Weird wrench thing

Grant Lamontagne · **on:** December 17, 2024, 03:16:31 PM

I bought these a few months ago from an ad on Facebook and yesterday I finally had an opportunity to actually use them.

The top part basically just flops around until it catches on a bolt corner and then you can turn it properly. It seats on pretty well and you can put a lot of stress on it without worrying that it will let go.

That having been said, I think I’d rather it was spring loaded to help it grab on. In my test I was using two of them to tighten some bolts holding the crossbars on my trailer, and the nut on the bottom of the bolt was kind of a pain to get a grip on. If you can’t see what it’s grabbing on to, you can’t really grab on to anything, if it was sprung you could probably fit it on and it would grab by itself.

I recall at the time I bought them that I took screenshots of the store description but I’ll have to find them and see the details, and whether or not they are even the same tool I’d actually bought! Many times I see these things and throw a few bucks their way and what I get is very different from what was actually purchased. I’m just glad that for once, it seems that the tool is at least (marginally) useful.

Def

IMR4198 · **Reply #1 on:** December 17, 2024, 03:24:38 PM

Similar tool posted by Genevabuck, but high quality with a spring. Best wishes. G
https://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=93339.msg2507973#msg2507973

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #2 on:** December 17, 2024, 04:03:03 PM

I thought they looked familiar.

Thanks for the link!

Def

Farmer X · **Reply #3 on:** December 18, 2024, 01:17:29 AM

That's an interesting tool. I wonder how well it would perform on bolts that more closely resemble nail heads?

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #4 on:** December 23, 2024, 12:43:46 PM

It actually seems to grip quite well- once you have gotten it to grip that is.

Def

Antti Lammi · **Reply #5 on:** December 23, 2024, 12:51:25 PM

I boughted this many years ago and it has been good so far. Its pretty handy but it needs space when using it. This one is called Magic Wrench from Hana Tools made in Korea.

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Farmer X · **Reply #6 on:** December 23, 2024, 10:10:34 PM

That looks interesting. But if it doesn't excel in tight spaces, it probably isn't for me. The drain plugs in 2020 and newer Ford Explorers are in such a tight space. (Tauri and older Explorers give you a little more working room.)

bruto · **Reply #7 on:** February 11, 2025, 04:26:29 PM

Mentioned in a previous thread, but this basic design goes way back. I think I first saw one from a German maker some time in the late 1950's. As a kid I devoured Popular Science magazine, and when it appeared in the section on new stuff, I saved up my pennies and bought one - back when 5 and dime stores had a little hardware section, and those things were pretty cheap. I think it might have cost as much as four bucks. I still have it. As noted, its lack of clearance makes it hard to use in many places, but it's nice for messy or badly mangled bolts and fittings. It is also the basic idea behind the plumber's "basin wrench," which is articulated with a long handle so it can be used in very tight spaces - specifically to get the faucet fittings in a sink.

powernoodle · **Reply #8 on:** February 11, 2025, 05:49:10 PM

Its a cool design, but with those teeth it looks like it could chew up the fastener.

IMR4198 · **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2025, 07:58:19 PM

Yeah, it's like a basin wrench without the articulated jaws. I remember the 5 and dime stores. I never knew they had hardware sections. Of course they very well may have. I never got farther than making a beeline to the comic books, or sometimes the candy counter. My old Uncle Roy used to save the latest Popular Science for me. Wouldn't let me have them, but I could read them when we went there to visit. Best wishes. G

bruto · **Reply #10 on:** February 19, 2025, 06:22:36 PM

Yes, this design can chew up a fastener if it doesn't engage just right or it slips, so it's not the best design for bolt heads. As a pipe wrench or a gripper for already munged heads, its bite can be useful.

As for the five and dime stores, this was long long ago, and my recollection is that not all such stores had good hardware sections, but one in the nearby town of Torrington, CT did. I don't remember whether it was a Woolco or a Kresge's, but they had a lot of stuff, and though most was very cheap quality, they tended to have some good things, and one of those wrenches turned up unexpectedly.