Facom, which is now part of Stanley Black & Decker, is an automotive and industrial hand tool brand that is based in Europe. I’ve posted about a couple of interesting Facom tools before, such as their adjustable locking pliers, extendable ratchets, and hinged handle. Here’s another excellent unconventional tool worthy of discussion – angled socket wrenches.
I only have three of these, in 3/8″, 7/16″, and 1/2″ sizes. Facom makes other fractional sizes, from 1/4″ to 1″, and a range of metric sizes, from 7mm to 30mm.
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These angled socket wrenches have 6pt fastener recesses, but some metric sizes are available with 12pt boxes on the short end and 6pt on the other.
Facom angled wrenches are not as long as regular combination wrenches. Sometimes a regular box end is better, other times these will save you a little bit of time and effort. But, since they’re shorter, you can’t exert as much torque as with a standard length wrench.
I bought one wrench in a size I use a lot (7/16″), and then bought two more sizes once I knew they would actually be used.
Although complete sets are still on my wishlist, I cannot justify the added expense. If you’re on the fence about these, maybe consider doing what I did and try just one size first.
I have grown to really like using these wrenches. They save me the hassle of digging out a ratchet and socket when working on light duty fasteners that are easy to reach.
There are plenty of good things to say about the wrenches. Fit and finish are excellent. Why can’t USA brands produce a satin finish as well as Facom? Not even my one or two satin finish Proto tools look this good. Wera’s satin finishes are excellent as well. Maybe it’s a cultural thing and here in the USA more users prefer shiny fully polished tools.
But, besides the great build quality, there’s the pass-thru aspect.
I use these socket wrenches more on shallow nuts and bolts, but it’s good to have the pass-thru feature just in case. It’s come in handy when working with threaded rod, which is why I wish Facom made these wrenches in smaller sizes.
A photo of the back end of the wrench wasn’t necessary, but I figured you would be interested in seeing how the pass-thru capability is achieved. There doesn’t seem to be any compromise in strength.
As mentioned, these fractional wrenches come with 6pt box ends. The metric ones have 12pt recesses on the shorter box ends.
It’s kind of funny how Facom makes the fractional wrenches only with 6pt box ends, but the metric ones have one of each.
Overall, these wrenches aren’t what I would consider problem-solvers, but they’re nonetheless convenient to use. I probably don’t use them to their full potential, but I’ve certainly at least gotten my money’s worth.
You can buy these at Amazon, and the Ultimate Garage is another of my favorite Facom sources.
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I ordered two of my Facom wrenches through MSC when they had a great coupon promo going, and cannot find records of where I bought the third wrench from.
Allen
Interesting, but it looks like a deep offset box end wrench would do the same thing. Something similar was packaged with my most recent chainsaw, had a flat screwdriver on the other end however.
Stuart
Compared to deep offset box wrenches, these offer a little bit more clearance. Sometimes the two types of wrenches are interchangeable, other times one will be better fitting than the other.
BikerDad
No, a deep offset won’t do the same thing. I challenge you to use a deep offset as a nutdriver. That’s where these puppies look like they’ll shine. You can use it for deep reach situations AND many situations where a deep offset is handy. It’s not as good a nutdriver as a nutdriver, of course, but it’s a darn sight better that a flat (or offset) wrench. In short, it is a hybrid, flexible tool that’s not as good as a pair of specialized tools, but it also is not a PAIR of tools.
jesse
A go-through (aka pass-through aka through-bolt) socket set like GearRatchet would be a more versatile choice, especially with a go-through extension.
Stuart
To achieve similar functionality, you would need a pass-thru ratchet, sockets, and an extension. A lot of times you cannot buy these things separately, you have to buy a set. And if you already have a socket set with shallow and deep sockets, you end up with overlapping functionality.
jesse
Nothing wrong with that.
Robert
There was a craftsman labeled version a few years ago, made by facom, decent set.
fred
For running up nuts on threaded rod I’ve come to like Wera’s Joker wrenches.
For turning threaded rod itself – MCC makes a few different wrenches and drivers. Some are similar to ones fro driving Sammy’s (e.g. Vertigo-Powers 7197 and 7198 drivers) or Dowel Screw drivers (e.g. LJ Smith LJ-3033) – but others use a different approach:
http://www.amazon.com/MCC-THREADED-threaded-damaging-Ratcheting/dp/B00COOQ1NU
Stuart
Wow, didn’t know a tool like that existed – thanks!
fred
As Steve D’Gerolamo notes they work on the same principle as some stud drivers. The MCC BSW-30 and BSW-40 driver bits and the Leepers (stair supply company) 2901PD (dowel screw driver) also use this principle. The old way to drive threaded rod with 2 jammed-together nuts and a wrench – is certainly cheaper – but less convenient. There are also hanger-bolt driver bits available from folks like Eazypower to fit smaller thread sizes from 6-32 to 3/4-10
superautobacs
Made by Ko-ken, for MCC
Steve D'Gerolamo
Looks like a pass-thru version
of a roller type stud driver….see http://catalogue.facom.com/en/categorie/pullers/stud-pullers-nut-splitter/stud-pullers/produit/287b-roller-type-stud-drivers-single-diameter
Brian14
Another interesting wrench design. It would be interesting if the offered a longer-handle version. Nice to see a European company making fractional sizes.
Robert
You can stick a rod on the end to get better leverage, I have seen a kit that sold one with it.
jesse
The Facom tools are only hollow on the short end, which makes sense since the other, longer, end provides more leverage anyway.
I haven’t seen models that are full hollow. Maybe somebody makes them.
superautobacs
They are called Tommy bars
Steve D'Gerolamo
Facom offers these angle socket wrenches in a 75 Series (6pt on both ends) and a 76 Series (6pt one end and 12pt on the other). Both series are available in metric and fractional sizes. I sell a lot more of the 6pt x 6pt (75 series), especially for industrial and shop applications.
Here’s some more info from Facom’s website catalog on both series….see http://catalogue.facom.com/en/categorie/fixed-and-variable-opening-wrenches/angled-socket-wrenches/standard-series .
Seb
Funny how habits seems to be so differents both sides of the Atlantic, you can get these wrenches (these are called Clefs a pipes) at any diy store over here and mechanics consider them one of their essentials. Facom is one of the higher quality brand over here and they have been carrying a lifetime guarantee for ages, although some people are starting to think they are noy a bit overpriced and quality seems to have been going doyn in the last few years
Toto
To second Seb’s comment, as a Frenchman, I moved to the USA with my set of Facom “angled socket wrenches” – metric, of course –, which are indeed considered essential there. They are my primary wrenches and nut drivers (and I consider them superior to nut drivers for most applications); I actually have never seen a nut driver in Europe, but maybe I’m just ignorant.
I have a mix of 6-point/6-point and 6-/12-point. Some of them are also from cheap generic brands (“Chrome Vanadium” or “Super Vana”), proof that Facom is not the only brand that produces these.
By the way, growing up my dad had a set of these that looked more like a bent hex-shaped pipe, very simple design. Facom might not manufacture this design any more, as I don’t remember seeing them at any store.
faruk
I just stumbled over this post as I tried to get some information on a set of STANLEY metric angled socket wrenches offered as “warehouse deal” by the big online retailer. They looked exactly as the Facoms, however photos in the add were pretty bad quality, as if photoshoped to void the original labels. Being no friend of Stanley and their quality, I assumed/hoped they might be selling the Facom product rebranded as Stanleys (as another user mentioned above already for another brand name). Some more research on the original Facoms brought to light, that they are made in China (customs information provided by a a holesale shop).
As the set of 10 was only 35 Euros and free shipment, I gave it a try – and indeed, it is exactly the same set as pictured above. The wrenches are of the mentioned fine quality, but labeled Stanley 1-17-387 in the add (and not Stanley Proto Facom as on a…com.
Of course we can not know whether it is exactly the same steel and finishing as with the “originals”. However, I assume for such an niche product, it would be more expensive to vary the make as to just swap the stamping… However, while the FACOM set of 10 is € 135 here in Germany, the Stanley set is offered for € 79 by ama…
So if this “budget” make by Stanley appears somewhere. If so, you can give it a try!
Lon C.
For many years I have worked for the French Air Force and while I was over in France around 2001 I found these wrenches in a hardware store. I picked up a couple of sizes and brought them back to America. I was so impressed with the versatility and amazing quality of these simple but so very functional tools. Several years ago I bought a full set of these on ebay from a British tool dealer for a very reasonable price. Due to my involvement with the FAF and Air France I was able to to buy a complete set of FACOM tools minus VAT. Without hesitation I say FACOM are the finest tools in the world.
Stephen V
I bought a couple of these for the pulley nuts on alternators. A wrench won’t work because of the depth of the pulley, and a socket won’t work because you need to put an allen wrench in the end of the shaft to hold it. This is really the only best option.