Tell Me About Cornwell

[Gotmayhem]

I'll admit it: I have never seen a Cornwell tool in my life. I live in CT and a Cornwell truck has never been seen by my eyes. A Cornwell tool has never been in front of me whether it be new or used.

How would you rate their wrenches? Their ratchets? Their sockets? How does the quality of the basic hardline stuff compare to the other trucks? Decent value? Decent resale?


Thank you in advance for your input.

 

[Farmall450]

I don't have any, but my brother does & loves them.

I've used the ratchets that aren't fine tooth...30 some...rough but indestructable.

 

[woody 73]

I live in the same State where Cornwell makes there tools and just seeing a Cornwell truck is like seeing a ufo. Although I am sure I saw Elvis one time at a bus stop but that is another story.

You have to keep an eye out because some of their tools are made overseas like snap on has a Blue-point line etc. They make some very nice tools if you can pick up one of their ratchets they are indestructible.

 

[volvo92906]

Likewise.. I live in their state as well and seeing a truck calls for a double take.. Fortunately we have a Cornwell guy that comes to our shop. Cornwell tools hold up well.. A lot of them are made in the U.S and a good dealer can tell you which. But like any other company, there are sourced tools also. And thats fine. Warranties work and their prices are actually lower than the other trucks as well.

 

[Davefr]

How would you rate their wrenches? Their ratchets? Their sockets? How does the quality of the basic hardline stuff compare to the other trucks? Decent value? Decent resale?


Thank you in advance for your input.

Their hardline tools are excellent. If you're ever lucky enough to buy one of their JR72 ratchets then get it. It's better then anything from SO, Matco or MAC.

Unfortunately it's very hard to buy Cornwell tools.

 

[joebachor]

i have alot of cornwell . they are really high in quality. the ratchets are strong and smooth and comfortable and i would nt hesitate to buy cornwell. they are also a bit cheaper then snap on and customer service is really good.

 

[wafrederick]

Plus you can send anything broken to Cornwell getting them replaced.I have done this and has been hassle free so far getting replacements.

 

[KEH]

I have the 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 Cornwell ratchets. They are quite nice. Not fine tooth, but
so smooth and well made you don't really notice it. I just used the 1/2 for some repetative work, it worked fine. Cornwell rachets don't have a thumb operated reverse lever, but the Cornwell is smooth enough to reverse using the thumb anyway.

The sockets and wrenches are well made too.

KEH

 

[CWP1616L]

They're one of the few tool companies that will round the edges of the beam on their wrenches to make them comfortable to pull on. Their ratchets have a very nice smooth contoured handle. I'd rate their core hardline tools a 10/10.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Good stuff.

There are two cornwell dealers around here so not so rare as in some places.

Their core tools are made by them and as stated a lot of stuff is outsourced. For instance their pliers are mostly rebranded knipex and channellocks.

My dealer has other brands on his truck like gearwrench, lisle, mayhew. He is top notch, and has warrantied stuff I didn't buy from him(OTC).

BTW-according to him, Bosch has purchased OTC

 

[Brownsfan]

I have a bunch of Cornwell tools. The ratchets are the most comfortable I have ever used without a comfort grip or handle. The Jr72 is my all time favorite. I will be buying more as well. I just ordered a jr72f flex head ratchet. I also have a full set of the rebadged German witte screwdrivers, I feel the tips are better than my snap ons but like the handles of the snap ons better. All my non cordless tool business now goes to my Cornwell and snap on guys. No real reason to buy anything else anymore

 

[Fedwrench]

The nicest tool dealers I have ever dealt with over the years have been Cornwell dealers. they might last long but, they're nice.
Cornwell is a small employee owned business. Some of their designs like their 30 tooth ratchets and sockets probably haven't changed in over 50 years.
They only manufacture a small core hardline. Everything else is rebadged. Pliers, screwdrivers, anything hex or torx, etc. are all made elsewhere. Boxes are waterloo made in mexico these days. They've used everyone from kennedy to Remline over the years for boxes.
You won't find anything cutting edge or a design leader but, you will find durable, no nonsense, comfortable to use tools that get the job done.

 

[wafrederick]

Good stuff.

There are two cornwell dealers around here so not so rare as in some places.

Their core tools are made by them and as stated a lot of stuff is outsourced. For instance their pliers are mostly rebranded knipex and channellocks.

My dealer has other brands on his truck like gearwrench, lisle, mayhew. He is top notch, and has warrantied stuff I didn't buy from him(OTC).

BTW-according to him, Bosch has purchased OTC

Cornwell's impact wrenches are made by IR.Bosch now owns OTC including SPX's other tool lines.OTC's scan tools say OTC Bosch on them now.Problem with Bosch is the equipment is yours with no tech support at all.Plus there is no reps in Michigan anymore,they quit and Bosch can't keep reps around.

 

[Gotmayhem]

Thanks for all the replies so far.

Do any of your without a dealer have a preferred source for new/used Cornwell tools? Is it pretty much just forums/ebay?

 

[Davefr]

Thanks for all the replies so far.

Do any of your without a dealer have a preferred source for new/used Cornwell tools? Is it pretty much just forums/ebay?

There are a few Cornwell dealers here that will sell to GJ members. Maybe they'll send you a PM or search the hot deals forums for the Cornwell group buy dealer.

 

[85camaro]

Absolutely love my Cornwell ratchets.

 

[hofferwood]

Got this for a buck at an estate sale.
3/8" drive.

Cleaned up nice, and feels great-----they didn't know what Cornwell was

Here's the guts before clean and lube (I forgot an "after pic)

Chuck

 

[Nocturnal-G]

I don't own any Cornwell... But as far as I can remember reading about the wrenches. They use a bender to bend the offset into the wrench... Although I have read their wrenches are extremely comfortable. Give them a shot... People seem happy with Cornwell!

 

[redwrench60]

My hands down favorite non fine tooth ratchets in all drive sizes. Great wrenches too. Impact sockets are the best value in the truck tool game. (not the blue power ones)

 

[chris142]

I'm not impressed with there 3/8 drive deep impact sockets. I wore mine out in 5 yrs to the point that they would blow off the bolt. My other truck brands lasted decades. I took the Cornwell stuff home.

 

[RCStocker]

I have had quite a few used Cornwell tools through the years. the quality is very good but on the re-sell value I can't give them a away here in California. At the swap meets I only get $1 each for their sockets, deep or Regular and for the smaller ones I need to discount them. I don't even put them in my second hand shop. They don't sell and I need something in the space that sells. I have not seen the truck here in So Ca for a few years now but we did have one that showed up every week going through town. Sense the recession I have only seen the Snappie truck and Matco. Then again I am not near a garage or dealer. I see the Snappie all the time on the road and at different garages and dealers.

The Cornwell tools might be good and they might be one of the best buys on used tools there is. Unless I am getting them in a huge lot or a buy out of a business I never buy them.

That is my 3 cents worth. It is a shame that you can't see a truck where they are made. They need to remarket themselves.
Good tools.

 

[scouting]

In my opinion, they're better quality than snap-on. The warranty is sketchy, since around here the cornwell truck is a rotating door, but the tools are second to none. If you see a truck, buy 36t ratchets. I treat them like a breaker bar.

 

[Aaron10647]

Where in CT are you? I have a dealer in RI that may cover your area depending on where you are. Or you can call cornwell, that's what i did and they gave me his cell and i called and worked out an easy dealership to meet at during his route. Way easier to get the info than Snap on which i still cant track down the correct truck since they don't give out actual info.

My feedback on their tools: Like others have said, most comfortable ratchet handle, prefer the SnapOn dual 80 head, Decent sale flier every month, most sets come in blow molded cases which i like for non common tools, good hard line, misc tools are mostly rebranded, very competitive pricing.

 

[Davefr]

In my opinion, they're better quality than snap-on. The warranty is sketchy.

In my experience their factory warranty is fine. You mail them a broken tool and they send a replacement in about a week or two. (no proof of purchase, pre-authorization or other BS)

 

[Coach James]

I have a 3/8 Cornewll ratchet that is my hands down favorite of all my ratchets. I found it in the road when I lived in Fayetteville. Plastic handle is scratched up but ratchet works great. Is is shorter than my others so it's nice for doing brakes and wheel hubs etc.

Coach

 

[Brownsfan]

Great now because I am thinking about it I am going to meet up with my Cornwell guy and buy some things. Particularly the jrf72h and the jr72l. If you have a Cornwell guy or know where there is one go buy some tools.