Armstrong Long Combo Wrenches

[BeaterGoat]

Anyone have any experience with these wrenches? I just bought the 10 piece black oxide set. Wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but the price was too good to pass up. Any pros/cons for these wrenches? I'm trying to find a definitive answer as to the open end design - is it FD+ style or not? Armstrong's website is certainly lacking.

 

[Fedwrench]

The Armstrong open end design is not modified. It's just a regular open end.

What were you looking for when you purchased the black wrenches?

If you want a nonslip type open end on a combination wrench, the cheapest would be Gearwrench.

If you want US made aside from MAC, Matco, and Snap on, there's Williams supercombos from www.toolsdelivered.com Proto asd, or wright grip.

 

[archirelic]

I own the 15 piece black oxide SAE and Metric sets. The open ends are simply open-ended, no fancy FD or FD+...and as you know, since their finish is black oxide, it will patina nicely with adequate usage...but over time may become susceptible to surface rust developing...definitely not as a durable as a chrome finish. I absolutely love their length though and they've definitely got some heft to them as well...I've been nothing but pleased with mine.

 

[BeaterGoat]

I really wanted long pattern Proto ASD or US made Williams Supercombos. The kicker - wanted a 10 wrench set for 100 bucks or under. That knocked Proto out of the question and I couldn't find the set of Williams Supercombos I wanted used.

Modified open end would've been a plus, but the reality is, most of the time I'm applying lots of torque to a fastener, it's with the box end. I think FD+, ASD, or any other modified design is a nice luxury and a great idea, but not a necessity for most users.

Armstrong makes a good wrench, the price was right ($87 shipped for 10 wrenches with a vinyl roll), and the black oxide finish doesn't make any difference to me. I think they will serve me well.

 

[archirelic]

Keeping scouring ebay for those Proto ASD and Williams Supercombo sets...I've seen some nice sets go for pretty cheap on occasion.

If I didn't already have so many separate wrench sets [no pro here, only diy] I'd still be actively seeking some of the Proto's myself.

 

[BeaterGoat]

I think I'm going to save up for the newer ratcheting Proto ASD wrenches. Something about them just makes me drool, and I'm really happy with the few Proto tools I already have.

 

[jmm]

I own several older Armstrong long pattern combo wrenches. Don't know how much they've changed over the years, but for what it's worth the long Armstrongs are some of my favorite wrenches.