[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Need Wrenches (Page 1 of 3)
Posted: 6/27/2011 1:46:27 PM EDT
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So my water heater wasn't working last night.
I ended up using a channel-lcks whn I needed a 3/4" open edned wrench. I will be picking some up tonight. Husky or Craftsman? |
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Go to Snapon's website and buy just the 3/4 that you do need.
3/4 wrench |
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Might as well get Harbor Freight for what you get with Craftsman anymore.  Check into Kobalt from Lowe's too. If you're not gonna use it often, or really depend on it, no reason to spend mucho dollars. You don't have to use it often to absolutely f**k yoursef stripping a bolthead where extraction is near impossible. |
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Go to Snapon's website and buy the 3/4 that you do need. Yes, by all means spend $38 for a wrench that you're going to use exactly once. Well let's just all buy Davis .380s then. Most of us aren't in the army or have ever had to shoot anyone. Even if we do have to shoot one it will probably only be once ever. No need for professional killing tools for homeowners. 
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Quoted: Is 6-point better than 12-point? Just get a set of 6 pt Kobalt, Husky or Craftsman in std and metric. I have Craftsman and have never destroyed a bolt. Use them maybe 5 times a year. Last real use was replacing the valve cover gasket and fuel rail on my Jeep...... |
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craftsman is lifetime replacement at any sears no questions asked, I have yet to find myself anywhere not within 50 miles from a sears. since I've got a bad habit of using two wrenches instead of a pry bar... It seems like Home Depot has the same deal. I think Lowes does as well. |
| I am guessing, based on your not already owning a set of standard wrenches that you don't own any older cars that you are going to be working on. Based on that buy whichever is the cheapest (probably not the Harbor Freight though, they really are junk). Standard wrenches aren't going to be all that useful to you, and a basic set of Kobalt, Husky or Craftsman will do you fine. |
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Quoted: Quoted: craftsman is lifetime replacement at any sears no questions asked, I have yet to find myself anywhere not within 50 miles from a sears. since I've got a bad habit of using two wrenches instead of a pry bar... It seems like Home Depot has the same deal. I think Lowes does as well. All it takes is reading the box. The traditional craftsman tools are still there and are currently made in USA by Danaher who also makes MatCo.
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Go to Snapon's website and buy the 3/4 that you do need. Yes, by all means spend $38 for a wrench that you're going to use exactly once. Well let's just all buy Davis .380s then. Most of us aren't in the army or have ever had to shoot anyone. Even if we do have to shoot one it will probably only be once ever. No need for professional killing tools for homeowners. That is a silly comparison. Now if you were to make the point about a Glock 17, compared to a Les Baer 1911 in 9mm, then it may be a valid comparison, but it isn't. Buying a Single Snap-On wrench for what the OP needs would be wasteful and foolhardy. A set of Craftsman, Husky, or Kobalt wrenches can be purchased for about what that single Snap-on wrench will cost, and will work every bit as well for his use. I own close to twenty thousand dollars in tools, almost Exclusively Snap-on and Mac, I have made a living with them, and am familiar with the benefits of having good tools. I am also familiar with having less than professional needs. Other than the suggestion to buy Harbor Freight wrenches, he was given sound advice. Snap-on (especially waiting days to get it delivered (when a non professional orders from the website they order is shipped, not delivered by a Snap-on truck the next day) would be overkill and would give the OP no benefit over the far more reasonably priced, yet nearly as capable tools. |
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Get This @ Sears. You will be fine until you start building airplanes in the garage. |
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Make sure before you order that you first verify with a competent machanic that if you plan on purchasing a wrench / socket from mixed brands that they are compatible. Some tolerances are different and not allow you to mix a CM socket with a SO wrench. Trust me I now. |
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Is 6-point better than 12-point? You had to go and open that can of worms huh. 
If any wrench is not completely flat against the bolt a 12 point will strip/round off the head faster than a 6 point. A 12-pt socket should only be used on a 12-pt nut. 
It's interesting that you see so many 12-pt sockets in comparison to very few 12-pt nuts. |
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Gear Wrench is a decent brand I use them every day and have held up well for the last 5 years.
Keep an eye open as they go on sale quite often at places like Autozone ,Advance auto,Napa,Sears, and Lowes. You can pick up a set of 7 or 8 wrenches for around $40.00 on sale. |
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What you really need for that kind of random situation is a good Crescent wrench of the large variety.
Otherwise, get wrenches from HF if you find some that aren't made in India or Pakistan. If you use them daily or have to abuse the fuck out of them, Snap-On is worth it. Also, you can get Williams wrenches from McMaster-Carr. Those are good quality and often not outrageous in price. I have a big-ass Crescent wrench (Crescent brand) that I use for trailer hitch balls and similar jobs. Works for me. |
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The fact that you're asking this question, strongly implies that you do not depend on the tools to earn a living. In other words, you're like me (and most people on this site, by the numbers). Spend as little as you can reasonably get away with. The fact that you actually did what you needed to do (with the wrong tool at that), suggests that buying "Tier 1" tools would be a pure luxury. Do it if you want to and have the disposable cash, but know that it isn't really required. |
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Quoted: I went with a set of 22 husky combo wrenches for $29 at home depot. Sae and metric. I'll bump this thread when they break. (FYI, I also bought a $3 tape measure.) Perfect. And here's the great part about it - if you totally fucked up, you're out all of $29. Since you don't depend on these to earn your bread, it's fairly inconsequential if you were completely wrong. As with any tool, with use, you'll soon discover what needs to be "quality" and what doesn't - all tailored to your own usage patterns and requirements. |
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That set has a 3/4" socket but no 3/4" wrench. |
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That set has a 3/4" socket but no 3/4" wrench. I have the 137 pc set, it also does not have a 3/4 wrench. |
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Quoted: I will not be spending $360 on wrenches when I have gotten by for the 10 years since I left the nest without them. Just because you haven't needed them so far, that doesn't mean you won't need them in the future. A good set of wrenches will last you the rest of your life, and working on things yourself saves a lot of money over paying someone else to do it. It may seem like a large chunk of change now, but if you buy a good set that will last you your lifetime and into your kids' lifetimes they will more than make up for themselves. I have a few tools my grandfather used. I didn't have to pay for them, and they help me fix things myself which saves me money. |
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Quoted: 3/4"? Not 1/2"? And how do you know that?That set has a 3/4" socket but no 3/4" wrench. Supposing it was a 1/2" socket, kits like this often provide 3/8" -> 1/2" adapters. EDIT: Oh, you're talking about a lack of a 3/4" open/box end wrench, not the drive size. My bad. |
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Quoted:
So my water heater wasn't working last night. I ended up using a channel-lcks whn I needed a 3/4" open edned wrench. I will be picking some up tonight. Husky or Craftsman? I've been plumbing for 9 years ,I would have used channel-locks too ,or a crescent wrench. But to have around the house I have a craftsman 151 pc laser etched mechanics set I got on presidents day for 120. back around 7/8 years ago. I think its probably easier to do returns at Sears than home detpot. And I think husky has broken easier than craftsman on me. |
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Need Wrenches (Page 1 of 3)
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