New Torque Test Channel Video Wrench Testing Video

[Fedwrench]

The Torque Test channel released a new video with their new wrench testing machine they built.

Recently, there's been much knashing of teeth over anti slip open ends. The classic white plastic wrench tester from my youth reappeared for some unknown reason and there was even wrench testing filmed at the recent Snap on tool dealer conference in Florida.

At the end of the day, I'm not sure it any of it means anything. Use what feels best in your hand, you can afford, and what gets the job done for you.

 

[blackwire]

What was surprising is how well the Craftsman did given its price point. Bested the Icon and came close to the much more expensive Snap-on

 

[neophyte]

What was surprising is how well the Craftsman did given its price point. Bested the Icon and came close to the much more expensive Snap-on

Stanley can actually make decent tools at affordable prices when they care to, or arrange for the tools to be made for them.

 

[FigN⋅m]

I'm going to build a Pushy for stubborn pickle jars

 

[shoggoth80]

Watched that video. Enjoyed it. Those Cman branded wrenches seem like a good bargain. The Icon too. Decent performance for the price points.

 

[Andres26tnt]

The craftsman is the breakout star for sure. Deff a bargain as it's 70$ MSRP. Sometimes on sale for 40$ish.

 

[Fedwrench]

The craftsman is the breakout star for sure. Deff a bargain as it's 70$ MSRP. Sometimes on sale for 40$ish.

I've never seen the overdrive wrenches on sale in my area but, $40 would be a steal.
I think another advantage of the overdrive wrenches is the normal bent boxed end. The straight design of the MAC/FACOM/USAG wrench boxed end takes some getting used too.

 

[KnurledNut]

I'd like to see how the regular 12 pt. Craftsman long pattern full polish dark chrome combos perform in this test. They have a modified open end similar to Proto ASD. The box end rings are a little beefy but otherwise pretty nice.

Edit: Took a picture to add...

 

[GeoBruin]

I'd like to see how the regular 12 pt. Craftsman long pattern full polish dark chrome combos perform in this test. They have a modified open end similar to Proto ASD. The box end rings are a little beefy but otherwise pretty nice.

I'm sure they'll get around to testing more wrenches, particularly some of those included in previous tests. Proto ASD and Wright Grip would be among those I'd like to see.

 

[charbar]

Watched that last night...always nice to see some actual data instead of all this social media stuff.

Icon is impressive for sure for the money. When that icon broke it made me wonder if that can be done with a wrench extender/cheater pipe during real world use or not?

I do agree the star of the show was the Craftsmans....had me thinking I'll pick up a couple sets for road boxes.

 

[JessieAMorris]

I just grabbed a set of SAE Overdrive after watching it last week. My local Ace was out of the metric so now I have to keep an eye out.

The thing I’m really liking is the organizer. It takes up 1/4 of the space that my current setup does.

 

[Etchase]

It seemed like the pushy caught the Pittsburg and made it cockeyed. Snap On hasn’t finished first in TTC’s wrench tests in awhile, even though they are always given extra points for being what I think is overly tight. I wonder how MAC will score.

 

[WhataTool]

I don't think a 15.11mm wrench is too tight for a 15, it's a non slip wrench.

 

[tez929rr]

I just grabbed a set of SAE Overdrive after watching it last week. My local Ace was out of the metric so now I have to keep an eye out.

The thing I’m really liking is the organizer. It takes up 1/4 of the space that my current setup does.

I have a metric set in my Amazon cart. $64.99.

 

[Andres26tnt]

I've never seen the overdrive wrenches on sale in my area but, $40 would be a steal.
I think another advantage of the overdrive wrenches is the normal bent boxed end. The straight design of the MAC/FACOM/USAG wrench boxed end takes some getting used too.

I've seen them twice at 48$ if i remember correctly, maybe i was a glitch on the ACE website . Man i should had bought them, i thought they were having a sale on the Overdrive stuff so i waited.

 

[zmotorsports]

The Torque Test channel released a new video with their new wrench testing machine they built.

Recently, there's been much knashing of teeth over anti slip open ends. The classic white plastic wrench tester from my youth reappeared for some unknown reason and there was even wrench testing filmed at the recent Snap on tool dealer conference in Florida.

At the end of the day, I'm not sure it any of it means anything. Use what feels best in your hand, you can afford, and what gets the job done for you.

^Exactly. My son and I had this exact discussion on Saturday while working in the shop. I hadn't seen all the videos with all of the pissed off people and mudslinging until late last week. I watched a couple of the shorts but couldn't see what all the fuss was about nor could I bring myself to waste that much time finding out.

I mentioned to my son that I started wrenching professionally back in the late 80's using my Craftsman wrenches and did so for about a year before I started upgrading as I saw where I needed to. As for brands, as long as they do what you need them to do, I completely agree with you, buy what you think feels good and fits your budget. Most will get the job done and the rest is just bragging rights. I've made a living spinning wrenches and have done so with a couple different brands over the past almost 4 decades now. That being said, do I have a favorite or favorites? Yes. But I don't buy tools for anyone else, just me so I buy what feels good, what works and what I can afford.

 

[WhataTool]

I have a metric set in my Amazon cart. $64.99.

Those wouldn't be the new overdrive, more like Mac precision torque which IMO is not a bad thing, but not tested in the video

 

[AJHD]

Disclaimer, I skipped through the video. I didn't watch all of it.

But that said, I'm curious about the Craftsman.

Given their design, would you guys still consider these to be used as your primary daily use wrenches?
Specifically referencing the box end, not so much the open end, though this video didn't cover the box end at all.

I'd like to know your thoughts.

 

[WhataTool]

Disclaimer, I skipped through the video. I didn't watch all of it.

But that said, I'm curious about the Craftsman.

Given their design, would you guys still consider these to be used as your primary daily use wrenches?
Specifically referencing the box end, not so much the open end, though this video didn't cover the box end at all.

I'd like to know your thoughts.

Negative, even FD+ as your ONLY wrench set is pushing it. The 6-point IMO works even as a ratcheting design, but as a fixed, it's definitely for busting stuff loose, not an every day driver. 1/2 the points of access obviously. I think the internet drama was only about the open end grip so thats the video, which as you mention was already long as it is

 

[tez929rr]

Amazon delivered the Craftsman set.

 

[Odd-job]

^Let us know how they perform. Another member commented these Craftsman might not have as much clearance as they are "thicker".

I think I might be holding out for some double box end non daily use 6 point bolt biting (with some offset) wrenches to compliment my existing wrench sets. Not sure if any exist yet other than maybe this set of Olsa's?

Amazon.com

I have a feeling that something in RBRT form might be the way to go. It seems the Olsa's, Astro, Wave drive plus all work in one direction and seem to have a teeth deformation issue when really pushed. Also guessing they are less friendly to hammering on due to the higher profile teeth.

Between various 6 and 12 pt flare, Kabo and Proto biting open ends, smooth open ends, regular 12 point box ends, ratcheting fixed, ratcheting spline flex, and 6 point wrenches in a variety of lengths and offsets I think I am relatively covered on the other stuff.

 

[Ohio Andy]

I like my craftsman overdrive 11 piece sets in metric and SAE.

I just wish there were no skips

 

[Ohio Andy]

I like my craftsman overdrive 11 piece sets in metric and SAE.

I just wish there were no skips

And I think my next purchase will be a set of flexible wrenches. Thinking about this set, but I want to first understand the dimensions including the height first.

34-Piece Flex Ratcheting Combination Wrench Set with Organizer | TEKTON

Set Includes 1/4 - 1 inch (SAE), 6 - 24 mm (metric) flex head 12-point ratcheting combination wrenches with modular wrench organizer. No skipped sizes. WRC95305.

www.tekton.com

I own a few individual wrenches, but my but my only set of flexible are long handled double end wrenches that I really like.

13-Piece Long Flex Ratcheting Box End Wrench Set with Organizer | TEKTON

Set Includes 1/4 - 13/16 inch (SAE), 6 - 19 mm (metric) long flex head 12-point ratcheting double box end wrenches with modular wrench organizer. No skipped sizes. WRB96302.

www.tekton.com

They have seen a lot of use recently

 

[tez929rr]

dupe

 

[Kscardsfan]

Stanley can actually make decent tools at affordable prices when they care to, or arrange for the tools to be made for them.

I mean they should be able to, they have plants and facilities on every continent besides Antarctica at this point.

 

[Kscardsfan]

^Exactly. My son and I had this exact discussion on Saturday while working in the shop. I hadn't seen all the videos with all of the pissed off people and mudslinging until late last week. I watched a couple of the shorts but couldn't see what all the fuss was about nor could I bring myself to waste that much time finding out.

I mentioned to my son that I started wrenching professionally back in the late 80's using my Craftsman wrenches and did so for about a year before I started upgrading as I saw where I needed to. As for brands, as long as they do what you need them to do, I completely agree with you, buy what you think feels good and fits your budget. Most will get the job done and the rest is just bragging rights. I've made a living spinning wrenches and have done so with a couple different brands over the past almost 4 decades now. That being said, do I have a favorite or favorites? Yes. But I don't buy tools for anyone else, just me so I buy what feels good, what works and what I can afford.

For many years I operated under the assumption that pros only used truck brands, and only bought from one truck. I then learned most of the good wrenches used the best tool for the job and the bought from the driver of a truck, not from a specific brand. I think a lot of guys don't know that a good mechanic can do good work with Craftsman as well he can Mac or Snappy, and that a piss poor mechanic will round off a bolt just as fast with a Snap On or Mac wrench as a Hobo Freight special. But good tools do make a job easier and faster without a doubt.

 

[tez929rr]

^Let us know how they perform. Another member commented these Craftsman might not have as much clearance as they are "thicker".

I haven’t had to use one yet, but the open end on the 10mm is 5.96mm thick .

Husky 10mm: 5.34mm

Late 70’s raised panel Craftsman (42867): 5.67

Gedore Red (Taiwan): 4.85

The Gedore is the only one that feels thinner.

 

[tez929rr]

FWIW I have a set of the low end Pittsburg wrenches in an outbuilding and the 10mm is 5.06 mm thick.

 

[username2]

Cool test. It actually was interesting. They might as well spin the wrench and ruin the 12 pt side too.

I wonder if the sockets in the new super duper Craftsman 'Overdrive' set are superior in any way.

I would dearly love to see Craftsman become a premium brand, it would crack me up. Next up, they'll take on Nepros in the expensive handle ratchet department.

There's a little voice in the back of my head that is whispering that buying high-end hand tools is a waste of money. A person might as well just back up the pickup to HF and be done with it. Maybe buy a set of PB Swiss bits and call it good.

 

[ohhimark]

I haven’t had to use one yet, but the open end on the 10mm is 5.96mm thick .

Husky 10mm: 5.34mm

Late 70’s raised panel Craftsman (42867): 5.67

Gedore Red (Taiwan): 4.85

The Gedore is the only one that feels thinner.

The box end on the vintage Craftsman is beefy!