Too many wrenches?

[iroc409]

Thanks to a Garage Journal run, I feel like I have too many wrenches. I started out with RP's, but picked up a set of the Craftsman polished industrial, a set of ratcheting Gearwrench, a set of Williams stubbies, and a set of offset polish Craftsman box end wrenches.

I'm just a DIY/home guy, and for some reason I've always liked the RP's, but with a 26" box at home and this many wrench sets, it seems like overkill.

Is there a good reason for me to keep the RP's? I've thought about "backup wrenches" for certain tasks, but it seems I have that covered with everything else. If anything, I'd almost like a set of the RP box-end only sets, and have eyed them a few times, instead of the RP combos. Do the Cman sets go for much? I know at times eBay goes crazy on that stuff.

I have a portable "junk yard box", but it's mostly HF and a set of older Sears "Companion" stuff. I bought a set of Home Depot wrenches to "upgrade" my Companion wrenches last Thanksgiving or so for that box, and not sure I want to put the good stuff in the portable box (and the Companion stuff has actually held up way better than I expected--I tore apart an entire old International pickup with that box).

 

[Zrexxer]

Is there a good reason for me to keep the RP's? I've thought about "backup wrenches" for certain tasks, but it seems I have that covered with everything else.

At the point where my RPs had just become a 12th or 13th redundancy, I gave them to my brother-in-law. He was trying to acquire some tools and learn how to do things for himself, and he didn't have any wrenches at all.

Find someone who needs them - a younger person, perhaps - and get them started with tools of their own. The benefit far outweighs whatever you might recoup selling them on eBay.

 

[iroc409]

That's not a bad idea. I don't know they will fetch a whole lot...

 

[Kirbot]

One set of combo wrenches is generally plenty. (not counting other tool boxes, in vehicles etc)

The times you do need two wrenches the same size, you have the Gearwrenches and the other stuff to take care of it.

On the other hand, you really aren't going to make a killing selling old RP wrenches...

 

[NotSwedishChef]

If you don't know a young, deserving recipient....contact your local trade school......or if you have a local maker space.....all good, deserving places for tools to land.

 

[Jure]

id keep them if they are 6pt RP's if 12 pt then sell them,swap or just give it away for free to someone.

 

[iroc409]

id keep them if they are 6pt RP's if 12 pt then sell them,swap or just give it away for free to someone.

They are all 12's.

 

[CNGsaves]

Those raised panel Craftsman wrenches would make great starter set for your son later, or nephew, etc. I wouldn't just part with authentic USA RP C-mans for the sake of a few bucks.

Heck snag a vintage C-man toolbox and build a nice small setup in carry around toolbox.

 

[jd_1138]

I'd probably move all the RP's to the junkyard box and give away the junk yard box tools to a needy person who has no tools.

But having a nice assortment of wrenches is a good thing. Sometimes you need a stubby, sometimes you need a box end, etc..

 

[iroc409]

Those raised panel Craftsman wrenches would make great starter set for your son later, or nephew, etc. I wouldn't just part with authentic USA RP C-mans for the sake of a few bucks.

Heck snag a vintage C-man toolbox and build a nice small setup in carry around toolbox.

My junkyard box is a vintage-ish Craftsman tool box, it just doesn't have much Craftsman in it. My RP's are a whole set up to 1 1/8", 24MM, which is too many for the portable box... but I've thought about just putting in the average sizes there. I have a box of extra CM sockets too, I might have enough to stock the box with a full set (not sure, though).

 

[back2class]

I started putting a real serous tool set together a few years back. Anything redundant that was not Snap-On (too valuable on used market) went into a box for my son who was just born. Well, he is 6 now and has a stuffed to the gills Cornwell 7 drawer cart/box full of good tools including RP combos. Mots of the stuff was not worth selling..but now the kid honestly has a better tool set than most first year mechanics. Tons of Stanley, Craftsman and everything under the sun and all decent quality. The real castaways I put three big plastic tool boxes together with the stuff that was redundant for my son's set and gave them to kids I knew. About 50lbs a box full of tools for each. Now that I just had another boy, found a cheap Craftsman top and bottom box and it is now about full too. So guess what I am saying is give them to a kid, or put them away for a family member now or in the future. I should add that I was a handy kid and young man, but with dad not living with me or much of a tool guy I struggled for years with a few pieces of junk tools. A good set of RP would have been a godsend in those years before I could invest in decent tools...trying to make due with a few odd wrenches, junk pliers and maybe a vise grip.

 

[hangfirew8]

I started putting a real serous tool set together a few years back. Anything redundant that was not Snap-On (too valuable on used market) went into a box for my son who was just born. Well, he is 6 now and has a stuffed to the gills Cornwell 7 drawer cart/box full of good tools including RP combos. Mots of the stuff was not worth selling..but now the kid honestly has a better tool set than most first year mechanics. Tons of Stanley, Craftsman and everything under the sun and all decent quality. The real castaways I put three big plastic tool boxes together with the stuff that was redundant for my son's set and gave them to kids I knew. About 50lbs a box full of tools for each. Now that I just had another boy, found a cheap Craftsman top and bottom box and it is now about full too. So guess what I am saying is give them to a kid, or put them away for a family member now or in the future.

I thought what you were saying was, you need more kids.

 

[back2class]

I thought what you were saying was, you need more kids.

LOL....two is plenty. No time for tools or projects now.

 

[crewchief888]

Sounds like you need a bigger toolbox. ..
Then you'll have room for even more wrenches !!!!
And ratchets sockets, screwdrivers, pliers etc ect.
It's a vicious cycle..


.

 

[AmishFury]

no such thing as too many wrenches and to suggest it is heresy

*sets up stake and gathers firewood*

 

[RiverRider]

Need a light?

 

[iroc409]

Sounds like you need a bigger toolbox. ..
Then you'll have room for even more wrenches !!!!
And ratchets sockets, screwdrivers, pliers etc ect.
It's a vicious cycle..


.

Yes, but it's not in the cards at the moment. I like the top box fairly well, and thought about just replacing the bottom, but it's not going to happen right now.

Need a light?

 

[jd_1138]

It's like in the awesome car movie 2 Lane Blacktop. The GTO character when describing his car (455 ci Super Duty with Ram Air in his goat) said: "yeah it's fast enough."

And James Taylor's character (the driver) replied: "you can never go fast enough". I think you can't have enough wrenches. Hell, have a set for the garage, one for the shed, one for the house, one for the truck, one for the idiot BIL who thinks that a small adjustable wrench and a rusty HF screwdriver is all he needs.

 

[Kirbot]

I know "more tools" is the nature of the forum, but in all seriousness, not having room for redundancy isn't REALLY reason for a bigger toolbox....

 

[SASORacing]

Cman RP's are a great starter set and are a great low cost initial investment. But if you plan on using the open end they will spread and round off bolts. Its not just RP's that spread, its many other brands. I would reccomend getting a wrench with flank drive open end.

With technology now a days these flank drive wrenches work so much better that they should be a staple in everyones tool box if you plan on using the open end very much.

Heres a video showing how easy open ends spread on non flank drive style wrenches.

Skip to 2:50 for the action parts

 

[1950mercury]

I have my 25 y/o rp wrenches hanging by finish nails at the work bench in the garage. It nice to have tools wright there and not have to go back and forth to the tool box. Usually if im wrenching on something on the bench its something small and a light torque applications

 

[RiverRider]

Eh...never mind. Did a little searching and found answers. If I twisted wrenches for a living I'm sure I would never have asked.

 

[iroc409]

I know "more tools" is the nature of the forum, but in all seriousness, not having room for redundancy isn't REALLY reason for a bigger toolbox....

LOL, no, it's definitely not. I've talked myself out of upgrading several times, I just need to be more creative about organizing. Taking power tools out of the box will also help. My bottom box isn't the nicer 7-drawer CM, I think it's only 5, but it is all roller bearing, and I paid about half normal price for both pieces, just by watching out for deals.

 

[crewchief888]

LOL, no, it's definitely not. I've talked myself out of upgrading several times, I just need to be more creative about organizing. Taking power tools out of the box will also help.

organization IS THE KEY to cramming larger amounts of tools into a small box.


theres nothing wrong with having an "extra" set of wrenches or multiples of sockets.

 

[colin39]

Me too
Draw 1:-

Draw 2:-

Draw 3 :-

Then theres the 6 to 32 k-d usa in van and then there are these

kept on the hip on breakdowns


Before i came on gj i was happy with my basic snappy and k-d's metric i now have snappy, allen usa ,k-d facom , brittol and bluepoint. In combination, ratchet aviation, sae and metric......... i rarely see sae? Why did i do this? Oh because im on this ****** forum, lmfao thanks guys best set of tools ive ever had, and i had one set stolen in 25 years of wrenching.

Thanks again garage journal

 

[nine4gmc]

I see the problem, it's clear... You just need another tool box.

 

[colin39]

I see the problem, it's clear... You just need another tool box.

Thanks buddy, ill tell wifey im sure she will understand. Lmfao

 

[metaldad]

Thanks buddy, ill tell wifey im sure she will understand. Lmfao

jah. you need another tool box, just like she needs another new purse

 

[colin39]

Nah my wifes a gooden she understands, i earn it so i can spend it (as long as she can help )

 

[dnschmidt]

no such thing as too many wrenches and to suggest it is heresy

The voice of reason speaks.

 

[nine4gmc]

Thanks buddy, ill tell wifey im sure she will understand. Lmfao

Actually, that post was directed at Iroc but looks like you may need one as well.