All the Wright Moves...

[Hiball]

Its No secret... Ive been a fan of Wright tools for quite awhile. Ive recently aquired some of the Ratchet Models that i was missing from my Collection and Now its time to share it with Everyone. I find it extremely Irritating when Wright gets pushed under the bus because they are a "Industrial" Tool Company, It makes me LOL when i hear guys claim you cant work on Cars with there tools because they are "Industrial" Tools and the clearance issues are just too Damn tight. Blah.. Blah... So lets clear up some of the Misconceptions... Wright *claims* to have the strongest 1/4" drive Ratchet Made (2492) and they also claim to have the smallest Head diameter 1/4" drive ratchet (2426) along with the smallest 3/8" in a 1/4" Body Ratchet available, They Carry a 7 1/2" and 10" 3/8 Drive Ratchet that takes "82" Clicks to make a full 360 Degree Turn along with the same in 1/2" Drive. They also carry Flex heads, Bent Handle Flex heads and a Short handled 1/2" Drive Ratchet if Clearance really becomes a Issue on Bigger Parts. I hope everyone Enjoys the Pictures and for the Ones who are Just not educatated with the Brand.. Give them a Try, I promise you will find there Finish and functionality 1st rate. Ive said it before and ill say it again, Wrights Chrome finish is One of the finest ive ever seen... and there Price Point makes them a Helluva Bargain. Oh.. And that USA stamp is Nice Also... ;D

Top to Bottom, 1/4" Drive 2426, 2492 and 2495

3/8" in 1/4" Body standard 3430 and Flex 3440

3/8 Drive in Standard handle 3490 and Long handle 3425

1/2" Drive 4425 15", 4426 10 1/2", 10 1/2" 4490 and Open Gear 4480

Most of these Ratchets are NEW outside of a couple that have had some use, But ive been using Wright tools in my shop for a couple years now and have found the Experience to be first Rate even though some of them have been second hand purchases. And Remember.. If its Stamped "Wright" Its 100% Made in the USA.

(*) Claims are from Wrights Website

 

[trout]

shiny

I've been eying the 3430.

 

[tonydanzah]

where did you pick those up from? I have been eyeing the open gear and the 3/8 in 1/4 flexhead

 

[LawnDart79]

I have a some 1/2" drive Wright impact sockets and used them when I worked on cars professionally. I didn't know I wasn't supposed to use them to work on cars!

All kidding aside, I actually like Wright tools. They are a fantastic tool for the money. It's too bad more people don't know about them.

 

[Builder302]

Huge fan of Wright tools, picked some up from you a while back, mine are not that shiny, they get lots of use

 

[nato]

I know I'm kinda stepping on some toes here of the dedicated Wright collectors/followers and maybe it's just my ignorance shining through, but I would soooo love one of these and would 100% click on some buttons and buy one IF...they had a forward/reverse switch lever instead of the little twist "knob".
I know it's not much, but other than that, these ratchets look top notch
I've owned some older SK's and could never get over the switching mechanism after later using a ratchet (S/O, Matco, etc) that use the little lever.
I've also never owned anything Wright
Maybe I should try one....?

 

[bchee]

Who are these guys saying they are not for cars? Guys on here?

I can appreciate that they are high quality, I just don't like the way they look.

 

[Hiball]

I know I'm kinda stepping on some toes here of the dedicated Wright collectors/followers and maybe it's just my ignorance shining through, but I would soooo love one of these and would 100% click on some buttons and buy one IF...they had a forward/reverse switch lever instead of the little twist "knob".

Nah... I grew up using SK so the directional lever doesnt bother me, After you use them long enough you learn how to change them with 1 hand. It just takes a Quick Flick or a little resistance on the socket and your thumb all of which can be done with 1 hand. The Only Wrights with the directional lever are gonna be from the 40's-50's, They have been using this Ratchet design for 50+ years.

 

[kams1973]

Can you warranty your tools directly with Wright, or do you have to go through a vendor?

 

[PT Doc]

Great lines on those ratchets.

 

[Theloniousmonk]

Great write up!

I'd like to add how comfy the contour grips are and how perfect the 3430 is for spark plugs, strut plate mounts and a multitude of largr drive low torque applications. I'm waiting for wrightgrip on the metric combos.

edit: also add that during my OTR days, we used Wright almost exclusively - some proto and armstrong peppered into the mix, but 8 of 10 tools were wright... I still have quite a bit of standard sitting at home.

 

[Theloniousmonk]

edit: mobile device double post failure.

 

[Sparkfarmer]

I'm sold, does anyone know if theres a Canadian distributor?

 

[nitropowered]

I just got a 3/8 in 1/4 body. Its real nice, smaller than my snap on t72.

Its a shame they won't sell direct, I live in ohio and could swing by the factory but no can do.

 

[Hiball]

Can you warranty your tools directly with Wright, or do you have to go through a vendor?

Of the 2 Warranty claims ive had, 1 was by Wright and the other was a Distributor.

Here is a link to find a Wright dealer in your Area.

 

[Hiball]

I'm sold, does anyone know if theres a Canadian distributor?

Im sure they do, You can use the link from there site to find dealers in your Area.

 

[otis66]

Its No secret... Ive been a fan of Wright tools for quite awhile. Ive recently aquired some of the Ratchet Models that i was missing from my Collection and Now its time to share it with Everyone. I find it extremely Irritating when Wright gets pushed under the bus because they are a "Industrial" Tool Company, It makes me LOL when i hear guys claim you cant work on Cars with there tools because they are "Industrial" Tools and the clearance issues are just too Damn tight. Blah.. Blah... So lets clear up some of the Misconceptions... Wright *claims* to have the strongest 1/4" drive Ratchet Made (2492) and they also claim to have the smallest Head diameter 1/4" drive ratchet (2426) along with the smallest 3/8" in a 1/4" Body Ratchet available, They Carry a 7 1/2" and 10" 3/8 Drive Ratchet that takes "82" Clicks to make a full 360 Degree Turn along with the same in 1/2" Drive. They also carry Flex heads, Bent Handle Flex heads and a Short handled 1/2" Drive Ratchet if Clearance really becomes a Issue on Bigger Parts. I hope everyone Enjoys the Pictures and for the Ones who are Just not educatated with the Brand.. Give them a Try, I promise you will find there Finish and functionality 1st rate. Ive said it before and ill say it again, Wrights Chrome finish is One of the finest ive ever seen... and there Price Point makes them a Helluva Bargain. Oh.. And that USA stamp is Nice Also... ;D

Top to Bottom, 1/4" Drive 2426, 2492 and 2495

3/8" in 1/4" Body standard 3430 and Flex 3440

3/8 Drive in Standard handle 3490 and Long handle 3425

1/2" Drive 4425 15", 4426 10 1/2", 10 1/2" 4490 and Open Gear 4480

Most of these Ratchets are NEW outside of a couple that have had some use, But ive been using Wright tools in my shop for a couple years now and have found the Experience to be first Rate even though some of them have been second hand purchases. And Remember.. If its Stamped "Wright" Its 100% Made in the USA.

(*) Claims are from Wrights Website

I'm looking to get the 4480 open ratchet soon. Nice collection.

 

[trout]

what's the best online dealer?

 

[Displaced Hokie]

What's the advantage / allure of the open-head? In my ignorace I've associated them with "cheap" (like the old Champion I found in a box). ???

 

[Skin]

What's the advantage / allure of the open-head?

Easy to clean. You really only find them available from industrial suppliers anymore. They're kinda pointless with the advent of sealed ratchet heads.

 

[LawnDart79]

Back in the day, around here, Blain's Farm and Fleet used to sell Wright tools. Unfortunately, they don't sell them anymore.

That's where my Wright stuff came from. Now they have some Duracraft brand ****.

 

[Hiball]

Easy to clean. You really only find them available from industrial suppliers anymore. They're kinda pointless with the advent of sealed ratchet heads.

They are Also what sections of our Military uses overseas currently do to the Sandy condition, No matter how well a Ratchet is sealed they will ingest sand which will cause problems in there Operation.

 

[Scout Driver]

What's the advantage / allure of the open-head? In my ignorace I've associated them with "cheap" (like the old Champion I found in a box). ???

Yep, as Skin says, easy to clean. The Wright catalog also says that the open gear can be used as a spinner (along with Wright stating that its easy to clean in extremely dirty conditions).

Scott

 

[davidj]

id like to get one of those 3/8 in a 1/4 body im sure id use that one a bunch.

 

[glenmore]

Hiball,

Where did you get those Wright (red?) hard handle screwdrivers that you posted to the screwdriver thread?

 

[Hiball]

Hiball,

Where did you get those Wright (red?) hard handle screwdrivers that you posted to the screwdriver thread?

Richard from TRTOOL SUPPLY, He is Great to Deal with.

 

[billymade]

Its unfortunate that Wright tools aren't sold outside the Industrial tool world; I wish they were more readily available to the normal public at large! I got my first taste of Wright tools from the Matco stuff I bought in the 90s; back then, they seemed to make most of their ratchets and sockets!

 

[Hiball]

Its unfortunate that Wright tools aren't sold outside the Industrial tool worth; I wish they were more readily available to the normal public at large! I got my first taste of Wright tools from the Matco stuff I bought in the 90s; back then, they seemed to make most of their ratchets and sockets!

The great thing about that is that you can find some Awesome deals out there... Although.. Threads like this dont help the cause any.

 

[billymade]

So, stop posting about WRIGHT and enjoy your new found joy of this brand... I find both Wright and Proto to be pretty cheap @ the flea and pawn shops!

 

[Hiball]

So, stop posting about WRIGHT and enjoy your new found joy of this brand... I find both Wright and Proto to be pretty cheap @ the flea and pawn shops!

LOL.. I been using Wright tools for 2 Years and have spent Thousands of dollars for NOS Wright tools that probably had a retail of at least 5x's as much. I dont see much Wright around my area Flea's/Pawn Shops.

 

[billymade]

I see WRIGHT more @ the flea; I do live near allot of military and gov't installations: NASA, Air Force, Army and White Sands Missile range.... tools tend to find their way out of these places... through gov't auctions, theft, gray market and who knows how else!

 

[jvitez]

I'm sold, does anyone know if theres a Canadian distributor?

There are 3 listed on the Wright web site. This one stocks Wright hard line tools:

AA ADAMS SUPPLY (1969) LTD
Sales Department
879 Wall St.
Winnipeg, MB R3G 2T9
CANADA
Phone: 204-786-7481
Fax: 204-772-8131
Email: [email protected]

I've bought a two Wright hard line items from them, a 3/8" socket and a 1 1/4" Wright Grip wrench. They actually have a tool board behind the counter full of sockets. Cool! I've also ordered Gray tools from them so they will special order.

 

[stopdroplol]

I actually didn't own a Wright tool until after having this discussion with Hiball in another thread. I agree, they are probably the highest quality you can ask for. Only issue is they don't have many retailers, and the few they do have don't necessarily have full tool lineups (like in my situation).

If anyone is interested, I have some brand new 3/8" Wright Breaker bars i'll sell for $15 shipped. Here's my thread in classifieds with them http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=91136

 

[kc-steve]

what's the best online dealer?

Epstein's

http://store.harryepstein.com/

Wright (on site spelling) 3/8" Ratchet

http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/Ratchets/3426.html

 

[z28snksknr]

Another Wright supporter here!!

"hardware_sales_inc" on eBay has been really great to deal with for me and the prices are rock bottom from what I've found.

 

[mrholeshot]

First Nice photos of cool ratchets. Up until I came to this site I never heard or maybe just never paid any attention to Wright tools. As far as the industrial remarks go I've made those but only because thats who Wright pretty much caters to. Nobody in their wright mind would think you couldn't use their tools to work on a car. A wrench is a wrench and a ratchet is a ratchet but Wright doesn't cater to the needs of auto technicians. You won't find a double flex 5/8 spark plug socket, distributor wrench or Fan clutch wrench set on thier site (or I couldn't anyway). They are just geared toward industrial users. I've never seen them for sale in an auto parts store and the only sellers in my area are industrial supply houses and all but one keeps anything in stock. That said.

I've purchaced several Wright tools recently and am fairly impressed. The quality is nice although somwhat dated (although as an SK tools lover it doesn't bother me) but I think the mini head 3/8 is da bomb. My other is a the 15" 1/2 drive ratchet (not very up on part#s yet)) and I think it's Nice. It's basic, nice chrome but doesn't jump out at me. It's smooth but not near as smooth as a Dual 80 although it will accomplish the same task at the same speed and do it as well. I guess you need to really like what you are working with as much as you like what you are working on. Not my Favorite ratchet but that has no bearing on the quality as it's first rate.

The things I do like and after a few calls and reading that any tool maked with the Wright name is 100% Made in the USA and made with only US steel. Now that the information I got from conversations with Wright and off their websight. Do I beleive it? For now I have no reason not to. They do mark their tools USA so that instills confidence in the brand. Thats something I'm losing in just about every other tool company in the world right now.

Now 99% of what I work on is automotive related. Not everyone works on cars so most of what they sell is fine for most people. Most of their tools are fine for auto techs except for some specialty tools that Wright doesn't make. I wish it was a little more available in my area because I would own more of it. I like that USA on the tools. How long before that goes away? Who knows but at least for now they seem to offer a really good value. I know for me I'll pay better attention when cruising yard sales, flea markets, pawn shops I'll have Wright on my list of tools to buy.

 

[pipsters]

Correct me if I am wrong but the history of Wright goes back to the Wright brothers, correct? As in those two who built the first powered aircraft? I saw a "Curtis-Wright" ratchet on ebay for $25, was thinking of buying it, I'm kinda an aviation nut.

But I'm with the above poster, I like the flippy-lever changing direction thing exclusively, so wright as an everyday use tool is out.

 

[W650Mike]

"3/8" in 1/4" Body...Flex 3440" I'm gonna find me one of them!

Nice collection. I picked up a std 1/4 and 3/8 while on a problem call in Denver. A number of guys (including me) checked them out and all agreed that they were well balanced with a nice ratchet action. Unfortunately for me, I gave them away when I left.

If memory serves, I purchased them at an electrical supply called B&G (or B&H?) which is probably in Commerce City rather than Denver proper.

 

[Bull]

The open-gear ratchets must be smaller than any sealed equivalent, right? I mean, without the need to add metal to the ratchet to enclose the gear, it must have a smaller head, which would be another bonus to the design.

I tried to convince my local auto parts store, which had been an SK dealer up until the trouble with that company last year, to switch to Wright. The manager was impressed by the 100% USA fact that I threw at him. He called someone on the phone (some kind of distributor, I guess) and asked if they guy had heard of Wright, and he said no. I told him I would bring in a catalog, but he said he'd just check out the website. I haven't been back there since this conversation, which was probably two months ago. I hope that when I do go back, I will see Wright tools, but something tells me that I wont.

I love my little 3/8 drive/1/4 body Wright ratchet. And Steve is right, the chrome is phenomenal.

 

[Sterff]

The 4480 is my favorite Wright ratchet. I give it a squirt of oil and its pretty smooth.