Matching wrenches or whatever works?

[ChevyEFI]

Are all your sets of wrenches matching? I.E. all SAE combinations are the same brand, style & points.

Or do you have a few that are unique?

Or is it just plain helter skelter?

I've got Craftsman; lost a few of those over the years, have some non-matching craftsman (6 vs. 12pt) mixed in, then some Napa, then a Blackhawk, a Husky? and Snap-On. So, I've been debating whether to replace what's missing or get a whole set. Which is part of why I read this forum a good amount. I'm actually not a fan of duplicates, as I've never worked "in a shop," only "from a truck" and that wasn't automotive.

 

[zkling]

I got a basic craftsman 5 sae 5 metric with a craftsman 1xx odd piece starter set for a present back in the day when I was 11 years old. I have built upon that since. However due to budget and being extremely tight waded I end up picking most of my fillers up at garage sales or the like. Unless I need a specific wrench right now type of deal. However I can say with pride that they are all made in the USA

 

[sberry]

I am a fan of what works with a dash of unique.

 

[shocksandstrutz]

i have a few odds and ends that are unique, but when it comes to the most commons, they are all in sets and branded alike, easy on the eyes to spot and grab in a moments notice.....and it looks good (had to put it in there)

 

[unslow1]

I have mostly sets. The sets are from several different makers.

 

[toolstools]

Mostly sets. My sockets are all over the place though bonded by my kobalt trays..

 

[cburnscrx]

I have matching sets for home and a hodge podge of wrenches for my travel tool box.

The home shop gets the Craftsman USA raised panel in both SAE and Metric and in both 6pt and 12pt. (yes, I have found the need for both).

The travel kit is Pittsburgh full polish with some ValuePro and Great Neck thrown in. All look similar but I really don't care if I misplace one or get one stolen.

I guess it's my OCD, but I really like having the matching sets in the shop, and even filled in the missing sizes.

 

[archirelic]

Several different matching sets, from various manufacturers. Some of the manufacturers I have are; Gearwrench, Craftsman, Armstrong, and Stanley.

 

[John in OH]

I have mostly sets. The sets are from several different makers.

+1 Always try to backfill with the same brand and style as the rest of the set, but, the brands of the sets vary .... Wright, Armstrong, Proto, NAPA, Cman.

 

[Thunderbisciut]

I go for matched sets, but I'm not picky about matching all the manufacturers. Proto ASD satin SAE combos, Proto 500 series polished metric combos, SK metric flare nuts, Armstrong ratcheting metrics, Bahco adjustables, mainly Blackhawk sockets with an Armstrong set, Sunex impacts, etc etc.

 

[maddawg1952]

4 or 5 differant boxes or mid chests in the garage and basement and try as hard as I can to keep the differant brands seperated, Lord knows I don't want to be woke up in the middle of the night by a brawl in my garage between an 1 1/4" snappy and a c-man over whos the top drawer.

 

[crewchief888]

i'm pretty much all over the place,

snap on
matco
assorted mac
SK
CM rp
CM pro
proto
armstrong
duralast
kobalt


most are (were) "full" sets,
replacements (for lost stuff) could be anything of similar quality
extras and fill in's could be anything as well..

i have very,very few "cheap" imported wrenches.

 

[ganymede]

Still building up a collection. So far I've got a dozen different brands with mfg dates spanning 80 years .

 

[Fixnair]

Whatever gets the job done. I'm not choosey.

 

[Rezeppa]

I am **** about trying to pick up after myself and not lose tools it does happen though over time. My sets are mostly matching but that is due to organization and good housekeeping. Sockets on the other hand are more likely to get misplaced and most are sets but some vary in style from being replaced.

 

[Hafen_Kafer]

hahhahaha @ Helter skelter!!

Before finding this forum, I had all kinds of brands of tools. Now they're semi organized but I doubt I will ever buy again to have complete sets.

 

[sberry]

I have some imports, they were a dollar as singles and a few someone gave me. They have been well worth the buck.

 

[woody 73]

Every once in a while my ocd kicks in, for the most part I have several complete sets and a few odd sets. What kills me is trying to complete those Hansen socket trays now that *****, darn things I could scream...

 

[firebox40dash5]

OCD like a mofo.

Just an example, I have mostly GW bit sockets, I was in Lowe's and they had an SAE hex bit socket set for $10, I had to fight twitching to make myself buy it... OK, not really, but close.

If it's in a set, I really prefer to have a matched set. My odds and ends are whatever, though. A smattering of Matco ADV 12-point impacts, a single Napa 1/4" hex impact bit to get Meyer PA block screws out, anything that gets the job done at the right price...

 

[shoggoth80]

I kinda have and use whatever. I have goodies from Armstrong, KD, some Pittsburgh, some Companion (Taiwanese), some Herbrand, Craftsman, and some no namers as well.
I understand the desire to have all tools matching, it's just not a reality on my end.

 

[sberry]

Socket and wrench trays are less than ideal, I hate them they dont work for me. I like a toss in organization or quick hanger type of thing for the hi cycle tools. I use a common combo wrench 50 times vs anything special, maybe more.

 

[Conductor562]

I'm too OCD to have random wrenches. I have Proto ASD's and when I need an additional size I buy the same. I have other sets, but all are in sets.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

If my dang money tree was working, they would match...but alas, yard sales and CL has got me a damn fine collection of helter skelter. One day...

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Home combo wrench set has been mix and match forever (CM, Sears, Proto, no name, Mercedes, etc). Bought a set of SAE Snap-Ons up to 1" and was planning on doing all Snap-On until the reality of price kicked in. Now it's 3/8"-1" Snap-On, 1 1/16"-1 1/4" are Proto, and everything else up to 2" is a mix of Kobalt USA & Northern Tool.

Metrics are still all Craftsman now, but looking into either Williams Superwrenches, MACs or a set of CATs if the price is right on eBay, and some Kobalt USAs for the larger sizes through Cripe.

 

[larry_g]

As a boy in high school I bought my first tools. I attended my 40th HS reunion a few years ago. In that 40+ years I have collected a varied assortment of tools. I do not tolerate inferior tools but the name stamped on them doesn't mean a lot to me. More fit and usability determines the tools that get picked up and used.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[JWILL]

I just do what my OCD tells me to.

 

[oilfieldtrash4]

Sae craftsman industrial rp up to an inch. The 1" and above are a mix of Buffalo, thorsen, etc.

Metric is craftsman pro full polish up to 21mm. Then 22mm-27mm is gearwrench, Allen, kobalt USA

 

[atwageman]

I try to stick with matched sets, but I'm not loyal to one brand. I use tools from the following.

Craftsman (USA)
Snap On
Heyco
Hazet
Elora
Wiha
Xcelite
Bondhus
PB Tools
HF