New Husky Metric Wrenches

[arz71]

I am looking at these Husky wrenches at Home Depot metric has anyone used them?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Me...e-HCW10PCMM/202934505?N=5yc1vZc239ZrdZ1z0sc32

Also, looking to get the 22,24,27,30 and 32mm wrenches as well.

Any input would be great.

thanks

 

[JKennedy]

Better than HF but still throw away type stuff. The only thing that's really bad is the open end is a serious lobster claw. Not good for hard to reach places.

 

[jd_1138]

The local Sears Outlet has a Craftsman Metric set for $9.99. I think it's China though. Are the Huskies China too?

 

[kjbenner]

I see those are a new style of 12-point for those pesky dodecagonal fasteners:

 

[JKennedy]

They are china.

 

[jd_1138]

Might just want to skip the static wrenches and go for a set of ratcheting combo wrenches (box end is the end that ratchets). HF has a nice set for about $20 when you use a coupon. Really speeds up jobs. Or for more money you could step up to Gearwrench.

 

[JKennedy]

Look for new-old stock craftsman USA. It's almost always on sale and you can't beat the quality for the money. Gearwrench makes great stuff as well and the COO is Taiwan.
And like blackwire said, go with kobalt if you're really pinching pennies because it's usually better than the husky stuff if it's Taiwan.
I always go to sears and did around for old USA stuff. That's what 80% of my tools are. As far as wrenches go the rest I have is gearwrench.
My boss has a metric set of kobalt wrenches and the shape of them and quality is much better than husky.

Just keep this in mind, HF wrenches will flex when you put some muscle on em. And they will break so be cautious of what you're buying and remember that a quality tool can save you a lot of hurt later on.

 

[jim1987]

No, some gearwrench wrenches are Chinese.

 

[JKennedy]

No, some gearwrench wrenches are Chinese.

The racheting wrenches that I've seen are always Taiwan.
That may have changed in the past year or two....also I don't know about their screwdrivers, etc.

 

[erty67]

The local Sears Outlet has a Craftsman Metric set for $9.99. I think it's China though. Are the Huskies China too?

outlets store is probably selling USA to make room at Sears to sell the new china stuff.

 

[Vpick001]

I have had them for about a year now and haven't had any issues. I am mostly a DIYer and weekend car hobbist, so YMMV.

I've been buying a lot of husky hand tools lately since my local sears closed down, qnd even though they're not usa (either Chinese or Taiwan) I've found them to be rock solid. Also, My local home depot is really good about the warranties from what my buddies have said, but I've heard nightmare stories about other locations though.

 

[Cato]

I don't understand the negative reviews. I've been using those wrenches for at least five years for maintenance on my cars, two stroke, and assorted stuff around the house. They are my favorite wrenches. The chrome is still flawless and the tools look like the day I bought them. All this for $20!

I also have a set of Snap On Flank Drive wrenches which are underwhelming. I ordered them online and the chrome was flaking. Customer service had a hard time understanding that I bought them online and kept telling me to return them through the local distributer. After two more calls and sending the wrenches back via UPS, I got a set that wasn't flaking with chrome. So I guess I paid $350 and the trouble of returning the wrenches via UPS to own Snap On.

 

[CJM8515]

Old husky made by Stanley was nice. New stuff is made by apex I think and they are seriously too fat to work on some stuff.

 

[Coach James]

I don't understand the negative reviews. I've been using those wrenches for at least five years for maintenance on my cars, two stroke, and assorted stuff around the house. They are my favorite wrenches. The chrome is still flawless and the tools look like the day I bought them. All this for $20!
I also have a set of Snap On Flank Drive wrenches which are underwhelming. I ordered them online and the chrome was flaking. Customer service had a hard time understanding that I bought them online and kept telling me to return them through the local distributer. After two more calls and sending the wrenches back via UPS, I got a set that wasn't flaking with chrome. So I guess I paid $350 and the trouble of returning the wrenches via UPS to own Snap On.

What's the big idea posting on here using hands on experience to form an opinion?

Coach

 

[jd_1138]

outlets store is probably selling USA to make room at Sears to sell the new china stuff.

I stopped by the Sears Outlet over near here. Yep, the stock is all USA as far as the 9 piece metric and 9 piece SAE wrench sets. Some are marked $19.99 while some are marked $12.99. I picked up a set each of SAE and metric for $25.98 (18 wrenches total) and a 20 piece USA Craftsman hex wrench set for $1.50. I am building a road/car kit, so it all will go in there.

 

[arz71]

Thanks for all of the input will have to check them out in person. So the open end is larger than others?

 

[MagnumForce]

Looked at them today. Junk.

I have Craftsman ones and consider them way better even if they are made in China too.

 

[Coach James]

Looked at them today. Junk.

I have Craftsman ones and consider them way better even if they are made in China too.

Why do you say they are junk?

Coach

 

[mires]

What's the big idea posting on here using hands on experience to form an opinion?

Coach

Literally Lol'd at that.

I've had these wrenches for a few years too and have never had a problem with them. The finish isn't the best but that's something I couldn't care less about (to an extent). I've never found a fastener they were too big for or a place they wouldn't go. No, they are not Snap-On but they are cheap and they work. That is what I look for in tools. Keep in mind I am just a DIY guy.

 

[JKennedy]

Thanks for all of the input will have to check them out in person. So the open end is larger than others?

Yes the open end is like a lobster claw as someone else said. It's fine for some stuff and you won't notice but some machinery has tight spots and the larger, less compact wrenches do not work. The quality really isn't terrible for the money, it's more of a design flaw in my opinion. If you're doing brakes or minor vehicle maintenance it's probably fine. I just prefer USA tools so that's why I suggest old stock craftsman.

 

[jd_1138]

Literally Lol'd at that.

I've had these wrenches for a few years too and have never had a problem with them. The finish isn't the best but that's something I couldn't care less about (to an extent). I've never found a fastener they were too big for or a place they wouldn't go. No, they are not Snap-On but they are cheap and they work. That is what I look for in tools. Keep in mind I am just a DIY guy.

I wonder how their HDX wrenches are? HDX is the value line at Home Depot. They had sets of wrenches for $9.99 for 9 or 10 pieces -- metric or SAE. They were on a wrench holder. Almost bought a couple of sets for my trunk kit, but I am glad I waited on bought USA made Craftsman ones for just a couple bucks more. The boxed ends didn't appear too beefy meaning they will probably round off fasteners.

 

[MagnumForce]

Why do you say they are junk?

Coach

Casting was otrocious, they fit terribly in the hand, weird cross section and they were really fat.

 

[Cato]

Here are some pictures I took of a Husky 17mm and a Snap On 17mm.

I can't say that the Snap On has better chrome - in fact this is the replacement that Snap On sent me after the first set had flaking chrome. Like I already said, it was a pain in the neck returning the first Snap On set. The Husky wrench was perfect off the shelf of Home Depot. In fact, it is still perfect after 5 + years of working on my vehicles, lawn equipment, and assorted other jobs around the house.

They both seem to weigh the same too. As far as the thickness, if anything I'd say the Snap On seems a tad bit thicker. But I don't have a micrometer to get down to the specifics.

The only difference I can find is that the Snap On costs 10-15 times as much and returning defective wrenches is like pulling teeth from a donkey.

 

[Notorious BRT]

I find it humorous that we are comparing Husky wrenches to Snap On. Not saying that they won't get you by, but it's like comparing a Cadillac to a Yugo. They'll both get you there, but one will make for a more pleasant trip.

 

[kc-steve]

I find it humorous that we are comparing Husky wrenches to Snap On. Not saying that they won't get you by, but it's like comparing a Cadillac to a Yugo. They'll both get you there, but one will make for a more pleasant trip.

LOL, I was wondering if this is the Garage Journal.

OP, try the "ring" test. Throw a good quality wrench on the floor and listen for the "ring." Now throw the Husky on the floor and listen. It will likely be a "thud" sound instead of a "ring."

Steve

 

[sberry]

It doesn't matter, it works fine and having it cheap is a bonus. Who ever makes and vends those wrenches isn't robbing you. Its easy to get your moneys worth and bet you could list them for resale and not take a 10 dollar beating.

 

[JKennedy]

Those wrenches do not look like the newest batch from HD. The older Husky stuff was much better.

 

[wafrederick]

The set is worthless,no 18mm in the set.Husky should know better,18mm is one of the mostly used common metric sizes out there.I hate it when 18mm is left out in a set.It includes 15mm sometimes.

 

[MagnumForce]

Those are definitely not what husky has now. Trust me, they looked like ****. Go buy Craftsman or Kobalt. Much better.

 

[thesilverone]

next comparison: a moped vs a ferrari

 

[jd_1138]

Those are definitely not what husky has now. Trust me, they looked like ****. Go buy Craftsman or Kobalt. Much better.

Wouldn't all the Craftsman affordable wrenches be raised panel and not shiny/polished? I think you have to step up to Craftsman Professional or Industrial to get the shiny polished ones.

 

[jd_1138]

next comparison: a moped vs a ferrari

The moped wins hands down. It gets 120 miles per gallon.

 

[MagnumForce]

Wouldn't all the Craftsman affordable wrenches be raised panel and not shiny/polished? I think you have to step up to Craftsman Professional or Industrial to get the shiny polished ones.

No you can get a nice full polished set for not much more.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Apex china is apex china.

In this price range you could get either india, china, or taiwan (smaller ratcheting set) (I don't think they have anymore kobalt extreme sets floating around). Probably go with the taiwan and hope for the best but if you don't use wrenches a lot...any of these are probably okay. I don't know how much torque they'll take though.