Looking for a good metric stubby wrench set

[mrstrictlygm]

I have the Craftsman standard stubbies that are made in the USA, but never got the metric set. The new China ones are a joke. I was wondering if anybody here had any inputs on a nice set, preferably US made if still possible. I mainly will need sizes 10mm 12mm 13mm 15mm and 17mm. Thanx in advance.

 

[Hammer1963]

I have a set of the wrenches you probably looking for. I have the USA Craftsman set in Metric and might be open to letting them go. These wrenches are virtually new and cover all the sizes you are looking for.

 

[trexdoink]

The northern tool catalog set looks good, smooth like the craftsman sets. I saw a set recently that looked good in Menards or lowes. I have both CMan sets so I'm not in the market. Good luck!

 

[shoturtle]

On the used market for craftsman ebay has couple of set up on auction. For new, look at SK they are still made in the USA are are good quality.

 

[melliott28]

The Northern Tool stubbies are nice and reasonably priced. I have both Metric and SAE. The only drawback is they are not made in the USA.

 

[davesnothere]

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=280444172876&index=23&nav=SEARCH&nid=15054961089

You're welcome.

 

[scouting]

Okay, so made in US: track down a cornwell dealer if you can find one.

Otherwise, I'd go horrible freight simply b/c their wrenches are pretty decent and a stubby never gets used all that hard anyway.

 

[bindernut]

I have a snap on set of metrics & a set of Matco standards. The snap ons weren't used that much, but the Matcos were used a lot on my tractors, I like them a lot.

 

[shoturtle]

Okay, so made in US: track down a cornwell dealer if you can find one.

Otherwise, I'd go horrible freight simply b/c their wrenches are pretty decent and a stubby never gets used all that hard anyway.

Think the HF and northern ones are made in india.

 

[shoturtle]

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=280444172876&index=23&nav=SEARCH&nid=15054961089

You're welcome.

If they are going with taiwan you get a 10pc set with sunex
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PGTCDU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[mattygee]

I have the SK set and like those.

Matt

 

[TwoInch]

the HF wrenches are horrible, with exception to the long patterns, which are useable.

the Kobalts are decent, especially at the $9.99 sale price recently, but COO taiwan.

i would look for the USA craftsmans, they are great wrenches, and should be fairly easy to track down, from the looks of the above posts.

 

[davesnothere]

If they are going with taiwan you get a 10pc set with sunex
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PGTCDU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I've got the sunex set.
I wouldn't buy it again.

 

[shoturtle]

interesting, what was the big issue with the sunex.

The taiwan williams were about the same quality as the kolbalt and other taiwan made stubbies.

 

[scouting]

Good to know, I only own the longs and picked em up to carry in the truck for residue repairs. Probably will avoid the stubbys then.

 

[BajaBound]

williams has a great set or blue point

 

[JWC07]

the HF wrenches are horrible, with exception to the long patterns, which are useable.

the Kobalts are decent, especially at the $9.99 sale price recently, but COO taiwan.

i would look for the USA craftsmans, they are great wrenches, and should be fairly easy to track down, from the looks of the above posts.

Talk about a *****, I bought the Kobalt set when it first went to
$10. Haven't used it much but tonight I needed a stubby very badly, I realized there ain't no 10, wth? Gonna have to pick one up somewhere.

With that in mind I'd consider the Kobalt USA made set on cripedistributing. It's $28 but it's 7 wrwnches including the 10, US made and You could warranty at Lowe's if absolutely necessary although I doubt you'd need to with a stubby.



On another note I wish u could buy just the little rails that the Kobalts come on.

 

[shoturtle]

That is my main issue with most the 7pc sets out there, there are more then 7 sizes that are very common. Any set should go form atleast 10-19mm imho.

PS
you can get the missing kobalt sizes at lowes.

 

[TwoInch]

thats how they get your money. we see the set discounted and are all "hell yes ill spend ten bucks on these wrenches" and then get home and realize there are three common sizes missing, which will cost about 25 bucks to acquire individually... putting the "set" at 35-40 smackers in the end.

i too wish i could get those little racks they come with. stands the wrenches up straight.

 

[shoturtle]

That is why I alway get the larger sets, never buy the 7 pc set. It is just 10 dollars more as a 10 pc set, 20 buck vs 10. Well worth the extra.

But HF does not even give you the option to complete the set, but northern sell theirs as a 10pc. So between HF and northern, go with the northern.

 

[davesnothere]

interesting, what was the big issue with the sunex.

The taiwan williams were about the same quality as the kolbalt and other taiwan made stubbies.

No big issue, the sunex wrenches just feel cheap, and I questioned their reliability every time I used them.
Like a few others have mentioned, it probably won't matter much with a stubby wrench though.
I have yet to question the reliability of a williams tool.

 

[Super Sport]

I grabbed a 10 piece SK set brand new on Ebay for under $50 shipped. I honestly haven't even used them yet, but they look high quality.

I too was looking for a Craftsman USA set to match my SAEs, but for Craftsman prices on Ebay I could buy SK and still save a few bucks.

 

[shoturtle]

No big issue, the sunex wrenches just feel cheap, and I questioned their reliability every time I used them.
Like a few others have mentioned, it probably won't matter much with a stubby wrench though.
I have yet to question the reliability of a williams tool.

Having dealt with taiwan williams at work, they are really no better then the other taiwan made stubbies. If it was a US made williams then I would pay the extra. Quality wise you are not getting anything between a taiwan williams and a sunex or kolbalt.

I have the satin finish BGS set, they are the same as the kobalt and the williams. Most likely out of the same factory.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

I got these the other day I like them. these seem to cover all the stubby wrenches I will need.

 

[BajaBound]

I have usa williams stubbies they where on here for a buck a piece and they seem great although satin finish.

 

[RCStocker]

I see that the Sk set is mising some in the string.
I was going to say that the Craftsman also have several missing in the string. Once in a while I need the missing one.
I have SAE and Metric in the stubby gearwrench and they are very nice and work well. They are not missing any and are larger sets.
I just picket up anold set of stubby snap-ons for $60 at the swap meet. It has 8-19. I figured I hit the jack pot on those.
SK makes great tools if you are buying new. E-bay really has some good prices if you keep looking.

 

[CWP1616L]

I mainly will need sizes 10mm 12mm 13mm 15mm and 17mm. Thanx in advance.

How about $32.97 with free shipping?

eBay

 

[otis66]

SK Tools

 

[bart1]

http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/WilliamsD/WLMSTBY.html

 

[abumason]

Think the HF and northern ones are made in india.

I picked up the HF ones to use in pinch. Made in India, and absolutely horrible.

Replaced them with Gearwrench when Sears had a 1/2 off sale. Not USA, but the Craftsmans were already China, and huge to boot. They were the right price and get the job done.

 

[bcradio]

I have the Craftsman standard stubbies that are made in the USA, but never got the metric set. The new China ones are a joke. I was wondering if anybody here had any inputs on a nice set, preferably US made if still possible. I mainly will need sizes 10mm 12mm 13mm 15mm and 17mm. Thanx in advance.

The Chinese stubby's are definitely not a joke. They are surprisingly good and work VERY well. Also one of the most complete sets out there. They do have a fat head, but I but my tools for function not looks. I was a little leery getting them being from China, but man have they been great and worked better than i thought.

BTW if you're thinking the head is too wide, its not. It is exactly the same as the other. The head just goes farther back than the USA ones.

 

[honcho]

I have the old full-polished Craftsman Professional SAE/Fractional Set and a set of metric taiwanese Popular Mechanics (Wal-Mart) satin finish stubby wrenches. I've been longing for a full polished set of metric stubbies, preferably USA made but I'd take taiwan. Armstrong has a ten piece set of made in USA full polish, Model 52-605. Looks like it can be had for about $115. I believe Armstrong, as part of Danaher (now Apex), was the manufacturer of the Craftsman Pro stubbies. The smaller Williams taiwan set looks like a good deal too. Unfortunately, I'm trying to cool my tool purchasing until I have my storage set up better so I can use what I have.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

that Williams set is a great deal I would have bought that except it was missing the 10mm.

 

[PinkLinc]

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=280444172876&index=23&nav=SEARCH&nid=15054961089

You're welcome.

I have these in the SAE flavor. LOVE them.

 

[theamcaddict]

SK

 

[NC-Fordguy]

The Chinese stubby's are definitely not a joke. They are surprisingly good and work VERY well. Also one of the most complete sets out there. They do have a fat head, but I but my tools for function not looks. I was a little leery getting them being from China, but man have they been great and worked better than i thought.

BTW if you're thinking the head is too wide, its not. It is exactly the same as the other. The head just goes farther back than the USA ones.

Would you happen to have a pic to share? I've been debating on picking up a set but the local Sears doesn't stock the sets.

 

[TwoInch]

what do you mean when you say "wide"? the head of the wrench has a larger diameter, almost as if the head was nearly a circle, then broached out. where as the older USA versions had a regular head profile, with a slender "neck" area i guess you would call it.

i have had them side by said many times, i would never buy them, even at a steep discount. my local sears has/had both versions, the chinese sets, and a few USA open stock still on the rack.

 

[litng1]

Go to harryepstion hardware store online.He has a nice American made set for 50 bucks.I love them

 

[litng1]

Williams brand

 

[Wakefield]

what do you mean when you say "wide"? the head of the wrench has a larger diameter, almost as if the head was nearly a circle, then broached out. where as the older USA versions had a regular head profile, with a slender "neck" area i guess you would call it.

i have had them side by said many times, i would never buy them, even at a steep discount. my local sears has/had both versions, the chinese sets, and a few USA open stock still on the rack.

I found the thread that had a picture of the Lobster Claw stubby using the search feature, I think I entered "lobster claw" into the search. There is a picture of I think S K next to the "craftsman chinese stubby".
Title of the thread is "Let me introduce you to the Chinese Craftsman Professional stubbys" Looks neat unless you have to use it in tight quarters!
I think page 13 on that thread has a comparison of an SK and a lobster claw.