Wrenches: polished vs. satin. pros/cons

[Fender1325]

I'm going to buy the wright wrenches but honestly can't decide between satin and polished. What are the pros and cons?

I've grown up on run of the mill craftsman stuff which is not polished.....the more I think about it the more I almost prefer it, but also dont want to think "I should've spent a little more and got the polished".

Polished are easier to clean I guess? Corrosion resistance is better maybe? I don't know.

I mentioned on another thread sometimes I have to whack a wrench with a hammer to break a stubborn nut and someone said forget about the polished then, don't want to chip it. Made a good point until I realized a rag would be fine to cover before hitting it. But also sometimes you're using an impact on a bolt and the wrench needs to back the nut while rested against the frame or other heavy suspension component. Here I am worrying about hurting the damn things and meanwhile I don't think twice about beating the **** out of my Chinese crapsmans (which will be returning home from the shop when I upgrade). Only reason I'm upgrading is because the open ends do a great job of rounding nuts.

Anywho, what say you

 

[drtyler]

Either are fine. Don't overthink it.

They are both chromed, so the corrosion resistance is the same. One is just polished.

 

[woody 73]

This might sound a little crazy but if my hands get any amount of oil on them then any tool with the full polish slip like butter and lands on the floor. Darn things are like trying to hold a greased pig trying to avoid the oven if you know what I mean...

 

[Fender1325]

This might sound a little crazy but if my hands get any amount of oil on them then any tool with the full polish slip like butter and lands on the floor. Darn things are like trying to hold a greased pig trying to avoid the oven if you know what I mean...

 

[ssdave]

I have both, in quality wrenches. Polished in Snap-on, SK Superchrome, and Proto 500. Satin in Proto Pro, older SK, and had them in Craftsman.

The full polish are easier to clean up by wiping with a rag. Rust starts easier on the satin; shouldn't, but it does. Nicks and scrapes and such look much worse on the full polish if that matters to you. They look worn faster.

I don't see a difference in how they feel or grip, but some guys prefer the satin as they say they're not as slick when oily. For me it doesn't matter.

The chrome seems to chip more on full polish, or maybe it just shows more. Can't really tell for sure.

 

[Fender1325]

I just googled this question and sure enough a GJ thread came up with the same question thread. Guy also coming from craftsman. Satin it is.

I nearly threw my 3/8 Chinese craftsman wrench into the woods last night when it rounded a nut again. I'll see if they will swap it out for a new one since it's obviously spread.....I know...good luck

 

[firworks]

Are you getting Metric and SAE sets? If so get one of each so you can tell them apart at a glance. I have polish Metric and satin SAE. I like the full polish a lot more though they're just so nice to handle and work.

Also I have inadvertantly sent one of my full polish Wrightgrips skidding down a concrete driveway and it still looks flawless like the day it was made. The finish on them is very good.

 

[turnthewrench]

Either are fine. Don't overthink it.

I prefer satin. Stahlwille's finish - some call it "blemishes" - it's my favorite.

 

[DadsTools]

I've seen this debate before. Pros and cons for either one. Heavy polished chrome cleans up nicer and makes it feel like you bought a set of jewels (weighs heavily in the 'pride of ownership' department, which becomes more important to some folks as the price of the tool goes up, but few ever address this aspect), but is slicker to grasp, and if heavy chrome gets breached it will peel easier, and depending on the location of the breach, you could get a shard in your hand. While some might argue this is splitting hairs, there IS a reason why both are offered by tool companies, so there must be a tangible difference beyond simple preferential whimsy.

I personally much, much prefer satin finishes. It's about the texture and the feel and grip it provides. That's a principle of materials physics that goes beyond any human bias--a textured surface provides greater friction against an opposing surface (your hand) than a slick surface. No way to rationally debate that unless you want to toss science out the window--a textured surface can provide more than double the total surface area as a flat surface. I have examples of both polished and satin Wright wrenches--to me, there's no comparison.

The textured finish has to me a more natural comfortable feel. Now one might think this is just personal preference, but I think it goes deeper. How many objects in nature that can be grasped with the hand are polished smooth as opposed to textured? We are, after all, natural creatures, and such sensation feedback is hard-wired into our biology. So there's more to it than just whimsy. If you were falling, and you had enough time to choose grabbing a slick pole or a textured pole to save yourself, with all else being equal, which would any rational human being choose to grab onto? There it is.

When you're working on a job, you want to be mentally and instinctively focused on the task, not on the tool. Textured finishes provide an edge in that department.

However, there's that pride of ownership, that appeal of glitter and glory when looking at a polished set right next to the satin set. Gee, the polished MUST be better! How dull and uninspiring are those satin ones, and they both cost the same money! And as I mentioned, that distinction seems to escalate with the cost of the tool set, all the way up to Papa Snappy.

That's my opinion. I like science a lot, so I tend to lean toward the undeniable reality of physics and the natural world.

 

[HanShotFirst]

When hitting a wrench with a hammer, use a dead blow. More effective hit, and much easier on the chrome of your favorite wrenches.

 

[monkeyspanners]

Back in the mid 90's when I was buying my first set of tools, mainly Britool, the local tool shop said Britool did two ranges, one shiny for automotive and a one matt finished for industrial users, the theory being that matt tools gave more grip in greasy situations.

 

[ryan20021982]

To be honest I buy the chrome because they look pretty and clean up easier, and yes I am a tool polisher and am not ashamed of it.

 

[Tinner]

It's no big deal to me, I have both. At home my most used wrenches are Snap-on, so I have more full polish. My others are Proto, Stahlwille and Wright, they're all satin. If Snap-on offered satin finish as an option at a reduced price I'd have some.

At work I have S-K superchrome combos and Snap-on open ends. The shiny wrenches make my coworkers feel inferior.

 

[DadsTools]

To be honest I buy the chrome because they look pretty and clean up easier, and yes I am a tool polisher and am not ashamed of it.

And that is indeed a factor in making a decision to buy full polish wrenches. Nothing to be ashamed of. It's called Pride of Ownership. As long as you have a sound idea as to why you're buying one finish over the other, that's all that matters, otherwise you'd be buying based on a false assumption.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I use Proto and Sk satin wrenches mainly when working on trucks and ag equipment.
My thinner Polished SnapOn wrenches are used on cars and pickups.
They were bought without regret for different tasks.

 

[Al Borland]

Are you getting Metric and SAE sets? If so get one of each so you can tell them apart at a glance. I have polish Metric and satin SAE. I like the full polish a lot more though they're just so nice to handle and work.

^^^This.^^^
Either is fine.
As far as hitting wrenches with a hammer; That's why Harbor Freight has wrenches.

Or, get some slug wrenches...

 

[DadsTools]

I'll be that guy, I prefer black oxide

"Blessed are the peacemakers..."

 

[Mikeske]

I retired out of aviation and we used full polished tools. I have used both full polished and satin finished tools and I prefer the full polish. Much easier to keep the wrenches clean.

My personal preference is full polish when I work on cars and truck but if I am working on my tractors I prefer the satin finish. The only issue I have with satin finish is it much harder to clean them because of the textured surface keeps the grease and oil in the wrench.

 

[Olafur]

I like both, but satin finish is more practical on dirty jobs. Better grip!

And btw:
I don't get the obsession with open ends. I am lucky enough to work on great many different things. Farm, construction, earthmoving machinery, H.D trucks, rebuilt engines and transmissions, overhaul and repair hydraulic systems, air compressors, electrical systems. Pretty much whatever south Iceland needs repaired.

And yet I rarely use open ends except for hydraulic hoses and fittings. In past 4 years I only once wished I had open ended wrench with teeth a-la Flank drive plus from Snap On. It took 10 minutes to find workaround and solve the issue.

You DIY guys place way to much weight on this feature IMHO.

 

[rockinacummins]

I prefer full polish.

Why? Because shiny.

 

[L.Cheapo]

I prefer full polish too. I don't wear gloves and satin finish just feels cheap, unfinished, and crude in my hands. And harder to clean. Wrenches are way bigger on the ends than in the middle...its not like they're fragile or can slip out of your hands and fall on the floor.

 

[kb1982]

I like both, but satin finish is more practical on dirty jobs. Better grip!

And btw:
I don't get the obsession with open ends. I am lucky enough to work on great many different things. Farm, construction, earthmoving machinery, H.D trucks, rebuilt engines and transmissions, overhaul and repair hydraulic systems, air compressors, electrical systems. Pretty much whatever south Iceland needs repaired.

And yet I rarely use open ends except for hydraulic hoses and fittings. In past 4 years I only once wished I had open ended wrench with teeth a-la Flank drive plus from Snap On. It took 10 minutes to find workaround and solve the issue.

You DIY guys place way to much weight on this feature IMHO. [emoji481]

I'm your average shade tree mechanic that picks up a few wrench jobs here and there, but I've ran into a few driveshaft to pinion flanges where only an open end could be used. These things are usually tight as can be also. This circumstance alone uses the 12 point and flank drive debate

Sent from my Z962BL using Tapatalk

 

[Rubiman14]

I have both and it makes no difference to me. When my hands are really trashed, anything other than full blown knurling is slippery. Most of the wrenches in my main box are Snap-on and SK, so I use full polish more than anything. Easy cleanup!

 

[derosa]

I've got the wright in satin and really love the feel of them, just something about the feel of the texture when I'm holding it, I've got an had sets of gearwrench in polish and a couple of random higher end wrenches and I now strongly prefer the feel of the wright satin.

 

[Tonyuk]

My main set are Facom 440's which have a satin finish. I also have a set of draper expert that i used before buying the facom set which are colour coated chrome. I cant say i notice any difference in the texture of them, especially with gloves on.

 

[pepi]

I guess the question then becomes. Are you going to wear them or use them, then buy accordingly.

Greg

 

[ssdave]

I guess the question then becomes. Are you going to wear them or use them, then buy accordingly.

Greg

I would disagree with this statement. Both of them have different advantages in use.

Satin may have better grip, some people think so, some don't. Full polish definitely clean up better. My full polish get several times the use that my satin ones do for that reason. If it's a clean job, I may use the satin finish. If it's dirty, the full polish are used for sure.

 

[cjarvis]

Admittedly, its psychological, but I prefer full polish. Primarily because I associate the satin finish with lesser quality/cheap wrenches. (And I like shiny)

 

[Sal Bandini]

I prefer satin. Stahlwille's finish - some call it "blemishes" - it's my favorite.

+1. I have a set of them on order.

I used to like chrome but am now so over it. Prefer the Hazet and Stahlwille look.

 

[sk farmer]

don't forget. industrial finish wright. i have a set of black wrightgrips and they are sweet!

someplace between full polish and satin as far as texture.

 

[Fender1325]

don't forget. industrial finish right. i have a set of black wrightgrips and they are sweet!

someplace between full polish and satin as far as texture.

Yeah theyd get lost in the engine bay fast

 

[apdxyk]

Black WrightGrips and phosphatised Calr Walter are the most used here. Those who lose them easily may learn how to organise their work process and place. Chromium is not the best additive for the tool metallurgy. I also have satin and full polished from other makers.

 

[sk farmer]

Yeah theyd get lost in the engine bay fast

I have been told that msny times it seems to be wildly exaggerated. I have a few sets of black wrenches and have not lost any. My dirt is pretty black and i seem to be able to find them. Far more tools are lost to carelessness or falling into the abyss than because they are black.

If such was the case nobody would use impact sockets that are almost always much smaller and easier to lose.

 

[Fender1325]

I have been told that msny times it seems to be wildly exaggerated. I have a few sets of black wrenches and have not lost any. My dirt is pretty black and i seem to be able to find them. Far more tools are lost to carelessness or falling into the abyss than because they are black.

If such was the case nobody would use impact sockets that are almost always much smaller and easier to lose.

Impacts are generally used outside the engine bay. Easier to keep track of. When you have 3 different sized wrenches, sockets, etc in an engine bay, on top of old parts coming out/new going in, it becomes easy to misplace stuff. For me anyway.

Just curious, why do they make the black ones anyhow? There must be a reason beyond them looking cool

 

[bcradio]

You ever figure out what you want to get as your first set of wrenches with your allowance $$$ OP?

 

[Fender1325]

You ever figure out what you want to get as your first set of wrenches with your allowance $$$ OP?

Well my mommy said if I work hard, one day I could save up enough to buy them. But first I need to ask the advice of a software engineer who spends his days on a forum giving advice about wrenching. Those guys know the most about it, they work on cars all the time.

 

[Fender1325]

I'm thinking probably harbor freight. They'll last my lifetime and my children's lifetime, and their childrens lifetime and so on and so on. That is, if they become software engineers, seeing as how they'll barely get used and all.

 

[bcradio]

Well my mommy said if I work hard, one day I could save up enough to buy them. But first I need to ask the advice of a software engineer who spends his days on a forum giving advice about wrenching. Those guys know the most about it, they work on cars all the time.

Wow, I'm impressed. It sounds like you are learning. Keep it up!