Combination Wrenches....choices

[Scooterfish]

I agree with looking for quality used tools. Buying new the Cman rasied panels or pros are are a great value when on sale. This gives you more money to buy the speciality tools you need. Buy your tools this way starting out and you are working for yourself and not in debt. Later on you want to upgrade thats great. I assume most techs are going to want a 2nd set for home shop use. So the early tools you bought will always be of use to you.

 

[Canadian Charlie]

Truck brands can be bought used off eBay for a good price nowadays. Thats where I got all my Snap On wrenches from.

 

[HandyManny]

Most here are into tools beyond function.

The longer I belong to this forum, the more I see it and the more I come to the conclusion that what you just said is way too true here.

 

[HandyManny]

Do yourself a favor and don't buy into the "truck tool" hype.

Spend your money wisely on specialty tools from the truck vendors and SAVE as much money as you can to ensure a good credit rating and a prosperous future. In 40 years you'll be glad you did.

Best thing I've heard today This is something I always preach, and have practiced for decades.

 

[dgshear]

I am new here, and not trying to change the subject, but is there really a difference between the Cman raised panels and the Cman pros? I have the raised panels, and seem to spread the open ends frequently and was wondering if the pro's would be an improvement? I am not a professional wrench, but do enjoy using my tools regularly, so this is rather annoying. Thanks for all the great advice so far.

 

[HandyManny]

I am new here, and not trying to change the subject, but is there really a difference between the Cman raised panels and the Cman pros? I have the raised panels, and seem to spread the open ends frequently and was wondering if the pro's would be an improvement? I am not a professional wrench, but do enjoy using my tools regularly, so this is rather annoying. Thanks for all the great advice so far.

Gee you must be pretty strong to apply enough torque to spread the open ends. Maybe you should try just using the box end for high torque applications. As long as access premits I always use the box end when I can.

I my self never have had this problem with a wrench. I will say that the Cman pros are longer patterned to give you more torque. I also prefer a plain beam without a raised panel on my wrenches. Full Polish or Matte Satin finish? It really makes no difference to me as I like both, and I really don't mind if they were plain steel finished to be honest. I have many Proto Black Oxide finished wrenches.

I think the Cman Pros are nothing more than rebranded Armstrong wrenches anyway. I know the midget combos are, both being made by Dahaher.

 

[Old Donn]

TW, if these are going to be starters, standard issue raised panel Craftsman might be a better choice. It's not on sale right now, but set #00944048 would provide more sizes than the Pro set, especially on the metric side.
Aside to dgshear. I've been told by Sears sales people that specs-wise, ( tolerances, stretch), there's no difference between standard and full polish C-man wrenches. Don't know if that's true or not, but there it is. I've got both and neither have given me problems with stretch.

 

[dgshear]

Thanks, I try to use the box end when I can, but when I can't, I didn't know if the Cman Pros would be better. I didn't think there would be much other than the finish and length, but wasn't sure.

 

[tw33k2514]

TW, if these are going to be starters, standard issue raised panel Craftsman might be a better choice. It's not on sale right now, but set #00944048 would provide more sizes than the Pro set, especially on the metric side.
Aside to dgshear. I've been told by Sears sales people that specs-wise, ( tolerances, stretch), there's no difference between standard and full polish C-man wrenches. Don't know if that's true or not, but there it is. I've got both and neither have given me problems with stretch.

Ive been looking at that set, and the pure number of sizes has me leaning towards it.

 

[krehmkej]

Hell, they're wrenches, They turn fasteners. I have SO, C-Man, Indestro, PROTO, Gearwrench, S-K, hazet, Ko-Ken, and a few others. They all do the same job. never broke any of them. Get what will do the job and go to work.

 

[-B-]

Most here are into tools beyond function. You'll have plenty of time to learn how important that little extra is for you.

thnx, jack vines

Yes old tool have stories to tell ! i only buy users there is no point in purchasing a tool just to look at it.

 

[tw33k2514]

Here's a question...while looking at the sears website I noticed that their are a lot of missing sizes in the Craftsman Professional line. For instance, I could not find 20mm, 27mm, and a few others....Is there a reason for this?

 

[myslow2002gt]

Here's a question...while looking at the sears website I noticed that their are a lot of missing sizes in the Craftsman Professional line. For instance, I could not find 20mm, 27mm, and a few others....Is there a reason for this?

At the local Sears, you can purchase those sizes in the single stock wrench aisle.

Unfortunately, Sears sells some wierd 'sets'.

 

[RRmech]

I've never understood the logic (other than cost) in skips in wrench sets, especially metric?
Kinda like buying a car with only three tires?

Steve

 

[billymade]

I've noticed this with the non-professional tool companies; we have all thought of possible reasons for this: marketing, offering just the "common" sizes, price points for sets being sold (think about those gearwrench ratcheting wrench sets that are always on sale 50% off), amount of tools in a set etc. but have never come to a definite answer.... pro companies have all the sizes big to small in their sets and everything in between. The little sets keep the price down but I think you would want all the sizes for a "complete set", I do think there are some sizes that are used less often, however... Gearwrench does for example have complete sets but they are much more expensive then the sets that are typically offered at your local sears store; if you look in the tool catalog, they have "complete" sets of all the wrenches and the prices reflect this as well!

 

[nissan_crawler]

Just to clear things up, I will be wrenching for a living. But, Like someone said having no wrenches isnt exactly ideal. And you have all made me feel more confident in the Craftsman Pro's. They may not be snap-on but they can at least get me started until I start getting paid.

This was my theory when I started out. Then I got the C-Pro's and after having some snap-on, and using others, I saw no need to up grade the c-pro's.

Do yourself a favor and don't buy into the "truck tool" hype.

Spend your money wisely on specialty tools from the truck vendors and SAVE as much money as you can to ensure a good credit rating and a prosperous future. In 40 years you'll be glad you did.

Words to live by for a new tech, IMHO. Below is a post of mine for yesterday, basically saying the same thing. Save the money on the base tools, get more specialty tools.

Used them professionally for years, see no reason to get Snap-On, and I have Snap-On wrenches. They don't work any better, IMHO.

Let's not forget that I just bought a 1-1/16", 1-1/8", 1-1/4", 1-5/16", 1-1/2" C-Pro wrench set for $83.

Snap-On:
1-1/16" = $71.75
1-1/8" = $86.75
1-1/4" = $96.50
1-5/16" = $97.50
1-1/2" = $127

Total: Snap-On $479.50. Craftsman $83. Gee, that was a tough choice. $396.50 to spend on other tools. Even if the Snap-On's worked better, they would have to be WAAAYYY better for me to justify paying almost 6x as much. The other $396.50 in specialty tools I can buy will help me out way more than the difference between C-Pro and Snap-On wrenches, if there was one.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Here's a question...while looking at the sears website I noticed that their are a lot of missing sizes in the Craftsman Professional line. For instance, I could not find 20mm, 27mm, and a few others....Is there a reason for this?

The 20mm seems to be missing from a lot of peoples sets, not just Sears. Where I have used a socket (temp sensor), or a 13/16" wrench (loose on a fuel filter) before. I picked up a Wright 20mm today, when I went down to Harry Epsteins. I knew I should have just called in the order ($230 out the door).

Now on a lot of vehicles, where I would see a 27 used, they will use 1 1/16" wrench.

 

[tw33k2514]

Any thoughts on these http://www.gearwrench.com/catalog/w...ong_pattern_combination/index.jsp?view=Metric

I have used the ratcheting ones before, and they seem nice. I like the feel, but are they as strong as the C-Man Pro's?

 

[nissan_crawler]

I don't think you would have any problems with them. All things being equal, I would rather by a U.S. product, though.

 

[tw33k2514]

well, now that I think about it...I think the fact that I can just walk into sears if something breaks, makes the c-man's worth it to me. Pretty sure I will go with them.


Besides this post scared me away from GW I think. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30814

 

[DSKA Tools]

I agree with Joelske's post. I also feel there is no need to purchase a Ferrari just to drive to the store. You have time to accumulate tools. There is no need to impress anyone with over priced tools. There are plenty of online deals. Many of the manufactures have also dropped their shipping charges which a reputable dealer would pass on to their customer.