AmazonBasics Hand Tool Kits

[sk farmer]

I have more wrench sets than I care to admit, and my question is...why?

What exactly do you need combination wrenches for in a homeowner grade kit these days? What does the average Joe homeowner actually DO. Assemble some IKEA furniture, put together a grill from Home Depot, tune up their lawnmower, fix the washing machine (maybe), change out some light fixtures, clean out a drain, replace a toilet, change a faucet, and replace cabinet hardware.

I've often thought I could assemble a pretty good kit for 95% of the population to get done what they needed done on a budget without looking like something out of GJ.

I can do almost any repair on my Whirlpool direct drive washing machine with tools that will fit in a 32oz yogurt container. How many people do that these days anyway?

well i guess if people don't fix things they don't need this set or even a yogurt container for that matter.

that said. if you are going to fix something. a wrench can fit in many more places than a socket and ratchet. yes, a socket and ratchet can fit in some places a wrench won't but that is the justification for having both. add in the fact that one often needs both at the same time and one can see the need for wrenches that cover most of the sizes in the set.

that brings us back to the allen wrenches and how often does one use them? yes they are used on occasion but i would place a pretty fair bet that the use of wrenches is far more common.

in almost every case, assemble at home furniture/appliances come with the allen wrench and some stamped out wrenches required for assembly. my experience has been that while the allen wrenches included in such kits are not great, they are adequate to get the job done. the stamped wrench on the other hand is junk and that means you need a real wrench. one that may not be in the ****** tool set.

 

[ReggieR]

Stanley stuff. Those sets are all over down south and the Carib. They're OK. About as good a quality as that raised panel Crapsman garbage everyone here oooohs and ahhhhhs over

 

[tanukiboy]

that brings us back to the allen wrenches and how often does one use them? yes they are used on occasion but i would place a pretty fair bet that the use of wrenches is far more common.

Well, if you're interested in photography or bicycles (or, I'd imagine, skateboarding or snowboarding -- I'm way too old for that!), you tend to use Allen wrenches a whole lot. Definitely a requirement for a home tool set, IMO.

 

[Gmonkee]

These basic kits in the hands of someone with rudimentary experience are magic.

They open a world up of DIY projects and pride in at least trying that they never knew.
I have enabled at least six others from my old castoffs to be able to fix the basics in their little worlds.

That is how we all started. Never forget your roots.

 

[sk farmer]

Well, if you're interested in photography or bicycles (or, I'd imagine, skateboarding or snowboarding -- I'm way too old for that!), you tend to use Allen wrenches a whole lot. Definitely a requirement for a home tool set, IMO.

i never said they were not a requirement . i just don't know that they are more required than a basic set of wrenches..............other than to add to the piece count at a very low cost.

again, many times the required size of hex key comes supplied with the item. i am sure i have about 50 allen wrenches here and then. all of them supplied with the item that needed them for assembly.

 

[Citation]

Sets like this can do a heck of a lot in motivated hands. Growing up I, like here, had access to my father's tools. When I had to do my first major car repair on my own (clutch in a FWD econobox) I had a Cman kit with little more than we see here. When I get a chance I'll list out the tools I used (from memory/service manual). The big missing items would be things like jack stands.