I've been researching Martin tools for the past few months and I'm not seeing very much feedback out there from folks that have used them. Does anyone have anything to share on the combination wrenches? I know they probably aren't the premier wrench line, but I'm definitely interested in another set as a backup to my Wrights and SKs for the road or something. What I really like is that they are USA Made and I would like to support American manufacturing. Are they worth the sky-high price tag?
Martin Combination Wrenches
- Thread starter VH5150
- Start date
Mohawk Dave
Well-known member
I want to know more as well. I have picked up some 2 inch and bigger wrenches and they seem to be of excellent quality. I'm surprised there's not more about them on this website.
When I pick them up at swap meets I get them really cheap because it is not a known name. And they look great as well. Not that that really matters. But who wants ugly tools.lol
When I pick them up at swap meets I get them really cheap because it is not a known name. And they look great as well. Not that that really matters. But who wants ugly tools.lol
Flinter987
Well-known member
I love my Martin needle nose pliers.... following!
vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Martin Tools are a great industrial tool where getting the job done is more important than how shiny the wrenches are or if you get a free hat for a thousand dollar wrench set is not what Martin is all about.
B_Bimmer
Well-known member
My brother has a huge set of martin double box wrenches. They are not as "finished" as snap on or proto, but they are what come out when there are pipes and large impact wrenches involved, because they can take it. Beefy wrenches to say the least. The only problem I have with them is they are in his box and not one of mine. I don't have more than one or two of their combination wrenches so I can't say much about those.
davethorik
Well-known member
I think Martin rebrands certain tools, most likely your pliers included. Their ratchets are made by Wright. I think they make their own wrenches, though.
Flinter987
Well-known member
Interesting! It's the best finished pair of pliers I've ever seen!
Who do you think makes them?
I think that's kind of what appeals to me is that "full polish" isn't the focus but rather a tough tough design to get the job done. Great idea about looking at swap meets. I've looked around a little on ebay but an entire set of combo wrenches is still pricey. Interesting thing is that I came across Martin while researching a Fairmount-Cleve wrench someone gave me.
Outnumbered76
Active member
I use Martin off set angle double open end wrenches all the time for hydraulic lines, double wrench with a box end, on and off and some times with hammer. They have held up for years. Price snap on off set angle double open wrenches from 1" to 3" some time. Martin makes some nice tools, they rebrand some things for other companies and some things are rebranded in the Martins name.
davethorik
Well-known member
I saw in your other post, they look sort of like WF to me. Hard to tell as I'm not a total pliers nerd.
Farmall450
Well-known member
Adjustables are WF so I think the later comment about their pliers being from them wouldn't be unreasonable.
I think the mention of sky high prices US mostly why there is little mention of them.
Cheap sells big numbers be it **** or decent enough. Mid range prices sell bling in decent numbers. Top prices on industrial finish marketed strictly to industry will be much harder to find until said industry fails and liquidates.
Cheap sells big numbers be it **** or decent enough. Mid range prices sell bling in decent numbers. Top prices on industrial finish marketed strictly to industry will be much harder to find until said industry fails and liquidates.
Their 30° wrenches are some of the finest available.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...MIvsWkkqeB2AIVx45-Ch3dcQeZEAQYAiABEgLD5vD_BwE
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...MIvsWkkqeB2AIVx45-Ch3dcQeZEAQYAiABEgLD5vD_BwE
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I like those 30 degree service wrenches too - I've been checking them out for awhile. Probably not a tool I'd use very often but I can see instances where it could come up and I like to have something when I need it. I think I'll go for it here soon but it's a matter of finding the best deal at this point. As far as the combo wrenches go, I'm thinking about just getting individual larger sizes to top off my Craftsman standard and metric sets. If I'm remembering right my standard set only goes to 3/4" and the metric goes to 16mm I believe. They came with a 225 piece tool set in blow-molded case my wife got for me a long time ago. Anyways, the Martins would be a good add-on because of the finish and they are 12-points like my Craftsmans. Honestly, do I need them (I have several other wrench sets already) - No, but it's an excuse to try out Martins without breaking the bank and I'll use them around the garage or on the road if I need something heavy. And they're all USA which I really like.
I ordered some Martin tools from Amazon some time last year.
The combo wrenches got returned since the 11/16th's open end had some flashing (left over from forging?) that hadn't been removed and kept it from fitting on the fastener. I think the 3/8 wrench was also much rougher than the other wrenches. Not big deals since mistakes happen, but I was a bit surprised for the price these cost this stuff would have slipped through. I just didn't have a big need for these wrenches and figured I'd be better off getting my money back. If I had needed them, I probably would have just kept and used them.
From what I remember of the socket sets, the sockets were a mix of older Wright (more of a sating chrome than newer Wright and come had a single detent hole) and some Armstrong (double detents). The breaker bar and extensions looked like Wright. In my instance the ratchets did not look like my Wright round heads and I think might have been Pro America, but I cannot be sure.
I ended up returning the socket sets because I was kind of disappointed with what I got. In retrospect, I should have just hung onto them since I think most of my complaints were based on visuals and being used to brands that put more work into making tools look nice. I bought them on sale, but at regular prices I would rather buy Wright or Proto if all their socket sets are like the ones I got. That said, I do have some Martin tools I have kept.
Their angle wrench set I have looks good and was nicer done than those combo wrenches. I haven't had a need for them yet, so I cannot say how well they perform.
I should go check, but I'm pretty sure their pliers are Western Forge since they look like my Western Forge made Craftsman pliers. Same goes for their adjustable wrench.
The combo wrenches got returned since the 11/16th's open end had some flashing (left over from forging?) that hadn't been removed and kept it from fitting on the fastener. I think the 3/8 wrench was also much rougher than the other wrenches. Not big deals since mistakes happen, but I was a bit surprised for the price these cost this stuff would have slipped through. I just didn't have a big need for these wrenches and figured I'd be better off getting my money back. If I had needed them, I probably would have just kept and used them.
From what I remember of the socket sets, the sockets were a mix of older Wright (more of a sating chrome than newer Wright and come had a single detent hole) and some Armstrong (double detents). The breaker bar and extensions looked like Wright. In my instance the ratchets did not look like my Wright round heads and I think might have been Pro America, but I cannot be sure.
I ended up returning the socket sets because I was kind of disappointed with what I got. In retrospect, I should have just hung onto them since I think most of my complaints were based on visuals and being used to brands that put more work into making tools look nice. I bought them on sale, but at regular prices I would rather buy Wright or Proto if all their socket sets are like the ones I got. That said, I do have some Martin tools I have kept.
Their angle wrench set I have looks good and was nicer done than those combo wrenches. I haven't had a need for them yet, so I cannot say how well they perform.
I should go check, but I'm pretty sure their pliers are Western Forge since they look like my Western Forge made Craftsman pliers. Same goes for their adjustable wrench.
earlthegoat2
Well-known member
The pliers look exactly like the more recent Craftsman (Western Forge).
If the wrenches are made by Wright, its from the reject pile.
If the wrenches are made by Wright, its from the reject pile.
Any chance the Martin tools from Amazon were from an overstock/seconds reseller? SK socket sets suffered the same fate of too many expectations of a super premium product at bargain basement prices from a liquidator outlet.
My rule is if premium quality and finish is a high priority always buy only after inspection. Ebuys do not permit this and going lowest price point guaranteed they are not premium product.
My rule is if premium quality and finish is a high priority always buy only after inspection. Ebuys do not permit this and going lowest price point guaranteed they are not premium product.
Farmall450
Well-known member
Very good point. It kinda ***** for sellers when guys return tools bought sight unseen that weren't pretty enough.
I dealt with Amazon customer service when returning them, so as far as I know, they were the seller. I don't think this stuff was seconds, but it being my first experience wit Martin tools, I couldn't say for sure.
I probably jumped the gun on returning the stuff since later Martin purchases, like my angle wrenches seemed well made. I'm used to industrial tools being like Proto or newer Wright where they may not be pretty, they still are well made and reasonably well finished. The mixed brand socket sets kind of caught me off guard since I had never seen Wright sockets from when they had a dull finish and lacked off corner engagement. I assumed Martin made these sockets and filled in with Armstrong in places for some reason. More recently I got some older Wright sockets and realized they were the same.
Knowing what I know now about Martin tools I likely would have kept more of it since most of it I got for sale prices, but at least when it comes to their socket sets, I think I'd look elsewhere if paying normal price and couldn't look at what I was buying first. I do plan on going with Martin when I get around to buying some metric angle wrenches.
It's been awhile since I revisited this thread. I took the plunge and ordered a 1-1/2" Martin Combo wrench to use with my ball hitches. Hasn't come in yet but when it does maybe I'll put a review here. I hated forking over the $75 for a wrench I've never actually seen in person, but I guess that's about the only way to get Martin stuff for me since I don't know anyone around here personally that has them. More to come...