Inexpensive individual wrenches

[mike93lx]

I have a few gaps in my wrench set that I'd like to fill. Almost all are USA craftsman from the 90's, but I don't care if they match. Hobbyist use only, so cost is important.

Who would you recommend going to? Not interested in scouting yard sales and pawn shops, just want to order online or hit up a local shop (Napa, Advance, O'Reilly's, Autozone, Lowe's, HD, etc)

 

[AS556]

Tekton or Proto if you want USA

 

[tym]

I have a few gaps in my wrench set that I'd like to fill. Almost all are USA craftsman from the 90's, but I don't care if they match. Hobbyist use only, so cost is important.

Who would you recommend going to? Not interested in scouting yard sales and pawn shops, just want to order online or hit up a local shop (Napa, Advance, O'Reilly's, Autozone, Lowe's, HD, etc)

Have you taken a look at the Classifieds? I'll bet other GJ members could hook you up.

 

[bwringer]

It's quite likely that you'll find a set is cheaper than three or four individual wrenches.

If there are Meijer stores in your neck of the woods, they have individual Tekton wrenches on the shelf. Or you can order from Amazon or Tekton.com .

Carlyle at Napa is a strong choice, too.

bLowe's stocks Chinesium inhabiting the hollowed-out zombie corpse of the Craftsman brand that would at least look like your other stuff, if that's important. However, I'm not sure whether they have individual wrenches or whether a set makes more sense; the store near me is a complete mess, so it's hard to tell.

 

[mike93lx]

Have you taken a look at the Classifieds? I'll bet other GJ members could hook you up.

No, haven't looked. I'll see what sizes I'm missing an look at posting an add.

I get frustrated every time I need wrenches and would like to just sort it out. Part of me just wants to place an order and be done

 

[Ohmthis]

Look at harryjepstien, there is a sticky at the top of this page. I have bought individual Wright wrenches from them. Good prices, American made (if that’s important to you), and a small family owned business. They take pride in their job too, kinda hard to find that anymore.

 

[BarryWells]

Lotsa guys here should have duplicates for you---good ones. Twertz should have thousands

 

[netbrad]

I've used this forum, Harry J. Epstein, Cripe Distributing and Ebay to round out sets or buy inexpensive sets. Mostly Craftsman but I filled in some missing Kobalt as well.

 

[sberry]

The farm type stores stock those and NAPA has China stuff that is cheap and very good. Some places have as little as 1.50. I like them, some are brutally tough. I have about 50 I use in ruff service.

 

[driz]

Tecton! Kobalt. Lowe’s is cleaning out their remaining kobalt stuff on sale. I love my 6 pt Quarter inch sockets. I’ve been beating mine with impact driver 7 years now, no issues. Great tools IMO.


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[zmotorsports]

When I need one for a specific tool or something I just grab a Carlyle from NAPA. Very good quality yet not going to break the bank.

 

[Danglerb]

Advantage to owning a set vs mixed set, easier to guess size progression.

I'm too OCD for a mixed set, sure I have lots of mixed brand and type wrenches, but for sets, nah, I hunted down and replaced Champion (something like that) that came in a set of Proto Pro wrenches.

 

[mike93lx]

Advantage to owning a set vs mixed set, easier to guess size progression.

I'm too OCD for a mixed set, sure I have lots of mixed brand and type wrenches, but for sets, nah, I hunted down and replaced Champion (something like that) that came in a set of Proto Pro wrenches.

I would prefer a full set too. I have to see how far off I am.

For some reason, I have never had a decent wrench set but I'm needing them more lately and am sick of messing around.

I don't make money with my tools, just save money, so there is a limit to how much I want to put into them.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I picked up a bunch of Kobalt on clearance to fill gaps in my sets, but typically if I need an odd size I've found the individual Husky wrenches at HD are cheaper than anywhere else.

 

[cjarvis]

If you're interested in the NAPA Carlyle wrenches, I'd encourage you to look at the wrenches imported by Channellock. Same wrench for significantly less $$.

You can order them online or get them from a Do It Best Hardware.

 

[CrazyTools]

I have a few gaps in my wrench set that I'd like to fill. Almost all are USA craftsman from the 90's, but I don't care if they match. Hobbyist use only, so cost is important.

Who would you recommend going to? Not interested in scouting yard sales and pawn shops, just want to order online or hit up a local shop (Napa, Advance, O'Reilly's, Autozone, Lowe's, HD, etc)

+1 to the Proto wrenches. Very high quality. The Craftsman USA wrenches don't usually go for much on eBay.

 

[mike93lx]

Thanks guys. I looked and just need a couple, including one I ordered from Blains (check out Hot Deals for a clearance link). I'll poke around for the remainder.

Next are new ratcheting to replace the **** craftsmans I have

 

[sberry]

I think it's easier when they are all different. They have personalities and different features.

 

[sberry]

I am not predj. Can see the Thorn and Olympia look like they came from the same die.

 

[sberry]

This was under several brands, used to be Olympia. These are really tuff. They spring some. The worst was USA Lectrolite. I could hand bend the beams. The one in pic 2 I intentionally busted with a cheater, actually snapped the beam yanking on it with additional foot long handle. Wayyyyy beyond the strest a human could unassisted.

 

[gatlibs]

I'd say that individual Kobalt from Cripe Distributing will be your best opportunity. By the way, I don't think that any Tekton wrenches are made in U.S.A., except the new angled double open ones.

 

[tonyprovo723]

You have lots.of answers here. What sizes / range are you looking for? Metric or SAE?

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[Fedwrench]

Visit cripe distributing's ebay store. You can get nos KD,Allen, Kobalt, Armstrong, and others for a few bucks a shot depending on size.

 

[AS556]

Whatever you do stay the **** away from the garbage India Kobalt wrenches they are selling today. Only tool I've ever returned due to poor quality.

 

[mike93lx]

You have lots.of answers here. What sizes / range are you looking for? Metric or SAE?

Sent from my SM-G965U using The Garage Journal mobile app

On Metric, I am good from 6MM to 19MM, except 9MM and 18MM, neither of which I think I have ever come across while working on something, so I'm not concerned.
On SAE, I'm now good from 1/4 to 1-1/2 except for 7/8, 15/16, and 1-3/8. I can't imagine ever encountering anything that large that I wouldn't be able to get a socket and impact on anyway, so again, not concerned.

 

[tym]

On Metric, I am good from 6MM to 19MM, except 9MM and 18MM, neither of which I think I have ever come across while working on something, so I'm not concerned.
On SAE, I'm now good from 1/4 to 1-1/2 except for 7/8, 15/16, and 1-3/8. I can't imagine ever encountering anything that large that I wouldn't be able to get a socket and impact on anyway, so again, not concerned.

If you work on Fords, you might want the 18mm. My 2013 Mustang uses 18mm fasteners on some suspension parts.

I'm in Metrowest too.

 

[LS3]

USA Williams, not the cheapest but nice. My absolute favorite are the wrightgrips, again not cheap.
My vote would be for the napa Carlyle wrenches, I have a few and they are very nice!

 

[mike93lx]

If you work on Fords, you might want the 18mm. My 2013 Mustang uses 18mm fasteners on some suspension parts.

I'm in Metrowest too.

That's almost all I do, actually. Recent brake and suspension work on a flex and an escape. Don't remember needing an 18,but I could be wrong. Well, guess I will have to fill that one in.

Funny to see someone so close by on a big forum.

Mike

 

[KnurledNut]

On Metric, I am good from 6MM to 19MM, except 9MM and 18MM, neither of which I think I have ever come across while working on something, so I'm not concerned.
On SAE, I'm now good from 1/4 to 1-1/2 except for 7/8, 15/16, and 1-3/8. I can't imagine ever encountering anything that large that I wouldn't be able to get a socket and impact on anyway, so again, not concerned.

Wouldnt hurt to have 7/8 and 15/16. Especially if your metrics stop at 19. They will cover you for 22mm and 24mm. Oxygen sensors come to mind as an example.

 

[tonyciambrone]

Cripe distributing!

I bought Allen brand singles from 22 to 32mm. Great wrenches, great prices, great service. I shop from their eBay store and them email them what I want. They send me an invoice and I pay it.

 

[mike93lx]

Wouldnt hurt to have 7/8 and 15/16. Especially if your metrics stop at 19. They will cover you for 22mm and 24mm. Oxygen sensors come to mind as an example.

I do have 24,but not 22. Thanks, I'll add it to the list

 

[Tonyuk]

If you work on anything German you'll be needing a 13, 16 & 18 daily.

 

[mike93lx]

If you work on anything German you'll be needing a 13, 16 & 18 daily.

Thanks. No German cars (at least anymore, for now)

 

[sberry]

A guy should have 1 of every size in a set. 16, 17 are not real popular but come up on occasion. I could use a couple more 18.

 

[engineer2]

For those of you in the midwest, Menards is having a perpetual clearance sale on individual wrenches and sockets like Gearwrench, Crescent and a few other brands. What's left is mostly odd metric sizes and SAE. Finally found a 19 mm Gearwrench I needed. $11 was about the same as Amazon, but I was there anyhow.

 

[mike93lx]

A guy should have 1 of every size in a set. 16, 17 are not real popular but come up on occasion. I could use a couple more 18.

To be fair, you are working your **** off on a farm.

I am an accountant that does my own brakes and fixes stuff around the house. Our needs are a but different

 

[gatlibs]

I have used 18mm on a Ford caliper. I'd say that I've seen some places where 15/16" in a wrench was needed for fitment.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

I worked on European cars as kid , I'm retired now. A lot of the machinery I worked on was metric. But when I ran into a 18mm on my truck, it was a WTF moment. It kinda makes sense , 12mm + 50%= 18mm. Then there is 12mm and 15mm also, 8mm+50%=12mm, 10mm+50%=15mm. Instead of the 19mm,13mm and 17mm. A guy's got to have every damm size now.

 

[ChrisLS8]

I will always recommend the William's Supercombos from ToolsDelivered. Superb on both ends

 

[theoldwizard1]

Shop eBay for older Made in USA Craftsman wrenches.