Why are wrenches so short? I fail to get enough leverage.
- Thread starter krzyimprt
- Start date
dcg9381
Well-known member
My favorite wrenches are the ratcheting short ones.
Want a long one, you go socket and choose your bar length.
Really need a long one, I've got a pipe that slides over 'em.
Want a long one, you go socket and choose your bar length.
Really need a long one, I've got a pipe that slides over 'em.
Zeus36
Well-known member
Answer: For tight spaces.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
There's lots of extra long wrenches available, but they're usually truck brands.
Shoot me a size and I'll shoot you a part number.
Shoot me a size and I'll shoot you a part number.
Jswain
Well-known member
Quit using stubby wrenches for everything...
merkyworks
Well-known member
Basic answer is Big box retail store wrenches are short cause they cost less and cheap is what customers want.
If you want longer wrenches Snap 0n, Mac, Matco are your truck brands to look at. Others to consider are Tekton, Icon, Capri, USAG, Facom and im sure I’ve missed some that others may recommend.
If you want longer wrenches Snap 0n, Mac, Matco are your truck brands to look at. Others to consider are Tekton, Icon, Capri, USAG, Facom and im sure I’ve missed some that others may recommend.
dcg9381
Well-known member
This is one of the few ways that I can still prove that I'm manly.Quit using stubby wrenches for everything...
We'll just ignore that I may have gotten that nut started with a battery impact tool.
Combination wrenches.
I find the better brands to be longer than the cheap ones even of the non-XL variety.
But you can get extra long as well.
Wrench97
Well-known member
Long pattern combination wrenches are what you are looking for.
milky2k
Well-known member
I think he meant what brand and model wrenches do you have so we have a reference
A “standard” length wrench would be like the old Craftsman raised panel or recent Husky style wrenches. Long pattern wrenches are like Snap on and the 19mm is about 11-12” long. You can find long pattern wrenches from just about every popular brand, it’s just a matter of how much you are looking to spend. So what’s the budget? One of the least expensive options are Autozone’s Duralast. It’s 10 piece metric set (with some skips) for $32. Harbor Freight’s Icon is a 6mm-19mm for $120 with frequent discounts and they perform well on Torque Test Channel.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
The standard by which all combination wrench lengths are compared to is:
1/2 inch combination wrench standard length should be at a minimum, 8 inches long.
13 millimeter combination wrench standard length should be at a minimum, 207 millimeters (8.14961 inches) long.
Anything shorter than that, you're dealing with big box store soccer mom grade tools.
1/2 inch combination wrench standard length should be at a minimum, 8 inches long.
13 millimeter combination wrench standard length should be at a minimum, 207 millimeters (8.14961 inches) long.
Anything shorter than that, you're dealing with big box store soccer mom grade tools.
finn
Well-known member
They’re short because you shop for price, and with the wrong retailer.
Longer wrenches are readily available at the previously posted outlets, but they’ll cost more than a garden variety hardware store wrench.
Longer wrenches are readily available at the previously posted outlets, but they’ll cost more than a garden variety hardware store wrench.
Is that an SAE thing or what? I've never heard it before.
He never said which wrenches he has...
Standard 13mm wrench is ~150-170mm long in Europe. From all top brands, be it Hazet, Gedore, Stahlwille, Facom, USAG, Unior...
Wamsutta
Well-known member
That's too short. I can't get any leverage with that.
Retired dozer fixer
Well-known member
Like others have said get a socket on a breaker bar. If you’re using that much force to get something loose then you are probably using the box end. Likely room for a socket. What are you working on??
milky2k
Well-known member
13mm is used to tighten down M8 screws. You need to put about 19.11kg on the end of a 16mm wrench to torque a standard M8 screw to a standard max torque value for that size (30Nm). With a 207mm long wrench you need to use 14.77kg.
The difference is basically about the weight of one cat.
To me it is not a big deal and larger wrenches are unwieldly. I use a torque wrench for higher exact torques, or a T-bar or a breaker bar...
I understand you may want larger ones if you use them a lot, but in my mind that's more of a speciallist tool in that case, especially since you can always use something to extend the length of a regular wrench (there are even specific products made for that- the wrench extenders...).
Tightening isn't really the problem.
Sure, if you're inexperienced.
Torque specs are a lot lower than shear, twist, and/or tensile strengths.
The torque spec for my 5th wheel bolts is 140 ft-lbs but by your logic they'll snap off if you apply 145. Considering only 12 of them combined pull over 68,000lb loads we know that can't be true. I applied 1,000 or more ft-lbs to remove the old ones (1" impact wrench), and not one of them snapped, twisted, or broke.
You're also not going to remove a fastener with the same torque with which it was installed. They're always tighter coming off. There's friction against the threads, friction between the head and the surface, friction between the nut and the surface if applicable, and rust/corrosion/debris. And perhaps loctite
Firebrick43
Well-known member
Maybe you should use "Logic" before making a comparison to impact wrenches.
The "nut busting torque" is not equivalent in not the same as toque provided by a wrench or socket. Its a sharp jolt that if appropriately sized to the fastener that doesn't exceed the modulus of elasticity of the metal because there is no distance component to that jolt.
Where did I mention nut busting?
You need more leverage to remove a fastener than you do to install it. Whether impacting or simply pushing against it, it doesn't actually have matter.
Yep not everyone is as strong as everyone else. One person's hernia is another's pinky finger.
firebirdparts
Well-known member
If you want cheap long wrenches, they're out there too. the twisted ones to "not hurt your hand" are kind of a gimmick, but they don't take up any extra room really. That is mostly a gearwrench thing so I guess you'd say Oldsmobile-level pricing. Gear wrench makes a long+twisted+ratcheting.
Firebrick43
Well-known member
That’s what the impact manufactures say. And it does matter, it works different and is not the same as constant torque that hand tools and DC torque tools provide
You've obviously never removed a fastener that's been on anything for a while, or in less than ideal conditions.
In Canada our most common big box for tools is China....er.....CANADIAN Tire Corp. Their to line (Maximum, Professional, whatever they call it today - names keep changing) are about half way between my Stahlwille go to and my Mac long pattern, so for day to day use good enough to work in shop and cheap enough to take into the field. I imagine there is a US alternative similar to that.
rust in the eye
Well-known member
I also prefer long wrenches when there is room to swing them. Always grab them when doing suspension work.
You can get inexpensive ones, no need to visit the tool truck. I have a decade old set from H.F. They are rather crudely finished and thin but stand up to the beatings and abuse I heap on them. My only objection is the "skips" of 13, 16 and 18mm sizes, important if you service German cars.
Hard to beat for the $$: https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-...ghly-polished-long-handle-combination-wrench-
You can get inexpensive ones, no need to visit the tool truck. I have a decade old set from H.F. They are rather crudely finished and thin but stand up to the beatings and abuse I heap on them. My only objection is the "skips" of 13, 16 and 18mm sizes, important if you service German cars.
Hard to beat for the $$: https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-...ghly-polished-long-handle-combination-wrench-
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Advance Auto has Diehard long pattern wrenches in metric and SAE. Sets and individuals. I thought about trying them but never did. Quite cheap and rumor has it they are sourced from Gearwrench (or whatever you want to call it). I looked at the specs and they aren't particularly long. I forget now but I use an old set of New Britain made NAPA wrenches and it seems like the Diehards weren't very much longer. They're readily available in a brick and mortar though if you wanted to put some in your hand before deciding