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SO Wrenches / other options?

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kythri

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 3, 2007
Messages
6,330
Location
Lebanon, OR
Hell, I'm only 30, and I'm started seeing some gray hairs about a year ago...

Being old *****... :D
 
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Vinko

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 7, 2008
Messages
5,829
Location
Los Angeles
"It seems to me that with a lot of SO stuff it's just about looks and only marginally better performance"

Not calling you out, because your post makes a lot of sense, but "marginally better performance" to one guy, may mean EVERYTHING to another.


I agree. And I think with a lot of stuff that's high end, you pay more for marginally better performance, quality, etc.

I happen to really like owning what SO I have. It's just nice to use a really well-made and well-finished tool. Same thing with magnifying glasses I have. I bought a nice Zeiss. Probably could've gone cheaper, but I wanted something really high end.

I have SO screwdrivers (the hard handle, in green) for home use, and orange at work. I also bought a set of Craftsman for work. They're not nearly as nice to use. The handles don't feel as good. Phillips seems better on the SO.

But my SO stuff, with exception of allen wrenches, don't get used constantly, the way I'm sure mechanics and other trades here use them.

What do get used a lot are our IR guns for driving bolts all day. Our grinding tools (with $26 dollar diamond coated bits), and a few other things.

That said, compared to the other guys in my family, I'm a yuppie tool user. I like SO but it's probably over kill for me.

I also wonder if a generation or two ago, if there weren't a bunch of other tool brands that weren't as good as SO. SO's got the image and looks and I wonder how much of the appeal of that (apart from the quality) is really what drives the SO loyalty.

That said, I just ordered some Williams adj. and SK adj. wrenches from that close-out place that someone linked to for Facom and other tools.
 

billymade

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 2, 2008
Messages
7,461
Location
New Mexico
The price is right; hopefully, the quality is up to your requirements! Those are practically flea market prices!
 
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RickP330

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 12, 2007
Messages
831
Location
Middle Island, NY
Okay all,
I got the wrenches last week, sorry for the delay ;) Here is what we got in the mail, alot of wrenches here:

CMan_RED.JPG
CMan2_RED.JPG

This is my wench draw before; this is all that I had with regards to small wrenches:

B4_RED.JPG

Now this is what it looks like

After_RED.JPG

And finally an overall of my wrench draw

WrenchDraw_RED.JPG

The wrenches work great, already repaired two models, it will be a long time before I use them all, but at least now I have alot of options!

Unfortuatly they are not SO, but I saved $250 and have 4 times the number of wrenches. Thanks guys. Comments?

RickP
:beer:
 

a390st

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 9, 2008
Messages
920
You will be thankful that you have all those Craftsman wrenches rather than just a few Snap On wrenches when you need one that you wouldn't have gotten. Having the tools when you need them rather than having to go buy another will make you smile. So long as you don't break one or ruin a fastener, they're perfect. There's just not much worse than needing something right away and having to drive around all day looking for it. You just have to overcome the tool envy of having C'Man rather than SO! Use your savings to buy something nice you'll use regularly.
 
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RickP330

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 12, 2007
Messages
831
Location
Middle Island, NY
So long as you don't break one or ruin a fastener, they're perfect.

You know the fasteners are so small we are with these tools on, I'm sure I'll strip the fastener first. I think they will apply more force then I'll ever need to on a fastener.

RP
 

billymade

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 2, 2008
Messages
7,461
Location
New Mexico
Hey, glad these worked out for you; the price is just damn cheap! Cool, you have a really good pretty complete set there! What kind of things do you work on that requires the tiny fasteners, if you don't mind me asking? I have a small wrench obsession myself, I have a little drawer full of tiny wrenches I've picked up used! I can't stop buying all these tiny tools! Maybe I should start a new thread about tiny tool obsessions!
 

paramudduck

Well-known member
Joined
May 24, 2007
Messages
1,758
Location
ohio
I've used a set of the Craftsman ignition wrenches for longer then a lot of the people on this board have been alive. In that time I've broken one of them. And it was totally my fault. I knew the bolt was too rusted to come off with it.
 
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RickP330

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 12, 2007
Messages
831
Location
Middle Island, NY
What kind of things do you work on that requires the tiny fasteners, if you don't mind me asking?
....
I can't stop buying all these tiny tools!

This is a pic I robbed off the net, but it's the exact model of the type I was working on. It should give you an Idea, I'm at work and don't have any pics here.
600_RED.jpg
As for the Tiny tool reference LOL, I have no comment :shocking:

I think you spent your money wisely! You should have no regrets.

Well, lets just say you guys have officially had an influence on what's in my tool box now ;) Wether that's good or bad is up for debate!!
Regards,
Rick
 

Lightning

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 27, 2008
Messages
154
Snap On makes the best wrenches and if you can afford it buy it. The other brands are OK though even the Pro Craftsman. Just avoid Great Neck tools like the plague.
 
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