Everyone has an angle! Show us your angle wrenches!

[bonneyman]

Everyone has an angle! Show us your angle wrenches.

I didn't use angle wrenches until about 10 years ago - now I can't imagine not having them. The combination of short length, a pair of differing offsets, and slim profile makes them invaluable for many tight jobs.
The "typical" angle wrench has open ends angled at 15 and 60 degrees offset. The idea being - I think - that flipping the wrench a certain number of ways will get you to a 90 degree turn (i.e one full right angle/one quarter of a full circle). I have read that Cornwell is the maker who came up with this layout, and it has become the modern industry standard. (Snap-On is one brand I know that departs from this formula and has a 30/60 deg combo).

So, post up your angle wrenches! Old, new, pretty, ugly, we don't care - just give us your "angle"!

Heres' my sets of Triangle Tool-era Bonney's in full polish.
SAE is 3/8 thru 3/4, metric is 10mm thru 19mm

 

[bonneyman]

Bonney also made tools for other manufacturers, among them Matco, Mac, and John Deere.
Here's a pair of the same size angle wrench marked Matco and Bonney. The forging and grayish hue of the chrome are dead give-aways for Bonney.

 

[bonneyman]

Mentioned previously, Snap-On uses a slightly different layout than most other angle wrench brands. Some people swear that this is a much better combo of angles.

Here is a S-O compared to the same size Bonney. The OAL is greater with the Snappy, while the shank and head thickness are less. Good design engineering!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Some 1967 snap on examples

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Re: Everyone has an angle! Show us your angle wrenches.

Did someone say Cornwell angle wrenches?

I remember looking into this once awhile ago, bonneyman. As I recall, not too many mfgrs were making angle wrenches contemporaneously to Cornwell in the beginning. Bonney, Billings, Williams, Vlchek and Plomb weren't. Right angle or obstruction wrenches, yes. Angle wrenches, 15* x 60*, same size on both ends, no. Lots of mfgrs were making miniature DOE wrenches with 15* and 60* angles, but they were for electrical/ignition work, and they came in pairs, with a different opening on each end, ranging from 13/64" to maybe 7/16". Nobody but Cornwell in the major size range, with the same opening size on both ends. Except Herbrand, as early as 1941, anyway, but their heads were at 22-1/2* and 62-1/2*.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Addendum: What I like best about the Cornwell angle wrenches - and the MAC and Vanadium Tool Co clones - is the skinny shanks. That and the angle makes them unmistakable.

 

[bonneyman]

Addendum: What I like best about the Cornwell angle wrenches - and the MAC and Vanadium Tool Co clones - is the skinny shanks. That and the angle makes them unmistakable.

I always notice the Cornwell's because of the V-gullets.

 

[bonneyman]

Some 1967 snap on examples

Ohh, those scalloped shanks look nice!

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Got them in a tool chest full of similar vintage snap on tools. They belonged to a retired airport mechanic

 

[burlybrute]

Re: Everyone has an angle! Show us your angle wrenches.

It looks like Tekton now has the same 30/60 angle as Snap On wrenches.

Sent from my LG-M327 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[retDAC]

Re: Everyone has an angle! Show us your angle wrenches.

... (Snap-On is one brand I know that departs from this formula and has a 30/60 deg combo). ...

It looks like Tekton now has the same 30/60 angle as Snap On wrenches.

The other brand is V8 Tools, though their quality is erratic from what I've read.
ATD used to advertise 30/60, but now their website lists only 15/60.

 

[Farmer J.]

Nice looking wrenches.
Sooo.. who is going to do the maths and tell us which of these is the best combination of head angles to need the smallest swing arc of the wrench in a tight spot, assuming it's used on a standard hex fastener?
30/60, or 15/60 degrees, or even 22 1/2 and 62 1/2 degrees??
I tried to work this out in my head once, but fell asleep before I could understand it. (luckily not driving a tractor at the time)

 

[d42jeep]

Here are a couple Proto wrenches that came with a Duro ignition wrench set I picked up recently.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Don's post prompts a question, bonneyman.

The Plomb/Proto 33xx series he is showing were classified as midget wrenches. They have 15* x 60* angles, and they do have the same size on both ends, but the opening range was typically 7/32" to 1/2", 5/8" later, at the largest, with some funky opening sizes (aimed at electrical/ignition system fasteners) in between. As I alluded to in post #5, many mfgrs made these. Not many made them in major ranges.

The Cornwell-MAC-Wright-VTC Consortium made them from 3/8" to 1-1/6" in the 40's and early 50's. New Britain, which also had a "V-gullet" (or hex throat), introduced them as early as 1940, and theirs went from 1/2" to 11/16".

So, is your interest here any wrenches with 15* x 60* angles - which would include midget electrical wrenches?

Or larger angle wrenches exemplified by Cornwell?

 

[d42jeep]

No matter how Proto may have referred to them, it’s hard for me to think of a 5/8” obstruction wrench with the same sizes on both ends as a midget electrical wrench. Just sayin’.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I was actually surprised to see that Plomb went up to 5/8" with their midget electrical wrench series after the war, Don. It was 1/2" prior to that. And I hear you on it being strange to think of that particular wrench as a midget electrical wrench, but only if you ignore that fact that it's the largest opening in the 33xx series. Not so strange when you picture it with all the other much tinier wrenches in the 33xx series. And not strange in the least when you picture it next to angle wrenches from Cornwell or Mac or others with a range of opening sizes that covers what a typical engineers wrench (15* x 15*, vs 15* x 60*) covers.

 

[PartsGuy]

Great looking Bonneys! I have a set, but I'm missing the 9/16".... Any help out there?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Sooo.. who is going to do the maths and tell us which of these is the best combination of head angles to need the smallest swing arc of the wrench in a tight spot, assuming it's used on a standard hex fastener? 30/60, or 15/60 degrees, or even 22 1/2 and 62 1/2 degrees?? I tried to work this out in my head once, but fell asleep before I could understand it. (luckily not driving a tractor at the time)

I am an engineer, I sat down to try to work it out on a blank piece of graph paper in my engineer's notebook, in the safety of my office, and I still hurt myself!

As bonneyman alluded to, and as you elaborated on, Cornwell (15 x 60), Herbrand (22-1/2 x 62-1/2), and Snap-on (30 x 60) were all going for the least amount of bites it would take to turn a hex bolt one full revolution in the least amount of turning radius space. Herbrand (see Pic 1) claimed scientifically proven efficiency in 1937. The only Cornwell catalog I have is 1941, by then they were on to their "Improved" version (see Pic 2), and made no claims. Snap-on, in 1950 (see Pic 3), implied that their angles were best.

Let the debate begin!

 

[bmwrd0]

Here is my set of Protos. I still need to find a 1" but other than that they go from 3/8" to 1-1/8". Super handy in the shop.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks for that, Beemer! And for the reminder that time frame is important. On that note, I wonder when those were made? In 1945, their 33xx line still went from 7/32" to 1/2". In 1948, from 7/32" to 5/8". At some point, they completely changed their intended application on this pattern, obviously. Also, if you have an angle finder handy, what is the sharp angle? I just remembered that Plomb used 15* x 80* on the 33xx series up through 1948 (and I don't have any catalogs after that). But we have another engineering approach and yet another angle (80*) for the mix.

 

[Farmer J.]

Also, if you have an angle finder handy, what is the sharp angle? I just remembered that Plomb used 15* x 80* on the 33xx series up through 1948 (and I don't have any catalogs after that). But we have another engineering approach and yet another angle (80*) for the mix.

Ah, progress with the 'angle mystery'. Investigator Lugz is on the case..

Looking forward to answers and opinions on this one. Having failed to do the theory maths I did consider fixing a hex head to a board and marking the possible wrench positions with pins or something, but I don't posses an angle wrench to do it with so would have to borrow one or make one from plywood or something!

 

[bmwrd0]

Lugz, it is hard to read, but the black oxide at the top is a Proto LA, so 49-56. As with many things, Proto made these but they are not in the catalogs going up to that size.

 

[3baygarage]

Hey, Bonneyman did say ugly, right?

-Some more Proto to go along with Beemer’s. The 1-3/8 is different, it’s a v notch as you can tell.

-Cornwell 1-5/16 specialty wrench I think.

-Mac Sabina. Most of a set anyway.

I’ll check for any others on hand.

 

[Provincial]

Out in the real world, where we don't take the time to engineering evaluations, the rule on angle wrenches is that you can never have too many angles to choose from. It seems like there is always something in the way, no matter what angle you are using. Not only that, but often you can't get on the flats to get started.

30/60 isn't too bad if you have 15* of throw. Remember, standard combos and DOE;s usually have about a 30* angle, so a standard wrench will work in that part of the arc. A hex has the flats spaced 60* apart, and if you can get 15* of throw, that is enough. Often, you cannot get that much throw.

I have been in situations where I used four different wrenches to get the full arc. I actually would have been easier to remove some of the obstructing items, but I didn't want spill hydraulic oil.

 

[JR 42]

Re: Everyone has an angle! Show us your angle wrenches.

It looks like Tekton now has the same 30/60 angle as Snap On wrenches.

Sent from my LG-M327 using The Garage Journal mobile app

And- they've got drawings of 30 x 60 and 15 x 60 wrench positions on their site, scroll down a little here:

https://www.tekton.com/angle-head-open-end-wrenches

I can't figure out how to grab the image and attach it, though I didn't try very hard... screenshot attached.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Investigator Lugz is on the case...

And bungling it up so far, as usual!

I did consider fixing a hex head to a board and marking the possible wrench positions with pins or something

I thought about a little experiment myself with a bolt in a confined space, but I only have the Cornwell set, so the best I could do is determine how many bites it would take with a 15/60 wrench. If we standardized the geometry of the set-up (e.g., a hex bolt in an oblique corner), we could have multiple people do it with the 15/80 (Plomb), 30/60 (Snap-on), and 22-1/2 / 62-1/2 (Herbrand). Or we might be a little crazy.

EDIT: All the angles that are associated with one side of a hex bolt (60*, or one of six turns) - 60*, 30* (half turn), and 15* (quarter turn) - all make sense to me. Even the 22-1/2* makes sense, sneaking one more eighth turn (7.5*) in. And the 75* that Williams and a few others used on midget electrical wrenches makes sense for the same reason. I would have to think about the 80* and 62-1/2* further, though.

As with many things, Proto made these but they are not in the catalogs going up to that size.

Ah. Good point.

 

[d42jeep]

This is from 1961 and they are up to 5/8”
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Same range as in 1948, Don. But note that they are still for ignition/electrical work, and starting at 3314 (7/32"). Beemer's set starts at 3324 (3/8"). It looks to me like they realized there was a certain market for the same pattern in larger sizes, produced them from 3/8" to 1-1/8", and kept the same model number (33xx), but they apparently (per Beemer) didn't include them in a catalog.

 

[Farmer J.]

Re: Everyone has an angle! Show us your angle wrenches.

And- they've got drawings of 30 x 60 and 15 x 60 wrench positions on their site, scroll down a little here:

https://www.tekton.com/angle-head-open-end-wrenches

Thanks, there's good illustrations on the link. Even got a nice little video to hypnotise us watching the bolt head go around!

 

[d42jeep]

It looks like the angles on the Snap-on wrenches has remained the same for some period of time.
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Re: Everyone has an angle! Show us your angle wrenches.

Thanks, there's good illustrations on the link. Even got a nice little video to hypnotise us watching the bolt head go around!

V8 Tools has a similar diagram and I don't mind admitting I don't understand what either of them is trying to depict. I want to see a graphic comparing the profiles of each wrench turning the same bolt in the same close quarters and counting the number of turns and the number of times you have to re-grip. Also, the video is not showing a 30/60 wrench vs a 15/60 wrench. It's showing TEKTON's 30/60 (with what they are touting as an optimal placement of the head on the beam) vs Snap-on's 30/60.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Haha. That's a neat shot, Don.

 

[DFB]

Geez the same Herbrand high polished angle metric wrenches I got at the flea mkt last year are listed as "Vintage" on ebay right now. Some are close to $20 apiece

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Herbrand-H1518M-18MM-Angle-Wrenches-/151690206804

I took what they had 5 different sizes at $3.00 each

 

[d42jeep]

Since bmwrd0 posted his Proto 33** series wrenches that go much larger, I guess that I’ll start referring to these as a mini obstruction wrench set rather than an ignition set. I think the set in the last picture is still an ignition wrench set, however. The 33** series wrenches are 15 degrees and 80 degrees, according to the catalog.
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

Don's post prompts a question, bonneyman.

The Plomb/Proto 33xx series he is showing were classified as midget wrenches. They have 15* x 60* angles, and they do have the same size on both ends, but the opening range was typically 7/32" to 1/2", 5/8" later, at the largest, with some funky opening sizes (aimed at electrical/ignition system fasteners) in between. As I alluded to in post #5, many mfgrs made these. Not many made them in major ranges.

The Cornwell-MAC-Wright-VTC Consortium made them from 3/8" to 1-1/6" in the 40's and early 50's. New Britain, which also had a "V-gullet" (or hex throat), introduced them as early as 1940, and theirs went from 1/2" to 11/16".

So, is your interest here any wrenches with 15* x 60* angles - which would include midget electrical wrenches?

Or larger angle wrenches exemplified by Cornwell?

I was thinking more of the bigger wrenches, not ignition wrenches per se. But heck, if those need a home, post em up!

 

[bonneyman]

Here is my set of Protos. I still need to find a 1" but other than that they go from 3/8" to 1-1/8". Super handy in the shop.

I like the shank-to-head transition on those. Very smooth and graceful.

 

[bonneyman]

Hey, Bonneyman did say ugly, right?

-Some more Proto to go along with Beemer’s. The 1-3/8 is different, it’s a v notch as you can tell.

-Cornwell 1-5/16 specialty wrench I think.

-Mac Sabina. Most of a set anyway.

I’ll check for any others on hand.

Yeah, you caught me. I did use the term "ugly".

I'm glad you posted those MAC's! They are nice pieces.

 

[2oolhound]

Here are some Armstrong 15/60's:

 

[bonneyman]

Great looking Bonneys! I have a set, but I'm missing the 9/16".... Any help out there?

Nice examples in the smaller sizes do show up on ebay for not too outrageous prices. The larger sizes (1" and above) tend to get $$$.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The 33** series wrenches are 15 degrees and 80 degrees, according to the catalog.

Yes, I noted that in post #20. I didnt go back farther than wartime catalogs, but I'm assuming that they were always 15/80.