I got my SAE and metric wrenches from Walmart, the $12.99 kind of deal for wrenches ranging from tiny ones to 7/8" and 19mm.

The brand name is Stanley, it is made in Taiwan. They are so-so, I used them for the last 6 months. The steel seems to be a bit soft, and not polished, though to be honest, I haven't had any issues. (I did round off a bolt once but it was only because I should have used a line wrench to begin with - on brakes)

Question, should I upgrade to a better brand like Craftsman? Is it worthwhile? With all the different vehicles I service, it might pay off to keep a spare set in a vehicle.

As a shade tree mechanic, I certainly don't need something of Snap-on caliber, just something that doesn't bend or break.

 

I love my stanley wrenches. I cannot afford craftsman, or snap-on tools. I personally think that anything with a lifetime warranty is good quality, my stanley wrenches fall into that catagory.

I like em. good 'nuff for me!

 

It seems like quality on various tool lines can vary a bit. I have a set of Craftsman line wrenches that are springy and soft. Almost worse that no wrench at all because they will ruin a fitting. I assume that the quality and heat treatment of other house brand wrenches can follow the same course. If you go with high quality name brand tools (not Craftsman, at least not since 1970) you will get better consistency and quality.

I have noticed that Craftsman post 1970 and other cheapo tools can have sloppy fits also. When you measure them they are out of tolerance for a wrench. Yes there are tolerances on wrench sizes that can be found in a Machinery's Handbook. I went thru a whole bin of Craftsman 9/16" combination wrenches to find one that was within tolerance for a replacement for a pre-70 wrench that grew legs The store clerks were not happy with me but I didn't let them scare me off until I had found one within specs. It seems to be made of good steel tho, no problems there.

I really don't care what brand a tool is as long as it is safe to use, works well, and does not break!

 

I am kind of a novice, I wouldn't be able to take advantage of high quality tools anyway, like snap-on or SK. Also, their prices!

I do have a micrometer, I will measure my Stanley wrenches and see what's up.

Taiwan stuff also has a wide range of quality. The real cheap stuff breaks. I have a socket set I used for 10 years. Hard to believe it has been that long, or the fact I haven't lost any sockets. It was endorsed by Popular Mechanics. Cr-V and made in Taiwan.

 

I have a few Stanley wrenches in my tool box.I'v never had any problems with them.I use them as rough as my Craftsmam wrenches.I chose Craftsman when I bought a complete set because of the lifetime gurantee,and they were on sale.If I would have found a Stanley set at the same price,I would have bought it .The Stanley tools are less expensive when buying individual pieces to upgrade a set.I also use Stanley screwdrivers.they are very reasonably priced.Thats just my experience with Stanley.

 

ok i'm a new user and i'm 50 yrs old. I see senoir and elder users and wonder how old they are. tend to think they are retired or older than i am. So Carpe if you have 989 posts how can you be a novice? I mean i'm puzzled.

I'm still in the amazement phase. The wealth of expert information on this site is amazing. Like what Torgue says about the measurement and standards for wrenches. I've noticed that chaeper wrenches tend to fit less tightly and have rounded nuts on a hard pull.

I saw those Stanley wrenchs at Walmart. Price was excellent. We bought some for the kid's toll box (his 1st car) They looked thinner than craftsman as i recall.
The thickness of craftaman sockets and wrenchs has been one of my complaints. Cant double nut small nuts or the sockets are too thick to get in a hole.

I have a mix of brands. I made a point of buying a limited amount of snap-on or mac tools, like six point deepwell 3/8ths drive sockets at pawn shops. They sell em at 60% of new and i always, always ask for more discount. they usually do it after some protest. YOu can also buy individual sockets from "toss in bins" for like, 50 cents apeice. For me that means extra 1/2, 9/16ths, since they tend to grow legs

After a tool box with my favorite tools, with twenty years of collecting, was stolen (damn thieves)................. I replaced a chunk of the smaller end tools with a set of 119 pcs for $49.00
from the sears warehouse. That's less than 50 cents a pcs.
Thing about the warehouse is that's where they sell "damaged" items. If it's only the shipping box that's damaged they still have to sell it as damaged.

You never know where you'll fnd a good deal. I was at a flea market and happened across a long handled 1/4" drive snap-on rachet with three wobble head extensions and a couple of sockets for $3.00. I snatched those up.

 

My pride and joy in my tool box is an SK/Wayne 1/2 " drive ratchet that I purchased in 1975. I just replaced the ratchet head last year(which was provided free of charge through a Bumper to Bumper auto store, acting as an S/K dealer.

I have had craftsman tools that I have given away at yard sales.

I also have a complete set of "made in Taiwan" combination wrenches that my wife bought at a tractor equipment store in 1979 for well over a hundred dollars. I almost ---- my pants, but it turns out she is a better judge of quality tools because I still have that entire original set of wrenches.

If you're there to "seize the day" when any company produces a decent product, it will last a lifetime.

 

shaggymane

Interesting stories.

My first socket set was from KeyMart, it was a cheap Taiwan set for 9.99, including the ratchet. Hard to believe I've had it for 10 years now. I fixed lots of things with it. It has become my favorite to be honest. It says Cr-V, although metallurgically, it is probably meaningless. It is the nicer set of Taiwanese stuff, almost all of which is junk.

 

The V portion is important in a steel. Vanadium acts as a hardener for the steel. Also different percentages of chrome in the steel also affect its application.

 

"seize the day" carpe diem indead
I have a freind who makes a habit of crusing pawn shops and garage sales. He's willing to put in the time doing it and he is constantly coming up with phenomenal deals. He makes me green with envy sometimes.
Like cordless drills for a buck. Granted those were black and decker but for some around the house, light duty stuff, they work.
He found a "like new" $500 lawnboy for $100. I saw the mower and it was CLEAN.
It's like the store just mismarked the item but who cares about that? I found a little used $300 echo string trimer for $64. Got it home and found out why it was dumped. they put the string head on wrong. It had an extra washer in it so it wouldn't feed string right. (I had a lawn service for twenty years)

My above mentioned freind also buys tools he might need in the future when he runs across a good deal, unlike me who tends to buy when i need one. (and pay retail)
I should follow his example.

 

The place for good deals is - ebay. It is a global flea market/ yard sale.

sometimes prices get insane - I myself paid $30 for a 48 page 1989 ford truck manual - asking myself why, but I just had to have it.

I also got manuals for $2.99 so I suppose that averages out ok.

 

funny you should mention manuals. I was thinking about posting a thread asking if any one had luck buying them at used bookstores. I'm gonna go look soon. Need one for my 85 mustang.

I've seen some good deals on e-Bay too. One guy had 6k in a pickup, rebuilt "above stock' motor, new paint. No reserve on it, high bid was less than a third of that.
I was looking around to see what 71 dodges might bring. I "inherited" one from a tenant who owed me money. Mygawd, the things people do. He paid 3grand for it two years ago, drove it to OK cityand broke the timing chain. told me i could have it for 250 if i'd go get it, 350 if he brought brought it back. I let him go get it. The truck is in remarkable shape but i'da never paid 3grand for a dodge, even with a 383 4bbl

 

i have to say i have never had a problem with craftsman tools. and as far as stanly havent had any problems with them eather.

 

Picked up a 3 ft long 1/2" breaker bar at Autozone labelled "Great Neck". Looks and handles heavy duty and the chroming is excellent on it. I think they are relabeling tools with the Duralast trademark now