I was cleaning out the garage and found these wrenches that I forgot I had. I bought them about ten years ago. They have that weird half jaw on the open end to allow a sort of ratcheting action while spinning a fastener. Are they worthy of space in the tool chest or are they gimmick type stuff that I should craigslist or eBay?
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stanley ratchet action combo wrenches?
- Thread starter monster1
- Start date
expfcwintergreen
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2011
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- 157
I have two wrenches that sound somewhat like what you are describing, but they only have the open end; the other end has black and yellow handle, not a box-end. The handle on one says it fits 8-14mm and 5/16-9/16; the other, 13-19mm and 1/2-3/4. I have never used them, thinking them gimmicky. I don't think I would try to break a fastener loose with it but might be good, as you said, for spinning one off. I think I will experiment some with them.
The Stanley case the wrenches came in is the best I have possessed or seen. It is about a 150 piece set; the tools all snap in to place in the case. It is missing some important sizes in the combination wrenches, has no needle nose or channel lock style pliers, and the screw driver handle with replaceable bits is too small for much torque, but the ratchets and sockets are excellent. The case is a pleasure too work out of. I think I would rather have a more conventional style of adjustable wrench than what you are talking about and what came in this set, but they may have some limited uses.
The Stanley case the wrenches came in is the best I have possessed or seen. It is about a 150 piece set; the tools all snap in to place in the case. It is missing some important sizes in the combination wrenches, has no needle nose or channel lock style pliers, and the screw driver handle with replaceable bits is too small for much torque, but the ratchets and sockets are excellent. The case is a pleasure too work out of. I think I would rather have a more conventional style of adjustable wrench than what you are talking about and what came in this set, but they may have some limited uses.
djb2
Well-known member
You may be talking about two different kinds of wrenches.
The Stanley wrenches are a single piece of metal with a geometry that grabs firmly only in one direction. Pulling the wrench back slightly allows the wrench to rotate around the fastener head in the other direction. The geometry only works to a single size hex head.
The other style has a pivoting end piece with a "snowcone" shaped hole. The handle has a cam end that squeezes the fastener heads into the 'V' when pulled in the operating direction, and releases in the reverse direction.
The pivoting end types have been around for decades. I had one in the early 80's when the few tools I had were SAE sized. I had metric things to work on, and I was so young I believed the advertisements. I don't think it ever removed a rounded bolt, or saved time by ratcheting. At the time I didn't think about the reason why it didn't seem to grip well when you really needed it, but I later realized that the pivot/cam geometry couldn't apply enough pressure. A cam that could apply enough pressure would only work over a narrow range of sizes, and wouldn't ratchet very well.
The Stanley wrenches are a single piece of metal with a geometry that grabs firmly only in one direction. Pulling the wrench back slightly allows the wrench to rotate around the fastener head in the other direction. The geometry only works to a single size hex head.
The other style has a pivoting end piece with a "snowcone" shaped hole. The handle has a cam end that squeezes the fastener heads into the 'V' when pulled in the operating direction, and releases in the reverse direction.
The pivoting end types have been around for decades. I had one in the early 80's when the few tools I had were SAE sized. I had metric things to work on, and I was so young I believed the advertisements. I don't think it ever removed a rounded bolt, or saved time by ratcheting. At the time I didn't think about the reason why it didn't seem to grip well when you really needed it, but I later realized that the pivot/cam geometry couldn't apply enough pressure. A cam that could apply enough pressure would only work over a narrow range of sizes, and wouldn't ratchet very well.
lowendrider
Well-known member
I think I have the same set your are describing. I know they aren't USA made but I like them enough to keep them around. The ones I have are long with nice chrome. Haven't had much use for the "ratcheting" open end but use the box end plenty..again because of the length..makes for good leverage.