Open end wrench sets and brands

[four.cycle]

What are these used for?

I suppose anywhere they'll fit. I really kind of wish I'd had a set about 50 years ago when all I worked on was my French 10-speed.
Mine are still in the original box - unused. I sent a set to another member for Christmas, but he's fallen off the planet.
I would imagine they'd be most popular with mechanics working on bicycles and motorcycles. The design is not new - they've been around a long, long time.

 

[dnschmidt]

The requirement for thin wrenches is quite a common one, certainly for me. I’m quite surprised that so few manufacturers offer these.

I know nothing about Duratech, but just looking at the image you posted, their own advertising shows the wrench tapering in thickness, with really rounded tips. That really isn’t what you want, and suggests the wrench has either been tumbled, or crudely hand finished.

The fact that they are happy to show that image, also suggests they don’t really know what they are doing.

Thin wrenches sometimes work out a bit more costly as they often have an extra stage in the manufacturing process.

These older Facom, for example, were given a pass on the surface grinder to ensure they were perfectly flat, and consistent.


The modern Facom, although not quite as nicely finished, still seem to be just as consistent.


From what I’ve seen, the Capri appear to be essentially the same wrench as the Facom. If the quality control is comparable, and they are equally flat, then they would appear to be an excellent deal!

Many of Facom's wrenches are made by Rotar Machinery (TOPTUL), These look exactly like the TOPTUL, which I have a set of, and they are very good.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I haven't heard back from Mr. Tang on the dimension of the "Duratech" brand double-open-end metric wrenches, so I guess I'll have to wait until they show up.

@Dave455 - those Facom No. 31 DOEs are gorgeous!

 

[KnurledNut]

I have the Facom metric set and a mix of Blue-point, Snap-on and MAC for standard.

 

[WWheeler]

What are these used for?

Jam nuts and hydraulic fittings often are so close together you can't fit a standard width wrench on them.

Also, one of the more common places I run into a use for them are when there's a thin hex on the back of a sway bar end link (ones that don't have an allen on the end). Couldn't count how many times I just used vise grips on the rubber boot instead to keep it from spinning, but that's always in cases where I planning on replacing it anyway. If I'm just trying to remove it and then put it back, like to replace a half shaft or whatnot, that's when I need a thin wrench (or go buy and replace the end link anyway).

 

[Chipm]

Jam nuts and hydraulic fittings often are so close together you can't fit a standard width wrench on them.

Also, one of the more common places I run into a use for them are when there's a thin hex on the back of a sway bar end link (ones that don't have an allen on the end). Couldn't count how many times I just used vise grips on the rubber boot instead to keep it from spinning, but that's always in cases where I planning on replacing it anyway. If I'm just trying to remove it and then put it back, like to replace a half shaft or whatnot, that's when I need a thin wrench (or go buy and replace the end link anyway).

I was referring to the L-shaped socket tube style wrenches referenced earlier in the thread.

 

[WWheeler]

I was referring to the L-shaped socket tube style wrenches referenced earlier in the thread.

Oh, I've seen them used for things like valve adjustment where you can hold the nut and stick a screwdriver though the hole. I've always managed to get by with an offset wrench.

Here's a guy using a cle' a` pipe wrench to adjust a clutch on a yamaha.

 

[Dave455]

Many of Facom's wrenches are made by Rotar Machinery (TOPTUL), These look exactly like the TOPTUL, which I have a set of, and they are very good.

Yes, I believe they are, although the patterns were essentially Facom originally.

I share your view that they are very good, although in the case of this particular design, I think the original French made were just a fraction nicer.

I have every confidance in these though.

I quite the look of the Capri, which could be even better value!

 

[Chipm]

Oh, I've seen them used for things like valve adjustment where you can hold the nut and stick a screwdriver though the hole. I've always managed to get by with an offset wrench.

Ahh, ok - I did not realize they were open on the short end. Cool.

 

[dnschmidt]

Ahh, ok - I did not realize they were open on the short end. Cool.

For this application I use a angled socket wrench.

 

[four.cycle]

Ahh, ok - I did not realize they were open on the short end. Cool.

yes. open at the short end:

 

[Chipm]

yes. open at the short end:

A 22 would be good for strut hats.

 

[Etchase]

I’ve been completely satisfied with this 19 piece $35 thin set off of Amazon. The rolls are good too. Fit measured 0.004-6. I don’t use them much. Last time was the leveling feet on a table saw mobile base. Not really any high torque applications for thin wrenches.

 

[Steve_P]

I have a Facom metric set that I bought 10+ years ago; there were very few options available then for metric, at least in the US.

If I was buying today, I'd go with Capri; I don't have any of their wrenches but have some sockets and ratchets and they're excellent quality.

 

[WWheeler]

I snagged up that Duratech metric thin wrench set. They definitely are just 3mm thick. For $20 they it'll be nice to have them if/when I do need them.

 

[AdAstra]

I have the Facom and Capri thin wrenches right next to each other. Comparing 19 mm and 3/4":

Thickness: exactly the same

Profile: exactly the same

Finish: Facom satin. Capri polished, some small imperfections in it. Both have some grinding imperfections and broaching texture. The Capri handle corners are more rounded off, the Facom are more squared.

Dimensions: exactly the same. 19.28 mm or so. The Capri 3/4" is either using the same broach or is dimensionally .05 mm tighter.

I conclude they're from the same OEM, finished differently.

 

[Gangly]

Im a big fan of Milwaukee wrenches and Pre-China Craftsman wrenches. My milwaukee wrench drawer:

 

[four.cycle]

DuraTech DTSTWO8M 8 pc metric thin open end wrench set 06/24/25
Nicely finished.. Looks like nice plating. Pouch is well-designed.
Thickness varies only slightly between the smallest and largest sizes.

 

[four.cycle]

DuraTech DTSTWO8M 8 pc metric thin open end wrench set 06/24/25

For $20 they it'll be nice to have them if/when I do need them.

For what these are currently selling for on Amazon, this one is a no-brainer.

 

[KnurledNut]

Walmart sells what appears to be the metric Duratech set rebranded as HyperTough. Currently $18.44.
An in-store option for someone that needs them immediately.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I gave that set of "DuraTech" open-ends to my buddy last night when he came over to work on the truck. He took a look at them and seemed pretty pleased.
I told him "Now we don't have to drag out the bench grinder and sacrifice any more open-ends."

I just sent an inquiry to Mr. Tang at Zhejiang Yiyang Tool Mfg. Co. Ltd asking if they're the OEM on those "HyperTough" models. They do indeed look awfully similar (other than the pouch.) Hopefully I'll get a reply this time.

 

[Ohio Andy]

I didn't need thin often, but was tired of only have an adjustable thin channellock so I have that array and bought Duratech

https://a.co/d/9FjuEai

I have old Craftsman USA with since Tekton filler.

I have a large set of wright tools 6-32mm (one Tekton filler for the one size but available from wright) and 1/4 to 1-1/4 inch.

I have a similar set from proto with a reversible ratcheting end metric and SAE.

I have the same with 11 piece sets for Craftsman overdrive and reversible Craftsman v-series.

They all have their usage.

 

[four.cycle]

^ $45 ticket for both SAE and Metric is cheap cheap. I think I paid right about $24 all in for the metric set.