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Wrenches with "flank drive plus" technology

cesski

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Mar 14, 2016
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What other brands has this "anti-slip" technology in their wrenches? So far, these are what I've discovered...

Wright Tool's WrightGrip
Snap-On FD+
Proto's ASD
Mac's Knuckle Saver
Matco’s Opti-Torque Pro


I ask because I'm in the market to buy a set of combination wrenches, new or used.
 
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Liniden

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Feb 23, 2016
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I know the carlyle long style wrenches at napa have a sort of non slip design
 

PSYKO_Inc

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Oct 23, 2010
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Gearwrench long pattern non-ratcheting wrenches have some grooves cut in the open ends, not sure if it really does much, but looks a lot like the FD+.
 
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cesski

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Wow!! Thanks a lot, guys! Now, to find the best deal out of all the brands...
 
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cesski

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Does anybody have experience with SK's SureGrip and Carlyle's version of the "non-slip" wrenches?
 
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Liniden

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I've used the carlyle brand quite a bit. They've held up except the 1/4 the first time I used the open end to bleed brakes the metal caved in and looked like a chunk was missing. Napa warrantied the wrench no questions asked and the new one seems fine.
 
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cesski

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@barrybeefburger: any first hand experience with them?

@liniden: how's the chrome on them? size, weight and and how do they feel in the hand? sorry for all the questions. if NAPA was open right now, I would've already tested them out myself.
 

PSYKO_Inc

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Sunex wrenches, they have a "v groove" system to keep it from slipping. Work pretty well for me. Amazing how well they grip coming from std combos.

How do you like the Sunex wrenches overall (length, feel, quality of chrome, etc.?) Looking to upgrade my metric set from Craftsman raised panels, really want Snap On but they're crazy expensive even used. Was thinking maybe Gearwrench, but the Sunex stuff has caught my attention lately. Bought a set of their impact sockets and they seem really nice.
 

Liniden

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I actually really like them, like I said the 1/4 didn't hold up too well but may have just been a one time deal the others are great. The chrome is really nice, the weight is pretty good, not too heavy or light but still feels like a quality piece if that makes sense. Im in a service truck so If I ever need to replace a wrench or socket it's nice knowing that there is a napa close by. They're made in Taiwan if that matters to you at all.
 

Liniden

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Feb 23, 2016
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On the size question, if you take a long 13mm snap on wrench and a long style 13mm carlyle wrench and place them on top of each other they're pretty much identical except the carlyle has a wider beam, maybe a hair thicker too.
 

gdocktor3

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How do you like the Sunex wrenches overall (length, feel, quality of chrome, etc.?) Looking to upgrade my metric set from Craftsman raised panels, really want Snap On but they're crazy expensive even used. Was thinking maybe Gearwrench, but the Sunex stuff has caught my attention lately. Bought a set of their impact sockets and they seem really nice.

I recently bought two larger metric sets off tooldiscounter.com for real cheap. They're super nice wrenches. One set is satin the other is polished. I think I paid around $50 for both sets. 20-24mm satin and 25-32mm polished.
 

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Clemson13

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How do you like the Sunex wrenches overall (length, feel, quality of chrome, etc.?) Looking to upgrade my metric set from Craftsman raised panels, really want Snap On but they're crazy expensive even used. Was thinking maybe Gearwrench, but the Sunex stuff has caught my attention lately. Bought a set of their impact sockets and they seem really nice.

I really like them. To be fair, I won the Sunex 9922 set during the sunex 12 days of Christmas. Who doesn't like free tools?? Ended up getting the 9922M set to round it out. ~110 for both the 12 piece and 13 piece metric and SAE sets if you shop around.

Guess it is time to say thank you to Sunex for great free tools!

I have been using them a bunch since I got them, they feel great. They are not super thick, or extra long, but they feel better in the hand than my C-man raised panel wrenches. Suitably thick to put some force into them and also plenty long for a std length wrench.

The chrome seems to be top notch, little to no damage to it yet. Even after sliding them around on the garage floor.

The sets I have are the ratcheting wrenches. The ratchet end is a spline. It works fine and does not seem to damage fasteners. Its taken a while but I am starting to like the spline box end. It works great on crusty rusty fasteners.

The open end bites spectacularly. I couldn't believe it the first time I used them. I could put load on the bolt then try and pull the wrench off and it wouldn't slip off!! You have to release almost all torque before they will come off. When I was playing with that I was using the 3/4.

Unfortunately, I cannot say how they rank against the other choices as all I have to compare them with are my old USA C-man raised panels I got from my father.

Hope that helps.
 

PJNJ

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Sep 20, 2013
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Iowa
The new SK x frame ratcheting wrenches will snap the head off a grade 8 bolt with either the open end or the ratcheting end.

Here's two video reviews showing same -

Open end (also Wright and Snap On tested the same) -
Ratcheting end, test at about 3:20 of the review -

:beer:
 
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cesski

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Man, now I'm in a dilemma. I wish all of 'em were available in-store somewhere so I could test them out.
 
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barrybeefburger

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@barrybeefburger: any first hand experience with them?

@liniden: how's the chrome on them? size, weight and and how do they feel in the hand? sorry for all the questions. if NAPA was open right now, I would've already tested them out myself.


Yep, they work really well, Ive not abused them but they feel good, are longer than the average wrench and they are made in Taiwan if COO is an issue, check out sears outlet for standard and ratcheting for prices.
 

GSMotorrad

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Mar 8, 2012
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I have some generic flank drive wrenches from Harbor Freight a long time ago. If they're made in China, they're the best I've seen from there, so I want to lean towards Taiwan. I know H.F. had a lot of wrenches made in India (that I destroyed) at the time I got these, so not sure if they'd graduated to Taiwan yet.

Another one is Wera Joker. They have a 12 point open end, with a hardened "flank drive plus" face on one side. It can hold nuts without letting them fall through, if their six points are positioned askew in the 12 points scheme. You know what I'm saying? Offset your nuts. Or utilize the flankdriveplus by sliding that hardened face over your nut.

Wera-Joker-1.jpg~original


Wera-Joker-2.jpg~original


The harbor frieght ones are twisted

Wera-Joker-3.jpg~original
 
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cesski

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Looks like a bunch of people are sold on Sunex now. Does anyone have any first hand experience with warranty with them?

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cesski

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I'm buying a SAE set which is almost $60 everywhere and need a bunch in other SAE sizes which adds up to about at least $80. I don't know about you, but to me, that's quite a bit of money.
 

bmwpowere36m3

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For wrenches? Probably only HF will be cheaper in price. You can read all the reviews online... and still be disappointed. Sometimes you just have to buy it and try it for yourself. If your getting them from amazon, they have a real good return policy. I've bought a lot of stuff and returned a few for full refunds because I was not satisfied.

People want the "best", but honestly any decent tool you purchase nowadays is more than enough for the casual/DIY'er. Stick with known brands and you'll be fine.
 
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cesski

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True. You're right. It's just I'll be using this for work and I have no previous experience with Sunex. I'm taking the plunge then. Thanks for your wisdom.

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Fedwrench

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Anybody know the differences between the Williams and Snap On versions?

There are a few differences. Snap on Flank Drive Plus open ends use teeth. Williams uses notches. I think the teeth grip better. The Snap on FDP wrench is thinner and lighter. The Williams is a little heavier but, avoids the knife edge fell if leaning heavy on the wrench. Here are a few crappy pictures of a 15mm wrench. Please don't think you're getting a snap on wrench by buying the Williams cheaper. They are completely different. :beer:
 

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Fedwrench

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Are the Sunex V groove combination wrenches PRC or Taiwan made?

The Sunex open end with teeth is a dead ringer for the NAPA Carlyle version. Here's a picture of a Carlyle 15mm to show what I mean.:dunno:
 

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Sugarfryz

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Mar 13, 2016
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I own a set of snap on 10-19mm ratcheting flank drive plus wrenches. Absolutely amazing quality. They're used everyday. If you're not a pro, I'd look at sk version. I think it looks better bc it grabs more sides. If I had someone to warranty them I would have bought that version.
 

brook41

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Oct 26, 2013
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Location
NY Metro
I own a set of the Carlyle long pattern in metric and as someone had pointed out to me before. The notches have a tendency to mar the fastener and I found this to be true. I would buy one first and see how you like it before committing.
 
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cesski

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Mar 14, 2016
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Reviews on Amazon say they're made in China.

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