Regular Combination Wrenches

[Tooltime22]

I recently bought a set of Wright wrenches and love them but was wondering if there are any USA made combination wrenches that don't leave their mark if you know what I mean?

I am looking for current offerings not vintage Craftsman or "look on eBay."

 

[VolvoRyan]

I recently bought a set of Wright wrenches and love them but was wondering if there are any USA made combination wrenches that don't leave their mark if you know what I mean?

I am looking for current offerings not vintage Craftsman or "look on eBay."

Does Wright not sell un-Wright-Grip wrenches? I sort of recall that they do. Download their catalog from the website. Would love to know for sure.

I'm probably forgetting something obvious, but not much made in USA for combo wrenches these days. SK's current offerings are imported. MAC and Matco are likely imports. Snap-On will be USA. Expensive, but nice.

-Ryan

 

[turnthewrench 2.0]

I recently bought a set of Wright wrenches and love them but was wondering if there are any USA made combination wrenches that don't leave their mark if you know what I mean?

I am looking for current offerings not vintage Craftsman or "look on eBay."

Not aware of any, but if you don't mind buying German you can get Stahlwille or Hazet at moderate prices. Check amazon.de

 

[ecotec]

Does Wright not sell un-Wright-Grip wrenches? I sort of recall that they do. Download their catalog from the website. Would love to know for sure.

I'm probably forgetting something obvious, but not much made in USA for combo wrenches these days. SK's current offerings are imported. MAC and Matco are likely imports. Snap-On will be USA. Expensive, but nice.

-Ryan

They sell both.

Out of all of the anti-slip designs, WrightGrip does the most damage to fasteners.

 

[jsmeece]

Proto is another choice.

 

[ecotec]

Snap-on, Williams (not pictured) Proto and Caterpillar (Williams SuperWrench) sell made in USA wrenches with anti slip designs.

 

[boom_bap]

He is looking for without anti-slip designs.

 

[richfinn]

If your prepared to buy German made the Stahlwille 14 series are nice spanners, affordable, sensible length, no open end serations, flank drive box end and a very useful small crank at the offset for clearance.

Rest assured they will make them forever, so if you ever lose or bend one it will be replacable (available in single units).

No shiny chrome, but elegant tools nonetheless.

 

[cherrybomb]

Proto is a great choice,they make a ASD which has a moderate tooth engagement feature,hardly any damage,then the older smooth style.The German brands are a great option also,once you get into the feel and ideals of their engineering and manufacturing they might become a new favorite

 

[Tooltime22]

Thanks everyone, I didn't even realize Wright had a non-nonslip design. Looks like I will be making another order.

 

[VolvoRyan]

Thanks everyone, I didn't even realize Wright had a non-nonslip design. Looks like I will be making another order.

I've only been dabbling with Wright since SK sorta "disappeared". Even as it was, SK's wrenches were an odd length.

I really like Wright offerings. Let us know your thoughts!

-Ryan

 

[ecotec]

I've only been dabbling with Wright since SK sorta "disappeared". Even as it was, SK's wrenches were an odd length.

I really like Wright offerings. Let us know your thoughts!

-Ryan

Wrights thick beam and non-chrome finish is comfortable and easy to grip. I love using them. They are a joy to use.

Some SK combination wrenches seem too short… as did some Armstrong and some Craftsman. They seem to be a step between short pattern combination wrenches and regular length combination wrenches.

I keep a set of 6pt Craftsman mixed with Armstrong.

 

[Cleary37]

I will add that Cornwell is another USA made brand of combination wrenches. I didn’t see them mentioned above.

 

[tamaraw]

He is looking for without anti-slip designs.

OP asked for ones that don't leave marks. Proto ASD is not a toothed design and is specifically designed to avoid rounding without leaving marks.

 

[ecotec]

OP asked for ones that don't leave marks. Proto ASD is not a toothed design and is specifically designed to avoid rounding without leaving marks.

None of the other brand do anywhere near the damage to fasteners that the WrightGrip do.

As long as are not restoring something priceless… most anti-slip designs are fine for 99% of work.

 

[Fedwrench]

I might be wrong but, I thought all current wright made combination wrenches were all wrightgrip? I thought it was discussed here that Wright switched everything to Wrightgrip. There's lots of old wright product floating around though.

I know you said don't look on Ebay but, some of the best US made combination wrenches can be had under the KD, Allen, and Armstrong brands sold by cripe distributing at bargain pricing. Just make sure the listing has USA in it.

 

[ecotec]

I might be wrong but, I thought all current wright made combination wrenches were all wrightgrip? I thought it was discussed here that Wright switched everything to Wrightgrip. There's lots of old wright product floating around though.

I know you said don't look on Ebay but, some of the best US made combination wrenches can be had under the KD, Allen, and Armstrong brands sold by cripe distributing at bargain pricing. Just make sure the listing has USA in it.

I just looked at the Wright website. I guess that I am wrong… everything is either WrightGrip or WrightGrip 2.0…

 

[Outahere]

Combination Wrenches - Wrenches - Products

Williams’ heritage of high-quality, industrial-focused tools continues to deliver a brand of tools that is ready to work. Whether in the field, suspended at height or in the plant, we are performing along side you everyday.

www.williams-industrial.com

 

[RJansen]

Blackhawk wrenches are made in USA and have smooth jaws.

Home Industrial Tools Official Site | PROTO

Proto Industrial Tools - Safety Obsessed

www.protoindustrial.com

 

[Mgdoug3]

Does Wright not sell un-Wright-Grip wrenches? I sort of recall that they do. Download their catalog from the website. Would love to know for sure.

I'm probably forgetting something obvious, but not much made in USA for combo wrenches these days. SK's current offerings are imported. MAC and Matco are likely imports. Snap-On will be USA. Expensive, but nice.

-Ryan

I've been out of the loop. When did SK wrenches (not including the other ratchet wrenches) move production overseas? I can't find anything on Google mentioning this. SK's website doesn't mention COO and everything is still out of stock.

 

[tamaraw]

Blackhawk wrenches are made in USA and have smooth jaws.

Home Industrial Tools Official Site | PROTO

Proto Industrial Tools - Safety Obsessed

www.protoindustrial.com

Several of the photos at that link (ex: 3/8 or 9/16) show ASD... might depend upon size or be updated production. I know regular Proto uses it on 10-34mm sizes, not sure the imperial equivalents.

 

[tamaraw]

I've been out of the loop. When did SK wrenches (not including the other ratchet wrenches) move production overseas? I can't find anything on Google mentioning this. SK's website doesn't mention COO and everything is still out of stock.

That would be the first I have heard of it and I don't see any info to back up that claim. In 2021 they were purchased by GreatStar Industrial, a Chinese group that owns a few other brands. This might be what is confusing Ryan? After that, they moved their production plant from Illinois to Pennsylvania in order to share resources with the Shop-Vac plant (same parent company).

The move obviously disrupted production but they have added a lot of stuff back in stock since then. Some stuff is still sold out on their website but I think they are prioritizing sending stuff out to vendors before they list it directly.

 

[KnurledNut]

Martin:
https://www.martinsprocket.com/view/products/product-search?Website_Code=HT2

 

[tamaraw]

SK's current offerings are imported.

Replied to this in my above comment.

MAC and Matco are likely imports.

As far as I am aware, the Proto-style Mac wrenches are still made in the US by Proto. The Facom-style Mac wrenches are probably imported from France, maybe Taiwan.

Matco rebrands so many different companies that it's hard to know who makes their newest wrenches, but yes, probably Taiwanese imports.

 

[Mgdoug3]

Grainger and MSC both list SK wrenches as made in China unfortunately. That's a real bummer. I've been looking at Wright as alternative since I heard SK sold to Great Star.

 

[Fedwrench]

SK had their Chinese made wrenches on display at the recent SEMA show. The X Frame ratcheting wrenches are US made (when I wrote this, subject to change). The Chinese made SK wrenches look and feel the same as the US Made versions, they're just missing those 3 little letters USA. Matco doesn't currently offer US Made wrenches. they're all from Taiwan. I think this is largely because, the Armstrong plant where Matco got their US Made wrenches closed. I haven't seen a US Made Blackhawk wrench in a number of years. I'm pretty sure they're made in Taiwan currently.

 

[tamaraw]

SK had their Chinese made wrenches on display at the recent SEMA show. The X Frame ratcheting wrenches are US made (when I wrote this, subject to change). The Chinese made SK wrenches look and feel the same as the US Made versions, they're just missing those 3 little letters USA.

Do you know anybody that posted SEMA coverage of SK? I'm not seeing anything right now but maybe I missed something.

 

[Gurp]

Proto. Their gripping ones are ASD but they also sell non marking wrenches.

 

[Mytoolsupply]

As others have said all of the Wright combination wrenches are the Wright Grip 2.0
If you wanted a smooth Wright wrench one option would be the Angle Wrenches there's a decent picture in the link. https://mytoolsupply.com/wright-15-60-degree-open-end-angle-wrenches/

 

[Tooltime22]

I've only been dabbling with Wright since SK sorta "disappeared". Even as it was, SK's wrenches were an odd length.

I really like Wright offerings. Let us know your thoughts!

-Ryan

It's a shame what is happening at SK. I personally never bought anything from them but it's sad to see what is happening to them now.

I love my Wright wrenches and sockets. The only downside to the Wright grip is that it leaves some pretty good marks when used but I haven't run into any bolt I couldn't free yet. I placed a large order back in August and they have slowly been arriving since then. Still waiting on my screw drivers.

 

[Tooltime22]

I think I will place an order for some Proto ASD wrenches. I wouldn't mind trying out their products.

 

[VolvoRyan]

That would be the first I have heard of it and I don't see any info to back up that claim. In 2021 they were purchased by GreatStar Industrial, a Chinese group that owns a few other brands. This might be what is confusing Ryan? After that, they moved their production plant from Illinois to Pennsylvania in order to share resources with the Shop-Vac plant (same parent company).

The move obviously disrupted production but they have added a lot of stuff back in stock since then. Some stuff is still sold out on their website but I think they are prioritizing sending stuff out to vendors before they list it directly.

I've been following SK pretty closely, as I'd purchased almost every metric tool they made in the few years prior to the GreatStar transition. The wrenches and some other items are popping up with the COO being listed as China or Taiwan.... for now. That may change. I'm always hopeful. There's no reason to believe that this is a permanent solution. With Western Forge closed down, wrenches have to come from somewhere.

I'm not a stickler for "Made in USA" (the SK Facebook groups are all angry people), it's just that the pricing hasn't changed much on the wrench sets. I already have a complete set of SK combos from right before the sale, so I don't really have a dog in this one. I'm just curious to see what shakes down.

I'm still an SK fan boy. Their standard wrenches are just an odd length.

-Ryan

 

[Tooltime22]

I might be wrong but, I thought all current wright made combination wrenches were all wrightgrip? I thought it was discussed here that Wright switched everything to Wrightgrip. There's lots of old wright product floating around though.

I know you said don't look on Ebay but, some of the best US made combination wrenches can be had under the KD, Allen, and Armstrong brands sold by cripe distributing at bargain pricing. Just make sure the listing has USA in it.

I don't mind when someone tells me to look on Ebay when they do it like you did. You gave me specific brands. It's when people say "there are great deals on Ebay just look for them" that drives me crazy.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

Proto ASD are great wrenches. The beam is a bit thin, but the overall length is nice and I really love Proto's satin finish over all the other wrenches I own. That being said OP, I'd think about picking up a cheap set of DOE wrenches since you already have the combos. You get the plain open end, you get a large size range in a smaller overall footprint and you can find them pretty cheap from US or German manufacturers.

 

[Tooltime22]

Blackhawk wrenches are made in USA and have smooth jaws.

Home Industrial Tools Official Site | PROTO

Proto Industrial Tools - Safety Obsessed

www.protoindustrial.com

While they are made in USA, they also appear to have ASD.

 

[Tooltime22]

Grainger and MSC both list SK wrenches as made in China unfortunately. That's a real bummer. I've been looking at Wright as alternative since I heard SK sold to Great Star.

I don't think you could go wrong with Wright as a replacement.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I don't think you could go wrong with Wright as a replacement.

I bought a 9/16 Wright earlier this week to try out but haven't used it yet since I'm waiting on parts for everything. I like that it's longer than my SK wrenches and have been thinking about buying a metric set. I'm still on the fence since I already have doubles but I don't have any long versions like I do in SAE. Ever since SK got bought out by Great Star, I've been looking for a different brand in case production moved overseas.

 

[GeoBruin]

I think I will place an order for some Proto ASD wrenches. I wouldn't mind trying out their products.

I have the Blackhawk by Proto wrenches and they have the ASD feature. I was going to recommend them here but even since I bought mine new a couple years ago it appears the availability has dried up to the point where you would need to probably purchase them on Ebay, though they would be new and appear to have multiple sets in stock. You're talking $200 for a set of either SAE or metric vs whatever Proto is charging but it may not be worth it for you.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

I bought a 9/16 Wright earlier this week to try out but haven't used it yet since I'm waiting on parts for everything. I like that it's longer than my SK wrenches and have been thinking about buying a metric set. I'm still on the fence since I already have doubles but I don't have any long versions like I do in SAE. Ever since SK got bought out by Great Star, I've been looking for a different brand in case production moved overseas.

Just a heads up, but I have noticed that my Wright wrenches have tighter tolerances on the open end. I don't know what you'll be using them for, but a lot of the stuff I work on use fasteners that aren't the best material or spec-wise so my Wrights sometimes do not fit over the nut or bolt. I've had the same problem with a few Gedore and Williams wrenches and sockets. Besides the markings on softer metals, it is why I have non-Wright backup sets.

 

[Mgdoug3]

Thanks for heads up. I was going thinking of replacing my SK metric set but keeping the SK as backups or if I don't want to mar up a bolt or nut.