Any love for Dewalt wrenches?

[sdeeter19555]

I'm in the market for new SAE and metric wrenches. I'm not looking to spend a small fortune, maybe $300. I've been looking at all the typical brands, Blackhawk and Dewalt keep coming back to the top.

Does anyone have any experience with Dewalt's stuff? I bought their offset boxends but haven't had them long enough to give them any use (received them just today). They seem well finished and have a good feel.

Any real world abuse stories? Will it hold up to sometimes rugged DIY? I've broken HF Pittsburgh stuff, my USA Craftsman has held up ok (only a couple failures)...so I can be hard on tools at times.

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[Professional Tool User]

I bought the Dewalt ones to see if the ASD open end is any good. Haven't gotten around to using them much. The finishing is decent though it's not quite at the same level as my old Proto wrenches. Not that it matters as chrome will eventually get scratched up through use. My guess is that it will hold up fine if you put a pipe on it. If you hammer on it, that's probably another story.

 

[Fedwrench]

I like the Dewalt wrenches i have but, most of mine are the older versions with the PROTO like anti slip open end. Current models don't have the anti slip open end. However, they're still great wrenches for the money. Off corner engagement on the boxed ends, nice chrome, good balance, great fit and long pattern.

The only issue i've had with them is that their 24 mm wrench looks as if it is from a completely different series, shorter and no knurled squares on the beam.

 

[Yarpo]

If you've got a budget of 300 dollars I'd just look to Wright, Williams or SK. You can get a large metric set + a decent size standard set for that money. I think Dewalts wrenches look decent, but as stated they're no longer offering the ASD open ends so, meh.

 

[sdeeter19555]

If you've got a budget of 300 dollars I'd just look to Wright, Williams or SK. You can get a large metric set + a decent size standard set for that money. I think Dewalts wrenches look decent, but as stated they're no longer offering the ASD open ends so, meh.

I've looked at a lot of places, and a set of Wright, Williams, or SK would be north of $400 to get the same number of wrenches in both SAE and metrics?

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[Yarpo]

I've looked at a lot of places, and a set of Wright, Williams, or SK would be north of $400 to get the same number of wrenches in both SAE and metrics?

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I'm not sure, you didn't mention which sets you where looking at, just "dewalt wrenches" so I couldn't really compare.

They're certainly going to be more expensive, but 300 dollars is a fair amount so I just figured that was an option. If you're looking to get a very full set of wrenches, you'll certainly get more for your money from Dewalt I'd imagine. You'll be missing the ASD open ends, but depending on user its not a deal breaker.

 

[belvedere]

Carlyle long-pattern would fit your budget. I really like the metric set I have.

 

[1foxracing]

The only issue i've had with them is that their 24 mm wrench looks as if it is from a completely different series, shorter and no knurled squares on the beam.

Call them on the phone and have them replace it, mine looks fine.

 

[buckwheat_la]

Cayle long pattern are nice. I passed on Dewalt because the availability of full sets of tools was limited and with brands like that you always worry that they decided to drop the hand tool line.

 

[sdeeter19555]

I'm not sure, you didn't mention which sets you where looking at, just "dewalt wrenches" so I couldn't really compare.

They're certainly going to be more expensive, but 300 dollars is a fair amount so I just figured that was an option. If you're looking to get a very full set of wrenches, you'll certainly get more for your money from Dewalt I'd imagine. You'll be missing the ASD open ends, but depending on user its not a deal breaker.

DEWALT DWMT19234 17PC SAE Combination Wrench Set

DEWALT 18PC MM Combination Wrench Set

These are the two Dewalt sets I have been considering. I've not came across Carlyle yet. Blackhawk by Proto is about the only comparable set, but reviews are sketchy.

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[buckwheat_la]

Looking at the prices, if you want the Anti-slip, definetly look at Carlyle

 

[BajaScout]

Call them on the phone and have them replace it, mine looks fine.

Nice looking wrenches nontheless.

 

[AndrewV]

If you dont find anyone with usable info on the dewalt set, look into gearwrench, or the Milwaukee sets. Good quality, and price.

 

[nbpt100]

I see the Anti-slip Design (ASD) feature referenced more and more. I have never used a wrench with it. Is it realy effective? I recall in a recent thread there was a guy who adamantly did not want the ASD. Not sure why. Can anybody with experience comment?

As for good Quality pattern wrenches you know the brands already mentioned.

Keep in mind Carlyle are on sale this month at NAPA. I think 20% off. I would second the person who said a brand like Dewalt may stop making wrenches as it is not part of their big product lines. I would also put Milwaukee in that category. However Dewalt is made by Stanley-B&D and they would very likely honor the warranty by giving you something similar in their family of wrench brands. Warrantees are all over the map. You hear all kinds of stories from excellent to bad. Even with in the same brand.
I don't think Milwaukee has the option of giving you a cousin brand. If I am wrong
someone will correct me

What is the significance of the crosshatched pattern on the Dewalt?

 

[sdeeter19555]

I see the Anti-slip Design (ASD) feature referenced more and more. I have never used a wrench with it. Is it realy effective? I recall in a recent thread there was a guy who adamantly did not want the ASD. Not sure why. Can anybody with experience comment?

As for good Quality pattern wrenches you know the brands already mentioned.

Keep in mind Carlyle are on sale this month at NAPA. I think 20% off. I would second the person who said a brand like Dewalt may stop making wrenches as it is not part of their big product lines. I would also put Milwaukee in that category. However Dewalt is made by Stanley-B&D and they would very likely honor the warranty by giving you something similar in their family of wrench brands. Warrantees are all over the map. You hear all kinds of stories from excellent to bad. Even with in the same brand.
I don't think Milwaukee has the option of giving you a cousin brand. If I am wrong
someone will correct me

What is the significance of the crosshatched pattern on the Dewalt?

I've never had a wrench with ASD, so it's not as important to me...I know that is the main complaint with the Dewalt line, they dropped that feature on all the newer stuff.

As for that checkered pattern on the Dewalts, it servers no real purpose that I can see other than decorative. It isn't big enough for any grip, it isn't placed where you would actually use it.

I will check that Carlyle brand out later today.



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[Fedwrench]

If you dont find anyone with usable info on the dewalt set, look into gearwrench, or the Milwaukee sets. Good quality, and price.

I can't honestly recommend Gearwrench non ratcheting wrenches any more. Their quality is all over the place and has been documented in more than a few threads here. The problem i have with Milwaukee wrenches is that there isn't any open stock available. You have a choice of two sets in metric & SAE and that's it. they are really nice standard length wrenches though aside from that

As for that checkered pattern on the Dewalts, it servers no real purpose that I can see other than decorative. It isn't big enough for any grip, it isn't placed where you would actually use it.

You are correct but, it seems to be a natural resting spot for my thumb

 

[BroncoAZ]

I've looked at a lot of places, and a set of Wright, Williams, or SK would be north of $400 to get the same number of wrenches in both SAE and metrics?

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I purchased Wright 915 and 958 sets about a month ago through Zoro and Summit Racing for $390 total using coupon codes. The Carlyle Tools wrenches look very nice too, but I wanted US made for my primary set. I don’t think the Carlyle are worth the same money as Wright.

The big end of the Wright SAE set is some huge wrenches that I may never use (1-1/4”) that take up significant room in the drawer. The price was close enough to the next smaller set that I wouldn’t have gone that route, but aside from the occasional trailer ball I don’t see the ones over 7/8” getting much use from me working on my truck. I also have Sunex impact sockets to 1-1/2” “just in case”.

Channellock wrenches are supposed to be the same as the Carlyle ones, here is a deal on the SAE set through Google Express, should be $100 shipped if your first order:

https://express.google.com/u/0/prod...MI2reYupWb4QIVAbjACh1LagblEAQYASABEgKow_D_BwE

For some reason I can’t find the metric set.

 

[JiminAZ]

The WrightGrip or equivalent will save your **** from time to time. Most recent for me was a stubborn 10MM brake line connection. My son had rounded it off using the wrong tool and was about to take the vise grips to it. Broke out the Wright grip wrenches and busted it loose.

The main complaint with WrightGrip or equivalent is it'll mark fasteners where it bites into the flank. So guys with cosmetic concerns (motorcycles, bicycles, show cars, soft tubing fittings etc.) don't care for them.

So in the end there is a use for both.

And you most assuredly can get a set of metric and SAE Wrights for 3 Benjamins.

 

[buckwheat_la]

I purchased Wright 915 and 958 sets about a month ago through Zoro and Summit Racing for $390 total using coupon codes. The Carlyle Tools wrenches look very nice too, but I wanted US made for my primary set. I don’t think the Carlyle are worth the same money as Wright.

The big end of the Wright SAE set is some huge wrenches that I may never use (1-1/4”) that take up significant room in the drawer. The price was close enough to the next smaller set that I wouldn’t have gone that route, but aside from the occasional trailer ball I don’t see the ones over 7/8” getting much use from me working on my truck. I also have Sunex impact sockets to 1-1/2” “just in case”.

Channellock wrenches are supposed to be the same as the Carlyle ones, here is a deal on the SAE set through Google Express, should be $100 shipped if your first order:

https://express.google.com/u/0/prod...MI2reYupWb4QIVAbjACh1LagblEAQYASABEgKow_D_BwE

For some reason I can’t find the metric set.

Be damned those are the same.

 

[rattler459]

Be damned those are the same.

Infar makes carlyle channellock and also the milwaukee wrenches

 

[noahwins]

DeWalt combo wrenches looked and felt nearly identical to Mac's Expert entry level line when I saw at Home Depot. I saw Facom selling them under their entry level line on Amazon Europe, too.

Those brands are all part of Stanley now, right?

 

[Citation]

Take a look at Crescent Ccws4 and Ccws5. Very good value, very similar to GW. Hard to argue with the price.

 

[sdeeter19555]

DeWalt combo wrenches looked and felt nearly identical to Mac's Expert entry level line when I saw at Home Depot. I saw Facom selling them under their entry level line on Amazon Europe, too.

Those brands are all part of Stanley now, right?

Yes, Stanley/Black and Decker?

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[nbpt100]

Take a look at Crescent Ccws4 and Ccws5. Very good value, very similar to GW. Hard to argue with the price.

Not surprising they are very similar as both are made by Apex Tool.

 

[sdeeter19555]

So after much looking, I ordered the Dewalt wrenches. I tried to reason getting another brand, but everything was twice the cost for a similar set (I also found a sale on the Dewalts). So I have a set of SAE and metric in both DBE and combination wrenches, all Dewalt. I could find nothing to complain about with any of the sets I acquired.

I did inlay the stamping with red paint (SAE) and black paint (metric) for something different.

On the shelf these go until needed. I will probably order their flare wrenches to go along with these...again, these are grab-and-go tools, not everyday tools.

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