I need help…wrench and maybe mental

[afazz]

I’m looking for a 9mm ratcheting wrench that matches the length pattern of my Craftsman USA set. From the part numbers, craftsman skipped the 9mm entirely and never made one.

I’ve tried an Armstrong and Gearwrench and they’re both too long. Blue point is listed at 150mm, and I need something around 120-127mm (5”)

This is for the sole purpose of filling my wrench rack, hate or judge as you see fit

 

[TheToolEnthusiast]

Icon maybe?

 

[Meursault74]

Can't help with the wrenches, but I understand. I bought a set of Craftsman wood handled wood chisels years ago. 1". 3/4, and 1/2". I used them and they worked well for me and I liked them. The need then arose for a 1/4". So I ordered the 1/4" from the same series from Craftsman. The picture, model and handle looked the same on the Sears website. When I received it, to my "Horror" the chisel was completely different. I complained a little, then put it in the drawer and use it as intended when needed. I think they gave me a couple of bucks credit when I complained. They simply stopped making them like
the set I had, but failed to update the website. You'll get over it.
I snapped a picture for emotional support

 

[Bighead38]

 

[darkzero]

Craftsman did offer a USA one but as you know it never came in a set. The one I have is a smidge longer than the 10mm but it's shorter than the 11mm. Yup, going by the P/Ns one would think they never offered one & they probably didn't until later on.

I went through the same thing, my buddy gave me the set for my bday but it skipped sizes. Years later I decided to try & find the skipped sizes USA ones. I got lucky as at the time I found them all on ebay at the same time all from the same seller & for not a lot of money. Crazy how these days people are trying to sell older Craftsman stuff for ridiculous prices.

 

[darkzero]

Starting with the 8mm, p/n 42420, the numbers are consecutive skipping 9mm all the way up to 19mm. 19mm is 42430 & then 42431 is the 9mm.

 

[Jersey Drew]

If i may ask, what will you ever use it on? I cant remember EVER using a 9 mm anything

 

[darkzero]

I just used my 9mm today...... to take the photos for this thread.

 

[steaks&anvils]

If i may ask, what will you ever use it on? I cant remember EVER using a 9 mm anything

If the OP is anything like me, he will use it to fix his OCD...

 

[darkzero]

No offense to the OP but lets just say someone in his shoes did have OCD, what's worse..... finding a 9mm of the appropriate length to match their set but is not a Craftsman USA wrench or getting the 9mm Craftsman USA but it's longer than the 10mm?

 

[Tools4Me]

I feel your pain OP. I visually need my wrenches to match and taper by size correctly for me to enjoy looking at them. That's also why my most used wrench sets are always purchased in a brand with a healthy used market in case anything ever needs replacement. Luckily, I don't care if all my wrench sets are the same brand. I buy whatever brand makes the best particular wrench set for my needs.

If I were in your shoes and I couldn't find a suitable filler wrench, I would probably do one of two things. Since the correct 9mm wrench was made longer than the others, I would either stick the whole set on Ebay and buy a replacement set in a different brand, or I would throw away or repurpose the 8mm wrench somewhere else in the shop and remove the first two wrench slots from the storage rack. Within a couple weeks I would forget all about what I did and think it was always just a 10mm-19mm set of ratcheting wrenches.

For some reason I enjoy all the differences in brands, handles, etc. when I look at my plier racks and/or screwdrivers. I also don't care about everything matching when it comes to sockets. I have off brands filling in unmade chrome sizes, I have multiple brands of impact sockets filling in missing set sizes, I have a few 12pt sockets mixed in with my 6pt sets, etc. As long as I have complete and useful size ranges with no skips I am fine mentally. Any sizes above or below what I find useful get their socket storage pegs cut off the end of the socket rack so I don't have any unused pegs. That's good enough for me.

 

[afazz]

If i may ask, what will you ever use it on? I cant remember EVER using a 9 mm anything

As I stated in the original post, I will use it to complete my wrench collection

Thank you darkzero for the details, I will search eBay for the 42431! In the meantime, I'll try to decide if the length discrepancy will ruin the whole thing, in which case I'll sell the Craftsman set and buy something that includes a matching 9mm. This is all assuming I don't get involuntarily detained in a mental health facility before I find one!

 

[Dumber than lumber]

Can you just 3D print one? That would solve my OCD ... unless I needed to use it!!
Maybe paint it gold. LMAO

 

[Al Borland]

Nobody has said "Just buy another, complete set."
C'mon GJ, it's what we do.

 

[afazz]

For anyone else waiting patiently for the results, I finally found a Craftsman 42431 on eBay thanks to darkzero’s intel!

It doesn’t look to bad in the set. It’s pretty clearly made from the same forging as the 10mm, but with different broaching and ratcheting mechanisms.

 

[jsmeece]

OP, if you ever want to sell that 9mm reversible Armstrong ratcheting wrench, I will buy it. I could use an extra one.

 

[kaymccampbell]

If i may ask, what will you ever use it on? I cant remember EVER using a 9 mm anything

They're great for corroded and worn fasteners, as well as pal nuts.

And sometimes a friend brings over an unassembled POS cause they don't have the weird wrenches to fit the ******* size fasteners, made in whatever 3rd world hellhole produces 9mm nuts. Oh, look, Proudly made in USA.

 

[slowtwitch73]

You nutters need to come spend some time at my shop.. I will show you some things that will make any odd size 9mm concerns seem far far away.

 

[joel63]

For anyone else waiting patiently for the results, I finally found a Craftsman 42431 on eBay thanks to darkzero’s intel!

It doesn’t look to bad in the set. It’s pretty clearly made from the same forging as the 10mm, but with different broaching and ratcheting mechanisms.

Can't tell any difference. Enjoy.

 

[toolenthusiast]

Sometimes brake bleeders are 9mm

 

[sparky 1971]

Throw all the Craftsmans away and buy a complete set of another brand. Problem solved.