Carlyle wrenches-quick pics

[madbasser]

They could be intended to be offset recesses and not "teeth". To provide a better "off corner" engagement when the wrench is in a less than optimal position.

 

[RedFordTruck]

The Carlyle seem nice but for the price of $112 for that set I would buy Wright.

 

[franzdom]

I also would buy Wright or SK or perhaps spend a bit more and get used Snap-On.

 

[OEXL16B]

speak for yourself, i have one local napa and its like a dungeon. Its dark, everything is covered in dust, shelves with 1 item stocked or nothing at all. They cant even be bothered to stock common gasket makers and cleaners let alone tools. I dont set foot in there unless i absolutely have to.

I only shop at the NAPA distribution center; never at those franchises.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

The center ridges on the open end does nothing for the grip - poor engineering.

Wrong

Used the wrenches to remove the shifter on a dana 20 transfer case. There are two bolts used for mounting the shifter and one can only be accessed with the open end of a wrench.

This bolt is always a bear to remove especially after being in place for 30 plus years. It's very easy to round.

No slipage breaking the bolt loose with the open end of the carlye wrench. The bolt came right out without any rounding or me swearing.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

I also would buy Wright or SK or perhaps spend a bit more and get used Snap-On.

I was about to pull the trigger on a set of wrights as they are about the same price. I already have a set of s&k.

Spending $ locally at a small business, ease of warranty and availability won over.

Might still get a set of wrights for gp

 

[franzdom]

gp?

btw, I think you did well and thanks for sharing. They have put forth a solid effort with this line. Supporting your local retailer that has been there for you is a really good idea.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

gp?

btw, I think you did well and thanks for sharing. They have put forth a solid effort with this line. Supporting your local retailer that has been there for you is a really good idea.

gp= general purpose or basically for the hell of it

I picked up a new top chest and have an empty drawer that is causing OCD... some wrights might just fit

 

[mvptrukin]

How did you like the S&K that you mentioned in another thread,didn't you get the long pattern?

 

[shoturtle]

i like the flank drive on the open end, all my proto wrenches has them. And they really work well. That is a pretty nice looking wrench set from napa. I would take that set over a gw set for the simple face it has flank drive.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

The lack of a real lifetime warranty is the nail in the coffin for me on this tool brand, unless they have ridiculously low-priced sales.

Here's how I see it:
-They're made in Taiwan. This really isn't too bad, IMO. I don't mind Taiwanese tools and have quite a few.
-They're priced higher than a lot of USA made tools. This is a definite negative.
-They have a fake "lifetime" warranty that requires you to keep the receipt. No thanks.

I can understand the receipt requirement for the warranty if this was a value-priced brand. But requiring a receipt to warranty a Taiwanese tool that costs more than some USA made brands? No way.

Here's a link to the warranty (relevant bit bolded by me):
https://partimages.genpt.com/partimages/1487778.pdf

I talked to my napa dealer over the warranty thing.....

I'm in their computer database so for me no issue.

IMO it will be like snap on--they have the same basic policy. I know this as I had issues dealing with snap on direct and a local dealer.

Found a better local dealer that takes care of issues.

Harbor freight has the same policy but here locally don't follow it, at least when I've brought in damaged tools

 

[Hiball]

i like the flank drive on the open end, all my proto wrenches has them. And they really work well. That is a pretty nice looking wrench set from napa. I would take that set over a gw set for the simple face it has flank drive.

Doesnt Gearwrench have some sort of Flank/Opti Drive? I remember looking at a set and it had some grooves in the Open end.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

How did you like the S&K that you mentioned in another thread,didn't you get the long pattern?

Is this directed to me?

 

[purplezr2]

Doesnt Gearwrench have some sort of Flank/Opti Drive? I remember looking at a set and it had some grooves in the Open end.

Surface drive I believe is the name. Opti Torque is a Matco name I believe.

 

[Hiball]

Surface drive I believe is the name. Opti Torque is a Matco name I believe.

Yeah.. Thats sounds Right. Its not as Pronounced as those Carlyle Wrenches but they have something.

 

[mvptrukin]

Yes, I was remembering you had mentioned that you had gotten some S&K long reach wrenches and was waiting for a review, and was surprised you got the new Napa wrenches.

 

[shoturtle]

Doesnt Gearwrench have some sort of Flank/Opti Drive? I remember looking at a set and it had some grooves in the Open end.

I have seen some without it. Think it comes down to the model set you buy. I know their stubbies ratcheting does not have it and their regular and flex ratcheting combo do not.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Yes, I was remembering you had mentioned that you had gotten some S&K long reach wrenches and was waiting for a review, and was surprised you got the new Napa wrenches.

Yea, picked up a set of S&K long pattern wrenches a while back. They are 6pt so they'll get a workout. However they are not as long as I hoped for so I ended up getting a set of what armstrong calls xtra long pattern.

Comparing what I have bought recently, manufacturers labeling and what I have read here theres of course stubbies, standard pattern, long pattern and xtra long pattern

Man, I've bought a buttload of wrenches lately

 

[NC-Fordguy]

I have seen some without it. Think it comes down to the model set you buy. I know their stubbies ratcheting does not have it and their regular and flex ratcheting combo do not.

I have a set of gearwrench long pattern wrenches that do not have the groves on the open end, but I've had these for a good while so perhaps the newer ones do.

 

[concealer404]

The wrenches have a unique design that I think is interesting, but the lack of a real lifetime warranty is the nail in the coffin for me on this tool brand, unless they have ridiculously low-priced sales.

Here's how I see it:
-They're made in Taiwan. This really isn't too bad, IMO. I don't mind Taiwanese tools and have quite a few.
-They're priced higher than a lot of USA made tools. This is a definite negative.
-They have a fake "lifetime" warranty that requires you to keep the receipt. No thanks.

I can understand the receipt requirement for the warranty if this was a value-priced brand. But requiring a receipt to warranty a Taiwanese tool that costs more than some USA made brands? No way.

Here's a link to the warranty (relevant bit bolded by me):
https://partimages.genpt.com/partimages/1487778.pdf

What's interesting is that SnapOn has pretty much the same verbage, and averages anywhere from 150%-300% more expensive. But that's ok because... at least half of their tools are made in the USA?

 

[concealer404]

Well, I also don't buy Snap-On. Way too rich for my blood.

Heh, fair enough, and "ditto."

 

[gtlaw]

I can't see a reason why someone would buy a set of these

 

[concealer404]

I can't see a reason why someone would buy a set of these

Care to elaborate? There's been reasons given in the thread, but i'm curious as to what you're thinking that make them not worthy of being bought.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Care to elaborate? There's been reasons given in the thread, but i'm curious as to what you're thinking that make them not worthy of being bought.

I may be wrong but I have a feeling...............

 

[concealer404]

I may be wrong but I have a feeling...............

Jingoism? Because that's what i'm feeling.

 

[Trucky]

Jingoism? Because that's what i'm feeling.

I've no clue what foreign policy has to do with tools.

 

[concealer404]

I've no clue what foreign policy has to do with tools.

That term may have been a little extreme.

But i imagine the point was still made.

 

[concealer404]

taiwan tools at usa prices.. I'm not saying they are probably junk, but you could have gearwrench for a third the price and a few great usa made options for a little less so I can't see any reason to buy these

Humor me for a second. I'm not trying to argue, just genuinely curious, since i may not have looked into it much.

Focusing on the good USA made options for a little less: Where does one get them and are they readily available if you need them or a replacement same-day?

Let's go "hard mode" and say that i don't really want to support Sears any longer in any form.



I'll clarify that the biggest selling point of these tools to me personally (and i don't expect this to be the way everyone thinks) is that i can go to any of the many Napa stores in my area and just get them. And that it's going to be an attainable brand in terms of pricing that is truly a complete line up. (Or at least, will be after the 2nd roll out January 1) It's something that myself as a DIYer and not a pro, have been wanting for years. Prior to this, Gearwrench was really the closest thing to this for me, but local supply of that stuff is pretty terrible.

I appreciate the elaboration!

 

[Hiball]

Focusing on the good USA made options for a little less: Where does one get them and are they readily available if you need them or a replacement same-day?

If you guys are breaking tools at such a alarming rate that you need to figure out how to get your replacement tool the "Same Day". I suspect you either need more tools, Better tools or Learn how to use the Right tool for the Job. I can count on One hand how many "Hand Tools" Ive broken in My Lifetime, Ive completed 2 Frame off, Rusty Chevy restorations, Rebuilt/Tore Down 1000's of Hydraulic Jacks/Cylinders without Tool Failure. The Tools i have Broke have been account User Error or total Disregard for the Tool because i needed this Done NOW. Im Obviously Not counting Drive tools such as Hex/Torx or Punches as these Items will Wear and cause problems, These are the tools that i generally buy from "Ease of Warranty" companies.

I Know we have some Guys here who Wrench for a Living, Some of you do the Same thing all day long on the same Make or Model. I realize there are Fastener Sizes that you use alot and they are gonna wear more than others.. Its Common sense. Lemme ask you this.. Do you only keep one of these around? When you split a Socket do you call it quits for the Day and wait for the Warranty Replacement whether its HF/SO/Sears/Napa etc.. ? I didnt think so.. That would be a Poor plan of attack.

 

[concealer404]

If you guys are breaking tools at such a alarming rate that you need to figure out how to get your replacement tool the "Same Day". I suspect you either need more tools, Better tools or Learn how to use the Right tool for the Job. I can count on One hand how many "Hand Tools" Ive broken in My Lifetime, Ive completed 2 Frame off, Rusty Chevy restorations, Rebuilt/Tore Down 1000's of Hydraulic Jacks/Cylinders without Tool Failure. The Tools i have Broke have been account User Error or total Disregard for the Tool because i needed this Done NOW. Im Obviously Not counting Drive tools such as Hex/Torx or Punches as these Items will Wear and cause problems, These are the tools that i generally buy from "Ease of Warranty" companies.

I Know we have some Guys here who Wrench for a Living, Some of you do the Same thing all day long on the same Make or Model. I realize there are Fastener Sizes that you use alot and they are gonna wear more than others.. Its Common sense. Lemme ask you this.. Do you only keep one of these around? When you split a Socket do you call it quits for the Day and wait for the Warranty Replacement whether its HF/SO/Sears/Napa etc.. ? I didnt think so.. That would be a Poor plan of attack.

You ignored the first part.

"Tools that i need."

That may include tools that i just plain don't have.

I don't plan on ever having to warranty Carlyle tools even 10% as often as i did/do my Craftsman.

The first part is the most important to me. I can go, check out the tools, see if i like it, and buy it if i need it.

Or if i NEED a tool right then and there, i can go get it. The warranty is second in terms of importance, which is why i put it AFTER the first.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

It's not guaranteed your local NAPA will have individual wrenches in stock or will be willing to break up a set.

My local NAPAs have very few tools. The one in my town has almost none, and they don't have any wrenches except for the lower-priced Evercraft line. So, they would probably have to order a replacement wrench.

Well theres no guarantee that anybody has in stock everything.

I've run into this with snap on and craftsman when returning broken tools. It's not common but does happen

 

[NC-Fordguy]

If you guys are breaking tools at such a alarming rate that you need to figure out how to get your replacement tool the "Same Day". I suspect you either need more tools, Better tools or Learn how to use the Right tool for the Job. I can count on One hand how many "Hand Tools" Ive broken in My Lifetime, Ive completed 2 Frame off, Rusty Chevy restorations, Rebuilt/Tore Down 1000's of Hydraulic Jacks/Cylinders without Tool Failure. The Tools i have Broke have been account User Error or total Disregard for the Tool because i needed this Done NOW. Im Obviously Not counting Drive tools such as Hex/Torx or Punches as these Items will Wear and cause problems, These are the tools that i generally buy from "Ease of Warranty" companies.

I Know we have some Guys here who Wrench for a Living, Some of you do the Same thing all day long on the same Make or Model. I realize there are Fastener Sizes that you use alot and they are gonna wear more than others.. Its Common sense. Lemme ask you this.. Do you only keep one of these around? When you split a Socket do you call it quits for the Day and wait for the Warranty Replacement whether its HF/SO/Sears/Napa etc.. ? I didnt think so.. That would be a Poor plan of attack.

Exactley who are you guys??

I repair, modify, and restore 4x4s and a few 1960s-1970s muscle cars. I've lost count of the number over the past 30 plus years. Many of 4x4s I deal with are built for rock crawling and get beat on, mangled, rolled over and abused to the nth degree. So fixing this stuff, yea some tools are going to get broken.

I have triples and quadrouples of many tools because of this, plus at my age one just ends up with a ton of stuff

All in all I don't break a whole lot of tools but when I do I'd much rather get up with the tool truck guy or at my leisure return it to a store. Mailing back broken tools, call tags, RTV, etc I hate to do.

Now if your opinion is, if your post is directed to me, I need better tools, you buy me the tools that meets your definitions. If and when they break you come over and resolve replacement duties of those broken tools.

Untill then I'll operate as I always have

 

[Hiball]

Exactley who are you guys??

I repair, modify, and restore 4x4s and a few 1960s-1970s muscle cars. I've lost count of the number over the past 30 plus years. Many of 4x4s I deal with are built for rock crawling and get beat on, mangled, rolled over and abused to the nth degree. So fixing this stuff, yea some tools are going to get broken.

I have triples and quadrouples of many tools because of this, plus at my age one just ends up with a ton of stuff

All in all I don't break a whole lot of tools but when I do I'd much rather get up with the tool truck guy or at my leisure return it to a store. Mailing back broken tools, call tags, RTV, etc I hate to do.

Now if your opinion is, if your post is directed to me, I need better tools, you buy me the tools that meets your definitions. If and when they break you come over and resolve replacement duties of those broken tools.

Untill then I'll operate as I always have

I grew up in the Midwest and have been around just about every piece of equipment you can find, Ive tore up more 4x4 trucks doing stupid stuff and while i never got into Rock Crawling, I know that Solid Surfaces (Rocks) are exremely hard on Driveline parts, I also know that trying to make the comparison of fasteners on a Seasoned Vehicle and:

rock crawling and get beat on, mangled, rolled over and abused to the nth degree. So fixing this stuff, yea some tools are going to get broken.

Is Funny to say the least.. Unless your talking about Gravel roads. Because these vehicles are constantly breaking stuff, THUS.. your not dealing with Fasteners that have 30 winters under there belt, So just because the Vehicle is Tough.. Doesnt necessarily mean they are hard to work on or HARD on tools. <---- My Opinion

Now back to Square 1, I Didnt Quote you, I dont give a **** what tools you buy, what your Breaking or where you have to go to get the replacements (So please dont paint with the Brush). I offered my OPINION based off MY PERSONAL Experience of USING TOOLS IN MY SHOP on MY VEHICLES and i frankly dont break that many tools. If "you guys" <-- YOU are so Head strong about other peoples opinions maybe you should just create polls and pick the right answers for us and let us choose from the selections. Ive always tried to be fair around this place, I dont bash another member because of there choice of tools or the brand they choose. Everybody has the Right to buy whatever they want based on whats important to them, Some people like the warranty service provided by a Tool Truck (YOU), Others want to hold and feel the tool prior to buying (concealer404) for some it just simply boils down to economics.. Whatever.. Its Not my Money, But that doesnt mean i cant give my opinion in a "Discussion Forum", Where the problem lies is when one person starts to become Disrespectful to other members.<-- This is where the Mods come in.

You ignored the first part.

"Tools that i need."

That may include tools that i just plain don't have.

I don't plan on ever having to warranty Carlyle tools even 10% as often as i did/do my Craftsman.

The first part is the most important to me. I can go, check out the tools, see if i like it, and buy it if i need it.

Or if i NEED a tool right then and there, i can go get it. The warranty is second in terms of importance, which is why i put it AFTER the first.

My Bad.. I didnt Ignore that Part i just simply missed it.. I Agree it ***** nowadays.. It used to be you go to your Autopart stores and they carried brands like SK, Blackhawk etc.. We still have sears to a point. Im in hopes that SK will branch back out into the Autoparts stores but there are still alot of Hurt feelings between the 2.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

I grew up in the Midwest and have been around just about every piece of equipment you can find, Ive tore up more 4x4 trucks doing stupid stuff and while i never got into Rock Crawling, I know that Solid Surfaces (Rocks) are exremely hard on Driveline parts, I also know that trying to make the comparison of fasteners on a Seasoned Vehicle and:

rock crawling and get beat on, mangled, rolled over and abused to the nth degree. So fixing this stuff, yea some tools are going to get broken.

Is Funny to say the least.. Unless your talking about Gravel roads. Because these vehicles are constantly breaking stuff, THUS.. your not dealing with Fasteners that have 30 winters under there belt, So just because the Vehicle is Tough.. Doesnt necessarily mean they are hard to work on or HARD on tools. <---- My Opinion

Now back to Square 1, I Didnt Quote you, I dont give a **** what tools you buy, what your Breaking or where you have to go to get the replacements (So please dont paint with the Brush). I offered my OPINION based off MY PERSONAL Experience of USING TOOLS IN MY SHOP on MY VEHICLES and i frankly dont break that many tools. If "you guys" <-- YOU are so Head strong about other peoples opinions maybe you should just create polls and pick the right answers for us and let us choose from the selections. Ive always tried to be fair around this place, I dont bash another member because of there choice of tools or the brand they choose. Everybody has the Right to buy whatever they want based on whats important to them, Some people like the warranty service provided by a Tool Truck (YOU), Others want to hold and feel the tool prior to buying (concealer404) for some it just simply boils down to economics.. Whatever.. Its Not my Money, But that doesnt mean i cant give my opinion in a "Discussion Forum", Where the problem lies is when one person starts to become Disrespectful to other members.<-- This is where the Mods come in.
.

Like I said in my previous post...if your post is directed to me

Of course an opinion is welcome, that was the purpose of this thread to get opinions(constructive hopefully) and this forum. However as most threads around here they are not constructive. It's merely to ***** and whine about coo, brand bashing, retailer bashing, tool truck brand vs store bought brand, etc etc. There are plenty of threads here that contain that. Just read the lowes toolbox thread for an example. And No I'm not accusing you of this.

It simply would be nice to have just a few threads here without the same old ******** from time to time.

How about a discussion of the tools themselves for once??

BTW--

I also get this. Pretty much 75 percent of the sheet metal is going to need to be replaced. This truck spent it's life near the beach. Wasn't nothing in this section to save so it all came out--broke two sockets removing 4 body mounts All of the brown stuff on the floor is rust flakes

 

[concealer404]

It's not guaranteed your local NAPA will have individual wrenches in stock or will be willing to break up a set.

My local NAPAs have very few tools. The one in my town has almost none, and they don't have any wrenches except for the lower-priced Evercraft line. So, they would probably have to order a replacement wrench.

We're going around in circles. It seems that there's a good number of us that have multiple "good" stores. We've already had this discussion.

I'm guaranteed i'll have this stuff. A national distribution center is 15 minutes from my home.

 

[shoturtle]

taiwan tools at usa prices.. I'm not saying they are probably junk, but you could have gearwrench for a third the price and a few great usa made options for a little less so I can't see any reason to buy these

112 dollars vs a SK set that is 170 dollars vs a snap on set in the 300 dollar range. I still can not see US prices for Asian tools. The dollar has been devalue so much that it just cost more to import now. As the only set I can thing of that is less form the US, are the craftsman pro's which is getting harder and harder to fine. And NOS form other suppliers are in the 170 range, and they are not flank drive.

When GW closed out their long pattern at sears, it was a deal at 50 dollars, but at any other store, they sell for 120 dollars. The same price as these. The current sears long pattern polish is 80 dollars for the large set. Normally 100, made in china, so it has a little better price point.

And unless you are talking about lowes, they do not carry a set as large. And they are closing out some of their stock. So those 7 and 8 piece skip sets are dirt cheap. Regular prices were in the 40-50 for a much smaller skip set. But when craftsman close out items, they are dirt cheap also. None of the other US made tools have close out with huge savings.

 

[concealer404]

112 dollars vs a SK set that is 170 dollars vs a snap on set in the 300 dollar range. I still can not see US prices for Asian tools. The dollar has been devalue so much that it just cost more to import now. As the only set I can thing of that is less form the US, are the craftsman pro's which is getting harder and harder to fine. And NOS form other suppliers are in the 170 range, and they are not flank drive.

When GW closed out their long pattern at sears, it was a deal at 50 dollars, but at any other store, they sell for 120 dollars. The same price as these. The current sears long pattern polish is 80 dollars for the large set. Normally 100, made in china, so it has a little better price point.

And unless you are talking about lowes, they do not carry a set as large. And they are closing out some of their stock. So those 7 and 8 piece skip sets are dirt cheap. Regular prices were in the 40-50 for a much smaller skip set. But when craftsman close out items, they are dirt cheap also. None of the other US made tools have close out with huge savings.

^You just pointed out what i didn't understand with all this... This forum likes to compare MSRP prices to sale/clearance/discount prices in order to "prove" their point.

 

[concealer404]

I think most of the posts in this thread have been on point. The tools are freakishly expensive for what they are.

That's not to say they aren't interesting or won't perform well. But it seems many members can't stomach the price tag.

I don't get it. Price is in line with Gearwrench MSRP. By association, Gearwrench would be freakishly expensive for what they are. (Even more so, in my opinion, since i don't believe them to be the same level of tool.)

 

[NC-Fordguy]

The price is not in line with GearWrench.

$72 shipped for a comparable GearWrench set on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000K1OH94/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Retail price is $213.57 according to amazons web site.

Now the question I have is if one breaks, where do you return it? If sears or auto zone sells it, then yea, otherwise you're dealing with phone returns. I personally couldn't bring myself to return a mail order item to a retail store for warranty purposes.

Not pickin at you, just saying

 

[shoturtle]

^You just pointed out what i didn't understand with all this... This forum likes to compare MSRP prices to sale/clearance/discount prices in order to "prove" their point.

The point is the big stores have huge buying power, they can command a lower price for that same tool. And we all have gotten uses to the walmart effect. And think that is the price will alway be there. You can not get the 14 pc GW for 50 bucks anymore. Company sell at a lost at time to clear inventory, and they write down the lost. And I suspect that was exactly what GW did.

And right now, Lowes is doing the same thing, by dropping the prices on their wrenches, 25 buck for a set of 7 or 8. And they did place a big order for the memorial day, fathers day, and 4th of july. And now they are just getting rid of overstock.

But the smaller shops can not do the same thing sears and lowes can do. And the prices for the tools have been 110 dollars for that 14pc gw set.