Combo Wrenches: What are you using?

Combo wrenches are one of those tools that I have way more of than I’ll ever need. I have 7 sets that go to at least 1″ and 2 of the 7 are Metric. Proto is my brand of choice. Plomb, which became Proto as the result of a lawsuit in the late 1940’s, was the first company to market the combo wrench in 1933 and IMHO they offer the best quality for price ratio in the business. Combo’s and sockets are the staples of any hand tool lineup IMO and are 2 tools you can’t skimp on the quality. What are you guys using and how do you like them?

Unfortunately, none yet I use my dads when I need them but I have been looking for a good deal. What is a good brand that has a good warranty and won’t break the bank.

I just use the husky set I got for Christmas I don’t do enough wrenching on stuff to justify pending any more money on hand tools.

Snap On,they don’t cover anything wore out and you have to break the tool to replace it.With Snap On,they are way overpriced and the wrench handles for the smaller wrenches are too pointy hurting your hand.

wafrederick wrote:

Snap On,they don’t cover anything wore out and you have to break the tool to replace it.With Snap On,they are way overpriced and the wrench handles for the smaller wrenches are too pointy hurting your hand.

I could never justify Snap-On prices either. As I’ve said before, that truck doesn’t run on hopes and dreams, it runs on mark-up.

I just saw a set of Tekton metric and SAE 12 point combos for 24. Conductor, what do you think?

I have no experience with their combos. That being said, I’ve been happy with the level of quality you get for the price with Tekton. Tekton customer service is awesome! I’ve seen lots of examples on Amazon and such where they’ve actually sought out people who left negative reviews to make things right. They have a no questions asked warranty as well. Tekton isn’t offering Snap-On quality, but they aren’t asking Snap-On prices either.

I love my Proto ASD combos and while I don’t wrench for a living, I use them almost daily. They’re affordable for the level of quality you get, but still a little pricy for occasional use or someone starting out.

I really don’t care much for the new Craftsman combos. They look awesome, but the open end is huge!

I wouldn’t have any reservations about giving the Tekton’s a shot. At that price, factoring in the warranty and the ease of utilizing it, you can’t go wrong. If you choose to upgrade in the future you can throw the Tekton’s in a truck box for a road set.

Thanks for the info conductor!

Once again Conductor is a man of many amazing facts and ideas!

Yes he is a dictionary haha 🙂

LOL, I’m a tool nerd. 

I like the Wright & SK brands. Not overpriced and American made. They are right between the China ” use once and break ” stuff and the high dollar ” tool truck ” wrenches. 

I use blue point and mastercraft

I am looking at some Sk metric.

I use Kobalt some USA made and some not. Both great quality!

I’m with Jeth, Mastercraft wrenches here…. Can’t break them

The Wright “Wrightgrip” or SK “Superchrome” wrenches would be my pick if I couldn’t get Proto. You can’t kill a Proto wrench.

Conductor562 wrote:

The Wright “Wrightgrip” or SK “Superchrome” wrenches would be my pick if I couldn’t get Proto. You can’t kill a Proto wrench.

I wish I could afford them. Maybe after college!

I was reading my sk catalog and saw that they are a truck brand….never knew that.

I’ve heard of SK trucks, but they are very rare and SK is not a significant player in the truck market….yet. Snap-On is over priced and Mac and Matco are nearly as high and in most cases, lower quality. If SK makes a serious play in the truck market they could be very successful IMO.

I really like sk, i also like that they are 100% usa made!

Your right 07sierra mastercraft or solid and realy cheap (in special) and they have a life time warrenty

I agree with you. SK would do well with a tool truck. The only disadvantage may be the diversity of product lines. I like the Superchrome finish and the SureGrip wrench design of their combo’s.

Ideal owns enough brands to put out an SK branded version of just about everything. They’d have to rebrand some automotive specialty tools, but between the SK, Ideal, and Western Forge, holdings, they’ve got a lot of capability sitting in their lap. 

Although I agree with the comments about snap-ons prices, and I hate to be “that guy” because I’m new here….

Snap-on wrenches grip the fastener like none other.

Next time your on the truck bring your wrench and get the dealer to do the “wrench demo”

If you turn wrenches all day your basically stuck buying the expensive tools, as far as hand tools go anyway

ToolsinCanada wrote:

Although I agree with the comments about snap-ons prices, and I hate to be “that guy” because I’m new here….

Snap-on wrenches grip the fastener like none other.

Next time your on the truck bring your wrench and get the dealer to do the “wrench demo”

If you turn wrenches all day your basically stuck buying the expensive tools, as far as hand tools go anyway

I suppose you ‘re using Flank Drive+? Awesome wrenches, but do you use them as your primary set?

I use SK and Bonney. I would guess that I have had these for 34/35 years or so

I have a set of craftsman x-beam wrenches (I think that is what they are called) that I use most of the time. I can put some major torque down with them.

Regopit: Bonney made some really fantastic wrenches. They still command a premium to this day.

Nick: The Craftsman models were call “Crossforce”. X Beam was the the Gearwrench name for the same thing. Both were OEM’d by Danaher/Apex

Ok I have the gear wrench for metric ones.

I’m on the market for another combination wrench set for another tool bag I have. I already own a Craftsman 12pt set. I want a ratcheting set with an offset for knuckle clearance. SAE. Here’s a set I found online.

Craftman Standard Racheting Combination Wrench Set

Can you guys give me a few recommendations?

Those are cool wiz I have gear wrench

SAE: Craftsman 6 & 12 point, Husky stubbies

Metric: Craftsman 12 point

I intend to pick up some polished Wright, and SK stubbies, and possibly some Armstrong XLs (SAE). I also want to get some Hazet metrics and some SK stubby metrics.

I have mostly old school Craftsmans and Gearwrenches for my combos.

wizbang wrote:

I’m on the market for another combination wrench set for another tool bag I have. I already own a Craftsman 12pt set. I want a ratcheting set with an offset for knuckle clearance. SAE. Here’s a set I found online.

 

Craftman Standard Racheting Combination Wrench Set

 

Can you guys give me a few recommendations?

Consider these Wiz:

http://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-2108-Combination-Ratcheting-10-Piece/dp/B00FFUPTXS

I reviewed a set last year. Good wrenches for the price. They come in metric as well. 

Thanks Conductor, I’ll look into these. The 180-degree flex seems really useful. 

I only have 3 for know, they are a no name brand. But I’ve used and abused the hell out of them, and still going strong.

I have a few sets of traditional Craftsman combo wrenches at work and a set of their ratcheting combos (love these)

In my personal tool box i have a set of husky wrenches, a small set of husky stubby wrenches, and a set of GearWrench ratcheting combos. I love using the ratcheting wrenches, Id rather use those than a socket 95% of the time. 

I have several large sets of 70’s and 90’s Craftsman (SAE & Metric) along with orphan Craftsman SK & KD wrenches.

I kind of feel that a lot of guys talk up SnapOn because they are trying to justify the cost to themselves? I have used them quite a bit in the past and I can’t see the benefit of hem? They are a bit skinny for my industry where we often end up wailing on spanners (wrenches) with a hammers. My absolute favourite wrenches are (and you will love the name) King Dick. They are a UK classic and are as tough as they come. I have an inherited combination spanner from the 1950’s which has spent it’s entire life being abused in heavy industries like ship building. I put a vernier calliper across the open end which was all beat up and it was exactly 15/16th just as it was when it left the factory. They are not the sexiest wrenches around. No super slim grips or x-beam technology. If you order from the factory they will acid etch your name on them though!

Thats pretty cool they will etch you name in the tools. I really like that. I have a hard time justifying SnapOn prices or any of the truck brands. I get the offer financing and buying off the truck convenience but the prices are crazy you could save a ton of money shopping around other brands.

DR I spent so much wasted money on snap on matco and Cromwell oh and some not much on Mac that regret so bad but I didn’t know better at the time only if I would have known what I know now…

Tool blogs are a fairly recent thing for people to figure out which way is the best way to buy tools depending on your trade.

You should be dropping some big hints on getting that Milwaukee M12 drill and impact kit onsale with free xc3.0 battery.

Yea I know DR but I’m hopeing that I can get some good deals on black fri but I need to go to HD sat so I don’t know if I’m there and the time is right I might be bringing those baby’s home!!

ChrisR wrote:

I kind of feel that a lot of guys talk up SnapOn because they are trying to justify the cost to themselves? I have used them quite a bit in the past and I can’t see the benefit of hem? They are a bit skinny for my industry where we often end up wailing on spanners (wrenches) with a hammers. My absolute favourite wrenches are (and you will love the name) King Dick. They are a UK classic and are as tough as they come. I have an inherited combination spanner from the 1950’s which has spent it’s entire life being abused in heavy industries like ship building. I put a vernier calliper across the open end which was all beat up and it was exactly 15/16th just as it was when it left the factory. They are not the sexiest wrenches around. No super slim grips or x-beam technology. If you order from the factory they will acid etch your name on them though!

Are King Dick still the same tools? I seem to recall reading somewhere that the newer KD tools have been offshored, but I could be wrong about that…

BK13 wrote:

Are King Dick still the same tools? I seem to recall reading somewhere that the newer KD tools have been offshored, but I could be wrong about that…

A lot of the later KD stuff was off shored, but Apex began phasing KD out altogether last year. All of the products formerly sold under the KD name have been rolled into the Gearwrench line.  

I’m pretty sure KIng Dick are still made in Birmingham, England. They are made by Abington King Dick company. Looking at some of their tool boxes etc that stuff might be offshored but afaik the spanners are still made onsite in the UK. I think it was K-D tools that were Apex owned not Abington King Dick?

Conductor562 wrote:

A lot of the later KD stuff was off shored, but Apex began phasing KD out altogether last year. All of the products formerly sold under the KD name have been rolled into the Gearwrench line.

Whoops, I confused the issue with trying to shorten King Dick, forgetting that KD was the precursor to Gearwrench….