Who Uses DOE Wrenches

[Downwindtracker 2]

When I picked up a larger sized an engineers' wrench at the fleamarket, I thought they weren't the most useful of wrenches , being on the short size for the bolts. I use one on my quick change tool post and that is the only time I have used one outside of the 1/2 x 9/16.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Post up a picture!!

 

[Shiftless]

Here’s something to do with an extra DOE wrench. This one is a Williams Superwrench 1729 3/4:5/8

It makes a fine door handle for the storage area off my basement room that holds my vise collection.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Post up a picture!!

Look, I still search for keys, posting photos way beyond my skill set. But here is a google link to some smaller ones https://aboloxtools.com/Williams-WS-1605 Even something like a 1 1/16 x 1 1/8 isn't that much longer.

 

[toolmutt]

I've had a complete SAE set in an extras box in the corner for years. Not one has ever touched a fastener.

 

[lardy1]

I have a vintage set of Barcalo's and a vintage set of SK's. They occupy space in the collection box. Not in the tool box. I very seldom use open end and I'm up to my ears in combination wrenches.

Actually, I use DBE's more all the time. I like the feel in my hand, they are longer than any of my combo sets and I keep them on the wall behind my main bench. I have 1/4" thru 1 1/4" right at easy grab level. Metrics on the other side.

 

[NoahG]

I have a 17x19 DOE that I use fairly often, it fits a lot of the collets and arbor nuts.

 

[johninct]

I use my Snap-On's all of the time. I use the shorter one to tighten and the longer one to loosen (Example 1/2"x 9/16" and 9/16" x 5/8"). I also use the 30 degree x 60 degree ones a lot too.

 

[Samuel D]

No need for great length when the tool and fastener won’t take great torque without damage anyway.

Open-ended spanners act on only two corners versus the six of a ring spanner or socket. What’s more, they act on the actual corners rather than with off-corner engagement as in a modern ring spanner or socket. So the corners see far greater load as the clearance between the jaws and the fastener flats (to allow the spanner to be fitted) goes up. And that’s before the jaws spread elastically, which they do to a significant extent at any real torque.

All that means that ring spanners are vastly superior if you can get them on the fastener, as any mechanic knows. I think open-ended spanners should be treated as special tools for difficult access problems or low torque.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

I have a set of tappet wrenches that are used occasionally because they are thin.
And flare nut wrenches are DOE.

 

[2oolhound]

I keep a set of:
combos (3/8" = 1 3/8");
DOE is a set of angle wrenches (3/8" - 1")
off set short ring spanners (3/8" - 3/4") [larger sizes kept elsewhere]
stubbies (3/8" - 3/4")

All in my wrench drawer.

The metric drawer is similar.

I use the DOE for those times when I need the same size as one of the combos and don't want to use a socket/ratchet or of coarse, as obstruction wrenches too.

 

[Tinner]

I've used them all my life. Snap-on at home, Proto at work.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I don’t use double open ends unless I absolutely have too I don’t even have any at work I prefer combination wrenches but that’s just me. At home I have a couple that I have found or the vintage ones I have found at the pawn shops but that is it and I don’t use them.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[BFBOB]

I use them a lot - I leave spare sets where I might need the odd wrench just because of the compactness - fewer wrenches for a given size range.

But, for my main set. I do prefer combos.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

I asked the question, when did combination wrenches became the main wrench over in the vintage side. By looking up the master mechanics tool set lists in old catalogues, it was after the war, different companies being slower to change over. But by the mid '50s, all the ones we looked up had.

 

[JR 42]

I have a set of tappet wrenches that are used occasionally because they are thin.
And flare nut wrenches are DOE.

Tappet and especially check nut wrenches are great because sometimes they're the only things that will fit. Almost always it's some oddball thing, and not something on a car. Aside from that, I hardly use open ends at all, let alone DOE's- only when I can't get a box end or socket on there, like line fittings.

That said, I own a lot of them, because they're everywhere used and cheap, and I like them.

 

[Samuel D]

I asked the question, when did combination wrenches became the main wrench over in the vintage side. By looking up the master mechanics tool set lists in old catalogues, it was after the war, different companies being slower to change over. But by the mid '50s, all the ones we looked up had.

Interesting. Link? I’m surprised it happened that late. Possibly one factor is that Snap-on hadn’t popularised Flank Drive yet. That was a major improvement to ring spanners and sockets, essentially eliminating the harm caused by the [necessary, unavoidable] clearance between tool and fastener.

Flank Drive greatly increased the torque capacity without damage to tool or fastener … further extending the capability gap between a ring and open-ended spanner. But by the same token, until then, the difference was less compelling.

I suppose cost was another major reason for the persistence of open-ended spanners? They remain noticeably cheaper than ring spanners to this day.

 

[bigfunwmu]

They work great on the hydraulic test bench at work. Quick and easy to grab to swap lines, and you don't need box ends there very often.

Somehow installing a hydraulic hose with a box end wrench often doesn't go quite as planned....

 

[seber]

I keep one attached to each bench grinder. The rest are almost never used.

 

[matt_i]

Super useful when working on an old tractor or forklift.

a) its guaranteed to be all SAE sized

b) its guaranteed to have some tight clearances where a long pattern combo wrench won't work.

See also winterizing boats where some of the drain plugs are "by feel" only.

 

[dnschmidt]

My lack of usage was one of the reasons I was so surprised by Tekton using offset double open end wrenches as their flagship for their made in America push. I extremely seldom use open end wrenches even the open ended side of a combination wrench. Obviously tie rod ends being an exception. I don't work on air conditioning lines as I don't have a recovery machine and if I did all I'd need then would be the really big sizes. TOPTUL makes them, and I guess sells a lot of them, beats me, but I bought damn near everything in their catalog for myself and my friends but no double open end wrenches except for the really thin ones that are used on jam nuts.

 

[Semi-hole mechanic]

I've used mine when to tighten nuts when the bolt head and nut are same size and there is clearance issues. I wsed the box end of a combo on one side and my DOE on the other.

 

[cvairwerks]

Use them almost daily. Lots of places on the jet that you can’t use anything else. Some of our hydraulic stuff has fittings that flare nut wrenches can’t be used due to fitting design.

 

[neophyte]

With DOE wrenches, you get a wider range of wrench sizes in the same number of wrenches.
The same is true of double box end wrenches.

With Combos, you only get one size, although in two wrench types.

Back in the day when DOE wrenches were the go to standard, tools tended to be comparatively more expensive, so buying a set of DOE wrenches would get you a wider variety of sizes in a less expensive package, so you had the sizes you might need.

If you purchased a set of DOE wrenches, and then a set of box or ring wrenches,
You would likely wind up with two of Each wrench size, allowing you to hold a bolt head in place while you turned a nut, if both the bolt head and nut used the same size flats, or if you had to deal with a piece of threaded rod with two nuts.
A DOE wrench also allows you to hold a faster in place that is fixed with a lock nut, while you turn the lock nut with a separate wrench.

It’s also possible a lot of people thought the DOE wrenches were “stronger” because there’s way more steel at the end on the wrench than on a box or ring wrench.
Yes, I know box wrenches are stronger, due to steel being strongest under tension, but I certainly didn’t realize this when I was younger, and never had the “box wrenches are stronger and why” explained to me as a kid or young man.

 

[jonesg]

Here’s something to do with an extra DOE wrench. This one is a Williams Superwrench 1729 3/4:5/8

It makes a fine door handle for the storage area off my basement room that holds my vise collection.

A man without vices is just as lacking in virtues.