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Cheap metric wrench sets?

AceofSpad3s

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I'm a bit threadbare in terms of metric stuff since I bought most of my tools at yard sales years ago, so I could use a metric combo wrench set or two as spares to keep my patchwork set in my main box. I remember channellock ones being recommended highly since they were supposedly made by the same company as the NAPA ones, but seems like HD doesn't have them anymore. Probably 8-19 ish would be good for ranges, not looking to spend too much, thinking tekton but wouldn't mind if there was any cheaper options, any recommendations?
 
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Citation

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I like my Crescent brand combo wrenches. For a while they were stupid cheap on Amazon. Tekton is very nice at a reasonable price.
 

NUTTSGT

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I bought a set of Metric & SAE Performax from Menards. First one I used, rounded the edges on the drain plug of my JD. I compared the opening to another wrench. The Performax wrench was off.


They all went in the scrap bucket.
 

Firebrick43

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An 8-22mm tekton wrench set is 81 dollars. I have used tekton tools and consider them to be the adequate and would never put someone down for purchasing them. I personally have 2 ratchets from them. But am I out of touch for thinking that is damn cheap already?
 

drtyler

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An 8-22mm tekton wrench set is 81 dollars. I have used tekton tools and consider them to be the adequate and would never put someone down for purchasing them. I personally have 2 ratchets from them. But am I out of touch for thinking that is damn cheap already?
Sounds expensive for wrenches that aren’t particularly special.
 

BlakeTheCarGuy

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Husky does have nice wrenches however the more recent ones I’ve come across have been made in India which is a red flag because I’ve never had a tool made in India last more than a few uses. So I’d go with Tekton or Capri they both have really nice tools and excellent warranty.
 
OP
A

AceofSpad3s

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Why not buy used Craftsman and keep your money in America, Facebook and eBay should have what you need or yard or garage sales
I seriously consider practicing my diving form off a highway overpass into oncoming traffic every time I deal with any sort of facebook transactions. Selling is bad enough, but I can't even give people my money half the time, I don't have time to deal with it anymore unless it's priced a hair above literal robbery, or it's something expensive to buy new but is in low demand on the used market like a treadmill.
 

bcschief

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I seriously consider practicing my diving form off a highway overpass into oncoming traffic every time I deal with any sort of facebook transactions. Selling is bad enough, but I can't even give people my money half the time, I don't have time to deal with it anymore unless it's priced a hair above literal robbery, or it's something expensive to buy new but is in low demand on the used market like a treadmill.
Asking price is one thing and selling price is another. Negotiate but also have an idea what is a good used price. Some people will be firm on their price and others just spitball their starting price and sometimes time is on your side.
 
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A

AceofSpad3s

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Asking price is one thing and selling price is another. Negotiate but also have an idea what is a good used price. Some people will be firm on their price and others just spitball their starting price and sometimes time is on your side.
No, I mean I literally couldn't give people my money at asking price. I tried to buy a spare tv to use as a secondary monitor and tried to buy four or five different ones, people wouldn't even respond to me wanting to buy it, or I'd hear back and say when could I get it and never actually get them to set up a time despite asking several times. I don't want to deal with it anymore for anything I can just order on amazon for $10 or $20 more and get it in one day. I bent over backwards to make deals go through for probably a bit over a decade when I sold a lot of stuff to fund hobbies, but I'd rather just put in another hour or two at work than deal with it anymore more than a few times a year these days. Same with thrift stores, garage sales and ebay, things got too efficient, if there is anything of value, it sells in 5 minutes on facebook, or is listed on goodwill online, 25 percent of the garage sales these days seem to be done by companies now too.
 
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Fedwrench

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I don't remember the Channellock clones of the Carlyle anti slip combination wrenches being available at home depot. They were sold at Do it best hardware I believe. :dunno:
I'm not sure what your budget is but, there are plenty of Duratech, max torque, SATA, Crescent metric combination wrench sets available on Amazon for under $40. Hell I think Lowes has a Craftsman raised panel set for $25 and a Kobalt set for $45.
Cheap isn't all it's cracked up to be though. :lol:
 

WJD

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Evercraft from Napa is decent stuff. Lifetime warranty, good price and there is always a Napa around to buy some or warranty one.

Could say the same about auto zone's wrenches, last set of ratchet wrenches I bought skipped 16mm size though.

Tekton is good stuff, I would put it a step above napa's evecraft.
 
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vwpieces

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I have a set of Pittsburg with raised panel in a hanging organiser. They are SAE but are actually really good. I use MM more than SAE and just grab the whole set and go because I am not as good with guessing SAE sizes.
$20 for 14pc set

And the matching Jumbo set to go big
 
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drtyler

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Fifteen metric combination wrenches for $81 is $5.40/wrench and that's expensive?
For short pattern wrenches that are no better than any other inexpensive wrench, yes.

For less $$, get Pittsburg from HF, Eastwood combos (also made in Taiwan), or Craftsman. Others have mentioned Husky. I have used them all and had no issues. $81 for that set is overpriced.
 

Firebrick43

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For short pattern wrenches that are no better than any other inexpensive wrench, yes.

For less $$, get Pittsburg from HF, Eastwood combos (also made in Taiwan), or Craftsman. Others have mentioned Husky. I have used them all and had no issues. $81 for that set is overpriced.

I have used a few HF and Chinese Craftsman wrenches, and "really good" is not what I would describe them as. Tekton's wrenches are definitely a step up from the craftsman, and three from the HF.

I will take your word on the Eastwood as I saw no metric wrench sets other than some stubbys and some jumbo ones.
 

vwpieces

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I have used a few HF and Chinese Craftsman wrenches, and "really good" is not what I would describe them as. Tekton's wrenches are definitely a step up from the craftsman, and three from the HF.
HF Pittsburg raised panel are really good "for the price" because they are Cheap and that is what the OP wants.
And don't forget the lifetime warranty. If you have a store reasonably close its an easy warranty. But I have not broke one or stripped a bolt with one yet. Not sure what its called but they have the rounded points on the box end, not pointed like the Old style wrenches used.

And I hate polished hand tools with a passion. This Monkey don't like Shiny... Slippery tools.
 

nh_yota

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USA-made Craftsman tools are overpriced unless you can find a deal at a yard sale. The Craftsman tool ship has sailed as far as I'm concerned.

I have a bunch of Tekton tools and I have yet to break any of them.
 

four.cycle

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Gentlemen:
I've negotiated with a seller and he's offering some promotional prices on the following metric wrench sets:

S-K 1815 15-pc METRIC combination wrench set w/vinyl roll-up
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22mm
brand new
$259.99 incl. shipping "buy now"
https://www.ebay.com/itm/144389425179

DURO/INDESTRO 84300 11-pc METRIC open-end wrench set w/vinyl roll-up
6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 24 27 30 and 32 mm
brand new
$49.99 incl. shipping "buy now"

DURO/INDESTRO 84296 8-pc METRIC "stubby" 45° offset double-end box wrench set w/vinyl roll-up
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 and 20mm
brand new (* fabulous *)

==

SAE wrench set:

THORSEN PC10 10-pc SAE combination wrench set
3/8" - 15/16"
brand new
$59.99 incl. shipping "buy now"

(I/we got our wires crossed somehow... these were supposed to be all metric. I'll get back to this after I contact the seller again.)
 

5.0vert

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GearWrench? I have only used the ratcheting wrenches, but wondered if the regular wrenches were any good?
 

Bubba Fett

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If you are gonna go the yard sale/pawn shop route, clooks for Proto, Williams, Armstrong, and other industrial brands. Top quality.
 

dstblj52

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GearWrench? I have only used the ratcheting wrenches, but wondered if the regular wrenches were any good?
meh their decent apex wrenches rebranded under several other brands like husky and crescent for less money nothing special nothing all that bad either though
 

mslim

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USA-made Craftsman tools are overpriced unless you can find a deal at a yard sale. The Craftsman tool ship has sailed as far as I'm concerned.

I have a bunch of Tekton tools and I have yet to break any of them.
I have put together a dedicated tool set for my RV. I had to remove 20 #10 body bolts on the undercarriage that had rusted tight in the frame. I was using a hand me down USA Craftsman 12pt 3/8" drive socket from the 70's on a recent Carlyle ratchet. The socket started to round the heads on several of the bolts. Fortunately I stopped before doing too much damage and ran to the depot and grabbed a 6pt Husky socket and removed the last bolts.

Point is, our fond memories of how good USA Craftsman tools may be a little fallible.

I like to buy American whenever possible, but when it's not I try to buy European or Taiwan.
 

Gurp

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I have a set of tektons I've had for close to 8 years now. holding up great to abuse. Actually liked them enough I purchased a second set 3 years ago to replace some of the missing ones I managed to lose doing mobile work after my wife and I seperated. Price is def going up but still a good wrench when you cant find used American at a decent price.
 

jives

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Funny, I am on the same quest. I have my 25 yr old Craftsman 6-14 mm set, but need larger wrenches, up to at least 22 mm. Started looking for a decent set, hopefully under $50. Wen keeps popping up as having the best reviews among the cheaper sets. If I can ever find them on sale I may pull the trigger. . . .which Lowes now has for $43. Plus, they don't skip sizes. Uggh, how bothersome that is!

15937882.jpg
 

powertrip

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Why not buy used Craftsman and keep your money in America, Facebook and eBay should have what you need or yard or garage sales
How does buying used wrenches keep the money in America? I am assuming you are meaning since the Craftsman wrenches may be USA made? Buying used craftsman only benefits the guy you are buying them from. Sears made their money on these now used wrenches probably decades ago. Actually buying Tekton from Amazon helps a lot more American companies and workers than buying used Craftsman at a yard sale.
 

Lassen Forge

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I snagged on one of those Wiha 18-30mm closeout Rachet/open end sets for $150... Hoping it's not a thing like the "Miller 211 scam" from a few years back, but it was on the Wiha site, so I'm holding out hope... that set is normally close to a couple grand, so I figure I'd roll the dice...
 

vwpieces

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Speaking of Apex..
Advance auto has been blowing out the TEQ brand tool line. Shelves might be bare by this point but the deals are Good, worth a shot.
 

Handyandy23

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Why not buy used Craftsman and keep your money in America, Facebook and eBay should have what you need or yard or garage sales

Quick Google search says Tekton has 90 employees at one office in Grand Rapids, MI. I would say buying from a company with even 90 US employees is a lot more helpful than negotiating with some random FB seller over some rusty old raised panel wrenches that are short and dig into your hands.

OP, depending how cheap you want to keep it, you can get a set of Wright combo wrenches for $146 on Amazon right now. I know that's still about double the price of Tekton, but I feel like it's excellent value for what you get. The Wrightgrip anti-slip open ends really do bite down hard (although they will mar fasteners if that's a concern for you).

Otherwise I don't think you can really go wrong with the Tekton's, if the Wright's are over your budget.
 

WJD

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Amazon.....
Funny, I am on the same quest. I have my 25 yr old Craftsman 6-14 mm set, but need larger wrenches, up to at least 22 mm. Started looking for a decent set, hopefully under $50. Wen keeps popping up as having the best reviews among the cheaper sets. If I can ever find them on sale I may pull the trigger. . . .which Lowes now has for $43. Plus, they don't skip sizes. Uggh, how bothersome that is!

15937882.jpg
Amazon...
 

Citation

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Quick Google search says Tekton has 90 employees at one office in Grand Rapids, MI. I would say buying from a company with even 90 US employees is a lot more helpful than negotiating with some random FB seller over some rusty old raised panel wrenches that are short and dig into your hands.

OP, depending how cheap you want to keep it, you can get a set of Wright combo wrenches for $146 on Amazon right now. I know that's still about double the price of Tekton, but I feel like it's excellent value for what you get. The Wrightgrip anti-slip open ends really do bite down hard (although they will mar fasteners if that's a concern for you).

Otherwise I don't think you can really go wrong with the Tekton's, if the Wright's are over your budget.
That assumes the savings aren't spent on something else that helps other US workers. It also assumes the person who gets the money for the used wrenches doesn't spend that money on something else made in the US.

Honestly, it's hard to say which is better for the US since we don't know what would happen to the money in the used wrench case.
 

Firebrick43

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How does buying used wrenches keep the money in America? I am assuming you are meaning since the Craftsman wrenches may be USA made? Buying used craftsman only benefits the guy you are buying them from. Sears made their money on these now used wrenches probably decades ago. Actually buying Tekton from Amazon helps a lot more American companies and workers than buying used Craftsman at a yard sale.
Because the full amount of the money goes to an american! What is hard about that? They can then use the money to go buy coffee at the local diner and so forth.

If you buy foriegn made tools, even tekton with 90 employees, I am guessing half of the money (I may be wrong on the percentage) goes back to the country of manufacture. That money is unlikely to ever make it back and churn in the economy. Of course if tekton its going to Tiwan instead of china.
 
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