Thin wrenches

[Mxjr12]

I'm looking for a set of slim wrenches. I have a friend that had v8 brand slim wrenches and they looked decent although I'm not planning on using them for high torque applications they can't be **** any suggestions, I'm a snap on fan and I'd say 90% of my box is filled with snappy stuff and is a snap on box I just refuse to pay 400+ per set and they say low torque

 

[atwageman]

Try Elora wrenches. Made in Germany. Mine have a thin profile.

www.bloomertool.com is the US distributor. I've ordered from them in the past. Fast shipping too. Size specs on the website for most products.

 

[Jim C.]

How about Craftsman tappet wrenches? Thin heads, long reach, still made in the the USA (I think) and affordable. Down side.......only come in SAE sizes, no metric.

Jim C.

 

[Brownsfan]

The new Craftsman Max Access sets are pretty slim. They are like 39.99 but go on sale for 29.99 all the time. Made in China but seem to be almost identical to gearwrench wrenches.
http://www.sears.com/search=craftsm...t=true&viewItems=50&redirectType=CAT_REC_PRED

 

[neophyte]

How thin do the wrenches need to be?

European wrenches, particularly the German ones, tend to be thinner than standard US wrenches. It can vary with the wrench model. The Double Open End wrenches are usually the thin designs, followed by short or regular length Combination wrenches.

If you need wrenches thinner than the "thin" European wrenches than you might want to check the specs on DIN 894 patter wrenches. Most European manufacturers offer the design and the prices are usually reasonable. Gedore makes the DIN 894 wrenches in both metric and SAE sizes.

Thinner USA wrenches are usually Tappet pattern wrenches. Craftsman seems to be the most common brand. Armstrong also manufactures them. Metric Tappet wrenches are hard to find. Facom is the easiest metric style to find. Snap-On manufactures Tappet wrenches in both Metric and SAE sizes but calls them Slimline wrenches. As you mentioned the wrench sets are fairly expensive.

Martin, Proto, and Armstrong also manufacture Single Open End wrenches called Check Nut wrenches. The wrenches should be as thin, or possibly thinner, than tappet wrenches. Both Martin and Proto manufacture the wrenches in a wide range of sizes in both metric and SAE.

If you need really really thin wrenches you might want to check with companies like Park that supply bicycle tools.

 

[bonneyman]

Check on ebay. I've found decent vintage USA tappet wrenches for reasonable over there.

 

[SS5150]

I have a set of Mac thin profile metric wrenches that work pretty good, got them on sale probably 6-7 years ago, although I don't recall anymore how much they were at the time but I've had no trouble with them. 10-19mm set.

 

[gtermini]

If you're looking for larger service wrenches, Williams USA are a very good value. These sets start at 3/4" and 19mm and go up.

http://www.toolsdelivered.com/search.asp?keyword=ws-3510&search.x=0&search.y=0

Greyson

 

[Mxjr12]

I would buy both metric and sae wrenches I borrowed my friends v8 branded wrench to get the suspension off of my new skidoo free ride and it worked great. I've never heard of v8 brand wrenches but a quick google search revealed that they are made in China but carry a lifetime warranty and are sold through tooltopia and sears. The guy I borrowed it from says he bought it through his Matco dealer, at under 40$ for each set I was skeptical but it worked great, the 7/8 wrench was just over 1/8 thick, looks like I need to do some more research, they won't hardley see any use other than snowmobile repairs I do on the side

 

[nicksnothereman]

I would buy both metric and sae wrenches I borrowed my friends v8 branded wrench to get the suspension off of my new skidoo free ride and it worked great. I've never heard of v8 brand wrenches but a quick google search revealed that they are made in China but carry a lifetime warranty and are sold through tooltopia and sears. The guy I borrowed it from says he bought it through his Matco dealer, at under 40$ for each set I was skeptical but it worked great, the 7/8 wrench was just over 1/8 thick, looks like I need to do some more research, they won't hardley see any use other than snowmobile repairs I do on the side

Chinese and "thin"? That dog won't hunt. Taiwan can do it but chinese are just starting to make relatively decent tools. No way those last if they are indeed "thin". I think it's the actual steel they're using rather than production itself. That's why they put "lobster claw" on the open end, so it doesn't snap off (no pun intended...I think).

I wouldn't touch a thin wrench in the first place but if you want it this is something you'd probably want to buy made by a long term manufacturer european or american. I've seen some kobalt thin wrenches (such as their stubbies) so I think taiwanese manufacturers can do it as well but I don't know how long they've been making them and not sure if there's lobster claw.

 

[eyeballengineer]

I have a set of blue point super thin that I found in a bilge of a boat I scraped years ago. great for o-ring fittings in tight spots. good quality and tool truck waranty

 

[toolaholic]

I have the proto facom tappet wrenches in metric about $ 80 from zoro tools ebay. I have craftsman tappets sae again ebay for about $25.

 

[Mxjr12]

I need it to be roughly 1/8-3/16 thick for a 7/8 wrench. Thanks for all the advice so far

 

[Tarheelgarage]

Don't forget the harbor freight service wrench set.
Not pretty but gets the job done.

http://www.harborfreight.com/15-piece-metric-service-wrench-set-93668.html

 

[oldtools]

http://www.harborfreight.com/15-piece-sae-service-wrench-set-93667.html

 

[neophyte]

I need it to be roughly 1/8-3/16 thick for a 7/8 wrench. Thanks for all the advice so far

I checked the specs on Facom open end wrenches, they were about twice as thick as you want.

The Martin Check Nut wrenches were listed as 1/4" thick for the 7/8" size.

There's a company called ThinWrench that makes thin wrenches laser cut from sheet stock. They make 7/8" wrenches in a stubby and regular length. Both wrenches are listed as being made from 3mm/ 1/8" pre hardened carbon steel.

http://www.thinwrench.com/store

To find the wrenches look under Single End Wrenches then SAE Wrenches.

 

[ez-duzit]

Chinese and "thin"? That dog won't hunt. Taiwan can do it but chinese are just starting to make relatively decent tools. No way those last if they are indeed "thin". I think it's the actual steel they're using rather than production itself...
I wouldn't touch a thin wrench in the first place...

You're right, it seems Taiwan has brought their quality up faster than China. But there are very good reasons for thin wrenches, more than just getting into the rare tight space where a standard wrench can't fit.

In emergency repair kits, such as may be carried when cycling, motorcycling, small-boating, snowmobiling..., weight and space are at a premium. The double-open-ended, thin wrenches can be part of an extremely lightweight and compact carry-kit.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I'm looking for a set of slim wrenches. I have a friend that had v8 brand slim wrenches and they looked decent although I'm not planning on using them for high torque applications they can't be **** any suggestions, I'm a snap on fan and I'd say 90% of my box is filled with snappy stuff and is a snap on box I just refuse to pay 400+ per set and they say low torque

I assure the SO tappet wrenches may say "low torque" but they WILL hold up just fine. I have had my set for over 15 years and used them on stuff well beyond low torque lock nuts on adjustments (traditional tappet situation) - usually stuff like getting under angled fittings in recessed hydraulic ports - and I have yet to spread any even on old seized up stuff - the middle bar of the wrench will flex before the jaws spread open.
If the price is still a big killer for ya, then just web-search for tappet wrenches. The CM set looks a lot rougher, but is a lot cheaper.......

 

[Dave455]

KTC make a small range called Profit (if I recall correctly) which are very thin and quite nicely made! They make open enders and combination wrenches too!

 

[bobcatdan]

I can't remember the SO tappet set being real expensive, I bought it twice. Got a set once, I had a couple broke, warrantied them out in a deal for a set. Never used it and traded them off in my younger and dumb days. Bought another set five years later, don't quite use the **** out of them, but at least the piss now a days.

 

[dede2897234]

I purchased a set of Facom metric tappet wrenches from Zoro Tools last December. My set was manufactured in France (pictures here).

For the wrenches in the FM-31.JE6T set (8mm-19mm), the thickness ranges from 2.6mm to 4.6mm.


Dave

 

[atwageman]

I purchased a set of Facom metric tappet wrenches from Zoro Tools last December. My set was manufactured in France (pictures here).

For the wrenches in the FM-31.JE6T set (8mm-19mm), the thickness ranges from 2.6mm to 4.6mm.


Dave

Those are nice looking wrenches.

 

[theoldwizard1]

How thin do the wrenches need to be?
.
.
.
If you need really really thin wrenches you might want to check with companies like Park that supply bicycle tools.

Park Tools Cone wrenches

Metric only.

 

[gtlaw]

here is some more pics of the facom set check the second page for thickness comparison

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=216593

 

[submariner]

You got me hooked on the Facom FM-31.JE6T set (8mm-19mm).

Before I hit the buy button, any other good quality sets in large metric sizes for around $100? Buying from anywhere in the world is not a problem, is there an alternative?

 

[Mxjr12]

I ended up buying Mac metrics and snap on sae spent 425 on both sets