how many wrenches does a person need?

[street131]

Hello, i have been curious for awhile and many of you old timers can probably answer this for me. How many sizes of combo wrenches do i need in my toolbox when working as a autotech. I have up to 1-1/8 and up to 22mm already, how far do i have to go up?

 

[joenero]

For a standard auto tech you can do most work I've found with up to 1 1/4" and 24mm.

Then again, that's most stuff I've run into. At work my standard wrenches are still in the box waiting to be used so I can still sell them as new if need be. I get more variety as side work.

 

[warpedredneck]

in my car box (i'm an auto tech and a heavy truck tech)
any way my car box goes up to 1 7/16, gm fan clutch size
in metric in the car box up to 30 mm in wrenches
for sockets car box up to 1 5/16
metric up to 38mm

 

[Fedwrench]

As many as you can afford and can make space for....

Actually, it's not the size it's the type of wrench. You might need certain types of wrenches for performing specific tasks on certain applications. Examples, extra long zero offset, flex head, stubby flex, deep box end, crowfoot, etc.

Back to sizes, depending on what you work on, you'll probably need 1 1/4 for some AC lines and suspension fasteners. I've never used a 23mm wrench but, I have used a 24mm wrench.
The workhorse sizes are 8-19mm and 5/16 to 7/8. Everything else is as needed.

How big do your sockets run? Axles nuts run large depending on application.

 

[Tim Cowan]

Two of every kind is the best way to go.........One for the BOLT, and One for the NUT.
Next you need a torch or air chisel for things that do not cooperate.

 

[z28snksknr]

Usually one size larger than your biggest size.

 

[seth_man]

Enough to get the jobs you do done. i know a toyota master tech that seriously has 10 wrenches at work. i work on every make of car so i have to have a larger selection of wrenches to get the jobs done.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Almost all my stuff is metric, my wrenches go from 5.5mm to 41mm. I believe the largest i've needed was a 46mm for a Mercedes-Benz driveshaft. I used a pipe wrench instead.

 

[cruiser808]

Almost all my stuff is metric, my wrenches go from 5.5mm to 41mm. I believe the largest i've needed was a 46mm for a Mercedes-Benz driveshaft. I used a pipe wrench instead.

Spot on Moose. A 46mm open end is needed to uncouple the driveshaft on MB's, at least the older ones. Since a 46mm open end wrench is quite hard to find in the USA without special order and big $$$, I settled for a Proto 1-13/16 combo. Does the job well.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I agree with the at least two of each size rule until you get to the really big sizes. I found that the designer usually gets smart on the big sizes and makes the nut and bolt one size different. I know it is allot more but I would get at least one set of standard sizes in Snap-on because the head is a little thinner that all of the other brands I've tried, and I have run into a couple situations where the snap on wrench was the only one I could use. Besides it it classens up your box,

You also need to get different types of wrenches such as offset box, flairnut, stubby, two angle open end.

As a rule I usually stay away from gimmick wrenches that seem to come out around Christmas every year. My wife bought me a set of those open end wrenches that you can swing back and forth like a ratchet. I think I used them once or twice before I dubbed them useless.

Chris

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Spot on Moose. A 46mm open end is needed to uncouple the driveshaft on MB's, at least the older ones. Since a 46mm open end wrench is quite hard to find in the USA without special order and big $$$, I settled for a Proto 1-13/16 combo. Does the job well.

A wise man you are, this was an '85 230E. You need both a 41mm and a 46mm, one to hold the shaft and the other to tighten the nut, i forget which way around though.

Of course, you can use a pipe wrench, or apply the handbrake to lock the rear wheels (and therefore driveshaft too) and only tighten the nut.

 

[Mickey O]

That's like asking how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?

 

[snapmom]

There is always one more that I do not have.

 

[sberry]

Depends on the nature of the work but I for one don't have extensive collection of specialty stuff. I will buy or make as needed but don't have complete collections of every imaginable version. I like common combination wrenches if possible and the collection of a few that others that have advantages over others for difficult circumstances.
This does include a selection of about 10 Snap-Ons 6 point box in the smaller sizes. After that collection of 3 or 4 sets sockets complete with 6 point in the small sizes with various extensions in 3/8 drive, a couple ratchets and 3/8 air ratchet. 1/2 air gun, ratchet, breaker bar and couple socket sets with extension and then pick off the specialty items as needed, wobbles, etc, usually from auto parts store. I bought 2 sets of 3/8, 6 pieces from after market for 25$ sale flier, ATD, with locking ball on the drive end, wobble. I got a couple in SK too but they really get the use and never had a problem with them. Start using the stuff and go from there.
I tend to find that the longer I wrench the more simple I can get. You need some money in your pocket to buy other things as they come up or I buy on sale, buy starter sets and go from there. Snap ring pliers are a classic example, buy a 50$ set in a box and go from there. All the high use stuff first, Channeloks, vise grips, hammers. Its about impossible to have too much of it. ha

 

[sberry]

I got this truck, realized I didn't have metric allens, somehow it hit me as I ended up in a Walmart to look, 14 dollar$, I bought them with the thought that they were somewhat disposable at that price figuring if it didn't work that afternoon I could call up something better from the jobber, years ago, did the job and never did replace them. Paid for themselves in 30 minutes and used them a couple hundred times since.
I bought a set of Torks on sale from ACE hdw flyer one day, were super and have outlasted a lot of "good" ones. Just a minute ago I use a 29$ General electronic caliper that work for years, replaced a 300$ Sharp that wasn't worth fixing.

 

[sberry]

I been building my collection since I was 10. Most of my stuff is USA because that was what was there and 30+ years ago the choices were different, import stuff was junk. Today the quality is so good and the price so ridiculously low that it makes it a viable option for those to make a living with a 129$ socket and wrench set.
I believe its even better for some of our businesses to buy this Pittsburg socket set for 129$ than to do without. It makes it so the poor can afford a common wrench set. Just imagine the cost to labor and business if the worlds work all needed a 1300$ socket set? Just like the computer, made in China but the low cost make it affordable and on a desktop for vast amounts of business.
China hand tool cost force Sears, Home Depot to price low enough to be a viable option.

 

[comedyman809]

i have a baler(bales shredded paper) with 1-15/16" size nuts on the bale tension adjustment.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

That's like asking how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?

That depends entirely on your tongue. I have a Tootsie Pop upstairs, will report back later.

 

[BWright]

Depends on how big your tool box is.

 

[sberry]

If I lost it all in a fire tonight and needed to work in the morning I might be tempted to pass up the tool truck, march right up to the Walmart Super center and for a 20 dollar bill buy a set of end wrenches off the shelf.
On some level I think its a bargain to build something that good considering the raw materials, be able to vend it at will of the customer for a dollar a unit in set prices. On some days I am thrilled with taking advantage of low prices, I am grateful I can buy a proven 3/4 impact socket, warranty and all from my parts jobber for 3$. If it was 30$ I am awfully tempted not to buy it. At 3$ I might buy 2 if I thought it would have productive value.

 

[sberry]

Adjustable wrenches are a place where it was easy to see the rise of quality over time. 30 yrs ago a general import wouldn't have cut it, now with some branding of their own and spec by purchasing in this country they have improved to the difference being almost imperceptible. Sockets have come a long way. Screwdrivers, you can buy 20 for 12$ from a flea mkt vendor trying to make a living, 25 years ago they would have been useless, today useful for many years at disposable prices. I still got stuff in service where someone gave me stuff from sets, etc, got a couple screwdrivers use by a couple men weekly that were 50 cents when they were new 20 yrs ago. Rest of them gone or broke, don't matter, those 2 earned their keep, depreciated a hundreds of times over.
Over the years I bet I bought a half a dozen 10 piece 3/8 deep socket sets on sale from Sears, Craftsman, most a set here or there for 10$ or so.
I was in a shop where things were pitiful, I finally drag the owner down to Sears, one of the things we got was 24 piece wrench set for 23$ on some clearance.

 

[comedyman809]

ratchetng wrenches all the way.!!!!

i rarely use my combo wrenches anymore, once i bought the gear wrenches, the regular wrenches just look so nice in the box sitting all nice and neat untouched.

 

[jeepnut24]

I don't know how many I really need, but after this last project, I NEED as set of ratcheting wrenches. I could have save so much time.

 

[sberry]

I should get some ratchet wrenches. Most of our import stuff has just kind of creeped in. People give me stuff, some bought on demand or remote loctions and in equipment tool boxes. Some of it worked hard and still around. Easy to insure against loss or rusted up sitting in a tool box somewhere.

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

I don't have what I need and I will never have all I want.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I don't have what I need and I will never have all I want.

We're in the same boat..

 

[Griff93]

I use up through a 36mm on a regular basis.

 

[Old Donn]

ratchetng wrenches all the way.!!!!

i rarely use my combo wrenches anymore, once i bought the gear wrenches, the regular wrenches just look so nice in the box sitting all nice and neat untouched.

I agree, with one exception. I'll use a regular box wrench on an extra stubborn fastener. Once it's loose, then use a ratcheting.

As far as how many, there is no such thing as too many.

 

[greenreese]

I work on bicycles and have nearly 100 wrenches at work. 7 different 15mm's, 8 different 10mm's and so on. I probably only really need about 30 of them, but hey...

 

[ovilla]

I find that it's best to make sure all of the larger sizes are part of my impact socket set. Many times I don't even bother trying to put a large socket on a cheater bar. I just put the correct impact socket on my IR2135ti and loosen or tighten it accordingly.

Anyway, I do agree that you need at least two of each of the normal sized stuff.

 

[crewchief888]

Hello, i have been curious for awhile and many of you old timers can probably answer this for me. How many sizes of combo wrenches do i need in my toolbox when working as a autotech. I have up to 1-1/8 and up to 22mm already, how far do i have to go up?

ive worked on construction equipment for 25 years.
currently in my service truck i have
2 sets 3/8-1" comb wrenches
1 1/16 - 1 5/8 comb wrenches
3/8- 1 5/8 angle head
set of box end ratchet wrenches
extra 3/4, 11/16, 9/16, 1/2 wrenches
3/8-3/4 flex head wrenches

8-19mm flex heads
10- 32mm comb wrenches
10-19mm box end ratchets
extra 10,12,13mm comb wrenches

i have comb and angle heads to 2" and 3/4 dr sockets to 2 1/2 that i dont curently use
i rarely use 3/4 drive so i just keep what i need on my truck.

for 90% of the field repairs that i do i can carry all the tools i need in a very small mechanics bag or in my back pocket.
for the other 10% of the jobs i use almost everything else i have !!

 

[TheCarbideRat]

Including crowsfeet, flare, adjustable, stubby, ratcheting, 6-point, 12-point, metric and standard, I would say a total of 21 sets of wrenches [up to 36mm and 1 1/2" SAE] is a master set. I have 13 sets of wrenches at work, 2 at home. I've been wrenching 20+ years.

 

[cp8737]

in metric i have up to 50mm for hydraulic fittings, i also have a 24" adjustable that opens up pretty darn big !!

 

[ibedayank]

how many wrenches do i need.... depends on what you work on
metric whitworth and sae pick on or all three I use all three you prolly wont whitworth is for older british stuff

 

[Hammer1963]

As many quality wrenches as you can find. A good answer would be ALL OF THEM

 

[Wrenchette]

What good would being WRENCHETTE without a LOT of wrenches!

 

[clutch93]

well since someone resurrected this thread and i'm seeing it now. i'll give my .02 I have up to 1 1/4 in SAE and 26mm metric for wrenches. I have up to 38mm in sockets for axle nuts. If I remember correctly I only had to borrow a socket bigger one time. something like 42mm, this was working on mostly european imports.

 

[TOOL MASTER]

if i had to guess i probably have over 300

 

[housey]

I'm a first year apprentice electrician/electrical fitter, so far I only have from 10-24mm in combination spanners, all of which get use.

I'm at the point where I need to get some smaller ones from 5mm-9mm, some heavy duty ring spanners from 27 up to 36mm and an imperial combination set from 1/4" to 1 and that should be all I need for most jobs I do

 

[biggie]

Depends on how big your tool box is.

i agree with you,no one mechanic has the same as another just depends on the mechanic......