Aviation Spanners

After doing a job recently there was a couple of nuts which can’t be undone with a socket as there wasn’t space so had to use a ring spanner, which was fine, but I could really do with longer ring spanners.

i came across Aviation Spanners and thought they would do the job, then ratchet and finally flexi head.  I don’t want to pay Snap On money and would prefer a set with a standard ring at one end and a ratchet or flexi at the other, just use the fixed head for tight nuts and the ratchet/flexi for running up/off.

The only ones I could find are Nielsen, but I don’t know this brand, anyone with experience?
 

I also found Bergen/US Pro, I do have some f their stuff and it is fine, even hit with a mallet, but they don’t have anything which is just right.  Finally stumbled across Welsh Werkzung, a British make, it appears are slightly better than the cheaper end.

 

The only problem is these have flexi heads at both ends and I always wonder about the joint if it is strong enough to cope with a tight nuts?

Anyone with experience of any of these?  If I move up a cost bracket I could always just buy the sizes I need, rather than a set.

Robin

I find the flexible end ones always flex just when you don't need it, so getting them on the end of a nut is hard. 

I prefer the rigid ones with a fixed end and a ratchet end. Fixed end to crack the nut off and then the ratchet end to run it off the thread. 

My current favourite is a draper long reach one but they are long so not suitable for general use.

Something like this  amzn.to/4qqb48O

We use Pro tools , similar to these,  been a game changer for certain jobs

I'm using bluespot ring and open as my long reach simply because I don't really trust the ratchet mechanism on long spanners with the significant extra torque they allow me to apply over a normal spanner.

Thanks everyone.

Martin - My main worry was the slop in the hinge, but I take your point about the flexi head swinging around when you are trying to locate it.

Mark - I have a few Bergen/US Pro tools, they seem good for the money and mine have withstood a breaker bar (for sockets) or a good thump with a mallet for a ring spanner, so that’s a good spot, they have an ordinary and a ratchet ring in the same size and they are long. I did spot them before, but went off them for the flexi head.

Lambert - I have some Bluespot impact sockets, I have given them some abuse over the years and they have never failed, they still fit as well today as they always did. Bluespot gets a bad press because they sound like Bluepoint (a snap on brand, I believe), but at a much lower price.


I think I have made my mind up, the US Pro ordinary ring at one end and ratchet ring at the other, 10 sizes between 8 and 19mm, extra long, the 19mm is over 400mm long. Currently £5 off (until tomorrow) just a shade under £60.

Robin

If you are ever bored look up who owns which brands and who are importers vs manufacturers it's all very interesting.