are much heavier and longer, besides it isn't just that the ends are shorter, they curve differently, making a huge contact patch in the center of the bolt head.
They are also thicker.


I would use them as Flare nut wrenches if I needed to.

 

[lauver]

rsanter,

Sounds like you've found a tool you don't like. Perhaps it's time to change your signiture?

 

[bchee]

You couldn't make them out of regular wrenches as they are much heavier and longer, besides it isn't just that the ends are shorter, they curve differently, making a huge contact patch in the center of the bolt head.
They are also thicker.

I agree. This is what I was trying to say in my first post. The jaws would just remain parallel if you shorten your open end wrench. The jaws on the extreme grip or clench wrench are angled differently.

 

[rsanter]

rsanter,

Sounds like you've found a tool you don't like. Perhaps it's time to change your signiture?

actually the signature is that "my wife says.....

for me there are some tools I like better than others
those did not impress me

bob

 

[Chris Adams]

snip

those did not impress me

bob

Any particular reason? Have you ever used them?
I haven't needed them in any job, yet, as I have Flank drive Williams and some Flank Snap-on for hard to do stuff.
The Extreme grip stuff is huskier than even the Williams stuff. The Williams stuff is much heavier than the Snap-on.

But the difference in cost, both the sets cost less than a single Snap-On wrench.

It is a specialty tool, not a 'use every day, all day long' tool.

 

[lauver]

rsanter,

I see the subtle distinction. So maybe you should share this subtlety with your wife. Maybe then she would start telling people you are a man of impeccable tastes!

 

[xroad]

I am in the process of building up a carry kit for my motorcycle. I have a socket set already. I also would like to carry a set of combo open end and box end wrenches. But, that was a little too much to carry. So, as a compromise, I carry a set of open end wrenches, in effect, reduce the number pieces by half. I generally do not like open end wrenches but if I have to choose between it and box end wrenches only, I'll take the open ends.

That lead me to the Extreme Grips. Seems like it solves the one thing that I don't like about open wrenches, the ease of rounding off a tight nut. Unfortunately, the Extreme Grips are pretty dang BIG and LONG ! Just saw it in the store. It certainly do not make any gains toward my attempt to build a light and compact tool kit.

You guys are right, clipping off the tips of my existing open end wrenches won't make a flank drive out of it. More likely, it'll mark or damage the nut. Maybe I should just go and buy another set of open end wrenches that put pressure on the nut face instead of the corner.

Williams makes flank drive open wrenches? Who else?

 

[Chris Adams]

Yep, those are heavy long wrenches.

Opti-Torque,
mac-drive,
posi-torque,
Torqueplus,
Surface drive

are other names for the same concept.

Best prices I found were on Williams sets on e-bay. These were incomplete sets, but I rounded up most of the rest one wrench at a time.

 

[maxtabes]

They were $18.99 at my K-Mart last month.

 

[bchee]

It certainly do not make any gains toward my attempt to build a light and compact tool kit.QUOTE]

If your goal is light and compact you may want to look into those talon or clench wrenches. The small one accommodates 10mm-18mm (3/8"-11/16") and the larger one fits 13mm-24mm (1/2"-15/16"). That's a wide range of sizes covered by just 2 wrenches. Of course, the heads are larger and thicker than the extreme grip wrench heads. If you see them at Sears or Harbor Freight I would play with them to see how they grip the nut more like the extreme grips, and less like a standard open end. To reverse direction, you have to flip the wrench over.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350034928633

FYI I also have those Williams 'SuperCombo' wrenches like Chris_Adams, as well as some flank drive 'plus'. Proto also makes a wrench with 'Anti Slip Design'. I don't own them, but played with them at a local Grainger. There are small, barely noticeable, grooves in the open end. Probably not visible in the picts in this auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160217682531

I have some Armstrong wrenches with this same 'groove', but again, it is barely noticeable, but I can feel it when I run my fingernail across the face. I thought it was interesting that this was not an advertised feature of these wrenches.

I noticed that on some of the newer Kobalt wrenches at Lowe's, they have this same groove. I guess it might be a danaher feature.

 

[davestlouis]

My local Cummins tool store has NAPA-branded wrenches of this type, marked as "Snakebite", $7.99 for 4 metric wrenches, don't recall the sizes. They also sell K-D branded wrenches in the same configuration, $15.99 for 5 wrenches, I bought both, used them a couple of times, seem OK.

 

[eschoendorff]

My local Cummins tool store has NAPA-branded wrenches of this type, marked as "Snakebite", $7.99 for 4 metric wrenches, don't recall the sizes. They also sell K-D branded wrenches in the same configuration, $15.99 for 5 wrenches, I bought both, used them a couple of times, seem OK.

NAPA branded....made in USA?

 

[davestlouis]

I presume so, they sure look like Danaher product...the store in Wood River IL has probably 20 sets in blister packs, just hanging there, looking forlorn. I also have a set of Craftsman Extreme Grips in the box that I didn't even recall buying.

 

[xroad]

Talon vs Extreme Grip vs Clench vs Vise Grip Nut Wrench

Would this work as well as a flare nut wrench???

I recently mangled up a flare nut, totally rounded it with a channel lock.

After the disaster, I found a vise grip locking NUT Wrench. Did not have a chance to use it. It seems to have potential. It grabs 3 sides of the nut. Risk may be crushing the nut and brake line if too much pressure is applied.

Then, after telling my sad story with the flare nut. I received a Sears Clench wrench. Never used it. It also seems to have potential. This wrench grabs 2 sides of a nut. The force is not as evenly distributed as grabing 3 sides of a nut. It is "self tightening", maybe less risk of crushing a nut. Force on 2 sides may distort the nut, however.

Then I saw Harbor Freight ... Talon Wrench. Very similar to the Sears Clench Wrench. The way the picture looks, it may grab 3 sides of the nut like the locking vise grip nut wrench. I cannot tell. If it does grabs 3 sides, it would be ideal. Smaller than the Vise Grip, more even pressure than the Extreme and Clench. Anyone own this wrench? Care to share your thought?

 

[Uncle Buck]

I will admit to buying both the standard and metric sets of the extreme grip wrenches. I will also be the first to call them a gimmick tool; however, with that said I have used them on several occasions and I was not a bit disappointed. They are long, look goofy, take some getting used to, and I thought were a good product once I got used to them.

 

[eschoendorff]

Re: Talon vs Extreme Grip vs Clench vs Vise Grip Nut Wrench

I recently mangled up a flare nut, totally rounded it with a channel lock.

After the disaster, I found a vise grip locking NUT Wrench. Did not have a chance to use it. It seems to have potential. It grabs 3 sides of the nut. Risk may be crushing the nut and brake line if too much pressure is applied.

Then, after telling my sad story with the flare nut. I received a Sears Clench wrench. Never used it. It also seems to have potential. This wrench grabs 2 sides of a nut. The force is not as evenly distributed as grabing 3 sides of a nut. It is "self tightening", maybe less risk of crushing a nut. Force on 2 sides may distort the nut, however.

Then I saw Harbor Freight ... Talon Wrench. Very similar to the Sears Clench Wrench. The way the picture looks, it may grab 3 sides of the nut like the locking vise grip nut wrench. I cannot tell. If it does grabs 3 sides, it would be ideal. Smaller than the Vise Grip, more even pressure than the Extreme and Clench. Anyone own this wrench? Care to share your thought?

This is what you want to use... no chance of slippages... doesn't need enough pressure to destroy the nut to be effective... although the nut may twist apart (not cave in) before LW7 gives up...

 

[jay50]

I presume so, they sure look like Danaher product...the store in Wood River IL has probably 20 sets in blister packs, just hanging there, looking forlorn. I also have a set of Craftsman Extreme Grips in the box that I didn't even recall buying.

Local Sears has all of their extreme grips in clearance area. Don't recall the price, but looks like no one is buying them...

 

[davestlouis]

I have used several of mine a couple of times, not sure that I'd want to have a bunch of money ******* in them but they have come in handy a few times. As far as them not selling, unless Sears made a concerted effort to explain the benefit and use for this product, I can't see anybody buying them.

 

[Chris Adams]

I agree on Sears not pushing them. I stumbled on them in this forum.
They are very heavy duty, there have been times in my life they would have been really useful.
Don't have a lot of money ******* in them. Both sets came to less than 45 bucks and that covers 12 sizes.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I agree on Sears not pushing them. I stumbled on them in this forum.
They are very heavy duty, there have been times in my life they would have been really useful.
Don't have a lot of money ******* in them. Both sets came to less than 45 bucks and that covers 12 sizes.

Same here!

 

[xroad]

The largest of the 3 piece metric set is 17x19mm. I would preferred that they make a smaller one 10x11, or 9x10. I don't have much need for a 17x19.

I suspect they are probably better than the regular open end wrenches.

 

[xroad]

The Vise Grip Locking Nut Wrench is nce, but the head is a bit big. I hope to get a good look of the Talon Wrench from Harbor Freight. Not sure if it grabs 3 sides or only 2 sides. If 3 sides, then it would be better than the Vise Grip, being smaller. The picture of the Talon is also not encouraging. Looks like it is made of thin sheet metal.

 

[eschoendorff]

The Vise Grip Locking Nut Wrench is nce, but the head is a bit big. I hope to get a good look of the Talon Wrench from Harbor Freight. Not sure if it grabs 3 sides or only 2 sides. If 3 sides, then it would be better than the Vise Grip, being smaller. The picture of the Talon is also not encouraging. Looks like it is made of thin sheet metal.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91479

This??? I cannot believe that anyone would trust these laminated POS wrenches over a vise-grip!

I actually have a couple of these talon-type wrenches, made by Stanley, sans teeth. And they are NOT laminated construction. I still reach for teh vise-grips.... or the orange pliers...

 

[DiStOrTiOn]

I was considering the extreme grip wrenches last time I was in sears. It looks like they're trying to sell them off, or raise the price, I can't tell. They have them online for 25 bucks a set, with the price in red, but thats the regular price. Think they'll raise it or lower it? I'd like to get a set, I always find a need for something if I dont have it.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I was considering the extreme grip wrenches last time I was in sears. It looks like they're trying to sell them off, or raise the price, I can't tell. They have them online for 25 bucks a set, with the price in red, but thats the regular price. Think they'll raise it or lower it? I'd like to get a set, I always find a need for something if I dont have it.

I bet they are busy unloading them. Even though I bought both the SAE and metric sets I will concede they are gimmick wrenches regardless how you doll them up!

When Sears comes out with a new gimmick you are drawn to you had best buy it on sale in the first year, or hope you will be there for the clearance sale usually somewhere in year 2. Once the gimmick is done they kick em to the curb cheap and quick and go on to the next Rube Goldberg invention!

 

[old salvage]

Re: Talon vs Extreme Grip vs Clench vs Vise Grip Nut Wrench

This is what you want to use... no chance of slippages... doesn't need enough pressure to destroy the nut to be effective... although the nut may twist apart (not cave in) before LW7 gives up...

I undid a frozen lug nut with those pliers. It was the 7" version too!
A few yrs later I used the 10" straight jaws to do the same thing.

 

[xroad]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91479

This??? I cannot believe that anyone would trust these laminated POS wrenches over a vise-grip!

I actually have a couple of these talon-type wrenches, made by Stanley, sans teeth. And they are NOT laminated construction. I still reach for teh vise-grips.... or the orange pliers...

Now that I took another look at the Talon Wrench from HF, they do look really crappy. The handle, by the pivot, looks to be just two thin sheets of metal.

The Stanley look great. Looks very solid.
Where did you get them?
Are they still in production?
Do they grab 3 sides of the nut, 3 equilateral sides, not just any old 3 sides, or, no 2 of the 3 sides are adjacent to each other?
The Sears Clench only grabs 2 sides of the nut.

 

[eschoendorff]

Now that I took another look at the Talon Wrench from HF, they do look really crappy. The handle, by the pivot, looks to be just two thin sheets of metal.

The Stanley look great. Looks very solid.
Where did you get them?
Are they still in production?
Do they grab 3 sides of the nut, 3 equilateral sides, not just any old 3 sides, or, no 2 of the 3 sides are adjacent to each other?
The Sears Clench only grabs 2 sides of the nut.

I got them second hand with some other used tools from a fellow on another message board. I do not believe that they are still in production. In any case, I rarely use them....

 

[bchee]

The Sears Clench only grabs 2 sides of the nut.

I think it's the way it grabs, not the number of sides, necessarily. A regular open end, with parallel jaws, wants to spread with higher torque. The clench wrench and extreme grip wrench seem to grip tighter with higher torque. It only works in one direction. The design reminds me of the metrinch tools. Metrinch quality is pretty bad, but maybe the design has some merit. They did win some kind of German award.

There's a review of the extreme grip set, with picts, on some bike site.
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/sears-wrench/sears-craftsman-extreme-grip-wrench.htm

 

[xroad]

You guys are great, one unique tool after another, and each better than the previous.

I looked at the Metrinch web site. The design is better than the Extreme Grip. It can go either direction. E.G. is one direction only.

The Stanley grabs 3 sides and tightens up as you turn. force distributed along 3 sides is better than distributed along 2 sides. If only the Stanley have the "lump" that presses against the flats of the nut just like the Metrinch.

Too bad the quality of the Metrinch is poor. I never saw them in real life. I am shopping for a set of shorty combination wrenches. Only if the Metrinch is better quality and comes in shorts.

I am such a sucker for unique tools.

 

[xroad]

WOW ! The Metrinch is not cheap. Any dealer sell it at a discount? If it is low price enough, I'll put up with the poor finish. If the pressure is placed on the face of the nut, the chance of slipping off the corners is low. Their website have a video of them using a long breaker bar. Not that I need the video to coonvince me. It just seems logical. Am I gulible or what? Even if the open end spreads under stress, it shouldn't slip like a parallel jaw open end. ... eh ... right?

 

[bchee]

I'm surprised you haven't heard of these before. Metrinch has been around forever. I wasn't recommending them at all, just noting that they engage the face with a lobular design.
I've had a chance to play with them and they really are **** quality. Like the low-end HF wrenches.

 

[xroad]

Do you know if they hold a patent on the design? I think the design is superior to the traditional designs. I would think everyone would be copying them, assuming it IS supperior in design. I know some combo wrenches have reliefs at the corners so the pressure is a bit further back from the corner. The Metrich seems to put pressure closer to center of the nut face.

Nothing like the sinking feeling in your stomach when a nut gets rounded.