How often do you use...

[kartracer55]

offset box wrenches? Im contemplating buying a set, but Im not sure. For example, I ran into a situation today and I needed to hold the nut on one side. The only thing I could use was an offset box wrench... Swivel sockets wouldnt fit, crowsfoot wouldnt work, the slight offset box and open end on a combo wrench wouldnt work, so I had to use a deep offset box end wrench. Got me thinking, I only own one offset box wrench, which I found at a swap-meet and bought for 1$ (Impulse buy... SK, looked new, so I said what the hell)

Does anybody really use these often? Theres a set of metric and standard craftsman pro's up to 15/16 and 23mm for 80$, and there are some new sets listed cheaper on ebay. Is it worth it? This is one tool I really havent had much of a use for, but I can honestly say my life would have gotten much more difficult had I not had it.

Being that I have only had a need for them a few times, Im unsure of whether I should try to pick up a set on sale sometime or maybe look for a decent deal on ebay. Just not sure if its worth it

Jim

 

[bmwpower]

I love them. I have a set of Craftsman offsets. They've helped save my knuckles a bunch of times.

No reason you can't use them for jobs that require a straight wrench, too.

 

[eschoendorff]

You know, I was thinking the same thing. My dad loves his... but in your situation, why don't you just use a breaker bar and a deep socket?

That being said, there is a set of Proto 500 offset box wrenches on ebay every once in a while that I have been contemplating...

 

[milly]

I have been thinking about getting a set also. They come in handy everyonce in a while and if I had them, I wouldn't have to go another route. If you are building a large tool set as you go, you might as well get a set. It's not like you'll never use them.

 

[chevy302dz]

I have the Craftsman sets and use them all the time. Another type worth getting are the short deep offset wrenches, these also come in handy more often than you would think

 

[Kevin54]

Not something that you use on a daily basis but really worth it when you need one. Look for a decent set on Ebay or some of the other swap places. Craigslist, etc. I know that when I was doing work on my other truck they were a valuable asset when getting into tight places.

Kevin

 

[Rickster]

I have both the short offsets and the deeper offsets. Having just recently added the deeper offset's I find myself reaching for these more because it seems easier to get a hand-hold being a bit further away from the work.

 

[May Pop]

Stop being a cheapskate and get a set of Craftsmen. You will find your grabbing them often cause they are long ,better leverage





Ron

 

[wilbilt]

I have several, and they are what I reach for most. I wish I had a full set, but they are just old oddballs. I would be lost without them, though.

 

[TNToy]

Stop being a cheapskate and get a set of Craftsmen.

Ron

He's a mechanic. Craftsman IS what cheapskate mechanics buy.

None of my wrenches say craftsman on 'em. Because, like most pro wrenches (aka tool snobs) I've got to be cool and only buy tools off the trucks. Don't you know anything?

And Sears wrenches are short. The 'Short' wrenches off the troll trucks are about craftsman lengths, the standard/long pattern ones are a good bit longer.

The Long Matco's in metric (SRBDLM5T) are $113...
The SAE ones are about the same...

Why do you keep on buying SK/Craftsman stuff that's not really that much cheaper? (seriously).

You can't get them warrantied when dude comes to you, and you can't give the Sears store $20/week on them. I'm curious. Are you not planning on doing this all that long? Just paying your way through school? If so, then I'd be doing what you're doing too.

 

[wilbilt]

He's a mechanic. Craftsman IS what cheapskate mechanics buy.

Although I did buy a few C'man tools during the years I spent smashing my knuckles, I never bought any wrenches from Sears. I just didn't like the feel of them. Most wrenches were from Snap-On, and I have many others that have outlived more than one mechanic (or two).

As far as offset box wrenches, I have a 5/8" x 3/4" Blue Point long deep offset from the late 1920s that is my favorite wrench. It wore out two other guys, and I failed to wear it out during 20 years of hard daily use, so I guess I'll be the third.

It just has the perfect length and balance, and is what I reach for when I need a 3/4". Oh, well...enough reminiscing....I just love that damn wrench.

 

[Ryan87LX]

I have the same situation with ratcheting wrenches. There have only been a couple of times when my life would've been better had I owned a set. But, that's the way tools are. There is something rewarding about reaching into the toolbox and finding that perfect tool to accomplish the job.

 

[Rickster]

There is something rewarding about reaching into the toolbox and finding that perfect tool to accomplish the job.

Amen! ... and the only way to do that is to have as many tools as possible!

 

[eschoendorff]

Amen! ... and the only way to do that is to have as many tools as possible!

Amen to that. But first, I needs mo money!