I'm in the market for a set of good wrenches. I've been looking at the WrightGrip wrenches, Proto ASD, Snap On Flank Drive Plus, etc. My biggest concern about the WrightGrip and Flank Drive Plus are how much the serrated teeth dig into fasteners upon removal and tightening, if torqued down too much. I prefer the Proto ASD design over the teeth serrations as it only has a small notch in the open end that still seems to grip but doesn't mar. What improvements have been made with the WrightGrip 2.0's? I have heard very good things about Wright Tools and already own one of their WrightGrip wrenches in 1 1/16. The beefiness and feel are 2nd to none, and are fairly priced, especially compared to Snap On or even Proto for that matter. Any advice or recommendations are welcomed!
Wrench Recommendations? WrightGrip, Proto ASD, Etc
- Thread starter PDub88
- Start date
I have several different brands of wrenches, SK, Snap-on, Cornwell, Blue point, Matco, Mac, Husky, Performance tool, Kobalt and of course the obligatory Craftsman USA.
Of those, the ones I grab most when it matters are the Snap-on flank drive and the Cornwell version of flank drive. That being said, I don't think there is a better fitting wrench made than Snap-on. In my experience the tolerance on the Snap-on wrenches is superior to the other brands I own.
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Of those, the ones I grab most when it matters are the Snap-on flank drive and the Cornwell version of flank drive. That being said, I don't think there is a better fitting wrench made than Snap-on. In my experience the tolerance on the Snap-on wrenches is superior to the other brands I own.
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B_Bimmer
Well-known member
I prefer the Proto's for everyday, excellent wrenches. I also have all snap on variations and the original wrightgrip all are great tools. Personally I really don't like jaws, although most things aren't tight enough to leave a mark.
GrantCee
Well-known member
I was in the same position a few years back and chose Wright. Couldn't be happier with them. The jaw serrations haven't been an issue at all, but then again I don't work on show cars that have chromed fasteners. If I did I might choose differently.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Any of the wrenches you listed will serve you well. I think it comes down to whether you want a standard length or long pattern wrench. I own all three brands you're considering and I haven't found the teeth on the open end to do much damage to fasteners unless the fastener was corroded or damaged beforehand.
Please allow me to muddy the waters a bit and recommend another option, Williams Supercombos. Long pattern, anti slip open end without teeth, off corner boxed end, nice chrome, thick beam edges (no knife edge), and their pricing is very competitive if you shop around. Visit toolsdelivered.com to see if you like them.
Please allow me to muddy the waters a bit and recommend another option, Williams Supercombos. Long pattern, anti slip open end without teeth, off corner boxed end, nice chrome, thick beam edges (no knife edge), and their pricing is very competitive if you shop around. Visit toolsdelivered.com to see if you like them.
Professional Tool User
Well-known member
Depends on whether or not this is your main wrench set. If you are concerned about damage caused by the open end design, the Proto ASD ones are the ones that won't damage the fastener, though the open end design isn't as effective as Snap on and some of the other ones. If you already have a decent set of wrenches and just want something with a flank drive style open end, I would just go with the ones that Milwaukee, Channellock, and Napa have sourced from Taiwan. I would avoid spending too much on something that I would need only once in a blue moon. 99% of the time the box end will fit when I have a fastener in bad shape.
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bob15
Well-known member
I have found the Williams wrenches will spread when using their smaller sizes, 7/16 & 1/2 mainly. No issues with Wright.
I wouldn't sweat it with regards to leaving marks in fasteners.....no matter who makes the wrench.
I wouldn't sweat it with regards to leaving marks in fasteners.....no matter who makes the wrench.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
If you need an open end wrench to turn nuts with rounded off corners, Snap-on FD+ is it. If you don't need to turn rounded off nuts everyday, get some regular smooth open ends.
The FD+ will get caught on the corners of healthy hexagonal nuts when you pull the wrench away to flip it over. I wouldn't recommend them for primary everyday wrenches for that reason.
The FD+ will get caught on the corners of healthy hexagonal nuts when you pull the wrench away to flip it over. I wouldn't recommend them for primary everyday wrenches for that reason.
Snap On had the long pattern metric non-FDP set on promo a few months ago. I didn't want FDP, although those go on promo a few times a year. I just don't like marring fasteners, and I honestly cannot remember the last time I worked on a stripped anything, since I do all my own work and generally know when to say when. I've been very happy with the set.
I'll probably end up picking up a set of Proto ASD ratcheting spline wrenches and possibly a set of WrightGrip wrenches as well. Snap On is beyond my budget at the current time. I'll probably have to wait until the Black Friday sales hit though.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
The Snap-on combination wrenches are the easiest to use because of the way they're shaped. The shape makes them very maneuverable and flippable. Nice wrenches to work with.
Agreed. Nice shape. But then there's the FD+ (which I'm not a huge fan of) and thin uncomfortable beams.
Pro's and cons to everything I guess...
Both of those are fine wrenches. I'm personally not a fan of spline but many people are. I think a great value (when on sale) are the Carlyle Reversible Ratcheting.
The Wright is a fine combination wrench; I just wish they were a little longer.
I’ve seen the Carlyle wrenches as well and that are quite nice, too. The SK X Frames are another admirable mention,
although they don’t have an offset. I don’t do a lot of wrench turning, but when I do, I like to have nice tools that will get the job done without trouble.
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although they don’t have an offset. I don’t do a lot of wrench turning, but when I do, I like to have nice tools that will get the job done without trouble.
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davethorik
Well-known member
I really like Wright Grip ergos, longer would be nice, as would more durable chrome. My 7/8" satin chrome is about 4-5 years old and open end has chrome chips, and chrome worn thru in one place on box end. Might be from use on case-hardened 1/2" clamp hardware for mills, it's dedicated use, I know the Wrightgrip teeth are mashed flat. Really like the feel of the wrench, though.
carlyle nice and same as the channellock ones .
carlyle only really a good buy at realdeal sale price.
proto asd nice if want be fancy .
stahlwille facom and toptul do some world class yet sensible priced standard combo wrenches . Toptul long pattern set was a total steal ...
carlyle only really a good buy at realdeal sale price.
proto asd nice if want be fancy .
stahlwille facom and toptul do some world class yet sensible priced standard combo wrenches . Toptul long pattern set was a total steal ...
Wamsutta
Well-known member
The wide and thin profile is what makes them so maneuverable. Every once in awhile though, a wrench makes it out of the factory fairly thick; about one out of every thousand.
Briancapecoral
Well-known member
I bought the SK Xframe for the ratcheting feature, but love the teeth on the open end when I have an old fastener. I almost always replace the fastener afterward. I have just purchased a wright grip 2.0 for SAE because the cost is much less than the Xframe which I only have in metric. If I don't want to replace the fasteners I use a set without teeth.