Dakotadadv8
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Always wondered how the tool truck companies tests their wrenches. I prefer combo wrenches over ratchets and sockets, not sure how best to test them within a working environment.
Torque Test Channel Open End Wrench Testing Part 2
- Thread starter Fedwrench
- Start date
Use them and if they fail, warranty them.
2ndGearRubber
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I don't think a lot of thus stuff gets tested the way we think.
They probably make some engineering calculations as to peak strength/working strength. Alloy/treatment is probably calculation as well.
I seriously doubt anybody is doing "real" testing on hand tools. That's what you have field users for. Nobody is getting paid to put a combo wrench on hex stock and beat it with a hammer for 8 hours.
That's my job. My official title is Master Beater.
Another video.
I really like him now. He seems to genuinely read the controversial comments, and does double back and re-test, change some things... Like how he tested multiple Stahlwille wrenches. I'm surprised they just do not perform that great overall.
Really surprised the Facom anti-slip style is so cheap though. Seems to be by far the best wrench for the money.
I really like him now. He seems to genuinely read the controversial comments, and does double back and re-test, change some things... Like how he tested multiple Stahlwille wrenches. I'm surprised they just do not perform that great overall.
Really surprised the Facom anti-slip style is so cheap though. Seems to be by far the best wrench for the money.
Andres26tnt
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The new RBRT is available in the USAG brand for cheap around 150$. The only real problem is acquiring them is almost impossible, can't seem to find a vendor that ships to the USA. Well for me it is easy as I live in the UK.
USAG partnumber 285 X/SE12
USAG partnumber 285 X/SE12
Couple quick responses having read this entire thread and watched all the videos:
1) TTC does a good job. Its good data
2) Open end thickness matters. It’s not just about access. The high performing thinner wrenches offer real performance when sitting on thinner nuts, bolt heads, or when it’s not possible to get 100% full contact. Note that these same wrenches are often harder. There’s a correlation there. Look at torque/thickness. That’s an excellent indicator of steel/processing quality.
3) Clearance is a mixed bag. Too little clearance may make the wrench difficult to seat on hardware. Too much clearance is obviously bad. I’d use Snap On as the yard stick. Pick something close to Snap On. I saw some surprises (Gearwrench?).
Based on these 2 criteria, Heyco, Hazet, Williams, Beta, were all thin, strong, with tight fastener clearance. Icon had tight clearance, but was thicker, so torque/thickness wasn’t as impressive, but also strong enough…. Pittsburgh was pretty terrible.
4) There is a practical torque threshold, beyond which, you could score all tools with a single score. I’d not rank the highest torque wrenches as the best. Nor are they necessarily the strongest. This is not to say Wright Grip aren’t great wrenches.
My take - Wright Grip are impressive, but their thickness and sloppy fit could make their real world performance disappointing. If you were bargain hunting, I’d recommend ignoring or de-prioritizing highest torque and choose based on clearance (manufacturing) and torque per thickness (material/processing) both of which point to general tool “quality”. Last, did I miss a length attribute? I’d make length a strong priority.
1) TTC does a good job. Its good data
2) Open end thickness matters. It’s not just about access. The high performing thinner wrenches offer real performance when sitting on thinner nuts, bolt heads, or when it’s not possible to get 100% full contact. Note that these same wrenches are often harder. There’s a correlation there. Look at torque/thickness. That’s an excellent indicator of steel/processing quality.
3) Clearance is a mixed bag. Too little clearance may make the wrench difficult to seat on hardware. Too much clearance is obviously bad. I’d use Snap On as the yard stick. Pick something close to Snap On. I saw some surprises (Gearwrench?).
Based on these 2 criteria, Heyco, Hazet, Williams, Beta, were all thin, strong, with tight fastener clearance. Icon had tight clearance, but was thicker, so torque/thickness wasn’t as impressive, but also strong enough…. Pittsburgh was pretty terrible.
4) There is a practical torque threshold, beyond which, you could score all tools with a single score. I’d not rank the highest torque wrenches as the best. Nor are they necessarily the strongest. This is not to say Wright Grip aren’t great wrenches.
My take - Wright Grip are impressive, but their thickness and sloppy fit could make their real world performance disappointing. If you were bargain hunting, I’d recommend ignoring or de-prioritizing highest torque and choose based on clearance (manufacturing) and torque per thickness (material/processing) both of which point to general tool “quality”. Last, did I miss a length attribute? I’d make length a strong priority.
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The USAG use the exact same profile as the MAC? That's interesting and tempting. 8 piece set is 115€ including shipping from Italy to me...
Andres26tnt
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yes from the pictures on the Usag website, they are exactly the same wrench. What website are you using cuz I haven't found one that offers to ship to the USA. I bought the 8-piece set from Facom for about 70$ but, not bad either. bot are excellent wrenches.
Combination wrenches with special profiles 285 X, Professional tools USAG
Combination wrenches with special profiles 285 X, Professional tools USAG.
roofdweller49
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Where's do people get Facom tool from in the US
Andres26tnt
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mrworker, amazon.
I saw them here:yes from the pictures on the Usag website, they are exactly the same wrench. What website are you using cuz I haven't found one that offers to ship to the USA. I bought the 8-piece set from Facom for about 70$ but, not bad either. bot are excellent wrenches.
Combination wrenches with special profiles 285 X, Professional tools USAG
Combination wrenches with special profiles 285 X, Professional tools USAG.www.usag.it
Set 8 chiavi Usag con profilo speciale 285 X/B8
Set 8 chiavi Usag con profilo speciale 285 X/B8 Fornita all'interno di busta in tessuto ad altissima resistenza Forchetta e anello dotati di nuovo ed esclusivo profilo: presa perfetta sia su esagoni nuovi che danneggiati Forchetta iclinata di 15° Anello speciale disassato e piegato di 15°...
www.workshopitaly.net
Andres26tnt
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nice, dang nice they have both sets thanks. yeah, that's a good price on both, 150ish for the complete set. wish they sold individual wrenches. i need a 12mm(work on Toyota).I saw them here:
95€+ postage.Set 8 chiavi Usag con profilo speciale 285 X/B8
Set 8 chiavi Usag con profilo speciale 285 X/B8 Fornita all'interno di busta in tessuto ad altissima resistenza Forchetta e anello dotati di nuovo ed esclusivo profilo: presa perfetta sia su esagoni nuovi che danneggiati Forchetta iclinata di 15° Anello speciale disassato e piegato di 15°...
I would bet that Snap On does actual real testing on things like ratchets because of their warranty policy: they want to make sure that something inexpensive like the anvil will fail before the ratchet handle itself; this way they are replacing $20 worth of parts on warranty and not an entire $200 ratchet assembly. Still, this is an easy test that as a minimum will take a few minutes and a pipe to extend the handle.
For typical brands with the "material and workmanship defect" type warranty, they won't care other than it meeting an ANSI spec that they can quote in their ad.
Draftpick1
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You should price out Wright grip wrenches I paid less than that, I got mine through Zoro and used my 20% coupon
Shoreline_
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This thread got a little crazy. My girlfriends mom lives in Barcelona. Maybe I can ship some there and then have her ship them here. Probably would be the same price off the Mac truck after shipping lol
Andres26tnt
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I live in the UK so don't have to, I also already own the Facom 440XL, just needed the 12mm since it skips that size. Just trying to help members in the USA who might want to purchase the RBRT tech.
the Facom/USAG or MAC/proto offers some features that I prefer over the regular standard-designed long pattern wrench. mainly the offset open end.
Andres26tnt
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the handle carrier it comes with is actually really nice.
Really? I thought it didn't come with anything, just everything shoved into some box.
Pinemarten
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I've only broken one open end wrench in my life, way back in the 70's. It was an 8mm (IIRC) that I was using to remove a ring post terminal from a Volkswagen generator. I upgraded my broken Indian wrench with a Crab Tool Co. wrench from Japan.
I think the only "loser" in the video was the King **** wrench. All the others were tied.......choose your favorite and twist wrenches!
I think the only "loser" in the video was the King **** wrench. All the others were tied.......choose your favorite and twist wrenches!
Andres26tnt
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should come with the carrier, it's the same one from Facom/craftsman.
Is that possibly related to the Lobtex Lobster wrenches you can still buy from Japan today?
Pinemarten
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No, Crab Tool Co. is still a viable company in Japan. They don't have a website, and seem to sell mostly in Asia. Amazon Japan is sold out of their GS 550 and MX 400 wrench sets. I'd like to get a set for nostalgia reasons......(and GJ reasons).
oldschoolcraft
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Just because Proto, mac, USAG, and facom are all under Stanley brand, does that mean the wrenches that look the same are exactly the same? I would assume, yeah, they use the same “forging blank” but maybe the metallurgy is different?
CHI_Tool&Die
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They aren’t the same though. The Craftsman are polished, short and have a smooth open end. The Facom are satin and have a ASD open end and the MAC have all kinds of things going on and are much longer. So it’s more like the same reference design is being utilized but the forgings and finishes are different.
A single factory, a single manufacturing line can produce different products or similar products to different qualities or costs. I think people unfamiliar with manufacturing get this wrong (eg Snap On- Williams)
Similarly, a company can produce the same product, sometimes with cosmetic differences, smme times not and brand them, or distribute them differently at vastly different price points. Differences in costs of goods sold rarely translates directly to price realization.
Right on. And you just know some greedy ******* in the US came up with rebranding and it’s totally backfired on them. Now US manufacturers can’t compete. Public think all products are rebrands whether they are or not. Europe has been smarter protecting their domestic manufacturing. My opinion. Rant off.
Yeah everyone knows Snap-on is just Icon rebranded.Right on. And you just know some greedy ******* in the US came up with rebranding and it’s totally backfired on them. Now US manufacturers can’t compete. Public think all products are rebrands whether they are or not. Europe has been smarter protecting their domestic manufacturing. My opinion. Rant off.
Yeah you can tell because the size fonts are the same!
I should be more careful because some poor soul here will believe it.
I hope they do.
oldschoolcraft
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Backdoor secret strategy for Harbor Freight to get their own tool truck.
Andres26tnt
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For the most part, they are the same wrenches with different finishes/features/sizes/thicknesses. almost all offer the same wrenches tho, which saves on manufacturing costs. it's a similar strategy used by Taiwan/china manufacturers, where you can get the same tools, with different "looks".
was this a joke? Sorry just having my coffee. If they have different finishes, features, sizes, thicknesses how are the same? Material? Did I miss something? Did they have identical performanc?