Bought a wrench at the flea market yesterday

rlitman · Nov 18, 2013

While walking down the aisles I spotted this hunk of rust. I asked the guy how much it was, and he said ten bucks.
My reply was:
"Well, if I offer you $5, and you say yes, I'm going to buy it, and my wife is going to brain me with it. But I can't help myself. Will you take $5?"

And that's the story of how I got my new combination wrench.
Note that there are two wrenches in the pictures. Only the big one is new to me.

I really need to put it on top of one of those mini shopping carts for better perspective.

Oh, it's a Snap On OEX76A.

wornoutoldman · Nov 18, 2013

a HUGE "you ****" Buddy!

madison069 · Nov 18, 2013

weight?

ajchien · Nov 18, 2013

Omg. You ****.

rsanter · Nov 18, 2013

That is too cool
What size is it. The snap on website didn't say but they did sat it's $382
I would have bough it just to hang on the wall

Bob

Banjorear · Nov 18, 2013

Looks cool. Are these for actual use or display? I'm assuming something industrial or railroad if for actual use, right?

eborcim · Nov 18, 2013

madison069 · Nov 18, 2013

hard to say, but it looks 2 3/8* is stamped on it.

signcrafter · Nov 18, 2013

Went to that wonderful new snap on site and it doesn't even say the size. But at least it says it's a combo wrench. What size is it?

rlitman · Nov 18, 2013

It is too heavy for the paint scale in my garage. When I dig up a bigger scale, I'll post the weight, but it is certainly massive.

The size is 2 3/8". The box end could be a cup holder.

Yeah, it is completely real. I'm planning on hanging it from the wall once I get it cleaned up sufficiently. But with over half the chrome gone, at this point I may resort to a satin chrome spray paint job . . . We'll see how well the phosphoric acid does on the rust.

edit:

madison069 said:
hard to say, but it looks 2 3/8* is stamped on it.

Yep; good eyes. The small wrench is a Williams Superrench 1/8". But I'd have to get a lot closer with my cell phone camera to make its stampings legible.

Burgerkong · Nov 18, 2013

rlitman said:
It is too heavy for the paint scale in my garage. When I dig up a bigger scale, I'll post the weight, but it is certainly massive.

The size is 2 3/8". The box end could be a cup holder.

Yeah, it is completely real. I'm planning on hanging it from the wall once I get it cleaned up sufficiently. But with over half the chrome gone, at this point I may resort to a satin chrome spray paint job . . . We'll see how well the phosphoric acid does on the rust.

edit:

Yep; good eyes. The small wrench is a Williams Superrench 1/8". But I'd have to get a lot closer with my cell phone camera to make its stampings legible.

You could try black oxide if the chrome can't be refurbished.

scaron · Nov 18, 2013

nice!! geez, it probably took two or three men to use one of those things on whatever giant contraption it was intended to service. definitely a steal at that price, no doubt about it.

jjjrmx5 · Nov 18, 2013

2-3/8"
28-3/4" long

That's not a wrench.
That's a weapon.

jd_1138 · Nov 18, 2013

Wow, 5 minutes of research could've netted the seller 100 at least.

Flivver250 · Nov 18, 2013

If the plating is rusted through (if it was plated), it should be under warranty for replacement. Oh, and you ****!

460Rustang · Nov 18, 2013

rlitman said:
I'm planning on hanging it from the wall once I get it cleaned up sufficiently.

VERY cool,......... :thumbup:

rlitman · Nov 18, 2013

460Rustang said:
VERY cool,.........

Your avatar too. And then I happened across this:

cubicle · Nov 18, 2013

Holy ****!!! That is huge!

Jim_No_Garage · Nov 18, 2013

I would make up a faux pegboard panel with like 3/4" holes (spaced to scale ) and a fabricate a HUGE pegboard hook and hang it on the wall as an object d'art . . .

Jim

shoggoth80 · Nov 18, 2013

Holy jumbo wrench Batman!
Hang it on the wall? I'd find something to turn it on. Lol.

rlitman · Nov 18, 2013

Jim_No_Garage said:
I would make up a faux pegboard panel with like 3/4" holes (spaced to scale ) and a fabricate a HUGE pegboard hook and hang it on the wall as an object d'art . . .

Jim

Tempting. 3/4" is a bit much for me to bend. But a 1/2" thick pegboard hook would be easy enough.

I was actually thinking of finding a bolt that would fit this. Apparently it fits a 1-1/2" heavy hex bolt. I could weld the bolt to a piece of steel that I'd hide behind a wooden plaque. Then I could make it look like it's hanging in mid air (even though I'd support it well enough that you could do chin ups on it).

The Ratchet Man · Nov 18, 2013

rlitman said:
Tempting. 3/4" is a bit much for me to bend. But a 1/2" thick pegboard hook would be easy enough.

I was actually thinking of finding a bolt that would fit this. Apparently it fits a 1-1/2" heavy hex bolt. I could weld the bolt to a piece of steel that I'd hide behind a wooden plaque. Then I could make it look like it's hanging in mid air (even though I'd support it well enough that you could do chin ups on it).

To bad your not closer. I could easily hook you up with the bolt, nut and washers. Nice find!

priceman1414 · Nov 18, 2013

Duarte · Nov 18, 2013

Holey moley! :eyecrazy:

Make a lid handle for a very LARGE tool cart? Use it as a free weight? Hood ornament? Coffee table? Complete the set with all the missing sizes? :lol_hitti

Gus_Mahn · Nov 18, 2013

2 3/8" wrench is for a 1 1/2" stud with heavy duty nuts, big stuff for sure, but not unseen in refineries. I'd have bought it for $5 even though it would just get in the way.

Jim_No_Garage · Nov 18, 2013

rlitman said:
Tempting. 3/4" is a bit much for me to bend. But a 1/2" thick pegboard hook would be easy enough.

I was actually thinking of finding a bolt that would fit this. Apparently it fits a 1-1/2" heavy hex bolt. I could weld the bolt to a piece of steel that I'd hide behind a wooden plaque. Then I could make it look like it's hanging in mid air (even though I'd support it well enough that you could do chin ups on it).

Yeah - I didn't think that all the way through did I? :lol_hitti

Danglerb · Nov 18, 2013

Big wrench, even if non special brand is hard to pass up.

Not sure I would have tried for $5, more like "do you have the rest of the set?"

Jarhead0408 · Nov 18, 2013

Wow dude. That is awesome man. You ****!

jabberwoki · Nov 18, 2013

You sir have balls of steel you actually beat him up on the price!! **** if it were me the bills would have been flying out at $10

zkling · Nov 18, 2013

That is too cool, and at a YOU **** price. :thumbup:

That is an awesome wall hanger or conversation piece. :drool:

Murphy4570 · Nov 18, 2013

I want to see a photo of you using the thing.

Make your wife take the photo. :lol:

Strouty · Nov 18, 2013

I bought some snap on wrenches a week ago, I could have used that one, we had to use an adjustable for that size. I bought up to 2", luckily I have sockets to 3 1/8". Great deal and you really do ****.

fatfillup · Nov 19, 2013

Ah suckage awarded!!

I would have bought that in a heartbeat. Those big wrenches sell sooner or later. I buy every big wrench and socket I can that is reasonably price.

Now if you want to shine her up, get your self a med grade scotchbrite deburring wheel for your bench grinder. Will make it look like chrome, or at least close to it. Course the wheel will cost you $50 or more. hopefully the link came thru. Not necessarily the best place to buy.

http://www.rshughes.com/p/3M-XL-WL-...In-Grades-Included-Medium-16405/048011_16405/

egnorant · Nov 19, 2013

Use it as an arm for your shop chair...built in cup holder too!

Bruce

Drunken Yak inc · Nov 19, 2013

Jim_No_Garage said:
I would make up a faux pegboard panel with like 3/4" holes (spaced to scale ) and a fabricate a HUGE pegboard hook and hang it on the wall as an object d'art . . .

Jim

That, sir, is a f***ing awesome idea! :thumbup:

Now I just need to find me a giant wrench...

:beer:

tbaggz · Nov 19, 2013

[img=http://s23.postimg.org/4iocyg2d3/IMAG0447.jpg]. 30 inch adjustable , 2-15/16 and a 2-1/2 for contrast

Fordman7795 · Nov 19, 2013

I wouldnt have had the guts to offer $5 for that.

rlitman · Nov 19, 2013

Fordman7795 said:
I wouldnt have had the guts to offer $5 for that.

Now is that because you would have already ripped your wallet straight through your pants leg and started throwing money at the guy, or because of the fear of impending mariticide by clubbing with your new found toy?

The truth is that as I was walking away from the table, my wife took the wrench from me and while she was wielding it above my head, I explained exactly the conversation I just had and what I paid. That got her to put a plastic bag over the rust and place it in the bottom of the stroller. Of course when we got home later, it was her idea later to hang it over a door if I can get it looking nice enough.

The guy actually had about a dozen wrenches. This was the biggest. The next largest was a Williams around 1 3/4", and the rest were more normal sized. All looked like they spent way too much time in salt water or underground. I'm thinking Sandy damage, but I didn't really ask. This was the only one worth my time. I was just able to make out the SnapOn logo underneath the rust, but it wasn't something you'd easily spot if you didn't know what you were looking for.

fatfillup said:
Now if you want to shine her up, get your self a med grade scotchbrite deburring wheel for your bench grinder

I've always wanted one of those, but never wanted to spend the kind of money they cost. Anyway, the wire wheel took off the scaly rust without digging in, in a way that would hurt the contrast of the stampings.

When I have some time, I'll certainly follow up with how it is coming out.
But yesterday I just got a Bonney A707 ratchet in the mail (saw it on eBay with a buy it now of $10, and I couldn't leave it there). Unfortunately the description "VERY GOOD CONDITION" didn't really tip me off that it ratchets great in ONE direction, but mostly slips in the other. The teeth feel fine, and it feels like one pawl is sticking, but I need to figure out how to get the darn thing apart, so for at least another day, this wrench is getting pushed to the back of the workbench.

arms1970 · Nov 19, 2013

I use one often, and bigger. Do work for refineries, processing industry

rlitman · Nov 21, 2013

Flivver250 said:
If the plating is rusted through (if it was plated), it should be under warranty for replacement. Oh, and you ****!

I actually called Snap On (mostly for the curiosity). They said that rust was not covered, although flaking chrome might be. The chrome is indeed lightly flaking now that I cleaned up the rust, but it is a moot point, because that size (actually, it seems all wrenches over 2") were discontinued 7 years ago, and there are no replacements. From what I can find on the net, that would just be 2 1/4", this 2 3/8" size, and a 2 1/2" size.

I took it to work. It weighs 12.5 lbs on the shipping scale. But the thing is so solid, it feels like twice that in the hand.

The rust that I soaked in phosphoric acid turned into a black fluffy mess that cleaned off nicely. I now have mostly chrome and dull grey metal left. A little more acid when I have a chance, and it will be ready for paint. The detail in the stampings looks perfect, except that the date mark is completely illegible.

The body of the wrench is a satin sand blasted finish. I'm not worried about painting that. But the sides of the claw are polished and I'm thinking of sanding that lightly, then priming, then sanding again to fill in the pitting, before I spray with chrome spray paint.

On that note, anyone have any experience with Rustoleum chrome? Any pointers? I'm thinking that the satin part will be pretty hard to mess up.

Bought a wrench at the flea market yesterday

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