Raise panel vs. Smooth wrenches

[genog]

I always grab these first.
Had most of this set since the 80's and early 90's
So......polished wrenches are probably my favs

 

[dchawk81]

I always grab these first.
Had most of this set since the 80's and early 90's
So......polished wrenches are probably my favs

Mismatched years.

 

[d42jeep]

I always grab these first.
Had most of this set since the 80's and early 90's
So......polished wrenches are probably my favs

Nice collection! Those look familiar.
-Don

 

[larry_g]

I have some of each in your poll and can say none of those criteria makes a difference to me.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[genog]

Mismatched years.

I never said that they were bought at the same time.
Read my post carefully
Now, read it again

The first part: "Had most of this set since the 80's...." -Bought the 10mm-19mm off the truck in the 80's.
The second half of the statement: "....and early 90's" -filled in the rest of the set, to the best of my memory, in the early 90's

.....ok?

 

[genog]

Another favorite Go-To set
Oh...mismatched years
BFD


The point is, I like polished wrenches

 

[dchawk81]

Another favorite Go-To set
Oh...mismatched years
BFD


The point is, I like polished wrenches

 

[genog]

The point is, I like polished wrenches

 

[ez-duzit]

Prefer the raised panel Craftsman combinations because I've had them for ~ 65 years.

 

[PSCo1867]

Old timer to Rookie: "Hey Rookie.....grab me a 1-5/16" combination wrench. Do you think you can get that right??"
Rookie, shaking in his boots, to himself: "Uhoh, which one do I grab...the left or the right??"

 

[New Garage On The Way]

I prefer the satin finish so I don't get blinded by the glare off the lights reflecting off the wrench. Raised or smooth, I have both and have no real preference for either design.

 

[Provincial]

Old timer to Rookie: "Hey Rookie.....grab me a 1-5/16" combination wrench. Do you think you can get that right??"
Rookie, shaking in his boots, to himself: "Uhoh, which one do I grab...the left or the right??"

I saw a Williams raised panel combo a couple of months ago. I had never seen one before. When did Williams offer those?

 

[rooster59]

I like any wrench that does the job.

 

[PSCo1867]

I saw a Williams raised panel combo a couple of months ago. I had never seen one before. When did Williams offer those?

The JH Williams panels are by no means the oldest, but probably some of the rarest. AA has them at circa 1954-1959, with 1959 being the onset of the swan-song flat-shank style (of which a gazillion were made, deep into the 90s).

 

[craftsman creep]

I saw a Williams raised panel combo a couple of months ago. I had never seen one before. When did Williams offer those?

The raised panel and raised panel only.

 

[Provincial]

When I saw that one, which I think was an 11/16, my first thought was Craftsman -V- because it looked exactly like the classic raised-panels from the 1950's. Perhaps sourced from Moore Drop Forge?

 

[dchawk81]

I never said that they were bought at the same time.
Read my post carefully
Now, read it again

The first part: "Had most of this set since the 80's...." -Bought the 10mm-19mm off the truck in the 80's.
The second half of the statement: "....and early 90's" -filled in the rest of the set, to the best of my memory, in the early 90's

.....ok?

NOT ok.

 

[genog]

It better be

 

[dchawk81]

It better be

I do not accept this.

 

[PSCo1867]

When I saw that one, which I think was an 11/16, my first thought was Craftsman -V- because it looked exactly like the classic raised-panels from the 1950's. Perhaps sourced from Moore Drop Forge?

I believe others have alluded to a possible connection with the Craftsman panel wrenches and the J. H. Williams panels (probably in the JH Williams and/or Craftsman V threads). I don't think anything definitive was decided, but there's no getting around the similarity. It's hard for me to believe that JH Williams would have sourced wrenches from Moore or anyone else. But, did Craftsman source panels from JH Williams? And why did JH Williams abruptly cancel their panels? Apologies if the answers are old common knowledge.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I have no preference. I like them all. Regardless of personal preference, though, the history of wrenches with simple or elaborate panels is more than cosmetic. They were dual-purpose. Whether one likes them or not, they were added for what their maker's intended to be a combination of aesthetics and improved grip. Even forged-in branding has a history of dual-use as grip.

 

[ez-duzit]

...they were added for what their maker's intended to be a combination of aesthetics and improved grip. Even forged-in branding has a history of dual-use as grip.

The raised panels do improve grip.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The raised panels do improve grip.

Yup. Sunken panels, too. And branding. See DBEs in last pic last post. Anything that adds texture, raised or in relief, to the smooth surface.

 

[mogandave]

The way combinations wrenches are typically used, is grip really important? Knuckles generally get busted from the wrench slipping on the work, not the hand slipping on the wrench.

Probably 90% of my combination wrenches are seventies era raised-panel Craftsmen, but I like the few Snap-Ons I have better.

 

[nbpt100]

The way combinations wrenches are typically used, is grip really important? Knuckles generally get busted from the wrench slipping on the work, not the hand slipping on the wrench.

Probably 90% of my combination wrenches are seventies era raised-panel Craftsmen, but I like the few Snap-Ons I have better.

In very tight spaces I can also see how it may help in positioning the wrench with out droping. Not common at all, but I can think of a few times I had to do that with my finger tips.

 

[mogandave]

In very tight spaces I can also see how it may help in positioning the wrench with out droping. Not common at all, but I can think of a few times I had to do that with my finger tips.

In very tight spaces I can also see how it may help in positioning the wrench with out droping. be too thick and interfere with other components. Not common at all, but I can think of a few times I had to do that with my finger tips. when a thinner wrench would have been handy.

I like knurling, but it's a PITA to clean. Everything is a trade-off.

 

[dchawk81]

The way combinations wrenches are typically used, is grip really important? Knuckles generally get busted from the wrench slipping on the work, not the hand slipping on the wrench.

Probably 90% of my combination wrenches are seventies era raised-panel Craftsmen, but I like the few Snap-Ons I have better.

Coolant and oil can make a wrench, socket, ratchet super slick.

 

[mogandave]

Coolant and oil can make a wrench, socket, ratchet super slick.

Really?

 

[dchawk81]

Really?

You asked if grip was important.

 

[Mikeske]

 

[bryant 24]

Combination wrenches I like the smooth chrome Snap-On's, but I have more raised panel stuff.

It's those sh*t-grade rachets with the knurled handles I can't stand!

so you prefer 15 offset with reverse combo wrench,right?

 

[genog]

Taste GREAT!
Less Filling!

 

[Kuma601]

As long as it doesn't have a hard edge that hurts the hands and they have reasonable spec for the fasteners, I'll use either.

 

[MarcSeattle]

Both!

I like the "I" beam style for when hands are especially greasy....

The "smooth" style for "neat" work..

The poll needs another category: I-beam with satin (Stahlwille, Facom 440, etc.)

 

[MarkH]

I like the Wright satin finish.

 

[Glemon]

Never gave it much thought, but I do kind of like the feel of a smooth wrench in my hands better. That said, I still have the craftsman raised panel wrenches I got with my first real tool kit sometime in the mid seventies, so more attachment to them. From a functional standpoint as long as the are made right and don't break easily I don't care much.

 

[mogandave]

so you prefer 15 offset with reverse combo wrench,right?

You have me at a disadvantage...

 

[mogandave]

I think the smooth chrome clean up easier....

 

[Jim greengo]

I like the smooth handles myself,easier to keep clean.
I wonder if the raised portion on the other style wouldn't help to stiffen up the beam on the other style of wrench when somebody possibly puts a 10' long piece of pipe on a box end wrench for a cheater though.
Not that any of us have ever done such a thing. Hahaha

 

[ObnoxiousFumes]

Don’t matter, they all bounce off the back wall of the shop about the same!

But seriously, I think I do not prefer raised panels. Depends on the situation I’m sure though.