sonvolt
Well-known member
I dunno, maybe it is me I just don't get the ratcheting wrench with open end...is it me ??? I have the double box end style with 5/16 and 1/4 etc. What am I missing ?!?!
I don't get the ratcheting wrench with open end combo
- Thread starter sonvolt
- Start date
JDon99
Well-known member
Sometimes you may need the open end 
48RON54
Well-known member
the open end is for when you finally realize you are going to get the ratcheting end hopelessly stuck if you don't try something else lol
kblazer87
Well-known member
That is why I got rid of all my non-reversing ratcheting wrenches and replaced with reversible.
bcradio
Well-known member
OxJaw
Well-known member
For me it's about variety. I have long pattern regular combos, regular length flex ratchet combos, and stubby ratchet combos. Some places the long patterns work great and in some places I need a stubby wrench.
With having the regular and stubby length combos I get the benefit of four sets in two sets. They all come in handy and I use all three lengths (both ends) pretty regularly. My favorite is probably the flex ones though.
Been there and done that, not fun trying to get the wrench off.
With having the regular and stubby length combos I get the benefit of four sets in two sets. They all come in handy and I use all three lengths (both ends) pretty regularly. My favorite is probably the flex ones though.
Been there and done that, not fun trying to get the wrench off.
lotsoftools
Well-known member
Never had that problem myself... Hope I don't either
I still have a non-reversible stubby stuck under my truck. I suspect it will stay there until it rusts away.
I see everyone's point as to how they are useful basically to have 2 wrenches at your disposal. I install machine tools so I would usually just use a combination wrench with a socket and ratchet in the scenario needed. Im actually trying to convince myself not to buy them !! Payday is Thursday so we will see.
mattblast
Well-known member
Wrong thread. Moving
Last edited:
diggerrick
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- Dec 1, 2010
- Messages
- 996
I used mine over the weekend adjusting the chain tension on my new garage door openers. I used the ratcheting end to tension the chains and the open end to tighten the jam nuts from the other side. It sure beat having to mess with another wrench when I also had two sets of pliers and a screwdriver on top of the ladder.
SawtoothJL
Well-known member
I agree, although I'm pretty sure that nobody makes them...
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85FourEyedGT
Well-known member
I always thought the open end was important because you cant always get the boxed end or a socket on some bolts, im not a fan of double open or double boxed end wrenches, I think the combinations is one of the most useful
sawtooth many company's make them... http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000T8WFBU/?tag=atomicindus08-20
GirlnAgarage
Well-known member
Ratcheting end for the space too narrow to get a socket/ratchet into.
Open end for the nut/bolt you can't loop a box end over. Kind of like when a line wrench is used. Usually in a position where you have to flip the wrench over with each stroke because the fat side of the jaw hits the side of whatever the fitting is on and the jaws won't slide over the nut flats unless you lip it t the narrow side. And you're moving the nut a fraction of an inch at a time. And it takes a thousand flips and slight turns of the nut to get it tightened down. The user is usually in an out of position contorted body type pose and fingers are cramping, beginning to fumble the wrench with each turn. Often the wish of "I wish I could get a ratcheting box end in there" happens. The final torque down is looping the index finger in the box end and squeezing the fingers and pulling as hard as you can then calling it good. You hope to never have to open that up again or a long long time and you don't care what the next guy behind you who works on it say about you the previous owner.
If you dont need them now.. Its nicer to have 2 different wrench sizes in one tool.. Or even check out the new quad box wrench 4 size's on one wrench.. they look pretty cool for installer work where you will basically know exactly what you need...
azhatchback
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- Joined
- Nov 30, 2013
- Messages
- 184
Bingo. I have run into this several times. Use ratchet end for speed and ease till you reach this hopless point!<In my best tool addict voice> Well, I didn't mean you should ONLY have box/ratcheting box wrenches... obviously you need both... in flex and not... reversable and not...
nicksnothereman
Well-known member
Not supposed to "break" bolts with the ratcheting side. At least with the cheap tools.
No, it's not just you. I have double boxes to cut my number of ratcheting wrenches in half. If I need an open end, I'll just run over to my cart or box to get a regular combo.
Can't stand the clutter and redundancy of having both standard and ratcheting combos. I'm not a collector/hoarder like most guys around here.
4x4gearhead
Well-known member
To me you can just plain never have too many wrenches. Its just a time saver so you dont have to go grab another wrench for something the ratcheting end doesnt fit on.
Nice! I'd like to give the Protos a try some time...
texasfiremedic
Well-known member
Once you start using them you won't want to pick up any other wrench. The reversible is the only way to fly. I never even thought about the non-reversible kind. Why would I want to flip it over to go the other way?
Although I can see that is would be a pain in the A$$, if the wrench gets bound where you can't take wrench off and it is still not out of its thread. I guess you would have to cut it off the bolt if it won't slip past.
Although I can see that is would be a pain in the A$$, if the wrench gets bound where you can't take wrench off and it is still not out of its thread. I guess you would have to cut it off the bolt if it won't slip past.
if you've never had a need for an open end wrench.... you've never done a few things like
1. had a stud with two nuts locked together on it while the stud turns and you don't want it to come out.
2. had a fastener so tight in a confined area that you had to double wrench it to get it loose by throwing one wrench over the other, open into box.
3. had a fastener so close to something that you literally cannot get a box end over it and have to slowly work out out quarter turn by quarter turn with an open end.
4. never had to use any kind of allthread with a nut on it for any kind of job.
5. never had to reach a wrench through a hole to grasp a nut/bolt with no room to move the wrench except in and out thanks to great engineering.
although if you have never had to encounter any of these situations, i'd question whether or not you need high dollar wrenches anyway.
and as others have said, if you pick up ratcheting box, get reversible ONLY. the flip ones to me are a cheap copout on design because they offer the ability to make the ratchet seem slimmer for no reason except cheapness. the one time you accidentally get the ratchet end stuck and lose 2 hours trying to get it unstuck when you could have just flipped the switch, you'll understand. almost got one stuck on a spring compressor, not fun.
1. had a stud with two nuts locked together on it while the stud turns and you don't want it to come out.
2. had a fastener so tight in a confined area that you had to double wrench it to get it loose by throwing one wrench over the other, open into box.
3. had a fastener so close to something that you literally cannot get a box end over it and have to slowly work out out quarter turn by quarter turn with an open end.
4. never had to use any kind of allthread with a nut on it for any kind of job.
5. never had to reach a wrench through a hole to grasp a nut/bolt with no room to move the wrench except in and out thanks to great engineering.
although if you have never had to encounter any of these situations, i'd question whether or not you need high dollar wrenches anyway.
and as others have said, if you pick up ratcheting box, get reversible ONLY. the flip ones to me are a cheap copout on design because they offer the ability to make the ratchet seem slimmer for no reason except cheapness. the one time you accidentally get the ratchet end stuck and lose 2 hours trying to get it unstuck when you could have just flipped the switch, you'll understand. almost got one stuck on a spring compressor, not fun.
SpannerMonkey
Well-known member
I like these new Facom ones. Double ratchet combo wrench for the win:
http://www.facom.com/fr-en/a-781-.html
Way to pricey for me though. :-(
http://www.facom.com/fr-en/a-781-.html
Way to pricey for me though. :-(
Packard V8
Well-known member
JMHO, but the "ratcheting open end" is a tool of the devil. Someone gave me a Craftsman set; one use and I knew why. They just flat don't work. I gave them away same day.
jack vines
Like I said earlier, I'm not a pro wrench, but you can keep the ratcheting open ends...
JMHO, but the "ratcheting open end" is a tool of the devil. Someone gave me a Craftsman set; one use and I knew why. They just flat don't work. I gave them away same day.
jack vines
hah, i always messed with a guy i work with because he had some of those. they were double evil. no selector switch and a ratcheting open end.... i told him hes gonna get double screwed by those one time and he didn't know why.
i found one bolt and told him to go ahead and loosen it after i tighten it. and he couldn't because you can't flip those wrenches around lol. had a good laugh about it, and then he ordered some blackhawks with a selector switch. much better choice
espyking83
Well-known member
It's for breaking bolts loose I would imagine.