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Post by surfinboy on Sept 5, 2020 10:06:17 GMT -5
I need a set of wrenches for general home repair, making adjustments on my woodshop equipment, etc. What size(s) do I need for a versatile starting set? Unless someone can convince me otherwise, I'm leaning toward a set of ratcheting wrenches, preferably one whose ratcheting end is at some kind of angle so I can get into tight spots. Any recommendations, how much should I spend?
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Post by Pinetree on Sept 5, 2020 10:51:27 GMT -5
The Husky brand they sell at Home Depot should be good enough.
I guess the days of walking into Sears and getting a set of Craftsman with a lifetime warranty are over, so you'll have to be honest with yourself as to how much you're going to use them and how hard you're going to abuse them.
In my (ever so humble) opinion, there's no need for Snap On tools (or their equal) for home use.
And if you're just going to tighten up the occasional bolt, then whatever Harbor Freight sells should be sufficient.
FWIW, I have all Craftsman basically because I bought them many years ago and there wasn't much else out there.
As far as how much to spend, once again you'll need to be honest with yourself. If you've got a fleet of old motorcycles to maintain then yes, invest a little more. If you're just tightening up your kids bicycle then don't spend a lot.
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Post by Vibroluxer on Sept 5, 2020 11:17:50 GMT -5
I'd recommend 6pt vs 12pt.
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Post by Taildragger on Sept 5, 2020 11:27:26 GMT -5
If sockets: 1/2"-drive, in case you encounter something that requires a bit of muscle. 3/8"-drive is fine for a lot of things if you need to extend your ratchet handle with a pipe or use a breaker bar for added leverage to bust something loose, 1/2"-drive will stand up to that better. 1/4"-drive is just for tiny stuff that doesn't require a lot of force. Best to break loose really frozen fasteners with a pipe "cheater" or breaker bar (no ratchet mechanism) and then spin it off with your ratchet once it's free. Having a can of PB Blaster handy to soak frozen fasteners is also a good idea.
I agree in general with Vibroluxer about 6-point vs. 12-point, but I have both. 6 probably gives a more solid purchase but 12 will fit from more angles if you're dealing with a hard-to-reach fastener.
Saltus wrenches are handy: open-end on one end and swiveling socket on the other (but no ratchet). I usually bring them when I don't want to drag around a whole tool box full of sockets, open-ends and box wrenches.
Like Pinetree, I bought mostly Craftsman long ago when they were all MIA with a lifetime warranty. Not sure if they are still made in this country as I haven't bought any in many years. Snap-On and Mac brands are excellent but are quite expensive and are sold from their vendor trucks rather than from a brick-and-mortar store. Just don't buy cheap MIC crap: buy a quality tool and you'll likely never have to replace it. I learned that lesson when I first started buying my own tools back during my 20s: it's actually winds up being cheaper to spend more on the quality, more-expensive tool because it won't fail on you and require another purchase. |
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Post by roly on Sept 5, 2020 17:30:13 GMT -5
" I learned that lesson when I first started buying my own tools back during my 20s: it's actually winds up being cheaper to spend more on the quality, more-expensive tool because it won't fail on you and require another purchase."
I think that line of thought applies to pretty much everything.
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Post by Vibroluxer on Sept 5, 2020 17:57:23 GMT -5
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Post by rickyguitar on Sept 5, 2020 22:03:31 GMT -5
Some good advice here. I dont think Craftsman is made in USA anymore and dont know what current warrsnty is but that looks like a pretty good set for 129.
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Post by Vibroluxer on Sept 5, 2020 22:21:33 GMT -5
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Post by Taildragger on Sept 5, 2020 23:04:41 GMT -5
According to Wiki: Beginning in 2010, hand tools manufactured for Craftsman by Apex Tool Group (formerly known as Danaher) such as ratchets, sockets, and wrenches began to be sourced overseas (mainly in China, although some are produced in Taiwan), while tools produced for Craftsman by Western Forge such as adjustable wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers and larger mechanic tool sets remain made in the United States, although as of 2018, most if not all of the production for these products have moved over to Asia. Sears still has an Industrial line which is sold through various authorized distributors. These tools are US made, appearing identical to their previous non-industrial US made counterparts, save for the "Industrial" name stamped on them. They are manufactured by Apex on the US production lines that previously produced the US made standard Craftsman product before production switched overseas to Asia.
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Post by rangercaster on Sept 6, 2020 0:58:01 GMT -5
Avoid Harbor Freight and Walmart ...
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Post by K4 on Sept 6, 2020 1:09:03 GMT -5
Harbor freight's quality has gone up and Craftsmen has gone down. 6 for 1 half a dozen the other.
I have several craftsmen ratchets that have worn out and cannot get them warrantied. I go to a craftsman dealer and am told my model has to go through a sears warranty center. Where can I find that?
So I bought HbrF replacements. No complaints. I do use them weekly.
When I walk through Lowes or Home depot I really can't tell any difference in quality. When I was wrenching for a living I could find flaws in everything except Snap On.
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Post by budg on Sept 6, 2020 6:44:42 GMT -5
Husky, Kobalt and Craftsman are all made in China I believe. If you have a Lowe’s , they will sell Craftsman or Kobalt. HD sells husky and I am sure you can get the lifetime warranty with any of those . All of those should be good. I’d stay away from anything that ratchets from Walmart , Harbor Freight or Menards( I think they sell Master Force). Mostly overpriced garbage.
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Post by oldnjplayer on Sept 6, 2020 7:28:13 GMT -5
Just a thought; ACE Hardware sells some Craftsman tools. They are usually family owned unlike HD, Lowes, Harbor freight.
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Post by rangercaster on Sept 6, 2020 8:17:48 GMT -5
Garage sale or pawn shop may have a good deal ...
Or not ...
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Post by surfinboy on Sept 7, 2020 1:33:37 GMT -5
Thanks folks. I assume standard/SAE (non-metric) is the best way to go? I'm not working on cars or military aircraft, so how many wrenches do I need for most applications around the house and in my woodshop (i.e. general assembly stuff, loosening, etc.)? There are sets of 5, 10, etc.
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Post by Vibroluxer on Sept 7, 2020 2:49:37 GMT -5
In today's world you have just as much chance of needing one vs the other. If you can swing it, get a set of each. If you're getting sockets, most set include both.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Sept 7, 2020 4:47:44 GMT -5
Toss in a Rastall miner's wrench. It fits metric and imperial, it's lefthanded and righthanded, and it has a hammer on it for those stubborn fasteners and odious children  |
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MJB
Wholenote
Who's we sucka? Smith, Wesson and me.
Posts: 634
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Post by MJB on Sept 7, 2020 5:53:52 GMT -5
I like the Lowes set Vibroluxer linked. Should fit your needs.
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Post by Taildragger on Sept 8, 2020 11:20:41 GMT -5
¡wOOt!
•"Ace & The Ratcheting Wrenches"
•"Husky and the Tight Spots"
Also, metal bands:
•"Saltus"
•"Kobalt"
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Post by slacker 🐨 on Sept 8, 2020 11:34:46 GMT -5
I have a Dewalt set that I got from Costco for about $80. It has regular and deep well, 6 and 12 pt, metric and imperial. It includes 1/2", 3/8" and 1/4" drive systems, u-joint adapter and extenders. It also has about 7 combination wrenches in each system, metric and imperial hex wrenches, a half dozen or so spin-tights, a screwdriver with about a dozen bits.
It all comes in a very nice plastic case. I can generally carry that to most tasks and do whatever I need to do.
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