What is the point of open end wrenches?

[Jacobson]

If they only allow contact with 2 sides, why even make them?
Why not just make all wrenches closed box end?
What does the open end do that the box end can't ?

 

[Caman]

Allow you to wrench on something that isn't accessible with a boxed wrench. For instance threaded rod with a nut in the middle. Or a narrow area where you can't place the boxed end over the nut. Also speed, it's much faster going sliding into the side of a bolt than having to lift up and off a bolt.

I use the open end most often myself, boxed end mostly for breaking bolts loose.

 

[valentine]

I always thought they were designed that way to solve access issues. Not all fasteners can have a box wrench or a socket slipped onto them. Open end gives you a different approach. That's what I believe, anyway.

-Valentine

 

[Kenwc]

Send me all your open end wrenches and you'll soon find out why you needed them

 

[happymachinist]

This can't be a real question

 

[franzdom]

The biggest use I have for them is adjusting tie rods. How are you going to do that with a box wrench?

 

[Wakefield]

The type of flare nut wrench that opens to fit on the fitting,then you close the wrench around the fitting so that it becomes sort of box end? (Kind of bulky/cumbersome?)

Do really big open end wrenches work better than smaller ones? Like the open end of the Wright 1 and 1/2" combination Wrightgrip wrench?

 

[mmack66]

This can't be a real question

I agree. If it was, that's grounds for man card revocation.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

If they only allow contact with 2 sides, why even make them?
Why not just make all wrenches closed box end?
What does the open end do that the box end can't ?

Combination wrenches have the open end so you can hook another box end for extra leverage.

Open ends are also sometimes useful for turning bolts.

 

[David Paul]

Open ends are also sometimes useful for turning bolts.

now that's funny.....

 

[rodsnratfinks]

Combination wrenches have the open end so you can hook another box end for extra leverage.

Open ends are also sometimes useful for turning bolts.

I like your thinking.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[1990 Grand Wag]

Combination wrenches have the open end so you can hook another box end for extra leverage.

Open ends are also sometimes useful for turning bolts.

 

[zkling]

If you spent less time with your ***** and more time working on things you would find out.

Go try and adjust the leveling feet on a washer for example with a box end wrench.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

If you spent less time with your ***** and more time working on things you would find out.

Go try and adjust the leveling feet on a washer for example with a box end wrench.

Fact.........about the washer feet.

 

[mmack66]

Maybe the OP gets by with crescent(adjustable) wrenches and box end wrenches.

 

[RedneckWelder]

If you spent less time with your ***** and more time working on things you would find out.

Go try and adjust the leveling feet on a washer for example with a box end wrench.

All you have to do to see the point of the open end wrench is to actually work on stuff. Plenty of bolts/nuts with clearance issues that nesscitate the open end of a wrench. Many times these bolts will have the additional fun of only being able to turn them one flat at a time, so you will spend 30 minutes on one bolt, slowly backing it out one flat, flipping the wrench, another flat, flipping the wrench, another flat, etc.

 

[rsanter]

I really do not like using the open end. I always put the box end on first.

However, once you have broken it loose the rest is faster with an open end and sometimes like said you just can't get a box end on there.

What I don't really know why they make it is the double open end wrenches. I get the combos and the double box end but I would never bother with a double open

Bob

 

[6MocoA]

I only use the open end if there is not other choice. I 'hate' busting something loose with the open end - much prefer to use box end to bust loose and then remove with a ratcheting box end.

 

[Jacobson]

Yea, I've never had to use the open end yet. I don't work on stuff for a living, so my frequency is lower than yours. Even something like a threaded rod can still use a box end. I can't imagine a clearance issue because if its too narrow to even get a box end over the bolt, then you ain't threading that thing out verr far anyway! Only thing that makes sense is line wrench stuff, but that's what line wrenches are for, right?

 

[GDPossehl]

I like your use of open ended questions.

 

[LXCam]

Really dude, you might wanna wipe the donut crumbs off your chin and actually wrench on something.

 

[autoxvaliant]

I like your use of open ended questions.

Bahaha

 

[bobcatdan]

If they only allow contact with 2 sides, why even make them?
Why not just make all wrenches closed box end?
What does the open end do that the box end can't ?

Work on hydraulic lines, just one of 1,00,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 examples.

 

[PJNJ]

Yea, I've never had to use the open end yet. I don't work on stuff for a living, so my frequency is lower than yours. Even something like a threaded rod can still use a box end. I can't imagine a clearance issue because if its too narrow to even get a box end over the bolt, then you ain't threading that thing out verr far anyway! Only thing that makes sense is line wrench stuff, but that's what line wrenches are for, right?

If you can't see the point then you haven't wrenched on enough things yet.

 

[6MocoA]

If you spent less time with your ***** and more time working on things you would find out.

Go try and adjust the leveling feet on a washer for example with a box end wrench.

Really dude, you might wanna wipe the donut crumbs off your chin and actually wrench on something.

Not everyone on GJ is a professional or experienced with tools. Some people may have no clue what a threaded rod is. If the guy is asking a legitimate question, dont harp on him.

 

[1950mercury]

To round off corners on tight rusty nut and bolts

 

[scw1991]

this is like saying, what's the point of owning a socket set if you already have a set of box end wrenches....

 

[gungatim]

barring ratcheting box wrenches, an open end is much faster to slip off, move, slip on and turn than a box end, which reaquires lifting off while keeping the offset angle, move, slip on while keeping the offset angle, and turn. try it once and you'll see that for low torque, open ends get used quite a bit. every take off a chevy small block intake? good luck trying to get a box end on those middle bolts!!

 

[Rico.]

What I don't really know why they make it is the double open end wrenches.
I get the combos and the double box end but I would never bother with a
double open.

This side of the pond, double open ended wrenches are made with a thinner profile
than their equivalent combination cousins... Useful to access fasteners like fan clutch
nuts and similar things of that nature when combo open ends are just a hair too thick.

 

[Caman]

Yea, I've never had to use the open end yet. I don't work on stuff for a living, so my frequency is lower than yours. Even something like a threaded rod can still use a box end. I can't imagine a clearance issue because if its too narrow to even get a box end over the bolt, then you ain't threading that thing out verr far anyway! Only thing that makes sense is line wrench stuff, but that's what line wrenches are for, right?

Cody? Is that you???

 

[LXCam]

Not everyone on GJ is a professional or experienced with tools. Some people may have no clue what a threaded rod is. If the guy is asking a legitimate question, dont harp on him.

I saw it after he first posted and refrained for being a total smartass right off the bat. It wasn't unil multiple examples were laid out there and he still stood fast that I really felt like this was nothing more then a complete troll question.

 

[Caman]

Please tell me how you would tighten or loosen this nut without an open end.

 

[Caman]

Or one of these without completely disassembling te entire thing.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Not everyone on GJ is a professional or experienced with tools. Some people may have no clue what a threaded rod is. If the guy is asking a legitimate question, dont harp on him.

The problem is people that don't work on stuff hardly at all come on this site, post the question of "I don't see the point of Tool "X", what's the point?", they get told exactly what the point is of said tool (often several points) and then they reply with "Well I STILL don't see the point" despite it being plainly laid out for them.

Yea, I've never had to use the open end yet. I don't work on stuff for a living, so my frequency is lower than yours. Even something like a threaded rod can still use a box end. I can't imagine a clearance issue because if its too narrow to even get a box end over the bolt, then you ain't threading that thing out verr far anyway! Only thing that makes sense is line wrench stuff, but that's what line wrenches are for, right?

I can understand and sympathize with the "why" (nothing wrong with asking questions) but when we who DO work on this **** on a daily basis take the time to share the answer and then we get "Well I still don't see the point..." (and make statements like the bolded one above), well you can't help willful ignorance and it's aggravating as hell to see it.

And in reply to the above quote, YES THERE ARE CLEARANCE ISSUES ALL THE TIME that restrict the use of the preferred box end and force you to use an open end.

 

[JDon99]

If you can't see the point then you haven't wrenched on enough things yet.

This

 

[Jacobson]

Thanks for the examples Caman.

Thanks for putting up with my stupid questions, GJ!

 

[Tim37]

...

 

[48RON54]

LMAO @ this topic

 

[zkling]

Not everyone on GJ is a professional or experienced with tools. Some people may have no clue what a threaded rod is. If the guy is asking a legitimate question, dont harp on him.

This same poster asks rudimentary questions over and over and over. I just find his avatar choice of a *** toy to be down right tasteless.

 

[Robinson1]

Want to know how I know you have never worked on heavy equipment or hydraulic lines?