Midget VS Short Snap-on?

[Childiaugz]

Hi, wrench noob here.

What is the difference between a midget and short Snap-On wrench? Standard and Long wrench lengths are pretty self explanatory for me.

However, midget and short both generally translate to sub-length and small distance.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Midgets have a smaller diameter beam, and less material around/at the ends.

A short wrench is the same diameter beam, and same amount of material around the ends.

EDIT: looking at the SO website, looks like what they call "midget" now is definitely not the same dimensions as the old SO midgets I have......

EDIT 2: ok, the SO midget is shorter than the short, but other than that has the same dimensions.

midget: https://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=633294&group_ID=674998

short: http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item..._ID=633258&group_ID=674997&store=&dir=catalog

 

[Childiaugz]

Wow thanks!

Which one would you prefer getting first?

 

[Dave455]

What Mohawk Dave said above ^, but ...

While the 12 point Midgets are just a shorter wrench than the 'short pattern', but cover a similar size range, the 6 point Midgets cover a much smaller range of sizes. You might term these 'ignition' wrenches!.

Also bear in mind that Snap On wrenches are longer than some other makers (such as MAC). So a Snap On 'Standard' equates to a Mac 'long', a Snap On 'Short' equates to a Mac 'Standard', and a Snap On 'Midget' to a Mac 'Short' (more or less)!

Which to get first?

In all honesty, get the Standard first. Most times when you need a wrench, you need the leverage. After that, get the Short. They will get in to places the Standard sometimes cannot, but are still a usable length!

I personally wouldn't bother with the Midget, other than in the really small sizes, as they just don't have enough leverage to slacken the average fastener. There may, however, be places that only a Midget will fit!

I have some short length ring wrenches (box end to you guys) that I use far more often than Short pattern combo's! Were I buying again, I'd buy the box end wrenches in standard and short patterns, and probably the combos in standard only. After that I'd get stuff like Flare Nut Wrenches (the Snappys are uber useful) before the short combo's!

 

[schmelpboy]

I've had the midgets for about 10 years. I can count on one hand the number of times I've used them. Bigger IS better.

 

[Childiaugz]

.... You might term these 'ignition' wrenches!. ...

...In all honesty, get the Standard first. Most times when you need a wrench, you need the leverage. After that, get the Short. They will get in to places the Standard sometimes cannot, but are still a usable length!...

...I have some short length ring wrenches (box end to you guys)...

I googled ignition wrenches and two different results appeared, short length combination wrenchs and double sided opened end wrenches with an angle. How can these two wrenches use the same term?

Here is my small snap-on collection so far that I have been saving for months to get:

Looks like short wrenches are on my next list!

 

[joel63]

I googled ignition wrenches and two different results appeared, short length combination wrenchs and double sided opened end wrenches with an angle. How can these two wrenches use the same term?

Here is my small snap-on collection so far that I have been saving for months to get:

Looks like short wrenches are on my next list!

You have a nice starter set there.

The short ones will make a good addition to what you have now.

Can you tell me what's the number of the kit bag?

 

[splicer64]

This is a very good thread...functional...thank you for starting it! I had standard 12pt combination wrenches (Metric&Frac.) for a long time before investing in shorter wrenches. I had a weak moment on the truck (S.O.) over a year ago and didn't think through what I was doing and bought a midget set 8-14 and really thought I had made a wise investment...turns out not. After using them ^^^I realized they were really to short...I've since bought 1/4-13/16 and 6-24 SHORT HANDLE and could not be more pleased...I still use the midget set occasionally but not to often although I use the SHORT HANDLE regularly. I use the MM set all the time...I have pretty big hands and they fit well...they are just long enough to provide reasonable leverage and fit is some tight spots...Cheers

 

[Childiaugz]

Can you tell me what's the number of the kit bag?

Thank you for the complements!

The bag code is C0902. I assume it is not the correct fit for my Ratcheting Snap-ons (Snap-On's website is extremely wonky for me and missing pictures), but I did order another one that holds 14 wrenches. I can measure the diemensions if need be.

 

[LUKE221]

I have the SO short wrenches and they are nice and I reach for them often. I have a set of Stanley SAE midgets and a Set of Matco Metric midgets and they really never get used. I would just get the SO shorts and pass on the midgets.

 

[pugglewuggle]

This is a very good thread...functional...thank you for starting it! I had standard 12pt combination wrenches (Metric&Frac.) for a long time before investing in shorter wrenches. I had a weak moment on the truck (S.O.) over a year ago and didn't think through what I was doing and bought a midget set 8-14 and really thought I had made a wise investment...turns out not. After using them ^^^I realized they were really to short...I've since bought 1/4-13/16 and 6-24 SHORT HANDLE and could not be more pleased...I still use the midget set occasionally but not to often although I use the SHORT HANDLE regularly. I use the MM set all the time...I have pretty big hands and they fit well...they are just long enough to provide reasonable leverage and fit is some tight spots...Cheers

So were the ones you’re happy with the short combo or short double box end?

 

[M6erfan]

I have a set of S-o midget metrics and use them relatively often. I work a lot on vintage motorcycles though so YMMV.