13 mm wrench test

[CWP1616L]

The fastener is harder from wrench so peeling is inevitable.

The fastener is harder than the wrench?

That could be a problem. . .

 

[Miskin]

Miskin - I have been following this thread from the beginning..It;s been very intresting, and informative...Thank You..And thanks to all contributors..

Specially thanks to cosmik binturong for his Bost wrench. Let's test it!

 

[bonneyman]

You might want to try one of the "old" Williams Superrenches. The freaking steel they made those things out of was very tough.
I have DOE's that are 70 years old with the finish gone and sizes barely readable, yet still have the mill marks visible inside the open ends.

Since they only came SAE, you have to find 33/64 (about a tenth of a mm larger) or slightly widen a 1/2" (about 3 tenths of a mm smaller).

Or you could try a Bonney with the V-shaped gullet. Though I've managed to mash the open ends a little, I've never damaged them enough to make it un-useable, and I've never spread one or broke one off.

 

[Miskin]

Some gifts from a member
View media item 33983
View media item 33984
The Hazet 600N and the Hazet 603 will be put to test. I double-check the 600N and the results are the same as before
Also i check the Hazet 603. Harder than 600N, but is significantly shorter.
I have concluded that 600Ν is softer because of its length, to prevent breaking.
Also apologize for my carelessness, because i use wrong measurement unit for chrome coating. It's μm! So 10 μm equal to 0,01 mm, not 0,1 mm.
I hope not to confuse you with metric units...
Brand--------------------------HRC---------------- Chrome coating (μm)
Matador 190--------------------41--------------------08.5
Garant---------------------------41---------------------~0
Stahlwille-----------------------47----------------------~0
Matador 190 old series---------38--------------------15
HR (India) Lidl------------------34--------------------10
Bost-----------------------------49 -----------08
Dowidat No6 12-13-------------38--------------------10
Gedore No6 14-17--------------52 --------------10
Unior----------------------------47.5-------------------15
IUS------------------------------47 --------------05
Izeltas---------------------------44----------------------~0
Cobalt Ratcheting Wrench------45----------------------~0
Hazet 600N beam---------35--------------------17
----------------open end-------- 34---------------------~0
Hazet 603-----------------------40----------------------~0
Facom 440----------------------44----------------------~0
Stanley 87-073------------------41----------------------?
View media item 33983View media item 33987

 

[Laro13]

I don't see a Gedore 1B wrench in your test?
If you pm me your address, I will send you one.

I am interested how it will compare to the rest.

 

[Miskin]

I don't see a Gedore 1B wrench in your test?
If you pm me your address, I will send you one.

I am interested how it will compare to the rest.

Do not worry, it is planned to test a Gedore 1B. Thanks for your offer but Gedore is the most common brand here in Greece and very cheap in comparison with Hazet.

 

[scaron]

very cool thread, i've really enjoyed reading it. that handheld metallurgical analysis tool is sick!! i'd love to see how some of our favorite US industrial brands like wright, S-K, proto, bonney, williams et al. would stack up in the competition!!

 

[Nocturnal-G]

Something tells me Hazet uses a steel that is much more flexible than the other brands... and it is able to flex preventing breaking and offering much higher load capacities.

I believe they call it ductility... I could be wrong. If I recall... the strongest wrenches tested in the German magazine were the HR and Hazet? Lowest HRC ratings.

Miskin, what do you think? Would it be possible to test the ring end of the wrenches?

 

[Miskin]

very cool thread, i've really enjoyed reading it. that handheld metallurgical analysis tool is sick!! i'd love to see how some of our favorite US industrial brands like wright, S-K, proto, bonney, williams et al. would stack up in the competition!!

The only US made wrench i have in the shop is an old Williams Vulcan. I will give it a try.

View media item 25596

Something tells me Hazet uses a steel that is much more flexible than the other brands... and it is able to flex preventing breaking and offering much higher load capacities.

I believe they call it ductility... I could be wrong. If I recall... the strongest wrenches tested in the German magazine were the HR and Hazet? Lowest HRC ratings.

Miskin, what do you think? Would it be possible to test the ring end of the wrenches?

Unfortunately it's very difficult. I'm afraid i will break the diamond pin on the round surface of the ring end. I can't risk it.

 

[Miskin]

Bost-----------------------------49 HRC -----------0.08 chrome coating.
View media item 31089

Passed only 2 months since I used the Bost wrench and looks clearly how much was afflicted. The chrome coating is flaking and looks very nasty. It may not have functional problem, but I do not like the appearance of the open end.

View media item 35247
View media item 35248
View media item 35250I prefer the open end of a wrench without chrome coating like the Hazet 600N witch follows!

Hazet 600N beam---------35--------------------17
----------------open end-------- 34---------------------~0
View media item 35252

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I think we need to get you an Elora 205 13mm for this test!

 

[outdoorsman310]

could you grind the tips off the open end so that it will go all the way on the bolt?

 

[Miskin]

I think we need to get you an Elora 205 13mm for this test!

I'm open to suggestions!
This particular 600N is a gift from a GJ member.

could you grind the tips off the open end so that it will go all the way on the bolt?

My poor english doesn't help me, but if you think that i wrench the bolt with half the way of open end, you're wrong. The open end properly embraces all the head screw. Of course sometimes you can not avoid "half way", but that happens when you're in time pressure. Do not forget that the tools used in a professional environment, where production is important..

 

[Farmall450]

Maybe even US cman stands a chance...

 

[Miskin]

Maybe even US cman stands a chance...

It is extremely difficult to find Snap-on in Greece, which is a brand known to professionals. Imagine Craftsman, that nobody ever heard about it.

 

[outdoorsman310]

I doubt a craftsman wrench would work. they seem pretty soft on normal bolts. I think a regular snap-on wrench not flank drive+ might be good. or one of the line wrenches with a fat open end. as somebody mentioned before, maybe grinding down a 1/2 wrench would fit better and last longer?

 

[Laro13]

What about the Gedore 1B wrench?

I am not impatient, really I am not.

 

[agrasic]

Only asking...
'
Did you try unior?
i see you measured it, but did not see any pictures of it =)


cheers.

 

[paranoid56]

wow, awesome thread. posting so i can remember to look in my box as i might have a some USA 13mm that i can send over (i do a lot of international shipping). i saw it posted, but did somebody actually send you a snapon one yet? Didnt see it on the list

 

[Miskin]

I doubt a craftsman wrench would work. they seem pretty soft on normal bolts. I think a regular snap-on wrench not flank drive+ might be good. or one of the line wrenches with a fat open end. as somebody mentioned before, maybe grinding down a 1/2 wrench would fit better and last longer?

Maybe, but i hate the idea grinding down wrenches.

What about the Gedore 1B wrench?

I am not impatient, really I am not.

Be patient my friend... Christmas is next month.

Only asking...
'
Did you try unior?
i see you measured it, but did not see any pictures of it =)


cheers.

I measure a 14mm, i don't have a 13, but i'll put it on the list.... like Gedore 1B, so be patient too..

wow, awesome thread. posting so i can remember to look in my box as i might have a some USA 13mm that i can send over (i do a lot of international shipping). i saw it posted, but did somebody actually send you a snapon one yet? Didnt see it on the list

No Snap-on from overseas, but one guy in a motorcycle forum told about a store right here in Athens which maybe sells the shiny stuff!

 

[paranoid56]

PM me your address. i have these i will send you for destruction
SnapOn USA
Craftsman USA
Husky China
Husky China
Uber nice harbor freight very china

 

[Miskin]

PM me your address. i have these i will send you for destruction
SnapOn USA
Craftsman USA
Husky China
Husky China
Uber nice harbor freight very china

This is an awesome Christmas present! I think at the end of the year i'll be testing some American (and Chinese) made tools, thanks to paranoid56

 

[Dustball]

I wonder how cryo treating a wrench would affect the deformation that's occurring?

 

[rancherbill]

PM me your address. i have these i will send you for destruction
SnapOn USA
Craftsman USA
Husky China
Husky China
Uber nice harbor freight very china

I'm going to throw out a guess on the five shown as to best to worst will be:

Snapon
Pittsburgh / Craftsman a tie with perhaps a slight Craftsman advantage.
Husky
Husky ratchet/lobster claw.

 

[Miskin]

I'm going to throw out a guess on the five shown as to best to worst will be:

Snapon
Pittsburgh / Craftsman a tie with perhaps a slight Craftsman advantage.
Husky
Husky ratchet/lobster claw.

It seems that the hardness is not proportional to quality. You will be surprised how sturdy shows Hazet 600N, at least in the beginning, although it had the lowest rate in hardness measurement. I bet that Snap-on is also "soft" in measurement, at least softer than chinese Huskys, but more durable when you wrench that hard bolt.

 

[paranoid56]

I'm going to throw out a guess on the five shown as to best to worst will be:

Snapon
Pittsburgh / Craftsman a tie with perhaps a slight Craftsman advantage.
Husky
Husky ratchet/lobster claw.

interesting, so you are saying the craftsman USA and the HF one will be a tie?

will be interesting to see how it goes.

 

[paranoid56]

bump, i saw you got them. lets see some specs

 

[nicksnothereman]

interesting, so you are saying the craftsman USA and the HF one will be a tie?

will be interesting to see how it goes.

Guess it depends if it's indian or taiwan (or china?). I'd expect the taiwanese stuff to pound the chinese stuff into a fine powder, maybe even the low end craftsman usa stuff.

I was just reading (sort of) a test of a bunch of wrenches a german pub did that included some of the "toilet" wrenches (from india, didn't have anything chinese or taiwanese). Apparently not so bad; I recall they didn't fail until over 100 ft/lbs (by conversion from nm). That's actually not bad at all. I think the stahlwille won though it wasn't by an excessive margin.

Not saying these are the same wrenches but it probably won't be as much of a blood bath that one would expect.

 

[Miskin]

bump, i saw you got them. lets see some specs

I just got back from work. Tomorrow my supervisor will be absent and you will find some time to check tools. If i succeed, tomorrow I will have the specs!

 

[Corsair4360]

I found this thread this morning and read it all. The bolts Miskin is tightening and loosening are square head bolts in a very confined space. The jaws of most wrenches cannot be fully engaged from his pictures, and I have worked in that situation, very challenging. The jaws of the wrenches Miskin photographed show that the engagement of the jaw is minimal as a result.

The challenge would be an interesting one, short opening, high torque, and nearly constant use. From my understanding of metallurgy, a combination of strong, ductile, hard but not to hard metal would be required. Snap on in the US sells a 12mm 13mm combination open end wrench, not very pricey, $15 USD item: BDOEM1213. Unfortunately the US Snap-on catalog online does not have much in the way of open end 13mm wrenches.

I would suspect a custom made (short opening) wrench out of 8620 steel heat treated to the mid around 50 on the Rockwell C scale would be a great wrench. I do not have access to a mill now, or I would attempt to make one.

 

[Miskin]

I think the key to wrench durability is the thickness of open end. The Hazet 600N is quite thick and dispite of its "soft" measurement hold up very well, until now.

 

[Veto]

I think you should try using the Facom 440 next when the 600N gives up. It's the thickest of the ones you have and it has a higher hardness.

I have some 440's myself. Despite being a Taiwan wrench, the 440's are my go to wrenches, very surprised myself about the quality. They are also some of the most beautiful wrenches I have ever seen.

 

[Miskin]

I think you should try using the Facom 440 next when the 600N gives up. It's the thickest of the ones you have and it has a higher hardness.

I have some 440's myself. Despite being a Taiwan wrench, the 440's are my go to wrenches, very surprised myself about the quality. They are also some of the most beautiful wrenches I have ever seen.

I was hoping to test the 440 after 600N, but Snap-On has arrived so we can't leave our American friends waiting!

You're right 440 is the thickest of all!

 

[Veto]

Oh yeah! Can't wait to see how the Snap On does. This is going to be one of the threads that is gonna be referred to for a long time after the test. This is pretty much one of the only "scientific" threads on the board with long-term real life testing in an industrial environment

I am looking forward to seeing the results of the 440's in a few months

 

[-Brent-]

I love this thread... I may be able to get a couple other brands out to you too. I may have an extra Proto to throw into the mix. I'll check the next time I'm in the garage.

I'm curious to see the results of the latest batch.

 

[Veto]

FWIW - I think it was early speculation based on similarity to Toptul's wrench that lead to the Taiwan COO that regularly gets spread around, but the 440's are apparently made in Europe; Czech Republic according to US packaging, and possibly Italy if you believe Farnell's website.

I actually don't care about COO, I know that it doesn't have to be made in Europe or the US to be good.

I thought the 440's OEM were Toptul due to the satin finish, also people here keep saying that they are made in Taiwan.

 

[98ssuck]

I didn't read the entire thread so please forgive me if I missed this already. Westward sells a titanium 13mm wrench. Wouldn't titanium be stronger/harder.

 

[Duarte]

FWIW - I think it was early speculation based on similarity to Toptul's wrench that lead to the Taiwan COO that regularly gets spread around, but the 440's are apparently made in Europe; Czech Republic according to US packaging, and possibly Italy if you believe Farnell's website.

I just purchased the 14 piece 440 set with the clip. The packaging clearly states "Made in Taiwan"..

 

[Miskin]

Quick feedback:
Snap-on 45,5 HRC
Husky 43 HRC
Husky Ratcheting 40 HRC
Craftsman 39,5 HRC
Pittsburgh 35 HRC
Measurement most expected i think.
I´m at work right now so more information later!

 

[Miskin]

Brand--------------------------HRC---------------- Chrome coating (μm)
Proxxon-------------------------45--------------------
Acesa----------------------------32--------------------
Gedore No7---------------------40---------------------
Garant---------------------------41--------------------
Matador 190---------------------41---------------------8.5
Garant---------------------------41--------------------~0
Stahlwille-----------------------47---------------------~0
Matador 190 old series---------38--------------------15
HR (India) Lidl------------------34--------------------10
Bost-----------------------------49 -----------08
Dowidat No6 12-13-------------38--------------------10
Gedore No6 14-17--------------52 --------------10
Unior----------------------------47.5-------------------15
IUS------------------------------47 --------------05
Izeltas---------------------------44----------------------~0
Cobalt Ratcheting Wrench------45----------------------~0
Hazet 600N Beam--------------35----------------------17
-------------open end------------- 34---------------------~0
Hazet 603-----------------------40----------------------~0
Facom 440----------------------44----------------------~0
Stanley 87-073------------------41----------------------?
Snap-On-------------------------45,5--------------------10
Husky combi---------------------43---------------------10
Husky ratcheting combi----------40--------------------10
Craftsman USA-------------------39,5-------------------0
Pittsburgh-------------------------35?---------------------5 to 10 maybe less (?difficult to measure. The open end is not parallel, so the diamond bit was not applying properly)