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SO Wrenches / other options?

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Uncle Buck

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RickP330 said:
Darn,
I could really use these sets, but man the price! Do I have any other options?

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=528&store=snapon-store&Part=OXI709SBK

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...oup_ID=529&store=snapon-store&Part=OXIM707SBK

We are looking at $300.00 here....
RickP
Click to expand...

Do you really use them so much as to justify such great cost? I would think they would only see limited and sporatic use thus justifying a brand of a bit less cost, but that is just me. :pimpflash

I have sets of both sae and metric Crafty ignition wrenches and have used them for many years without incident.
 
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K

kythri

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Holy ****...

You wouldn't be putting any kind of massive torque on a midget wrench, would you?

I fully recognize that I'm part of the Craftsman Jim Jones Cult, but for something like this, does the "better quality" of Snap-On (or other truck brands) really make a difference?

If you can't live with the Craftsman name, what about KD (likely the exact same as the Craftsman, but doesn't have the name on it...)? http://www.mytoolstore.com/kd/kdspec24.html

SK might have something, too...
 
M

MAD

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Look for "Ignition wrenches" to compare other brands of miniature size combination and open end wrenches.
 
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eschoendorff

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I gotta side with reason here... unless you use them everyday, you will never get your $300 use out of those little wrenches. Go buy the Craftsmans and save your money for Snap On tools that you will actually use a lot.... :beer:
 
A

a390st

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I have a set of Craftsman ignition wrenches that are about 25-30 years old. They have been used a fair bit, and have never failed. I would definitely say unless you use them every day, the Snap On ones are serious overkill. Then again, it is your money. Mine have been used many times, and you wouldn't know by looking at them.
 
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RickP330

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I do alot of work with small stuff. Problem is I don't think Crapsman has a metric set that I know of, am I wrong? I already have an inch set, but I really need metric wrenches, and after all we can't have mis matched wrench sets can we!!
RickP
 
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Danglerb

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I'm buying a set because they look cute, they actually still have some kind of use?

Except for the very smallest, I think the same size range is covered in my set of GearWrench stubby's.
 
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Danglerb

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BTW I think Sears has four different sets of "ignition" or "midget" wrenches, SAE and Metric, and weird angle open ends, and combo (open with box end on other end).
 
A

a390st

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The ones with the 90 degree open ends are very useful at times. They are one of those things that you will either never use or can't do the job without. For the price, the 44 piece set for $50 seems like a pretty good deal if you are going to be spending something like $40 for 20 pieces.
 
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RickP330

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B

billymade

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Far be it from me to stop a Snap-On tool purchase! I was responding to you in reference to Craftsman not having metric ignition wrenches but damn, that whole set for $50 is pretty amazing; that just a tad over $1 a wrench!!! Dirt cheap compared to the Snap-On sets! The comparison in quality is not even a issue, the Snapon's are obviously better but the Craftsman are very reasonable for the dough (as my ohio born dad would say!).
 
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kythri

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billymade said:
Far be it from me to stop a Snap-On tool purchase! I was responding to you in reference to Craftsman not having metric ignition wrenches but damn, that whole set for $50 is pretty amazing; that just a tad over $1 a wrench!!! Dirt cheap compared to the Snap-On sets! The comparison in quality is not even a issue, the Snapon's are obviously better but the Craftsman are very reasonable for the dough (as my ohio born dad would say!).
Click to expand...

OK, point out the "obviously"...
 
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Vinko

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I've got a set of Proto that came with a set I got back in the early 90's that I've used.

My dad has a Williams set -- but I don't know enough about it to know whether its SO/Williams or pre-SO.

It seems to me that with a lot of SO stuff it's just about looks and only marginally better performance, maybe better tool steel (I don't know anyone ever seen tests?), and a killer chrome job, and a little more attention to detail with finishing. At least that's my amateur observation from having SO, Craftsman, Proto, and some Williams/Armstrong wrenches and sockets.
 
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fourfeathers

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"It seems to me that with a lot of SO stuff it's just about looks and only marginally better performance"

Not calling you out, because your post makes a lot of sense, but "marginally better performance" to one guy, may mean EVERYTHING to another.

Racers will spends thousands to marginally increase a car's performance.
A musician will spends hundreds to upgrade.
An Audiophile? Yep, they will too. etc, etc

Now, I don't think I'd pick a set of small wrenches to argue about, but for me, line wrenches or screwdrivers would be worth the fight. Maybe somebody NEEDS those SO midget wrenches.
 
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cruiser808

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Vinko said:
I've got a set of Proto that came with a set I got back in the early 90's that I've used.

My dad has a Williams set -- but I don't know enough about it to know whether its SO/Williams or pre-SO.

It seems to me that with a lot of SO stuff it's just about looks and only marginally better performance, maybe better tool steel (I don't know anyone ever seen tests?), and a killer chrome job, and a little more attention to detail with finishing. At least that's my amateur observation from having SO, Craftsman, Proto, and some Williams/Armstrong wrenches and sockets.
Click to expand...

Well, I prefer my Snap-on stuff because when I look at that shiney chrome, I see pretty face looking at a pretty tool. Or is it a pretty tool looking at a pretty tool? :bitchslap
 
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Moose-LandTran

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Shame you guys don't really get Elora tools over there. Their wrenches are awesome value for money.

Oh, and I need almost all my Snap-on stuff because not much else stand up to the demands. I've never broken a single Snap-on tool from my collection as far as i remember.

Aside from that, if it's not you buying Snap-on, you needent worry about the price.

When i bought my box, despite paying a quarter of the new price for it, my friend said to me "If it were me, i wouldn't have spent so much on a box."

I said "That's fine, but it's me and it's my money, and i will spend that much on a box."
 
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nissan_crawler

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I wouldn't pay new Snap-On price, that's for sure. That being said, if you can find a used, but in nice shape Snap-On set for the same price as new Craftsman (as is often the case), I would go that route. If you can't find used and have to buy new, I would stick to Craftsman.
 
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RickP330

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nissan_crawler said:
thickness.
Click to expand...

Bingo,
That's what I was going to say. But how hard do I really need to crank on these small fasteners? I can probably strip them with the C'man ones and not damage the tool. Looks like I'll buy the C'man ones. but I'll hold out just a bit longer.

Let the SO debate continue - Popcorn anyone?

RickP
 
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eschoendorff

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Danglerb said:
I'm buying a set because they look cute, they actually still have some kind of use?

Except for the very smallest, I think the same size range is covered in my set of GearWrench stubby's.
Click to expand...

And people made fun of ME for wearing pink slippers!:lol_hitti:lol_hitti:lol_hitti
 
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eschoendorff

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fourfeathers said:
"It seems to me that with a lot of SO stuff it's just about looks and only marginally better performance"

Not calling you out, because your post makes a lot of sense, but "marginally better performance" to one guy, may mean EVERYTHING to another.

Racers will spends thousands to marginally increase a car's performance.
A musician will spends hundreds to upgrade.
An Audiophile? Yep, they will too. etc, etc

Now, I don't think I'd pick a set of small wrenches to argue about, but for me, line wrenches or screwdrivers would be worth the fight. Maybe somebody NEEDS those SO midget wrenches.
Click to expand...

And yet I see a ton of racers using cheap imported tools whenever I am at the track... :headscrat

and these aren't the grassroots guys. These are teh roadracers with the big trailers and sponsors....
 
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RickP330

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eschoendorff said:
And yet I see a ton of racers using cheap imported tools whenever I am at the track... :headscrat

and these aren't the grassroots guys. These are teh roadracers with the big trailers and sponsors....
Click to expand...

When you are at the track, stuff walks. My truck only had old beat up JUNK in the toolbox. Try bringing a SO wrench.... Got tired of that gig though....
RP
 
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paramudduck

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A musician will spends hundreds to upgrade.?

At 2k+ a crack for my bass guitars and 10k invested in amps etc. I think you are LOW. Don't even ask the cost of the upright or the cello.
 
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eschoendorff

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RickP330 said:
When you are at the track, stuff walks. My truck only had old beat up JUNK in the toolbox. Try bringing a SO wrench.... Got tired of that gig though....
RP
Click to expand...

True, but then remember that those are the tools taht these guys are depending on to post lap times. Must be that those tools cannot be that bad...

I'm just saying that we (myself included) are quick to bash Asian-import tools (okay, I don't want to play favorites - I have been know to rag on the Indian imports too) only to find that for an awful lot of folks, these "cheap" tools get the job done quite well.
 
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Lightning

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I only buy wrenches from Snap On because they have the flank drive patent which grips much better than competitors wrenches. The Snap On wrenches also have much better fit, finish, and ergonomics. I believe Snap On makes the best wrenches and the competition is much inferior. Other brands make better tools like bits, bit sockets, and pliers, but Snap On wrenches are much better.
 
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Lightning

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The Gearwrench ratcheting wrenches are a good brand and very good quality. The nonratcheting wrenches I would only buy from Snap On though
 
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Merkava_4

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Can someone explain to me why the Craftsman ignition wrenches have the box end bigger than the open end? For example: A wrench will have an 8mm open end with a 9mm box end. :confused:
 
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