Worth springing for the flank drive plus?

[kwhitelaw]

herro,

Being that im not gonna get my riser for my snapon right now, im thinking ill upgrade the wrenches. I am getting a good deal. around 45-50% off, so im going to get short and long, inches and mm.

Should I just go ahead and get the flank drive plus? most of the work will be on fasteners that arent decorative so scratching/gouging the head isnt a concern. But is it worth the extra money or just a waste...?

Thanks

kevin

 

[ImportTuner]

herro,

Being that im not gonna get my riser for my snapon right now, im thinking ill upgrade the wrenches. I am getting a good deal. around 45-50% off, so im going to get short and long, inches and mm.

Should I just go ahead and get the flank drive plus? most of the work will be on fasteners that arent decorative so scratching/gouging the head isnt a concern. But is it worth the extra money or just a waste...?

Thanks

kevin

I would ... never had a fastener that the flank drive plus wrench could not remove ... but the Craftsman work well on the decorative fasteners ...

 

[Fedwrench]

It depends more on what you work on. How many times do you need to loosen a fastener only with an open end wrench? If you do alot of front end work say adjusting tie rods or the like where you can only use an open end wrench, then abolutely there is no substitute for the Flank Drive Plus wrenches. However, if you rarely use a open end wrench on tight fasteners, then they're overkill. What else do you need to get (not want to get)? If you can get a good deal on the flank drive plus and don't need other essentials, I would definitely get them.

 

[kwhitelaw]

What else do you need to get (not want to get)? If you can get a good deal on the flank drive plus and don't need other essentials, I would definitely get them.

technically, I dont need anything. I tend to be kinda impulsive and its a problem but I enjoy tools. I figure if I can get the flank drive plus for a little bit more than why not.

looks like ill go ahead and do it. I appreciate the feedback.

 

[Merkava_4]

Technically, I don't need anything. I tend to be kinda impulsive and it's a problem, but I enjoy tools.

I can't relate to that; I have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[Danglerb]

When the snapon guy shows up once a week, whats the point in stocking up on tools you don't have a use for yet?

The more work you do with your tools the clearer it will be where the money needs to go.

With impulsive behavior, its important that you don't green light some category like work tools, as OK to buy even if crazy expensive, or when you have to use credit to buy them. Paying monthly interest so some wrenches are parked unused in your box instead of on the truck aint good.

 

[dxdexter]

I have have some flank drive plus, but mostly just flank drive. If you have the extra money to spend then get the "plus", if not you will never miss them. Most fasteners will be removed with the box end and not the open end. Its more or less a gimmick to sell more tools, but they do work.

 

[kwhitelaw]

When the snapon guy shows up once a week, whats the point in stocking up on tools you don't have a use for yet?

The more work you do with your tools the clearer it will be where the money needs to go.

With impulsive behavior, its important that you don't green light some category like work tooks, as OK to buy even if crazy expensive, or when you have to use credit to buy them. Paying monthly interest so some wrenches are parked unused in your box instead of on the truck aint good.

I understand what you are saying. It appears that im just starting out with tools. Ive been buying snapon for 10yrs, have ran up a truck account to over 10K but currentyl have a zero balance and plan on keeping it that way. With the discount I can get they will be bought at 50% so no need to strt up a truck account again. im not even buying them thru the truck.

Do I need SO wrenches? No. Ive got craftsman that my dad got me for a grad. gift over 10yrs ago. But they are sitting in a big KRL, surrounded by snap on. Im childish in that I cant even put blue point in the box, just SO. I just recently changed over all craftsman sockets to snap on and all that is left is wrenches. So im just trying to decide if springing for the plus is justifiable.

I think ill just get the flank drive plus. Anyone wanna buy 60 or so craftsman wrenches, some gearwrench..

 

[Lightning]

I have a set of the flank drive plus and have not used the open end yet. Like dxdexter said, you will likely remove most fasteners with the box end when using a wrench. Not trying to discourage you, but you want to spend your money on tools you may use more often. A set of just the flank drive would probably be all you need. If you encounter a fastener than can only be removed using the open end and your flank drive cannot remove it, buy a flank drive plus wrench for that fastener as needed.


The flank drive plus wrenchs are great tools, but they will mar soft metals. There are those fasteners though where you wish you had flank drive plus.

If your Craftsman wrenches give you problems, buy a set of the flank drive wrenches and buy the flank drive plus only as needed.

 

[billymade]

You might save some "dough" on ebay:
http://search.ebay.com/flank-drive-...prZ0QQssPageNameZRC0021QQ_trksidZp1638Q2em120

 

[kwhitelaw]

no worries dealing with the ebay. My brother is qualified for the student excellence program so I will be having him pick some sets up for me.

With the money saved by not going with the flank drive plus, I may just get some dead blows and prybars.

thanks for the feedback.

 

[Danglerb]

Could be a lot of us are just "one good excuse" away from an all SnapOn box that "maybe" 10% actually need.

For me, I'd rather have a "deep" set of tools, wide variety, cheap where cheap works, and top of the line in most used and where it counts.

A coupling in my shift linkage needed replacing, access was insane even with the exhaust dropped, and the old jam nut wasn't being cooperative. Finally the mechanic was able to get a crowsfoot on it, but it would have been better to use a line wrench crowsfoot and a index head ratchet.

OTOH it would have been even better to have put the darn coupling in while the clutch was out.

*****************

Getting SnapOn at 50% is very tempting, but its not money in the bank, if you ever need to sell them you still would only get about half or less of what you paid. Swap meet guy I get my SnapOn from sells at about 25% of catalog, and my guess pays a good bit less when he buys tools.

 

[kwhitelaw]

I hear ya. Im at a point in my life where I can afford nice tools. So ill get them while I can. And soon I hope to be out of the shop so Ill have a set at the house that will never need to be upgraded. I really cant see needing much more tools at this point. maybe impact sockets and for once i might step away from snap on for those. Ive been looking around this forum for ideas on impacts but not pulling the trigger just yet. I do car audio so I dont need crazy mechanics tools to pull apart random cars that I might see once a year etc.