Thin metric wrenches

[bmwpower]

As thin as possible, open end style. Facom makes some, but does anyone else?

Would have been nice a couple of times ago to have a set.

 

[wrenchr]

Snap on Used to make them, I had a set.

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

Snap on Used to make them, I had a set.

Yup.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...3&group_ID=561&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

-BWP

 

[-lecroix-]

they were once called tappet wrenches

 

[tony p]

When I needed a really thin wrench in a really big size (for a lock-nut on my steering rack thrust bearing in that instance), the best thing I found at a vaguely sensible price (and a sensible overall size) was a Campagnolo bottom bracket spanner (for cycles). I guess it depends what you actually want to, as to whether bike tools would be suitable for you.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I never understood why Sears never began offering a like set in metric. I have had the standard set for years and only a few months back finally encountered an application where only my tappet wrenches would fit and work. If I bought a truck brand set I promise you Sears would begin offering them in about 5-10 years following my purchase! At least that is what has always happened in the past.

 

[bmwpower]

I actually only need one size now...16mm for BMW sway bar brackets. I've gotten by with a thicker one to date, but I'm always waiting for the boot the rip on me. Figured I might as well get it while I'm thinking of it.

 

[OctaneMotorsports]

Get a cheap wrench and grind it down? That's what I do usually.

 

[bmwpower]

Get a cheap wrench and grind it down? That's what I do usually.

Brilliant my boy!

 

[toolfreak]

Get a cheap wrench and grind it down? That's what I do usually.

That's the only reason I shop at harbor freight once in a while. They are cheap enough to grind, bend, and cut on.

 

[PoorOwner]

Get a cheap wrench and grind it down? That's what I do usually.

That's what I do too.. shorten them... etc

Even made a few "flare nut wrench" in a pinch... 12 pt flare nut wrench anyone?

 

[goodfellow]

Get a cheap wrench and grind it down? That's what I do usually.

Yup -- got a drawer full of ground, twisted, chopped and otherwise modified wrenches. Now THAT's what Harbor Freight wrenches are for.

 

[ballard]

SAE and Metric $30 a set

http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=6652&itemType=PRODUCT

 

[Tim G]

The open end of a Gearwrench is pretty thin,that's what I use for sway bar links.

 

[edl]

Park Tools - sold at any bike store - here is one (17mm) for $4 at Bike Nashbar...http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=22069&PID=1204522

 

[fourfeathers]

I actually only need one size now...16mm for BMW sway bar brackets. I've gotten by with a thicker one to date, but I'm always waiting for the boot the rip on me. Figured I might as well get it while I'm thinking of it.

Wouldn't a 5/8 from your standard thin set get it done? Should be "close enough".

 

[MAD]

My thin wrenches are an assortment -ground down, Japanese motorcycle tool kit wrenches, Grinder/power tool spindle wrenches, and a few German made single and double open end wrenches.

I noticed a while back that Stanley/Proto expanded its offering of thin wrenches.
http://www.stanleyproto.com/xhtml/literature/ProtoUltraThinWrenches_P20712.pdf

Overstock.com has a set of import (Grip brand) thin wrenches now as well.

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Grip-16-piece-Super-Thin-Wrench-Set/2647897/product.html

 

[TNToy]

Get a cheap wrench and grind it down? That's what I do usually.

A belt sander works better than a grinder.

The open end of a Gearwrench is pretty thin,that's what I use for sway bar links.

A snap-on box wrench is thinner than Gearwrench or Craftsman.

BMW, if you don't have a good (Snappy, Matco, etc) open end wrench for this, I can check the head-width on a Snappy combination wrench at work tomorrow. Ever run into a european brake caliper where you needed a thin 13mm or 15mm to hold the nut while tightening the caliper bolts? A Snap-on or Matco is the only one I own that's thin enough to slide right in there.

Keep an eye on eBay. I bought my metric 10-19mm combination set for $75 shipped, because it was missing a 10mm. Then I picked up the missing wrench for ~$20 off the truck, and had a full set for about $100.

 

[MAD]

The German brands of double open end wrenches tend to be quite a bit slimmer than the typical combination wrench. This makes a lot of sense in terms of double open end wrenches being useful in addition to having combination wrenches. I have some German WGB brand wrenches that are quite slim but I do not think this brand is commonly available in North America. My old Duro/Industro brand double open end wrenches although not pretty, tend to be slimmer than most combination wrenches. You might want to look into double open end wrenches from Heyco, Wiha, Elora, Hazet, etc. I don’t have any examples of those brands to measure though. I do have quite a few 17 mm wrenches of different brands. Here is a comparison of the thickness of the open ends. They are measured at the back of the flat since many open end wrenches taper a little at the tip. I measured the thickest jaw as well. I used 17 mm as an example since I had the most examples to measure . I do not have a Snap-on 17 mm to measure but the Snap-on wrenches that I do have tend to have the slimmest open end of all the combination wrenches but nearly the same as the gear wrench open ends.

17 MM COMBINATION WRENCHES
Gearwrench – 6.97 mm
Mac M17 CW – 7.45 mm
SK raised panel – 7.53 mm
Craftsman Pro 44907 (old SK made)- 7.73 mm
Matco AC17M2 - 7.81 mm
Cornwell CW-17 – 8.05 mm
Kobalt (older JH Williams made)- 8.25 mm
Craftsman raised panel- 8.38 mm

17 MM DOUBLE OPEN END WRENCHES
WGB (Germany) 14x17 – 5.96 mm
Duro/Indestro 16x17 41617A - 6.73 mm
Izeltas (Turkey)19x17 - 7.49 mm
Craftsman raised panel 17x 19 44508 – 8.82 mm

 

[bmwpower]

Thanks!

I tried a gear wrench, but it too was too thick for comfort.

 

[6PTsocket]

I never understood why Sears never began offering a like set in metric. I have had the standard set for years and only a few months back finally encountered an application where only my tappet wrenches would fit and work. If I bought a truck brand set I promise you Sears would begin offering them in about 5-10 years following my purchase! At least that is what has always happened in the past.

They are called tappet wrenches because they were primarily made for dealing with the thin lock nut on rocker arms. Along with the shift to metric there has also been a shift to hydraulic lifters that are self adjusting. That's my best guess. There are thin wrenches from the European manufacturers. They tend to be expensive.Just Google "slim profile metric wrenches" Sears is hardly cutting edge. Over the years Easco,SK and Armstrong (now Apex) have made their stuff. They have gone more and more to Chinese stuff. If you go that route, you might as well get it from Harbor Freight for a lot less money. The stuff is a mixed bag,some junk and some stuff that has stood up quite well.

 

[chrisnazzy]

I know the OP is looking for metric thin wrenches but just a note.....the COO on that Craftsman thin tappet wrench set is still USA. Just read on here recently how someone picked up a set and was surprised how they were still USA and a throwback to Craftsman wrenches of back in the day.

As far as metric....quick Amazon search turned up a few. These are a little pricey but are most likely quality wrenches.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002FCLJS8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[dutchgray]

There is these Profit from KTC available from Frankstools or other places
http://frankstools.com/prtoopendwrs.html
They don't do a 16mm though and the set only goes to 14mm, they make up to 19mm which is 5mm thick at the tip according to the info sheet.

 

[four.cycle]

VIM Tools MFW 100
7 pieces. 6mm - 19mm open end set

vimtools.com

"catalog" - go to page 20

not a CLUE... just heard of them yesterday. have an inquiry in to their sales people. ordered a piece on Ebay earlier tonight just to see what quality/workmanship looks like.

 

[Skin]

8 year old thread

 

[four.cycle]

I noted that prior to posting the above.

 

[dede2897234]

I know the OP is looking for metric thin wrenches but just a note.....the COO on that Craftsman thin tappet wrench set is still USA. Just read on here recently how someone picked up a set and was surprised how they were still USA and a throwback to Craftsman wrenches of back in the day.

As far as metric....quick Amazon search turned up a few. These are a little pricey but are most likely quality wrenches.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002FCLJS8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

chrisnazzy,

If anyone here is still interested in the Craftsman tappet wrench set, be aware that the new sets are made in China. A recent thread posting by a GJ member confirms it (post #783): LINK.


Dave

 

[toolaholic]

I know the OP is looking for metric thin wrenches but just a note.....the COO on that Craftsman thin tappet wrench set is still USA. Just read on here recently how someone picked up a set and was surprised how they were still USA and a throwback to Craftsman wrenches of back in the day.

As far as metric....quick Amazon search turned up a few. These are a little pricey but are most likely quality wrenches.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002FCLJS8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have the facoms. Nice wrenchrs. Used them on my brake calipers of my Yaris and the sway bar links(moogs) on my Yaris. They are strong. Thet held the nut while I torqued the sway bar links to 56lbft torque.

 

[bonneyman]

When I needed a really thin wrench in a really big size (for a lock-nut on my steering rack thrust bearing in that instance), the best thing I found at a vaguely sensible price (and a sensible overall size) was a Campagnolo bottom bracket spanner (for cycles). I guess it depends what you actually want to, as to whether bike tools would be suitable for you.

Yeah, I was thinking bicycle cone wrenches might fill the bill.

 

[SantaAna12]

Park cone wrenches are low torque....you prolly knew that.....and relatively soft. If strength was a goal, I would look for a stronger option.

 

[blarf]

That Facom set looks nice... but when faced with the same situation I just went with a 1/4" impact driver. It was a little more expensive, but way more useful.

 

[christopher7390]

My craftsman pro wrenches are pretty damn thin. Hazet makes thin ratchets, but way over priced.