Source for Super-Thin Ignition Wrenches??

[John in OH]

I've come across a small project that has quite a few very thin nuts (mostly thin #5 to #10 nuts) in confined spaces. I tried to use my Cman ignition wrenches, but even they are too thick.

Can anyone recommend a source for a set of thin ignition wrenches in the 3/16" to 3/8" range?? I'm remembering the "old fashioned" ignition wrenches that looked to be stamped out of 12 or 14 ga. steel, but don't know if anyone makes these any longer?

 

[finn]

Belt sander or bench grinder will customize your Craftsman wrenches in a jiffy.

 

[Gmonkee]

Oxwall hasn't made wrenches since the late 80's but you can find them EVERYWHERE for cheap to free.

They used to be sold in nearly every 5 and dime for cheap when new.


I have probably four sets and a handful of spares. Sure, they are **** but for low torque stuff they are ok.

 

[jakemac]

Try this
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-13-Vintage-Globemaster-Ignition-Wrench-Wrenches-Japan-Thin-Profile/182883694657?hash=item2a94b7b841:gOcAAOSwAr9ZgOs7

 

[eentzel]

Would a cone wrench work?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cone_wrench

 

[Dingleburry]

Belt sander or bench grinder will customize your Craftsman wrenches in a jiffy.

This.

 

[ca90ss]

https://www.amazon.com/Engineer-TWM-07-Adjustable-Monkey-Wrench/dp/B002MJJ9EK/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1510604045&sr=1-1&keywords=twm-07

 

[four.cycle]

John you can find all kinds of "Oxwall" sets on Ebay - some sellers think they're made out of platinum, but you should be able to find a complete set in that size range for about $10 bucks.

Others which are plentiful on Ebay in that style: Kastar, Dunlap, Meteor - all the older stamped-steel type (not forged):

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dunlap-Ign...004490?hash=item25e4b73f4a:g:blIAAOSwovNaCOqQ

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ox...636644?hash=item2f0eac5024:g:AVwAAOSwz~paBkYw

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ox...589813?hash=item25e28b9a75:g:zMQAAOSwX3NZbW9N

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kastar-No-...630500?hash=item41d3e146a4:g:0EUAAOSwYIxX5Atc

(cheap import set, but it doesn't go down to 3/16"):
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Combinatio...264552?hash=item3af62d42e8:g:rggAAOSwSypY9tV3

* looks like this one might be the best choice:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wrench-Set...412552?hash=item466e032cc8:g:av4AAOSwblZZIPct

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Fl...018539?hash=item3af61a3fab:g:fqsAAOSwAr9ZgpTP

I don't think you're going to find a "cone wrench" that small - Park Tools makes them, but usually the sizes are larger than 3/8".

And then there's this type of "precision wrench" set, although this example doesn't go up to 3/8":
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-GL...799254?hash=item362445f816:g:bTwAAOSwIhxZa7L8

Here's an older (star logo) Kastar set that I have. It looks like the thickness at the business end is just shy of 3/32". I also have sets like this made by Oxwall and Dunlap, and I do not believe there's a big variance in thickness (although I don't know where the others are right now so I can't measure them.)
Unless I am mistaken, though, sets made by Kastar, Oxwall, Dunlap, and Globemaster only went down to 13/64".

 

[Strouty]

I have thin Snap On wrenches, half the wrench for twice the price!

 

[Mecha]

I went to Harry Epstein this last Friday and saw these, super thin, but handles are a little bigger.

https://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/8-pc-open-end-wrench-set.html

https://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/16-pc-metric-standard-micro-wrench-set.html

 

[redmondjp]

I confess to having cut, heated and bent, and ground-on more than a few auto-parts-store wrenches. When the book calls out for special tool J2752-43B, you tend to get creative.

 

[Strouty]

I went to Harry Epstein this last Friday and saw these, super thin, but handles are a little bigger.

https://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/8-pc-open-end-wrench-set.html

https://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/16-pc-metric-standard-micro-wrench-set.html

Thanks, now I placed an order for multiple tools I didn't really need.

 

[anndel]

Park tools for bicycles have flat wrenches made from stamped steel.

 

[PelicanPines]

Nuts that small... i just grab with a hemostat ... I have straight, curved etc... actually the technical term for what i am actually using is a "needle holder"... grips much harder than a hemostat.

That said... i added those Moody wrenches to my wish list on Amazon.

 

[mbshop]

Yea, back in the day specialty tools were not easily found. So you made your own. Time to learn how, think outside the box.

 

[Mecha]

Thanks, now I placed an order for multiple tools I didn't really need.

I know, I saw them and wanted to buy them on coolness factor alone, literally have no use for them.

 

[Jim C.]

Maybe Oxwall stamped steel wrenches would do the trick. PM me if you need a set.

Jim C.

 

[John in OH]

Oxwall !! That's the name of the thin stamped ignition wrenches that I was trying to think of !! As someone mentioned above, they used to be available in every junk store.

The multiple links four.cycle provided to eBay sets are greatly appreciated. I'll look over the eBay sets and probably try to get a set .... maybe two.

There is a whole drawer of old "el cheapo, made-of-****-metal" wrenches in the basement and maybe I can grind down one to get the 3/8" size. Unfortunatly, I'm pretty sure there are no old wrenches there smaller than 3/8" so I'll have to rely on eBay as a souce for the little ones.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Somebody beat me to the "grind one down" comment.

Invest $3 or $20. Plasma and file to shape. Heat to red until no longer magnetic. Quench in used oil.

 

[kblee27]

Japanese tools have thin wrench
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B000ALF4T6/
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B005HN12M0/

 

[four.cycle]

John-

Another set I missed earlier:

Kastar 8-pc SAE ignition wrench set (star logo - Long Island)
13/64" - 3/8"
used
$9.99 + $2.99 shipping OBO "buy now"
https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-VINTA...215367?hash=item2390eb9c07:g:~gAAAOSwI4BZrhVm

^ this would be the same as those in the photo above.

still doesn't go down to 3/16", though.

The only ones I know of that go down smaller (other than that Japan-made set I posted above or those "precision mini" wrenches like that Amazon.com set above) would either be "ES Tool" or maybe "Jensen", but both of those are forged, not stamped, so they'd have thicker heads. I have an "ES" set that goes down to 1/8" - see photo image below - but again, they're forged, not stamped, and the heads are thicker.
The only ES or Jensen sets listed on Ebay right now only go down to 13/64" - they're all in the $20 range:

ES Tool:
$19.99 incl. shipping "buy now"
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Se...223587?hash=item1a39c2e4e3:g:j~gAAOSwsFpaB7hk

Jensen:
$15.00 + $5.00 shipping OBO "buy now"
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Je...989229?hash=item2a95640fad:g:eHwAAOSwGJlZGHcj

Jensen:
$15.00 + $4.36 shipping OBO "buy now"
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Jensen-Ign...701193?hash=item33d8af5489:g:fGAAAOSwv95Z4vO8

==

my ES set below:



I have a metric Jensen set here somewhere. The head thickness on the Jensen is about the same as the ES.

 

[Moparman390]

This all reminds me of the free "wrench" stamped from a piece of sheet metal that comes in the little hardware pouch of some assembly required furniture and such.

 

[four.cycle]

^ yeah.... that's exactly what he's looking for.

John -
another one that got listed last night - a bit on the high side price-wise, but it does go down to 1/8"

OXWALL 18-pc SAE ignition wrench set
1/8" - 1/2"
used
$25.00 incl. shipping OBO "buy now"
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-18...409864?hash=item3625bd7f48:g:UucAAOSwR21ZxEIO

 

[John in OH]

^ yeah.... that's exactly what he's looking for.

John -
another one that got listed last night - a bit on the high side price-wise, but it does go down to 1/8"

OXWALL 18-pc SAE ignition wrench set
1/8" - 1/2"
used
$25.00 incl. shipping OBO "buy now"
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-18...409864?hash=item3625bd7f48:g:UucAAOSwR21ZxEIO

four.cycle, you are good at finding these! Much appreciated!

 

[four.cycle]

no problem... hope you are able to find what you need!

 

[Mecha]

You know after looking at this a little while longer and seeing what four.cycle came up with, I realized that I could have given you a set I had. Except, I sold it at a garage sale this year. I've had that set since I was a teen and never used it in 20 years. I still have ignition wrenches just not the stamped steel style you were looking for. Good luck on the project.

 

[four.cycle]

and.... one more... another one of those tiny "mini wrench" sets like those posted above from Harry Epstein, but a few bucks less:

Moody 58-0151 16-pc SAE "Acu-Min" miniature wrench set
note from seller: "The set includes: 5/64 ; 3/32 ; 7/64 ; 1/8 ; 5/32 ; 3/16 (there is a duplicate of this size) ; 5/16"
new
$12.99 + $3.48 shipping "buy now"
https://www.ebay.com/itm/282736650927?ul_noapp=true



(I am assuming the wrench and the handle count as two separate pieces?)

==

... another one just listed today:

Oxwall-Amsco 14-pc SAE stamped steel ignition wrench set w/pouch
3/16" - 1/2"
listed as used (see photos)
$9.99 + $4.53 shipping now. 0 bids now. ends Thursday 11/23 17:30 PST (Thanksgiving Day)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMSCO-OXWA...372738?hash=item33db49b482:g:ylQAAOSwdjdaDjrT