Open end wrenches

[dandan111]

You guys use the double open end wrenches? Seem pretty nice to have with different sizes on each end don't take up a lot of space. I never see them in wrench drawer pictures?

 

[Jason280]

They're nice when space is a premium, like in a backup tool kit in a vehicle. I have a few wrenches in my tool drawers in the garage, but not many. Now, personally, I find offset box end wrenches in alternating sizes are a lot more useful

 

[dirtydogintex]

They can take up less space in a tool pouch or jeans hip pocket....

My first set of wrenches were double opens.... prolly cause of cost!!

 

[GRX]

I have several double opens in my box, and several double box ends too. Like them for the reasons stated above.

 

[RCRGarage]

Ihave a set of double open end Snap On wrenches. The 17-19mm is nice for front end assembly on VW's.

 

[jetmech09]

The only open end sets I have, professionally, are tappet wrenches and angle wrenches. I, personally, never saw a need for an open end set as you describe.

 

[Outlawmws]

You don't see them in the pics a lot as unless you have to use an open end, its better to use a box end. I prefer combination wrenches personally but I do have quite the collection of DBE, with and without offsets in my main box, as these can often get where a regular wrench cannot. For open end work, the Combinations, tappet wrenches (for thin nuts in tight quarters) or tubing/flair wrenches are the answer. I do have a set of DOE in offset, but those have the same size both ends...

I have recently added to our DD car, a set of older "Auto-Kit" combos with different sizes at each end, so one set can be used in many cases to deal with a nut/bolt interface that requires the same size on each end of the fastener; with the caveat that one side has to use an open end. Usually not an issue. A #10 screw and wing nut keep them together through a hole in the middle. A slick tools solution that has been forgotten by the tool manufacturers...

 

[thightower]

Never really used them. But they do work in a pinch. Most of the Craftsman tool sets used to have them, thats how I ended up with mine.

 

[bcradio]

I prefer using combo wrenches. Its not very often that the sizes they pair together are used on the same job (in my experience).

 

[Jim C.]

Since we're talking about them, I've been looking for an older set of Craftsman SAE raised panel double open ended wrenches with the =v= manufacturer's mark. If anyone has a set to sell, I'm interested.

Jim C.

 

[mrjaw14]

I had a slight plumbing emergency last night. I had a DOE wrench set in my bag, only because small size, that saved my bacon. I hadn't used it in a while, so I was about to take it out, but they are staying in the tool bag.

When I am in a shop, I use combo wrenches.

 

[Arne73]

I have several DOE's but they aren't my go to tools. As others have said, I prefer off set combinations esp on a real tight nut so they don't slip off. The box end that is.

 

[wafrederick]

There are some areas the open end has to be used to break loose a nut.I see this with GM front wheel drives,the ball joint nut.The box end won't fit.Even with the bellhousing bolts that are studbolts for the ground wires when the bolt turns when you are trying to remove the nut.

 

[crewchief888]

i make 2 open end stubbies out of mine.

 

[Packard V8]

Yes, they don't get used a lot.
No, even though I've got combos and box sets as well, I wouldn't part with my Snap-on black industrial OEs.
Maybe, those who don't understand the need haven't turned wrenches long enough. If all you've got is a combination set, who ya' gonna call when you need two OEs of the same size? I've worked on front suspension tie rods and steering racks where the lock nut and the tie rod flat were the same size. Your results may vary.

jack vines

 

[crewchief888]

Maybe, those who don't understand the need haven't turned wrenches long enough. If all you've got is a combination set, who ya' gonna call when you need two OEs of the same size? I've worked on front suspension tie rods and steering racks where the lock nut and the tie rod flat were the same size. Your results may vary.

jack vines

guess i havent been wrenching long enough then,

or maybe thats why i have 2 sets of combo wrenches 1/4" - 1 1/8" in my service truck, along with a set of angle heads 3/8" - 1 5/8", & saltus 3/8" to 13/16"

 

[Packard V8]

If all you've got is a combination set, who ya' gonna call when you need two OEs of the same size?

or maybe thats why i have 2 sets of combo wrenches 1/4" - 1 1/8"

My point is/was there are many mechanical situations where two OEs of the same size are what gets the job done. If one prefers to have this coverage via two combination wrench sets instead of one combo set and one OE set, then good on yer.

jack vines

 

[gbick]

I have to chuckle at someone's delema of lacking 2 OEs of the same size, because as an old wrencher who started buying tools with his paper route money, I have over a hundred pounds of fractional wrenches and probably half that in metric. Most are comb oe &be. I also inherited my grandfather's and his brother's tools- both were millwrights. On top of that, I am a certifiable toolaholic who frequents pawn shops, and the tool section of every store. The drawers of my tool boxes in the garage and in the cellar are well stocked with the overflow readily accessable in pails. It is nice to have a selection of different confifurations, lengths, angles and so on. Any of these is a candidate for bending, cutting, or any other modification to get the job done. On drawer is just for modified wrenches. None of these are POS GreatNeck, or made in India, etc. The only chinese are some recent GearWrench ratcheting, in reversable and flexhead. In english and metric. With and without the stopring. Some would call this extreme.They spend their money in bars and on cruises. But you know where they come to borrow a tool. So anyway, back to the point of this post. With so many open ends already, I will not buy any more. With tool box space tight, any future wrench purchases will have the desired feature at both ends.

 

[vga]

I have a nice set of USAG metric 8-20 mm that are very thin but strong and I have used them often while doing auto repairs. Very handy to have .

 

[Boiler]

Our assemblers are required to have either two sets of combos or one combo and a set of open ends

Used often for hydraulic fittings

 

[sberry]

I saved out about half a dozen in 1/2 9/16 and took a pail to the tool boxes, stripped them all out and toss them in storage, just junk to sift thru that I didnt use trying to get to stuff I did.

 

[RedFordTruck]

With the new Chinese RP's, I wonder if they're gonna make double end Lobster Drive Plus wrenches?

 

[pipsters]

I hardly ever use wrenches. I stream-lined my wrench selection and still have a ton. I have 6mm-32mm & 1/4"-1-5/16" combos, 10-23mm & 3/8"-15/16" deep offset. And a few smaller ratcheting wrenches. I'm happy with my selection, and honestly have too many, but can't bring myself to sell off the big ones because you know you just might need one...

 

[RCStocker]

I worked in a machine shop when I was in High School
We made custom asembly line fixtures and many dies.
I had a lot of over sized head bolts. They are all in 32od's
the open ended sets all come with those sizes. I needed a back up set because I worked with so many nuts and bolts.

They fit in places my short, regular or longs will not do the job. I have the in SAE up to 1-1/2" and metric to 32mm.

I have 57 sets wrenches in my 2 shops and 2 grages. I am a tool junkie. Got the first tool box in 1955 and have been collecting ever sense.

I do a lot of furnitue resuration and you would be supprised on how may bolts you find. Piano benches etc. They all have square nuts and in hard to get to places. the open ended wrenches come in handy. If you are an auto mechanic I can see where you may never need them.

I find a lot of the 32od nuts and bolts on old engines and tractors. 1900-1950 the equipment and machines had a lot of the over sized head bolts.

I think I have them in 9 different brands. They are all about the same. The only fully polished ones I have are S-K and are they beautiful and smooth.
The best finish I have on any set of wrenches.

 

[MarkH]

Look at old catalogs. They are interesting. It is only recently in the Craftsman catalogs you see combination wrenches in the sets they sold. It used to be one set double box, 1 set open end. The combo wrenches showed up in higher priced sets as additional wrenches. If you needed two 1/2s they were on separate wrenches. No problem.

Many farm machines a wrench and socket did not work on.

 

[Gmonkee]

I have full normal sets of combos as well as a few specailty wrench sets, maybe 7 or so.

Just for giggles I got a quality set of DOE and another of DBE in the metrics and tossed them in the work bag, like grandpa would have had. (more or less)
The next week the metric combos were pulled out and stored. The 'old' way of wrenching gave me more options and worked great. I've stayed with that too.

It was an experiment that worked for me.

 

[PowerGenGuy]

I have a set of metric and SAE in my tool box. I use them regularly. I am on the road all the time and I have several handboxes that I work out of. I work in diesel power generation. I carry the open end sets in what I call my primary handbox. I have two sizes in one wrench, reducing the wieght that i am carrying. When I need the combo's with the box end, I just go grab them from one of my other handboxes. A lot of stuff will be fuel lines, you can't use box end anyways. I have worked with open ends like this for 12yrs, mind you when the job requires breaking a frozen bolt, nut, etc or high torque box end is used. My set is Wright, couple of SO, Craftsmen and Matercraft. They are nice.

 

[dsmnickk90]

If I ever got a set of open end it would be 4 way or angle open ends. I see their value in a road box also to save space and weight

 

[jmm]

I have a set of really big ones. I work on a lot of very large metric bolts at work where only the open end (box end, socket won't work) fits. Thus, they're very practical. Gotta beefy set of Heycos and a few Stahlwilles.

 

[Bob-B]

At the shop my dad worked at (metal stamping /machinery co) they issued you a complete set of Williams DOE and double box end wrenches 1/4" thru 1". I worked there in the 1970's and don't remember seeing many combos in the shop. I still have and use his set from the 1950's, though I've added combos too.