Comprehensive Wrench Test by Project Farm

[BlackHorseSaga]

Best Wrench? Let’s Settle This! Snap On vs MAC Tools, Matco, Proto, SK, GearWrench, Kobalt, Husky​

"21 Wrenches: Snap On, SK Tools, MAC Tools, FACOM, Sunex, Gedore, Proto, Wright Tools, Matco, GearWrench, Williams, Klein Tools, Kobalt, Crescent, Tekton, Craftsman, Performance Tool, GearWrench 6 point and 12 point, Pittsburgh and a vintage S K wrench. The box end of the combination wrenches are compared for performance on a rusty fastener with limited contact area and on ½ inch low and high carbon steel with full box end contact.. The open end of the wrench is compared for performance on a low carbon steel fastener as well as on high carbon steel. I always purchase all of the tools and supplies used to test the products to ensure unbiased comparisons."

Thought you guys would find this interesting. The only issue I ever have with these kinds of tests is metal fatigue after repeated use. Anything is fine when it's new.

 

[ike]

I wish he would have included a vintage Craftsman also.

 

[drtyler]

So what was the conclusion?

 

[Moose-LandTran]

How do you watch that guy's videos? He's so annoying. It's like he did a dozen lines before narrating that.

 

[infinite97]

How do you watch that guy's videos? He's so annoying. It's like he did a dozen lines before narrating that.

Really? Most people love his reviews because they’re edited to remove all of the ******** time wasting that other reviews leave in.

PF is awesome.

 

[darkzero]

I could understand how PF would be annoying to some. He does talk fast, basically try to get as much info said without wasting time. Sometimes I miss much of what he's saying or fast forward anyway. Reminds me of those commercials where they state all the terms/discloures at the end so fast you can barely catch what was said

PF doesn't annoy me though, I like watching his videos but much like anything on YT it's more for entertainment for me than factual info. Now them shouty YT'rs like VCG Construction & Scotty Kilmer, I can't stand them! I've actually blocked those 2 channels, there are other channels that I can't stand to watch like Adam Savage & Wranglerstar but VCG & Kilmer are the only ones I have ever blocked.

 

[Wakefield]

Really? Most people love his reviews because they’re edited to remove all of the ******** time wasting that other reviews leave in.

PF is awesome.

He rushes to get his content in.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Really? Most people love his reviews because they’re edited to remove all of the ******** time wasting that other reviews leave in.

PF is awesome.

Really. Not that i go by anyone else's reviews or opinions on Youtube anyway. I use what i like and works for me. I'm still on my original set of wrenches, which i decided alone i wanted and bought, with no regrets. I don't buy anything based on what some guy on Youtube thinks, regardless of their testing methods.

But he talks too fast, his voice is annoying and he pronounces stuff weird. Faayycom? No, Facom.

I think that test is skewed anyway. Reducing the depth of engagement? Is it a test of the chamfer or the overall quality/fitment/strength? Low profile bolt heads are rare so i don't see the point of him reducing the bolt engagement.

Now them shouty YT'rs like VCG Construction & Scotty Kilmer, I can't stand them! I've actually blocked those 2 channels, there are other channels that I can't stand to watch like Adam Savage & Wranglerstar but VCG & Kilmer are the only ones I have ever blocked.

Scotty Kilmer's incredibly annoying. Unbearable. The "Snap-on Junkie" guy should be shot, his on-screen personality is so forced and fake, as well as being a cringy awful annoying shitbag. That Diesel Creek guy could use a swift punch in the face too. Shouting "contact" every time he turns an engine over isn't funny, just annoying. (And nonsense since he's always alone anyway.)

It's the need to stand out and have some forced on-screen personality that makes so many people, with otherwise good content, unbearable to watch.

 

[kody1234]

40 bucks for one snap on wrench, wow.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I had seen that but I am not sure I entirely approve of his choices. Kobalt tools were once made by JH Williams tools (have some) and quite a bit different in quality before Dahaner/Apex took over (don't have any). Husky has also been made by several companies and my oldest Husky stuff, came from my Grandfather, I think from the 20's, long before Home Depot owned the brand.

And then of course the best wrench is the one that gets the job done, when you need it, and that can be an import could be the one on a side of the road emergency.

 

[Komet]

Interesting to see the deeper the chamfer on the box end typically translates to less overall torque before failure.

Also, SK finally doing well in a shootout, Snap-on not really pulling ahead in these tests for the price.

 

[dnschmidt]

I like Project Farm but I don't consider him to be god. I agree with him in that most wrenches do have too much chamfer and that this is a very common problem. That stated the additional washer didn't make much sense to me. Also, the ideal of test to failure pisses me off as I NEVER abuse tools as I just can't bring myself to do it. That's one of the reasons I sent Eric O. so many TOPTUL tools because I knew he had no such reservations. Once Eric told me that they could take a beating I knew that I had picked a winning product. I really don't believe that the FACOM wrenches he had were made in France as a lot of their stuff is made my Rotar in Taiwan and that sure did look to have TOPTUL's satin chrome finish.

 

[KnurledNut]

Results inconclusive. No WrightGrip.

 

[Benito]

No doubt he used the washers because he tried without them and every wrench broke the bolt off which means zero data, I say no doubt because Torque Test Channel said exactly this here and is the reason they used soft steel coupling nuts.
Using coupling nuts is something Project farm also seems to have ticked another coincidence box on lately

 

[JradM]

I like PF. Everyone bags on him because his tests can be imperfect (he usually tests to failure in lieu of massive repetition required to analyze wear).

It's all data and you gotta use your head to get the most out of it. Ignore his conclusion at the end of the video perhaps and just consider what each test is telling you - e.g. if you need a thin wrench, maybe it doesn't matter if the Craftsman lobster claw gets higher torque on a soft coupler nut.

The only wrench I've used that straight up felt different on the open end is Ultrapro from Napa. I'm not saying that makes it the world's best wrench - just wish I knew what was going on. I suspect higher than normal hardness and maybe a tighter fit. It was noticeable enough that I bought a set after using my neighbors.

On the box end, I like my Proto reversible ratcheting spline.

 

[JeepYJ]

That stated the additional washer didn't make much sense to me.

The idea of the washer was to replicate fasteners that have corroded away.

 

[scooby074]

I think TTC's test was better.

PF's choppy editing can get a bit hard on the head sometimes.

 

[Grokew]

How do you watch that guy's videos? He's so annoying. It's like he did a dozen lines before narrating that.

Play it at .75 speed and it sounds normal.

 

[F-22]

I don't think results are very comparable, bolt heads aren't made to good tolerances - wrenches are always made to finer tolerances... Use the same wrench on multiple screws and the fitment will be slightly different every time. Bolt material also isn't consistent. Rust is even far less consistent...

Would also love to see some higher end German wrenches like from Hazet or Stahlwille. These brands make all sorts of top end tools, but wrenches are their staple products (it's even the logo of stahlwille...).

PF is okay to watch but his results are usually not really considering everything. He tests for strength to failure. Usability is often not even considered. A thick wrench will be strong, but a high end wrench will be strong while being slim - to access tighter spaces. I always remember his needle nose plier review. I really don't care if they can cut bolts, needle nose pliers are normally used to be precise and to access stuff in tight places, which is the opposite of what he tested and his "winners" were shorter and fatter pliers.

 

[CR888]

Dnshmitdt should have been happy with the results. 2 of the best performing wrenches overall were the MAC Tools & the Facom 440 series. You were correct I think suggesting the Facom were not made in France as he suggested and infact made in the same factory as Toptul although I dont thing the Facom have the same satin finish however they are basically the exact same pattern as are the MAC which are also Rotar but a longer pattern version with that feature in the open end (which seemed to work very well). Basically they are all "440 series". I have the Sidchrome 440 series long pattern which are the same as the MAC tools. Also I have the Toptul AAEX series (virtually same as Facom 440 except for minor cosmetic difference and chrome vs satin). I consider these all just "440 Series" wrenches as they ALL follow the same design features. Very clever 15° offset on box end that allows you great access, the open end the same too with a design VERY similar to the offset Stahlwille open end fo better torque and if open end is used 'correctly' promotes better contact with fastener. Anyway paid about the same price for a 14pc Toptul metric AAEX set as you would a small SnapOn spanner say 1 x 13mm. The MAC & Sidchrome are much better known 'professional' brands with big marketing budgets and distribution networks they sell their tools at a much higher price. To be honest I much prefer the Toptul in my hand as I'm not a fan of polished chrome. I think ProjectFarm is great he seems very unbiased and isnt on the take from corporations. I dont really care whether his pronunciation is correct or not, Im not there for an English lesson. Is he perfect? NO. Is he better than 99% of other channels that test stuff? Well his numbers would say he is.

 

[Fly YX]

I don’t care what he says I’ll stick with my Pittsburgh pro.

 

[Showkey]

How do you watch that guy's videos? He's so annoying. It's like he did a dozen lines before narrating that.

Really? Most people love his reviews because they’re edited to remove all of the ******** time wasting that other reviews leave in.

PF is awesome.

Editing or showing repetitive video ……….two different opinions
Its all based on 16-20 minute length sweet spot to get 4-5 ads spots generating more $$$

Or show the test chart or graphs get to the conclusion and earn less revenue.

 

[tester19]

Just another annoying guy trying to make a living off his you tube channel.
All the car forums are full of these guys too. Always posting video's and wanting you to subscribe.

It's just a business.
.
.
.

 

[KnurledNut]

Just another annoying guy trying to make a living off his you tube channel.
All the car forums are full of these guys too. Always posting video's and wanting you to subscribe.

It's just a business.

With close to 2.5M subscribers, he is doing a pretty good job.

 

[kngelv]

I like PF. Unlike most he does not shill for anybody. I also like that he tells you where everything is made. Some of his testing methods are imperfect but at least he tries. He also tests things that plenty of GJ members are interested in. An example: I'm taking all my brushed 20V DeWalt tools to my mothers house for any small projects so I'm not hauling them back and forth. Part of my motivation was how few cuts per battery I got out of a brushed reciprocating saw when tearing out an old cedar privacy fence. I'm converting to brushless at home and am open to other brands so I went back and watched/skimmed every cordless power tool test.

James

 

[Rabid Badger]

Project Farm provides a ton of data, but sometimes you have to pick and choose what is actually useful.

The guy has almost too much work ethic. He busts his *** to get a video out every week. Sometimes more time needs to be spent on product selection and testing procedures, though.

 

[Loga_3]

How do you watch that guy's videos? He's so annoying. It's like he did a dozen lines before narrating that.

Yea, I just hit mute and fastforward to the bits i want to see.

 

[gatewaysysop]

I have said before and will say it again, there's no accounting for how repeatable and therefore reliable the results of this "comparison" might be.

How much credence do you give someone who went to a restaurant only once, only ordered one thing and then decided the place was good/bad based on solely that? If you've ordered steak one time and they got it perfectly cooked, how confident would you be about recommending it to other people based on a sample size of ONE steak that you tried? You've no idea if that's the norm or dumb luck on your part.

Everyone seems to agree to a bad experience might be a fluke, but somehow the converse is lost on them. A good experience can be a fluke too. Unless you've done some repeated trials, how do you know that anything you observe would generalize to other people's experiences?

I don't begrudge him for making a buck, and I appreciate the effort, but as I have said in the past, I see mainly see good tools being ruined in a mostly meaningless test from which no serious inference can be drawn. YMMV and to each their own, but that's my take.

 

[Citation]

Of course it would be better if he tested several sizes and more than one sample of each brand. It also would be impractical. Overall I think his tests are better than nothing and help confirm some of my biases thus they are good tests.

It actually confirmed a few suspicions of mine. I've felt that, despite their nice finish, my Kobalt wrenches were not as good as my older Craftsman (I am making a big leap in assuming my old Cman stuff does as well as the new stuff). It also confirmed my view that Crescent brand combo wrenches are a really good value or at least are if you get them on sale. I think I paid less than $1/wrench for mine. I quite like them.

Oh, it also confirmed that most wrenches work just fine most of the time.

 

[General Geoff]

I don't begrudge him for making a buck, and I appreciate the effort, but as I have said in the past, I see mainly see good tools being ruined in a mostly meaningless test from which no serious inference can be drawn. YMMV and to each their own, but that's my take.

Consumer Reports is a world renowned consumer product review firm that often only tests a single sample of each competing manufacturer's product. While a higher sample size of course is better, single sample size results should not be outright dismissed.

I'm sure if Todd had 3x the budget and a paid full-time assistant, he would be happy to run his tests with 3-5x the sample size per product.

I will also point out that with very inexpensive products, he does do larger sample sizes. Example is his video on deck screws.

 

[Bockscar]

I like PF. Unlike most he does not shill for anybody. I also like that he tells you where everything is made. Some of his testing methods are imperfect but at least he tries. He also tests things that plenty of GJ members are interested in. An example: I'm taking all my brushed 20V DeWalt tools to my mothers house for any small projects so I'm not hauling them back and forth. Part of my motivation was how few cuts per battery I got out of a brushed reciprocating saw when tearing out an old cedar privacy fence. I'm converting to brushless at home and am open to other brands so I went back and watched/skimmed every cordless power tool test.

James

What size of battery are you using

 

[JradM]

Oh, it also confirmed that most wrenches work just fine most of the time.

That's a great point and one that shouldn't be lost.

Sometimes PF's tests show wild discrepancies, but not this time. Some wrenches did very well in one test only to fall down the list in the next.

The results are sometimes related to design differences too - e.g. some wrenches are thick, others are thin. Some have deep chamfers, others have shallow ones.

 

[guitarbutt]

He's one of the few guys that is watchable in YouTube. He doesn't do the "instant thumbs down" things such as:
1. Not editing wasted time out
2. He doesn't talk to the camera as if the person is there-"Hey guys, how are you doing? Hope everyone is having a great day"
3. "Before watching my video, like and subscribe"
4. Doesn't stammer on and on with "um", "so yeah", "uhh like", etc
5. "Thanks for watching. PEACE"
6. He doesn't bro things down to the lowest common denominator
7. Is fair among testing
8. Doesn't have idiot ******* face in the thumbnail of any video
9. He tests tools rather than struggling to unbox something and say how great the tool is by looking at it

There's no way to test tools that will satisfy everyone but he does a great job doing his thing.

To the video mentioned, I never really thought if chamfered openings, so that alone was worth watching for myself

 

[American Locomotive]

My main issue with PF is his test setups are always super janky. You always see things bending, deflecting or wobbling (that shouldn't be bending, deflecting or wobbling) which obviously throw a huge amount of error and variation into his testing.

Either way, the WrightGrips came out tops in TTC's testing, and had a very good showing here. For the price, they're an incredible deal for an American made tool.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

These tests such as PF provides limited but entertaining reviews. You need to make your own assessment. As others have said it is difficult to perform comprehensive testing other than probably the tool truck brands. I am sure tool truck brands perform more rigorous testing than PF as part of their R&D.

 

[bwringer]

The PF guy has an annoying voice, sure, but you have a volume control, a mute button, and the ability to fast-forward. And his tendency to read us the marketing **** on the package is weird, but... most of his experiments are pretty valid, and overall it's usually pretty good information on lots of things that interest the likes of us.

Anyway, yeah, the wrench test was interesting, and the Torque Test Channel's wrench test was also interesting in many of the same ways.

I'll definitely agree that the chamfering in many wrenches and sockets has gotten WAAAAY WAY WAY out of hand. A few moments with a sanding belt or flap wheel can sort that out if needed as long as you're not too attached to shiny slick chrome.

 

[Madjik Man]

Dnshmitdt should have been happy with the results. 2 of the best performing wrenches overall were the MAC Tools & the Facom 440 series. You were correct I think suggesting the Facom were not made in France as he suggested and infact made in the same factory as Toptul although I dont thing the Facom have the same satin finish however they are basically the exact same pattern as are the MAC which are also Rotar but a longer pattern version with that feature in the open end (which seemed to work very well). Basically they are all "440 series". I have the Sidchrome 440 series long pattern which are the same as the MAC tools. Also I have the Toptul AAEX series (virtually same as Facom 440 except for minor cosmetic difference and chrome vs satin). I consider these all just "440 Series" wrenches as they ALL follow the same design features. Very clever 15° offset on box end that allows you great access, the open end the same too with a design VERY similar to the offset Stahlwille open end fo better torque and if open end is used 'correctly' promotes better contact with fastener. Anyway paid about the same price for a 14pc Toptul metric AAEX set as you would a small SnapOn spanner say 1 x 13mm. The MAC & Sidchrome are much better known 'professional' brands with big marketing budgets and distribution networks they sell their tools at a much higher price. To be honest I much prefer the Toptul in my hand as I'm not a fan of polished chrome. I think ProjectFarm is great he seems very unbiased and isnt on the take from corporations. I dont really care whether his pronunciation is correct or not, Im not there for an English lesson. Is he perfect? NO. Is he better than 99% of other channels that test stuff? Well his numbers would say he is.

I’ve had the Facom 440 series metric and Toptul AAEX 16pc metric bookmarked for awhile.

I just can’t get over the random skipped sizes in both and also worry about the beam design in my hands. I have big hands that contact the entire surface of a beam often. So the weight saving design where most of the beam is recessed I think would irritate the ball of my palm (or whatever the pads at the base of the fingers are called)

So I also have the Tekton combo wrench set bookmarked. More traditional beam with nice rounded edges. No skipped sizes.

The only issue I can foresee is based on my OCD. Why is the 16mm length shorter than the 15mm? Why are some wrenches the same length (I think 17mm and 18mm). Minor but also hitting that compulsive nerve.

Does anyone have any experience with the Tekton set? So far I’ve been impressed with everything I’ve gotten from Tekton.

FYI: I’m just a DIYer so it’s about good and affordable quality for me.

 

[Bockscar]

I’ve had the Facom 440 series metric and Toptul AAEX 16pc metric bookmarked for awhile.

I just can’t get over the random skipped sizes in both and also worry about the beam design in my hands. I have big hands that contact the entire surface of a beam often. So the weight saving design where most of the beam is recessed I think would irritate the ball of my palm (or whatever the pads at the base of the fingers are called)

So I also have the Tekton combo wrench set bookmarked. More traditional beam with nice rounded edges. No skipped sizes.

The only issue I can foresee is based on my OCD. Why is the 16mm length shorter than the 15mm? Why are some wrenches the same length (I think 17mm and 18mm). Minor but also hitting that compulsive nerve.

Does anyone have any experience with the Tekton set? So far I’ve been impressed with everything I’ve gotten from Tekton.

FYI: I’m just a DIYer so it’s about good and affordable quality for me.

If you want an awesome wrench at a decent price with nice beams....Wrights are excellent

 

[CR888]

I’ve had the Facom 440 series metric and Toptul AAEX 16pc metric bookmarked for awhile.

I just can’t get over the random skipped sizes in both and also worry about the beam design in my hands. I have big hands that contact the entire surface of a beam often. So the weight saving design where most of the beam is recessed I think would irritate the ball of my palm (or whatever the pads at the base of the fingers are called)

So I also have the Tekton combo wrench set bookmarked. More traditional beam with nice rounded edges. No skipped sizes.

The only issue I can foresee is based on my OCD. Why is the 16mm length shorter than the 15mm? Why are some wrenches the same length (I think 17mm and 18mm). Minor but also hitting that compulsive nerve.

Does anyone have any experience with the Tekton set? So far I’ve been impressed with everything I’ve gotten from Tekton.

FYI: I’m just a DIYer so it’s about good and affordable quality for me.

None of The Toptul AAEX series are the same size the 16 is longer than the 15 the 17 is longer than the 16 etc. Maybe your talking about Tekton. Now you can get a Toptul 26pc set 6-32mm in AAEX and it only skips size 31. The reason brands have mutiple sizes in the same wrench pattern OR socket size is pure cost cutting. TEKTON spanners are not really on the same page as Toptul AAEX, lack the pro design features. I would give the AAEX design about an 8 or 9 out of 10, the tolerances are very good to. The beams are a little thin compared say to the MAC or Sidchrome versions that are longer patterns. I wouldnt buy Tekton combo wrenches myself. The AAEX are very similar in design to the KTC 'Profi' series even the kind of similar to the Stahlwille combos. I prefer an industrial finish and think Stahlwille does that best, but Toptuls satin finish isnt too far behind, it feels nice in the hand and wont be filled with millions of scratches like the mirror polished chrome. The AAEX series are very hard to beat value for money if you can get a good deal on them. But wrenches are a personal thing too, maybe an inferior wrench feels better in your hand, many dont like SO beams, many love them. I more judge a wrench on its features/performance. I have Stahlwille combos, Sidchrome 440 series (same as the big MAC ones) and also have Toptul AAEX. I highly recommend them, buy a single in a size u use often and use one for a month. You'll have no doubts once u have a wrench in your hand for a while. Do the same with a Tekton...hell you might like them more.

 

[Madjik Man]

None of The Toptul AAEX series are the same size the 16 is longer than the 15 the 17 is longer than the 16 etc. Maybe your talking about Tekton. Now you can get a Toptul 26pc set 6-32mm in AAEX and it only skips size 31. The reason brands have mutiple sizes in the same wrench pattern OR socket size is pure cost cutting. TEKTON spanners are not really on the same page as Toptul AAEX, lack the pro design features. I would give the AAEX design about an 8 or 9 out of 10, the tolerances are very good to. The beams are a little thin compared say to the MAC or Sidchrome versions that are longer patterns. I wouldnt buy Tekton combo wrenches myself. The AAEX are very similar in design to the KTC 'Profi' series even the kind of similar to the Stahlwille combos. I prefer an industrial finish and think Stahlwille does that best, but Toptuls satin finish isnt too far behind, it feels nice in the hand and wont be filled with millions of scratches like the mirror polished chrome. The AAEX series are very hard to beat value for money if you can get a good deal on them. But wrenches are a personal thing too, maybe an inferior wrench feels better in your hand, many dont like SO beams, many love them. I more judge a wrench on its features/performance. I have Stahlwille combos, Sidchrome 440 series (same as the big MAC ones) and also have Toptul AAEX. I highly recommend them, buy a single in a size u use often and use one for a month. You'll have no doubts once u have a wrench in your hand for a while. Do the same with a Tekton...hell you might like them more.

Great feedback. Thank you.

The Stahlwille 13s are also bookmarked for me. Definitely on the high end of what I would spend.