least $$$ pro quality wrenchs

[ct111]

who makes the least expensive pro quality wrench sets combo, stubby ,box end etc... and wheres the best place to buy them?

 

[Givl Reggin]

Craftsman Professional, Sears. Get 'em quick, while you can still get USA made product.

 

[wreckerman5357]

SK. Tooltopia.

 

[shoturtle]

If cost is a real concern and if you have no issues with coo from taiwan, the lowes kolbalt are excellent quality, and the finish of the chrome is great. They have both regular combo and stubby combo.

This is a nice metric combo set with color coding for metric and saw
http://www.lowes.com/webapp/wcs/sto...Kobalt 11-Piece Metric Combination Wrench Set

http://www.lowes.com/webapp/wcs/sto...-_-Kobalt 11-Piece SAE Combination Wrench Set

 

[geologist]

Craftsman Professional, Sears. Get 'em quick, while you can still get USA made product.

I second this. They feel amazing, and they're all metal (the selector isn't plastic like the new **** ratchets)

 

[back2class]

I would say SK or Wright.

 

[NinetyTwoFifty]

I would say Proto or Bahco.

 

[shoturtle]

I would go with the proto personally, they are really excellent wrenches.

 

[KLG73]

USA cman professionals.

 

[el tanque prohibido]

The question is: what qualifies for "pro quality?"

 

[shoturtle]

Very true, it is very subjective label pro quality. As all the brands so far mention makes an excellent combo wrench and stubby wrench. Then the ratcheting wrenches, the majority of them are from taiwan, and most of the brands just rebrand them. Only an couple of sets are not made in taiwan.

 

[stricht8]

Cman pro USA.

 

[greasemonkey44]

wright grip; they are some tough wrenches

 

[pipsters]

I've done a lot of work on my cars and so far wrenches are only used to hold bolts while I impact the nut off. IMO people on here put a LOT of energy into them (same as ratchets) when the reality is you won't use them as much as you'd think you will. I now use a small quiet 1/4" air ratchet for anything up to 14mm and anything above that I am most likely using a 1/2" impact on. Just my $0.02.

I have RP and Pro versions of Craftsman.

 

[wornoutoldman]

raised panel craftsman if cost is important otherwise wright

 

[camarotoolman]

Tools are like jobs, used to be only doctors, lawyers, and ball players, were " professionals" now every one is a pro at something. Realy an over used word lol

 

[MattPersman]

problem with RPs is they are short compared to many higher end wrenches, I am a "pro" and will use the longest wrench that will fit, I have stubbies if I need them

 

[reptilezs]

wright

 

[toolmaker1]

SK long pattern at tooltopia or Wrightgrip at Harrry Epstein.can't go wrong with either

 

[Roots]

The question is: what qualifies for "pro quality?"

Historically it was a matter of them significantly exceeding the minimum ANSI standards, while the cheaper lines focused on just meeting the ANSI standards. Granted, now the term just seems to be a marketing gimmick...

 

[warmpancakes]

Allen sae off ebay. 38 shipped for a 14 piece set

 

[cotjocky]

You didn't mention COO so if you don't care on that end, I'd say the Northern polished wrenches are a good quality wrench for the buck. Unlike a lot of places, they carry complete sets and you won't be left with gaps/skips like a lot of brands.

Metric standard wrenches 7mm-27mm with no skips. You can buy a 10-19mm set and fill in the rest with individual purchases. They offer a 32mm polish, but skip 28-31 for some reason. I really wish they at least offered a 30mm but they don't. 33mm-50mm is offered in satin finish with some skips in there.

7mm-22mm with the Metric stubbys, no skips. Buy a set of 10-19mm and fill in the rest with individual wrenches.

SAE standard wreches 1/4-1 1/4 with no skips. If you buy the set, it is from 1/4-3/4 and includes a 11/32, but no 9/32. You can buy 13/16, 7/8, 15/16, 1", 1 1/8 and 1 1/4 individually. They also offer satin finish from 1 5/16 up to 2". You can get from 2-2 1/2, but those are raised panel, not satin finish.

1/4-1" is offered in the stubbys. The set goes from 7/16-1" but skips 13/16 and 7/8. Those 2 and 1/4, 5/16 and 3/8 can be bought individually to complete the set.

The sets are reasonably priced, have a nice finish and fit and are a good quality wrench for the price they are offered at IMO.

They aren't Snap-on, but they also don't have the price tag that goes along with it.

 

[cgv69]

Craftsman Professional, Sears. Get 'em quick, while you can still get USA made product.

2 Problems with that...

A. Around here all the USA made CMan Pro wrenches are gone.
B. Even if you do find a set, what are you going to do when one of more of them break down the road (they can and do break). Best case, USA made CMan tools are a distant memory and you will be given a cheap Commie replacement or worse yet, Sears will be bankrupt by then and no longer in business.

If I was going to buy a new wrench set today and Snap On was out of the question, I would look to Williams, SK or Wright.

 

[Need4racin]

even harbor freight wrenches aren't bad. I don't think any major tool name makes a bad wrench. Now ratchets are a different story!

 

[eljefino]

^ HF has a budget line that are some horrific Indian/Chinese make, loose in a bag, that leave flakes of "chrome" on the shelf and in the bag.

Their better stuff... is better.