Cornwell Wrench Warranty

[n0qlt]

Hello, everybody!

My local Cornwell dealer is a great guy, but alas I couldn't catch up with him and won't be able to for a while due to my work schedule. (I'm not on his route, so I have to meet up someplace when I can escape from the office.) So, anyway, I purchased a single 7/16" a couple of months ago and didn't notice until I got home that it had some problems. The poor thing was from a broken home (opened set), and it was the only one on the truck. I'm not sure if it may have actually been a return since dealers had just switched and possibly fell through the cracks or what. There were some rust or maybe even burn marks inside the box end that I didn't see until I got it into better light, which means I must need glasses because they were pretty big. Knowing it might be months before I get to see the truck again, I ended up just mailing it back with a copy of the receipt and a wayyy too long letter and I think they returned the same wrench, but with the rust (and chrome) wire brushed off or something.
Is there a better way to approach this or should I just wait until I can sneak away under the radar to hunt for the truck? I really like their tools, I wish I had a full set, but I'm Johnny Cash-ing it (One piece at a time...)

 

[MJB24]

You dont even have access to the truck easily yet are buying a wrench set one wrench at a time.

Also we need pics to give any opnion

 

[Skin]

What you're calling rust/burn marks is actually the hanger mark left from when the wrench is dipped into the plating baths. Its normal and most manufacturers have them. The only way to avoid them is to dip the wrench again after adjusting the hanging area. MAC, Cornwell, Snap-On, all have obvious hanger marks if you stare hard enough. Cornwell and MAC are more apparent brownish areas (Snap-On does actually move the hanger). It wont effect the wrench. My recommendation would be to stop staring so hard and just use your nice tools. You'll be happier in the end.

As far as what they sent back, they wouldn't bother trying to 'fix' your wrench. They'd just grab a new one from the bin and ship it back.

 

[n0qlt]

I'll see if I can snap a couple of pictures in a bit.

Actually, it wasn't EASY, haha. I usually have to wait until I have a day off from the plant that corresponds to a day when the truck is running around here. Sometimes that's kinda like waiting to launch a rocket ship at Cape Canaveral...

Just for the record, I do have a 3/8" socket set (yes, bought all at once) and a couple of ratchets, but it's taken well over a year to acquire them this way...

 

[Skin]

Cornwell wrench, hanger mark. Normal.

 

[Skin]

and here is a snap-on. Much less apparent than the Cornwell but still an obvious flat finish in certain areas of the box end instead of shiny chrome and there is line from the hanger plainly visible.

 

[Wamsutta]

I sent in a 5/8'' combination wrench several years ago that had a defect. They sent me back the most perfect wrench I had ever seen. Very good people those Cornwell people.

 

[n0qlt]

Staring at this wrench is like staring into the sun, only it isn't quite as bright or dangerous.

 

[n0qlt]

Hmmm, you learn something everyday. I guess I just hadn't noticed this on any of my other wrenches. Thank you for the info. Now off to work!

 

[turdferguson13]

Interesting. I'm going to be looking closer at my wrenches tomorrow!