Carlyle wrenches-quick pics

[NC-Fordguy]

I stopped by Napa on the way home from work to pick up some parts for a current project. After reading about the new tools thread submitted by fedwrench I wanted to take a look.

I liked what I saw so I bought a set. Retail is around 160 dollars and picked this set up for $112 and change. Looks the price is on par with s and k, crafty pro and wright.

Although the camera I used ***** one can see the groves on the open end which is similar to flank drive wright grip etc etc.

I used a 3/4 in wrench and compared it to some others of the same size in my toolbox. The Carlyle is about 1/4 in longer than the s&k and gearwrench.

The chrome looks good and the wrench is pretty beefy. Looks like it's built to do some work.

All in all I think this is a good wrench set. I use them some over the next few days to get a better in depth opinion, but so far I like them.

 

[TwoInch]

they are in stock at stores?

 

[pipsters]

Quality import tools are really getting up there in price. I'll be honest if I was going to spend $112 on import tools I'd probably get the $145 SK set of the same size range.

Those Craftsman Pros sure were a killer deal @ $55 for the 1/4"-3/4" and 7mm-18mm though that is for sure. Heck even regular price of $100 or "on sale" price of roughly $85 they were a great deal when compared to what is out there now.

Those new NAPA wrenches do look nice though. Weird name, can't bring myself to buy them for that reason alone!! Haha.

 

[bobbar]

Looks nice but too rich for my blood for an import set

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Quality import tools are really getting up there in price. I'll be honest if I was going to spend $112 on import tools I'd probably get the $145 SK set of the same size range.

Those Craftsman Pros sure were a killer deal @ $55 for the 1/4"-3/4" and 7mm-18mm though that is for sure. Heck even regular price of $100 or "on sale" price of roughly $85 they were a great deal when compared to what is out there now.

Those new NAPA wrenches do look nice though. Weird name, can't bring myself to buy them for that reason alone!! Haha.

I don't have an issue with the tools being an import. I deal with that Napa store for the majority of my parts purchases. They are outstanding in service, always helpful and have helped me out figuring things out when I'm not sure what I am dealing with. They also give me a good discount on my parts purchases.
They, to me, are more than just a parts store, I consider them friends. It is a small local company and it's a good thing to spend money locally.

Another factor in my decision was warranty. Not that I have ever broken a wrench(bent harbor freight ones), but if I break one of these, it's an easy exchange. No mailing stuff off, return labels, time spent on the phone, or chasing down the tool truck, etc etc.--Just exchange what's broken and I'm on my way.

Granted I prefer made in USA tools, but my decision making process involving tool purchases includes many things, not just COO.

 

[madbasser]

The groves look weird to me. They seem like they are in the middle of the of the gripping area. The snappy and wrights have them towards the rear and there is a recesed area making somewhat of a lobe on the snappy and wrights. I don't see the flank drive "lobe" on these carlyl ones but I am deffinatly interestead enough to check them out in person.

 

[Fedwrench]

What's the country of origin? Unless I missed it, I don't see one listed.

Taiwan

 

[amolaver]

not trying to knock the wrenches, but i thought that that open end design wasn't used anymore because it puts a big stress riser - the point relief for a fastener corner that is inline with the beam - at a particularly vulnerable location. in comparison, all the other wrenches the OP's fourth picture have the smoothed - no point - open end.

ahm

 

[NC-Fordguy]

I have another camera around here somewhere that has a higher mega pixel rating. I'll snap a few pics with that one.

Any particular requests??

 

[OEXL16B]

It looks like you bought the standard length. From what I can tell from their catalog, they've got long pattern wrenches too.

 

[Skin]

I agree a bit overpriced. That list price (160) is nuts.

 

[Fedwrench]

Napa sold tools have never been cheap.

 

[OEXL16B]

No tools are supposed to be cheap; I don't know who invented that idea.

 

[TwoInch]

I agree a bit overpriced. That list price (160) is nuts.

i am sure you havent had these in your hands, or turned a nut with them.

how can we judge what they are worth, before we know if they hold up, how strong they are, how they measure, and quality control?

i wont judge them til i put hands on them, and put them through their paces. i dont think napa was trying to introduce another cheap tool line, they are going for top quality, compete with the top dogs type tools. they may compete, who knows. ill give em a chance...

id like see some real tools, instead of some more cheap **** to sort through... if they are all they are cracked up to be, id be glad to not have to order them and pay shipping, or find a truck and hassle a truck guy. an actual store that carries quality tools is cool with me

 

[stratman977]

not trying to knock the wrenches, but i thought that that open end design wasn't used anymore because it puts a big stress riser - the point relief for a fastener corner that is inline with the beam - at a particularly vulnerable location. in comparison, all the other wrenches the OP's fourth picture have the smoothed - no point - open end.

ahm

I think they put alot of though to that. You notice from the youtube video that the v has flank drive sides and at the very tip of the v it is not a sharp point but it has as generous of a radius as they could have put in there. You will also notice that the cut in from the v still leaves alot of meat on the wrench.

Someone break one please to prove the design *****.

 

[nine4gmc]

I don't have an issue with the tools being an import. I deal with that Napa store for the majority of my parts purchases. They are outstanding in service, always helpful and have helped me out figuring things out when I'm not sure what I am dealing with. They also give me a good discount on my parts purchases.
They, to me, are more than just a parts store, I consider them friends. It is a small local company and it's a good thing to spend money locally.

Another factor in my decision was warranty. Not that I have ever broken a wrench(bent harbor freight ones), but if I break one of these, it's an easy exchange. No mailing stuff off, return labels, time spent on the phone, or chasing down the tool truck, etc etc.--Just exchange what's broken and I'm on my way.

Granted I prefer made in USA tools, but my decision making process involving tool purchases includes many things, not just COO.

Those do look pretty decent. I have a dumb question though, what brand wrenches are still made in the USA today? I know a lot of the brands are going over seas with a lot of their tools. Specifically combination wrenches comparable(size, length and finish) to these, what brands are still made in US? And rough prices for comparable sets too please.

 

[Trucky]

Those do look pretty decent. I have a dumb question though, what brand wrenches are still made in the USA today? I know a lot of the brands are going over seas with a lot of their tools. Specifically combination wrenches comparable(size, length and finish) to these, what brands are still made in US? And rough prices for comparable sets too please.

Standard combo wrenches?

Craftsman (RP for now....), Armstrong, Blackhawk/Proto, Wright, Snappy, Mac and Matco I believe (I know some of theirs are imported but the standard combos are unknown to me. I would THINK they're made here..), Cornwell... and that's about it.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Standard combo wrenches?

Craftsman (RP for now....), Armstrong, Blackhawk/Proto, Wright, Snappy, Mac and Matco I believe (I know some of theirs are imported but the standard combos are unknown to me. I would THINK they're made here..), Cornwell... and that's about it.

Your forgot S-K.

The Evercraft line is Napa's low end tool alternative for teh DIY'er.

I have a set of teh Evercraft crowsfoots in both std and metric( COO Taiwan) and have used the hell out of them with no issues.
Should one break and NAPA not warranty it, i'll replace it as a single with the Snap-Ons since there is no price break from Snappy for buying a set or single tool.

Back on father'sDay I bought the NAPA 56 piece 1/4" drive service set. 50% off sale which made it $48 and then my local Napa was doing an extra 15% off for Father's Day.

The set is Taiwan COO and from teh looks of teh ratchet made by Gearwrench/KD. The similar set from Gearwrench is $64 from Amazon with a list of $122.

The NAPA set is certainly of "pro" quality and comes with a lifetime warranty servicable for any tool out of that kit from any Napa store.


Seems like the new Carlyle ratchets have the screws in the head and I bet are from a different supplier. Even so, I gonna guess that they are of a high quality and as mentioned above, NAPA was never cheap when it came to selling tools unless you caught a monthly or blow-out sale.

I'm curious of the quality and where NAPA sees them fit in thier lineup. With them carrying a lot of tools Sears does not stock and usually a higher quality tool than most of teh other suto parts stores and HF, it should be interesting.

 

[TDLMOMOWERS]

I work for NAPA in Mansfield, Ohio. I know that we have new tool boards on order. The old NAPA brand produced by Apex is on its way out. They will liquidate these tools through Big Lots or one of the other stores of that type. When we quit handling, New Britain and Sparta, many years ago, they were liquidated through Odd Lots, and I bought a ton of left over stock at below cost prices. The warranty will still be Lifetime. I really don't like the fact that the tools will be imported, but sadly that seems to be the way things are going. I will probably look for somewhere to buy USA brands if I need anything new. I don't anticipate having to buy too many tools in the future, as I now have enough tools for several men. When I retired from GM in 2009 I brought home 5 tool boxes full of hand tools that I had purchased over a 32 year period as an Industrial Truck Mechanic, added to what I had at home already. I never took tools from home to work. If I needed tools at work, I went and bought new ones.

 

[plinker]

The old NAPA brand produced by Apex is on its way out. They will liquidate these tools through Big Lots or one of the other stores of that type.

So they will be replacing the Napa Pro tool's (the Gearwrench clone's) with these then?
I had noticed that Cripe distrubiting was selling a fair amount of Napa stuff.

 

[jjjrmx5]

So they will be replacing the Napa Pro tool's (the Gearwrench clone's) with these then?
I had noticed that Cripe distrubiting was selling a fair amount of Napa stuff.

And I think that is the part that needs clairication plinker, but from what it seems, the Carlyle is being used to replace teh NAPA (Professional Hand Tools) brand , at least for what is listed in the new Q3 2012 Carlyle catalog and teh std. Q3 2012 store catalogs.

As of Q1 2012, Evercraft was the NAPA low tier house brand and NAPA (with it being listed as NAPA Professional Hand Tools in the catalog) the upper brand. They are also selling both Gearwrench and Armstrong hand tools both online and in stores. There is also Irwin adn other vendors as well.

Now who is going to make the NAPA Professional impact sockets and what they are going to be called is a second matter.

Sounds like by 2013 NAPA will ahve this sorted, but buyers are going the obe the guniea pigs on this new replacement brand so it seems until we find out who and where sources the Carlyle.

I'll likely buy a ratchet just to give it a try but may hold tight on big sets.

The 56 piece1/4" set I bought in June was the NAPA upper brand adn listed as NAPA Professioanl Hand Tools in the catalog but the set with teh same part # I got only said NAPA on the box. No Professioanal or Pro listing anywhere. Still came with lifetime warranty as the Pro tools do.

It all does have me baffled.

 

[thesilverone]

at that price, I'll support Wright or SK

 

[Trucky]

All I know is I won't be buying from the local Napa any more than I had been before (Zero times). For all they're putting into these tools they could gave a little more effort and thought for that kind of price.

Wasn't it shown that the "V-recess" kind of open end wrench is succeptable to fracturing? I don't believe anyone has made that kind of wrench in a while.

 

[thetreshon]

What's the country of origin? Unless I missed it, I don't see one listed.

is this set comparable? (11 piece U.S. made set by SK)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006B0IW8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

'Cause if so, a few Americans will keep their job if we buy this SK set instead, and I believe you can now, again, warranty SK stuff in person from authorized distributors.

 

[thetreshon]

You can, but you can also warranty SK directly through the company.

But do you have to mail your stuff to them?

Or is it like I've heard some Snap on warranties, you call them up, they send you the new stuff, trusting you trash the old broken stuff?

I'd rather go in person to avoid shipping costs, but if I must, I'll pay the shipping costs to keep an American (or Canadian in my case) working.

 

[plinker]

But do you have to mail your stuff to them?

Or is it like I've heard some Snap on warranties, you call them up, they send you the new stuff, trusting you trash the old broken stuff?

I'd rather go in person to avoid shipping costs, but if I must, I'll pay the shipping costs to keep an American (or Canadian in my case) working.

It's mail in, no call tag. I had sent some stuff in a while back and it was about a 7 day turnaround time.

 

[Skin]

i am sure you havent had these in your hands, or turned a nut with them.

how can we judge what they are worth, before we know if they hold up, how strong they are, how they measure, and quality control?

Because i know for a fact its not costing them anywhere near that to manufacture them. Toptul is a high quality brand made in the same country and their wrench sets cost nearly a third of that price. It may be a great wrench, but for that kind of money you may as well support domestic manufacture. Thats the way i feel about it. If the sets were a more reasonable $70 or something i wouldnt have said anything.

 

[thesilverone]

^TwoInch, are you really that naive?

 

[DTB]

I plan on getting a set of the SAE 3/8-1 and maybe a few single wrenches (1/4,5/16) to add to the collection.Maybe the metric set later on.

 

[Hiball]

The groves look weird to me. They seem like they are in the middle of the of the gripping area. The snappy and wrights have them towards the rear and there is a recesed area making somewhat of a lobe on the snappy and wrights. I don't see the flank drive "lobe" on these carlyl ones but I am deffinatly interestead enough to check them out in person.

1st thing i noticed also.. I wonder what the purpose of having the grooves the full length is? Maybe some better pictures will clear up this up..

 

[NC-Fordguy]

It's really sad that a thread about tools on what is supposed to be a tool forum always turns into a thread about where is it made.

I hoped we all would have had a discussion about the actual tool itself.

I see I wasted my time taking pics and starting a thread on a new tool line that I thought some would find interesting.

 

[SO/PW newbie]

Weird name, can't bring myself to buy them for that reason alone!! Haha.

I agree with you on that...

 

[thesilverone]

They're overpriced taiwan tools. They didn't invent anything new. Instead they copied designs of tools. Bravo!!

Don't be mad because we don't like/want them.

 

[Hiball]

It's really sad that a thread about tools on what is supposed to be a tool forum always turns into a thread about where is it made.

I hoped we all would have had a discussion about the actual tool itself.

I see I wasted my time taking pics and starting a thread on a new tool line that I thought some would find interesting.

Blah... Its Not like Everyone is bashing your Wrenches, In the End its your Money and if your Happy thats all that matters. I think the biggest thing these wrenches have against them is the Price Tag.. Its definitely a Niche Market, People are gonna have opinions..

 

[Skin]

It's really sad that a thread about tools on what is supposed to be a tool forum always turns into a thread about where is it made.

I hoped we all would have had a discussion about the actual tool itself.

I see I wasted my time taking pics and starting a thread on a new tool line that I thought some would find interesting.

All you posted was pictures of the wrenches, what else is there to discuss? Fix your macro setting go paint some bolts and post some comparisons on contact points. Post the thicknesses of the box ends, beam, and open ends. Add MEAT to your posts if you want more tool discussion .

 

[Toolhorder]

Not made in the US, no thanks!

If everyone took that stance Napa and the rest of them wouldn't be switch to imports

 

[relic7680]

I see what the OP is saying about warranty. I bought a larger Napa Evercraft tool set in 2006 and have warrantied several pieces without trouble. I generally prefer my USA product as well, but I needed a road set and theirs was the most comprehensive.

 

[TwoInch]

^TwoInch, are you really that naive?

naive? for giving a tool a chance? i am not a believer that anything not made USA is instantly **** and worthless.

so maybe i am.

i didnt claim they were great tools, i also didnt claim they arent worth the money. i have no clue what they are worth or the quality of the product. i am not going to go out and buy a bunch of it, but ill pick something up and give it a chance. is it high priced, surely.

skin, of course it didnt take nearly what they charge to manufacture them. not many companies go that route. i agree they are expensive, but i cant say they are overpriced until i see them, and use some of it. i also agree you can support USA company for that kind of money, and most of my stuff is US made. but like i said, i will not comment on somethings worth before seeing and using it.

in my eyes, gearwrench non ratcheting wrenches and some of the other stuff is pretty over priced for what they are selling. but i have used the stuff, and came to that conclusion from that.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

They're overpriced taiwan tools. They didn't invent anything new. Instead they copied designs of tools. Bravo!!

Don't be mad because we don't like/want them.

Where is it said about inventing anything??

I'm not mad about who wants what.

 

[Fedwrench]

Enjoy your new wrenches and let us know how they work out for you. You're right that it's more about the tool's performance over the long haul than where it was made.

As for the design of the Carlyle open end, there are only so many ways to make an open end and there are existing patents to consider. I know before Matco came out with their current optitorque design, they radiused their v cut open end to mitigate some of the arguments posted here about strength. As for teeth placement, wright grip's are positioned towards the rear, FDP in the middle, so what's left?

I know it's the 4th of July. Red, white, and blue fever is rampant, and many spent coin at Epsteins, so the introduction of a new imported tool line in a large national auto parts chain may not set well with some.

I'm a tool junkie addicted to most things chrome. I will try some of the Carlyle tools and see how they measure up. Something tells me these are from Kabo and will do just fine.