So lately I've been looking for a set of wrenches for work. Decided to keep my tool bill on the low and go with a brand from a store. I've checked out and looked at so many different sets of combination open/box end wrenches. Kobalt, Craftsman, Gearwrench non ratcheting, Menards had a set I wouldn't touch. Craftsman Pros were about $100 for a set, Kobalt if I remember was like $40-$50 with a few missing and gearwrench wasn't bad at like $90 for wrenches up to 24mm. Harbor freight had some that were chrome but I decided against them since there were a few common sizes missing from the set. Today I just happened to stop at home depot since the nearest one is pretty far away I don't usually get to shop there. They had a set of Husky wrenches for $19.99 without an 18mm. I wasn't planning to buy any wrenches today but I did since they looked similar to all the rest I've been looking at. I figured if they don't hold up for professional use I'll just go ahead and take them home and get another set somewhere else. Does anyone have a good review on all of these sets of wrenches? Since the prices were pretty different but the wrenches seemed all similar in appearance. Maybe some kind of comparison since I can't hold one of each brand at the same time unless I buy one of each from all the stores.
So many Wrenches
- Thread starter Zeroek
- Start date
raiderhillbilly
Well-known member
You can buy used awesome american wrenches at pawn shops and flea markets for the price of new china junk with an american name stamped on it. S-k and Proto dont seem to cost that much at these places and are pretty good stuff.
I forgot all about pawn shops. I was looking at an S-K superkrome set on Tooltopia that was about $180. Long wrenches which is a set I'd be happy with. I was just surprised at a 19.99 set of wrenches that looked to be decent. I realize these are made in China but for $20 I'm willing to work with them. Plus I'm kinda on a budget at the moment. The Tech that works next to me just put 2 weeks in so now I'm in a hurry to get all the tools I need to take his position when he leaves.
joshmodelskidoo
Well-known member
try this place. i just found out about them http://store.harryepstein.com/c/Closeouts.html
Farmall450
Well-known member
If you can find cman industrial!
toolwizeguy
New member
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2013
- Messages
- 1
Okay so I am a entry level technician at an automotive shop. I bought the gearwrench 15 pc not ratcheting wrenches from Amazon. These wrenches are really really good. I did a lot of research trying to find the perfect wrenches that will hold up to the rigors of the shop with out giving away my left arm. I have held these wrenches up side by side with the snap on ones and they look identical. On the open end of these wrenches they have the groves that snap on has on theirs to allow better grip on the fastener. The box end grabs fasteners really well also. The extra long handles make breaking bolts a breeze. I had craftsman and have since retired them due to the short length and fastener stripping issues. Good luck, hoped this helped!!!
Sounds like additional hours and maybe a pay bump, why get the cheapest set of wrenches possible?
sberry
Banned
Already spent 20 driving around looking at them, would have paid for a cheap set. Small risk, see how they work.
oh man, you are going to rile em up with this one.
i will agree that the gearwrench combos are good but i doubt too many will agree the are identical to the snap-on.
each brand has it's pros and cons but much of it boils down to personnal preference.
i would tell you what my personal favorite is but then then everybody would know and want them.
mudflap
Well-known member
Gearwrench is probably your best bet. if you dont mind going ching-chong. The S-K Superkrome are the best i have ever used in my 20+yrs. The only downside is there unwritten "no return" policy. They will say you put a pipe on it/normal wear/you let your girlfriend use it/you stored it wrong/new ownership/gotta check with somebody/their rep got a divorce/their power is out/cant find the key to that cabinet/the lunch truck driver borrowed the only one we had/you didnt buy it from here-check tooltopias return policy/etc......To avoid honoring the warranty....
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In my time of wrenching I've never broken a wrench. Mostly I use a wrench to hold a nut while I loosen a bolt or use a wrench to turn a tie rod for adjustment. So right now these husky ones would be alright to hold me off until later. There's just so many wrenches that look so similar and feel similar. I'm not looking for a wrench that is comparable to snap on. Eventually I'll fork out the cash for some good ones but right now I'm just getting my tool collection back to where it was.
928'er
Well-known member
Bought a set of HD Husky fully polished "Professional" combination wrenches about 10 years ago.
Broke one of the jaws off of a 19mm open end under very moderate torque - no cheater bar or any other abuse - just my fearsome 165 lbs. Wrench just went "dink" and the jaw was on the floor. Only wrench I've ever broken. Took them back and haven't bought any Husky tools since.
I shudder to think of what their Chicom **** is like now....
Broke one of the jaws off of a 19mm open end under very moderate torque - no cheater bar or any other abuse - just my fearsome 165 lbs. Wrench just went "dink" and the jaw was on the floor. Only wrench I've ever broken. Took them back and haven't bought any Husky tools since.
I shudder to think of what their Chicom **** is like now....
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SMKS
Well-known member
A lot of people like the GearWrench non-ratcheting combo wrenches, but they are not identical to Snap-on. Both are polished and both are long pattern, but they aren't identical.
The open end designs you're referring to, for one, are a little different.
crankshaftdan II
Well-known member
oh man, you are going to rile em up with this one.
i will agree that the gearwrench combos are good but i doubt too many will agree the are identical to the snap-on.
each brand has it's pros and cons but much of it boils down to personnal preference.
i would tell you what my personal favorite is but then then everybody would know and want them.
Ataboy Harlan--stir the pot a little more and this thread will have thousands of replies!!
........CrankySuper Sport
Well-known member
Wrenches may "look" identical but they rarely are. A lot of cheap wrenches do not have good fit and will likely round out a bolt. If I was considering buying imported wrenches for pro duty the only brand I would go with is GearWrench. USA Craftsman are pretty decent as well, and quite affordable. Step up from that and you're looking at spending $100+. I'd look for a deal on some SK or Craftsman Pro on ebay.
bcradio
Well-known member
You need to get out more... There are tons of great European brands out there that work wonderfully.