Which HF Wrenches for car kit?

[netbrad]

I made myself a small car toolkit with a HF composite wrench, the color socket set and a couple of screwdrivers. I want to add some wrenches to the mix and was thinking of these:

http://www.harborfreight.com/9-piece-metric-highly-polished-combo-wrench-set-42305.html

I've seen on this board that some of the HF wrenches have had odd sizes and other quality issues but don't know if these are the same ones. I realize I'm probably overthinking this but I don't want something that will break on first use, however I also don't want something I'll miss if it gets stolen.

 

[stricht8]

None. Buy Craftsman raised panels. Cheap and USA made for now.

 

[Hootbro]

I would say Craftsman raised panel also, but you are already on the HF wagon with the other stuff and you might as well get that wrench set also.

 

[G_P]

that set should be Ok.

Just remember that when you are broken down on the side of the road that is the worst possible time to have a tool fail you!

 

[kippieland]

I also would say RP craftsman. Great for the price. I have SAE set of HF wrenches (I use SAE like once a year) and my daughter left one outside with out me knowing about it. It was out there for max a day and it already had rust showing. I'm not big fan.

 

[wreckerman5357]

Considering that set lacks a 15, 16, and an 18: I would not consider it. Not having a 16 is not a big deal, pretty rare, but I would still want it. The 18 is a bigger deal, I run into 18s fairly often, more than 17s. The 15 is the real deal breaker, I run into 15s very often. Thus set was obviously put together buy a total retard. I would go with Cman RPs, Husky, or Kobalt. Any of those will work. I would get whatever I could get cheapest and easiest.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

for those roadside rebuilds

 

[netbrad]

Didn't notice about the lack of 15 MM. I would like Craftsman, but can't afford that right now. I have some Craftsman RP already from a mechanic's set I got back around 2001.

 

[tkdone]

Go to the swap meet,I picked up a whole set of husky metric for $10,USA made,and you will find tons of CM wrenches,you may have to dig around to complete a set,but will save alot of money

 

[Butters]

Just remember that when you are broken down on the side of the road that is the worst possible time to have a tool fail you!

That truly is a dilemma. I have a couple motorcycles in addition to my car and have tools in all of them. It's pretty easy to run out of decent spare tools before you fill up your toolkits. Shopping to fill some kits was pretty tricky because I didn't want to spend a lot on tools that rarely get used. But the last thing I wanted was to be stranded 50 miles from nowhere because I saved $2 on a particular tool.

I think you probably wouldn't break a wrench, but I would want to be sure they fit well. A stripped bolthead can be just as bad as a broken wrench.

I purchased some HF stuff, but spent a bit more on hex head wrenches with the motorcycles sice I figured I would be more likely to strip a fasterner or round of a hex wrench with cheaper tools.

 

[bcradio]

Go to the swap meet,I picked up a whole set of husky metric for $10,USA made,and you will find tons of CM wrenches,you may have to dig around to complete a set,but will save alot of money

How do I find out about these magical/mysterious tool swap meets that I hear about so often on here? I would like to check one out.

 

[Randy_che]

I carry a decent tool kit in my car, but rarely use the wrenches. Ratchet and socket 90% of the time if needed. Seriously, you're not going to rebuild your engine in the parking lot. Maybe swap an alternator or starter, change the battery, change a bulb, etc. I use my tools to fix stuff at my in-laws a lot more than to fix my car. I have the basic wrenches, an adjustable, and sockets. If I can't get a fastener undone with any combination of those, things are probably beyond what I could fix on the side of the road anyway.

 

[GoBlue]

Cant afford Craftsman rps? I would say you cant afford H.F's either if your that tight.

 

[RangerDaleXp]

I made myself a small car toolkit with a HF composite wrench, the color socket set and a couple of screwdrivers. I want to add some wrenches to the mix and was thinking of these:

http://www.harborfreight.com/9-piece-metric-highly-polished-combo-wrench-set-42305.html

I've seen on this board that some of the HF wrenches have had odd sizes and other quality issues but don't know if these are the same ones. I realize I'm probably overthinking this but I don't want something that will break on first use, however I also don't want something I'll miss if it gets stolen.

I have these wrenches and they are not that bad. I use them as a backup set that I keep on the truck. I have had no trouble with them and have pushed them quite a bit. For the price you cannot go wrong. In fact I think they feel better in my hand than my craftsman RPS wrenches.

 

[NUTTSGT]

If you're road tripping and break a CM tool, you're more likely to find a Sears to replace it at than a HF store.

Sears almost always has wrench sets on sale around Christmas time or during Craftsman Club sales.

Any auto swap meet will have guys selling tools, some good, some bad and always somewhere at the meet is somebody selling CM tools.

 

[eljefino]

I'd get something from HD/Lowes/Sears. Midwinter clearance is your friend. Got black Husky stubbies and long wrenches, metric and standard, approx 40 pieces 5/16 to 3/4 and 6mm to 19mm or so for $20.

I need more stubbies like a hole in the head but they'd be good for a glovebox if I had something to add leverage.

 

[Lkdelta]

The regular HF screwdrivers shattered the first time I tried to use them.
You always have to buy 1 level of usage above what you really need
Get impact sockets for the rachet, professional grade tools for home DIY

 

[shoturtle]

since you are looking for metric for your car. I would not get this set, as mention it does not have 15mm which you will run into a bit.

 

[RangerDaleXp]

since you are looking for metric for your car. I would not get this set, as mention it does not have 15mm which you will run into a bit.

I would agree with you that this set is missing some important sizes. They do sell another set which is the same type of wrenches that includes the missing sizes. If I recall it was a 16 piece set and went for around 20 bucks. I believe it is not listed on their website but is available in-store.

 

[RangerDaleXp]

Go to the swap meet,I picked up a whole set of husky metric for $10,USA made,and you will find tons of CM wrenches,you may have to dig around to complete a set,but will save alot of money

I believe the husky wrenches are no longer made in the USA. I looked at a set about a month ago and they looked nice but I think they are made in Taiwan now. Like Lowe's, Home Depot started outsourcing their husky brand. About seven years ago, I bought a set of open ended husky wrenches and I like them very much. They were US-made then.....

 

[shoturtle]

combo wrenches

Husky china - okay but behind the kolbalt offering
Kolbalt taiwan - good quality
pittsburgh china - mix feeling
craftsmen USA - good quality

 

[shoturtle]

That set is not bad, but 8mm is useful.