Some years back, when Sears was still in business, Craftsman introduced the Cross Force wrench line. So did GearWrench, called theirs X-Beam. The shaft was bent 90 degrees so the user would be pushing/pulling on a flat side instead of the edge, advertised to be easier on wrists and hands They were allegedly endorsed by some orthopedic outfit and were supposed to be the next big thing. Seems like they vanished not long after they came out. I put a few into service last summer, working on my old Chevy. Didn't seem any easier on my hands than standard issue combination wrenches. Just curious if anyone else out there bought these besides me, and if yes, how do you like them?
Cross Force Wrenches
- Thread starter Old Donn
- Start date
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have some in Craftsman and Gearwrench versions. The Craftsman were made in the USA probably at the Armstrong factory. They're my favorite drain plug wrench. The Craftsman are really thick and have ratcheting boxed ends. The Gearwrench are much thinner and lighter weight. both are comfortable to use. No knife edge thin wrench beams with these.
neophyte
Well-known member
At least a half dozen or more brands made this type of wrench.
The original US made Craftsman wrenches were almost certainly made by Armstrong, and were practically identical, except for a better thicker chrome/nickel finish on the Armstrong wrenches, and the notched design on the open end that allowed for a bit better grip on nuts/bolts.
I think there might have been a thread on GJ, or maybe elsewhere, that listed many of the brands.
Matco probably had a version as well, since Matco was also being made by Armstrong.
One thing to consider, is that the open end was offset by the normal 15 degrees, but the open end was only flat and parallel to one side of the wrench, and unlike a more regular combo wrench, the thicker design of the 90 degree heads meant the open end wouldn’t sit as close to flat when flipped to the non flat side.
The wrenches were also somewhat heavier, at least in the case of the Armstrong/Craftsman version.
Some other versions just seemed to twist a regular combo wrench so the heads were out of plane by 90 degrees.
The original US made Craftsman wrenches were almost certainly made by Armstrong, and were practically identical, except for a better thicker chrome/nickel finish on the Armstrong wrenches, and the notched design on the open end that allowed for a bit better grip on nuts/bolts.
I think there might have been a thread on GJ, or maybe elsewhere, that listed many of the brands.
Matco probably had a version as well, since Matco was also being made by Armstrong.
One thing to consider, is that the open end was offset by the normal 15 degrees, but the open end was only flat and parallel to one side of the wrench, and unlike a more regular combo wrench, the thicker design of the 90 degree heads meant the open end wouldn’t sit as close to flat when flipped to the non flat side.
The wrenches were also somewhat heavier, at least in the case of the Armstrong/Craftsman version.
Some other versions just seemed to twist a regular combo wrench so the heads were out of plane by 90 degrees.
metaldad
Well-known member
bought a couple of sets, back in the days of the sears USA tool purge.
amazingly, resold as a coupla guys bought them
amazingly, resold as a coupla guys bought them
Stuey
Well-known member
I vaguely remember buying a set of the Craftsman CrossForce, only to return them due to chrome defects and poor surface finish. When I went to buy a replacement, all of the sets on the peg had similar issues. I don't know how long they were on the market for, but that could be why the Craftsman line was short-lived.
Update: Yup. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...orce-wrenches-pics.128213/page-2#post-1925452 . Wow, I remember what I didn't like about tools 10-1/2 years ago, but what'd I have for breakfast today?
Kobalt also had CrossForm wrenches.
I have a couple of Gearwrench X-beam wrenches (manual), but they I don't use them very often.
It's a gimmick that sounds good in theory and works well in practice, but in my opinion there's not much practical benefit over traditional combo wrenches.
I think that manual cross-style wrenches might be okay for higher torque applications, but I now see little point to the non-reversible ratcheting wrenches that used to be popular. I bought Gearwrench XL X-Beam ratcheting wrenches, and even at the ridiculously low prices I paid, they weren't worth it. I reviewed them back in 2014: https://toolguyd.com/gearwrench-x-beam-ratcheting-wrench-review/
I moved a couple of years ago, and my GW zero-offset X-beam ratcheting wrenches are still wrapped up and sitting at the bottom of a tool box. I unpacked all of my other mechanics tools long ago, just not those X-beams.
It's not that they're bad tools, there just weren't any times when I thought "oh boy, let me bust out the cross-handle wrenches!"
Maybe you'll like them more.
Update: Yup. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...orce-wrenches-pics.128213/page-2#post-1925452 . Wow, I remember what I didn't like about tools 10-1/2 years ago, but what'd I have for breakfast today?
Kobalt also had CrossForm wrenches.
I have a couple of Gearwrench X-beam wrenches (manual), but they I don't use them very often.
It's a gimmick that sounds good in theory and works well in practice, but in my opinion there's not much practical benefit over traditional combo wrenches.
I think that manual cross-style wrenches might be okay for higher torque applications, but I now see little point to the non-reversible ratcheting wrenches that used to be popular. I bought Gearwrench XL X-Beam ratcheting wrenches, and even at the ridiculously low prices I paid, they weren't worth it. I reviewed them back in 2014: https://toolguyd.com/gearwrench-x-beam-ratcheting-wrench-review/
I moved a couple of years ago, and my GW zero-offset X-beam ratcheting wrenches are still wrapped up and sitting at the bottom of a tool box. I unpacked all of my other mechanics tools long ago, just not those X-beams.
It's not that they're bad tools, there just weren't any times when I thought "oh boy, let me bust out the cross-handle wrenches!"
Maybe you'll like them more.
DerekV
Well-known member
I have the Gearwrench metric reversibles (~7 years). Made in China, open ends are a little sloppy, but I have to admit I do like them. They are comfortable and the long pattern is nice. Not the best wrench ever, but good enough to keep me dragging my feet on the SO dual 80 reversibles.
bwringer
Well-known member
I have the Gearwrench metric open/box end set. The open ends are the horrid swollen "lobster claws" but overall they work fine.
I dunno... in some situations they're the absolute cat's ***, and other times the bulk just gets in the way. I do use them regularly. They're often handy when I need the wrench to rest against a frame or similar to hold the other of a long bolt while I reef on the other end. The beam does less damage to the surface it's resting on.
I dunno... in some situations they're the absolute cat's ***, and other times the bulk just gets in the way. I do use them regularly. They're often handy when I need the wrench to rest against a frame or similar to hold the other of a long bolt while I reef on the other end. The beam does less damage to the surface it's resting on.
jsmeece
Well-known member
I have several sets: one Armstrong, one craftsman industrial and another just regular craftsman all in metric, and a few 9 and 11mm gearwrench to fill in the gaps that craftsman didn't make. I use them often, like Fed said great for drain plugs. I also use them when replacing suspension parts.
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tomtomgt356
Well-known member
If I need enough force that the standard wrench is digging into my hand too much, I'm either switching to a breaker bar, or using the double wrench technique which doesn't work with that style wrench.
RedneckWelder
Well-known member
They have access issues in tight spaces
toolmiser
Well-known member
I have a set of Craftsman, they are comfortable, but also feel heavy
i have a set of the dolphin wrenches in sae and branded as kobalt. they have a few features that some of the other wrenches dicussed here dont have.
the box end has a difffent angle than many wrenches plus is more like a socket on the end. similar to the offset on many zero degree or aviation type wrenches. it makes it a goto in some situations.
the open end is somewhat different as well. it is tapered, somewhat thicker near the handle and tapers to being thinner at the end. hard to explain but it allows for more of an angled approach in hard to access applications.
the kobalt wrenches seem to have a somewhat better finish than the astro and i actually find them quite useful. they are not my main wrench by any means but when you need something slightly different they work and work well.
the box end has a difffent angle than many wrenches plus is more like a socket on the end. similar to the offset on many zero degree or aviation type wrenches. it makes it a goto in some situations.
the open end is somewhat different as well. it is tapered, somewhat thicker near the handle and tapers to being thinner at the end. hard to explain but it allows for more of an angled approach in hard to access applications.
the kobalt wrenches seem to have a somewhat better finish than the astro and i actually find them quite useful. they are not my main wrench by any means but when you need something slightly different they work and work well.
mcj115
Well-known member
I picked up NOS metric and SEA sets of Armstrong USA cross force (non-ratcheting) wrenches from a tool dealer at a swap meet about two years ago. While I didn't need them they seemed like a good quality tool at a great price. If I recall combined both sets were less that $100 or less then $5 per wrench, which for a US made polished wrench is a good team IMHO.