Combination spanner set

[bennwilliams]

Hi all, long time lurker here. First post.
I am in the market for a combination spanner set. I am a diyer who spins the spanners 3 -5 times a week. I aim for buy once, cry once and am a tool lover. I am in Australia. I work on mostly Japanese and German cars but the occasional Ford and Holden.

I know it is extravagant but I am pretty sure I want a set of wrightgrip but looking for first hand opinions. I can get them from summit delivered for about 420aud. I really value that they are a family owned business.

To anyone who has them, how do you like the satin vs chrome finish?

Locally we have SP tools, Sidchrome, Repco, Tti, Koncrome. Tekton via Amazon. All around the 200-280 aud, all Taiwanese I think. All reasonable.

Nicer options are Stahlwille, Hazet(tempting), Ktc(also nice), Nepros. These are mostly 350- 450 aud.

So hit me with your thoughts, there are a great many knowledgeable people on here!

 

[username2]

Personally I like satin, but couldn't tell you if it's aesthetic or practical.

I was going to have opinions on brands, but decided that my knowledge is grossly out-of-date. Not only are Australia prices higher on Amazon than the US it seems, but a 17 piece set of Stahlwille 14's that I bought for $137 (USD) in 2022 now go for $292.

My gut tells me that there's not enough difference in modern brands, ranging from Taiwan to the more expensive 'murican ones, to really matter.

 

[bennwilliams]

Personally I like satin, but couldn't tell you if it's aesthetic or practical.

I was going to have opinions on brands, but decided that my knowledge is grossly out-of-date. Not only are Australia prices higher on Amazon than the US it seems, but a 17 piece set of Stahlwille 14's that I bought for $137 (USD) in 2022 now go for $292.

My gut tells me that there's not enough difference in modern brands, ranging from Taiwan to the more expensive 'murican ones, to really matter.

Thanks for the input. Indeed the prices a couple of years ago are vastly different to now. How do you like the Stahlwille 14's? The profile/offset of the ring end is quite different.

I was leaning towards satin with the Wright's. And I agree, there are so many quality options now but l can't help but be attracted to the family owned aspect. Put my money where my mouth is so to speak. Unfortunately there is no Australian equivalent, unless I am unaware of one?

 

[jayemm]

What about S-K. Description states they are made in USA.

Amazon.com

 

[tamaraw]

What about S-K. Description states they are made in USA.

Amazon.com

Chinese production, as stated in the description. I think some people got mixed sets as they transitioned, but I'm pretty sure they would all be Chinese by now. Nothing wrong with that, just clarifying.

 

[jayemm]

Chinese production, as stated in the description. I think some people got mixed sets as they transitioned, but I'm pretty sure they would all be Chinese by now. Nothing wrong with that, just clarifying.

SK Professional Tools wrenches are designed with a thicker shank and rounded edges for improved gripping and comfort. Features SK’s SuperKrome Finish for long-lasting durability. 7-piece chrome wrench set includes 12 Point Metric Combination Wrenches 10mm, 11mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, 16mm, 17mm, 18mm, and 19mm packed in a lockable wrench rack. SureGrip drive design drives the side of the fastener, not the corner, to provide increased strength and avoid rounding of rusted or damaged fasteners. SuperKrome Plating delivers the toughest finish with high polish plating which results in showroom finish providing long life and maximum corrosion resistance. This set of chrome wrenches is proudly made in the USA.

I read that in the last sentence of this description. Thanks for clarifying.

Amazon.com​

 

[SteadyC]

I own all the tool truck brand spanner/wrenches minus Cornwell (never had a driver on the shoppes route).

I really like Toptul. Liked them so much I bought 6mm - 36mm. I could have saved a lot money if these were out when I started. It's too bad they are not easily obtained here in the states. I don't really care for warranties. I want a good tool.

Good luck with your search.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

If you use tools regularly, enjoy them, and are willing and able to accept the expense - just buy something you want/like and ignore the money. If you use them for a decade you're not going to remember the price difference. I personally like satin finish.

Conversion rate shows $1 AUD is $0.70 USD, for those who want to decide on actual cost. To me it looks like you're spending an extra 70-150 AUD, 50-120ish USD. I wouldn't be sweating that much money if you plan to use them as often as you're listing.

 

[mikey03]

Honestly I might consider warranty since alot of tools these days are pretty amazing even alot of Taiwan stuff. Unless you are a bit of a collector and there’s nothing with with that tbh but if your talking about spending an extra $100AUD for one tool over another and neither is going to underperform than maybe its a waste of money

the difference is being in Australia you would have different costs than someone in America and different warranty options

alot of people here love harbor freight icon xl ratcheting wrenches which are $200 US but if you were going to import them to Australia maybe it’s like $300 US due to shipping and import duties and you can’t warranty them if there’s no HF there

so as much as we love HF icon wrenches we wouldn’t be recommending them at twice the price with no warranty

so yea we like wright grip wrenches but maybe you being so close to Japan can get Koken or something else at a better price that makes more sense for you

honestly I think if we have any Australia members here or if there’s an Australia tool group you should ask their opinions because most of our opinions have the price and warranty baked into them. Maybe you can get Japanese tools way cheaper than we can idk your local market

id edit your post title to call it “what are the best wrenches to buy in Australia” or something like that to see if any members from there see it and can help

 

[JradM]

Ratcheting or non-ratcheting?

Wrightgrip wrenches are great. If that's what you want, why look elsewhere?

Personally I'd rather have good ratchet wrenches and cheap regular ones just for those times the box end doesn't fit - but that's me.

I like both the USA and Taiwanese Proto ratchet wrenches - with the ASD (anti-slip design). I like my Taiwan wrenches with spline on the box end maybe 1% more.



For similar performance at much-reduced cost, consider the Craftsman V-series wrenches. They're really rebranded Facom wrenches. I actually use my set MORE than my Protos just because the nifty case is so handy I find it convenient to have them around.

 

[username2]

Thanks for the input. Indeed the prices a couple of years ago are vastly different to now. How do you like the Stahlwille 14's? The profile/offset of the ring end is quite different.

They're fine. They're wrenches. I definitely wouldn't recommend the 13's though. Too short.

Could a person put together a really nice set of vintage Sidchromes there? That would be my temptation.

edit: oof. Australian eBay seems to price those dearly.

You know, it's a bummer that sets tend to be heavily discounted over singles. I think it would be cool to have them all be different. Get a 9mm-19mm (or whatever) wrench from 11 different companies. It would cost, though.

 

[AEAdam]

Japanese and German cars means no short cuts on sizes. You'll need them all.

For combination wrenches, you are really focusing on open end performance. Check out this GJ post.
Top performers are Proto, Wright, Snap On, Icon, Milwaukee?....Hazet and Williams are up there, then Gedore.

Not sure what you have access to. These top performing wrenches are so good, maybe too good, you may not have the muscle to eventuate advantage of them. I'd look for the long versions of these wrenches. Snap On long pattern are longer than most companies XL patterns. So try to find actual numbers.

@2ndGearRubber has Wrights and likes them. But pretty sure he has many sets of wrenches.

I would start with something long. Wrights are not so I crossed them off my list for that reason. No need to spend a lot for an end you'll never really be able to take advantage of (or will you?...you decide). Icon are similar length to Snap On's (for regular pattern which far exceeds the ASME spec). They might be a good choice regardless of warranty. Get one of the guys here to buy them with a coupon and mail them to you. I'd look long and hard at Proto and Facom.

Snap On is what I chose and prefer.

 

[mslim]

I have the stahlwille 14 - 11 combos and like them a lot. That said I would not hesitate to go with a good Taiwan or Japanese set if the price was right and offsets fit my anticipated work.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Japanese and German cars means no short cuts on sizes. You'll need them all.

For combination wrenches, you are really focusing on open end performance. Check out this GJ post.
Top performers are Proto, Wright, Snap On, Icon, Milwaukee?....Hazet and Williams are up there, then Gedore.

Not sure what you have access to. These top performing wrenches are so good, maybe too good, you may not have the muscle to eventuate advantage of them. I'd look for the long versions of these wrenches. Snap On long pattern are longer than most companies XL patterns. So try to find actual numbers.

@2ndGearRubber has Wrights and likes them. But pretty sure he has many sets of wrenches.

I would start with something long. Wrights are not so I crossed them off my list for that reason. No need to spend a lot for an end you'll never really be able to take advantage of (or will you?...you decide). Icon are similar length to Snap On's (for regular pattern which far exceeds the ASME spec). They might be a good choice regardless of warranty. Get one of the guys here to buy them with a coupon and mail them to you. I'd look long and hard at Proto and Facom.

Snap On is what I chose and prefer.

To me length is a lot like ratchet handles, it's very personal.

I enjoy the longer length when I use snap-on (ratcheting) combos, and I like the shorter wrights as well. The problem is I'm not sure how to find which you prefer without buying both.

 

[bennwilliams]

To me length is a lot like ratchet handles, it's very personal.

I enjoy the longer length when I use snap-on (ratcheting) combos, and I like the shorter wrights as well. The problem is I'm not sure how to find which you prefer without buying both.

Thanks for the input. Yes it is hard here as no one stocks pretty much any of these brands so holding them is out. I know I am over thinking it as they are all quality options.

 

[bennwilliams]

Honestly I might consider warranty since alot of tools these days are pretty amazing even alot of Taiwan stuff. Unless you are a bit of a collector and there’s nothing with with that tbh but if your talking about spending an extra $100AUD for one tool over another and neither is going to underperform than maybe its a waste of money

the difference is being in Australia you would have different costs than someone in America and different warranty options

alot of people here love harbor freight icon xl ratcheting wrenches which are $200 US but if you were going to import them to Australia maybe it’s like $300 US due to shipping and import duties and you can’t warranty them if there’s no HF there

so as much as we love HF icon wrenches we wouldn’t be recommending them at twice the price with no warranty

so yea we like wright grip wrenches but maybe you being so close to Japan can get Koken or something else at a better price that makes more sense for you

honestly I think if we have any Australia members here or if there’s an Australia tool group you should ask their opinions because most of our opinions have the price and warranty baked into them. Maybe you can get Japanese tools way cheaper than we can idk your local market

id edit your post title to call it “what are the best wrenches to buy in Australia” or something like that to see if any members from there see it and can help

Thanks, there are some good points here. The price/value ratio is different here. All the taiwanese options are about half to 2/3 the price of American, German and Japanese in our market. And whilst I find taiwanese tools to be mostly decent I feel like treating myself!

 

[mikey03]

Thanks, there are some good points here. The price/value ratio is different here. All the taiwanese options are about half to 2/3 the price of American, German and Japanese in our market. And whilst I find taiwanese tools to be mostly decent I feel like treating myself!

They are about 1/10 to 1/4 price here in the US

 

[bennwilliams]

They are about 1/10 to 1/4 price here in the US

Oh wow, that makes them more attractive for sure. Not gonna lie, things are fairly expensive here!

 

[Yarpo]

Honestly I might consider warranty since alot of tools these days are pretty amazing even alot of Taiwan stuff. Unless you are a bit of a collector and there’s nothing with with that tbh but if your talking about spending an extra $100AUD for one tool over another and neither is going to underperform than maybe its a waste of money

the difference is being in Australia you would have different costs than someone in America and different warranty options

I mean really how often are you warranting wrenches? Ive been inactive on this forum for awhile but nothings changed, ha!
Everyone obsesses about a warranty on a tool that probably wont ever need to be warrantied.

Here's a Stahlwhille that's probably well over 20 years old, wrenches are simple.



OP the Wright Grips are fantastic. I had been using my set professionally and I'm thrilled with them, tho I opted for Chrome not satin. I too wanted to buy once and have something that would last forever and these show no signs of stopping. Buy them, 10/10 !

Picture is pre covid, but the wrenches look the same and function the same ha

 

[bongkar_YES_pasang_NO]

I think japanese tools is easier to find on Australia.
perhaps you can find new old stock AIGO.
KTC also made great wrenches.
Asahi for light ones.

 

[bennwilliams]

Gentlemen (and ladies?) Thank you all for your input. I knew I would get some great info here. You are all legends as always.

 

[Stubby1743]

tho I opted for Chrome not satin.

Both finishes are chrome plated, it's just that with the shiny finish the tool is highly polished before the chrome plating is done.

 

[bennwilliams]

Both finishes are chrome plated, it's just that with the shiny finish the tool is highly polished before the chrome plating is done.

I would be happy to hear from people who have both satin and polished wright and which they prefer.

 

[dr_clyde]

Wright makes a damn good wrench, I don't think you'll be disappointed with them. I personally have polished chrome Wright Grips and use them along side my Snap-on FD+ and Mac Knuckle Savers.

The Wrights are definitely girthy compared to the other brands. The beams are thicker by a noticeable margin, as well as the heads to a lesser degree. If you need tight access that may be a factor. They are also a tad shorter than the comparable SO or Mac. Again, rarely an issue. The chrome plating is top notch, no complaints there. The "teeth" in the open ends seem to grip well without deforming the fastener head.

My favorites are still the Snap-on, they're just excellent wrenches, but I have not been disappointed by my Wright. If I had to start over again from scratch, Wright would be on my short list for sure.

 

[username2]

I would be happy to hear from people who have both satin and polished wright and which they prefer.

I have to admit that my strong tendency, purely as an experiment, would be to get an industrial finish. Otherwise, satin.

 

[Dave455]

First off, you have to adjust any advice to take account of where you are.

Wright are superb wrenches, and fantastic value in the U.S. but you will lose some of that value exporting to Australia.

Sidchrome are part of SBD, so some of the same wrench’s that are sold as Facom in Europe, or Proto in the U.S, are available as Sidchrome in Australia. They are made in Taiwan, but they are decent, and good value.

I’d take a good look at these before considering an upgrade.

If you do decide to go German, both the Stahlwille (satin chrome) and the Hazet (part polished, part matte) are very nice, and very useable. I slightly prefer the Stahlwille in the shorter length (No.13) and the Hazet (600N) in the longer, but both are decent!

Be advised that much of the love of German tools, certainly in the U.K or Europe, is due to them being so reasonably priced. If I could get Nepros for the same money I would!

 

[bennwilliams]

Honestly, y'all are the best. Thank you to everyone who has contributed, I love talking tools, please feel free to continue discussion!
It seems like the right choice depends upon where you are in the world as is skews the value.
I will let you know what I go with. Thanks legends.

 

[tamaraw]

A couple thoughts:

I wouldn't want a toothy open end on my primary set to tear stuff, especially for diy on my own things. YMMV

If Nepros is similar in price or less than Wright for you, I would 100% go Nepros. They make some really nice stuff.

If other Japanese tools are easily accessible, you could also look at Asahi Revowave and regular KTC. TOP Kogyo are also nice but rather short and I'm not sure if they cover every size.

Looking local at Sidchrome, they appear to have two combination wrench patterns. One is the curvier Facom/Usag/MAC/Craftsman/etc. pattern that is quite popular. The other is the more traditional Proto/MAC pattern with straight beam.

I really like the shape of my Proto wrenches, so if the Sidchrome is more affordable than other brands in your market, I would just go with them and call it a day.

Ring & Open End Spanner - Metric 6mm - 50mm - SIDCHROME Tools & Tool Storage

If you’re working on the tools day in and day out, you’ll want to protect yourself from hand and wrist strain. You need a high-performance spanner that’s designed to work with you, not against you. The patented ANTISLIP™ design and TORQUEPLUS™ fastening system make tightening a breeze and limit...

www.sidchrome.com.au

That said, I don't think anybody has given a bad suggestion so far in this thread, so follow your heart.

As for polished vs satin, satin have more grip and are nicer to hold in the hand imho and less likely to suffer chrome flaking/damage further down the line. Polished are slightly easier to clean, definitely easier to spot in a work area, and grip is similar if you wear gloves.

My personal preference is oxide/raw steel followed by satin chrome and then a slight jump to polished chrome. I certainly wouldn't be unhappy to use/own polished spanners though, other factors like shape in your hand are more important.

 

[Hohn]

Satin Wrightgrip 2.0s here for me. The open end grips like crazy and is a big part of why you'd choose these wrenches. I prefer the satin.

An open end wrench is however a rarely-used item, for me. The money end of any wrench is the box end. The Wrights are decent, but they don't fit the fastener particularly tightly-- they fit about the same as any common socket or wrench might. It's the nature of all "flank driving" style tools to have a bit more "wobble" on the fastener, and the Wright box ends are no different.


As much as I love my Wrights, I generally find myself reaching first for other wrenches. I find I much prefer double-box-end wrenches for most tasks. It allows me to carry fewer tools to the work since I can get a 10x12 on one wrench and a 14x17 on another and get almost anything done with two tools.

The first tools I reach for are my Tekton extra long ratcheting double boxes with the flex ends. (non reversible, you have to flip them to change direction). I have the previous 6-point design. I'm sure the 12pts work very well also with a bonus of not getting stuck on the fastener as easily. (the Tekton 6pts seat tight enough that it can take some effort to get them off). The ratcheting and flex ends mean that a really long wrench fits most places. And more leverage is less effort. The only downside to ratcheting DBEs is the larger head.

That's why the next wrench I reach for is the Williams satin DBE with 10 degree offset. These fit very snugly for a 12pt end and have superb secure feeling. The lengths are well-selected for the sizes. The offset is just enough to be useful without being too much.


Sometimes you need to get on something and need a tiny bit of protrusion, though. So this style box end won't work. That's why the next style wrench I reach for is closer to the shallowest socket made. That's where the "zero degree offset" comes in:

I'm using the Capri SUPER long zero degree double box ends and they are excellent so far. A great bargain for what they are.


Finally, if I'm wrenching on something accessible that is frequently touched and I want to take care of the fastener, I use the Nepros dead flat 6pt DBEs:



All that to say: the basic combination wrench set I find to be of less utility that have a range of specialty DBEs. The open end of a combo wrench doesn't justify the existence of them, and I find the variants of box ends are far more useful in the real world.

If I were starting a collection from scratch today, the first set I'd buy would be the XL flex head ratcheting ones from Tekton (or whoever else you prefer). Then I'd buy a set of "combination double box" that had two ends the same size, but were different kinds of box ends.

For example, this KTS "profit" tyle:


Or the Gearwrench Gearbox setup that has a flex ratcheting on one end fixed box on one end. But since I used the ratcheting DBEs so much, I like having different sizes on them. So that means I want my non ratcheting variants to exist on a tool not shared with ratcheting ends.

 

[Wamsutta]

Is there any Toptul available in Australia? Their extra long combination wrenches are very popular with pro mechanics.

As far as chrome vs satin, I find that when my hands are sweaty and clammy, polished chrome sticks to my hands like glue.

 

[bennwilliams]

Thank you all so much for your input and suggestions, all appreciated.

As much as I like the Wright, it is hard to justify the cost here. Rather than spending $450aud for the 15 piece set, I have ordered a 10 piece 8-19mm set of Hazet 600n at a cost of $165aud. The value seems better here in Oz. I will let you know how I like them after some use.

Thanks again!

 

[f121]

Late to the party, but Facom 440 gets my vote

 

[john.k]

There is a set of Sidchrome metric combis on FB/marktplatz here today .....dint notice the price,certainly not excessive ............I dont think super quality combis have any point .........not a wrench you put big loads on.............the superlongs dont seem common here ,and IMHO are just straight DE wrenches............i am also verry unimpressed by costly Stahlwilles ..........seem light and thin ,and I have a couple with busted rings ...........so they are not as superstrong as they claim............obviously ratchet rings are a different story ,but they always seem clumsy to me.

 

[bennwilliams]

Late to the party, but Facom 440 gets my vote

They were on the list. I believe they are the same as our locally available sidchrome 440 as they are stanley black and decker. Good pricing on these here too. I have been meaning to drop into a local store to handle them. Might still end up in the tool chest depending on how they feel and how I go with the Hazet.

 

[bwringer]

I, for one, despise and detest blinding slippery disappearing polished chrome.

Satin finishes are objectively far more practical in every way.

But some people just like the shiny shinies, and judging by the numbers, there are a lot more shiny-lovers out there.

 

[ET160]

Are Japanese Koken wrenches reasonable in Australia?

 

[bennwilliams]

Are Japanese Koken wrenches reasonable in Australia?

Koken wrenches don't seem to be available here. Ratchets and sockets are.
If you are talking japanese ktc is the best bet here.

 

[tamaraw]

Are Japanese Koken wrenches reasonable in Australia?

maybe you being so close to Japan can get Koken or something else at a better price

Koken wrenches don't seem to be available here.

Being that this is the third (!) mention of Ko-ken in this thread, I must point out that they do not make any wrenches at all.

They only do socketry and a few other odds and ends (screwdriver, T-handle, tire lever, etc.).

 

[mixerfixer]

SK Professional Tools wrenches are designed with a thicker shank and rounded edges for improved gripping and comfort. Features SK’s SuperKrome Finish for long-lasting durability. 7-piece chrome wrench set includes 12 Point Metric Combination Wrenches 10mm, 11mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, 16mm, 17mm, 18mm, and 19mm packed in a lockable wrench rack. SureGrip drive design drives the side of the fastener, not the corner, to provide increased strength and avoid rounding of rusted or damaged fasteners. SuperKrome Plating delivers the toughest finish with high polish plating which results in showroom finish providing long life and maximum corrosion resistance. This set of chrome wrenches is proudly made in the USA.

I read that in the last sentence of this description. Thanks for clarifying.

Amazon.com​

I have a lot of the original USA SK Superchrome wrenches. Use them professionally as a Cat dealer tech everyday and have never broken any of them. If you can find them on eBay or marketplace, I wouldn’t hesitate to grab them. The only wrench I find more comfortable in hand is the Wright tools wrenches. I have a set on satin finish I really like I just wish the Wrights were a little longer.

 

[bennwilliams]

Being that this is the third (!) mention of Ko-ken in this thread, I must point out that they do not make any wrenches at all.

They only do socketry and a few other odds and ends (screwdriver, T-handle, tire lever, etc.).

I had not found any here but assumed they must have been available overseas. Good to know!