Why do wrench sets have missing sizes?!

[Mike83]

Why is it that so many wrench sets are intentionally missing some size(s)? Craftsman does this - they don't sell a 20mm fully polished wrench, but they carry 21mm-24mm! Even Snap-On omits 16mm, 20mm and others in certain sets. This annoys me I need 16mm and 20mm! Anyone else agree with me?

 

[nissan_crawler]

Yep, the sae craftsman pro's skip the 11/32 wrench. I bought a snap-on to fill in.

 

[Major Ramifications]

It depends on which set you get. Sometimes they omit sizes that aren't often used. That way, they look good in the sales flyer because they span from, say, 1/4' to 7/8". But what they don't tell you is that they don't have every single size.

 

[Darren M.]

SOME are the same as their SAE equivalent. Like the 3/4" will work on a 20mm. Not perfect, but damn close. Still, I have filled in the missing ones, when needed and ticks me off when I have to as well.
SAE to Metric Conversion

 

[oxycodone]

I know - It irritates the **** outta me, and craftsman is notorious for doing this not just with their wrench sets, but socket sets as well.

But yeah, they do it to make the price attractive.

 

[Mike83]

The cost savings you get from buying a whole set goes out the window when you have to buy additional tools individually to fill in gaps. Or worse, there is no matching tool to fill in the set - like the C-Pro 20mm! I have been more careful to check and see that ALL the sizes I want are included.

 

[DavidtheDuke]

like the C-Pro 20mm!

Where is a 20mm wrench used? Not saying you need it just saying I've never run into a 20mm fastener - ever.

 

[oxycodone]

Where is a 20mm wrench used? Not saying you need it just saying I've never run into a 20mm fastener - ever.

You've obviously never repacked the muffler bearings in a '54 Studebaker.

 

[Lyaec350]

Where is a 20mm wrench used? Not saying you need it just saying I've never run into a 20mm fastener - ever.

I actually have a 20mm stubby for some reason--only stubby wrench I own and I definitely bought it for a project. Probably something on my '98 GM truck.

 

[IanF]

I know - It irritates the **** outta me, and craftsman is notorious for doing this not just with their wrench sets, but socket sets as well.

Yep... very irritating... for some reason, the 1/2" dr set I bought jumps from 15mm to 17mm... skipping over 16mm... a bolt size that's all over the suspension on a MINI Cooper...

 

[nissan_crawler]

The cost savings you get from buying a whole set goes out the window when you have to buy additional tools individually to fill in gaps. Or worse, there is no matching tool to fill in the set - like the C-Pro 20mm! I have been more careful to check and see that ALL the sizes I want are included.

I disagree. Buying a set of Craftsman Pro's and filling in the missing one or two with a snap-on wrench is still WAY cheaper than buying a complete set of snap-ons. Oh, and many snap-on sets exclude them, too. I wanted an 11/32" wrench and the Snap-On lady was out of singles, none of the sets on her truck at the time had one in them.

 

[oxycodone]

I disagree. Buying a set of Craftsman Pro's and filling in the missing one or two with a snap-on wrench is still WAY cheaper than buying a complete set of snap-ons. Oh, and many snap-on sets exclude them, too. I wanted an 11/32" wrench and the Snap-On lady was out of singles, none of the sets on her truck at the time had one in them.

Yeah, but you're talking about a snap-on set - that's a whole different animal, pricewise.

You can get a SK 6mm-24mm set at tooltopia for $163.

I don't know what it would cost to put together a cman pro / snap-on 6-24mm set, but I bet it'd be a lot more than that.

 

[Lyaec350]

Yeah, but you're talking about a snap-on set - that's a whole different animal, pricewise.

You can get a SK 6mm-24mm set at tooltopia for $163.

I don't know what it would cost to put together a cman pro / snap-on 6-24mm set, but I bet it'd be a lot more than that.

Well, the 28 piece Cman pro = 6-21mm minus the 20mm wrench = $145 on sale...assume half that cost is for the 14 metric wrenches (which is conservative as the SAE sizes go up to 1 1/16") = $72. I imagine that for $90 you can find a comparable quality (Amstrong full polished maybe?) 20,22,23,24 mm wrenches. Also, I think the S&K's are pretty fugly, and there is that whole thread on the quality...

You do get a matching set w/ the S&K's though...

 

[dxdexter]

You've obviously never repacked the muffler bearings in a '54 Studebaker.

I generally don't bother repacking them. I get pre-packed new bearings.

This topic was mentioned in the "Mastercraft Stubby" thread. The set Mastercraft wrenches is from 7mm to 22mm, but is missing the 9, 12, 17, 18, 20 and 21. The minimum price for the fill-ins is $12.49. The set cost $13.99 (60% off on sale)) and a minimum of $75+ for the extras. Does that make sense?

BTW these are Chinese.

Its just a gimmick to make you buy more.

 

[fourfeathers]

16 mm= 5/8
19 mm= 3/4, etc.

I can see skipping some sizes, assuming you will have the standard size to compensate.

 

[boiler7904]

Why is it that so many wrench sets are intentionally missing some size(s)?

So that they can **** you into spending more money for the tool you really wanted/needed in the first place when you bought the set.

 

[dxdexter]

16 mm= 5/8
19 mm= 3/4, etc.

I can see skipping some sizes, assuming you will have the standard size to compensate.

I absolutely hate substituting SAE sizes for metric or vise versa. The only ones that usually work well are 11mm=7/16", 13mm=1/2", 14mm=9/16", 19mm=3/4". The others are hit-and-miss most times.

 

[lauver]

In many cases, certain size wrenches are left out of sets as a way of reducing the cost of the set. That is, it makes the wrench set more marketable. From the typical consumers point of view, it no big deal because the wrench sizes left out are very unlikely to be needed. The metric examples mentioned above (16mm, 18mm, and 20mm) are seldem, if ever, required.

In my case, I've been working on foreign motorcycles and cars for over 40 years and have never run into a 16mm or 20mm nut or bolt. I've only seen one or two 18mm nuts and these were limited to A/C line connections. In these limited A/C line situations, a regular 18mm box end wrench won't work and an 18mm open end wrench is not the tool of choice; the tool of choice is an 18mm line wrench (aka flare nut wrench). So why do I need these three wrench sizes in open end or box end or combination wrenches. Simple answer, I don't! And why should I have to pay for them in an inflated wrench set when all they are is useless fillers. Simple answer, I shouldn't have to. Would I want an 18mm line wrench? You bet I would, and would be more than willing to pay for that addition to a line wrench set.

 

[oxycodone]

Hm... yeah, I guess you could chalk it up to niche marketing. I just don't fall into that niche... I'm designated wrencher on both Japanese and HD bikes, my Chrysler (which is mostly benz), and a variety of fords (which include mazda motors). I tend to lean towards running the gamut on wrench and socket sizes.

 

[dxdexter]

The metric examples mentioned above (16mm, 18mm, and 20mm) are seldem, if ever, required.

In my case, I've been working on foreign motorcycles and cars for over 40 years and have never run into a 16mm or 20mm nut or bolt. I've only seen one or two 18mm nuts and these were limited to A/C line connections. In these limited A/C line situations, a regular 18mm box end wrench won't work and an 18mm open end wrench is not the tool of choice; the tool of choice is an 18mm line wrench (aka flare nut wrench). .

It all depends on what you work on. I would suggest the top selling pickup in North America uses the sizes you suggest are rarely seen.

Just the other day I used both 18mm and 16mm on my 1997 F-150. The oil drain plug is 16mm . In order to change the front wheel bearings you must remove the caliper bracket which is 18mm. These sizes are not duplicated in SAE.

 

[Uncle Buck]

You've obviously never repacked the muffler bearings in a '54 Studebaker.

Alright, you caught my attention with this post, what the heck is a muffler bearing? and am I the only guy that has never heard of one? And 2nd, 1954 Study's had metric fasteners on them? I am very surprised to hear that any American cars of that era had any metric fasteners to be found anywhere on them! It would be interesting for the Snap-on experts on the board to look at their vintage Snap-on catalogs and share how many metric SO tools were offered in their catalogs of the day!

 

[lauver]

oxycodone,

WTF? The man asked a serious question.

 

[dxdexter]

Alright, you caught my attention with this post, what the heck is a muffler bearing? and am I the only guy that has never heard of one? And 2nd, 1954 Study's had metric fasteners on them? I am very surprised to hear that any American cars of that era had any metric fasteners to be found anywhere on them! It would be interesting for the Snap-on experts on the board to look at their vintage Snap-on catalogs and share how many metric SO tools were offered in their catalogs of the day!

They are the same as "gaffle grommets" or "jimsom saddles".

Its a joke.

 

[Uncle Buck]

They are the same as "gaffle grommets" or "jimsom saddles".

Its a joke.

My bad.................to literal I guess!

 

[fourfeathers]

I absolutely hate substituting SAE sizes for metric or vise versa. The only ones that usually work well are 11mm=7/16", 13mm=1/2", 14mm=9/16", 19mm=3/4". The others are hit-and-miss most times.

http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/science/wrench-conversion.htm

I am sure there are better sites, but here's a conversion chart.

 

[Stick]

20mm is common on GM fuel filters.

 

[dxdexter]

http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/science/wrench-conversion.htm

I am sure there are better sites, but here's a conversion chart.

They are right on a most, but the 13mm will substitute for 1/2" and the 14mm will work for 9/16". You can sometimes get 11/16" to substitute for 17mm.

I don't know too many people who have a 15/32" wrench, but strangely enough I have a 19/32" and a 25/32"

 

[oxycodone]

1954 Study's had metric fasteners on them?!

To get to the petcock on the blinker fluid reservoir you needed a 5.5mm ratcheting crow's foot... that's when snap-on started making them.

 

[ImportTuner]

To get to the petcock on the blinker fluid reservoir you needed a 5.5mm ratcheting crow's foot... that's when snap-on started making them.

OK.... I'll bite ... what's a blinker fluid reservoir ...

 

[eschoendorff]

OK.... I'll bite ... what's a blinker fluid reservoir ...

It's right under the flux capacitor manifold, but you'll have to use a dickfer to get to it.

 

[dxdexter]

OK.... I'll bite ... what's a blinker fluid reservoir ...

To the left of the "Hemi Quads". A dickfer doesn't work as well as a Hammerfore. Sometimes a Henweigh will work just as well.

 

[byrd]

you will find out what is a hammerfore when you need to beat the dickfer.

 

[wrenchr]

Yah it is right next to the 7I0 cap and wobbalater shaft.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Alright, you caught my attention with this post, what the heck is a muffler bearing? and am I the only guy that has never heard of one? And 2nd, 1954 Study's had metric fasteners on them? I am very surprised to hear that any American cars of that era had any metric fasteners to be found anywhere on them! It would be interesting for the Snap-on experts on the board to look at their vintage Snap-on catalogs and share how many metric SO tools were offered in their catalogs of the day!

OK.... I'll bite ... what's a blinker fluid reservoir ...

OH NO! HE GOT TWO OF US!

 

[dxdexter]

OH NO! HE GOT TWO OF US!

Hook, Line, and Sinker.

 

[JRGSPE73]

What's even worse on those old Studebakers is you need a left handed screwdriver to take out the plug for the headlight oil. And if you don't spring for the Halogen oil, man, you're gonna be sorry down the road.

 

[Mike83]

Where is a 20mm wrench used? Not saying you need it just saying I've never run into a 20mm fastener - ever.

Fuel filters use a 20mm hex...I needed it as a backup wrench basically while I used a 16mm flare nut wrench to break the fitting loose. I ended up using a 13/16", which was loose, but worked.

 

[Mike83]

I absolutely hate substituting SAE sizes for metric or vise versa. The only ones that usually work well are 11mm=7/16", 13mm=1/2", 14mm=9/16", 19mm=3/4". The others are hit-and-miss most times.

I don't mind doing that if the SAE size is slightly smaller than the metric.

 

[Stuey]

I too was unable to find sets within my price range that had an 11/32" wrench. I ended up buying some Armstrong branded ones since I tend to use that size a lot. I guess it's not too common in the automotive world.

My guess is the same as everyone else's - they skip sizes to save on cost.

 

[WWheeler]

Where is a 20mm wrench used? Not saying you need it just saying I've never run into a 20mm fastener - ever.

You've obviously never repacked the muffler bearings in a '54 Studebaker.

How the hell would a 1954 USA made car have metric anything? I'm having a hard time believing it's not 3/4"

edit: Didn't notice we were talking about "muffler bearings". You got that one past me.