cody1325
Well-known member
Been helping a buddy of mine a lot with his stuff, and his family's stuff is almost exclusively '80s and '90s GM. And it's been requiring a lot of metric, same goes for the '01 Deere riding mower of ours.
Problem is--I'm not that good on metric. From when he was younger than me, to when he was last able to do much--Granddad always bought SAE. I've got several extensive, or at least partial sets of SAE (from ignition wrenches through like 2")--Craftsman of varying vintage, Blackhawk, SK, Proto, and Action by Thorsen--plus loads of generic Taiwan/China stuff. Metric--partial Craftsman, HTD Japan (have little info on this company--bought 'em used in Proto rolls at a flea market a decade ago), and Benchtop. I'm exploring just going out and buying a whole new set as well for an apprentice-style portable set I'm building.
Back when Lowe's first started selling Craftsman, I bought a wrench rack and assembled the Craftsman metric in it--I was missing 9mm and 20mm. I was able to source the 9mm from my HTD set. Seem to recall a job a couple weeks ago that required a 22mm.
Locally, I've got a few offerings. I want US, but am open to other makes.
Trucks--but not at $60 or so a wrench. Especially when Mac's signature Knuclesavers are basically a fancier (read, highly polished and slippery) version of my favorite Proto ASDs at double the price. I'm sure CAT has a cheaper version of SO's wrenches too.
Proto from my local mine supply. Probably some old-stock SK I may be able to get for half-price since they no longer stock it (I found a random 12mm laying on the floor in the tool section--they gave it to me as they've struck most SK from inventory, but still have it on the shelves). Looking at online, they'll probably ask around $30-40 for the 20mm.
Urrea. My local mine supply's budget range. I know they used to be Mexican-made, lower-finish Proto; but it seems they have been moving a lot to Taiwan like US brands.
CAT--my dealer has a few odds and ends in stock right away, but unsure on much metric.
Flea markets--you never know, even though the amount of American-made stuff dwindles each year.
While not US origin, Harbor Freight... Might as well try Icon. Looking at $90 for the set of 20mm-24mm. May wait for coupons to bring that down lower.
Online;
Williams. US-made, cheaper than Snap-On despite being made on the same lines.
Wright--they seem to be much cheaper on all the US-made stuff in the lineup. I also like the denim canvas pouches they're packed in. Applied doesn't show anything as in-stock. They supposedly ordered some Williams stuff for me in Feb. OF LAST YEAR that never showed up.
Facom/USAG from Ultimate Garage. As it appears my grandmother wants to get the '83 Pininfarina 124 Spider Azzura back from my Dad soon (who drove it for a few years in the '90s, then ended up in a string of bad marriages--car's been parked in his garage since at least '94), I think it would be cool to have some Italian tools for working on an Italian car.
Problem is--I'm not that good on metric. From when he was younger than me, to when he was last able to do much--Granddad always bought SAE. I've got several extensive, or at least partial sets of SAE (from ignition wrenches through like 2")--Craftsman of varying vintage, Blackhawk, SK, Proto, and Action by Thorsen--plus loads of generic Taiwan/China stuff. Metric--partial Craftsman, HTD Japan (have little info on this company--bought 'em used in Proto rolls at a flea market a decade ago), and Benchtop. I'm exploring just going out and buying a whole new set as well for an apprentice-style portable set I'm building.
Back when Lowe's first started selling Craftsman, I bought a wrench rack and assembled the Craftsman metric in it--I was missing 9mm and 20mm. I was able to source the 9mm from my HTD set. Seem to recall a job a couple weeks ago that required a 22mm.
Locally, I've got a few offerings. I want US, but am open to other makes.
Trucks--but not at $60 or so a wrench. Especially when Mac's signature Knuclesavers are basically a fancier (read, highly polished and slippery) version of my favorite Proto ASDs at double the price. I'm sure CAT has a cheaper version of SO's wrenches too.
Proto from my local mine supply. Probably some old-stock SK I may be able to get for half-price since they no longer stock it (I found a random 12mm laying on the floor in the tool section--they gave it to me as they've struck most SK from inventory, but still have it on the shelves). Looking at online, they'll probably ask around $30-40 for the 20mm.
Urrea. My local mine supply's budget range. I know they used to be Mexican-made, lower-finish Proto; but it seems they have been moving a lot to Taiwan like US brands.
CAT--my dealer has a few odds and ends in stock right away, but unsure on much metric.
Flea markets--you never know, even though the amount of American-made stuff dwindles each year.
While not US origin, Harbor Freight... Might as well try Icon. Looking at $90 for the set of 20mm-24mm. May wait for coupons to bring that down lower.
Online;
Williams. US-made, cheaper than Snap-On despite being made on the same lines.
Wright--they seem to be much cheaper on all the US-made stuff in the lineup. I also like the denim canvas pouches they're packed in. Applied doesn't show anything as in-stock. They supposedly ordered some Williams stuff for me in Feb. OF LAST YEAR that never showed up.
Facom/USAG from Ultimate Garage. As it appears my grandmother wants to get the '83 Pininfarina 124 Spider Azzura back from my Dad soon (who drove it for a few years in the '90s, then ended up in a string of bad marriages--car's been parked in his garage since at least '94), I think it would be cool to have some Italian tools for working on an Italian car.
