Box End Wrenches

Moonlite37

Well-known Member
I worked as a mechanic at a Ford dealer and later for an Allis Chalmers dealer. During this time I left my box end wrenches home as well as most of the open end wrenches. I never saw any need for the box end wrenches and never had to borrow wrenches. The big stuff was owned by the shop. I never saw a serious need for the box end wrenches although I had them at home. What was the strong point of box end wrenches?
 
Box-end is way stronger on the fastener, bolt or nut. Way less chance of skinned knuckles from the wrench slipping. Also, six point box-end wrenches (or sockets) are much better and safer yet.
 
In tight places box end gives you more options to get a wrench on a nut or bolt. Also you get a better grip on the nut or bolt so you have less chance to round it off.
I have combination wrenches which give me the option of open end or box end.
I also have a set of offset box end wrenches which are very handy.
Dave
 
I can't imagine working on tractors of any kind without open end or box end wrenches for some bolts. To get on to bolts that you can't get your socket on to and to hold the nut in some cases while you unscrew the bolt with your socket.
 
I'm the opposite. A box end is my go to. If it's just a bolt or two I don't bother with a ratchet. I despise knuckle busting open end wrenches that destroy bolt heads. To each their own.
 

Double box end

Depending on the off set needed to get your arse out of a jam.

Its rare to need them when you do they get'er done. I have two deferent styles of extra extra long double box end gearwrench sets. One set is straight no off set one end boxed the other a grearwrench head. The other double boxed flex-head grearwrench style.

I would not take a share in a gold mine fer'em.

Time is money YMMV.
 
I work on lawnmowers. My box end set averages 2 to 2-1/2 longer than my combination set. Those are the ones I level decks with, they will loosen nuts that were torqued with an impact wrench.
 
I'm just the opposite, use box end way more than open end.

Rarely is there room to get an open end on the bolt, rarely will it get one loose without rounding it, very rarely will it get one tight enough!
 
Is the original poster saying he didn't need box end wrenches because he used sockets almost all the time? Maybe not really contrasting box end with open end?
 
So are you talking about wrenches that have box end on both ends and wrenches that have both open end on both ends? Just getting a little confused. Don't own any sets of these but have a couple of each that I acquired. I keep a stubby closed ended ones with my JD A and JD 50 for checking oil. The one wrench came with the tractor and is stamped JK my wife's grandfather's old wrench and tractor. The other wrench came with a toolbox of wrenches and sockets I received as payment for helping my wonderful neighbor lady cleaning up and hauling old tires and scrap away.
 
If I think it's tight, I use the box end first, then maybe switch to the open end. I have some big box wrenches my dad had. I use the 1 5/16 to tighten 3-point bottom link pins, I can jump on it without worry of breaking it!
 
I use combination wrenches majority of the time but I also use box end wrenches with the bent head. I've found it can sometimes get into tight areas. I also have an old set of Craftsman box end only and open end wrenches only that belonged to my dad. I can't honestly remember ever using either one of those sets.
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I prefer using a box end (better grip and hold) when and wherever possible and seldom use an open end unless its necessary. As far as wrench sets if I had only one it would be a combination set so I have a choice. In addition I like a set of DEEP OFFSET box end for a few hard to get at locations as well a set of FLARE NUT wrenches plus a set of RATCHETING BOX END plus a set of the open end thin wall TAPPETT WRENCHES wooooooooo hooooooooooooooooo... For sockets I have 6 and 12 point regular and deep ...Love tools but since I quit farming I use them less PS I forgot I have a few what I call STARTER WRENCHES with that weird long angle lol

John T
 
Every tool has it's purpose. Box wrenches will grip a nut when an open end wrench will round it off, especially on brass nuts.

Any Mechanic that says box end wrenches have no use would not get to work on my vehicles.
 
From June 1971 > December 2011 my tool box was well stocked with SPLINE Box Ends...
The J-79 (LM1500) had very expensive fasteners. 1/4Diam X 28 TPI ...3/8 Diam...7/16 Diam ..etc..etc..
Rolls Royce Spey Gas Turbine...
These fasteners ran in close proximity to high heat transferring..

Spline Box Ends were a must....
John Deere D.IHC W9... MF 35 ..RV..have not used a spline box end.
Bob...

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If you ever worked on industrial equipment, medium/heavy trucks, or farm equipment, you would understand the need for box end wrenches, and many other types of end wrenches. They all have a purpose. After many years wrenching, and retirement, I still run into an occasional need for a wrench that I don't have.
 
John Deere D --

My experience with spline-type wrench openings is that hex and 12-point fasteners get stuck in the wrench openings when high torques are applied. Is your experience similar?

Secondly, when milk-of-magnesia is used as an anti-seize, should the fastener be installed while the milk-of-magnesia is still wet or should it be allowed to dry to a powder?

I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

John
 

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