Ratchet Spanners (Wrenches)

[Scott Douglas]

If that bottom picture isn't photoshopped, I want one.

[Jeff Alton]

These are my go to wrenches when ever I need a box end wrench. Same with most of our techs. Now, that said, there is plenty of variance amongst manufactures. I, and most of my techs, have Snap-On small angle sets. Why? Because they have the smallest head OD which allows them to fit is tight spaces, and they have a very fine ratcheting mechanism. Others have larger heads and more course ratchet mechanism. Yes they still work great, but aren't as versatile.

I have broken almost every other brand I have tried. I have broken my 13mm Snap On one once (most heavily used one in my set), but when my truck showed up on the thursday my driver handed me a new one...

That said, we need quality tools that help us get work done as quickly as possible. These types of wrenches can save minutes on jobs where labor hours are tight, so they are worth while. If you are in the garage at home or the driveway drinking a beer while you wrench on your car as part of your hobby these are really not required what so ever.

Cheers

[SiberianDVM]

Yesterday I replaced the stock oil pressure sender with the combo oil pressure/temp sender that comes with the LeatherZ oil pressure/oil temp/volts 3 gauge package in my 1999 M3. A normal wrench was too long, a socket would not fit, but the GearWrench 19mm ratchet wrench was perfect.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

If that bottom picture isn't photoshopped, I want one.

There was an incredible variety of adjustable wrenches made 100 years ago. The Henry Ford Museum has a fascinating collection.

[GH85Carrera]

One of the old wrenches I have is interesting.





The box end is 11 MM, it has a clear 11 (mm) stamped on it. The logo is a M inside a circle. The open end is much bigger than 11, likely 19 or so.

I have always wondered what type of Ford wrench it is. What car did it come with or what car was it made for?

It just hangs on a nail in my garage as a display piece. Next to mt timing light, dwell meter and hand operated drill, brace and oil can spouts.

[Por_sha911]

I have used my flex head ratcheting wrenches a ton of times. They aren't the super slim ones but they have held up very well. For heavy torque I start and finish with a standard box wrench.
#1 need: Every time I have to get the valve covers off to do a valve adjustment. Air cooled & B&B headers = tight quarters and the ratcheting make life a lot simpler.
Used them a bunch when did an engine drop and tear down.
Without the flex head I would have thrown them out a long time ago.

[pmax]

Originally Posted by Jeff Alton

That said, we need quality tools that help us get work done as quickly as possible. These types of wrenches can save minutes on jobs where labor hours are tight, so they are worth while. If you are in the garage at home or the driveway drinking a beer while you wrench on your car as part of your hobby these are really not required what so ever.

Yup.

Spending less time on a hobby is not the point of having one ... mostly.

[Baz]

Nut drivers really come in handy on my motorcycle work!