Flex head wrenches vs low profile socket/wrench vs pass thru tools

[qqzj]

All of them are useful in scenarios where the space is deep and wide but narrow. And the tool can flex a bit. I have been thinking about making a comparison for myself for a while. Today is the day! Hopefully others find these measurements useful. And if you have similar setups, please do share the precise measurements! Now let's have some fun.

First up is the (quite) popular Tekton double flex head wrenches. I use 17mm size for all the comparison.

Verdict: 10.68mm

 

[qqzj]

The Tekton is often compared against the Mountain/Icon long flex head wrenches. The difference is that the Tekton is 6 point while the other two are universal fit. The Tekton needs to be flipped to reverse while the other two can reverse by pushing a button. Also some claims that Mountain/Icon can be handy because the 'sleeve' on them allow the wrenches to access some fasteners with weird angle. I do not have these two wrenches. But I do have a Gearwrench quad box wrench with sleeves. The designs are very similar. Hopefully the depth measurements are close.

Verdict: 18.03mm

 

[qqzj]

For the low profile sockets I use the popular Astro Pneumatic set and I use the Harbor Freight double flex ratchet. The HF ratchet is basically a wrench design and it is one of the best tools offered by HF. Highly recommended. The push button of the ratchet is flush with the ratchet. It does not add additional height.

Verdict: 33.69mm.
Separately, the socket is 22.44mm and the ratchet (without the anvil) is 10.68mm

 

[qqzj]

Serpentine belt tools also fit in this category. The one I have is from GearWrench. It is 6 points and has a locking flex head. The socket sticks out so it also has the benefit of the Mountain/Icon wrenches. One cool feature is that it has a second half (not shown here) that can make the ratchet REALLY long. Also the tool can be disconnected and reconnected, which makes it very useful to bypass some obstacles. A little known, but very useful feature.

Verdict: 26.68mm

 

[qqzj]

Next, normal 3/8 inch pass thru ratchet and socket. Also from GearWrench with locking flex head and extra long handle.

Verdict: 32.00mm

 

[qqzj]

Finally as a reference, here is a shot with a good old Craftsman raised panel ratchet with a G2 series socket.

Verdict: 42.45mm

Since we are tool aficionados, please do us a favor not to argue which one is better and which one can replace them all. Get them all and think of them as several waves of attack. Pick the tool that is most likely to undo the fasteners and least likely to damage the tool or the fasteners as the first wave of attach. And enjoy them all. This is it boys. Happy holidays.

 

[Greg5OH]

I have owned for the past 2 years the XL flex head 120tooth gear wrench brand ratchet wrenches in metric.
8mm thru 24.
I find them ESSENTIAL for working on high end german cars. Always have fasteners in super awkward locations.
8-19mm are spline drive, 21, 22, 24 are 12 point.
Couple these with EZ Reds ultra low pro torx and triple square, you can get into some seriously tight locations. Total height about 3/4"

one end is box end, with offset handle, also used this feature quite a few times. break loose with box end then angle the flex and twist with wrist motion. Love em..although I have broken the 14mm ratchet part twice now..

 

[qqzj]

Here is the comparison for 1/2 inch drive sockets and wrenches. I don't have low profile sockets and wrenches (yet), so this is just regular vs pass thru.

1st visual comparison. 1/2 GearWrench pass thru with 17mm socket vs common Craftsman 1/2 ratchet with a G2 series 17mm socket. The reason I am especially interested in 17mm is because there is an 'oil splash' guard near the drain plug of my Acura MDX which makes it impossible to put my 1/2 Craftsman 17mm combo there.



The total height of the regular Craftsman combo is 60.75mm




The GW Pass Thru combo is 42.02mm

 

[qqzj]

I forgot to mention that the Astro Pneumatic nano sockets' square drive ends also work with 17mm wrenches



Making them perfectly match with my 6 point Tekton double flex wrenches or GearWrench 6 point regular combo wrenches



yielding a total depth of 23.29mm.



So it is actually 3mm thinner than the GW pass thru setup. However, there is nothing locking the socket to the wrench. So it can easily fall off the wrench. I guess stuck a piece of paper between the socket and wrench might help. Not bad for occasional use.

 

[rick carpenter]

Here is the comparison for 1/2 inch drive sockets and wrenches. I don't have low profile sockets and wrenches (yet), so this is just regular vs pass thru.

1st visual comparison. 1/2 GearWrench pass thru with 17mm socket vs common Craftsman 1/2 ratchet with a G2 series 17mm socket. The reason I am especially interested in 17mm is because there is an 'oil splash' guard near the drain plug of my Acura MDX which makes it impossible to put my 1/2 Craftsman 17mm combo there.



The total height of the regular Craftsman combo is 60.75mm




The GW Pass Thru combo is 42.02mm

Does the GW pass through ratchet have an 'always locked' locking mechanism, versus their rolling pin on all their other locking flexes?

 

[qqzj]

It's interesting that you asked. The answer is both. The ratchets that comes with the socket sets are always locked. Flex head, always locked. The one from serpentine belt set can be locked or not.

 

[Tools4Me]

If you want your nano sockets to work with any regular ratchet wrench, make yourself a quick custom adapter to pop into the top of the socket after it is inserted into the ratchet wrench. The adapter doesn't need to have much thickness at all to work, so it doesn't need to stick up a little bit like mine does. I only made mine that way so it's easier to get back off when I'm done using it. Your adapter would only need to have the top round cap overlap a small amount of the original ratchet wrench's 12pt box end chamfer in order to keep the nano socket from falling out.

You would need to make one custom adapter for each square drive size worth of nano sockets you have. I explain how to make one here-

low profile sockets to use with ratcheting wrench

I don't need a ratchet, extensions, etc, just looking for a socket set like this to use with ratcheting wrenches...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[qqzj]

If you want your nano sockets to work with any regular ratchet wrench, make yourself a quick custom adapter to pop into the top of the socket after it is inserted into the ratchet wrench. The adapter doesn't need to have much thickness at all to work, so it doesn't need to stick up a little bit like mine does. I only made mine that way so it's easier to get back off when I'm done using it. Your adapter would only need to have the top round cap overlap a small amount of the original ratchet wrench's 12pt box end chamfer in order to keep the nano socket from falling out.

You would need to make one custom adapter for each square drive size worth of nano sockets you have. I explain how to make one here-

low profile sockets to use with ratcheting wrench

I don't need a ratchet, extensions, etc, just looking for a socket set like this to use with ratcheting wrenches...

www.garagejournal.com

Interesting. Maybe these works too?

Amazon.com: OEMTOOLS 22535 Low Profile Adapter Set, 3 Piece Set, Converts Ratchet Sizes, 1/2", 1/4", and 3/8" Drive Socket Adapter Set, Designed to Fit Tight Spaces : Automotive

Buy OEMTOOLS 22535 Low Profile Adapter Set, 3 Piece Set, Converts Ratchet Sizes, 1/2", 1/4", and 3/8" Drive Socket Adapter Set, Designed to Fit Tight Spaces: Tools & Equipment - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

I once tried to use a piece of paper to secure the socket into wrench. It actually works very well. For occasionally use, not bad. I hope I can just buy the adapter you created though. Looks quite fancy.