Favorite Wrench Brand?

[kartracer55]

Whats everybodys favorite brand of wrench, not just for quality, but for comfort and finish as well.

 

[eschoendorff]

I have a drawer in one of my toolboxes that just has wrenches from all different brands represented... some snap on, a cornwell, new britain, proto, proto challenger, old SK, old blackhawk (USA)...

But my favorite are my Craftsman full polish. I really like those. Oh... and the Allen branded Danaher wrenches always seem to have the best feeling tolerances... just something I noticed

 

[kartracer55]

I still want to check out some cornwell stuff. I forgot to include in my frist post, my favorites in terms of comfort are proto full polish, my overall favorites are SK's, but I really like standard craftsman too. The satin black hawk wrenches arnt all that bad, similar to proto. My least favorites of my wrenches are the snap ons. I have a handfull of individual wrenches from them, and a set of open ends from 1/4-1/2, and various flare nut wrenches.

Jim

 

[dink]

Heyco
Stahlwille
SK

 

[chevy302dz]

Blackhawk
Craftsman Pro
SK

 

[dink]

Also BETA.....I will probably buy this set right here for my christmas present to myself



http://www.betatoolsusa.com/product/general_catalog/product_info.php?products_id=000420652

 

[rdnkjeeper]

I like SK and Snap on, when I was holding one all day long....I thought it still felt decent in my hand at the end of the day. Now all I have is Craftsman, they get the job done.

 

[Concrete Video]

Being that I'm not a mechanic, and that's the only way to get to a Snap-On truck in my town, I'm happy with my Craftsmans. I don't use a lot of wrenches anymore anyways, but most of my "good" tools are Craftsman.

 

[eschoendorff]

Being that I'm not a mechanic, and that's the only way to get to a Snap-On truck in my town, I'm happy with my Craftsmans. I don't use a lot of wrenches anymore anyways, but most of my "good" tools are Craftsman.

And you will find that with proper use and care, they will serve you very, very well.

 

[dink]

Being that I'm not a mechanic, and that's the only way to get to a Snap-On truck in my town, I'm happy with my Craftsmans. I don't use a lot of wrenches anymore anyways, but most of my "good" tools are Craftsman.

You can always get Snap-on on there website....they will be more then happy to sell to you

 

[G1K]

Out of the Craftsman Pro, regular, Proto Full polish, snap-on, I like the craftsman full polished the best.


Ryan

 

[Wolverine]

What about the MAC 'Knuckle Saver' line? The side edges look very thick and comfortable (not digging into your hands). I wish they were not so expensive!

 

[Wolverine]

Not to mention that the head on the open end is a little different. It looks like you can get the head of a nut/bolt deeper into the wrench.

I wish I could afford them!

 

[Wolverine]

Did I already say that I wish I could afford MAC wrenches?

 

[kgwld1]

I have the macs and there great, I also like the snap ons but they can tear up a bolt.

 

[Jared]

My favorites or the mastercraft maximux, old gray wrenchs and the old proto( non polished, haven't tried the polished)

 

[Merkava_4]

My favorite wrench is the CORNWELL wrench; although I like the Snap-on wrench too. The CORNWELL is the most comfortable to pull on with its well rounded beam, but the Snap-on is easier to flip over in your hand quickly.

The main advantage Snap-on has over their competition it that their wrenches are not bent for the offset; they're forged with the offset angle already built in.

 

[wilbilt]

I like the old-school Snap-On OEX-series long combos. They are my favorite long combination wrench.

I like the S•K flare nut wrenches, plenty of toughness as well as a slimmer profile than the Snap_Ons.

I don't use double open ends much, but have a set of USA Husky that are pretty stout.

For double box, especially in deep offsets, I again prefer the Snap-On. Those Stahlwilles that Danglerb posted about recently look like they are worth investigating, too.

 

[Deafautotech]

i own craftsman wrenches (both matte and polish wrenches in both MM and SAE) and i starting to get snap on wrenches which i can find for cheap price.. i am starting like snap on wrench because it is light and box end are thinner than craftsman's wrenches... i can get in tight area where snap on wrench can fit while craftsman wrench will not fit...

 

[Danglerb]

I think the only way to know would be to have a selection and see what you tend to grab.

 

[krusty the clown]

i still like the old matco wrenches. the one made by bonney.

 

[Deafautotech]

i still like the old matco wrenches. the one made by bonney.

i have 2 bonney wrenches (one bonney as matte and one bonney as professional wrench) both is same size as 3/8 wrenches...

 

[Merkava_4]

i still like the old matco wrenches. the one made by bonney.

I used to wonder why they looked so similar; now I know why!

I have just 2 of their flare nut wrenches and really like them. The local hardware store many years ago used to stock the Bonney polished chrome combo wrenches; and one day they all disappeared. Whatever happened to Bonney anyway? Their wrenches had nice rounded beams like a CORNWELL.

 

[krusty the clown]

I used to wonder why they looked so similar; now I know why!

I have just 2 of their flare nut wrenches and really like them. The local hardware store many years ago used to stock the Bonney polished chrome combo wrenches; and one day they all disappeared. Whatever happened to Bonney anyway? Their wrenches had nice rounded beams like a CORNWELL.

they went out of business in 1995

 

[krusty the clown]

yes they are! i have been buying them up.....i now a have 2 sets of longs and 1 set of shorts plus several open and boxed wrenches. still looking for a set of metric from 8-19.

 

[RenegadeEngr]

JH Williams!

 

[Jononon]

Those Stahlwilles that Danglerb posted about recently look like they are worth investigating, too.

I'm not convinced by them. As I've said before, I'm very pleased with my Stahlwille sockets and the ratchets, while not my favourite for 'feel', are of very high quality indeed. The wrenches, though, have dished sides that are hard to get used to and trap dirt. I've little doubt they'll last forever, and there's something about Stahlwille's 12pt design that grips fasteners in a very positive way, but this is one area where I'm probably going to stick to Snap-on.

 

[wilbilt]

I'm not convinced by them. As I've said before, I'm very pleased with my Stahlwille sockets and the ratchets, while not my favourite for 'feel', are of very high quality indeed. The wrenches, though, have dished sides that are hard to get used to and trap dirt. I've little doubt they'll last forever, and there's something about Stahlwille's 12pt design that grips fasteners in a very positive way, but this is one area where I'm probably going to stick to Snap-on.

I am not a fan of the general design of the Stahwille wrenches, as I have said in the past. The "series number" on them is confusing, as it could easily be mistaken for the size if one is in a hurry.

The ones I am talking about have a very short and deep offset and look like they could be useful in some situations.

 

[wilbilt]

yes they are! i have been buying them up.....i now a have 2 sets of longs and 1 set of shorts plus several open and boxed wrenches. still looking for a set of metric from 8-19.

On the subject of Bonney, I once had a set of double box wrenches with a deep offset on one end and zero offset (straight) on the other.

Both ends were the same size. They were very old, and one of the wrenches was cracked. I let the whole set go for cheap, and have regretted it ever since.

 

[SteveU]

Since all I had before was raised panel craftsman I would say it is a tossup between the SK & Gearwrench depending on the application.

 

[Rickster]

On the subject of Bonney, I once had a set of double box wrenches with a deep offset on one end and zero offset (straight) on the other.

Both ends were the same size. They were very old, and one of the wrenches was cracked. I let the whole set go for cheap, and have regretted it ever since.

I have a couple of wrenches like that, they're BluePoints

 

[Uncle Buck]

I have a couple of wrenches like that, they're BluePoints

I bet if you check the SO date code chart you will find those were likely made in the late 1920's or early 1930's.

 

[Jononon]

The [Stahlwille] ones I am talking about have a very short and deep offset and look like they could be useful in some situations.

Ah, yes, I think I know the ones. Sorry, I misinterpreted your earlier post. They do look very useful, with the 75 degree 'shoulder'. Not outrageously expensive, either, $156 for the nine piece set.

These ? -

 

[eschoendorff]

I'm not convinced by them. As I've said before, I'm very pleased with my Stahlwille sockets and the ratchets, while not my favourite for 'feel', are of very high quality indeed. The wrenches, though, have dished sides that are hard to get used to and trap dirt. I've little doubt they'll last forever, and there's something about Stahlwille's 12pt design that grips fasteners in a very positive way, but this is one area where I'm probably going to stick to Snap-on.

I too do not understand the fascination with Stahlwille. I just fail to see what makes them any better than anything else out there....

 

[Jononon]

I too do not understand the fascination with Stahlwille.

I think I do understand the fascination, to a degree, I'm just not sure it's really justified. Some European tools do look and feel rather different to the norm, especially in the US, which lends them at least a novelty value.

In an age of globalisation (ie. Chinese rubbish), this doesn't do their appeal any harm, either:

I just fail to see what makes them any better than anything else out there....

For the most part, nothing. The same could be said of Snap-on, MAC, Cornwell, Knipex, Wiha... they're not imbued with magical qualities, they're just very good tools across almost the whole range.

Having said that, though, just as Flank Drive Plus gives Snap-on something nobody else can really match, in my experience so far the Stahlwille sockets do live up to their billing. I don't have an objective measure, but subjectively the 12pt sockets seem to grip fasteners at least as well as 6pt from other manufacturers.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I am not particularly drawn to the design of the Stahlwille line. I have many deep offset box wrenches such as the one depicted above by various manufacturers that I have bought used through the years; sometimes I find applications where such wrenches are invaluable! But getting back to Stahlwille I just am not impressed with their design, for the money I can think of countless other brands who's tool designs I prefer, including the often less than desireably spoken of Craftsman line!

 

[jay50]

Whats everybodys favorite brand of wrench, not just for quality, but for comfort and finish as well.

Favorite band?....Whatever is on sale (cheapest) at time of need....