Anyone have a good source for a 17mm Stainless wrench? I've found some standard ones but no metrics. At this point I'm leaning to get a craftsman one and just plan to replace it once a year or so when it rusts.
This is for a Infusion diamond adjuster.
What do other people use?

It still works when it's rusty.

Hmmmm....what is the best smart-a$$ comment to this loaded line?

I have the same problem with a Marstrom and my home built.

There are stainless metric wrenchs available but they are not cheap. You are looking at $50-80.

For high quality, try:
http://www.steritool.com/tools/open_end_wrench.htm

China is starting to sell Cu-Be and soft stainless wrenchs
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/200...rench-DIN-Standard-Aluminium-Bronze.html

These are 304 SS which are really too soft for wrenchs and Cu-Be is toxic.

You can also try eBay for direct sales from China


I personally use some SK wrenches from the local auto parts store, marked "Rust resistant, triple plated" that I sprayed with bake on type cold galvenize. They rust a little They rust a little but, I will probably lose it over the side before it becomes unusable.

I don't have one, but you might want to look at McMaster-Carr part 6795A28. It is a 15mm / 17mm ratcheting, stainless, open wrench for $18.

Just out of curiosity, why does it need to be stainless? Are you really taking it on the water to adjust diamond tension?

Mike

yep

yepers

just a thought, what if you used a cheap wrench, spray it with WD40 and put in a ziplock.

Do like Mr Lennard did for us - make a titanium 17mm set wrench, light and rust free

Is there anything Dave Lennard can't do? He's like the Chuck Norris of cat sailing!

Brilliant! I'll get that on my crew's todo list... that's crew work right?

I purchased a cobalt brand wrench from Lowes. It has a ratchet end that swivels which makes it easier on the knuckles. I also drilled a hole in the handle and used a thin line to secure it around the post the mast ball sits on. A fresh water bath after races and a shot of Boeshield in the ratchet mechanism and it is going strong. The string is long enough to allow us to store in the tramp with the righting line and to use it without untieing anything.

Go with the Craftsman - unconditionally guaranteed for life.

Personally, I'd me more concerned about dropping an expensive tool in the drink than I would be about a little rust.

sm

I thought you just made your crew use their fingers...

In my experience the issue is not rust, it will rust. The real issue is finding a big rust stain on your hulls, tramp, or sails. My wrench rusts away happily in a Vinyl pouch along with some rusty pliers and some spare parts. For several years, the ghost of a big rust stain reminded me to always put it back and never leave wet sails laying on it.

I asked the experts at work and they are now using polymer coatings for salt water. They have never tried it but they said there are do it yourself systems like DuraCoat.

Does anyone have any experience with this?

no experience with coatings - but I leave the tools in the trapoline pouch where they only have access to stain my righting line or an empty water bottle or two.

I would love to see a picture of it and know how he made it. I need one!

Right now I use a Craftsman Pro 17mm which I drilled a hole in to attach a line. It is working but rusting. I would love to have a clean rust-free tool while out on the water.

Dan

a 2" x 12" titanium plate is something like $80.

Just make one out of wood and be done with it.