Thinking of buying a new mid grade set of wrenches. I stumbled onto a YouTube video of Taiwan made channellock combo wrenches that look nearly identical to the Carlisle brand at Napa. They are half the price and the set can be filled in individually so there are no skipped sizes. That's huge for me as I refuse to buy a set that skips sizes. Yes, I use the 8, 16 and 18. Anyone own these?
Any love for the channellock combo wrenches?
- Thread starter monster1
- Start date
If they're the same as those sold by Milwaukee then they get good reviews, i wouldn't hesitate to try them.
Maybe you could buy a single from Napa in a commonly used size to try before committing to a set? I have a good few spanners from different brands that i bought before choosing a set. Loads of 13's, 16's, etc..
Maybe you could buy a single from Napa in a commonly used size to try before committing to a set? I have a good few spanners from different brands that i bought before choosing a set. Loads of 13's, 16's, etc..
The channel lock and Carlisle wrenches are long pattern where as the Milwaukee wrenches are not. You have a great idea about buying just one wrench to sample the quality.
Magnum440d100
Well-known member
I had a channellock tool kit that had combo wrenches in the lid. They were pretty solid feeling and worked great.
I ended up giving the set to my friends little brother for him to keep in his 4x4, after going over there to work on it and him not having ANY tools, and having to search for simple hand tools.
10/10 would recommend
I ended up giving the set to my friends little brother for him to keep in his 4x4, after going over there to work on it and him not having ANY tools, and having to search for simple hand tools.
10/10 would recommend
sberry
Banned
Just buy it.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I actually own both the Channellock & Carlyles. As I've said before, both brands share the same wrench blank. The Carlyle versions have better chrome, size marking and are just finished better overall. I think of the Channellock version as being the economy or basic model of the same wrench.
They should serve you well and if you have a local Do It Best hardware selling open stock, you shouldn't have any issues. At the end of the day, it's not a huge purchase anyway
They should serve you well and if you have a local Do It Best hardware selling open stock, you shouldn't have any issues. At the end of the day, it's not a huge purchase anyway
powertrip
Well-known member
I had a channellock tool kit that had combo wrenches in the lid. They were pretty solid feeling and worked great.
I ended up giving the set to my friends little brother for him to keep in his 4x4, after going over there to work on it and him not having ANY tools, and having to search for simple hand tools.
10/10 would recommend
I believe the wrenches in question are different than what came in a mechanics set.
I actually own both the Channellock & Carlyles. As I've said before, both brands share the same wrench blank. The Carlyle versions have better chrome, size marking and are just finished better overall. I think of the Channellock version as being the economy or basic model of the same wrench.
They should serve you well and if you have a local Do It Best hardware selling open stock, you shouldn't have any issues. At the end of the day, it's not a huge purchase anyway
Thanks. I think that's probably one of the biggest selling points for me is that they are available as open stock and don't skip sizes. I love your posts btw. Always very informative.
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metaldad
Well-known member
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Those Channellock/Carlyle wrenches have teeth on the open end.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The long patterns do. The standard length ones don't.
TwoInch
Well-known member
Fed,
In your opinion owning both tje dewalt and the channellock taiwan sets, which do you prefer?
I got the dewalt set for like $30 locally, and filled in the few like you did. Haven't used or handled the channellocks... From a cosmetic standpoint, I definitely prefer the dewalts, including the open ends.
What do you think?
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superautobacs
Well-known member
sberry
Banned
You couldnt put them in different boxes if they were stamped.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I would say that i prefer the original Dewalts. They just seem to feel better in my hands. I recently wrote about getting a 24 mm Dewalt wrench that wasn't like the rest of mine. It was shorter, lacked the little knurled rectangles, and had a plain open end. I'm not sure though which direction the Dewalts are going. The sets running 10-19 mm still seem to have the anti slip open end but, all of the open stock I've picked up in the last 6 months, have arrived with plain open ends.
In the end if an anti slip open end is important to you, the Dewalts may not be the best choice.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
It's strange but, it's not a factory goof either. My smaller sized channellocks are the same way. It's what I meant when i said the Channellocks are the budget version of Napa's Carlyles not being finished as nicely.
TwoInch
Well-known member
Yea I commented on that thread post too. If you look at the dewalt catalogue, you can see the three different "series" of the wrenches. All included in the metric 18pc wrench set. The 10-19mm are obviously a set within the larger "set".. Strange..
I made the compete set up to 22mm I think.. And for what I'm going with this set, that was enough. I have other sets that go much larger.
These dewalt wrenches really remind me of the taiwan gearwrench long patterns from years ago.. Those we're nice wrenches.. I posted about the current China versions, and how they are actually the worst wrenches I have ever handled. Worse than the Wal-Mart India made wrenches, worse than the old harbor freight wrenches from way back... They are incredibly bad. And through multiple sets, consistently bad. I honestly can't believe APEX or GEARWRENCH or anyone got that matter, would ever allow such poor quality, and quality control in their product line.
Absolutely amazing.
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TwoInch
Well-known member
Also, I'm betting we will be able to fill in those dewalt asd sets once the open stock of CM Lowe's hits the shelves.
As long as matching stamps and such doesn't bother the user. I don't mind at all. I do hope they go chrome or even satin, anything but that "gun metal chrome" they are slinging now... Blahh
As for function of the dewalts, I really do enjoy them. Haven't really stressed them heavily or put any extensions on them of any sort to see if they spread or deform. But Im pleased so far, especially for like less than $50 or so I paid all together.
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As long as matching stamps and such doesn't bother the user. I don't mind at all. I do hope they go chrome or even satin, anything but that "gun metal chrome" they are slinging now... Blahh
As for function of the dewalts, I really do enjoy them. Haven't really stressed them heavily or put any extensions on them of any sort to see if they spread or deform. But Im pleased so far, especially for like less than $50 or so I paid all together.
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sberry
Banned
All these kind of wrenches are good anymore. Easy to find a set 30/50$ that are really professional quality and totally dependable.
TwoInch
Well-known member
While I agree they are great for the money, and dependable, I can't compare them to professional or industrial wrenches. Even craftsman pro/industrial, imo, were considerably better all around.
But I have no complaints from my cheapo dewalt or other taiwan wrenches in general.
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AreYaSerious
Well-known member
They're the same as Carlisle, just cheaper. I bought 2 but didn't get the set cause they skip sizes. I ended up going with tekton. The nice thing is you can find decent quality hand tools for a fair price with the competitive market.
If you can live without the teeth in the open end, then Toptul sell a great set of long spanners for less than £100;
https://www.ewsupplies.co.uk/shop/tools/wrenches/sets/toptul-gaaf1008/
The best deal price/quality wise over here atm without a doubt, not sure how much they are over there.
Don't bother with them if you don't have a lift however, they'll be too long.
https://www.ewsupplies.co.uk/shop/tools/wrenches/sets/toptul-gaaf1008/
The best deal price/quality wise over here atm without a doubt, not sure how much they are over there.
Don't bother with them if you don't have a lift however, they'll be too long.
These Toptuls are the first metric wrenches I grab in the shop, skipping right over my Wrightgrips. Perfect length, and the satin finish is the nicest I have seen. Just real comfortable in the hand. Sure wish they made a SAE set.
TwoInch
Well-known member
I use long pattern wrenches for everything possible. I only go shorter if absolutely necessary. That goes for auto work, and everything else under the Sun... Equipment. Yard tools. Etc.. And on cars on Jack stands on the ground.
Nothing really to add.. Just thought this was funny.
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Pretty sure hes saying those are even longer than most long pattern wrenches. Length certainly can become an issue
brooktre
Well-known member
I have a catalog that show Channellocks are made by Apex.
TwoInch
Well-known member
Of course length.can be an issue. There are application where any and all wrenches are too long, and you need a socket on a 48" extension.
But length of tool has little to do with height from the floor, that was my point.
Had the comment been directed toward a specific application, like caliper bolts or something... Maybe.
But again. Just thought it was a funny concept. that's all
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metaldad
Well-known member
can you take a pic and post?
granted anyone can paint a blue stripe but the pictured wrenches resemble the last generation of Taiwan Kobalt wrenches before they went china. The Kobalts don't have any anti slip on the open ends and are only 12pt.
brooktre
Well-known member
Here is a link to some Apex Tool Catalogs.
http://www.apextoolgroup.com/crescent/catalogs?sort_by=field_release_date_value&sort_order=ASC