Archived from the Tools In Action forum (Hand Tools). This thread is read-only.
I’m looking for new set of wrenches, ratcheting sounds good, something universal less tools in the bag helps, anything like that exist? Any recommendations help.
I have heard these are ok if you just want a multly purpose wrench.
I think woodstockva did a review on these they look handy to have
I like the craftsman, u can’t beat life time warrenty. Especially when u beat the hell out of them. Cheap is nice, but if they break your left with a broken tool.
I would go with Logger Head because I like supporting the Inventor, Because Sears literally screwed them over.
Yea I read to Sam that’s pretty jacked up if sears to do him like that
OMG!!!! NO!!!!! The bionic wrench is not what we’re suggesting! Holy Mary Mother of God! No! No! No!
BBJT: you give me a budget and I’ll give you the best option. Metric or SAE?
there’s nothing like having a set of shiny new ratcheting wrenches in the toolbox, i recently purchased the reversible Dewalt ones and really like them.
but i must admit, for a space saving set that i picked up on runout in Bunnings (Aus version of HD?) these are incredibly handy, and are very weighty (feel strong). they get very mixed reviews on Amazon, so maybe look into other brands, though I’ve loved my set. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BRKN63U/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_3?pf_rd_p=1944687662&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B009L86A7O&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=15XNAA7DBEJEKQ4ZPNA4
Unfortunately u can only take reviews with a grain of salt. I read a couple reviews were they went on and on, and never owned the tools. People are idiots.
after looking around, im thinking about set of ratcheting wrenches, at least 10 piece per size set, anyone have any feedback on this husky set from HD, 20 piece SAE/METRIC set for $50
Conductor562 wrote:
OMG!!!! NO!!!!! The bionic wrench is not what we’re suggesting! Holy Mary Mother of God! No! No! No!
Lol
Conductor562 wrote:
OMG!!!! NO!!!!! The bionic wrench is not what we’re suggesting! Holy Mary Mother of God! No! No! No!
BBJT: you give me a budget and I’ll give you the best option. Metric or SAE?
I never seen Conductor freak out that bad before!! I think he would be calmer if there was a runaway train with a baby on the tracks after that reaction he had on the bionic wrench.
If you have a HF close to you, their tools really aren’t too bad. All Pittsburgh hand tools have lifetime warranty.
DR99 wrote:
I never seen Conductor freak out that bad before!! I think he would be calmer if there was a runaway train with a baby on the tracks after that reaction he had on the bionic wrench.
Heck, I had to fight back a string of four-letter expletives myself…
BIGBEARJT wrote:
after looking around, im thinking about set of ratcheting wrenches, at least 10 piece per size set, anyone have any feedback on this husky set from HD, 20 piece SAE/METRIC set for $50
If ratcheting wrenches are your choice, and you’re on a budget, my pics would be the Dewalt ($182 for the 20 piece Metric and SAE sets) or the Tekton flex sets ($134 for the 20 piece Metric and SAE sets).
For $50 the Husky set is a good value though. Hard to pass on them at that price. Both the Tekton and Dewalt sets are Taiwan made and will be better quality than the Chinese Husky set, but I guess it all depends on what you’re looking for.
BK13 wrote:
Heck, I had to fight back a string of four-letter expletives myself…
I remember reading that the guy that invented the BionicWrench was inspired to create it when he saw his son struggling to bust a fastener on his lawnmower with a pair of pliers. I couldn’t help but wonder how he figured it was easier to invent that contraption than it was to hand the goofy little bastard the wrench he should have been using to start with.
Get them huskys for $50.
LOL conductor!! So true….Conductor562 wrote:
I remember reading that the guy that invented the BionicWrench was inspired to create it when he saw his son struggling to bust a fastener on his lawnmower with a pair of pliers. I couldn’t help but wonder how he figured it was easier to invent that contraption than it was to hand the goofy little bastard the wrench he should have been using to start with.
RickyMcGrath wrote:
If you have a HF close to you, their tools really aren’t too bad. All Pittsburgh hand tools have lifetime warranty.
I have been using HF 301 pc mechanics tool set for over a year and have been very happy with it. I have used the ratcheting wrenches with a cheater bar and have yet to strip the gears. I do not have impact sockets either and have yet to bust one of these sockets with a 1/2 inch impact wrench. I only paid $160 for the set and it paid for itself the first time I changed my brakes and rotors. Harbor freight is hit or miss, but so far the pittsburgh wrenches and sockets have been great.
Probably, but I won’t buy any of the HF wrenches made in India. The Taiwan stuff is okay (the ratcheting stuff is a little coarse) but the sizes HF skips make my OCD cringe….
Surprised no one mentioned Gearwrench yet. I have quite a few gearwrench sets and they have been nothing but great.
Gearwrench is on my “buy with caution” list right now. Suddenly went from Taiwan to China a year or so back. That makes me nervous.
Gear wrench sets have been on sale at advance auto parts for some time now. I’ve bought two of the $70 sets for $29.95 and so far I love them and lifetime warranty as well.
Conductor562 wrote:
Gearwrench is on my “buy with caution” list right now. Suddenly went from Taiwan to China a year or so back. That makes me nervous.
Aaah thats good to know,I guess i wont be upgrading mine like ever 😉
Not all Gearwrench stuff is China, but some is. The ratcheting combos are. All those sets Sears has for sale on Black Friday are China made.
The Gearwrench faithful claims there are 2 separate lines, one China, one Taiwan, but I don’t believe that. I believe they switched production to China and it’s taken awhile to disperse with the leftover Taiwan stuff.
I should add that no shitty scheme or reduction in quality would surprise me coming from Apex/Danaher. I avoid them at all costs.
Danaher retained Matco as it’s sole brand back during the formation of Apex, and even it’s went to shit. I don’t know if Matco sells a single tool anymore that you can’t buy elsewhere for half the money. Even the Matco 88 ratchets can be had in some form from Armstrong which is owned by Apex now.
Matco sucks and has really went to shit IMO.
Is there anything the Danaher/Apex group doesnt destroy?
Its sad that companies think we want cheap junk tools. I like my tools to last like most other toolnuts like us. Im lucky I bought alot of Craftsman tools when I was a teenager back in the 90’s they still all work awesome,I havent even walked into a sears store in ages.
There are some decent Armstrong sockets and such that ive seen take crazy abuse from people.
I tend to buy USA,Japanese,German,Swiss made tools not particularly in that order,depends on the type of tool.
Conductor562 wrote:
I should add that no shitty scheme or reduction in quality would surprise me coming from Apex/Danaher. I avoid them at all costs.
Danaher retained Matco as it’s sole brand back during the formation of Apex, and even it’s went to shit. I don’t know if Matco sells a single tool anymore that you can’t buy elsewhere for half the money. Even the Matco 88 ratchets can be had in some form from Armstrong which is owned by Apex now.
Matco sucks and has really went to shit IMO.
When was the last time you were on a matco truck? What Chinese gearwrench tools failed on you?
Man conductor when I saw these sets at Sears for low prices I was like wtf in 2008 I bought my gearwrench set for almost $200 bucks off the snap on guy that comes by the shop I k ow that was a couple years ago and I didnt k ow as much about tools as I do know or else I wouldn’t have spent that much now seeing all these other brands coming out with great tools also. It’s just sad that there being made in China now……Conductor562 wrote:
Not all Gearwrench stuff is China, but some is. The ratcheting combos are. All those sets Sears has for sale on Black Friday are China made.
The Gearwrench faithful claims there are 2 separate lines, one China, one Taiwan, but I don’t believe that. I believe they switched production to China and it’s taken awhile to disperse with the leftover Taiwan stuff.
Mikevango wrote:
When was the last time you were on a matco truck? What Chinese gearwrench tools failed on you?
As far as the Matco truck, it’s been a year or so. A guy here in town sold Matco for awhile and when I crossed paths with him at the gas station, I’d check it out. He didn’t make it all that long. He’s selling Tek brand tires off the same truck now. There are some fine tools on the Matco truck, but nothing you can’t get from somewhere else for less. There’s a lot of that on all the trucks, but it seems to be worse with Matco.
As for the Chinese Gearwrenches, they haven’t failed on me because I don’t own any and won’t own any. Could they be as good as the older Taiwan sets I have? Sure they could, but I’m not betting on it and I’m sure Apex didn’t make the switch to improve the quality.
If somebody has to ask what type of wrenches they should buy any brand will probably work fine for them. After awhile they will realize if the cheapest tool will or will not work for them. It is called experience and it comes from doing it.
Of course a tool truck will not be a good value for a shadetree’r.
I have a bunch of gearwrench that has never failed me and I have no idea where it was made. It’s not my favorite brand but it is priced right.
I have a bunch of matco too. I like the brand but it also is not my favorite. But saying they suck and the brand went to shit is not at all valid unless you are a professional wrencher.
Conductor562 wrote:
I should add that no shitty scheme or reduction in quality would surprise me coming from Apex/Danaher. I avoid them at all costs.
Danaher retained Matco as it’s sole brand back during the formation of Apex, and even it’s went to shit. I don’t know if Matco sells a single tool anymore that you can’t buy elsewhere for half the money. Even the Matco 88 ratchets can be had in some form from Armstrong which is owned by Apex now.
Matco sucks and has really went to shit IMO.
I would like to get me some Matco pinless universal impact sockets, but that’s about all…
BK13 wrote:
I would like to get me some Matco pinless universal impact sockets, but that’s about all…
BK: I think the patent is up on the pinless impacts. Pretty sure someone else is selling them now.
I could be wrong about that, but I swear I saw someone else who was selling them.
Vango: Let me rephrase. Matco’s association with Danaher and their lack of unique or exclusive products has caused me to lose interest in the brand.
Matco has lost alot of my attention aswell… Everything they sell, is just rebranded tools.. I rarley see something from them that is exclusive to the name matco. Screwdrivers by whitte, driverbits by irwin, air impacts rebranded IR.. If u go on the cornell truck u can get the same products from the original maker for less. Matco truck is almost the same as a cornwell truck..i wrench everyday, and i see the matco guy every monday. But i will defend they make a bitching toolbox:) my two pennies
Also i have really really lost all faith in there impact sockets(matco).. I swear my harbor freight socketa take a better beating.
frankiegarcia19 wrote:
Also i have really really lost all faith in there impact sockets(matco).. I swear my harbor freight socketa take a better beating.
Knowing Danaher they’re probably the same thing
Their ADV line of impact sockets are copies of grey pneumatic sockets. I don’t know about their higher priced line though.
Conductor562 wrote:
BK: I think the patent is up on the pinless impacts. Pretty sure someone else is selling them now.
I could be wrong about that, but I swear I saw someone else who was selling them.
Well, I know that Armstrong and CM uni impact sockets are, with the exception of depth, identical…
Anyone remember Metrinch? I have a set from the late 90’s, and has never failed me…