Discussion: Wrench & Socket Sizes

[Wolverine]

How 'frequently' do you need a wrench or socket for these sizes?


Metric:

6mm, 7mm, 20mm, 21mm, 26mm, 27mm, 28mm, 29mm


SAE:

1-1/8", 1-3/16", 1-5/16", 1-7/16"




Here is why I ask.

I've been looking at combination wrench sets. Specifically the:


Craftsman Professional Series (from Sears)

vs.

S&K Series (from TheToolWarehouse.net)



***IMPORTANT: whatever series I start to purchase, I want to stick with that series for all my combination/other wrenches. Example: regular, stubby, long pattern, half moon, ratcheting, etc. etc.



The most popular/basic are sets that contain (13) wrenches:


Metric: 7mm to 19mm

SAE: 1/4" to 1"


Craftsman is firm in this regard. Finding S&K larger sets is a little easier. The next step up is a Craftsman 5-piece set that contains:

Metric: 22mm to 25mm, and 30mm

SAE: 1-1/16" to 1-1/2"


The Craftsman Professional series feels great in my hand (in the store) and the finish looks great! I also know how good the reputation is for S&K wrenches.


The Decision

Is it worth going with S&K because of their greater selection? How often will I need these 'odd sizes.' For my needs, the Craftsman Professional series is outstanding. Not to mention I can just make a return (if needed) to the local Sears.


Any input is much appreciated!

 

[kartracer55]

Ahh, have you looked at any other brands? Specifically Proto?

Ive said it before, and ill say it again. Proto series 500 wrenches are unquestionably the most comfortable wrenches I have ever used. They are a tad more expensive than the craftsman Pros.

Anyway, SK wrenches are Nice because they ae thick, but the sides are still a bit square on the edes... still very nice.



My question is why must you have the same wrench brand for all styles???? Just keep the same for metric and standard. Keep in mind SK ratcheting wrenches arnt entirely made here, just like snap on and MAC


As for the most common sizes... For SAE its usually 3/8-3/4 of course. For Metric I find im always using 10 and 13 the most. Do you need larger sizes? Rarely do I need a wrench over 1 inch, although im not exactly a pro wrench. It depends on the work you plan on doing... Youll use the bigger sizes on steering/suspension work (tie rod ends, ball joint sockets), so if you dont plan on doing that sort of work, you should be ok. Maybe sae some $$$ and just get regular craftsman in the jumbo sizes.

Jim

 

[Wolverine]

Do you have a link for a Proto Series 500 wrench Set? I need to see what they look like and check out prices.

 

[kartracer55]

Ill post a link from Proto... For thier sets its 3/8-3/4 or 5 1/6- 1 1/4. The smaller set is 90$ the Larger one is 307

For metric they have 7 -15 or 1-24, 104 and $245

MSC is where im getting the prices, cheaper than gringer

They are expensive, so i wouldnt recommend buying them until you can get your hands on one. Grainger sells them, so if you have a local one, see if you can go in and hold one and stuff.

The seriess 500 have "t500" in the model number and are full polish. They also have them in satin and black oxide as well.

http://stanleyproto.com/default.asp...500&strSiteName=PROTO&strDefaultCatalog=PROTO

The most important thing is to make sure you have held all of them first.

Jim

 

[eschoendorff]

I have the Craftsman Pro... both sets in standard and metric. I love them! I matched up my Cman pro 3/8 wrench with a newer Snap On 3/8 that I have and the difference in fit on the fastener is negligible.

I even have their flare nut wrenches and have yet to have one strip a nut or bolt.

Some say that the Cman pro are the same as Matco... I cannot verify this. What I can offer is that for the $$$, the Cman pro are the best wrenches that I have ever purchased!

 

[kartracer55]

I have heard that regular craftsman flare nut wrenches are complete junk... the jaws seperate and round out the bleeder screw. I have snap on flare nut wrenches, and they are unusual for snap on, The handle is almost as thick as the open ends of the wrench.

Jim

 

[eschoendorff]

I have heard that regular craftsman flare nut wrenches are complete junk... the jaws seperate and round out the bleeder screw. I have snap on flare nut wrenches, and they are unusual for snap on, The handle is almost as thick as the open ends of the wrench.

Jim

I have heard that about the regular Cman flare wrenches too. So far, the full polish work pretty well. And, if they ever start to spread and slip, I will just use this:

 

[wythors]

There is no nut on a Mustang larger than 21mm that you would very put a wrench on, to the best of my recollection and I can't ever remember using a fractional wrench larger than 3/4" at any time.

I can highly recommend the Craftsman Professional wrenches as I have their factional set. My metrics are Mac and I prefer the feel and finish of the Craftsman product.

 

[krooser]

The big sizes you don't use very often BUT if you need one and don't have it you'll be kicking your self...You WILL need bigger sizes for suspension work and the like...

 

[Uncle Buck]

I have full sets of regular cman flare wrenches in both standard and metric, and a set of mac standard flares, I have been using all of them for most of twnty years with no problem from any of them. I am beginning to wonder what the ---- kind of abuse you guys are putting on these tools to have so many complaints. As I said before I have many different brands of tools in my box, a good many of those tools dating from the 1940's on. I am starting to get the impression that some guys talking about hand tools on this board would not be able to turn a nut without their Snappys. I love the snappy tools I have too, but virtually any other tool by any other manufacturer in my box will do the same job equally well, and that includes the cman stuff. For my money usually the cman stuff is still the most bang with the best warranty for the buck. Just my two bits!

 

[chevy302dz]

Get SK if you want to stay within the same brand you will have more selection than Craftsman pro and you will need those larger sizes at some point for something it happens everytime. Both are good quality though

 

[Discovery]

I use 27mm all the time, it is the size for my lug nuts. There are many 6mm and 7mm interior fasteners on my vehicle so they get used too. I often use wrenches larger than 1" and 22mm as there is nice mix of metric and standard under my truck. As far as brands go I agree with what much hholmberg said. In my opinion Snap On is the best, but you don't really need them unless you are making you living with them or you are working on really important stuff that you can't afford to mess up. Craftsman is hard to beat for the money and their warranty is top notch.

Matt

 

[kartracer55]

Hholmberg, alot of people have gnerally foudn that the newer craftsman line wrenches are junk. You have older ones, and my dad does tool... those are great, no problems, but the newer ones (at least from 2 years ago, possibly further back) are junky. Its not so much abuse, just an inferior design. The experience I had was with one that was about 2 years old (hence my earlier comment) and on 2 occasions I rounded off fasters... once on a bleeder screw, and once getting a line disconnected. One would think it'd be hardeer to round something off because of more contact but how wrong that is. Never had a problem with Either SK or Snap on flare nut wrenches.

Jim

 

[Wolverine]

Who makes the "thickest" combination wrenches? S&K? MAC?

Those MAC "Knuckle Saver 2" sets look incredibly thick and would be the absolute easiest on your hand. Their beautiful, but cost an absolute fortune!

 

[Thumper]

Have a look at Cornwell. I have a set of combo wrenches and I love 'em. Nice polished finish also.

 

[Wolverine]

MAC KS2s:

 

[Uncle Buck]

Cornwell makes excellent tools, but I don't think they have much representation in Kansas. I have some of their tools, good stuff, on par with Mac and Snap-On the quality is definitely there, nothing to complain about.

 

[kartracer55]

Knuckly savers look pretty thick, never seen them before.

SK wrenches are thicker than craftsman pro by a great deal, maybe slightly thicker than the proto but I like the proto wrenches a bit better... make sure you try as many as you can before you buy!!!

Grainger will have the protos, Im sure theyd let you see them

Sears has the craftsmans (duh!)

And there should be an autoparts store or a tool store that carries SK in your area, look up a local store on thier retailer listing thing on the site.

Jim

 

[Thumper]

To get back to the original question....unless your gonna be heavy into suspension or a/c work you shouldn't need anything over 1 inch. It all depends on what your working on. I have sockets up to 2 inch and wrenches up to 1 1/2 but then at one time I worked on big trucks and just about anything that rolled.

 

[wythors]

MAC KS2s:

Those are the metric wrenches I have. See my original post for my opinion.

 

[eschoendorff]

Hholmberg, alot of people have gnerally foudn that the newer craftsman line wrenches are junk. You have older ones, and my dad does tool... those are great, no problems, but the newer ones (at least from 2 years ago, possibly further back) are junky. Its not so much abuse, just an inferior design. The experience I had was with one that was about 2 years old (hence my earlier comment) and on 2 occasions I rounded off fasters... once on a bleeder screw, and once getting a line disconnected. One would think it'd be hardeer to round something off because of more contact but how wrong that is. Never had a problem with Either SK or Snap on flare nut wrenches.

Jim

Were you using the standard Cman falre wrenches, or the full polish pros?

 

[bmwpower]

I have the Cman pro metric offset wrenches and everytime I use them, they feel really loose on the fastener.

 

[kartracer55]

Were you using the standard Cman falre wrenches, or the full polish pros?

Regular


Now dont flame me for this... but I happen to have a Urrea Wrench (no idea how I got it?) and its pretty comfortable to use... Oh wait, thats because its mexican made proto One comment : mexicans cant make tools. The handle is awesome, but I swear the box on one side was forged (knowning mexico probably cast ) slightly off center. The handle is finished off nicely, but the inside of the box isnt exactly SK finish... decent enough chrome, but rough... What I like is even though its a standard wrench they give the EXACT metric equivalent (11.1mm... go figure )

Jim

 

[Uncle Buck]

I have the standard flare wrenches in both standard and metric. I purchases both sets in about 1994 and have used both sets extensively with no detrioration in the quality or performance. I am responding to eschoendorff, I assumed he was directing his question to me? I also have a set of Mac standard flare wrenches, I can feel no real difference in fit between either the Mac or cman flare wrenches. As long as they loosen and tighten the fastener without damaging the fitting I figure they have done their job as well as can be expected.

 

[eschoendorff]

I can feel no real difference in fit between either the Mac or cman flare wrenches. As long as they loosen and tighten the fastener without damaging the fitting I figure they have done their job as well as can be expected.

Amen, brother!

 

[rhandwor]

If Craftsman does the job buy them and fill in with SK. 13/16,21 27, 1 1/16 29 1 1/8,
22 7/8, 3/4 19, 1 3/16 30, These sizes usually will work on the metric. 32 1/14, I was working when they went metric and first bought sizes that didn't cross and then filled in other sizes. Snap-on had both sizes on the sockets then stopped to sell more tools.

 

[wrenchr]

He is stuck in 2005.........................

 

[Danglerb]

I'm not a one brand guy, I have my wrenches sorted in groups by style, not brand.

For a FAT wrench why not get some of those twisted X wrenches?

I almost bought the full polish Craftsman flares, but decided to get a used set of Snapon instead and only have one raised panel Craftsman to use as my second 19mm for those double 19mm fittings that need counterholding.

I have the full polish Craftsman offset wrench set in SAE and metric, but haven't used them enough to say anything on fit, but they seem ok so far.

 

[iamhistory]

For those larger size wrenches, it depends on what you are working on. I have tractors and I ALWAYS am using wrenches larger than 1". I need to work on the tractors themselves, implements, plows, hitches, etc.

Before I owned tractors, I rarely used the larger wrenches. But since then, I had to go out and purchase several sizes b/c I found myself either not doing a job or having to borrow.......both of which I hate.

I have a few FACOM, Proto, MAC and some of the Masterhand from Tractor Supply. They all have worked fine for me but the Masterhand have a terrible full polish finish and one of the wrenches actually began flaking chrome off the handle before I even used it. They haven't broke on me and they seem sturdy so far. I needed them quickly and for the money they were convenient.

I just purchased the FACOM in several metric sizes and haven't had a chance to use them yet.

I need the larger sizes pretty frequently. I guess it just depends on the individual and the jobs they get in to.