KD tools USA made full polish combo wrenches
- Thread starter Steve_P
- Start date
littlekillertoad
Well-known member
If I remember correctly, they are almost identical. Even the stampings are really close. They're both owned by Danaher and it's altogether possible that they're both made in the same place.
mooman
Well-known member
I think they are shorter.
filtered
Well-known member
KD wrenches are shorter. They are the exact same wrenches as Allen though.
On the left is an Allen 15mm to it's right is a Craftsman Pro 15mm.
On the right is a KD 19mm to it's left is a Craftsman Pro 18mm.
cripedistributing.com has good prices on single wrenches. My KD stubbys, flares, and 19mm to 32mm combos came from them. The flares aren't high polished and the stubbys i'm missing a 10mm.
On the left is an Allen 15mm to it's right is a Craftsman Pro 15mm.
On the right is a KD 19mm to it's left is a Craftsman Pro 18mm.
cripedistributing.com has good prices on single wrenches. My KD stubbys, flares, and 19mm to 32mm combos came from them. The flares aren't high polished and the stubbys i'm missing a 10mm.
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thanks for the replies, and esp filtered for taking the pics. They look like nice wrenches.
Filtered: I assume they are all holding up ok (all 3 brands)?
I didn't know Allen marketed combo wrenches. Are they still available or being discontinued like the KDs?
Filtered: I assume they are all holding up ok (all 3 brands)?
I didn't know Allen marketed combo wrenches. Are they still available or being discontinued like the KDs?
Theloniousmonk
Well-known member
There is plenty of Allen stock at Mendards, but it seems Mendards has started to replace "Allen" w/ in-house "MasterForce" brand - same stuff as the Allen brand though, all US made per packaging and stamping on tools.
filtered
Well-known member
The Allens are discontinued just like the KDs. I've been trying to buy up what I can of them before they are completely gone. They are very nice wrenches and are holding up well so far, although the larger size KDs don't see much use. They were bought so i'd have them if I ever needed them and to get them while I still could.
The Craftsman Pros get the most use and they have been holding up just fine so far. Not sure how the new Chinese Cman Pros will do though.
Just figured i'd add i'm not a mechanic, I work on my own vehicles, friends, and family.
littlekillertoad
Well-known member
My bad, the KDs are shorter and now that I'm looking, the lettering is different too. Sorry bout that. I'll wait till I get home next time before relying on memory.
KD made combo wrenches in both 6 point and 12 point, and in both satin and polished finish. Not all sizes were available in all combinations of those. Unfortunately the KD web catalog doesn't show the full list of part numbers any more to figure out what was offered. As you can tell from the pictures, the satin is more of an old-school style, left a little textured from forging, and not the fine frosty sort of finish from some other brands. Personally I like that, its nice and functional, although the full polished finish is very nice.
Length is pretty similar to my fathers older set of Craftsman -V- raised panels.
Length is pretty similar to my fathers older set of Craftsman -V- raised panels.
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Buckgnarly
Well-known member
x2 on these guys, they helped me fill in many blank spots at dirt cheap prices. Ratcheting wrenches too.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
These are my favorite standard length wrenches. Be advised that there are two generations of fully polished KD combination wrenches. The first generation aren't nearly as nice as the last generation. They can be distinguished by a raised lip where the beam meets the base of the open end and carry the part number 636xx (where the ** equals the wrench size in mm). The last generation features off corner engagement on the boxed end, a squarer edged beam, and no raised lip where the beam meets the open end. They carry the part number 635xx in metric and 631xx in sae. There are lots of these wrenches floating around on Ebay for two reasons. First, KD supplied wrenches to the government on contracts going back from the 1980's until the demise of their hand tool division last year. Secondly, with the demise of the KD hand tool division, the wrenches were closed out by distributors. Supply is drying up though. The last generation are the same as the fully polished NAPA professional series (not the current chinese made NAPA wrenches). They are excellent wrenches that will serve you well.
In the picture below is a current KD 13mm wrench, a first generation KD 13mm wrench, a current KD 1/2 wrench and the current Allen branded, Chinese made wrench which is a twin to the evolve wrenches and new NAPA wrenches.
In the picture below is a current KD 13mm wrench, a first generation KD 13mm wrench, a current KD 1/2 wrench and the current Allen branded, Chinese made wrench which is a twin to the evolve wrenches and new NAPA wrenches.
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vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
KD labeled wrenches were just another Danaher brand but very well made US wrenches I would buy them in a second and they will work very well for years to come.
bw77
Well-known member
Is it true that all the 635xx wrenches are chrome finish and all the
636xx are satin finish?
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
no, see my other post, both series are fully polished. the 636xx I have are polished but they're not as nice as the newer 635xx series. Why the newer wrenches have a lower part number is beyond me but, they do.
I think they may have reused numbers - my satin finish 12 point metric wrenches are 636xx, and full polish 12 point are 635xx.
Also, FWIW, SAE 6 point satin are 638xx. The SAE 6 point polished is 634xx. For metric 6 point the 639xx was used for all of the polished and satin wrenches. I think the 12 point SAE used 631xx and 633xx for polished / satin.
Also, FWIW, SAE 6 point satin are 638xx. The SAE 6 point polished is 634xx. For metric 6 point the 639xx was used for all of the polished and satin wrenches. I think the 12 point SAE used 631xx and 633xx for polished / satin.
Hey guys, i'm in the market for a Metric and SAE full wrench set. I tracked down some KD old military stock on ebay for modest prices ($89-120) for full 21-23 pc sets. First, is that a fair price if it's the 2nd chrome production that is recommended here? Second, i'm having issues determining if it's the satin models that were just chromed over or if it's the new re-designed chrome set. From the two sets i'm looking at, they're both models with 63xx, but to me, look different. Hoping to get some feedback if they do in fact look different and if either of the two sets are the newer design style that is recommended. They're both 12pt btw I believe. Thanks for the help.
First set - 23pc, 63xxx model numbers, chrome
2nd set - 21pc, 63xxx model numbers, basically new (still ex-military stock). chrome
First set - 23pc, 63xxx model numbers, chrome
2nd set - 21pc, 63xxx model numbers, basically new (still ex-military stock). chrome
Dust Devil
Well-known member
I have one of those KD full polish sets up to 32mm and I love it. Put it right there with my snap on wrenches. I dont know what part # is off the top of my head but the wrenches are really nice.
^^^^^^^ same, I have 2 sets one k-d and one allen and I think they are great, jus to compare I also have full snappy facom and britool sets and love my allen and k-d as much as I love the snappy and facom
My k-d set is 6 to 32mm in a foam organiser that fits in my tool box tray perfectly.
My k-d set is 6 to 32mm in a foam organiser that fits in my tool box tray perfectly.