Help me with wrenches.

[jetmech09]

I'm looking for a set of small combo wrenches. Roughly 7/32 - 7/16, or close to it. I looked at the miniature ones at sears today and they were complete garbage. It looked like they were stamped with a mold made by a drunk 12 year old. I can't justify spending as much money as snap-on wants for them either. Any recommendations?

 

[bcradio]

Craftsman wrenches are just fine. Just be aware that Evolve is their cheaper line and may not be finished as nice.

 

[Terra Nova]

you could scan Ebay or craigslist for the Craftsman ignition wrenches. They can be had for $5-$10 a set. I have a set that's about 10-12 years old and they are FAR better than the junk Sears passes off now as midget wrenches.

 

[JDS968]

Try the NAPA "NDF" combinations (made in the USA according to POPSTAGE2), specifically NDF46 (1/4"), NDF48 (5/16"), NDF50 (3/8"), and NDF52 (7/16"). I can't find any information about a 7/32". I love my NDFs though, excellent tools, and far better than my Craftsman raised-panel combinations.

 

[powertrip]

Isn't the exaggeration about craftsman quality and the sears bashing getting old.

 

[bcradio]

isn't the exaggeration about craftsman quality and the sears bashing getting old.

 

[archirelic]

Isn't the exaggeration about craftsman quality and the sears bashing getting old.

That...and the lack of people using the 'search' function...

 

[Gary S]

Isn't the exaggeration about craftsman quality and the sears bashing getting old.

Yes, Sears Craftsman had gone downhill a bit from the 1970s, but every other product made in the world has too. I'm still very fond of my Craftsman wrenches that have served me well for over 40 years with no failures.

 

[JDS968]

Isn't the exaggeration about craftsman quality and the sears bashing getting old.

All depends on which Craftsman tools we're talking about, I guess. I have a whole box full of Craftsman chrome sockets I love...1/4", 3/8", 1/2", short and deepwell, 6-point and 12-point. I have all sorts of other Craftsman tools that are great, from the Pro line pliers (especially the replaceable-tip reversible snap-ring pliers) to the deadblow. On the other hand, some of them, such as the metric and inch pattern raised panel combinations, are just disappointing, I have never been happy with their performance.

 

[bcradio]

All depends on which Craftsman tools we're talking about, I guess. I have a whole box full of Craftsman chrome sockets I love...1/4", 3/8", 1/2", short and deepwell, 6-point and 12-point. I have all sorts of other Craftsman tools that are great, from the Pro line pliers (especially the replaceable-tip reversible snap-ring pliers) to the deadblow. On the other hand, some of them, such as the metric and inch pattern raised panel combinations, are just disappointing, I have never been happy with their performance.

other than being a little short, I actually think RP wrenches (not RP ratchets) are just fine for a home box.

 

[toolmaker1]

other than being a little short, I actually think RP wrenches (not RP ratchets) are just fine for a home box.

Before you start spouting your craftsman is great **** maybe you should go look at the wrenches the op is talking about. They are not raised panel wrenches they are the ignition wrenches. They are little stamped steel pieces of total ****. About a 1/16 th of an inch thick and you can bend them in half with your bare hands. I don't mind some craftsman tools of newer vintage but some of you guys must be living in a bubble and are getting as bad as the damn strap-on fanboys

 

[Terra Nova]

Before you start spouting your craftsman is great **** maybe you should go look at the wrenches the op is talking about. They are not raised panel wrenches they are the ignition wrenches. They are little stamped steel pieces of total ****.

Hence my comment about the older ones, they were actually forged like a real honest to goodness wrenches. The new ones are stamped from sheet metal, they don't even clean up the sheared edge. They remind me of the 'tools' that come with Ikea stuff.

I have 95% craftsman and no complaints so I'm not a hater. I think the RP wrenches are just fine. RP ratchets though...

 

[TheDogHouse]

Classic GJ ***** bunching. LOL.

 

[Outlawmws]

Eprey just came up with 178 hits for "ignition wrench" most of which were for Craftsman older USA semi decent wrenches, some other brands are smattered around as well...

 

[472scout]

Stamped sheetmetal??

Say what??

 

[jetmech09]

I generally have no problem with craftsman tools. I am not talking about the raised panel wrenches. I am talking about the "miniature" wrenches that come in the little pouch, and they are stamped. Completely terrible. They are also not for a home box, these are for my box at work. I also don't want the typical ignition wrench. I need a 12pt box end on one side.

 

[bob15]

Did you do a search of ebay? Quick ebay search showed and Allen set and a Wright tool set 787. Google search showed the Wright set around $35.

Did you look at Grainger, MSC, McMaster?

 

[e30bradley]

Used Snap on

 

[jetmech09]

Did you do a search of ebay? Quick ebay search showed and Allen set and a Wright tool set 787. Google search showed the Wright set around $35.

Did you look at Grainger, MSC, McMaster?

I haven't started looking yet, Just wanted to get recommendations to make sure I don't run into the same poor quality issue again. When I originally picked the CM wrenches up, I briefly looked at the 7/16 and assumed that it was CM, how bad could it be? Only to find a mess of a product.

 

[JDS968]

other than being a little short, I actually think RP wrenches (not RP ratchets) are just fine for a home box.

I guess I might agree with you on that, all depends on what you're doing with them at home. I find that they fit fasteners poorly and are very prone to slipping and damaging fasteners. If you're only working on clean fasteners in good condition at home, and only applying moderate torque to them, then yes, I'd agree that the raised panel combinations are just fine. However, even if you only pull them out a few times a year, they're still no good if half of those times, you need to loosen a stubborn or corroded fastener.

The raised panel ratchets I actually have mixed experience with. I have the 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2". I'm quite happy with the 1/2", reasonably satisfied with the 3/8", and consider the 1/4" to be mediocre at best. I'm actually going to warranty the 1/4" because it slips badly. The 3/8" I don't use very often, but I'm thinking of adding another fixed head, standard length ratchet (likely a Snap-On FH80) to my box that would pretty much entirely supersede it. I have an equivalent NAPA 3/8" fixed head standard length ratchet, but I really never use it because I hate fully polished round handles, so I actually can't make a good comparison of how they perform (I should probably try using it for a week or two just for comparison's sake, because they are somewhat comparable). The 1/2", on the other hand, I plan on continuing to use regularly as my primary 1/2".

 

[JDS968]

I generally have no problem with craftsman tools. I am not talking about the raised panel wrenches. I am talking about the "miniature" wrenches that come in the little pouch, and they are stamped. Completely terrible. They are also not for a home box, these are for my box at work. I also don't want the typical ignition wrench. I need a 12pt box end on one side.

Something like this, right?

 

[Don 18]

The newer midget wrenches at Sears do look like they are just stamped and then chrome plated. Not as finished or smooth as their previous offerings. These are available, but you may want to call the vendor before buying to verify its not the same story:

http://cripedistributingstore.com/kobalt-10pc-midget-comb-wrenches-usa-metric-23603.html

http://cripedistributingstore.com/kobalt-10pc-midget-comb-wrenches-usa-5-32-to-7-16-23602.html

Made in USA too

 

[bcradio]

I generally have no problem with craftsman tools. I am not talking about the raised panel wrenches. I am talking about the "miniature" wrenches that come in the little pouch, and they are stamped. Completely terrible. They are also not for a home box, these are for my box at work. I also don't want the typical ignition wrench. I need a 12pt box end on one side.

Totally agree here... Not impressed with their midget wrenches. Used truck brand may be the way to go

 

[bcradio]

I guess I might agree with you on that, all depends on what you're doing with them at home. I find that they fit fasteners poorly and are very prone to slipping and damaging fasteners. If you're only working on clean fasteners in good condition at home, and only applying moderate torque to them, then yes, I'd agree that the raised panel combinations are just fine. However, even if you only pull them out a few times a year, they're still no good if half of those times, you need to loosen a stubborn

Looks like you have a bad set of rasied panel wrenches... Mine fit just fine and so do many other peoples.

 

[jetmech09]

Something like this, right?

Yes, though I can't really tell how long it is. The kobalt ones below your post are definitely a winner though, so thank you don 18

 

[SantaAna12]

I bought a metric set of CMAN ignition wrenches when OSH was having their 50$ off 200$ as a filler about six months ago. I own the SAE set from 20 years back. Definitely lower quality.

 

[5mall5nail5]

Isn't the exaggeration about craftsman quality and the sears bashing getting old.

I would say yes, but actually I bought a large RP set from like 7/16+, 26 pc or something, and it came with miniature "ignition" wrenches... if that's what the OP was referring to, then yes I can agree they are actually pretty bad and laughable, though I didn't buy the set for them.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

Armstrong Model 25-600. Runs from 5/32-7/16. Grainger sells the set for $42 and change.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/ARMSTRONG-INDUSTRIAL-HAND-TOOLS-Combination-3LYG5?Pid=search

 

[rusty65]

I think looks is one thing you have to get over with ignition wrenchs I have a indestro super set that is slightly miscut and is stamped oddly.

 

[jacked_72]

I thought I had a stamped set. I don't think these are though. I've seen the stamped set, but not sure if they were Craftsman.

 

[monster1]

Before you start spouting your craftsman is great **** maybe you should go look at the wrenches the op is talking about. They are not raised panel wrenches they are the ignition wrenches. They are little stamped steel pieces of total ****. About a 1/16 th of an inch thick and you can bend them in half with your bare hands. I don't mind some craftsman tools of newer vintage but some of you guys must be living in a bubble and are getting as bad as the damn strap-on fanboys

You said "strap-on!"

 

[dsmnickk90]

I have RP wrenches down to 1/4" anything smaller than that isn't going to need alot of torque to remove the stamped igntion wrenches are fine. All though my set of igntion wrenches are not anything like some of the ones posted on here. They are smooth with no lip from the stamping and are rounded over nicely.