Cheap and Thin Wrenches

[mobiledynamics]

I haven't followed flat wrenches in quite some time. Looking to outfit a small toolset at remote home and want a set of -thin- metrics. Sometimes, that extra thinness will allow or not allow you the clearance you need. So I know I will need to spend a bit more than the title of this post - budget

Off to search old threads to see where the budget brands lie.
Feel free to make some recommendations

 

[ecotec]

I have VIM thin wrenches and Park cone wrenches in metric and an assortment (mostly Blue-point tappet, Blackhawk tappet and random wrenches that have been custom thinned down) of SAE.

The tappet wrenches and the Park cone wrenches from estate sales were $.50 or less. I do not recall what I paid for the VIM set. It was on the VIM sale page at the time.

 

[Rabid Badger]

What size range are you looking for? This Capri set is nice for smaller stuff:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09FDYW34Z

 

[KSJeff]

I bought this duratech set from amazon for $25. Been fine. Used them for some collets and I seem to use them quite a bit on caster wheels.

Thin wrench

 

[four.cycle]

Park Tool
VIM
V8 Tools

 

[GeoBruin]

I went through the same exercise recently and while the Capri looked nice, the Duratech were cheaper for something I don't use everyday. They were cheap enough in fact that I filled out the sets with some individuals so I never get stuck cursing the inability to access a fastener again (which was the impetus for purchasing them in first place)

 

[Cybergrizzly]

Last year I bought a set of Capri thin wrenches (metric). Just a few days ago, I needed the 17mm for removing a special item made of brass but I noticed that there was too much play between the part and the open end jaws. I knew that that would damage the brass part. Fortunately, I had a Taiwan made Craftsman open wrench which fit much better without much play. Now I am looking at European made thin wrenches. Looking at Hazet, Facom, Stahwille or similar. Of course I would happily buy Snap On but the piggy bank does not have enough doug. LOL

 

[p00p]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WV9ZT7N/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[bwringer]

I've been quite happy with the fit and function of my Capri set.

 

[Wyoming09]

I have a set of Capris and a set of Olsa. They are indentical. Somewhere on here I have a picture posted. They both work quite well.

 

[Death Row Dave]

Williams for me

 

[M635_Guy]

I have this Capri set, and it has been great.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

I bought metric and SAE sets from Olsa Tools. Haven't used them much but when I did they worked well. Cheap too.

 

[Southernbuild]

Are thin wrenches needed much?

It just feels like a random item for a second tool set to include...

I've got way more than the typical amount of tools, and don't have a full set of thin wrenches. Just haven't needed them yet.

But, please talk me into buying a set

 

[DerekV]

Capri set is great

 

[ItsNemo]

I have the Grip super thin ones, they suffice for those rare times I need to slip in an extra thin wrench.

 

[M635_Guy]

Are thin wrenches needed much?

It just feels like a random item for a second tool set to include...

I've got way more than the typical amount of tools, and don't have a full set of thin wrenches. Just haven't needed them yet.

But, please talk me into buying a set

They're super-useful for brake and suspension work when you need to fix something while removing a nut/fastener. (e.g. caliper pin bolts, swaybar links, etc)

 

[LWB]

I have Capri wrenches and have only used the 17mm for caliper pin bolts. Seems to fit fine.

 

[Southernbuild]

They're super-useful for brake and suspension work when you need to fix something while removing a nut/fastener. (e.g. caliper pin bolts, swaybar links, etc)

Thanks, I'll look into adding some to the collection. I've actually got a suspension repair job in my near future, so pre-buying them could really save some aggravation.

 

[Coach James]

I have this set. It's worked fine under "reasonable" torque.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CVDSVSK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Coach

 

[The Cobbler]

I have the Grip super thin ones, they suffice for those rare times I need to slip in an extra thin wrench.

I bought both metric & sae in the Grip thin wrenches. they work well for what I need, primarily saws & stuff where the original wrench isn't handy or I bought the tool used without the wrench

 

[KSJeff]

Are thin wrenches needed much?

It just feels like a random item for a second tool set to include...

I've got way more than the typical amount of tools, and don't have a full set of thin wrenches. Just haven't needed them yet.

But, please talk me into buying a set

I seem to run into casters that have a very thin clearance between the top bearing and the bottom of whatever I'm putting them on. To get anything tight I have to use thin wrenches. Plus, if I lose a collet wrench for something that needs a thin clearance, I can just grab those.

For $25 I never have to deal with any of that frustration.

Did you get them yet?

 

[slowtwitch73]

Depends how thin you want. Bicycle cone wrenches are the thinnest, but they will bend/deform if you really reef on them.

For thin and fairly rugged get a used sets of Hazets. Very nice. Worst case you can make one thinner if need be.

 

[humpty]

Most people will not "need" a thin wrench set but if you do there isn't a lot of other options. I repaired CNC machines for a long time and I always found a need for them, I have a set of the Facom thin wrenches and the set is great, not cheap but they've served me well.

If you are a normal home shop person without a dedicated need I have to imagine the Duratech, Olsa, etc. would be plenty. If you find that you use them way more than you thought then pass them down to a kid and buy a fancy set. Isn't upgrading part of the GJ creed?

 

[ecotec]

I seem to run into casters that have a very thin clearance between the top bearing and the bottom of whatever I'm putting them on. To get anything tight I have to use thin wrenches. Plus, if I lose a collet wrench for something that needs a thin clearance, I can just grab those.

For $25 I never have to deal with any of that frustration.

Did you get them yet?

This is an awesome point…

The LOT of tools come with stamped collet wrenches. I bet that a lot of us have 20-40 of them… if not more. A metric and SAE set may not replace every single one… but definitely most.

I, definitely, have exceptions that my sets do not cover… and sometimes a tool uses two stamped wrenches at a time.

I wouldn’t recommend throwing them away, but you could probably take 90% of them out of your main toolbox.

Here is a Dynabrade exception.

 

[thr3squared]

I had good success with Capri as well. Big help on the sway bar end links on my Tundra.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078JDRMH2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I haven't needed the standard sizes yet, but will probably spring for a set when I've got a few extra dollars.

 

[sweet victory]

I took a craftsman adjustable wench and turned it into a thin wrench with an angle grinder. It has worked the few times I've needed it.

 

[ecotec]

I took a craftsman adjustable wench and turned it into a thin wrench with an angle grinder. It has worked the few times I've needed it.

Bahco makes a factory one.

 

[ecotec]

double post.

 

[whitesco]

Are thin wrenches needed much?

It just feels like a random item for a second tool set to include...

I've got way more than the typical amount of tools, and don't have a full set of thin wrenches. Just haven't needed them yet.

But, please talk me into buying a set

I've used them quite a bit on suspension work - tie rod ends, ball joints - that kind of thing where the main nut tends to spin the ball and there's usually a super thin set of flats on the other side. 90% of the time though they just improve the coolness and completion % of my wrench collection

 

[Zeus36]

 

[Southernbuild]

Bahco makes a factory one.

I've had the Channellock machined down jaw version for years, its a nice tool, but I can't remember ever having to have it...

While its 1/2 the jaw thickness of a standard adjustable wrench, it's probably close to the thickness of a normal open end wrench.

 

[Southernbuild]

I seem to run into casters that have a very thin clearance between the top bearing and the bottom of whatever I'm putting them on. To get anything tight I have to use thin wrenches. Plus, if I lose a collet wrench for something that needs a thin clearance, I can just grab those.

For $25 I never have to deal with any of that frustration.

Did you get them yet?

They are in the cart. Wanted to add a few things before actually ordering.

I've used them quite a bit on suspension work - tie rod ends, ball joints - that kind of thing where the main nut tends to spin the ball and there's usually a super thin set of flats on the other side. 90% of the time though they just improve the coolness and completion % of my wrench collection

I've got a complete suspension rebuild in my future that I've been dreading. At least I'll be tooled up for it.

Most people will not "need" a thin wrench set but if you do there isn't a lot of other options. I repaired CNC machines for a long time and I always found a need for them, I have a set of the Facom thin wrenches and the set is great, not cheap but they've served me well.

If you are a normal home shop person without a dedicated need I have to imagine the Duratech, Olsa, etc. would be plenty. If you find that you use them way more than you thought then pass them down to a kid and buy a fancy set. Isn't upgrading part of the GJ creed?

That's the last straw! A CNC mill is high on my interest list. Since I can't afford the mill at the moment, I can at least buy the wrenches!!!

Any advice on machine shop CNC machines / brands? If that was the type equipment you serviced.

 

[neophyte]

I've had the Channellock machined down jaw version for years, its a nice tool, but I can't remember ever having to have it...

While its 1/2 the jaw thickness of a standard adjustable wrench, it's probably close to the thickness of a normal open end wrench.

The jaws on the Channellock Thin Jaw adjustable wrenches are supposedly 2.5mm thick, at least according to Irega’s website, the company that manufactures the adjustable wrenches for Channellock.
That’s about half the thickness of a 10mm Snap-On Combination wrench.
Even the thinest forged wrenches I’ve come across, Check Nut wrenches, are usually thicker.
I think the only exception might be certain bicycle wrenches.

Are you mistaking the regular Channellock adjustable wrenches for the xtra slim versions?
The xtra slim versions have more than half the jaw thickness milled away in an extra step.

 

[f121]

Are thin wrenches needed much?

It just feels like a random item for a second tool set to include...

I've got way more than the typical amount of tools, and don't have a full set of thin wrenches. Just haven't needed them yet.

But, please talk me into buying a set

Brake slider pins on European cars are often 15mm but too narrow for a regular wrench. They don’t actually need a thin wrench, just a thinner wrench. The other common place is hydraulic hose unions - where the lack of torque from thin wrenches isn’t an issue.

I have a Wera joker 15mm pedal wrench for slider pins (because my SO thin 15mm has been on order for over a year) but haven’t felt the need for a wider set. The Wera is really nice thou!

 

[lardy1]

-I have a set of Capri thin wrenches in fractional sizes. While I don't condemn them, I wouldn't recommend them because mine have very inconsistent and sloppy fitment. I know they are intended for low torque applications but to me that should dictate tighter tolerances rather than looser. due to the lack of strength provided by thickness.

 

[Vvmvbb]

+1 for duratech. Nicer than I was expecting

 

[KnurledNut]

 

[Steve_P]

I have the Facom thin set. I bought it years ago, and I don't think there was much else available at that time- not counting tool trucks. The VIM set looks like they copied the Facom. I have the V8 tools set, I bought that first, and what I have is absolutely garbage- crudely stamped out of sheet, worst plating I've ever seen... I wouldn't pay $2 for them if I saw them first. I also have a Channellock thin adjustable that I bought after the Facom; an adjustable or two are probably the way to go if you're not going to use them regularly; I would've just bought it if it was available at the time.

 

[Rusted Nut]

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