Combination wrenches, brands.

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Bills65Dart

Bills65Dart

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After I moved to the US I had no tools. I mean, nothing at all.

So, I ended up with Craftsman combination wrenches. The tools are ok, sort of kind of, but they do not feel good in my hands. Let me rephrase it, they are not what I am used to work with, and at 57 years old I have gotten used to things, and that is what i feel comfortable with.

The tools I am used to are thinner, lighter. Craftsman are thick, bulky, more material. So, I guess the steel quality is lower than the ones I am used to. Which is European, Hazet, and Teng-Tools mostly, a few Snap-On, which is sort of a Swedish brand, but made in Taiwan. But still good tools, and much cheaper than Hazet, which is German and expensive.

When looking online I struggle seeing if the wrenches are slim or bulky. I mean, the pictures are not good enough to determine. Not that the pics are bad, just that slim or bulky is a rather tricky thing to see in a picture, unless the tool was laying at the side of a tool I happen to know. And this is my real problem, I don't know a lot of tools brands here, and everywhere I go, they are rather bulky.

Any advise ?


Bill
 
Bill, whenever I need hand tools for "ME", I hawk EBay for older Snap On, Mac, Matco, SK and Proto tools. Those five are about dead even with each other, as long as they are from "about" 1990 and back. Lots of good deals if you watch a lot and are not in a hurry.
 
RustyRatRod said:
Bill, whenever I need hand tools for "ME", I hawk EBay for older Snap On, Mac, Matco, SK and Proto tools. Those five are about dead even with each other, as long as they are from "about" 1990 and back. Lots of good deals if you watch a lot and are not in a hurry.
Click to expand...

I see. Thank you. I tried to read myself up on Armstrong, just to find out they went out of business in 2017. But, I found another tool owned by the same company, Crescent tools. And they looked more slim than the Craftsman, but when I had looked at enough pics of them it was like,... nah,... they look bulky too. So, not easy. :)

I will see if I can find pics of the ones you mentioned. Guess that will keep me occupied the rest of the day, or at least until pizza arrives. :)


Bill
 
Bills65Dart said:
I see. Thank you. I tried to read myself up on Armstrong, just to find out they went out of business in 2017. But, I found another tool owned by the same company, Crescent tools. And they looked more slim than the Craftsman, but when I had looked at enough pics of them it was like,... nah,... they look bulky too. So, not easy. :)

I will see if I can find pics of the ones you mentioned. Guess that will keep me occupied the rest of the day, or at least until pizza arrives. :)


Bill
Click to expand...

Pizza. Are you gettin enough for all of us?

Anyway, Proto hand tools were once the top of the heap. Better than Snap On, better than anything. Back in the 40s and 50s, they were used in the space program pre-NASA. They are extremely high quality. I am familiar with Proto, because our auto mechanics instructor in high school in the very early 80s, James P Lovett (RIP) had a massive collection of Proto tools. They are to this day the heaviest duty hand tools I have ever seen. Absolute top notch. At the time he taught shop class, he was retirement age. He was a Mercedes Benz mechanic after WWII in the 40s, 50s and 60s and later opened a 10 bay shop in his back yard in Monroe County, Georgia. They guy KNEW tools. lol
 
Bills65Dart said:
I see. Thank you. I tried to read myself up on Armstrong, just to find out they went out of business in 2017. But, I found another tool owned by the same company, Crescent tools. And they looked more slim than the Craftsman, but when I had looked at enough pics of them it was like,... nah,... they look bulky too. So, not easy. :)

I will see if I can find pics of the ones you mentioned. Guess that will keep me occupied the rest of the day, or at least until pizza arrives. :)


Bill
Click to expand...


Try looking at garage sales....
 
Anything such as a European Ebay to look? I once worked for an Irish Co. and
when my co workers from Ireland came to the US on job sites and borrow some
of my tools they would complain about them "how can you work with this shite"
 
Just change the end of the ebay url. For UK instead of .com type .co.uk
 
I like the Lowes Kobalt tools, even better than Craftsman. I have had many of my sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers etc., some probably close to 20 years, in al that time I have only broken 1 ratchet wrench and 1 screwdriver.
 
All good advice here. Am an old Snap-On man here, but no longer in the trade and can't justify the cost which is now outrageous. The cheaper, made in China stuff isn't all that bad, and they may have a lifetime guarantee. Home Depot stuff looks like my Snap-On.
 
Last edited:
Bills65Dart said:
After I moved to the US I had no tools. I mean, nothing at all.

So, I ended up with Craftsman combination wrenches. The tools are ok, sort of kind of, but they do not feel good in my hands. Let me rephrase it, they are not what I am used to work with, and at 57 years old I have gotten used to things, and that is what i feel comfortable with.

The tools I am used to are thinner, lighter. Craftsman are thick, bulky, more material. So, I guess the steel quality is lower than the ones I am used to. Which is European, Hazet, and Teng-Tools mostly, a few Snap-On, which is sort of a Swedish brand, but made in Taiwan. But still good tools, and much cheaper than Hazet, which is German and expensive.

When looking online I struggle seeing if the wrenches are slim or bulky. I mean, the pictures are not good enough to determine. Not that the pics are bad, just that slim or bulky is a rather tricky thing to see in a picture, unless the tool was laying at the side of a tool I happen to know. And this is my real problem, I don't know a lot of tools brands here, and everywhere I go, they are rather bulky.

Any advise ?


Bill
Click to expand...

Bill take a look at these.

Proto Professional Combination Wrench Set of 14 Wrenches SAE USA | eBay
 
RustyRatRod said:
Pizza. Are you gettin enough for all of us?

Anyway, Proto hand tools were once the top of the heap. Better than Snap On, better than anything. Back in the 40s and 50s, they were used in the space program pre-NASA. They are extremely high quality. I am familiar with Proto, because our auto mechanics instructor in high school in the very early 80s, James P Lovett (RIP) had a massive collection of Proto tools. They are to this day the heaviest duty hand tools I have ever seen. Absolute top notch. At the time he taught shop class, he was retirement age. He was a Mercedes Benz mechanic after WWII in the 40s, 50s and 60s and later opened a 10 bay shop in his back yard in Monroe County, Georgia. They guy KNEW tools. lol
Click to expand...

Well, I had my four pieces, and my wife is done eating too, and more than half is left, so why don't you jump in your 7 litre, or 428 and come on over, we are not going to bed yet. :)


Bill
 
Bills65Dart said:
Well, I had my four pieces, and my wife is done eating too, and more than half is left, so why don't you jump in your 7 litre, or 428 and come on over, we are not going to bed yet. :)


Bill
Click to expand...

Don't forget........although Ford only used that emblem on the 428, the 427 was a 7 liter too........so it could be a real sleeper.........with two backwards Holleys. LOL
 
I found this review:

*1.0 out of 5 starsCrescent should be ashamed of themselves for calling these pot-metal wrenches Steel.
July 19, 2018
Crescent used to be a good brand, but they should be ashamed of themselves for calling these pot-metal wrenches Steel. I used the 15mm wrench only once, and the head of the bolt cut through it like butter. I should have used them before the return window expired. Wasted my money.*

From what I understand Crescent is an Apex tool, so is Gearwrench.


Bill
 
I believe the Lowe’s kobalt tools are made by JD Williams. That there was a good wrench in it’s day.
 
The older Williams, Blackhawk, Mac, Cornwell, and Bonney stuff is also good. Williams and Snap-On were sister companies, as are Proto and Blackhawk.
 
I have to bring up Harbor freight. Just about the only place I buy tools anymore. Prices are a fraction of anywhere else & are lifetime guaranteed. For a shade tree mechanic like me who doesn’t wrench for a living, they are the perfect blend of quality and price.
 
Ok, I am probably silly but got curious about that pot metal wrench from Crescent, so I ordered one single 7/16 combination wrench since I am missing that size in my tool box. If pot metal I will not loose a whole lot. If it is good, I am fine with that too.

Bill
 
Your best bet is used Snap-On. Or new, depending on your budget. The last set of wrenches I bought were Facom, French company. They are light and thin, bought them in reversible ratcheting closed ends. They are fantastic but not sold directly in the US. Bring your wallet.

I also picked up a set of Milwaukee open ends wrenches. Very nice quality, they replaced an ok set of SK. Fit the fasteners much better.
 
I spent almost 20 years working on BMW's for a living, so of course I bought tools from all the trucks, Snap On, Mac, and Matco. I like Snap On's wrenches the best, because of the way they feel in my hand.

We had an independent guy who sold Hazet and Facom, I bought a few of those for specific applications. I really liked these tools, I should have bought more of them.

In my opinion, if you like the feel of Hazet and Facom, you will be most happy with Snap On. As others have said, shop swap meets and Ebay, you'll find good used Snap On for a fraction of new.

Snap On has a lifetime warranty, but I've found the tool truck guys don't like some random dude trying to warranty a bunch of obvious swap meet finds. So save a couple hundred bucks and buy something new from your local guy once in a while, he'll be a lot more open to exchanging your warranties.
 
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