bobcatdan
Well-known member
I see Summit has a Wright 24 piece metric set from 7-32 for $300. Might pick that set up one of these days.
Most Complete Wrench Set
- Thread starter njc41980
- Start date
ultgar
Well-known member
There are still a few USAG 26pc combination wrench sets left at $300/set. Identical to Facom 440 series and Mac precision torque series. See https://www.ultimategarage.com/shop/part.php?products_id=8536
BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
byoungblood
Well-known member
What could you envision working on that would need something larger than about 1-1/2"/32mm?
Largest SAE fastener you're typically going to find on most vehicles/consumer equipment is going to be 3/4" (thread size, not hex). Metric, probably 20mm.
My own tools go up through 1-1/8" SAE and 24mm metric, I've been working on assorted junk for the past 25 years or so and maybe have run across one job where I didn't have something big enough, once instance I can think of, it took a pipe wrench and cheater to break it loose because it was heavily rusted. If you have the money and space, knock yourself out. But I personally wouldn't go out and spend the extra money on stuff that is going to gather dust and get in the way.
Largest SAE fastener you're typically going to find on most vehicles/consumer equipment is going to be 3/4" (thread size, not hex). Metric, probably 20mm.
My own tools go up through 1-1/8" SAE and 24mm metric, I've been working on assorted junk for the past 25 years or so and maybe have run across one job where I didn't have something big enough, once instance I can think of, it took a pipe wrench and cheater to break it loose because it was heavily rusted. If you have the money and space, knock yourself out. But I personally wouldn't go out and spend the extra money on stuff that is going to gather dust and get in the way.
BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
I certainly agree... 1 1/2" and 32mm are whopperish; and actually overkill for the majority of Do-it Yourselfers. This is where I would draw the line as far as going any bigger.
I bought a new a 2" Duro combination wrench back in 1975 that is yet to be used; and I am still working full time in the repair field.. Yayaya but I have it if I need it
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I don't think anyone turns 2-1/2" wrenches on a regular basis, but it's not uncommon to run into larger sizes in Steel Building Erection, Farm Equipment, or Timber Frame Bolting.
Like most here, I would like to have it before I find out that I need it.
I agree that larger wrenches serve no purpose for a professional mechanic, but I'm not a professional mechanic. I work in construction, I play on the farm, and pretend to be a DYI mechanic when I'm not doing those.
My goal is always to be able to tackle any job that comes up.
Like most here, I would like to have it before I find out that I need it.
I agree that larger wrenches serve no purpose for a professional mechanic, but I'm not a professional mechanic. I work in construction, I play on the farm, and pretend to be a DYI mechanic when I'm not doing those.
My goal is always to be able to tackle any job that comes up.
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JuliusPepperwood
Well-known member
Craftsman 43pc and a set of adjustable wrenches.
Finky198
Well-known member
that basically what use daily ^^^ 2 sets of CMan RPs upto 1 1/4" and 24mm
I was that guy years ago thinking the same way, but things change and now I make a living in similar fields to what you mentioned and after spending around 100K in tools and equipment across my different trades, I'm still finding tools and shop stuff I don't have. My biggest combo wrench is 1 7/16" which is equivalent to 36mm...and its very rare to need it, and it always seems to long or short for the intended job at hand, as with the few bigger open ends I have... If I am grabbing for anything larger than 1-1/2 or 36mm 9/10 times its a 3/4 drive socket and those for me go up to 2-1/4" and 42mm. and get used with a 36" breaker bar or an impact gun.
The best advice I can give is don't go dumping all your hard earned money into hobby. A decent Core set of tools is one thing. But remember Its only a job when someone else is footing the bill. Tools are EXPENSIVE especially decent ones. and the bad ones cost twice as much.
So be smart about it and buy what you will USE, not what you want.
I was that guy years ago thinking the same way, but things change and now I make a living in similar fields to what you mentioned and after spending around 100K in tools and equipment across my different trades, I'm still finding tools and shop stuff I don't have. My biggest combo wrench is 1 7/16" which is equivalent to 36mm...and its very rare to need it, and it always seems to long or short for the intended job at hand, as with the few bigger open ends I have... If I am grabbing for anything larger than 1-1/2 or 36mm 9/10 times its a 3/4 drive socket and those for me go up to 2-1/4" and 42mm. and get used with a 36" breaker bar or an impact gun.
The best advice I can give is don't go dumping all your hard earned money into hobby. A decent Core set of tools is one thing. But remember Its only a job when someone else is footing the bill.
Tools are EXPENSIVE especially decent ones. and the bad ones cost twice as much. So be smart about it and buy what you will USE, not what you want.
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Ign
Well-known member
You should be able to order 29mm if anyone wants it just for their OCD. I have one, from back when all the Craftsman RP's were USA. But given how rare it is you still stand a chance of being shipped a USA unit today
On the SAE side it's been discussed many times here that 1-3/16" is 30mm but I still ordered a 1-3/16" from Amazon (Tekton) for reasonable $ just to round out my fractionals
edit: I LIED! I don't have a 29mm or 31mm! Apologies!
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KnurledNut
Well-known member
I went for four decades wrenching without ever using a 20mm anything. That was until last year when I did a air ride suspension on a new Chrysler minivan. The damn camber adjustment for the rear was a 20.
I went for four decades wrenching without ever using a 20mm anything. That was until last year when I did a air ride suspension on a new Chrysler minivan. The damn camber adjustment for the rear was a 20.
Well you win the bronze medal...
The silver goes to anyone that's needed a 25mm (and i mean 25mm, not someone whos squeezed it on a 1 inch nut...
)And the Gold goes to anyone that's genuinely used a 31mm...
NinnyCTSV
Well-known member
That’s why I buy a complete set to 1” and 19mm then piece together the sizes I need vs having all these wrenches I don’t use and never will. I bought the master Sunex impact set from 8mm-35mm and I haven’t touched more than 3/4 of them in over 3 years. Just dirty from the dust they collect
Mbsk01
Well-known member
Later model GM trucks/SUVs use a 20mm for the fuel filter.
I seem to recall needing a 1 5/8 for the fan clutch on a Ford V10.
I seem to recall needing a 1 5/8 for the fan clutch on a Ford V10.
plinker
Well-known member
Well you win the bronze medal...
The silver goes to anyone that's needed a 25mm (and i mean 25mm, not someone whos squeezed it on a 1 inch nut...
And the Gold goes to anyone that's genuinely used a 31mm...
I've used a 25mm on jam nuts for main relief valves (hydro-control valve banks, all metric).
Also used 23mm for jam nuts on finnish log loaders, 9mm is the grease fitting hex size as well.
Some Mack engines also had a 20mm hex on the fuel injector nuts
From a practical standpoint, 7-24, 27, 30, 32 and maybe 36mm will fit most needs.
1/4 to 1-1/8 + 1-1/4 as well
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Strouty
Well-known member
Volvo 4 cyl engine oil pan drain plug is 25 MM
MrDeerHunter
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2017
- Messages
- 110
You guys need to work on bigger stuff. Tractors and dozers you use a bunch of these odd sizes especially non domestic older equipment.
Sent from my Moto Z (2) using The Garage Journal mobile app
Sent from my Moto Z (2) using The Garage Journal mobile app
bobcatdan
Well-known member
I'll play, where do you use 26 or 28 mm?
earthmover1980
Well-known member
I have a set of Easco raised panel metric combination wrenches from 6-32mm. This is my biggest most complete set. I like Easco tools since my high school auto shop, and vocational college had em. Great quality and a blast from the past!
earthmover1980
Well-known member
As to big wrenches being a waste, here's how I feel. Even small hydraulic lines use large fasteners. Blow a hydraulic line on a piece of heavy Equipment in a tight spot, and you will want a selection of large wrenches. Machines always seem to break at the most inconvenient, worst, busy, times possible. So treat yourself to the ability to quickly access the tool needed. Seems you always need the size that isn't popular. I've been in predicaments that an angle wrench won't work, and a big combo got it done. I've even used a 1-3/16 wrench to take apart the copper trap for my sink. Crescent wrench slipped, too close for a socket. I try to be equipped to fix the worse case scenario. Tools are like money in the bank. No regrets here on owning large sizes.
Finky198
Well-known member
I agree with you but The Key part of this as I said in my prior post when your getting paid the deal changes. Having full sets combos, plus angle wrenches and crowsfeet in large sizes cost a ton but make sense when your billing at a solid Hourly rate, but for Joe schmoe its makes no sense to have tools that you might need and will most likely only be used a few times in their span, when you can buy singles when need it to a finish a project... I'm sure some guys fit into that grey area inbetween, but you just have to decide if its money well spent....
whats the old saying? you do can 95 percent of the work with 5 percent of your tools and the other 95% of your tools only get used 5 percent of the time.
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byoungblood
Well-known member
Before spending money on something that will probably never be used, go look at a bolt size to bolt hex table. Anything 2" or larger hex is going to be a very large fastener. I suspect that even with most farm equipment and heavy (non-mining) equipment, going above the sizes everyone has mentioned will be relatively rare. It would be one of those tools that the folks who have to work on it have that size wrench/socket specifically for that one task, outside of that, it is never used.
I would say if you find yourself in a situation where you may have to work on something that needs a very large tool, buy the tool so you'll have it on hand. At least that way you haven't dumped hundreds of dollars into stuff for the "just in case" that will never come.
Heavy Metal Doctor
Well-known member
You would be mistaken, then.
Assumptions like this could be problematic if you make into one of the professional mechanics environs where pride is taken in the work and these sizes are common.
I use 1 1/2 up to 2" very often and have regular combo wrenches for the task. Up to 3" just often enough I want the "right" tool and to not be chewing up the hex of a large hydraulic hose with pipe wrench like a newb, so large crows feet work well and are cost effective.... I know these tools are all still expensive paid for out of the mechanics pocket. I've bought all of my own. I regularly encourage my subordinates to go borrow the right tool from my box 'cause I'll be inclined to fire your **** for working like a hack if I catch you buggering up a large hose fitting on a job I'm billing thousands on and have to hear BS from the customer.
I all for jumbo wrenches if you need them. When you do they are priceless. But I question the need to buy top shelf ones if your not using them daily. They are big chunks of chromed Cr-V that a single wrench can cost more than a complete smaller set. I think in my limited experience small tools suffer most. A 3/4" wrench will suffer more torquing 100lbs than a 1-1/2" wrench torquing 200ft lbs. So its been my experience to spend good money on high quality smaller Cr-v hand tools than larger ones. Its simple physics. The larger The fastener and wrench the less stress it takes for a given torque value. That simple factor of physics tells you where to spend your money.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Yes, the small wrenches. Snap-on.
Yes Snap-On, Hazet, Stahwille, Sidchrome (Aussie made), Elora, Facom, Minimax, Wera, Beta as well as many other good choices depending on what you can get where you are. Oh...and MAC makes some damn fine wrenches too!
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Wamsutta
Well-known member
The MAC spanners are very similar to the Facom 440's, except a bit longer, polished chrome instead of matte and a grip in the open end.
The 440's are some of the best spanners out there imo, but a bit shorter than most. Ideal for working on your back with a car on jackstands. They go up to 46mm im sure but i have up to 28
The 440's are some of the best spanners out there imo, but a bit shorter than most. Ideal for working on your back with a car on jackstands. They go up to 46mm im sure but i have up to 28
Ign
Well-known member
This thread caused me to order 29 and 31mm Tekton singles from Amazon.
Just 'cause.
I bet I'll never use them, but that's not the point. The point is collecting - no different than baseball cards, or memorabilia or whatever people collect....
Just 'cause.
I bet I'll never use them, but that's not the point. The point is collecting - no different than baseball cards, or memorabilia or whatever people collect....
damon18
ALLIANCE MEMBER
This one is close, 31 piece Proto set, 5/16" to 2 1/2" only $2,051 at Graingers!
https://www.grainger.com/product/PROTO-Combination-Wrench-Set-449N96
In my latest flyer mobile distributor supplies had some decent looking and complete sets in both SAE and metric at my kind of pricing. For the rarity I need a wrench larger then 1-1/2 + $350 bought you all four sets in both flavors.
Leaflessshadetree
Well-known member
I have a habbit of buying quality tools when I find them cheap. Sometimes sets other times singles. I have multiples of the most common sizes of combination, open end, box end or various offsets and sockets of various lengths and drive sizes.
I don't care if it all matches and I haven't found a machine that cares either.
Very rarely do I find anything that I don't have a wrench to fit.
I don't care if it all matches and I haven't found a machine that cares either.
Very rarely do I find anything that I don't have a wrench to fit.
sberry
Banned
I have big wrenches, it's really rare I need them. Had them mostly for oilfield. I use 1 1/2 occasionally, some other size on a disk but made a socked and not above using an adjustable. This doesn't sound like someone working on expensive demanding equipment charging full rates.