The Ford Barn

roccaas · 12-27-2014, 10:40 AM

Looks useful for auto work, and I tend to buy anything new that is in the wrench aisle.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-4-pc-...1&blockType=G1

KGBnut · 12-27-2014, 10:47 AM

Pop has some of those from the 40s. I don't know if they were Craftsman. I remember being surprised at how well they worked.

I am heading over to Pop's later today. I will have to ask him about them.

JohnLaVoy · 12-27-2014, 11:24 AM

Are you talking about the open end wrench that has a way of letting it "ratchet" or slide back and then when you go to tighten the nut it grasps the nut? Not a mechanical ratchet but a modification of the open end portion? If yes, we just picked up a set of Gear wrenches that they added that to at the SEMA show. Haven't used them yet but they looked interesting and like you said they were something new in the tool aisle!

TinCup · 12-27-2014, 11:28 AM

Yes I bought a set of these years ago. They are real handy when working in tight spaces as the wrench stays on the nut.

mshmodela · 12-27-2014, 11:34 AM

Gee those seem very handy... $18.99 seems a reasonable deal for lifetime warranted Craftsman.

PC/SR · 12-27-2014, 12:19 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I bought a set and don't like them. They slip if you cannot get a full on grip. But, your experience may differ. But hey, the box end works good and you cannot have too many wrenches.

Y-Blockhead · 12-27-2014, 02:15 PM

I have a set of the dual ratcheting wrenches. Work great. Not much more than the ones in the first post and you get 8 wrenches.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-8-pc-...p-00914755000P

fiddlybits · 12-27-2014, 03:05 PM

Mine are in the junk drawer. Did not like them at all.
in all fairness though, I generally do not like open end wrenches.

Tom Wesenberg · 12-27-2014, 03:24 PM

If they are the wrenches as John described, I bought a set of them from the MAC tool truck in the 70's. I liked them and thought they were something new at that time. I later found some very old ones at the swap meet, so they've been around for a very long time. I think they come in handy, but I always try to do the final tightening with the box wrench.

I bought a set of the ratcheting box wrenches, but never use them.

tbirdtbird · 12-27-2014, 03:36 PM

wow, Tom, the gear wrenches or ratcheting box wrenches are the greatest thing since sliced bread. try'em. Chances are you will seldom use your regular ratchet after that. dave

takomaned · 12-27-2014, 04:24 PM

I like the Gear Wrench ratcheting box wrenches. They're good in tight access uses. They can take lots of torque and have a lifetime warranty.

Hicktick · 12-27-2014, 05:05 PM

My son calls them slip and kill wrenches ,..

Tom Wesenberg · 12-27-2014, 05:13 PM

Always watch to see where your hand and arm will go in case of wrench failure. Watch for cotter pin ends and any sharp edges. My boss in the 70's was out of work for a month when the wrench broke or slipped and his wrist got a tendon cut. When I was about 18 I got my hand stabbed with a screwdriver while pushing real hard and trying to loosen a screw. Many such stories that could have been avoided with more forethought.

Midwest Tin · 12-27-2014, 06:08 PM

Hi Tom,
Just a thought. I do not have any of these wrenches but I would think they would round off a lot of nut/stud corners and make for a not so good looking repair. Jim

Tom Wesenberg · 12-27-2014, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midwest Tin

Hi Tom,
Just a thought. I do not have any of these wrenches but I would think they would round off a lot of nut/stud corners and make for a not so good looking repair. Jim

Yes, that's why I always start and finish with the box wrench and use the slip ratchet for speed during the loose turning.

Y-Blockhead · 12-27-2014, 06:39 PM

I agree. Even tho I like and use the ratcheting wrenches, both open end and box, I would not dream of using one to loosen a tight fastener or torque down a bolt or nut. I prefer a box end or better yet a six point socket for the start or finish.

But they sure help in a tight spot. Ya's gotta use a little common sense...

raprice22 · 12-27-2014, 06:47 PM

I've had a set of Sears open end "ratchet" wrenches for years. They work as designed. I don't know if I'd trust them for heavy work though.
Rog

Paul's Garage · 12-27-2014, 08:13 PM

I have a set of standard and metic that are craftsman they are a combination wrench, box end is as good as expected, open end is terrible.

Purdy Swoft · 12-27-2014, 08:59 PM

I haven't tried them. Looks like they might be dane-jus in a hard pull if they slipped, otherwise may be OK.

w.michael · 12-28-2014, 01:05 AM

I have a set of these open end "ratchet" wrenches in the drawer. They look real nice there. That is where they will stay. If the nut or bolt head is perfect with no rounding of the corners, and you can get the wrench squarely on the head, they work OK, but there is no margin of error. They may also work better in the hands of a real mechanic--I have ten thumbs.

W. Michael

12-27-2014, 10:40 AM	#1
roccaas Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 1,300	Anyone try open end ratcheting wrenches? Looks useful for auto work, and I tend to buy anything new that is in the wrench aisle. http://www.sears.com/craftsman-4-pc-...1&blockType=G1 __________________ 20 years ago we had Johnny Cash, Steve Jobs, and Bob Hope. Now we have no Cash, no Jobs, and no Hope...please don't let Kevin Bacon die!

12-27-2014, 10:47 AM	#2
KGBnut Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Southwestern Connecticut Posts: 931	Re: Anyone try open end ratcheting wrenches? Pop has some of those from the 40s. I don't know if they were Craftsman. I remember being surprised at how well they worked. I am heading over to Pop's later today. I will have to ask him about them. __________________ Style beats speed any day, and with a lot fewer tickets.

12-27-2014, 11:24 AM	#3
JohnLaVoy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Rocklin, CA Posts: 779	Re: Anyone try open end ratcheting wrenches? Are you talking about the open end wrench that has a way of letting it "ratchet" or slide back and then when you go to tighten the nut it grasps the nut? Not a mechanical ratchet but a modification of the open end portion? If yes, we just picked up a set of Gear wrenches that they added that to at the SEMA show. Haven't used them yet but they looked interesting and like you said they were something new in the tool aisle!

12-27-2014, 11:28 AM	#4
TinCup Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: OKC / Tonkawa, Ok. Posts: 1,977	Re: Anyone try open end ratcheting wrenches? Yes I bought a set of these years ago. They are real handy when working in tight spaces as the wrench stays on the nut. __________________ Oklahoma City Model A Restorers Group.

12-27-2014, 11:34 AM	#5
mshmodela Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,763	Re: Anyone try open end ratcheting wrenches? Gee those seem very handy... $18.99 seems a reasonable deal for lifetime warranted Craftsman. __________________ -Mike Late 31' Ford Model A Tudor, Miss Daisy I don't work on cars --I'm learning about my Model A. Cleveland, Ohio

12-27-2014, 12:19 PM	#6
PC/SR Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santa Rosa, CA Posts: 1,279	Re: Anyone try open end ratcheting wrenches? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I bought a set and don't like them. They slip if you cannot get a full on grip. But, your experience may differ. But hey, the box end works good and you cannot have too many wrenches.

12-27-2014, 02:15 PM	#7
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,849	Re: Anyone try open end ratcheting wrenches? I have a set of the dual ratcheting wrenches. Work great. Not much more than the ones in the first post and you get 8 wrenches. http://www.sears.com/craftsman-8-pc-...p-00914755000P Last edited by Y-Blockhead; 12-27-2014 at 03:39 PM.

12-27-2014, 03:05 PM	#8
fiddlybits Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: N Illinois Posts: 447	Re: Anyone try open end ratcheting wrenches? Mine are in the junk drawer. Did not like them at all. in all fairness though, I generally do not like open end wrenches.

12-27-2014, 03:24 PM	#9
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Anyone try open end ratcheting wrenches? If they are the wrenches as John described, I bought a set of them from the MAC tool truck in the 70's. I liked them and thought they were something new at that time. I later found some very old ones at the swap meet, so they've been around for a very long time. I think they come in handy, but I always try to do the final tightening with the box wrench. I bought a set of the ratcheting box wrenches, but never use them.

12-27-2014, 03:36 PM	#10
tbirdtbird BANNED Join Date: May 2012 Location: inside your RAM Posts: 3,134	Re: Anyone try open end ratcheting wrenches? wow, Tom, the gear wrenches or ratcheting box wrenches are the greatest thing since sliced bread. try'em. Chances are you will seldom use your regular ratchet after that. dave __________________ '31 180A

12-27-2014, 04:24 PM	#11
takomaned Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Near D.C. in Maryland Posts: 106	Re: Anyone try open end ratcheting wrenches? I like the Gear Wrench ratcheting box wrenches. They're good in tight access uses. They can take lots of torque and have a lifetime warranty. __________________ Ned in MD

12-27-2014, 05:05 PM	#12
Hicktick Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Hickory Tavern , SC Posts: 422	Re: Anyone try open end ratcheting wrenches? My son calls them slip and kill wrenches ,.. __________________ Sometimes I want to say ,,You should have bought a Shay.

12-27-2014, 05:13 PM	#13
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Anyone try open end ratcheting wrenches? Always watch to see where your hand and arm will go in case of wrench failure. Watch for cotter pin ends and any sharp edges. My boss in the 70's was out of work for a month when the wrench broke or slipped and his wrist got a tendon cut. When I was about 18 I got my hand stabbed with a screwdriver while pushing real hard and trying to loosen a screw. Many such stories that could have been avoided with more forethought.

12-27-2014, 06:08 PM	#14
Midwest Tin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kenosha, WI Posts: 1,001	Re: Anyone try open end ratcheting wrenches? Hi Tom, Just a thought. I do not have any of these wrenches but I would think they would round off a lot of nut/stud corners and make for a not so good looking repair. Jim

12-27-2014, 06:39 PM	#16
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,849	Re: Anyone try open end ratcheting wrenches? I agree. Even tho I like and use the ratcheting wrenches, both open end and box, I would not dream of using one to loosen a tight fastener or torque down a bolt or nut. I prefer a box end or better yet a six point socket for the start or finish. But they sure help in a tight spot. Ya's gotta use a little common sense...

12-27-2014, 06:47 PM	#17
raprice22 Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 80	Re: Anyone try open end ratcheting wrenches? I've had a set of Sears open end "ratchet" wrenches for years. They work as designed. I don't know if I'd trust them for heavy work though. Rog

12-27-2014, 08:13 PM	#18
Paul's Garage Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 72	Re: Anyone try open end ratcheting wrenches? I have a set of standard and metic that are craftsman they are a combination wrench, box end is as good as expected, open end is terrible.

12-27-2014, 08:59 PM	#19
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: Anyone try open end ratcheting wrenches? I haven't tried them. Looks like they might be dane-jus in a hard pull if they slipped, otherwise may be OK.

12-28-2014, 01:05 AM	#20
w.michael Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 418	Re: Anyone try open end ratcheting wrenches? I have a set of these open end "ratchet" wrenches in the drawer. They look real nice there. That is where they will stay. If the nut or bolt head is perfect with no rounding of the corners, and you can get the wrench squarely on the head, they work OK, but there is no margin of error. They may also work better in the hands of a real mechanic--I have ten thumbs. W. Michael