New combo wrench choice

[charlestmann]

I am shopping for a new set of metric combo wrenches to compliment my snap on flank drive plus set. I would like to new set to be a regular opened end, meaning that they do not put a mark on the fastener. I would also prefer USA made.

I'm looking at SK 86127 which is long pattern 7-19mm 6 point. On Ebay for $199.00
Also looking at SK 86040 which is long pattern 8-19mm 12 point. With fathers day sale on SK website $209.47.

Also looking at some Williams Supercombos on Amazon. They all seem to have something similar to flank drive plus though.

Any other suggestions?

 

[drtyler]

The SK wrenches are good quality, USA made wrenches. Double check pricing at Eppys.com and harryepstein.com, but the prices you've given don't sound bad.

Snap-on without flank drive plus are your other USA made option, but for much more $$.

 

[Ign]

The SK fan bois will pile on me for pointing out: SK is very confused about the concept of "long" pattern. They're more like "just barely longer" than standard length of other manufacturers.

 

[LNKMK8]

Wright or Proto might be an option, both USA Made:

https://www.zoro.com/wright-combo-wrench-set-met-12-point-11-pcs-950/i/G1901608/

https://www.zoro.com/proto-combination-wrench-set-metric-18-pcs-j1200r-masd/i/G5920719/

Wright "Grip" and Proto "Anti-slip" would have the notches in the open end, but I believe they make the original style yet without those.

 

[charlestmann]

The SK fan bois will pile on me for pointing out: SK is very confused about the concept of "long" pattern. They're more like "just barely longer" than standard length of other manufacturers.

I am aware of their length. That's why I'm only considering their long pattern. They seem to be close to the length of the Snap On FD+.

 

[charlestmann]

Wright or Proto might be an option, both USA Made:

https://www.zoro.com/wright-combo-wrench-set-met-12-point-11-pcs-950/i/G1901608/

https://www.zoro.com/proto-combination-wrench-set-metric-18-pcs-j1200r-masd/i/G5920719/

Wright "Grip" and Proto "Anti-slip" would have the notches in the open end, but I believe they make the original style yet without those.

I did not know that Wright had a set without the Wrightgrip. I'll look at those. They are priced well and I am very happy with my Wrightgrip SAE set.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

While not US made, the German Stawille (sp) has a better design. Wide edges, light weight and bit of an offset for the box end. If you pull on wrenches for a living, it's worth checking out. The concept is not new, American made Tru-Fit did it decades ago.

 

[LNKMK8]

Wright makes some really great tools and are often a wonderful value. Just not as popular as others it seems as they are more geared towards the industrial supply side.

 

[charlestmann]

Wright makes some really great tools and are often a wonderful value. Just not as popular as others it seems as they are more geared towards the industrial supply side.

The Wright 950 set in your link appears to be Wrightgrip 2.0 according to a few websites and Amazon. I am not finding a version without Wrightgrip.

 

[MrSurly]

Check out Martin tools (all USA) https://www.toolsource.com/index.p...tion=1&keyword=+martin+combination+wrench+set. You’ll likely find their prices to be in between SK and SO.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tallpilot]

It looks to me like new production Proto and Wright all have the modified open ends.

Are you only purchasing these to have non-marring open ends? If so why get combination wrenches? You already have Snap-on. Get double open end, angle wrenches or service wrenches instead? Kill two birds with one stone.

https://www.toolsdelivered.com/williams-mws-31-satin-chrome-open-end-wrench-set-10-pc-6-27mm

https://www.tekton.com/angle-head-o...sizes=8-19-mm&storage-option=none&unit=metric

https://www.toolsdelivered.com/williams-mws-3510-30°-service-wrench-set-10-pc-19-40mm

Obviously they are shorter but if you have room and need extra leverage use a wrench extender. If I were pulling that hard on an open end I'd want FD+ though.

 

[charlestmann]

It looks to me like new production Proto and Wright all have the modified open ends.

Are you only purchasing these to have non-marring open ends? If so why get combination wrenches? You already have Snap-on. Get double open end, angle wrenches or service wrenches instead? Kill two birds with one stone.

https://www.toolsdelivered.com/williams-mws-31-satin-chrome-open-end-wrench-set-10-pc-6-27mm

https://www.tekton.com/angle-head-o...sizes=8-19-mm&storage-option=none&unit=metric

https://www.toolsdelivered.com/williams-mws-3510-30°-service-wrench-set-10-pc-19-40mm

Obviously they are shorter but if you have room and need extra leverage use a wrench extender. If I were pulling that hard on an open end I'd want FD+ though.

I have the Tekton angle wrenches (8mm - 21mm). They are really short. I have used them a couple of times for fittings but that's it. I am leaning towards the combos for more length and normal (straight) wrench configuration. I'll think about the Williams opened end set. I like the size range in that 6 mm to 30 mm set.

Right now I am leaning towards the SK 6 point set. The 6 point adds something I don't have but probably really don't need.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I did not know that Wright had a set without the Wrightgrip. I'll look at those. They are priced well and I am very happy with my Wrightgrip SAE set.

I gotta vote for Wright; if they make a non-toothed set. Great value for money, quality product. I have some standard open end protos as well; they're a hair longer than comparable wrights. Very nice product as well.

 

[Tallpilot]

I have the Tekton angle wrenches (8mm - 21mm). They are really short. I have used them a couple of times for fittings but that's it. I am leaning towards the combos for more length and normal (straight) wrench configuration. I'll think about the Williams opened end set. I like the size range in that 6 mm to 30 mm set.

Right now I am leaning towards the SK 6 point set. The 6 point adds something I don't have but probably really don't need.

6 point is good. That's the thought process I use. In that case you are getting something you don't have on both ends.

 

[turnthewrench 2.0]

Proto

 

[JR 42]

The lack of consistent terms across manufacturers for wrench length drives me bonkers for some reason... Williams US and Taiwan, Snap-on "standard" length, SK longs, Carlyle longs, all- gone Armstrong longs and US Cman Pros are all pretty much the same length. Wrights are shorter than these, but longer than "regular" length (Cman RP's, SK, Carlyle, Blackhawk, Armstrong).

Snap-on used to call their normal wrenches "long," and they were slightly shorter than they are now (back before there was a B in the part numbers).

Proto, Wright, and Tekton (and Taiwan and Euro brands) do their own thing on lengths and don't correspond to what seems like something vaguely resembling a consensus on wrench lengths in the US.

I'm almost certain all Wright combos are WrightGrip 2.0 now.

It can be tough to get a 6- point wrench on a fastener in some situations IME, but if the main goal is smooth open ends and you've got other long pattern 12- pt wrenches they'll fill a niche for ya.

 

[Tallpilot]

Proto

Send us the link for plain open end Proto please.

 

[Fedwrench]

All current wright combination wrenches have the wrightgrip feature. Wrightgrip wrenches are not long pattern by any means.

All current Proto combination wrenches feature anti slip open ends.

Williams supercombos also feature anti slip open ends.

However both the Protos and Williams use a notch type anti slip open end that doesn't really mar the fastener.

if you want long pattern, made in the USA, with a plain open end, your choices are limited to: Snap on, Cornwell, and SK.

You can always shop on ebay for the older USA made Craftsman Professional, Craftsman Industrial, or Armstrong but, the ebay crazies command premium prices for those. older versions of MAC (not knuckle saver) would also be an option.
Good luck in your quest.
There is a galaxy of choices if you drop the made in USA requirement.

 

[Wamsutta]

Why not get the Snap-on set with the regular open ends?

If I get used to a certain wrench style, I prefer to stay with it.

 

[Handyandy23]

What about Blackhawk? I don't own any so I can't really comment, but looking at US-made wrench sets available in Canada, they are a much more reasonable price than some of the alternatives.

 

[Fedwrench]

What about Blackhawk? I don't own any so I can't really comment, but looking at US-made wrench sets available in Canada, they are a much more reasonable price than some of the alternatives.

Blackhawk's long pattern combination wrenches aren't made in the USA.

 

[charlestmann]

There is a galaxy of choices if you drop the made in USA requirement.

I've thought a lot about dropping the made in USA. I even looked at a set of ICON ratcheting reversible at Harbor Freight a couple of days ago. $119.20 with 20% ICON coupon if I remember correctly. They would have filled the need but do not have an option of purchasing sizes above 19 mm.

The SK sale in until the 23rd so I have a few days to decide.

 

[charlestmann]

Why not get the Snap-on set with the regular open ends?

If I get used to a certain wrench style, I prefer to stay with it.

In a perfect world I'd probably get the Snap On. But money and stuff!

 

[JR 42]

Blackhawk's long pattern combination wrenches aren't made in the USA.

Wait, what? I didn't realize Blackhawk even had long pattern wrenches, couldn't find them just now on Proto's website (which kinda *****, and I suspect doesn't show their whole product line all the time).

My SAE Blackhawk combos have the classic Stanley fat beam shape that I really like, but they're the same length as Cman RP's.

 

[Fedwrench]

I've thought a lot about dropping the made in USA. I even looked at a set of ICON ratcheting reversible at Harbor Freight a couple of days ago. $119.20 with 20% ICON coupon if I remember correctly. They would have filled the need but do not have an option of purchasing sizes above 19 mm.

The SK sale in until the 23rd so I have a few days to decide.

A word on the SK 30% off sale, shop around for the best deal. Epstein's, and other places, often have better pricing.

 

[driftpin]

I just bought Craftsman long combination wrenches, yes, China, in metric 20, 21, 22, 23, & 24 mm sizes. I had some SYW points, and I didn't want to lose them. Ignoring the possibility of no-guarantee if Sears goes belly-up, I bought them to use-up my points. They were discounted, regular price of $99, five combo wrenches cost me $36 (SYW points applied) out-the-door. I figure the first time I use one, they paid for themselves. The 24 mm is 13-1/2" long, it has pleasing heft, and does not have a sharp-edge to the beam, which would be not-ergonomically-pleasing. I'll see how they perform.

 

[charlestmann]

A word on the SK 30% off sale, shop around for the best deal. Epstein's, and other places, often have better pricing.

I noticed that. It's weird. Some combo sets and their X frame ratcheting sets are cheaper on their site. Other sets are way overpriced compared to ebay or Epstein's.