To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

KABO COMPILATION: spline extra long flex ratcheting double box wrench

Ton ton

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 16, 2019
Messages
4,592
Location
Page County,VA
I bought my SAE kabo set through Napa. But I believe you may be able to buy them through other auto parts stores. I remember seeing them in the EZ red brand from Truck Pro. I have both the SAE and the metric set . I would say they're different. But I am not a rocket scientist so your mileage may vary.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

dnschmidt

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 3, 2014
Messages
7,279
Location
Phoenix, AZ
I have both a Mountain and an ICON set of these and KABO has had to have sold millions of them as every legit mechanic I know of has a set labeled under some brand. I just added a 21X22 wrench made by K-tool and would like to add a 24mm X 27 mm but from what I've seen they only make a 24X25 which is in my opinion throwing one side of the wrench away as nobody I know of has ever seen a 25mm bolt or nut. DOES KABO MAKE A 24x27mm VERSION OF THIS TOOL?
 

Callelle

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 3, 2022
Messages
640
Location
Depew NY
I have both a Mountain and an ICON set of these and KABO has had to have sold millions of them as every legit mechanic I know of has a set labeled under some brand. I just added a 21X22 wrench made by K-tool and would like to add a 24mm X 27 mm but from what I've seen they only make a 24X25 which is in my opinion throwing one side of the wrench away as nobody I know of has ever seen a 25mm bolt or nut. DOES KABO MAKE A 24x27mm VERSION OF THIS TOOL?
Yes, Cornwell offers it in that size with their branding.
 

assassin10000

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 11, 2022
Messages
375
Are the SAE ones actually a different size than the Metric ones? Splines tend to be based on metric specs, even if they are labeled SAE.

Well that's a good point, and now that I look more closely, the icons are only available in metric. But it appears several other sellers do offer a four wrench SAE set. So help me understand, how does it all work? What if I need to turn an sae fastener without a closely equivalent metric size?

I had to buy a 11/16" x 3/4" as the 18mm wouldn't work in place of the 11/16" on the older cars I sometimes see.

So I can confirm their SAE is different from the metric ones.
 

Dig Doug

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 16, 2018
Messages
1,108
So what should I get for a weekend warrior….

flex head
or
Double box, straight Box head. NO FLEX

Im leaning towards the Gearwrench 12 piece dbl box and then the adding 5 piece dbl box - No Flex for a total of 17 pcs 72 tooth metric

I’m thinking the flex head will pop loose or get sloppy

Which way shall I go ???
 

Madjik Man

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2015
Messages
1,524
So what should I get for a weekend warrior….

flex head
or
Double box, straight Box head. NO FLEX

Im leaning towards the Gearwrench 12 piece dbl box and then the adding 5 piece dbl box - No Flex for a total of 17 pcs 72 tooth metric

I’m thinking the flex head will pop loose or get sloppy

Which way shall I go ???

Those Gearwrench DBEs are not reversible, correct?
 

Odd-job

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 13, 2017
Messages
2,283
Location
SF Bay Area
Those Gearwrench DBEs are not reversible, correct?
The tradeoff being they take abuse better. Also somewhat better when you have 0 offset situation and also a lower profile than the Kabo/Mountains, but also far less flexible due to the lack of a flexible head. If you work underneath a car on jack stands, I would want something with a flexible head IMHO.
 

zmotorsports

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Oct 20, 2009
Messages
21,405
Location
Northern Utah
The tradeoff being they take abuse better. Also somewhat better when you have 0 offset situation and also a lower profile than the Kabo/Mountains, but also far less flexible due to the lack of a flexible head. If you work underneath a car on jack stands, I would want something with a flexible head IMHO.

Agreed, my oldest set of ratcheting wrenches is my old Matco set that are zero offset ratcheting with the 15-degree box on the other. They are still the ones I reach for the most when I need a ratcheting wrench but you have to pay attention where you use them to ensure you can get the wrench off the fastener as you can't simply flip a lever and reverse it. Mine are nearly 20 years old and I've never had to warranty one but I like having the box end on the opposite end to break the fastener loose before flipping the wrench around to use the ratcheting end. I am almost certain that is why I have never had an issue and need to warranty one.

That being said, the flex head does make a difference in certain applications and although I have the extended length Carlyle flex-head ratcheting wrenches, they are the least used wrenches in my toolbox. But when they're needed they're invaluable and I'm glad they're within easy reach.
 

M635_Guy

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 5, 2019
Messages
4,334
Location
NC
So what should I get for a weekend warrior….

flex head
or
Double box, straight Box head. NO FLEX

Im leaning towards the Gearwrench 12 piece dbl box and then the adding 5 piece dbl box - No Flex for a total of 17 pcs 72 tooth metric

I’m thinking the flex head will pop loose or get sloppy

Which way shall I go ???
I'd go flex. The scenarios when those have come in handy vs. my straight double box is a multiple. You can always add the non-flex later.
 

richfinn

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 29, 2011
Messages
4,815
Location
Leeds, Yorkshire, England
So what should I get for a weekend warrior….

flex head
or
Double box, straight Box head. NO FLEX

Im leaning towards the Gearwrench 12 piece dbl box and then the adding 5 piece dbl box - No Flex for a total of 17 pcs 72 tooth metric

I’m thinking the flex head will pop loose or get sloppy

Which way shall I go ???
The thing I would take away from this thread is that almost all the pro mechanics on GJ (who work on cars every day) have a set of the Kabo's in one form or another.

Or they have bought Snap-On for $500

You want flexhead/you want the offset/you want reversible/you want the 90t, these subtle touches will make your life a bit easier even if you don't care for the spline drive or "skips"

There is a reason these are the best selling type of these wrenches worldwide, they have the best set of features and everybody else is playing catch up in my opinion, the quality is decent too 😉
 

dnschmidt

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 3, 2014
Messages
7,279
Location
Phoenix, AZ
The thing I would take away from this thread is that almost all the pro mechanics on GJ (who work on cars every day) have a set of the Kabo's in one form or another.

Or they have bought Snap-On for $500

You want flexhead/you want the offset/you want reversible/you want the 90t, these subtle touches will make your life a bit easier even if you don't care for the spline drive or "skips"

There is a reason these are the best selling type of these wrenches worldwide, they have the best set of features and everybody else is playing catch up in my opinion, the quality is decent too 😉
You think you're getting Snap-On for $500? As an SNA shareholder I'm offended.
 

richfinn

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 29, 2011
Messages
4,815
Location
Leeds, Yorkshire, England
So what should I get for a weekend warrior….

flex head
or
Double box, straight Box head. NO FLEX

Im leaning towards the Gearwrench 12 piece dbl box and then the adding 5 piece dbl box - No Flex for a total of 17 pcs 72 tooth metric

I’m thinking the flex head will pop loose or get sloppy

Which way shall I go ???
The thing I would take away from this thread is that almost all the pro mechanics on GJ (who work on cars every day) have a set of the Kabo's in one form or another.

Or they have bought Snap-On for $500

You want flexhead/you want the offset/you want reversible/you want the 90t, these subtle touches will make your life a bit easier even if you don't care for the spline drive or "skips"

There is a reason these are the best selling type of these wrenches worldwide, they have the best set of features and everybody else is playing catch up in my opinion, the quality is decent too 😉
You think you're getting Snap-On for $500? As an SNA shareholder I'm offended.
Funnily enough I was on the Snap-On UK website today and bought a mini prybar for £24 (I must need my head testing)
 

nbpt100

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2016
Messages
2,301
Location
Massachusetts
The thing I would take away from this thread is that almost all the pro mechanics on GJ (who work on cars every day) have a set of the Kabo's in one form or another.

Or they have bought Snap-On for $500

You want flexhead/you want the offset/you want reversible/you want the 90t, these subtle touches will make your life a bit easier even if you don't care for the spline drive or "skips"

There is a reason these are the best selling type of these wrenches worldwide, they have the best set of features and everybody else is playing catch up in my opinion, the quality is decent too 😉
Very Well said. Bravo. The clear benefit is the access with speed. All the features you mentioned provide one or both. You can get standard size ratcheting box flex wrenches of decent quality for a lot less, from any one of 20 different brands. They will meet many of your needs. But they do not help when you have a tight spot needing a longer reach. That is what you are paying for here. I think the spline, 6 or 12 pt is a bit of a different issue. The spline gives a lot of flexibility. Just do not use it on a rusted or damaged fastener. Use it on rusted bolts at your own risk.

On an earlier post people were concerned with skipping the 9 and 11. I think it was RichFinn who said you do not need a long wrench for those sizes because they are pretty much only used on brake lines and bleeders. So get your flair nut wenches in 9 and 11. Don't worry about it with these tools. . . . . . For now.

As far as price goes it is disappointing they have all been going up and options down. It is out of our control. If you can be patient, I would like to think over time things will stabilize and competition may result in some good sales. If you don't have an immediate need be patient. HF may have a 20% coupon on Icon coming down the road. Did I suggest you should be patient????

Except with SO. I will defer to Dennis on how much you should pay for those.
 

richfinn

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 29, 2011
Messages
4,815
Location
Leeds, Yorkshire, England
Very Well said. Bravo. The clear benefit is the access with speed. All the features you mentioned provide one or both. You can get standard size ratcheting box flex wrenches of decent quality for a lot less, from any one of 20 different brands. They will meet many of your needs. But they do not help when you have a tight spot needing a longer reach. That is what you are paying for here. I think the spline, 6 or 12 pt is a bit of a different issue. The spline gives a lot of flexibility. Just do not use it on a rusted or damaged fastener. Use it on rusted bolts at your own risk.

On an earlier post people were concerned with skipping the 9 and 11. I think it was RichFinn who said you do not need a long wrench for those sizes because they are pretty much only used on brake lines and bleeders. So get your flair nut wenches in 9 and 11. Don't worry about it with these tools. . . . . . For now.

As far as price goes it is disappointing they have all been going up and options down. It is out of our control. If you can be patient, I would like to think over time things will stabilize and competition may result in some good sales. If you don't have an immediate need be patient. HF may have a 20% coupon on Icon coming down the road. Did I suggest you should be patient????

Except with SO. I will defer to Dennis on how much you should pay for those.
I just had a look on the Snappy site, you can buy a full set of Kabo for the price of the single 13mm/15mm Snap-On wrench.

I'm not knocking Snap-On they make really good tools for the most part, but some of the pricing makes my eyes bleed 🤯
 

ecotec

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 5, 2010
Messages
5,451
I just had a look on the Snappy site, you can buy a full set of Kabo for the price of the single 13mm/15mm Snap-On wrench.

I'm not knocking Snap-On they make really good tools for the most part, but some of the pricing makes my eyes bleed 🤯
This is why I went with the ICON sets.

I priced the Snap-on… but it was insane for my usage.
 

Ton ton

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 16, 2019
Messages
4,592
Location
Page County,VA
What kind of return are you getting on Snap On shares? I'm probably not using the correct terminology but I think you get what I am trying to say.
 

nbpt100

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2016
Messages
2,301
Location
Massachusetts
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

JWILL

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 18, 2012
Messages
151
Looks like Cornwell has the larger set in 120 tooth now the previous were 72t and clearly the same as my Icon and Carlyle.
Here's the set I bought Wednesday.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20230201_140001049.jpg
    IMG_20230201_140001049.jpg
    755.3 KB · Views: 77

JWILL

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 18, 2012
Messages
151
I just found this forum while I was hunting for a set of these wrenches in SAE sizes. So far, I've put together this list of brands and model numbers:

Mountain MTNRF7
Platinum/ATD 99750
Carlyle RWLBFL4
SK 89750
URREA 11MFL4
Cornwell CCRWLF4SA

Of those, the only ones I'm finding available are the Platinum which you can get for around $120.

I'm hoping to find a set in a 90 tooth version, so if anyone knows of a source, I would definitely be interested!

Thanks!
Not sure where in Iowa you are but take yourself over to the old Hobo Freight. My Icon set has been running good for over a year now. I'm a mechanic running a service truck in the mining industry. I've been impressed with them so far.
 

nbpt100

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2016
Messages
2,301
Location
Massachusetts
Not sure where in Iowa you are but take yourself over to the old Hobo Freight. My Icon set has been running good for over a year now. I'm a mechanic running a service truck in the mining industry. I've been impressed with them so far.
Icon does not have it in SAE. Many of them do not. There is a thread that listed a bunch of Brands that sell this style of wrench by Kabo. iF I have some time this morning I will look for it and post the link. IIRC a fair amount of them are not making it in SAE anylonger or it is temporarily unavailable. I want a set too in SAE and have decided to wait for supply chain and inflationary forces to stabilize. Yes the Platinum or K-Tool(same brand) do have it in 72 tooth and the price has gone up dramatically.

I use to think there was not a lot of practical value in going from 72 to 90 or even to a higher tooth count but with a longer tool like this, it seems to be more practical. Just wondering what others think. Is my thinking somewhat practical?
 

JWILL

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 18, 2012
Messages
151
Never said they did. My SAE set came from Carlyle at to be completely honest a bit of an exorbitant price tag.
 

dnschmidt

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 3, 2014
Messages
7,279
Location
Phoenix, AZ
How do you buy shares in Snap-On?

Is it easy?
SNA on the New York Stock Exchange. NOW YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IT AREN'T YOU? I always invest in companies that hook people: Apple, Altria, Smith & Wesson and Diageo. Apple is obvious, SNA makes tools for people that can't help themselves, one cigarettes, one guns, which here in America people buy like candy no matter how many people we kill, and the last one booze which although I don't drink apparently never goes out of style. You can hate these vices but they never lose money for you. If there was a publically traded company called hookers.com I'd go heavily into that one too. I’m as liberal as I can get but I don’t let my political views interfere with my investing decisions. Money doesn’t make moral decisions.
 
Last edited:

richfinn

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 29, 2011
Messages
4,815
Location
Leeds, Yorkshire, England
SNA on the New York Stock Exchange. NOW YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IT AREN'T YOU? I always invest in companies that hook people: Apple, Altria, Smith & Wesson and Diageo. Apple is obvious, SNA makes tools for people that can't help themselves, one cigarettes, one guns, which here in America people buy like candy no matter how many people we kill, and the last one booze which although I don't drink apparently never goes out of style. You can hate these vices but they never lose money for you. If there was a publically traded company called hookers.com I'd go heavily into that one too. I’m as liberal as I can get but I don’t let my political views interfere with my investing decisions. Money doesn’t make moral decisions.
Yep, you have piqued my interest.

Snap-On have had plenty of money out of me, it would be nice to claw some back 🤣

Talking of booze, I've kept the Timothy Taylors brewery in business for the last 35 years, come to think of it 🤐
 

nbpt100

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2016
Messages
2,301
Location
Massachusetts
SNA on the New York Stock Exchange. NOW YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IT AREN'T YOU? I always invest in companies that hook people: Apple, Altria, Smith & Wesson and Diageo. Apple is obvious, SNA makes tools for people that can't help themselves, one cigarettes, one guns, which here in America people buy like candy no matter how many people we kill, and the last one booze which although I don't drink apparently never goes out of style. You can hate these vices but they never lose money for you. If there was a publically traded company called hookers.com I'd go heavily into that one too. I’m as liberal as I can get but I don’t let my political views interfere with my investing decisions. Money doesn’t make moral decisions.
Rich: I don't know what it is like in the EU but in the US you can open a Brokerage account and buy any publicly traded company. It is like opening a bank account. Commisions have dropped a lot over the years with internet trading and some accounts will let you trade commision free. I remember my Father telling me some commissions could be 50-$100 per trade. He did not own a lot of stocks but he had some. Back then there were only full service stock brokers. You had to buy shares in lots in multples of 10 or 25 etc. you could not buy 1/2 or 1 or 3 or 11 shares of a company. When the price/share is high it becames a deterent to the retail investor market. Therefore companies would have share splits when the price became too high. That does not really happen any longer. Now that you can by fractional shares its purpose is no longer needed. In the US with many online brokers you can now by $5 of Apple or Bershire Hathaway and it is no sweat.

I'm Not sure what it may be like in the EU or the UK. ???? let us know.

The way I look at vice stocks is that you can make money off of them and then use that money as donations to things that fight smoking or gun violance, etc. Use their stock success against them. When you buy a stock you are giving the money to the seller. Not the company. Some people think you are giving money directly to the company. Almost always no. Unless it is an IPO or the company is holding its own shares and selling to the open public. Like the pink sheet stuff that is usually junk anyway. A very, very tiny % of all stock sales goes directly to the company. It is like buying a used tool. If you buy a used tool the money does not go to the manufacterer but to the owner. Unless they actually own it, which theoretically may happen I guess but its gotta be rare. A vast majority of mid and large cap publicly traded stocks are owned by Institutions like Insurance companies, pension funds and mutual funds. Not individuals and not the company itself. But if that still bothers someone then do not buy them. It is not worth losing sleep over. Use your money to fuel what makes you feel better. That is what money should be used for.
 

nbpt100

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2016
Messages
2,301
Location
Massachusetts
Are we going to have to wait for the patent to run out for someone other than KABO to make something close? IDK. One of your guys in the tool business may know?
 

nbpt100

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2016
Messages
2,301
Location
Massachusetts
Thanks. I have seen this. Just some observations. The K-Tool set says it is reversible but if you look at the pictures it clearly is not. It also does not have the raised ring. Maybe it is an error. IDK? People want the reversible ratchet with the raised ring design. That seems to be the exclusive KABO design. On the plus side it does come with a hard plastic case as most do not.

ATD, Advanced tool design, I have not seen that listed as a Kabo made brand. Can anyone confirm if it is? Is someone making a KABO knock off now?
 

aspireguy95

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 18, 2014
Messages
138
It looks like the k-tool has a reverse switch under the gear that’s pushes side to side with arrows on it I could be wrong though as I have never seen them before until yesterday
 

dnschmidt

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 3, 2014
Messages
7,279
Location
Phoenix, AZ

Belanice

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 18, 2022
Messages
80
Kamasa Tools K2840(8x10), K2841(12x14), K2842(13x15), K2843(16x18), K2844(17x19)
90-tooth



It seems they are 12 point, not spline drive.Dlugi-klucz-oczkowy-dwustronny-z-grzechotka-16x18-Rodzaj-klucza-oczkowy.jpg
Dlugi-klucz-oczkowy-dwustronny-z-grzechotka-16x18.jpg
 
Last edited:

richfinn

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 29, 2011
Messages
4,815
Location
Leeds, Yorkshire, England
Rich: I don't know what it is like in the EU but in the US you can open a Brokerage account and buy any publicly traded company. It is like opening a bank account. Commisions have dropped a lot over the years with internet trading and some accounts will let you trade commision free. I remember my Father telling me some commissions could be 50-$100 per trade. He did not own a lot of stocks but he had some. Back then there were only full service stock brokers. You had to buy shares in lots in multples of 10 or 25 etc. you could not buy 1/2 or 1 or 3 or 11 shares of a company. When the price/share is high it becames a deterent to the retail investor market. Therefore companies would have share splits when the price became too high. That does not really happen any longer. Now that you can by fractional shares its purpose is no longer needed. In the US with many online brokers you can now by $5 of Apple or Bershire Hathaway and it is no sweat.

I'm Not sure what it may be like in the EU or the UK. ???? let us know.

The way I look at vice stocks is that you can make money off of them and then use that money as donations to things that fight smoking or gun violance, etc. Use their stock success against them. When you buy a stock you are giving the money to the seller. Not the company. Some people think you are giving money directly to the company. Almost always no. Unless it is an IPO or the company is holding its own shares and selling to the open public. Like the pink sheet stuff that is usually junk anyway. A very, very tiny % of all stock sales goes directly to the company. It is like buying a used tool. If you buy a used tool the money does not go to the manufacterer but to the owner. Unless they actually own it, which theoretically may happen I guess but its gotta be rare. A vast majority of mid and large cap publicly traded stocks are owned by Institutions like Insurance companies, pension funds and mutual funds. Not individuals and not the company itself. But if that still bothers someone then do not buy them. It is not worth losing sleep over. Use your money to fuel what makes you feel better. That is what money should be used for.

I must of missed this post, thanks for the advice I will take a look at SNA, I don't have any issues with Snap-On, I've always believed in consumer choice, I just find the pricing a little bit extortionate for my needs sometimes 🙂
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom