Why combination wrenches?

[babylou]

I'm trying to minimize my tool collection and thinking combination wrenches are a poor compromise. Regarding torque capacity most combo wrenches are too long for the open end and too short for the box end. For the same wrench count, say a 12 pc metric 8-19mm, wouldn't it be better to have a short 6pc double ended open end set and a long 6pc double end box set covering 8-19mm? More access when you need it and more torque when you need it with the same 12 total pieces. Another advantage is the when you need two wrenches of the same size.

I realize there's a million applications for all the specialty wrenches. I'm only talking about a minimalist setup. So what do you think; combination wrench set set versus open end set plus box end set?

 

[hangfirew8]

Combination wrenches are the minimalist setup. A combination of double open-end wrenches and deep offset double end wrenches was the higher end, more complete choice.

As for length, I learned something here at GJ recently. A certain US truck brand has different length wrenches available, and each type is the perfect length. On the other hand a competing non-truck US brand has different length wrench sets that fit neatly in between the truck brand lengths, but for some reason all those lengths are wrong, just wrong.

Who knew?

 

[BK13]

I'm trying to minimize my tool collection

Ban him! LOL

I agree that combo wrenches are THE minimalist approach.

 

[hangfirew8]

Ban him! LOL

Really, next time the OP should pick a more GJ approach like "I'm trying to put together a motorcycle tool kit from my ever-expanding massive tool collection." lol

I agree that combo wrenches are THE minimalist approach.

That's what I carry in my one-per-car tool sacks. If I need the same size on the other side (rare with automotive applications nowadays), I use pliers, Blackhawk locking pliers or the adjustable.

Actually, I can sympathize a bit. At home I'm trying to right-size my tool collection for my "little" 6' tall, 18" deep, 27" wide automotive tool chest. I settled on 6-point Long Pattern combinations and 12-point standard pattern combinations... along with ratcheting wrenches and obstruction wrenches and flarenut wrenches. Next big purchase is deep double offset box end wrenches (aka deep crank ring spanners) in Metric. Of course I already have all this stuff in SAE but hardly use it any more.

I forgot to address one of the OP's points. If you buy quality tools, you won't have so many problems with the open end spreading even on the Long Pattern wrenches. Of course the box end is always preferable, but not always possible.

 

[babylou]

How are 12 combo wrenches more minimalist than 6 box and 6 open end wrenches?

 

[n8n]

How are 12 combo wrenches more minimalist than 6 box and 6 open end wrenches?

It might be a good approach...

I could ditch my combos, and keep my German (thinner than American) DOEs for low torque apps and things like GM brake calipers where they are required and then get some long pattern DBEs for the heavy nut busting duty.

Problem is I've had combos for years because that's what everyone starts with... so I might as well keep 'em (still looking for some long DBEs though)

 

[hangfirew8]

A true minimalist would eliminate the sizes he won't use. See the the many DIN versus JIS vs SAE vs auto manufacturer bolt head size threads. Double ended wrench sets almost certainly have sizes your automobile doesn't have.

Box end wrenches with any offset to them don't fit in tool rolls so well. So you have two sets of two.

Anyway it's all an academic question unless you're going on a long road trip in a minicar. Almost everyone keeps their extra wrench types and sizes at home "just in case", and sells/donates only when upgrading the quality of their sets.

 

[bcradio]

Ban him! LOL

Pretty much. Minimize tool collection does not compute

 

[hangfirew8]

Yup. It's not all just humor. The very nature of tools, and wrenches in particular, is that you're screwed if you don't have the right ones. Not just the right size, but the right offset, length, and end type, because of tightly packed modern automobiles and the clearance issues they create, not to mention rust.

A better approach is to get rid of plastic tool cases and other space wasters, and/or buy a bigger toolbox, if you can't go wider and deeper, go taller.

 

[jd_1138]

You can never have enough wrenches, like hangfirew8 says. I mean for what cheapskates are willing to pay for a set of wrenches, you may as well keep them, because you won't get much for them. Even if they are Snappys, you might get what 25 cents on the dollar?

 

[sonvolt]

Blasphemy !! I only have 2 wrenches, a metric adjustable and SAE adjustable

 

[oldldh]

Blasphemy !! I only have 2 wrenches, a metric adjustable and SAE adjustable

You've got twice as many as you need!!!

 

[1990 Grand Wag]

I'm trying to minimize my tool collection and thinking combination wrenches are a poor compromise. Regarding torque capacity most combo wrenches are too long for the open end and too short for the box end. For the same wrench count, say a 12 pc metric 8-19mm, wouldn't it be better to have a short 6pc double ended open end set and a long 6pc double end box set covering 8-19mm? More access when you need it and more torque when you need it with the same 12 total pieces. Another advantage is the when you need two wrenches of the same size.

I realize there's a million applications for all the specialty wrenches. I'm only talking about a minimalist setup. So what do you think; combination wrench set set versus open end set plus box end set?

Babylou, this is GJ, minimizing tools is "doing it backwards!" Buy more tools!!!

 

[LeBaroner]

I actually agree with the OP and would prefer a set of opens and a set of long box.

However like most I started with combination wrenches and added the others as I went on. Primarily, due to cost and availability at the time.

 

[d.mcfarland]

The combination is the middle ground of your first post. It's not long or short...

Ideally the combination wrench set would fit all fasteners you need it to. However, the reality is that it won't.

With that said, maybe the minimalist approach is flex head combination or something like that?

 

[OHMS LAW]

When working you need All of em. I have combos, ratcheting combos, Stubbies, flex head rat combos and my newest favorite the double box end long. You need em. The flex are gearwrench and the stubs are HF but all others are snap On

 

[toolman9w]

Can you really "minimize" a tool collection and live? I won't take the chance.

 

[leg17]

Every tool is, in the end, a hammer.
Pick one, any one.

 

[sberry]

You can never have enough wrenches, like hangfirew8 says. I mean for what cheapskates are willing to pay for a set of wrenches, you may as well keep them, because you won't get much for them. Even if they are Snappys, you might get what 25 cents on the dollar?

agree, not worth selling.

 

[66354dream]

When working you need All of em. I have combos, ratcheting combos, Stubbies, flex head rat combos and my newest favorite the double box end long. You need em. The flex are gearwrench and the stubs are HF but all others are snap On

^^^^^EXACTLY!!! I couldn't imagine working on a car without combo wrenches. Besides just how many times has having either the open or box end on the same wrench saved you some time and a trip back to the tool box?

 

[PelicanPines]

I minimized by getting rid of my adjustables... ok... didn't get rid of them... but, they are stored "away" from my wrench population.

I will say I use my stubby combos a lot more than I thought I would.

 

[sometoyotaguy]

I find adjustables of very limited use. Combos are really the only option other than sockets.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I think adjustable are for emergencies or large fastener size with low torque such as bathroom fixtures.

 

[Gmonkee]

About 60 years ago all pro mechanics had DOE and DBE, combos were the new fangled thing that they knew was never going to catch on. As those guys retired and faded out the kids replacing them had combos. They were carrying half the wrenches than the older guys had.

They compensated for that loss of the 2nd of each size with a socket set which were just about that time getting cheaper as the tools in them got much better. So out went that smaller set as much as it just morphed into a new form.

I did a silly experiment where the combos stayed home and the DOE/DBE went to work. It was weird in that after a short adjustment period it was really not much different, except the DBE seen little use. Then those stayed home too. That was 5 years ago and holds today. For me on my job it worked great, for my co-worker it ended him borrowing my tools.

Try it first as an experiment, you may just like it. Or you will hate it. I got to like the DOE better, do use quality ones however. There is a difference.

 

[RiverRider]

The way I see it (for hobbyist / DIYer automotive purposes), tools are a lot like guns...better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them. Since I started replacing the tools I lost in a theft several months ago, I've acquired a larger set of ratcheting combination, conventional combination, stubby combination, and double open end than I had before. I figure I should be equipped to change oil, water pumps, and do brakes without having to buy much else. I still consider my combination wrenches to be the heart of my tool collection though.

 

[jrobb316]

It depends on what you're doing. If you don't spin wrenches for a living and just do oil changes and brakes on your car when it needs it, then you don't need much. I personally have stubby (Cman), short (snapon), regular(FD +), and long combos (snapon). A set of non reversible gear wrenches, as well as reversible S-shaped, and half moon gear wrenches. Also have proto reversible ratcheting wrenches, double box 0 offset (snapon), and flare nut wrenches (SK). And I forgot large combos above 19mm (Allen USA). I need them all at some point in time. Combos are completely relevant today and are not going anywhere.

 

[Wamsutta]

Regarding torque capacity most combo wrenches are too long for the open end and too short for the box end.

Sometimes you need an extra long open end. The space between the ball joint castle nut and the CV axle housing on GM front wheel drive cars does not allow for a box end.

 

[rustbucket5]

personally, i think combos are the best comprimise. break it loose with the box end, change to the open end to speed loosening. i would have gone with all ratcheting box ends but i was worried about them breaking with lots of torque. also i think there is a definite place for stubbies.......can you get away with out it? not if it drives you mental taking the wrench off and repositioning every 2 degrees like it does to me lol

 

[Cato]

I'm trying to minimize my tool collection

When I first started buying tools, I bought them to help me maintain my vehicles and small home. I had no interest in "buying American" or building complete collections.

Back then I was watching a lot of Alton Brown on the Food Network and he used to say that a tool is only worth buying if it can serve multiple functions. For example, that meant buying one large carpenter's hammer to serve as a ball peen, dead blow (with wood block), sledge, and as a carpenter's hammer.

Of course I learned that that sort of nonsense only makes jobs that much harder. There are so many things that can go wrong on a job and you increase the chance of failure or injury when you don't use the right tool for the job.

That being said "minimalist tool sets" are bad ideas.

 

[AV tinker er]

Blasphemy !! I only have 2 wrenches, a metric adjustable and SAE adjustable [emoji106]

Do your keep them separated with you metric and standard strap wrenches?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[malykaii]

Only read the original post, so if any of this is a repeat, sorry.

OP, what on earth are you working on? I've never heard such conplaints before.

1) open ends on combos too long? It's that your using crappy wrenches. Of course a Craftsman raised panel will spread. Try a wright, hazet, Stahlwille, Williams, elora... Elora and on promo Stahlwille are cheap.

2) Box end on combos too short? Again crappy wrenches. Any real long pattern wrench will suffice. An elora "long pattern" is a joke as Its just average length. Gearwrench l.p., hazet 600, Williams, Stahlwille 14... All legit long pattern. Any longer and you'll be damaging bolts.

3) Needing two same sized wrenches. I've noticed that when that happens, I almost always need,two open ends, hence,your strategy won't work.

Sometimes tooltopia does a deal when you buy the long,pattern the stubby is free. This way you have double open or box depending on needs. You have torque with the long and maneuverability with the stubby. If you really need torque, then just double,up two long pattern wrenches.

 

[Bumslie]

Every tool is, in the end, a hammer.
Pick one, any one.

OK, I laughed really loud and woke up the neighbor with this one.

Hahaha

 

[Flivver250]

What does minimize mean?

 

[Mark in Indiana]

I'm trying to minimize my tool collection



I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around this idea.

I've been using tools since the early 70s. Been down different roads. Admiringly, I'm a tool hoarder. Mainly because tools are cool, they don't cost anything to own, and it's often cheaper to own the tool, rather than paying for the work to be done.
However, my specialty tools get purged about every other year. An example for me would be a vacuum tube tester.

Many tools can be used in different applications. It's very frustrating to have a job dead end because you needed that extra tool that you used to have.

So, 2 questions to the OP come to mind:
1. What are your tool uses?
2. Why do you need to minimize your tools?

 

[rick carpenter]

OP has good points on sets of six DOE and six DBE for lengths & uses he needs. Either way, you'll occasionally want the combos when you have the doubles, and occasionally you'll want the doubles when you have the combos.

 

[redwrench60]

My father prefers DBE and DOE wrenches over combo wrenches so that's what I grew up learning on. There's several advantages to this setup and while I prefer combination wrenches with their extra length and convenience I still keep DOE and DOE wrenches around. Sometimes their just what the situation requires.

 

[bushmechanic]

How are 12 combo wrenches more minimalist than 6 box and 6 open end wrenches?

You get two options for use on each wrench, and in the dirt, that's nice. Same number of wrenches, twice the functionality on each one.

You can also get ratcheting flexible wrenches, and still have the open end when needed or simply when most convenient. Now THOSE buggers can replace some tools in a kit.

I keep combos for overland travel. It just makes more sense if you want all your bases covered, unless you have special requirements.

 

[Exceller8]

I'm trying to figure out how to squeeze more wrenches in not get rid of them.

 

[KnurledNut]

Having both sets gives you two wrenches to back up a nut when necessary.
With combos, your left trying to come up with a way to keep it from spinning.

 

[efncrx]

Having both sets gives you two wrenches to back up a nut when necessary.
With combos, your left trying to come up with a way to keep it from spinning.

This thread is about minimizing right? With your logic knurled nut minimize your socket collection and own every wrench...

99.9% of the time you can put a socket on one side and wrench whether it be DOE or DBE on the other side.

If the work you do requires 2 wrenches because there isn't clearance for sockets minimizing isn't a good idea.