Confused Noob Question

[williyam]

I just joined the board a few days ago. I was looking at Cman sets and after a while decided that many were useless pieces, I went and bought 1/4" 3/8" and 1/2" sockets, deep and standard, as well as 1/4" 3/8" and 1/2" premium Cman ratchets.

My questions now are:
I SO MANY WRENCHES in all of the Cman sets. I was wondering why you needed so many wrenches because I myself have a triple set of adjustable wrenches that adjust to many lengths. Why does someone need a set of 20? I mean, I don't see the point of the ratcheting mechanism in the back if you already have a ratchet set.

My second question is. What are your thoughts on the sets I've purchased? I bought everything I listed for about $250. Is there a better set of 6pt master set of deep and standard sockets and ratchets for the money? I've been looking at the grey pneumatic sets lately

 

[MN Falcon]

I have some older SAE ratchet wrenches that my father gave me a few years ago, but never used them. I got some of the newer ratchet combos in a 309pc Craftsman kit a little over a year ago. Shortly after I used them on a car I was working on, after breaking one and getting it replaced I used it and another that day in a fairly tight location where I couldn't get a socket and ratchet into. Using them was awesome, I have always used a regular combo wrench in that situation, but these worked slick and knew they would be used often. I quit assuming I would never have a use for any specific tool a long time ago. I have several Ford distributor wrenches still because I could have used a regular combo and did many times but one scary incident reaching through too near the fan belt one time was enough and I got a better tool for the job.

 

[2oolhound]

I was wondering why you needed so many wrenches because I myself have a triple set of adjustable wrenches that adjust to many lengths.

I don't understand this statement. Wrenches don't adjust in length.

I have to assume you mean you have 3 adjustable crescent wrenches that adjust to different sizes. These are great out in the open where you have lots of access to the nut but in around engines and other equipment their heads are just too big to fit into where the nut or bolt is.

 

[Stuey]

Adjustable wrenches are size-adaptable, but they are not as easy to use as fixed-size wrenches for certain applications. Their larger size also makes them difficult or impossible to use in tighter areas.

The other day I had to take a caster off a small wheeled platform. I had two adjustable wrenches handy, so that's what I used. If I had at least one fixed-size wrench with me the task would have been more easily completed in half the time.

 

[jmm]

If you plan to do much with your tools, you'll need sockets and wrenches. Though adjustables totally have their place, you'll quickly see that adjustables won't cut it in the place of wrenches and your knuckles will suffer.

 

[petty4243]

you will also find the adjustibles will tend to round off the fasteners heads because they tend to have to much free play... you will also spend a lot of time readjusting them as they tend to come out of adjustment often..... as also mentioned, the ratcheting wrenches have a very solid use especially with the way most vehicles are getting more and more crowded under the hood.... I use my ratcheting wrenches almost as often as my socket/ratchets....

 

[General Geoff]

The utility of ratcheting box-end wrenches will become apparent once you're elbows-deep into a modern engine bay.