Wright Wrenches Too Short...Sigh
- Thread starter JayMann07
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Wamsutta
Well-known member
Wright could mop up the competition if they made a longer wrench; they already have a comfortable beam profile. I don't know what the marketing guys over at Wright are thinking for having such a short wrench.
Wes J
Well-known member
They could mop up that market for pedantic tool owner who buy 6 different wrench brands to compare lengths.
I think Wright is doing fine.
derosa
Well-known member
I have the gearwrench xl and what the comparison video with the craftsman, wright and gearwrench test doesn't show is how good they are at rounding off the corners on a lower grade bolt. For several years they were the only real wrench set that I had till I bought the wrights. They have enough leverage for for most of my needs and where they don't the gearwrench isn't really a better option. They way the open end engages it does slip on tight, typically rusted tight, nuts and bolts where the wrights grip in. Also wish they made a true long pattern as well, I'd buy a metric set.
Don't forget that you can break bolts with non-combination wrenches; if you are stuck with wrights and need something longer you can get 0 or 15 degree offset high-performance box wrenches. People that think 180mm is fine lever arm until you try a 240-300mm lever. 
Quick update...so I purchased the long pattern non ratcheting gearwrenches...THEY ARE GOING TO BE RETURNED the machining on these wrenches is literally disgusting. Offsets at different angles, the broached surface drive at off angles on some of them. Some of the jaws look like they were cut out by hand with a grinder.
I own some older gearwrenches that I am perfectly happy with. And I bought some rather expensive XL gearwrenches (86126 & 86142) a while back that are absolutely beautiful and awesome. I swear they had to have been made in a different factory.
But I think I am done with gearwrench. I wish I had pictures of some of the gearwrench stuff I've seen. Recently, I bought some hose pliers and I kid you not, one jaw was twice as thick as the opposing jaw (I've never seen anything that bad not even in Harbor Freight). I bought a flex head ratchet that would not index straight it was either at plus or minus 10 degrees. What I end up doing is ordering two sets and mix and matching them to make one descent set then returning the other set...I'm so done with that. I'm noticing it mostly on their newer stuff. Whatever Chinese factory they are using now appears to be absolutely horrible.
So I saw the wrights dropped $30 on Amazon and I ordered them lol
Still wish I could get em in long pattern, but I'm so tired of ****...shew time for
haha
I own some older gearwrenches that I am perfectly happy with. And I bought some rather expensive XL gearwrenches (86126 & 86142) a while back that are absolutely beautiful and awesome. I swear they had to have been made in a different factory.
But I think I am done with gearwrench. I wish I had pictures of some of the gearwrench stuff I've seen. Recently, I bought some hose pliers and I kid you not, one jaw was twice as thick as the opposing jaw (I've never seen anything that bad not even in Harbor Freight). I bought a flex head ratchet that would not index straight it was either at plus or minus 10 degrees. What I end up doing is ordering two sets and mix and matching them to make one descent set then returning the other set...I'm so done with that. I'm noticing it mostly on their newer stuff. Whatever Chinese factory they are using now appears to be absolutely horrible.
So I saw the wrights dropped $30 on Amazon and I ordered them lol
Still wish I could get em in long pattern, but I'm so tired of ****...shew time for
haha
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MWEric
Well-known member
I have Wrightgrips in both metric and SAE and also SO FD+ and I much prefer the Wrights. So much more comfortable to use.
I think wright is such a small company it would be cost prohibitive to make various lengths of the same wrench. They mostly cater to industry anyway, and the people who are purchasing tools at company's probably don't care about such things.
I think wright is such a small company it would be cost prohibitive to make various lengths of the same wrench. They mostly cater to industry anyway, and the people who are purchasing tools at company's probably don't care about such things.
Yeah, if you consider 24.76mm shorter on the 19mm Wright "long Pattern" than the standard length 19mm Snap on "about the same length. That's a pretty significant difference to me. I do own a full set of Wrights from 3/8-1 1/4 they're fine wrenches and I got the whole set for like $50 on ebay. Plus, I very rarely us Imperial sized tools.
bmwpowere36m3
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to each, their ownWamsutta
Well-known member
Not necessary for me; I've seen what they look like at Fastenal. Anything below a 5/8 size looks goofy. If you ever want to judge a line of wrenches, look at their smaller sizes first.
B_Bimmer
Well-known member
I have more than enough wrenches. If wright made extra long combination wrenches that would probably finally convince me to buy them for myself. Full sets, standard and metric, cause that's how I roll. I think there is more than enough people like me to make it worthwhile for wright. They ain't running out of a garage, they are a decent sized professional tool company.
Wright doesn't offer a standard pattern wrench set, so the play on words doesn't equate, My gut tells me it's Industrial tool slang as they use "short wrenches" to describe what most would call stubbies. Wright is primarily a industrial tool manufacturer, I agree it would be awesome if Wright would offer a longer wrench set option, but IMO outside of the people feeling duped by the description, I've never once grabbed a wrench and wished the wrench a hair less than a 1" (24.76mm) longer.
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The wright wrenches are inconsistently proportioned,
that is as much the problem
the 1 inch variance on a 19mm is noticeble,
but its 50% more noticeble on the 13mm
snap on and williams do loads of industrial and government contracts
Wright is just using "sem-long" sizing (mostly on the larger units)
to allow them to label them as "long pattern"
too the contrary, this is all marketing spin from the suits
none of the excuses make any sense
that is as much the problem
the 1 inch variance on a 19mm is noticeble,
but its 50% more noticeble on the 13mm
snap on and williams do loads of industrial and government contracts
Wright is just using "sem-long" sizing (mostly on the larger units)
to allow them to label them as "long pattern"
too the contrary, this is all marketing spin from the suits
none of the excuses make any sense
I only cleared up a possible reasoning for the long pattern reference, no standard pattern, it's not a excuse, It is factual.
Yes, there are lots of companies who service both automotive and industrial markets, Snap on/Williams line, Proto maybe more so back in the day, etc... Wright isn't on that list.
I don't lay my wrenches next to each other to determine which one I wish to use, so I can't comment on that plan of attack.
The a wright company is a family run outfit, I don't see a lot of suits trying to appease stock holders by attempting to deceive consumers.
I'm late to the party, just wanted to clear up some reasoning behind the product descriptions. If you guys think it's a ploy to deceive consumers by people wearing suits.. Carry on.
Is That You Vance?
The great thing about living in today's world is if you want 18" 1/4 drive ratchets or 20" long 9/16 wrenches you can have them. It's a wonder anything ever got done with the old craftsman raised panel wrenches.. Btw not trying to argue, everyone has characteristics that are important to them, just don't expect everyone to agree to the reasoning.
Happy Wrenching.
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Wes J
Well-known member
Yep you can get anything you want these days. What's amusing to me is that people seem to think they can't do anything without these newfangled tools.
Like I said earlier, multiple generations made a living with Craftsman raised panel wrenches. I use mine almost every day.
People also forget how crude tools used to be. I was in a shop a few weeks ago with a really old set of Snap-on industrial (no chrome) combination wrenches. The finish on them was awful. The flash from the forging process was still visible on the edges of the beams. The metal was heavily grained.
Same thing with sockets. Before everyone had CNC lathes, the finish on sockets was really rough. I've got some old Snap-on sockets that are really crude looking compared to what you can get today.
...and if you're working on anything modern you just might need these newfangled tools. Manufacturers don't make design decisions based on re-use of grandpa's old tools.
Wes J
Well-known member
Well thankfully I can still make a good living with grandpa's tools.
Wes J
Well-known member
redwrench60
Well-known member
I like my WrightGrip wrenches. They represent an excellent value in combo wrenches. I do wish they offered an extra long pattern set in metric and SAE. I just prefer a longer combo wrench for reach and additional leverage.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
I've thought about this and it leads me to a question. Does anybody actually use combination wrenches as their first choice? Myself, I have a strong preference for ratchets and sockets (and a stronger preference for impact wrenches and power ratchets (air and battery powered) and if I have to use a wrench I typically use a ratcheting box wrench rather than a conventional wrench. I want the bolt removed or replaced as quickly as possible. Just changed the radiator in my Grand Prix. Used a Milwaukee M12 ratchet, An AirPro impacting ratchet and a 1/4" drive socket set. I never used a conventional wrench other than to hold one end of the bolts that hold the dogbone engine supports on my 3800 engine while I quickly backed out the bolts using my impacting air ratchet.
With respect specifically to combination wrenches my XXL combination wrench set in TOPTUL is my biggest seller and it's what I use myself. It seems to me that with respect to combination wrenches it's go long or go home. That stated I try to use a power tool as much as possible, that's why I seldom use wrenches. Anybody else think this way?
With respect specifically to combination wrenches my XXL combination wrench set in TOPTUL is my biggest seller and it's what I use myself. It seems to me that with respect to combination wrenches it's go long or go home. That stated I try to use a power tool as much as possible, that's why I seldom use wrenches. Anybody else think this way?
B_Bimmer
Well-known member
I use combination wrenches almost as much as sockets. They are strong and reliable. I think if I just worked in a shop and everything was always right there they would get used less but the way I am spread out right now it's just easier to grab a couple wrenches off the wall. Don't have to worry about deep or shallow, and it seems most bolts I have to turn have a nut on the other end which would require one wrench anyway.
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Wes J
Well-known member
I use combination wrenches very often. Only sockets and ratchets are used more.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I tend to view these wrench threads as trying to build a better mousetrap. 
The one thought I always have is how often are you breaking fasteners loose with the open end? I remember from my days as a front end tech, that there were times when only an open end would due like lower ball joint nuts or outer tie rod end jam nuts. Back then the Snap on flank drive plus was king largely because they had no competition. I digress.
If you need reach, why not get one of the numerous extra long zero offset boxed end wrench sets available today? You can't find anything longer, they're great for extra torque, and the boxed end isn't going to damage a fastener.
Now the Wrightgrip wrench has been the wrench de jour at the Journal for more than a few Epstein's days now, has had people complaining about its length or the lack there of since it first appeared. I'm sure if wright wanted to make a longer pattern wrench they would have done so by now just because the topic always comes up here and so many people talk about it here.
There are plenty of long pattern wrenches available with anti slip ends. Williams Supercombo, Proto, Carlyle, Gearwrench, and all of the tool truck brands to name a few, go forth and buy them as you see fit.
I think you wright guys that aren't satisfied with the length of your wrenches, should start a petition to get wright to make the wrench of your dreams.
Personally, I'd like to see SK take the open end design off of their X Frame wrench and put it on a regular (no x frame) long pattern nonratcheting combination wrench. That would be a winner-winner chicken dinner to me.
The one thought I always have is how often are you breaking fasteners loose with the open end? I remember from my days as a front end tech, that there were times when only an open end would due like lower ball joint nuts or outer tie rod end jam nuts. Back then the Snap on flank drive plus was king largely because they had no competition. I digress.
If you need reach, why not get one of the numerous extra long zero offset boxed end wrench sets available today? You can't find anything longer, they're great for extra torque, and the boxed end isn't going to damage a fastener.
Now the Wrightgrip wrench has been the wrench de jour at the Journal for more than a few Epstein's days now, has had people complaining about its length or the lack there of since it first appeared. I'm sure if wright wanted to make a longer pattern wrench they would have done so by now just because the topic always comes up here and so many people talk about it here.
There are plenty of long pattern wrenches available with anti slip ends. Williams Supercombo, Proto, Carlyle, Gearwrench, and all of the tool truck brands to name a few, go forth and buy them as you see fit.
I think you wright guys that aren't satisfied with the length of your wrenches, should start a petition to get wright to make the wrench of your dreams.
Personally, I'd like to see SK take the open end design off of their X Frame wrench and put it on a regular (no x frame) long pattern nonratcheting combination wrench. That would be a winner-winner chicken dinner to me.
Wrenches or ratchets i always seem to grab longer ones first. It's just nicer to have physics on your side, for me it was just a matter of figuring out how much torque i was putting on bolts since i started out with regular length ratchets and wrenches.
Loscaldazar
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- Feb 23, 2013
- Messages
- 2,385
Personally, I'd like to see SK take the open end design off of their X Frame wrench and put it on a regular (no x frame) long pattern nonratcheting combination wrench. That would be a winner-winner chicken dinner to me.
If only, I would buy those in a heart beat. SK beams are probably one of the most comfortable I've ever used.