How to store X beams effectively

[csmitty]

So I got a good deal on some GW ones so figured i'd add them to the stable. Only thing is I can't seem to come up with a good way of maximizing space with them. Currently they're just as in the pic, other wrench's have moved around some but the GW are in the same spot so you get the idea. Just think surely there's a better way.

 

[Obie]

Don't have a picture handy, but I store mine on their side with the box ends touching and the open ends stacked, basically. I don't use the crossforce ones too much though, so it's not an efficient solution if you use them a lot.

 

[Obie]

Oh, and looking at your box reminds me of something funny. I was looking at a picture of your wrench drawer in another thread while I was falling asleep, and it somehow wound up as the background to my phone for a week. I wasn't complaining though, haha.

 

[csmitty]

Yea I agree I haven't used them much either just a handful of times. I basically can't pass up a good deal though, suppose there are worse diseases. If you get a chance throw up a picture. Might have to come up with something custom. All my other GW's are in grippers, or foam in the Jeep and Dodge. Not X beams though.

Haha, thats pretty funny, the same picture? Must have been when I first got it loaded up since its changed some since then. Just the only one I could find to post at the moment, probably from the other thread. I find whenever I start to doze I do more right clicks on the mouse for some reason.

 

[chopper1]

I leave mine in the original box.

 

[TheGrooveking]

I hang mine,

TheGrooveking

 

[csmitty]

Those racks are nice, what brand are they?

 

[TheGrooveking]

Mechanics Time Saver, they are magnetic, but because I have them on the inside of the lid of my cart, I added a few aluminum rivets to help hold them because there is a lot of leverage on them when I take the lid from the closed position to the open position.

TheGrooveking

 

[Sterff]

This is an older picture but, I keep mine like this...

 

[archirelic]

Those magnetic Mechanics Time Saver wrench racks are nice!

 

[burnitwithfire]

Pardon my ignorance but what's the advantage of a x beam wrench over a normal one?

 

[Sterff]

There is more wrench in contact with your hand. It creates more leverage and is more comfortable.

 

[csmitty]

Ah yes I see the MTS now. I just hadn't seen any magnetic ones before. Not sure where the heck I'd hang them though.

 

[diesel research]

There is more wrench in contact with your hand. It creates more leverage and is more comfortable.

Leverage is calculated only by length/distance, not width or surface area or anything else like that.

The ergo is the reason. Just like asking someone which end of a knife is more comfortable to apply a firm grip to? the blade or the handle?

Pain or discomfort is going to be experienced by a certain psi depending on the individual. That psi would be force over surface area. By increasing surface area (gripping on the wide part) it allows higher force while still maintaining the same or less psi (load is spread out further)


There could be a strength gain in the beam, but most of us don't bend wrenches bare handed.

 

[Todd.Brock]

I like the cross beams. My brother has a set of c-man. I really like the Matco sticker on that box though!

 

[franzdom]

There could be a strength gain in the beam, but most of us don't bend wrenches bare handed.

Actually, all of us bend wrenches bare handed, but not usually past yield.

 

[diesel research]

Actually, all of us bend wrenches bare handed, but not usually past yield.

My SKs are too short and fat to get any amount of measurable deflection. The snappys are too thin/sharp to apply enough force w/o experiencing a good bit of discomfort.

 

[Fantom]

Leverage is calculated only by length/distance, not width or surface area or anything else like that.

The ergo is the reason. Just like asking someone which end of a knife is more comfortable to apply a firm grip to? the blade or the handle?

Pain or discomfort is going to be experienced by a certain psi depending on the individual. That psi would be force over surface area. By increasing surface area (gripping on the wide part) it allows higher force while still maintaining the same or less psi (load is spread out further)

There could be a strength gain in the beam, but most of us don't bend wrenches bare handed.

Uhh...what? Torque = force x distance. In your definition of "leverage", what is length/distance?

Assuming you mean the correct equation for torque, yes, of course surface area matters. You can apply way more force to a knifes handle than the blade. Why? Force = area x pressure. In other words, the more pressure you apply to a larger area results in more force. It's not "ergonomics" why you grab the fat end of a knife (or X-beam). This has nothing to do with pain...or the topic at hand.

With that said, I am also interested in a good way to store my X-beams.

 

[diesel research]

Uhh...what? Torque = force x distance. In your definition of "leverage", what is length/distance?

Assuming you mean the correct equation for torque, yes, of course surface area matters. You can apply way more force to a knifes handle than the blade. Why? Force = area x pressure. In other words, the more pressure you apply to a larger area results in more force. It's not "ergonomics" why you grab the fat end of a knife (or X-beam). This has nothing to do with pain...or the topic at hand.

I can see you are quite confused. It plays no part. Plain and simple, just like the equation you posted, there is no "surface area" involved in torque. Excluding strength from the equation, and using a mechanical device like a jack (that does not feel pain) I can apply just as much force to a wrench regardless of twisted or straight beam. When you are using bare hands there is only 3 limiting factors. The max amount of force you can generate regardless of shape, yield point of tool, and pain tolerance.

It is ALL about ergonomics. You can apply just as much force either way. One is just less painful than the other. The same goes with knife handles, ratchet handles, or jack handles.

If you take 3 seconds to look at the x beam website, you will see gearwrench also agrees.

lets you work the wider side of the wrench for more power with less stress on your hands

and then add a little logo for some arthritis foundation.

Confused still?

 

[Fantom]

Have you ever taken a physics class? I thought it was implied but combine the two equations. Torque = force x distance. Force = pressure x area.

You can generate as much force as you want but transferring that force to a bolt is where it counts.

And of course the companies are going to say the wrench feels better in your hand, that's marketing at its finest. Who cares about all the physics nonsense about why anyway?

I would be happy to take this to PMs to not derail this thread further.

Edit: Just saw that quote from gearwrench. Read it again with the correct part emphasized; "for more power."

 

[usdemt]

I use these, they work great but they are not cheap.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=storage&item_ID=78498&group_ID=3226&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[Danglerb]

As soon as somebody bends an X wrench with their hands all the force on the fastener stuff will mean something, but not until. Dunno if its smart, but sometimes I pull the wrench with one hand and hit it on the end with the palm of my other hand, sort of an idiots deadblow hammer.

 

[csmitty]

Have you ever taken a physics class? I thought it was implied but combine the two equations. Torque = force x distance. Force = pressure x area.

You can generate as much force as you want but transferring that force to a bolt is where it counts.

And of course the companies are going to say the wrench feels better in your hand, that's marketing at its finest. Who cares about all the physics nonsense about why anyway?

I would be happy to take this to PMs to not derail this thread further.

Edit: Just saw that quote from gearwrench. Read it again with the correct part emphasized; "for more power."

The way I see it, coming from a ME's perspective, is that you can apply more power to the wrench because your experiencing less pressure on your hand by increasing the surface area that your applying the force to. The only way you can get more power on the bolt is to increase the torque, which you can only do with either more length, or more force.

In reality your probably decreasing the wrench's strength by twisting it, decreasing the MOI in the upper half of the wrench. Probably not enough to make a difference but just an observation.

Always appreciate a good engineering debate We used to have some good heat transfer ones at parties.

 

[csmitty]

I use these, they work great but they are not cheap.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=storage&item_ID=78498&group_ID=3226&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Any pictures or how you have them? Def. interested to see.

 

[4x4gearhead]

I stored mine in a half moon shape with the box ends touching and the open ends laying flat against each other, then I realized the reinforced box end doesnt fit on most things due to its thickness, and bought a normal set, the x beams are used at home now.

 

[scott4]

I like this style from Matco.

No, these aren't mine. I am on the lookout for something just like this to store my x force wrenches.

 

[csmitty]

Looks like just some standard trays that one end doesn't really fit in. Maybe I'll try a set in one of my ernst grippers and see what happens.