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Armstrong XL pattern wrenches

NC-Fordguy

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Mar 10, 2012
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I decided to replace my harbor freight XL wrenches after bending a couple of them. After looking at the snap-on and armstrong sets I decided on the armstrong set. I went by Sears on Saturday and ordered the set and the package was on my porch today when I came home from work.

The armstrong wrenches are beefier than HF wrenches by far. Unfortunately I didn't get a good pic of the dial caliper measuring the HF wrench but the armstrong measures almost 60 thousands thicker
 
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DTB

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They look nice.I've been shopping around for a quality set of extra long wrenches.What did the Armstrongs cost?
 
OP
N

NC-Fordguy

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The set from Sears is on sale for $296. With my wifes discount(sears employee) and rewards points I got them for around $240.

The 3/4 in wrench measures out a hair over 13 inches.

Bull...need a measurement on a particular wrench(s) as they vary with size?

Hopefully the armstrongs don't bend like the HF wrenches when cranking on stubborn nuts and bolts
 

pipsters

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Mic the inside of the open ends if you could, I'm curious how they compare in tolerance
 

Bull

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The set from Sears is on sale for $296. With my wifes discount(sears employee) and rewards points I got them for around $240.

The 3/4 in wrench measures out a hair over 13 inches.

Bull...need a measurement on a particular wrench(s) as they vary with size?

Hopefully the armstrongs don't bend like the HF wrenches when cranking on stubborn nuts and bolts

I'd be curious about the lengths for the smallest and largest wrenches in the set. Then I can compare them to the Armstrongs that I bought from Cripe a couple months ago.

I don't think there is any chance those things are going to exhibit any of the bending that the HF pieces were prone to.
 
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transittech

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Feb 27, 2012
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I've got a set of the HF wrenches, and I've literally hung on the 5/8 without problems (250lbs.), I'd love to know how they failed and what they looked like after...

Just curious, thanks!
 

belu0501

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Sep 27, 2010
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You can buy a set of Matcos for about the same price (as normal list price) and if you time it right you can buy 10-19mm and get 20-24mm for free!!!
 
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NC-Fordguy

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Bull--

3/8 wrench measures 7 1/8 in
1/2 wrench measures 8 1/2 in
3/4 wrench measures 13 in
1 wrench measures 16 3/4 in

Pipsters- inside jaw measurements

1/2 in wrench .5025
3/4 in wrench .7605
1 in wrench 1.0655

Included pics of the caliper used for measuring, length comparisons with some other brands of wrenches.

The other brands are

crafty crossforce
s&k six point long pattern
gearwrench 12 point long pattern
kobolt usa made wrench
crafty raised panel
 
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OP
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NC-Fordguy

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I've got a set of the HF wrenches, and I've literally hung on the 5/8 without problems (250lbs.), I'd love to know how they failed and what they looked like after...

Just curious, thanks!


bent the 3/4 a couple of times. Last time was removing a drag link fron a late 1990s jeep wrangler. This was the second time I bent that size. Bent a couple of other sizes over the years.

HF was good at replacing it.

The wrench wasn't bent to the point of being unusable or even close to that. I just hate using something that I've bent for concerns of metal fatigue.

All in all I think the hf wrenches are decent. They are great for reaching things but in extreme use(I'm 6'6 240) with *** put into cranking on something they do flex a little more for my personal liking.
 
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NC-Fordguy

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You can buy a set of Matcos for about the same price (as normal list price) and if you time it right you can buy 10-19mm and get 20-24mm for free!!!

I looked at matco as well. I can't locate a local dealer. Matco says there is not one but I have seen the truck but I' either don't have time to chase it down or it's going the opposite way in traffic.

And in all reality I don't want to deal with more tool truck drama.
 
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