Wright wrenches
- Thread starter eschoendorff
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bob15
Well-known member
Longer wrenches aren't always a good thing. Shorter wrenches can be used in more places.
Buy a complete Wright set and you will soon forget they aren't super extra-long and will find that they are just the right length.
Buy a complete Wright set and you will soon forget they aren't super extra-long and will find that they are just the right length.
^^^ Ditto.
I have Wrights as my main set of wrenches at work and love them, for long stuff I've got long DBEs from Gearwrench and Carlyle. I've already ran into one specific etorx on an oil filter housing that I have to get a wrench on and it being shorter has saved me quite abit of ******* around.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Sometimes your hand won't fit in a place but the tip of the wrench will; that's when long wrenches work real good.
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turnthewrench 2.0
Well-known member
Agree
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Cornwell combination wrenches are similar to Wrights as far as having a rounded off beam and they come in extra long lengths; but they're expensive and hard to get.
bob15
Well-known member
Sure long wrenches can be OK, but they why do they also make standard, short & midget wrenches, beside your extra long?
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Wright wrenches are so short that even standard length wrenches are longer.
No they're not... they're marginally shorter than most long pattern wrenches. I think someone found them to be about 15% shorter in most instances, and I beleive there's a more complete comparison photo out there, but they don't appear shorter than say the Carlyle regular below and again, marginally shorter than Snap On/Williams/Sk long patterns.
Note the pictures, these are all previous GJ posts/member pictures.
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eschoendorff
Well-known member
I can tell you I’m DAMN tempted.
Do you work on automotive primarily? That’s what I would be using the wrenches for.
JR 42
Well-known member
Back when Snap-On called their "standard" wrenches long pattern wrenches, Wright's were nearly the same length...I think of Craftsman RP's/ NAPA USA/ KD/ Kobalt/ Husky/ Armstrong, Blackhawks, and not- long- pattern SK/ Carlyle as being "standard" length.
Nobody but truck brands calls their long- *** wrenches standard length.
Yeah I'm a euro tech, working on VWs/Audis/Mercs but mostly BMWs and whatever people roll in, Ford Fusions, Chevy trucks, etc.
Ive always used long pattern wrenches and was a little saddened by the Wrights length originally but have come to appreciate them for what they are. As stated their size lets you use them in a few tighter areas, but you certainly lose out on a little leverage should you be trying to break something free. For that tho I use my other much longer wrenches as stated so I'm making out just fine. I think if you really like the two sizes you got, you won't be disappointed with the others and the sets are very affordable.
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eschoendorff
Well-known member
I was going to start swapping out my main metric wrench set with Snap On a wrench at a time beginning with 13mm and then the other sizes I use most often. But a full set of Wright is so much more economical and they’re really nice wrenches. I just really prefer the longer pattern of the Snap Ons.
I guess I could order a Wright 13mm and a Snap On 13mm and see which I prefer and then base my decision on that...
plinker
Well-known member
The Wrights look about the same length as S-K long pattern wrenches, which are a nice length for pretty much any use, IMO.
If a wrench is only about 1/2" to 3/4" shorter then say a Snap-on or Matco MCL series, I doubt you'd notice much difference in the amount of force you can put on it.
If a wrench is only about 1/2" to 3/4" shorter then say a Snap-on or Matco MCL series, I doubt you'd notice much difference in the amount of force you can put on it.
BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
Bob; they make all those various lengths because I will buy and enjoy using them. When working on a mix of machines; having only one length of wrenches often poses handicaps.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
OK I got you on that one; Snap-on has never called their standard length wrenches long pattern; nor have they ever called their long pattern wrenches extra long. You thought you could sneak that one by me.
WittHay
Well-known member
In the 70's and 80's Snap-on had tool factories in both Canada and the US. There was a "short standard" that is now called short handles. Next size was a "long handle" that was similar length to the current Wright wrenches and is what Snap-on now calls a "standard length" . Then there was the "extra long handles"
For years we used the Canadian made Snap-on combination wrenches and thought they were the perfect length. Nowadays we use Proto and Mac but still have to keep Craftsman wrenches around because those "standard length" tool truck wrenches are too long for a lot of applications
For years we used the Canadian made Snap-on combination wrenches and thought they were the perfect length. Nowadays we use Proto and Mac but still have to keep Craftsman wrenches around because those "standard length" tool truck wrenches are too long for a lot of applications
Wamsutta
Well-known member
I judge all combination wrenches by the length of the 1/2 inch size. I've gotten used to the 1/2 inch size being 8 inches long and all the other sizes incrementally longer starting from there.
WittHay
Well-known member
Mine is a 3/4 wrench being 11" . Which is the Snap-on OEX24B, Mac/Proto, GearWrench and others.
The vintage Snap-on OEX24 3/4 wrench was 9 31/32" and the current Wright 3/4 is actually longer at 10 3/64
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Are you able to get fasteners tight enough with Wright wrenches?
WittHay
Well-known member
I am used to the old Snap-on which is equal more or less to Wright, Gray and maybe Tekton.
To answer your question, if you are using the open end to tighten fuel line, air, hydraulic fittings yes. If you are using the box end the longer wrenches are better
i would wholeheartedly recommend the wright wrenches. yes they are long enough to get things tight and loosen them. such questions are ridiculous.
all of this who-ha about long wrenches is way blown way out of proportion. wrenches are offered in many different lengths, why? because it is beneficial. wright wrenches are slightly longer than say the standard sk or cman but not as long some others. depending on wrench size most wrenches are less than an inch difference in length.
i have wrenches from stubby to extra long in length. none of them are any better worse than the other, they all have a place. the handiest ones fall somewhere in the middle. about the length of a wright wrench!
all of this who-ha about long wrenches is way blown way out of proportion. wrenches are offered in many different lengths, why? because it is beneficial. wright wrenches are slightly longer than say the standard sk or cman but not as long some others. depending on wrench size most wrenches are less than an inch difference in length.
i have wrenches from stubby to extra long in length. none of them are any better worse than the other, they all have a place. the handiest ones fall somewhere in the middle. about the length of a wright wrench!
JR 42
Well-known member
OK I got you on that one; Snap-on has never called their standard length wrenches long pattern; nor have they ever called their long pattern wrenches extra long. You thought you could sneak that one by me.
Witthay pretty much covered it already (thanks!) - the earlier Flank Drive (pre- B suffix?) wrenches were offered in short, long, and extra long. Attached are a few pages from the 1983 catalog posted on Collecting Snap-on, and all three sizes in 9/16" (I don't have a long 1/2" yet, still on the prowl).
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eschoendorff
Well-known member
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Wamsutta
Well-known member
You guys are complicating things by mixing all the revisions together.
I know about the pre-Revision A wrenches being slightly shorter. But when I say I'm used to the 1/2 inch size being 8 inches long, I'm talking about an OEX16A (Revision A) out of the 1990 catalog -- which is the oldest catalog I have. And just in case anybody is wondering, The Revision A and Revision B wrenches are the same length. The only difference being is the Revision B wrenches have the size stampings on the beam instead of the open end.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
I bought one today. A WrightGrip 1.0 combination wrench in the size 1/2 inch. I don't like it. It feels like I'm using a file on the nut every time I use the open end. Trying to pull the open end off the nut after each turn is a major chore; it sticks THAT good. Definitely lives up to its name with the grip. But buying the single wrench saved me from buying a whole set.
davethorik
Well-known member
I know I have the same set I had to get the welder out. My new sets from India problem solved
nelstomlinson
Well-known member
They're combo wrenches. Double them up if you want more leverage.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Never experienced the filing sensation? Or the sensation ur being trolled?
Not trolling. It's the same feel I get when I'm pushing a file across a piece of steel or aluminum. It's the feeling of hardened teeth cutting into metal. The nut that I tried it on has deep scratches from the teeth digging into the surface. I like to turn the open end of a wrench real fast and then flip it over real fast for the next turn. This Wright wrench is not going to let me do that in a million years.