Stanley TwinTec Adjustable Ratcheting Wrench
Stanley TwinTec 27-In-One Tool Wrench
The people at Stanley have introduced a device that could dramatically reduce the number of tools for the occasional DIY-er. The Stanley TwinTec Adjustable Ratcheting Wrench is advertised as a 27-in-one tool, replacing the need for 26 sockets and 1 ratchet. Its potential to save time and effort for the occasional DIY-er was immediately tempting.
What is a TwinTec Wrench?
The Stanley TwinTec Adjustable Ratcheting Wrench was designed for versatility and convenience. The device itself is approximately 10.5 inches long. The dog bone wrench’s composite resin body is painted black and it has two yellow dial heads that contain gripping teeth. The two quick adjusting heads each have a forward and reverse ratcheting mechanism and the heads act independently of each other. Stanley has designed the heads to securely fasten 3 different fasteners (hexagonal, square, reverse Torx) and even heads that have been rounded over due to time and use. The small head can fit fasteners from 3/8 inch to 5/8 inch (10mm to 16mm) and the large head can fit fasteners from 11/16 inch to 1 inch (17mm to 24mm) in size.
Advantages of the TwinTec
The greatest advantage of owning the Stanley TwinTec Adjustable Ratcheting Wrench is it allows you to spend your time completing your project in a quicker time frame, instead of looking for the right socket inside your socket case. When I placed the appropriate head over a fastener, I quickly tightened the gripping teeth by turning the dial. Once secure, I turned the wrench as I would any other wrench. The teeth always held tight as I applied pressure to the fastener. I was quite comfortable that the bolt or nut was secure when finished cranking down on it. By flipping the direction indicator, I was also able to remove a bolt with minimal effort. The gripping teeth in each head took minimal time to open to their widest point or to close to their smallest point.
Disadvantages of the TwinTec
While the Ratcheting Wrench was convenient, I did experience some difficulties with it. First and foremost, it is large and it will not fit in a small space. It worked best when there was a wide area to maneuver the wrench, such as under the deck of a lawn mower or on the frame of an exterior deck. Tighter spaces were hard to fit the wrench in and these tight confines often prevented me from securing and turning the wrench successfully. The wrench is also heavy and unbalanced. When I used it for an extended period of time, I found the weight to cause me some discomfort in the wrist. The weight difference between the two heads also caused issues since I found it difficult to keep the smaller head on the bolt with the larger, heavier head hanging in space. I would have preferred a better balanced and perhaps a smaller wrench for the work I was doing. Based on these faults, this unit won’t replace my 105-piece socket set just yet.
Don’t Have Room For DIY Tools?
I did find the Stanley TwinTec Adjustable Ratcheting Wrench’s convenience to be very appealing. The jobs best suited for this wrench will be quick and have plenty of room for maneuverability. The Stanley TwinTec Adjustable Ratcheting Wrench is a DIY tool and comes with a limited lifetime warranty and it can be purchased at most retailers for approximately $29.99. About The Author: John Peachey is a 23-year veteran teacher, a former club manager, and a big fan of technology and gadgets. He especially enjoys completing DIY projects around the house.