Opinion on Cornwell Tools?

[Briancapecoral]

I just bought a set of Cornwell DBE from Ebay. After looking at several brands they were very long in comparison. Since I don't use professionally I was going to settle for a Proto set, shorter but only about 25% of the list price of the Cornwells. Then I found a great deal on Ebay. That being said, I am finding myself looking at other Cornwell tools, specifically ratchets. I had the same thing happen with SK, ordered a set of wrenches and now I have 4 SK ratchets, SK sockets, and a few other SK tools. Unfortunately SK DBE are very short.

Are there any Cornwell fans out there, or just anyone that has owned and used that can comment on their quality? I do some automotive restoration work on vehicles I own, a hobby I share with my son so I don't mind spending more on quality tools knowing they will be his someday. I see tons of Snap On, SK and Wright posts, less on Mac and Matco, but you have to really search to find anything on Cornwell, and then I only see a few.

 

[crewchief888]

i have a couple of cornwell ratchets.

stubby 3/8" dr and a 1/4"dr

no issues with either one

i bought the stubby 3/8" dr used, and i contacted cornwell for a repair kit. they sent me a new ratchet. unfortunately it was 1/4" drive. contacted them again to explain the mistake, they shipped me the 3/8" dr stubby, and told me to keep the 1/4"

 

[mikebaker1129]

I like the ratchets , the 30 tooth made in USA versions. Not the imports.

 

[Fedwrench]

Some of the nicest tool dealers I've ever dealt with over the years have been Cornwell reps. Cornwell tools sometimes are trapped in a period from 50-75 years ago. Their classic 30 tooth ratchet with the coke bottle shaped handle has changed little since being introduced many years ago. They're tough, durable, and smooth as butter but, at the end of the day, still only 30 tooth. Their chrome sockets unlike probably every manufacturer in the world only have a hole on one side of the female square drive end for the drive tool detent ball so, you either line the hole up with the drive tool ball, or your socket might come off. Every one else uses a cut out on each side of the female square drive end for drive tool retention.
Cornwell only makes a fraction of the tools they sell. Pretty much everything aside from most wrenches, ratchets, and sockets are rebadged and likely imported. Screwdrivers, hex & torx bit sockets, pliers, ratcheting wrenches, roto ratchets, etc. are made by other companies for Cornwell. Anything branded Blue Power is asian made.
I've used a lot of Cornwell tools over the years. they can be great but, they're not a segment leader in any area. It always seems that someone else makes something just a little bit better. Their current extra long double boxed end zero offset wrenches are pretty sweet. Nice thick beams. I too snagged a set of those awhile back on ebay.

 

[MN_Runner]

I have one inherited tool (17mm swivel socket) from Cornwell and it looks comparable to Snap On/Mac Tools. I have not been buying anything other than Snap On.

 

[Vantastic]

I just bought a set of Cornwell DBE from Ebay. After looking at several brands they were very long in comparison. Since I don't use professionally I was going to settle for a Proto set, shorter but only about 25% of the list price of the Cornwells. Then I found a great deal on Ebay. That being said, I am finding myself looking at other Cornwell tools, specifically ratchets. I had the same thing happen with SK, ordered a set of wrenches and now I have 4 SK ratchets, SK sockets, and a few other SK tools. Unfortunately SK DBE are very short.

Are there any Cornwell fans out there, or just anyone that has owned and used that can comment on their quality? I do some automotive restoration work on vehicles I own, a hobby I share with my son so I don't mind spending more on quality tools knowing they will be his someday. I see tons of Snap On, SK and Wright posts, less on Mac and Matco, but you have to really search to find anything on Cornwell, and then I only see a few.

You should buy the like new Cornwall ratchet set on eBay for $105 shipped.

 

[Aqua-Andy]

I have very little experience with Cornwall. But I have never had a dealer for more than a few months at a time and have gone over a decade without a dealer. I have exactly one Cornwall wrench a 9/16" I find it very comfortable, similar to the old Boney wrenches. I had a 3/8" drive deep flex chrome set that I purchased when I did have a dealer. These sockets were ****! I can't tell you how many I broke before I gave up and traded them in to a Mac dealer for a huge loss(days before Ebay).

 

[Zewnten]

Be very picky about the tools you buy labeled Cornwell, bought a plier set from the truck (on sale) and they were terrible (poor finish, twisted tips, etc) but my old coworker had them as his main tools and those seemed as good as anything else in general use.

 

[Volvotechdude]

Sure, before my current stint as an auto tech I was an industrial tech. First tools were cornwell ratchet and at the time their new service cart. Very good quality. I tend to buy from them more cause they're still family owned but that's a personal preference. The tools themselves will hold up just fine. Buy more Cornwell!

 

[woody 73]

I never heard the name before do you suppose it is some foreign made tool ?

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=277119&highlight=cornwell

 

[davethorik]

Some of the nicest tool dealers I've ever dealt with over the years have been Cornwell reps. Cornwell tools sometimes are trapped in a period from 50-75 years ago. Their classic 30 tooth ratchet with the coke bottle shaped handle has changed little since being introduced many years ago. They're tough, durable, and smooth as butter but, at the end of the day, still only 30 tooth. Their chrome sockets unlike probably every manufacturer in the world only have a hole on one side of the female square drive end for the drive tool detent ball so, you either line the hole up with the drive tool ball, or your socket might come off. Every one else uses a cut out on each side of the female square drive end for drive tool retention.
Cornwell only makes a fraction of the tools they sell. Pretty much everything aside from most wrenches, ratchets, and sockets are rebadged and likely imported. Screwdrivers, hex & torx bit sockets, pliers, ratcheting wrenches, roto ratchets, etc. are made by other companies for Cornwell. Anything branded Blue Power is asian made.
I've used a lot of Cornwell tools over the years. they can be great but, they're not a segment leader in any area. It always seems that someone else makes something just a little bit better. Their current extra long double boxed end zero offset wrenches are pretty sweet. Nice thick beams. I too snagged a set of those awhile back on ebay.

Your copy and paste response to Cornwell threads hasn't really changed in about as long as Cornwell's ratchets haven't changed, lol. Do you keep it written on an index card by the computer, just in case someone asks?

Nothing really wrong with old designs that have withstood the test of time. SK round heads and Proto pear heads (as well as Proto clones like Ko-Ken) still use a design even older than Cornwell.

I don't have much Cornwell, but I personally prefer their ratchets. Yep, that's right, those same 30 tooth dinosaurs fedwrench referred to in his above post. I like their simple, rugged design. They also have very low backdrag, are very smooth, and I very much like the handle contour. Are they my only ratchets? Nope, but they're one of my favorites.

 

[Wamsutta]

Cornwell makes some of the most comfortable combination wrenches and ratchets in the world. They are a welcome line of tools for somebody who's looking for ergonomics.

 

[Dobbin]

Out of interest which of the new Cornwell ratchets are US made ?

 

[davethorik]

Out of interest which of the new Cornwell ratchets are US made ?

All the standard pear head 30 and 72 tooth models are USA made.
The only non-USA I'm aware of are their rebranded roto ratchets (Taiwan).

 

[Hammer1963]

I have many Cornwell tools. The sockets both chrome and impact are of very good quality and yes they do use a hole vs indentation for socket retention which I actually prefer. I only have experience with the 72 tooth ratchets. They are extremely comfortable and smooth but a bit heavy. That being said, I do use them often. Their line of non-ratcheting wrenches are on par with other top-tier tool offerings being smooth with good gripping ability. The ratcheting wrenches are very good Taiwanese quality and provide several options in style that many companies do not offer. As far as "re-badged" a term that I find antiquated and one size fits, yes Cornwell does outsource a great percentage of their tools but they tend to use top end suppliers like Professional Tool Products, VIM, Witte, Martin, Williams Tools and Kabo. Cornwell tool storage is also very well made.

 

[Fedwrench]

Your copy and paste response to Cornwell threads hasn't really changed in about as long as Cornwell's ratchets haven't changed, lol. Do you keep it written on an index card by the computer, just in case someone asks?

Nope, it might seem that way but, it's written new each time someone asks about Cornwell.
I would love to add to it but, they haven't released anything lately I've been inspired to purchase. I really wish they would come out once with something just superior to what everyone else offers. Perhaps their extra long ratchets or newly released neon green screwdriver sets will find their way to me

All the standard pear head 30 and 72 tooth models are USA made.
The only non-USA I'm aware of are their rebranded roto ratchets (Taiwan).

The classic 30 tooth ratchet is US Made. Initially, the mechanism for the 72 tooth ratchets wasn't US made. In fact a Cornwell dealer posted here about them being made in Taiwan. This might have changed though. I would look for those three little letters USA on the ratchet just be sure though.
The roto ratchets Cornwell sells are the same Taiwan made version sold by many others.

 

[davethorik]

Nope, it might seem that way but, it's written new each time someone asks about Cornwell.
I would love to add to it but, they haven't released anything lately I've been inspired to purchase. I really wish they would come out once with something just superior to what everyone else offers. Perhaps their extra long ratchets or newly released neon green screwdriver sets will find their way to me



The classic 30 tooth ratchet is US Made. Initially, the mechanism for the 72 tooth ratchets wasn't US made. In fact a Cornwell dealer posted here about them being made in Taiwan. This might have changed though. I would look for those three little letters USA on the ratchet just be sure though.
The roto ratchets Cornwell sells are the same Taiwan made version sold by many others.

I do have the extra long 1/2 flex ratchet and it is a monster. It's a couple inches longer than the Snap-on version, but I know the ball detent flex head isn't everyones cup of tea.

I recently made a couple acquaintances who work for Cornwell, and asked them about the coo of the 72t ratchets. They both said they are made in Mogadore, Ohio alongside the rest of their hard line. It's not hard evidence, but I suppose better than asking strangers on the interwebs

I have also gotten to try some of the neon green screwdrivers, and they feel good in hand. They don't say USA on them, and I have no idea where they are made.

 

[rhandwor]

I have a lot of USA made Cornwell that I like but I don't like their foreign made tools.

 

[Wamsutta]

The entire body of the 72 tooth ratchets are made from US steel and forged in the USA at the Cornwell factory. The ratcheting mechanism at one time (and possibly still is) was made in Taiwan because the mechanism was designed by a Taiwanese company that had an international patent on it.

 

[Ratchetjockey]

My only experience with Cornwell is with their Cat 351HD 3/8" dr air inpact gun. The older metal frame ones. The newer composit air tools have too much flex in the body. The 3/8" dr Cat 351HD has more tourqe than my Snap On 1/2" dr compact air inpact and its in a smaller package. ~300 ft/pd @ 90psi. 275 in reverse.