Hello, I am looking for a set of wrenches for my truck. Which of the "china cheapy" wrenches are your favorite? I have looked at the kobalt taiwan ones, walmart stanley's, northern tool "industrial" wrenches, and have seen some dirt cheap imported Allen sets on ebay. Which sets do you think are the best value?
Favorite cheap import combo wrenches?
- Thread starter Kyle86
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shoturtle
Well-known member
Get a taiwan set instead at lowes. They are good quality and pretty cheap.
thesilverone
Well-known member
made in USA craftsman RP wrenches
RedFordTruck
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^ X2 I would go with Craftsman RP on sale right now for $29.99 12 piece
If you want imports go with the Kobalts that are $19.99 right now on sale 11 piece. Never buy Kobalts at full price.
Go with one of these two definitely because they have lifetime no-receipt warranty.
Stanley has 2-year warranty and Northern has receipt if im correct.
So
1) Craftsman
2) Kobalt
If you want imports go with the Kobalts that are $19.99 right now on sale 11 piece. Never buy Kobalts at full price.
Go with one of these two definitely because they have lifetime no-receipt warranty.
Stanley has 2-year warranty and Northern has receipt if im correct.
So
1) Craftsman
2) Kobalt
TinKnocker
Well-known member
x3... and if you dont want those, the kobalts are guaranteed forever and inexpensive.
Was just looking at the Kobalt SAE and Metric sets on sale for $19.99. I noticed on some sets the beams felt a little thicker with a more rounded edge that felt better in hand than other sets coming out of the same box with the same part numbers 
greasemonkey44
Well-known member
northern are my favorite cheapies
they are excellent wrenches and cheap to replace if you break or loose one
they are excellent wrenches and cheap to replace if you break or loose one
davesnothere
Well-known member
I've got some sunex wrenches that haven't shat the bed on me.
I bought them overf cman RP's just because I prefer chrome.
I don't know what new kobalts are like.
I bought them overf cman RP's just because I prefer chrome.
I don't know what new kobalts are like.
Displaced Hokie
Well-known member
I love my Kobalts!
Steevo
Well-known member
I just picked up an extra set of combination wrenches at Lowes.
Kobalt, made in Taiwan, 5/16" ~ 7/8" for $19.99, I think. They seem a little bit better made than Pittsburgh (HF) wrenches, with thinner boxes and heads.
Kobalt, made in Taiwan, 5/16" ~ 7/8" for $19.99, I think. They seem a little bit better made than Pittsburgh (HF) wrenches, with thinner boxes and heads.
Pro-Painter
Well-known member
#1: Duralast. (Taiwan) Styled after snap on. Long pattern, full polished, local (same day) warranty, available in many sizes, strong and cheap as dirt ($24.99 for 11pc set)
#2: Gearwrench (china) import copy of matco. Long pattern, full polished, modified open ends, available in many sizes and styles including 12pt, 6pt, stubby & X-beam, large sets on sale often (including bogo)
#3: JH Williams (Taiwan) same wrench as Blue-point. Long pattern, satin finish, almost pro quality at a fair price.
#4: Northern from northern tool. (china) longer then normal wrench, full polished, many sizes including stubbies and very large sizes, cheap as dirt (32pc set is $49.99)
#2: Gearwrench (china) import copy of matco. Long pattern, full polished, modified open ends, available in many sizes and styles including 12pt, 6pt, stubby & X-beam, large sets on sale often (including bogo)
#3: JH Williams (Taiwan) same wrench as Blue-point. Long pattern, satin finish, almost pro quality at a fair price.
#4: Northern from northern tool. (china) longer then normal wrench, full polished, many sizes including stubbies and very large sizes, cheap as dirt (32pc set is $49.99)
RedFordTruck
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Lol at Christmas time Home Depot rolls out an India-made version of this set for $19.99. Talk about dirt cheap... Probably made to the same ANSI standards that fischer-price are made to
crewchief888
Well-known member
i have a couple of stanley ratcheting box ends i use almost every day at work, and havent mangled one yet.
some assorted kobalts laying around at home.
i prefer the kobalt or stanley to the CM RP wrenches, mainly because of the longer overall length
some assorted kobalts laying around at home.
i prefer the kobalt or stanley to the CM RP wrenches, mainly because of the longer overall length
hunterguy86
Well-known member
Another vote for the kobalts. I like mine.
I bought some Stanely Brand at Walmart. Saw them once, they were cheap but work great.
I've had great luck with Kobalt. I don't care if Chairman Mao's grandchild made them, they seem to work great. The ChiComs (I'm Nam era vet) are capable of making good stuff when they want to. Ask anyone who has ever been on the business end of an AK47 on full auto.
Before you flame me, I've got plenty of American made stuff also. Most of it is older than I think most posters are on this site.
Anyway, the OP was asking about cheap. I use my stuff for weekend projects. My cheap stuff seems to work fine.
I've had great luck with Kobalt. I don't care if Chairman Mao's grandchild made them, they seem to work great. The ChiComs (I'm Nam era vet) are capable of making good stuff when they want to. Ask anyone who has ever been on the business end of an AK47 on full auto.
Before you flame me, I've got plenty of American made stuff also. Most of it is older than I think most posters are on this site.
Anyway, the OP was asking about cheap. I use my stuff for weekend projects. My cheap stuff seems to work fine.
John316
Well-known member
I have a full set of Duralast Combos as a second set and they are REALLY nice. One thing worth mentioning is that the newer sets available in Autozone stores are not what you want. The singles they sell with the color dots are much better wrenches. They are available in sets, but only if you special order them. At my AZ special orders take one day.
bluechevy94
Well-known member
+1 for the Kobalts.I have both SAE and MM sets.Infact I have 2 sets of each one in my chest in the garage and the other in my mobile tool kit.At 19.97 a set they are a very good bargain.My main set has seen quite a bit of use and have had no problems.The chrome is very nice on them and no sharp edges like some of the other cheaper wrenches out there.
sicnarf247
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Just came back from lowes and seen the kobalt wrenches 1" - 1 1/4" for $55
They do NOT say lifetime warranty like a all their other stuff... or did I miss it?
Now for everyone talking about warranting a wrench... hown many times have you actually done it? I've never broken one.. I only use wrenches over 1" and cant imagine breaking one when I'm using it hard while standing 5 feet high on a ladder.... now that would ****
They do NOT say lifetime warranty like a all their other stuff... or did I miss it?
Now for everyone talking about warranting a wrench... hown many times have you actually done it? I've never broken one.. I only use wrenches over 1" and cant imagine breaking one when I'm using it hard while standing 5 feet high on a ladder.... now that would ****