Flex head socket wrench.

[Harrison2]

I used some of these a while back that belonged to my boss, they were handy in certain situations and made a job alot quicker like removing a hood or doors, stuff where you need to wind a bolt in fast because your supporting and then nip it tight.

his were old school snap on, probably from the 70s. Im looking online and see Williams still make them but only in SAE. I want metric, any one have any recommendations for a set, im not looking to spend new snap on money.

Cover sizes 10mm - thru -19, a 8mm would be handy also.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I think SK makes them too

 

[Askme42]

I think SK makes them too

Yeah I was thumbing through the catalog last night. Pretty sure I saw them. Someone else is going go to have to do the leg work for part numbers though

 

[MFolks]

Craftsman used to have those, and last year I went looking for a set, no luck, probably discontinued, due to no demand.

 

[Outlawmws]

They tend to be expensive due to low production numbers...

 

[Harrison2]

wow $250, Im not likely to use them that much...

Think il hold out for a used set on ebay, now I know they're called saltus wrenches that should help.

 

[dutchgray]

They tend to be expensive due to low production numbers...

Also each one is three pieces which need assembly, bound to substantially add cost.

 

[Harrison2]

They tend to be expensive due to low production numbers...

Yeah looks like there not hugely popular and less popular in metric.

Also each one is three pieces which need assembly, bound to substantially add cost.

would that apply to a gearwrench flex head ratcheting wrench, thats 5,6,7? parts. $30 for a set of 5.

 

[shockwave]

I love these are my favorite style

My snap on oh series are my favorite

Still looking for a hazet 602 10-22mm set

 

[Stooge]

I have a proto sae set at work, i like them. Dont use them too much but they do come in handy. I think its a 7 or 8 piece set, a hair over $100 from MSC with corporate discount. Msc list price is actually cheaper than Amazon's $240.
http://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/84974021

Blackhawk has double ended flex socket ones in metric, i dont think proto has a metric equivelent

 

[DodgeMech]

Yeah looks like there not hugely popular and less popular in metric.



would that apply to a gearwrench flex head ratcheting wrench, thats 5,6,7? parts. $30 for a set of 5.

but, they're made in taiwan or china, and are waaaay more mass produced and marketed than the saltus wrenches

 

[mossyboy6]

How about a roto ratchet?

They work well for what you described.

 

[Outlawmws]

but, they're made in taiwan or china, and are waaaay more mass produced and marketed than the saltus wrenches

This ^^^^

 

[Tronyadorable]

I have these. Odds are Gearwrench contracted for them too.
Never use them much.One of my guys likes them a lot. Maybe I'll give them to him
http://hardwarecentral.com.ph/sata-tools/6pc-flex-socket-wrench-set-metric-09037.html

 

[2mJps]

I have one or two. One is 9/16 i think i tryed it one time and didnt like it. I cant see were they would be usefull. What are they good for?

 

[nexum1919]

Two words:

Williams 11920

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0036I1OVM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

(description is kinda messed up)
much much more friendly than 1/4 and 3/8 breaker bars combined, usually used to oppose the impact wrench on the otherside. Sometimes you have to use a socket and if you use a regular ratchet to hold the other end of the impact wrench, the rattling will destroy the ratchet in short order. usually the selector will jump and the gears will spin and grind in a split second.

kinda late but makes a great gift for a mechanic that seem to have it all.

 

[warweapon762]

How about a roto ratchet?

They work well for what you described.

This is one of the reasons Saltus Wrenches are more obscure. I have a mismatched set from the early 70s (some are craftsmen and some are of a cheapo japanese brand), but I will always choose a roto ratchet due to the fact they are much more versatile.

 

[Outlawmws]

Two words:

Williams 11920

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0036I1OVM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

(description is kinda messed up)
much much more friendly than 1/4 and 3/8 breaker bars combined, usually used to oppose the impact wrench on the otherside. Sometimes you have to use a socket and if you use a regular ratchet to hold the other end of the impact wrench, the rattling will destroy the ratchet in short order. usually the selector will jump and the gears will spin and grind in a split second.

kinda late but makes a great gift for a mechanic that seem to have it all.

I like that! Never seen one before!

For posterity:

 

[beatcad]

i have 2 of those (1/2 & 9/16) that i keep in my carry box for my classic car road trip/emergancies and the occasional trip to a junk yard.
only those 2 'cause they're the most common bolts in pre-70s cars.
ones an SK and ones a craftsman. i also have a (mismatched) full set of combo wrenches. they're pretty much only used when theres a nut/bolt that i need a wrench on both sides.
i like them on the road, but have never found a time i wanted or needed to use one in my garage.

 

[McFarmer]

At least one of mine are snap-on.

 

[metaldad]

armstrong. USA made
sae set ## 25-692, 4 pc. set, 25-694, 7 pc, 25-696, 11 pc.
http://www.armstrongtools.com/search?q=flex+head+wrench+set
metric, can't find. armstrong's site is as slow as molasses.

 

[Outlawmws]

50 bucks a wrench, and they were "out of stock" on the two larger sets...

 

[Yankee]

I've got a soft spot for these. My very first wrench set given to me as a gift when I was a kid. I actually thought they were real handy. (A wrench and flex handle with socket all in one tool)

Don't use them much now that I've got a better set of wrenches, but they are still in my box!

 

[TangoFoxTrot]

I remember I bought a set of Saltus wrenches at AutoZone years ago, I believe that it was the Great Neck brand? Not sure if they still sell them there.

I wanted a set but considering it was not something I use often, didn't see the need to make a big investment. For what it was, I was happy with the quality. I believe they were made in Taiwan.

They are handy in certain situations, but I think more mainstream tools like ratcheting wrenches with flexible heads have made them less desirable.

 

[sseddon641]

I have the Armstrong 11 pc set i picked up at a garage sale my girl friends uncle was having. I don't think I have ever had a time where there wasn't another tool that could have done the job but they are definitely nice to have. I like the fact you can break stuff loose with them and then straighten them out and turn the nut or bolt like a screw driver.

 

[pi_guy]

I picked up my first one last Tuesday a 10mm. Very nice. I suspect I could find a work around with out using one. But I think there are some applications that they work out better. One in particular is machine shop work where water based coolants are not the best thing for ratchet mechanisms.

 

[Harrison2]

How about a roto ratchet?

They work well for what you described.

would work however its more the fact you could use say a 10mm and 13mm at the same time rather than have 2 roto ratchets. plus these are less bulky than a ratchet head in spots like door inner openings.

Yes as people have stated you may not find them useful and there is certain situations when they are useful. I have standard length and size wrenches, flex head ratcheing combos, offset combos and so on.

I just remember these being a good tool in some applications, from memory he had a 11mm, 13mm and a 14 or 9/16. I mainly used the 11 on a 60s aston marting disassembling the inner door working such as window and handle mountings where space was tight and a ratchet would have been to cumbersome.

Il keep searching ebay for used snap on etc but that williams one does look like a handy piece of kit. Probably dismount the 1/2 square however.

 

[wyo george]

I have two of them, both SK. One is 5/8 and the other is 11/16 and both were found laying in the road. The crazy thing is I found them 2 years and 1500 miles apart and it's the only two wrenches I have found in the road. Both were in brand new condition when I found them, kinda crazy right !?!

I'd love a complete set, but for now I just have those two.

 

[Outlawmws]

I wonder if that Williams is available in 1/4 and 3/8ths"

 

[Outlawmws]

This set looks interesting and far better pricing per size:

http://www.amazon.com/Williams-12691-4-Piece-Double-Wrench/dp/B001DNYN8I/ref=sr_1_32?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1419489070&sr=1-32&keywords=Williams+Flex

 

[T45]

I wonder if that Williams is available in 1/4 and 3/8ths"

I love this idea ! If anyone finds this pls post it up.

edit: here's more info on it (COO argentina, looks unique no variants)

http://www.snaponindustrialbrands.c...rialbrandscom/Content/PDF/SOIB - CAT2 191.pdf

 

[T45]

Facom makes them as well, so you may find them under that brand.

Not sure if they also distrubuted them at all under SK or the other stanley entities (proto) etc who shared therir corporate lineage.

I've heard some snow mobile and other small engine tech really like them for certain applications.

edit: FM-66A.JE9T, but looks like "snap on money'...sorry

https://www.google.com/shopping/product/9727834917929968930

 

[Harrison2]

I wonder if that Williams is available in 1/4 and 3/8ths"

Yes, that would be a much better option. I guess you could make one buying fixing two breaker bars end to end.

This set looks interesting and far better pricing per size:

http://www.amazon.com/Williams-12691-4-Piece-Double-Wrench/dp/B001DNYN8I/ref=sr_1_32?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1419489070&sr=1-32&keywords=Williams+Flex

Saw those initially but no metric.

I love this idea ! If anyone finds this pls post it up.

edit: here's more info on it (COO argentina, looks unique no variants)

http://www.snaponindustrialbrands.c...rialbrandscom/Content/PDF/SOIB - CAT2 191.pdf

Great mind think alike.

saw these; theyre available on ebay and online still. don't look a bad buy;

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003MWNZFK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[efb16acrx]

I've got one of those, a snap-on 9/16" that I bought for a specific purpose about 10 years ago. I remember using it a lot back when I was working on small engines at a JD dealer, but damned if I can remember why.

 

[metaldad]

This set looks interesting and far better pricing per size:

http://www.amazon.com/Williams-12691-4-Piece-Double-Wrench/dp/B001DNYN8I/ref=sr_1_32?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1419489070&sr=1-32&keywords=Williams+Flex

better price than mc master, which most likely is USA Armstrong. williams is taiwan(?)
http://www.mcmaster.com/#flex-head-socket-wrenches-with-attached-sockets/=v69v1e

 

[1foxracing]

I have the SK 86142 set. Available from Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002STS2G/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[RM209]

I have several S-K's that I've picked up over the years. This is one of those tools that (IMHO) appears to be much more handy than it actually is in practice.

RM209

 

[wyo george]

They aren't exactly the most used tools, but they are cool and feel nice. I've found mine to be most useful on bell housing bolts in older cars.


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[espyking83]

I like that! Never seen one before!

For posterity:

Those look pretty cool but I just use my 1/4" Plomb breaker bar.

 

[shockwave]

The sk looks like a great deal I just bought my snap on individual from eBay here and there

But look for Bonney made ones they are the best if you can find any