help me choose new wrenches!

[steelespeed]

hi guys. i am getting ready to purchase a set of combination wrenches and figured i would let the members here help me decide what to get. there's lots of good info and pics on this forum, so, the decision has been harder than i thought. i don't have a dumptruck full of cash to spend, but i also don't want to purchase a lower-priced set then later upgrade to what i should have just bought in the first place. i am not a pro wrench, but like many here i do appreciate quality. here's the brands i have narrowed it down to in no particular order.

proto
craftsman pro
wright
hazet
stahlwille
gedore

thanks for the input!

[sk farmer]

hand pick a craftsman pro set for your best combination of quality and value. hand pick to me means go to a store and visually inspect to make sure you get one with no flaws. if,,,, you ever,,,,,, want a a better set they will be a more than capable backup and you may still like them beter than any other

[silversix]

Although you didn't list it, I'm a big fan of SK wrenches. Reasonably priced, complete sets(unlike craftsman which pisses me off) and I have never had a problem with their tools even when abusing them, i.e. hitting a wrench with a hammer to try and break loose a bolt.

[Kona Cruisers]

x2 on sk in that price range

[rsanter]

if your a pro, go snap on
hobbiest go cman pro

bob

[simonb]

ONES I HAVE USED:
SK FOR THE XXXL WRENCHES- USE THEM EVERY DAY
GEARWRENCH RATCHETING xl LOCKING FLEX- FEEL VERY CHEAP, I NEVER USE THEM
SNAP ON COMBINATION- BEST QUALITY TOO EXPENSIVE...NOT WORTH IT
TOPTUL STUBBY DYNAMIC- VERY GOOD, BUT IT IS STUBBY, WONT BREAK- I DON'T KNOW HOW THE REGULAR ONES WILL HOLD UP
MATCO LARGE SIZES COMBINATION (24, 25)- REALLY STRONG BUT I HATE MATCO
HAZET- I LOVED THEM USING THEM AT SCHOOL- I WASNT ABLE TO GET THEM, IF I WERE, I WOULD GET ALL MY TOOLS HAZET- THE WORKMANSHIP IS SECOND TO NONE.

GET THE TOPTUL- BEST VALUE

[The Muffin Man]

Out of the ones you listed I would go with Wright ("Grip" to be exact if you are looking into SAE wrenches.

The tolerances from what I've measured are very precise and consistent from my measurements, and they happen to be the the most comfortable wrenches I've used.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g97/JGhaffoor/IMG_1750.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g97/JGhaffoor/IMG_1740.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g97/JGhaffoor/IMG_1747-1.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g97/JGhaffoor/IMG_1752.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g97/JGhaffoor/IMG_1749.jpg

[Nik_95Cobra]

Don't count out E-Bay as a source. I got my x-long MAC Knuckle Savers on there brand new, 10-19 for $72, and I actually like them better than my Snap-On Flank Drive Plus set that I bought off the snappy truck. I also have a set of the SK extra longs that I bought off the SK truck and they're great for the price. I also have a couple sets of the Armstrong wrenches and they were pretty damn cheap but seem decent as far as quality goes. I also have a set of the Williams Supercombos that I use for beaters and they're great and are inexpensive as well. Also have a set of the x-long bluepoints I won from my snap-on guy and they aren't too bad either. If I were you I'd just keep my eyes peeled on the net for a nice truck brand and it'll be way cheaper than off a truck and "might" be easier to get a replacement for compared to some of the German brands...Although I'd like to get a Stahlwille and Hazet set too.

[back2class]

Hazet or Craftsman pro. But I think my Craftsman raised pannel set is as good as my pros. I have Snap-On combos too and they all do just as well turning nuts and bolts IMO.

[Merkava_4]

The Muffin Man,

Those Wright's look like very nice wrenches, but dang it I wish they came in a long pattern. And I don't mean extra long either, just a long pattern. Hazet is the same way - nice wrenches that are too short.

[nissan_crawler]

C-Pro or Toptul, IMHO.

[Bo Heck]

Wait for another Cman Pro sale or go Toptul, unless you can find one of the USA brands on Ebay for cheaper. I got the two Cman Pro 13 piece wrench sets for 80 dollars total, that beat even Toptul prices.

[TRTOOLSUPPLY]

Steelespeed,
I think you should go with your "home" state tool maker.....Wright Tool located in Barberton ,Ohio.:thumbup:
www.wrighttool.com

[mooman]

my vote for Craftsman Pro. I'm very happy with mine as a shade tree kinda guy.
Just wish they also came in 6 point as well.

[forceyoda]

Don't count out E-Bay as a source. I got my x-long MAC Knuckle Savers on there brand new, 10-19 for $72, and I actually like them better than my Snap-On Flank Drive Plus set that I bought off the snappy truck. I also have a set of the SK extra longs that I bought off the SK truck and they're great for the price. I also have a couple sets of the Armstrong wrenches and they were pretty damn cheap but seem decent as far as quality goes. I also have a set of the Williams Supercombos that I use for beaters and they're great and are inexpensive as well. Also have a set of the x-long bluepoints I won from my snap-on guy and they aren't too bad either. If I were you I'd just keep my eyes peeled on the net for a nice truck brand and it'll be way cheaper than off a truck and "might" be easier to get a replacement for compared to some of the German brands...Although I'd like to get a Stahlwille and Hazet set too.

X2

For as much as a proto or wright set costs you can easily get cornwell, snap on, mac, or matco off ebay. I got a 14 piece long handle knuckle saver set for $125 in mint condition, not much more than what i would have spent on c-man pros and cheaper than a new proto or wright set .

[peterbilr98]

i would go with cman pro or top tul . i use snap on and would not trade them for eny thing that beeing sayed i do have a set of cman pro from years back and have not had eny trouble with them. i also have a set of black hawk i like they feel good.

[35mastr]

I also have a set of the Cman Pro's. I bought them one time when I was doing a job at home and was too lazy to drive out to the shop to get my Snappys. They feel good and do the job for the money.

[Thedroid]

Can't speak for the Wright, but the Proto's are as good as any truck brand. I own SO, Mac, Cornwell, Matco, and Craftsman reg and pro wrenches and they are all great, but I've used Proto's at work for years, and they are definitely top notch.

[The Muffin Man]

The Muffin Man,

Those Wright's look like very nice wrenches, but dang it I wish they came in a long pattern. And I don't mean extra long either, just a long pattern. Hazet is the same way - nice wrenches that are too short.

I agree a 100% Merkava. The difference in length between my 3/4in SOEX and the Wright 3/4in wrench is more than an inch! If Wright were to produce a long pattern wrench that would be comparable to the length of OEX pattern wrench I think it would be the best wrench on the market.

[RRmech]

The advice to look on flea-bay for new American-made wrenches, is a good one.
I've seen new Proto wrenches go fairly cheap.
I saw a new ten or eleven piece Armstrong wrench set go for $50.
I've seen new K-D wrench sets go for around $35.
I won a new eleven piece metric KAL-USA wrench set on flea-bay for $22.

Good luck with your wrench search!

Steve

[Merkava_4]

If Wright were to produce a long pattern wrench that would be comparable to the length of OEX pattern wrench I think it would be the best wrench on the market.

I agree - they're really missing out by making their wrenches shorter.

[TRTOOLSUPPLY]

Hey MerK,
Wright has been making them the same length for 82+ years.They are not making them shorter..........I guess some guys REALLY need an extra inch!!!!


There are plenty of GLOBAL made wrenches to chose from but Steelespeed did not say what his price range was.Used is a great idea also ,once again he didn't say used.:)

[steelespeed]

thanks for the help guys! i am going to try to make it to a local dealer this weekend that carries proto/sk/wright to compare a few of the domestic brands again and see what i can dig up craigslist and ebay.