Alternative to SO 4-Way Angle Head set?

[Jliddle]

Looking into the SO kit #VS814A

Anyone out there have an alternative that isnt nearly a grand?

US made highly preferred.

 

[bobcatdan]

If you can live without 1 5/16", martain is hard to beat and probably the lowest price for USA angle wrenches. 4 way wrenches from a USA brand generally are not cheap. I wish SK would make theirs again as I like them better then my snap on ones.

 

[B_Bimmer]

What makes you like the SK ones more? I have proto and snap on and find that although they have their place, the bulkiness of an open end wrench is limiting, so much so that the extra few degrees on the snap on's is rarely useful.

 

[senlow]

There is no substitute.

 

[bobcatdan]

The SK are thin, especially noticable in the larger sizesize. Also I find they fit hydraulic fittings better then the snap on, many times I find those too tight to get on a fitting easy. I don't find the 30° head a real life saver. Don't get me wrong, the snap on are nice wrenches, I just find I like the SK more.

 

[bob15]

Buy the Snap On and be done with it. You will not regret it.

 

[cliftonbros89]

I have up to 3/4" in SO, up to 1" in SK, I think a cheaper alternative for over 1" would be Sunex.

 

[Farmall 1066]

I've got Snap-on from 3/8-11/2, and Mac from there up to 2". Also got many smaller Mac ones too. Sometimes the smaller beam of the Mac allows a bit more swing.
Got some company owned Martins at work I really like.
I like the v pattern better as it allow for a smaller head profile.

 

[Tom.C]

Wright tools makes them, they look like the mac tools version, they go from 11/16 to 2" you can pick up a set from 11/16 to 1-1/2" for around 5-600

Kit # 732

 

[crewchief888]

i have a mixed set to 1 5/8", SO mac and matco

matco's are very thin head, when i 1st bought them, i doubted they would last, figured they would spread open or break. 30 years of abuse, and they have survived. never spread or broke any of them.

as mentioned the mac's have a much smaller handle portion, it does help sometimes with tight clearance issues...

 

[MJD1]

i have a mixed set to 1 5/8", SO mac and matco

matco's are very thin head, when i 1st bought them, i doubted they would last, figured they would spread open or break. 30 years of abuse, and they have survived. never spread or broke any of them.

as mentioned the mac's have a much smaller handle portion, it does help sometimes with tight clearance issues...

If all you need is an angle wrench, the sunnex àre fine. If you need them for the tight turning situations, the snap on is really the only thing with a true 4 way head. I have the large sunnex set, up to 2", and they have held up really well. I used to own the SK and have used the matco, they are a nice wrench but other than better quality offer little more than the sunnex.

 

[ecotec]

What does the SO do, that the Martin do not do?

 

[bixxjs]

Go with Cornwell,I have the 1/4 to 3/4 set,but they also do a 1/4 to 1 1/2 set part number wa21s.

 

[tvtaurus]

I have a set of these. Only damaged one of them so far; don't use them to loosen cylinder base nuts on a 0-470 engine. Sunnex promptly replaced the wrench which spread and slipped on the nut.

 

[T45]

Look for some NOS bonney or Martin, sets should be under $200 or so on ebay for SAE. Also relabeled as Matco.

 

[senlow]

What does the SO do, that the Martin do not do?

The Snappy has 30 and 60 degree angles. The others use 15 and 60 degree angles.

 

[smokeyburb]

The Snappy has 30 and 60 degree angles. The others use 15 and 60 degree angles.

Yep. Several companies offer a 60 degree angle but the 30 degree angle is what makes Snapon preferable over the others, at least for aircraft IMHO. I only have inch wrenches I have not invested in the metric sizes.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[jdelrizzle]

I have a snap on set 3/8 thru 3/4 and I have a proto set 5/16 thru 1 1/4, I prefer the proto set because the proto's are thinner and shorter. Snap on is to thick to fit into some spots.

 

[kunkernator]

I have the Cornwell set someone listed above. I really like them as they are a lot smaller than any others i have seen. IIRC, Snap On is the only company that makes 60/30 wrenches, they own a patent on it or something. All others you will see are 60/15


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[bobcatdan]

Take a look at a 1/2" drive crowfoot set. You get any angle you want and length is completely variable depending on how long your ratchets are. While I use my angle wrenches a lot, I couldn't function without crowfoots. Given a choice I'd take crowfoots over 4 ways.

 

[ecotec]

I have a snap on set 3/8 thru 3/4 and I have a proto set 5/16 thru 1 1/4, I prefer the proto set because the proto's are thinner and shorter. Snap on is to thick to fit into some spots.

What do you use when they are too thick? Tappet wrenches?

 

[G-Ram]

I have the Sunex set and they are great. Price was right too