I rarely use them, so my open end wrenches are junk from 40-50 years ago. Yesterday I rounded off a nut so it's time for a decent, but not terribly expensive set. Should I look at flare-nut? Craftsman?
Open end wrenches. Recommendation?
- Thread starter njpaddy
- Start date
i like craftsman just for the return policy no questions asked you break it they replace it. I would go with a nice set of combination ratcheting wrenches.
i picked up a set of these and I love them I use mine everyday at work so they come in handy have yet to break one. Craftsmans quality I feel has gone down a little but sears are everywhere so return is easy plus its a nice in the middle its not high end with a high end price tag but its not cheap junk that you will have to replace after using them a hand full of times. i think each set ran me about 85 bucks on sale.
i picked up a set of these and I love them I use mine everyday at work so they come in handy have yet to break one. Craftsmans quality I feel has gone down a little but sears are everywhere so return is easy plus its a nice in the middle its not high end with a high end price tag but its not cheap junk that you will have to replace after using them a hand full of times. i think each set ran me about 85 bucks on sale.
I have 2 sets of Craftsman wrenches. The replacement policy is great. If you can break one (it does happen) Sears just tells you to grab another one off the shelf. I haven't broken any of mine, but my brother has.
They are well made. I have no complaints at all.
They are well made. I have no complaints at all.
My dad has craftsman and he broke twice the same wrench within the same day... They replaced it twice... He eventually got that though nut...
Not being a professional mechanic I have no problem not having SnapOn or Mac tools, my roll around tool chest is full of Craftsman tools because of the reasons mentioned above.... but lately I have found myself buying Husky tools at Home Depot as they seem to be of equal quality and have a similar warranty for a bit less and I just find myself at Home Depot more often than Sears or K-Mart. And you can get a Husky 22 piece standard/metric combination wrench set for about $30 while the Craftsman sets will be about $30 for the standard and another $30 for the metric.
Either way a good set of Craftsman or Husky standard/metric combination (box end/open end) wrenches will last you a long, long time...
Either way a good set of Craftsman or Husky standard/metric combination (box end/open end) wrenches will last you a long, long time...
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I got two 8peice one standard one metric at ace on sale for $10, each with a $10 rebate...look for the sale and do the math, probably not the best, but for what I need it for suits me fine
I like my old craftsman spanners... yes craftsman, not the modern crapsman 
... That being said a spanner truly is a spanner... they all work the same... just be sure you are actually using the right size spanner! (imperial vs metric)
Avoid adjustable spanners however... those will round nuts like nobody's business... not that your nuts should be anybody's business!
I would say however to supplement ratchets when possible, as you can apply downward force in addition to axial force...
... That being said a spanner truly is a spanner... they all work the same... just be sure you are actually using the right size spanner! (imperial vs metric) Avoid adjustable spanners however... those will round nuts like nobody's business... not that your nuts should be anybody's business!
I would say however to supplement ratchets when possible, as you can apply downward force in addition to axial force...
I'll be the voice of dissent and recommend Armstrong, instead. Personally, I don't like Craftsman; YMMV and all that. I use the hell out of handtools and Craftsman rarely makes much of an impression. Much of the time, they strip out their first time seeing hard use. Armstrong tools aren't all that cheap, but it beats driving to Sears every time your wrench strips out on you. Not widely available, either, but you can find them many places online.
If you insist on Craftsman, visit some yard sales or the flea market and pick up older tools. Those are still good quality.
If you insist on Craftsman, visit some yard sales or the flea market and pick up older tools. Those are still good quality.
Don't know if you have a Canadian Tire down there or if it is just Canadian. Even the cheapest wrenches have a lifetime, no questions asked guarantee. Actually, last week I brought one in that broke, probably from the 1950's. Handed me a new one and apologized about the quality of the last one.
All of my Craftsman tools were bought before 1990 and I never had a minute of trouble with them. I also have Snap On, Mac and NAPA Blackhawk tools. They work and last.
For the weekender, Crafstman (Sears), Kobalt (Lowes), and Husky (Home Depot) are all excellent choices and all guaranteed for life.
Flare nut is not necessary unless you are working on a lot of fuel lines and the like. Flare nut aka Line Wrench is to keep you from rounding off soft brass nuts that hold such lines on. Standard open end wrenches should suit you fine.
- Thread starter
- #12
Thanks for the comments. Just went through all my tool boxes and found about 30 open & box end wrenches, just not many that are decent. I did find some old craftsman USA metric but not a complete set. Missing a 10mm which is one I need. Also found wrenches from India, China and Japan. Anyone old enough to remember when the junk came from Japan not China? Maybe tomorrow I'll check out Husky first since Home Depot is close, then I'll take a ride up to Sears to compare.
bobfarvour, thanks for the info on flare-nut. Saw them on the Sears site and wasn't sure what they were for.
bobfarvour, thanks for the info on flare-nut. Saw them on the Sears site and wasn't sure what they were for.
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I enjoy using my Dads 70 odd year old Craftsman wrenches when I need to..
Matco makes some nice stuff, not as pricey as Snap-on. I got tired of my crappy hap hazard assortment of screw drivers a couple years ago , and bout a seven piece set from Matco for $117.00.
+1 to all the recommendations for Craftsman tools. Bought sockets and open & box end sets in the mid 1970s, and I've only had to replace those I lost or had stolen. You won't regret it.
bought my Craftsman sets in 1969, box/open end combination wrenches, 1/2, 3/8 and 1/4 inch drive socket wrenches. The only ones I have had to replace are the little 1/4"size socket in 1/4"drive. It gets a lot of use on an electric screwdrive, and drill and they tend to wear out faster. Never had any problem getting one replaced.
I'm going to be patriotic now: If you never want to replace a tool, get Gedore or Stahlwille wrenches.
Full disclosure:
This posting was written in complete ignorance of the quality of ANY American made wrench.
Full disclosure:
This posting was written in complete ignorance of the quality of ANY American made wrench.
- Thread starter
- #19
I actually have 5 Gedore open/box standard wrenches but they say Drop Forged - India (not Germany) and I read where the India made were junk. I did find the rest of my Craftsman Forged in USA metric wrenches so I'm good there. Now just need to look for some decent SAE wrenches.
I've tried some different brands but for some reason I started to give all I had away and bought Kamasa Tools. imho Combination wrenches with ratchet, are really nice. No clue if KT are expensive in US.
