Stahlwille 14 or Wright Grip? Lengths and your thoughts?

[Wamsutta]

Snap-on makes a very athletic combination wrench. Super maneuverable with that wide thin beam.

 

[turnthewrench 2.0]

I have never had one fail or wear in over 50 years.

That's because the folks using them were trying to make a buck turning wrenches, not abusing them with click-and-bait videos.

 

[Rinspeed]

One thing I forgot to add is I had to wait three or four months for the Wright set last year. Wright insists on only using made in USA steel and apparently there is or was a shortage of it. I wasn't sure if the distributor was blowing smoke so I called Wright directly and they confirmed that was the reason for the delay. I didn't really mind at all for the wait I just wish the distributor had been a little more upfront about it.

 

[cannuck]

That's because the folks using them were trying to make a buck turning wrenches, not abusing them with click-and-bait videos.

When my toolbox was in our mechanical repair/engine conversion shop that was true - but for many years my boat assembly summer workers put every tool they put their hands on to the ultimate torture and abuse test. They were good at losing them, too.

 

[F-22]

Shouldn't pick on Honda tool much, other transverse mounted engine cars I've owned have been just as bad. My F150 and Dodge Durango are both longitudinal engines. I went cheap on both and got V-6s in bodies designed for longer V-8s. That gives you quite a lot more room to work on the front of the engine. Neither are joys to work on. But any transverse mounted 4 cyclinder is probably going tobe next level challenging.

This is something people often overlook when talking about ease of service. Even though it is such a major design difference. Longitudinal engines are so much easier to work on...

Even when comparing a Civic to the tiny tiny MX5 Miata, I'd much rather work on the Mazda. Similarly, while civic and Corolla seem quite easy to service to me compared to many equivelant VAG or French cars, obviously something like the Hilux (Tacoma, Tundra) is way easier (I assume the modern ones are much more cramped than back in the day, but they would be just so much worse if they were transverse). Or a Land Cruiser....

But on the other side of the longitudinal spectrum try working on an Audi V6 - that's a nightmare I don't wish on anyone. They have issues with the cam chain tensioner - but they put the cam chain at the back side underneath the dashboard (need to drop the whole thing). And I think (some of them)? probably not all) are a "hot V" where the exhausts go out on top between the cylinders.

 

[Ulrich1able]

One thing to note about the Wright's is you might have a long lead time on an order. Maybe just from where I ordered but it took 2 months for me to get my 7-24mm set from Palmac, not sure about other suppliers, but Palmac seems to have the best selection of anything Wright I've seen.

Anybody know how long it takes to get a set of Proto wrenches from Zoro/Grainger?

 

[micromind]

A lot of Proto is either in stock or a couple of days out at Grainger.

 

[richfinn]

I have Snap-On, Stahlwille 14s and Facom 440s (all metric)

I like the length, weight, slimness and the versatility of the 14s cranked box end (I only use the open end for light duty really)

The Facom are kind of chunky (in a good way) and average length, but are the best fitting wrenches I have owned.

Snap-On hit the sweet spot for length and are very fancy looking spanners, but way overpriced in the UK.

I use them all for different stuff and they all have plus and minus points, I think Stahlwille are a good value compromise for auto mechanics not wanting to spend $500 plus, they wear the best too, the finish is top notch and it improves with age.