snap-on flank drive vs flank drive plus

[Sack]

Got my bonus today.

It usually goes into the kids college fund, but each year I upgrade one area of my tools. This year it will be metric combination wrenches.

I'm going with snap-on based on how the feel in my hand when I wrench at a friends house. Anyway, he has the regular flank drive. Is there really any substantial benefit in going with the flank drive plus instead of just the flank drive?

<- off to bed 'cause the female gets frisky on bonus days

 

[wrenchr]

As do all women when you have dough!!

 

[Deafautotech]

Got my bonus today.

It usually goes into the kids college fund, but each year I upgrade one area of my tools. This year it will be metric combination wrenches.

I'm going with snap-on based on how the feel in my hand when I wrench at a friends house. Anyway, he has the regular flank drive. Is there really any substantial benefit in going with the flank drive plus instead of just the flank drive?

<- off to bed 'cause the female gets frisky on bonus days

i own snap on flank drive and snap on flank plus... i would prefer flank drive plus because open end will grip on two sides of nut or bolt as flank drive's open end ont have grip marked and it would grab on corner of bolts...

the box end wrenchs are same but only is different are open end...

 

[ToolmanTom]

It helps only a little, having the grip so you dont slip (not because the wrench spreading but because the angle of pressure applied to the wrench) off the nut or bolt. But for finish work, like show cars and bikes I would go with regular Flank drive, not the plus. they are also a little less money.

Just my opinion as a mechanic and former Snap-on dealer.

 

[Merkava_4]

The Flank Drive Plus open end is a very effective wrench at grabbing rounded hex fasteners, but they are noisy; they sound like plier teeth being engaged on a nut. They also can (but not always) put a bite mark into the faster; which is something else to consider if you're particular about the appearances of your fasteners.

 

[joenero]

The do put a bite mark into a fastener when you apply a lot of torque, but you know it's in there good and less likely to slip or round off on you. Personally though, I see it as more of a gimmicky thing to have. Usually if a wrench is going to slip it's going to slip. I've really had no situations professionally where I've felt there was a big benefit to having the flank drive plus. On the other side, there's really nothing negative to say about it either.

 

[eschoendorff]

The do put a bite mark into a fastener when you apply a lot of torque, but you know it's in there good and less likely to slip or round off on you. Personally though, I see it as more of a gimmicky thing to have. Usually if a wrench is going to slip it's going to slip. I've really had no situations professionally where I've felt there was a big benefit to having the flank drive plus. On the other side, there's really nothing negative to say about it either.

What he said. I have a flank drive plus 3/4" combo that has come in handy a few times......

 

[chad s]

The Flank Drive Plus open end is a very effective wrench at grabbing rounded hex fasteners, but they are noisy; they sound like plier teeth being engaged on a nut.

Come on man, how could you really hear the teeth of the wrench grabbing the nut? And even if you can, how loud could it be? Maybe if your in a silent room, with the a/c off, and your testing the wrench with a bolt stuck in a vice, and maybe thats what you do. In a real working enviroment, a noise that minute is not detectible.

Plus, who cares?

 

[jimmycrackcorn]

Come on man, how could you really hear the teeth of the wrench grabbing the nut? And even if you can, how loud could it be? Maybe if your in a silent room, with the a/c off, and your testing the wrench with a bolt stuck in a vice, and maybe thats what you do. In a real working enviroment, a noise that minute is not detectible.

Plus, who cares?

Hey Merkava can probably tell you how they taste

 

[Deafautotech]

What he said. I have a flank drive plus 3/4" combo that has come in handy a few times......

ME TOO i bought brand new 3/4 and 5/8 flank drive plus for 20 dollars each because my snap on guy want it gone... but i used a lot of 3/4 and 5/8 wrenches for do flushes and transmission pull and install...

 

[wrenchr]

Hey Merkava can probably tell you how they taste

 

[Merkava_4]

Come on man, how could you really hear the teeth of the wrench grabbing the nut? And even if you can, how loud could it be? Maybe if your in a silent room, with the a/c off, and your testing the wrench with a bolt stuck in a vice, and maybe thats what you do. In a real working enviroment, a noise that minute is not detectible. Plus, who cares?

Hold on a second Chad!

Right now I almost have a complete set of SOEXM wrenches, but I'm missing the 16mm.

Rewind back to 1999. I bought a whole set of metric SOEXM wrenches, 10mm-19mm and I had them for 24 hours. I called the dealer and told him I tried one of the wrenches, but I couldn't handle the sound it was making and if he wouldn't mind swinging by the shop so I could trade them in for the regular OEXM set; he said "no problem" and came by after his last stop and swapped me out for the regulars.

 

[eschoendorff]

Hold on a second Chad!

Right now I almost have a complete set of SOEXM wrenches, but I'm missing the 16mm.

Rewind back to 1999. I bought a whole set of metric SOEXM wrenches, 10mm-19mm and I had them for 24 hours. I called the dealer and told him I tried one of the wrenches, but I couldn't handle the sound it was making and if he wouldn't mind swinging by the shop so I could trade them in for the regular OEXM set; he said "no problem" and came by after his last stop and swapped me out for the regulars.

Are you fking kidding me?????

 

[Merkava_4]

Are you fking kidding me?????

No I'm not; the sound gives me the heebie jeebies.

 

[wrenchr]

Like nails on a chalk board???

 

[bchee]

Williams supercombo wrenches have been mentioned before. Here is an incomplete metric set on ebay. I know some popular sizes are missing, depending on your application. I bought the same set and was able to fill in the missing pieces from industrial suppliers.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-...001QQitemZ110229767046QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

The grooves should be visible in the pict. I don't think they will leave bite marks on the fastener. I think they're just there to prevent rounding of the fastener. I also have the flank drive plus and they seem to do a better job of 'gripping' the nut.

 

[Merkava_4]

Like nails on a chalk board???

Not quite. I'll try to come up with an example later.

 

[wrenchr]

Like sand in your teeth???

 

[joenero]

they make noise? huh?

 

[wrenchr]

Yah Merkava is the only person that can hear it.

 

[wrenchr]

Yah Merkava is the only person that can hear it.

 

[jay50]

No I'm not; the sound gives me the heebie jeebies.

Ear plugs would have been a good choice...

 

[ToolmanTom]

Maybe the wrench is getting angry at the fastener and growling at it? is it a growling sound? like a dog on a bone?

 

[Zeroek]

haha makes me want to get the flank drive plus wrenches. I have the regular flank drives and I like those pretty good. I wouldn't want any other wrench than snap on.

 

[wrenchr]

+1 here!!!!!

 

[le6920]

Maybe the wrench is getting angry at the fastener and growling at it? is it a growling sound? like a dog on a bone?

 

[Deafautotech]

i could feel the 3/4 flank drive plus wrench chew the nut off... i am kidding!!!

 

[farmer gary]

I'm a farmer going to tech school to be an industrial mechanic. I'm looking to buy a combination wrench set, and am debating whether to get the flank drive or flank drive plus. I need to go up to at least 1 1/4" and 30mm. I'd appreciate any thoughts on which way to go.

 

[eschoendorff]

I'm a farmer going to tech school to be an industrial mechanic. I'm looking to buy a combination wrench set, and am debating whether to get the flank drive or flank drive plus. I need to go up to at least 1 1/4" and 30mm. I'd appreciate any thoughts on which way to go.

If it were me, I would buy craftsman professional.


But it's not me, so here we go:

I would buy the flank drive standard set. Flank drive plus is nice but not necessary. If you feel you need flank drive plus, do yourself a favor and simply buy one of these:

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/KNI-8603250.html

 

[Deafautotech]

I'm a farmer going to tech school to be an industrial mechanic. I'm looking to buy a combination wrench set, and am debating whether to get the flank drive or flank drive plus. I need to go up to at least 1 1/4" and 30mm. I'd appreciate any thoughts on which way to go.

if you want buy set then you only can get flank drive

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...7&group_ID=522&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

but for almost 1,000 dollars?? i would look for used set like ebay if had one?? Unless you will use it a lot..

Remember the Tools will make you and us a money...

 

[Deafautotech]

there is Williams wrenches for cheap price on ebay where i won a bid for 25 dollars on 36mm wrench (it is for 3.5L V6 camshaft puller to make right timing....)

 

[farmer gary]

I hear you on the price. I have some help with that though. I considered craftsman pro, but I talked with a mechanic who works on mobile hydralics alot. He says that snap on has closer tolerances on their open ends than the craftsman. Sometimes that can be very important.

 

[Deafautotech]

I hear you on the price. I have some help with that though. I considered craftsman pro, but I talked with a mechanic who works on mobile hydralics alot. He says that snap on has closer tolerances on their open ends than the craftsman. Sometimes that can be very important.

Oh yeah! i was told that some of Hydralic lines or hoses are easy to slip or too stuck (rust??) and it would be pain to try fix it...

if you are use a wrenches a lot then buy what you can afford...

I dont use wrenches a lot as i do with sockets...

 

[Merkava_4]

i could feel the 3/4 flank drive plus wrench chew the nut off... i am kidding!!!

Deafautotech,

You're lucky you don't have to listen to the sound it makes.

That reminds me, your Harley Davidson must be extremely loud.

 

[Deafautotech]

Deafautotech,

You're lucky you don't have to listen to the sound it makes.

That reminds me, your Harley Davidson must be extremely loud.

Thanks, my harley had Screamin Eagle air flow kit and Screamin Eagle Exhaust... i love to cruise down the highway (i always like to drive circle the I-465....

The reason is i want loud so drivers will know that there is motorcycle around on roads. My Deaf Hoosier bikers own many Harleys and they had loud pipes...

I was second owner of 2004 Sportster XL1200 Custom and it is loud even wake up the neighborhood in 6:30am in morning... But i had to traded in for Road King Classic because i am big man and sportster is nice but small for me to do long trip and transport to my work and home... i am enjoying to drive my Road King Classic...

 

[Sack]

Went with the standard flank drive. Decided the flank drive plus may be nice in certain situations, but they're kind of like a framing hammer that has ridges on it. If I need grooves like the flank drive plus I'll pull out some older scrappers and grind 'em a bit.

Sorry, didn't mean for this thread to go so long. Yikes.

 

[Merkava_4]

Went with the standard flank drive.

Did you go the regular length or the longs?

 

[Sack]

Did you go the regular length or the longs?

Regular. I have a few longs in 19 and 17 which are what I use most.

 

[Fedwrench]

As has already been mentioned the only difference between Flank drive and flank drive plus are the teeth on the open end (besides the price). I would strongly recommend a set of Flank drive plus in 8, 10-19, 21, and 22mm especially if you do alot of front end work. The are times when only an open end wrench will do and without those teeth, slippage and fastener damage can occur. They are definitely worth the extra money. I have also found 1 1/16, 1 1/8, and 1 1/4 sizes in flank drive plus real handy for freeing corroded and stuck ac hoses from accumulators but, you can wait on those sizes until you run out of normal stuff to buy.

 

[ToolmanTom]

And its entertaining to listen to the wrenches growl at the fasteners too..