Flex head socket wrench.

Harrison2 · Dec 24, 2014

I used some of these a while back that belonged to my boss, they were handy in certain situations and made a job alot quicker like removing a hood or doors, stuff where you need to wind a bolt in fast because your supporting and then nip it tight.

his were old school snap on, probably from the 70s. Im looking online and see Williams still make them but only in SAE. I want metric, any one have any recommendations for a set, im not looking to spend new snap on money.

Cover sizes 10mm - thru -19, a 8mm would be handy also.

RedneckWelder · Dec 24, 2014

I think SK makes them too

Askme42 · Dec 24, 2014

RedneckWelder said:
I think SK makes them too

Yeah I was thumbing through the catalog last night. Pretty sure I saw them. Someone else is going go to have to do the leg work for part numbers though

MFolks · Dec 24, 2014

Craftsman used to have those, and last year I went looking for a set, no luck, probably discontinued, due to no demand.

Outlawmws · Dec 24, 2014

They tend to be expensive due to low production numbers...

Harrison2 · Dec 24, 2014

wow $250, Im not likely to use them that much...

Think il hold out for a used set on ebay, now I know they're called saltus wrenches that should help.

dutchgray · Dec 24, 2014

Outlawmws said:
They tend to be expensive due to low production numbers...

Also each one is three pieces which need assembly, bound to substantially add cost.

Harrison2 · Dec 24, 2014

Outlawmws said:
They tend to be expensive due to low production numbers...

Yeah looks like there not hugely popular and less popular in metric.

dutchgray said:
Also each one is three pieces which need assembly, bound to substantially add cost.

would that apply to a gearwrench flex head ratcheting wrench, thats 5,6,7? parts. $30 for a set of 5.

shockwave · Dec 24, 2014

I love these are my favorite style

My snap on oh series are my favorite

Still looking for a hazet 602 10-22mm set

Stooge · Dec 24, 2014

I have a proto sae set at work, i like them. Dont use them too much but they do come in handy. I think its a 7 or 8 piece set, a hair over $100 from MSC with corporate discount. Msc list price is actually cheaper than Amazon's $240.
http://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/84974021

Blackhawk has double ended flex socket ones in metric, i dont think proto has a metric equivelent

DodgeMech · Dec 24, 2014

Harrison2 said:
Yeah looks like there not hugely popular and less popular in metric.

would that apply to a gearwrench flex head ratcheting wrench, thats 5,6,7? parts. $30 for a set of 5.

but, they're made in taiwan or china, and are waaaay more mass produced and marketed than the saltus wrenches

mossyboy6 · Dec 24, 2014

How about a roto ratchet?

They work well for what you described.

Outlawmws · Dec 24, 2014

DodgeMech said:
but, they're made in taiwan or china, and are waaaay more mass produced and marketed than the saltus wrenches

This ^^^^

Tronyadorable · Dec 24, 2014

I have these. Odds are Gearwrench contracted for them too.
Never use them much.One of my guys likes them a lot. Maybe I'll give them to him
http://hardwarecentral.com.ph/sata-tools/6pc-flex-socket-wrench-set-metric-09037.html

2mJps · Dec 24, 2014

I have one or two. One is 9/16 i think i tryed it one time and didnt like it. I cant see were they would be usefull. What are they good for?

nexum1919 · Dec 24, 2014

Two words:

Williams 11920

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0036I1OVM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

(description is kinda messed up)
much much more friendly than 1/4 and 3/8 breaker bars combined, usually used to oppose the impact wrench on the otherside. Sometimes you have to use a socket and if you use a regular ratchet to hold the other end of the impact wrench, the rattling will destroy the ratchet in short order. usually the selector will jump and the gears will spin and grind in a split second.

kinda late but makes a great gift for a mechanic that seem to have it all.

warweapon762 · Dec 24, 2014

mossyboy6 said:
How about a roto ratchet?

They work well for what you described.

This is one of the reasons Saltus Wrenches are more obscure. I have a mismatched set from the early 70s (some are craftsmen and some are of a cheapo japanese brand), but I will always choose a roto ratchet due to the fact they are much more versatile.

Outlawmws · Dec 24, 2014

nexum1919 said:
Two words:

Williams 11920

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0036I1OVM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

(description is kinda messed up)
much much more friendly than 1/4 and 3/8 breaker bars combined, usually used to oppose the impact wrench on the otherside. Sometimes you have to use a socket and if you use a regular ratchet to hold the other end of the impact wrench, the rattling will destroy the ratchet in short order. usually the selector will jump and the gears will spin and grind in a split second.

kinda late but makes a great gift for a mechanic that seem to have it all.

I like that! Never seen one before! :thumbup:

For posterity:

beatcad · Dec 24, 2014

i have 2 of those (1/2 & 9/16) that i keep in my carry box for my classic car road trip/emergancies and the occasional trip to a junk yard.
only those 2 'cause they're the most common bolts in pre-70s cars.
ones an SK and ones a craftsman. i also have a (mismatched) full set of combo wrenches. they're pretty much only used when theres a nut/bolt that i need a wrench on both sides.
i like them on the road, but have never found a time i wanted or needed to use one in my garage.

McFarmer · Dec 24, 2014

At least one of mine are snap-on.

metaldad · Dec 24, 2014

armstrong. USA made
sae set ## 25-692, 4 pc. set, 25-694, 7 pc, 25-696, 11 pc.
http://www.armstrongtools.com/search?q=flex+head+wrench+set
metric, can't find. armstrong's site is as slow as molasses.

Outlawmws · Dec 24, 2014

50 bucks a wrench, and they were "out of stock" on the two larger sets... :willy_nil

Yankee · Dec 24, 2014

I've got a soft spot for these. My very first wrench set given to me as a gift when I was a kid. I actually thought they were real handy. (A wrench and flex handle with socket all in one tool)

Don't use them much now that I've got a better set of wrenches, but they are still in my box!

TangoFoxTrot · Dec 24, 2014

I remember I bought a set of Saltus wrenches at AutoZone years ago, I believe that it was the Great Neck brand? Not sure if they still sell them there.

I wanted a set but considering it was not something I use often, didn't see the need to make a big investment. For what it was, I was happy with the quality. I believe they were made in Taiwan.

They are handy in certain situations, but I think more mainstream tools like ratcheting wrenches with flexible heads have made them less desirable.

sseddon641 · Dec 25, 2014

I have the Armstrong 11 pc set i picked up at a garage sale my girl friends uncle was having. I don't think I have ever had a time where there wasn't another tool that could have done the job but they are definitely nice to have. I like the fact you can break stuff loose with them and then straighten them out and turn the nut or bolt like a screw driver.

pi_guy · Dec 25, 2014

I picked up my first one last Tuesday a 10mm. Very nice. I suspect I could find a work around with out using one. But I think there are some applications that they work out better. One in particular is machine shop work where water based coolants are not the best thing for ratchet mechanisms.

Harrison2 · Dec 25, 2014

mossyboy6 said:
How about a roto ratchet?

They work well for what you described.

would work however its more the fact you could use say a 10mm and 13mm at the same time rather than have 2 roto ratchets. plus these are less bulky than a ratchet head in spots like door inner openings.

Yes as people have stated you may not find them useful and there is certain situations when they are useful. I have standard length and size wrenches, flex head ratcheing combos, offset combos and so on.

I just remember these being a good tool in some applications, from memory he had a 11mm, 13mm and a 14 or 9/16. I mainly used the 11 on a 60s aston marting disassembling the inner door working such as window and handle mountings where space was tight and a ratchet would have been to cumbersome.

Il keep searching ebay for used snap on etc but that williams one does look like a handy piece of kit. Probably dismount the 1/2 square however.

wyo george · Dec 25, 2014

I have two of them, both SK. One is 5/8 and the other is 11/16 and both were found laying in the road. The crazy thing is I found them 2 years and 1500 miles apart and it's the only two wrenches I have found in the road. Both were in brand new condition when I found them, kinda crazy right !?!

I'd love a complete set, but for now I just have those two.

Outlawmws · Dec 25, 2014

I wonder if that Williams is available in 1/4 and 3/8ths" :dunno:

Outlawmws · Dec 25, 2014

This set looks interesting and far better pricing per size:

http://www.amazon.com/Williams-12691-4-Piece-Double-Wrench/dp/B001DNYN8I/ref=sr_1_32?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1419489070&sr=1-32&keywords=Williams+Flex

T45 · Dec 25, 2014

Outlawmws said:
I wonder if that Williams is available in 1/4 and 3/8ths"

I love this idea ! If anyone finds this pls post it up.

edit: here's more info on it (COO argentina, looks unique no variants)

http://www.snaponindustrialbrands.c...rialbrandscom/Content/PDF/SOIB - CAT2 191.pdf

T45 · Dec 25, 2014

Facom makes them as well, so you may find them under that brand.

Not sure if they also distrubuted them at all under SK or the other stanley entities (proto) etc who shared therir corporate lineage.

I've heard some snow mobile and other small engine tech really like them for certain applications.

edit: FM-66A.JE9T, but looks like "snap on money'...sorry

https://www.google.com/shopping/product/9727834917929968930

Harrison2 · Dec 25, 2014

Outlawmws said:
I wonder if that Williams is available in 1/4 and 3/8ths"

Yes, that would be a much better option. I guess you could make one buying fixing two breaker bars end to end.

Outlawmws said:
This set looks interesting and far better pricing per size:

http://www.amazon.com/Williams-12691-4-Piece-Double-Wrench/dp/B001DNYN8I/ref=sr_1_32?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1419489070&sr=1-32&keywords=Williams+Flex

Saw those initially but no metric.

T45 said:
I love this idea ! If anyone finds this pls post it up.

edit: here's more info on it (COO argentina, looks unique no variants)

http://www.snaponindustrialbrands.c...rialbrandscom/Content/PDF/SOIB - CAT2 191.pdf

Great mind think alike.

saw these; theyre available on ebay and online still. don't look a bad buy;

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003MWNZFK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

efb16acrx · Dec 25, 2014

I've got one of those, a snap-on 9/16" that I bought for a specific purpose about 10 years ago. I remember using it a lot back when I was working on small engines at a JD dealer, but damned if I can remember why.

metaldad · Dec 25, 2014

Outlawmws said:
This set looks interesting and far better pricing per size:

http://www.amazon.com/Williams-12691-4-Piece-Double-Wrench/dp/B001DNYN8I/ref=sr_1_32?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1419489070&sr=1-32&keywords=Williams+Flex

better price than mc master, which most likely is USA Armstrong. williams is taiwan(?)
http://www.mcmaster.com/#flex-head-socket-wrenches-with-attached-sockets/=v69v1e

1foxracing · Dec 25, 2014

I have the SK 86142 set. Available from Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002STS2G/?tag=atomicindus08-20

RM209 · Dec 25, 2014

I have several S-K's that I've picked up over the years. This is one of those tools that (IMHO) appears to be much more handy than it actually is in practice.

RM209

wyo george · Dec 25, 2014

They aren't exactly the most used tools, but they are cool and feel nice. I've found mine to be most useful on bell housing bolts in older cars.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

espyking83 · Dec 25, 2014

Outlawmws said:
I like that! Never seen one before!

For posterity:

Those look pretty cool but I just use my 1/4" Plomb breaker bar.

shockwave · Dec 25, 2014

The sk looks like a great deal I just bought my snap on individual from eBay here and there

But look for Bonney made ones they are the best if you can find any

Flex head socket wrench.

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