Snap On wrenches

[SC-AW11]

If you were to get one set of metric Snap-On wrenches, which set would you get?

I am thinking between
-Flank Drive Standard length
-Flank Drive Long
-Flank Drive Plus Standard

Each I was thinking 10-19, but maybe up to 22 on one? I have never really needed bigger than a 19 at home. except a 24 for camshaft. But this is part of the set Im putting together for future work when schools done.

Any other recommendations are welcome
Thank you!

 

[purplezr2]

FD+ for-sure

 

[Chuck122]

+1 on fd+ you Will be amazed at the ****** bolts it take off

 

[wise]

I just got a set of Flank Drive Plus 7 to 24 and 3/8 to 3/4. I noticed when you really torque down on them they leave bite marks on the bolt. To me this is a plus, but in 'show worthy' applications its probably not. Such an upgrade over my old wrenches!

 

[SC-AW11]

sounds like FD+ is a definite winner. Are the bite marks left with boths ends or just the open end? Im not sure if I mind them or not. I think they are prolly worth the capabilities of the wrench

 

[wise]

It's from the profile of the 'flats' of the wrench. And that's from really giving it the beans (full body weight pushing down and bouncing on it). When doing that I can literally feel no flex in the open end. The opposite side seems to have a sort of cambered anvil on it and I didn't notice any marks on the opposite end but I didn't take a closer look to be honest.

Expensive, but they seem amazing and I've wanted them for years but could never justify it.

 

[CWP1616L]

Don't get the FD+ unless everything you work on is heavily corroded. That FD+ makes hamburger out of nuts. If you work on clean stuff, get the regulars with the extra long beam.

 

[SC-AW11]

hmm Idk...

haha hamburger. Maybe FD+ is too much? But regular Flank Drive is still 5x better than a regular craftsman? I would be aiming for a dealership so I don't think stuff would be too corroded or oxidized. If it was home stuff, I like older cars, so maybe. I really don't know now. both have their pros and cons

 

[Skin]

Don't get the FD+ unless everything you work on is heavily corroded. That FD+ makes hamburger out of nuts.

This isn't true at all. I'm sure they wouldn't be good to use on soft metals but for automotive fasteners you might see a little line from a tooth. If you really crank down you'll see some damage but given the fact that a regular open end would shear off the corners instead of biting I don't really find that to be a negative.

This is all assuming you were stuck in a spot that required the open end in the first place (the box end is what gets used the most) in which case you probably want everything going for you.

hmm Idk...

haha hamburger. Maybe FD+ is too much? But regular Flank Drive is still 5x better than a regular craftsman? I would be aiming for a dealership so I don't think stuff would be too corroded or oxidized. If it was home stuff, I like older cars, so maybe. I really don't know now. both have their pros and cons

I took some pictures of what open ends do. Take a look for yourself at what they do when you really crank on them. Keep in mind that's about 16mm with all my weight behind them too.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2827447&postcount

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2832990&postcount=29

 

[CWP1616L]

This isn't true at all. I'm sure they wouldn't be good to use on soft metals but for automotive fasteners you might see a little line from a tooth. If you really crank down you'll see some damage but given the fact that a regular open end would shear off the corners instead of biting I don't really find that to be a negative.

This is all assuming you were stuck in a spot that required the open end in the first place (the box end is what gets used the most) in which case you probably want everything going for you.

I've seen the bite marks that it put on my ball joint castle nuts - I don't like it. I could've gotten the nut just as tight with a smooth open end, but all I had at the time was an 18mm FD+. The standard length FD+ was too short anyway. I'm gonna get me an extra long Cornwell eventually.

 

[Skin]

I've seen the bite marks that it put on my ball joint castle nuts - I don't like it. I could've gotten the nut just as tight with a smooth open end, but all I had at the time was an 18mm FD+. The standard length FD+ was too short anyway. I'm gonna get me an extra long Cornwell eventually.

what exactly is wrong with having a bit of a line imprinted onto a castle nut vs any other nut? Not like its any worse than getting zipped down by a well used impact socket.

 

[CWP1616L]

what exactly is wrong with having a bit of a line imprinted onto a castle nut vs any other nut? Not like its any worse than getting zipped down by a well used impact socket.

I don't like the bite marks - I take good care of my fasteners - keep them looking like new. Have you ever seen a Jergens flange nut? Those things are beautiful, you wouldn't want bite marks on it.

-

 

[Conductor562]

The FD+ are awesome, no ands, if's, maybe's, or but's about it, but as others have said, they may be a little too aggressive as an everyday set. If it were me I'd go long pattern FD among the options you stated.

That being said, are you set on Snap-On? Proto/Mac, Wright, and others offer anti-slip wrenches for A LOT less money. I have the Proto's and I've been very happy with them. I've also heard a lot of good things about the Wrightgrip models which have less defined teeth.

 

[Skin]

I'm still not convinced Proto/MAC open ends offer any real world advantage. I know you posted a video about how it will catch a fastener when you try to pull outward away from the bolt but if you actually crank around in a circular motion and look at what the open end is doing, those little indents at the ends aren't doing squat. The only designs worth a damn in my experience would be ones like FD+ (and by extension Wright Drive), Opti-Torque Pro, and whatever the heck the Williams one is called.

 

[Conductor562]

I'm still not convinced Proto/MAC open ends offer any real world advantage. I know you posted a video about how it will catch a fastener when you try to pull outward away from the bolt but if you actually crank around in a circular motion and look at what the open end is doing, those little indents at the ends aren't doing squat. The only designs worth a damn in my experience would be ones like FD+ (and by extension Wright Drive), Opti-Torque Pro, and whatever the heck the Williams one is called.

I don't wrench for a living, but the Proto's have worked well for me. I think the ASD's are effective against slipping, but I agree the aren't doing **** for rounded fasteners.

 

[SC-AW11]

Ya pretty set on Snap On. Not only do they seem like they are the best wrenches period, I get a student discount from them or matco.

 

[CWP1616L]

Another thing about the FD+ is that as you're pulling the wrench away from the nut, the teeth will catch on the corner of the nut. That slows me down if I want to turn, flip the wrench over, turn, flip the wrench over, ... and so on. They have their purpose, but I wouldn't want them as my primary set.

-

 

[BFHtime]

I started with flank drive plus ratchet wrenches. I did not like the bite marks on the open end. The hardness of the fastener, is a factor as well, not just how much force you apply to it. I then later got a set of flank drive wrenches, they do not leave marks in painted fasteners as well. I did not like the idea that painted fasteners, could be more likely to get corroded. I would get both sets especially with the discount. If I had to get only one set I would get flank drive wrenches. I would later get the flank drive Plus ratchet wrenches. I enjoy using the ratchet wrenches.

 

[Roots]

what exactly is wrong with having a bit of a line imprinted onto a castle nut vs any other nut? Not like its any worse than getting zipped down by a well used impact socket.

It creates a damage fastener, albeit minimally. In some non-automotive industries, that's not allowed.

 

[cgv69]

My take on it is this, the FD+ are the only wrenches Snap-On sells that might actually be worth the premium they charge but they are very aggressive. If that's what you need/want then go for it.

Otherwise I'd save some money and get a long pattern set from Armstrong, Wright, Williams or SK

 

[purplezr2]

I don't know, just buy a set of each. I don't use the FDP+ on fastners that I plan to keep/reuse. I see them more for rusted/painted/stubborn fastners. I use the box end as the second wrench when I need to remove something.

 

[sberry]

I can see a set of those in small sizes for corroded work. After about 15 mm it doesn't matter, most of the use for automotive may be even smaller where a damaged fastener would be an issue, exhaust stuff etc.

 

[Polski-Chevy]

Another vote for the FD+ best damn snappy wrenches I've ever owned

 

[Skin]

this is the "damage" that results from a normal loosening or snugging up on a nut with a FD+ wrench. Hardly "hamburger". This is just a grade 5 too.



In the process of snapping a few pictures I, very easily and unintentionally, rounded the same nut with a regular open end completely destroying the corners. I'll let you be the judge as far as what the most destructive wrench is. Some lines from cranking on a FD+ wrench vs rounded corners from a regular wrench.




By the way FD+ would grab and bite solidly into that rounded corner where a regular open end had become pretty much useless.

 

[ClrkLndeKmt'su]

this is the "damage" that results from a normal loosening or snugging up on a nut with a FD+ wrench. Hardly "hamburger". This is just a grade 5 too.



In the process of snapping a few pictures I, very easily and unintentionally, rounded the same nut with a regular open end completely destroying the corners. I'll let you be the judge as far as what the most destructive wrench is. Some lines from cranking on a FD+ wrench vs rounded corners from a regular wrench.




By the way FD+ would grab and bite solidly into that rounded corner where a regular open end had become pretty much useless.

Perfect demonstration!

I find them extremely useful on hydraulic fittings that are seized, or at a funny angle where you essentially only get half of the "wrench" on it and a traditional wrench will round the **** out of it.

 

[mdkingsley]

I have a set of standard lenth flank drive metrics and they are great. Got a exaust nut off a while back thet I could only get half of the width of the open end on and it still held.

 

[str8axle55]

I`ve had my set of FD+`s for 20 yrs, daily as an auto tech. I wouldn`t buy any others period. I love them, no complaints of damage.

 

[CWP1616L]

this is the "damage" that results from a normal loosening or snugging up on a nut with a FD+ wrench. Hardly "hamburger". This is just a grade 5 too.

Yep, a bite mark down the whole side of the nut - my castle nut looked the exact same way. Those wrenches are flat out ruthless.

-

 

[Chuck122]

Those wrenches are flat out ruthless.

I make sure i keep mine in a separate drawer away from my other wrenches. Otherwise the FD+ just eats the others. True story

 

[abvw]

One habit I picked up from abusing my cheaper Mastercraft Maximums is wrench linking. Anybody do this to their FD+?

 

[Chadwilliam1]

what brand of wrench was used to round that nut?

 

[Skin]

what brand of wrench was used to round that nut?

snap-on long

 

[Chadwilliam1]

http://bovidix.com/8-pc-double-joint-flexible-ratcheting-combination-wrench-set-inch.html

 

[MattPersman]

Another FD+ vote, sounds like since you get the discount you are in school to be a tech of some sort those wrenches will likely be fine and unless you are working on true show cars Or someone didnt tell your about this nut "damage" i doubt you would have noticed it on your own.

Those are my go to wrenches, but don't forget to get a set of gearwrench or similar ratcheting wrenches as well those can be your non OMG destructive wrenches lol.