Craftsman’s V-Series ratcheting wrenches dropped in price a couple of days before Prime Day, and they’re still on sale.

I bought a set of the metric wrenches (shown above) and SAE sizes (shown below).

Note: Stanley Black & Decker is a ToolGuyd sponsor, and you’ll see the first of those posts shortly. There will be sponsored posts tied to the Craftsman V-Series, but this is not one of them.

One of the best parts about these sets is the compact holder. The wrenches fit in neatly, and the case halves fold together to create a very packable and grabbable size.

I really like the I-beam-style grip, and the angle of the open head. It’s comfortable, and from earlier experiences, the head angle can engage a fastener in tight spaces.

The design is not new to me; I love my Facom wrenches of a very similar design. (Facom is a pro-grade tool brand that’s more widely known overseas and is also owned by Stanley Black & Decker.)

My experience with Facom tools is part of why I am a big fan of the V-Series. With the Craftsman V-Series, Stanley Black & Decker has greatly improved the availability of their European hand tool designs, and at more affordable prices. Plus I don’t have to go through the hassle of ordering them from international sellers.

I have already used Craftsman V-Series wrenches, but I saw this new sponsorship as an opportunity to get a set of the ratcheting wrenches that I could call my own.

I bought several Proto I-beam-style ratcheting spline wrenches a few years ago – just the sizes I use most often, and then a couple more. I like them a lot, but couldn’t justify a metric set, or a second SAE set I can “grab and go.”

Unfortunately, only the ratcheting wrenches are on sale, and the non-ratcheting combination wrenches are not.

Are these the best ratcheting wrenches on the market today? Probably not. I am a big fan of the design, and the portable sets fill a long-noticed hole in my tool kit.

SAE Sizes: 5/16″ 3/8″ 7/16″ 1/2″ 9/16″ 5/8″ 11/16″ 3/4″

Metric Sizes: 8 10 11 12 13 14 17 19mm

Price: $67.98 for the SAE set, $68.98 for the metric set

Both sets are backordered at the moment, and there’s no indication as to how long they’ll stay at the current deal pricing. Amazon’s “save 20%” claims are accurate – the sets were indeed $84.98 each at the end of June.

Lowe’s has both sets at $84.98 each. I included the links in case you want to see more user reviews.

For those of you that bought a set on Prime Day, what do you think about these wrenches?

Because of the SBD/Craftsman sponsorship, I’m biting my tongue here a bit and masking my extreme enthusiasm for this style of wrench. I haven’t reviewed these ratcheting wrenches yet, but I did review the Facom 440 series non-ratcheting combination wrenches, here.

Related Posts:

The Best Mechanic Tool Brands in 2021? Best Combination Wrench Set for DIYers? GreatStar Aquires SK Hand Tool from Ideal Industries

Sears used to be a great place to buy quality tools at reasonable prices. Back when I was building up my hand tool collection, the retailer was a frequent go-to, and not just for Craftsman tools.

I was digging through my archive of smartphone images and came across the two displayed here. This, I’d say, was the turning point.

On the left is a Craftsman Professional 11pc 12pt short combination wrench set, model 9-44138, with a retail price of $69.99.

On the right is a Craftsman 11pc 12pt short combination wrench set, also model 9-44138, and also priced at $69.99.

There was mixed inventory on the shelves for a while, until the USA-made tools sold through.

The Craftsman Professional wrench set was marked as being made in the USA, and the other set was not – it was imported.

Sears made it easy to identify their made-in-USA Craftsman tools at a glance.

Here’s a closeup of the largest wrench size from the two sets, 1-inch wrenches for both.

Craftsman’s replacement wrenches were described in online communities as having “lobster claws,” due the added metal mass at the open end, possibly for strength reinforcement.

Look at the open end, box end, and the Craftsman logo. These were not at all the same wrenches – the newer ones looked more cheaply made – and yet Sears was charging the same for both sets.

Similar changes were made across the board.

When Sears reintroduced their Craftsman Professional brand in 2013, the new imported wrenches featured the same “lobster claw” open end.

The perception of a quality difference was enough for Sears to lose the support of their once-loyal tool shoppers.

The “lobster claw” design was the turning point. Sears made many more changes to their Craftsman and “Blue Tool Crew” catalogs, driving tool users further away.

Sears had announced new USA-made Craftsman wrenches and ratchets in early 2016, but as far as I am aware, the revamped Craftsman Industrial tool line never launched. Stanley Black & Decker announced their plans to buy the Craftsman brand from Sears exactly one year later.

Related Posts:

RIDGID Pipe Wrench – a Tool You Can Count on Tribus Tools Ratcheting Flare Nut Wrenches Craftsman TradeStack Tool Box System Review

I found myself in a bit of a bind yesterday, where I needed a 24mm wrench for the first time – and didn’t have one.

I was assembling a new piece of machinery that came with large metric hardware, and it required 22mm and 24mm wrenches.

Most of my wrench sets only go up to 19mm. I mainly work with SAE/inch fasteners, which I have wrenches over 1-inch in size for.

A long time ago, I added a set of “jumbo” wrenches in inch sizes that perfectly complemented my standard combination wrench set. I have another 1-inch wrench from a separate purchase as well.

I got through the task using a 1/2″ ratchet and 24mm socket, and another 1/2″ drive ratchet with a 24mm deep impact socket. It wasn’t ideal, but it worked.

In a pinch, a large adjustable wrench might have worked too, but some of the spots would have been tight.

So, I’m now thinking that I should purchase either a 24mm wrench – which seems good to have – or a “jumbo” metric wrench set in case similar happens with other metric sizes.

Because, you know what’s going to happen – as soon as I buy a 24mm wrench and it’s a day past the return period, that’s exactly when I might need a 23mm wrench, 30mm wrench, or another size that would be included in a jumbo metric wrench set.

Tekton’s 24mm combination wrench is $19, which seems reasonable. Milwaukee’s is $26. Proto’s is $26 at Zoro (before coupon).

There are pricier options too, such as the Williams SuperCombo, which is $38.

What I’m finding is that many jumbo wrench sets start above 24mm, in which case I suppose I would buy 24mm and maybe 23mm sizes, and then a separate 25-32mm set if I think I might have future need for it.

Larger sizes get pricey.

Maybe I’ll just stick with 24mm.

I would ordinarily look at metric bolt head and wrench sizes, which suggests I won’t need sizes in between 22mm (M14), 24mm (M16), 27mm (M18), and 30mm (M20). But a recent assembly project made heavy use of M10 fasteners that required a 14mm wrench size, which according to sizing charts is a JIS standard instead of ANSI/ISO or DIN.

My favorite wrenches are from Proto, Facom, and Milwaukee Tool. Or at least I should say my favorite wrenches beyond my old USA-made full-polish Craftsman Professional combination wrenches that I am very attached to.

As jumbo wrenches are far less commonly purchased than smaller-sized combination wrench sets, I’m not seeing a lot of options, or great pricing.

Right now my short list is a new Proto, Tekton, Milwaukee 24mm combination wrench, in that order – unless I can find a reasonably priced 23mm to 30mm jumbo metric set.

I’m also worried the “buy a set, it’s a better value if you need more sizes just in case” mentality is affecting my judgement.

$20-$26 for a wrench isn’t too bad, and money saved by not buying a jumbo set could potentially be spent elsewhere. Maybe after the next couple of times I use this size, I’ll also add a ratcheting wrench.

A 24mm ratcheting combination wrench is double the money. For this size, I think I’d rather have a plain 12pt box end, not jut for the lower cost but the smaller side walls. I see ratcheting wrenches as a good-to-have option in addition to but not instead of manual combination wrenches.

Which would you buy? How often do you use larger sizes outside of 24mm?

Is there a brand I should be looking at outside of Proto, Tekton, and Milwaukee?

Related Posts:

New PB Swiss Tools 90°-100° Stubby Hex Keys New Amazon Basics Combination Wrench Sets – So What? GreatStar Aquires SK Hand Tool from Ideal Industries

These are the new Kobalt… box wrench-like… tool thingamajigs, which Lowe’s just launched for their Black Friday 2022 and holiday gift center.

Lowe’s product description says:

Easy switching between sockets quicksilver button.

And also:

Common applications include automotive mechanical applications and home repair.

Aach wrench fits multiple size fasteners, with the blue wrench for metric sizes, and the red fits SAE/inch.

There are 6 sizes at each end, for 12 per wrench and 24 fastener sizes total for the two tools.

Kobalt has had catchy names for tools like this in the past. What are these called?

Lowe’s describes these wrenches as:

Kobalt 100% Steel Carry Handle

This can’t be the official name, right?

Lowe’s recently announced a new “Tech Hub” with the headline:

Lowe’s Tech Hub ‘WOWs’ with Grand Opening Celebration and Light Show.

It will feature a “best-in-class technology center,” with an “innovation lab, Big Room Planning multipurpose room, and multiple game and social hub spaces.”

Maybe they’ll finally start working on website improvements. Or, maybe Lowe’s will focus on more “metaverse” and NFT wearable stuff there.

See Also: Lowe’s Enters the Metaverse with Virtual NFT Wearables and 3D Models

Sorry, I digress.

The last I checked, my Lowe’s store didn’t have these out yet, and so I haven’t seen which sizes they give you, or what it’s really called.

I spotted these new Kobalt tools online last month, and hoped Lowe’s would have updated their product listing by now.

If you’re interested in the new “Kobalt 100% Steel Carry Handle,” with its “easy switching between sockets quicksilver button” for your “automotive mechanical applications” or home use, it’s available now online.

Price: $19.98

Is there hidden value in these wrenches that I’m just not seeing? Or is it a holiday gift item that’s destined to be a junk drawer paperweight for 99% of the users that receive it?

If you ask me, there are far better ways to spend $20 at Lowe’s.

Here’s What I Would Buy Instead

If you really want a tool that can handle a wide range of fastener sizes, try an adjustable wrench.

This Craftsman is $18 at Lowe’s.

This Channellock 8-inch adjustable wrench is – in my opinion – a better investment than the Kobalt contraptions discussed above.

In my experience, Channellock’s made-in-Spain adjustable wrenches deliver a much smoother user experience compared to others I have used over the years.

It’s priced at $21.40 at the time of this posting.

Alternatively, you can buy a Husky 3pc adjustable wrench set for $14 at Home Depot.

If you can spend a little more, the Channellock WideAzz adjustable opens wider and has a cushion-grip handle.

I have much better fastening tools – combination wrenches, ratcheting wrenches, pliers wrenches, sockets, and so forth – but still whip out an adjustable for quick and light tasks.

These are strong, can open very wide, and comfortable to use.

Does anyone have other alternate tool suggestions at around the $20 price point?

If You Really Want an All-in-One

If you really want universal-type many-sizes-in-one box end wrenches, the Duratech “Universal Wrench Set” has 8″ and 10″ wrenches that they say cover 4 different inch and metric fastener sizes.

These wrenches are a bit gimmicky too, but should adjust quicker than the Kobalt, and you don’t need separate tools for inch and metric fasteners.

The 2pc set is $24 at Amazon at the time of this posting.

Related Posts:

Kobalt Ratcheting Rapid-Adjust Wrench is… Different Facom 440 Combination Wrench Review New Milwaukee Flex-Head Ratcheting Wrenches

Tribus Tools launched an interesting new product – USA-made ratcheting flare nut wrenches.

The Tribus wrenches were available in six sizes (10, 11 and 12mm and 3/8″, 7/16″ and 1/2″) and featured a new patented design where the ratchet is built into the head.

I have to use the past tense as, just prior to this posting, we learned that Tribus Tools updated their website to say they are closing their doors and won’t be selling these wrenches anymore. They have limited quantities which will be used for warranty purposes on a first-come first-served basis.

The interesting thing about the design is that it allows the ratchet to only require 4-degrees of rotation to engage fasteners.

Pricing and Set Options

• 3pc Metric Set: 10, 11, 12 mm for $139.99
• SAE Set: 3/8″, 7/16″, 1/2″ for $139.99
• Full Set: 3pc SAE & 3pc Metric Sets for $259.99

Discussion

The first thing I did when I saw these ratcheting line wrenches was to check the specs for my favorite Wera Joker wrenches. I had never thought much about the return angle and was surprised to see the Jokers have a small” return angle of 30-degrees.

The Tribus wrenches can ratchet with just a 4-degrees rotation, which is certainly a noteworthy improvement.

I’ve been working on the restoration of a 30-year-old truck, and I can definitely see the appeal of these wrenches. I have frequently found myself finding creative ways to get the room to rotate a particularly stubborn nut.

A set of three of these wrenches was priced at $140, which makes this a purchase you would have to think about. Back to the Wera Jokers for a moment, you can get a set of four similar sizes for $160, and a full set of eleven for $190. So, the Tribus are definitely priced at a premium, but they were a unique product, not to mention made in the USA.

So what do you think? A gimmick or an interesting new development?

Stuart’s Note: Tribus Tools cites the rising costs of inflation as the reason for their abrupt closure. It’s a shame, as the wrenches looked to hold a lot of potential. Looking deeper into the company, I found mixed feedback about the tools and brand. If you’ve tried these wrenches during the short time they were available, what have your experiences been like?

Related Posts:

Woodpeckers Auto-Line Drill Guide

Ridgid says this about their USA-made pipe wrenches:

Count on RIDGID pipe wrenches to get you through the toughest jobs on any pipe size.

Are they right? Can you count on RIDGID’s pipe wrenches?

When water (or worse) is spraying into the air…

When you need a repair completed ASAP…

When you need a tool you can trust to get the job done…

Is RIDGID the brand of pipe wrench you want in your hands? Everything I have ever experienced and heard about the company says YES.

RIDGID is *the* name in pipe wrenches, with different sizes and styles to suit every need or application.

Thank you RIDGID for being a ToolGuyd sponsor, and for providing a shiny new USA-made 14″ pipe wrench for this story!

Shown here are my grandfather’s RIDGID pipe wrenches.

I was going to clean them up and restore them, but I just didn’t have the heart to do so. They’re not dirty, they have character, and I don’t want to scrub any of that away.

And, they still work quite well. I would have thought the threads would need some attention, but they’re still smooth to adjust.

I tried to save money a long time ago, when I purchased a cheap pipe wrench. These RIDGID wrenches, with decades of use and grime, work better than that cheap pipe wrench did on Day 1.

I don’t know what my grandfather used his pipe wrenches for, but their wear and scarring tell a story.

I asked my mother if she knew how my grandfather used these wrenches, and she simply said “he used them for everything.” My grandfather was a baker, among other things, and from what I’m told he liked to install and maintain his equipment – both at the bakery and at home.

My grandfather wasn’t really a tool person, or at least not as I knew him, but he was certainly a results person.

RIDGID sent over a 14″ heavy-duty straight pipe wrench to complement the 18″ wrenches I inherited.

I wish I could say that I’m surprised at how little RIDGID’s pipe wrenches have changed over the years, but why mess with perfection?

I cannot remember when I first learned of RIDGID as the de-facto pipe wrench brand. But even if I erased all of my experiences with the brand and their tools, and everything I have heard about their products, their pipe wrenches will always prove their mettle and speak for themselves.

With RIDGID pipe wrenches, they DO “make them like they used to.”

Tell me about your RIDGID pipe wrench experiences!

Would you agree that this is a brand and tool you can count on?

Related Posts:

New Milwaukee Aluminum Cheater Pipe Wrench w/ Extending Handle Crescent is Still the Best Adjustable Wrench Brand for the Money

Ah, the ubiquitous adjustable wrench. While generally not the best tool for heavier fastening tasks, adjustable wrenches are incredibly convenient.

Sometimes, even if you have other wrenches and fastening tools at your disposal, an adjustable wrench might still come in handy to hold a coupled fastener in place while you turn its partner.

I have purchased many adjustable wrenches over the years, sometimes for my own use and for others’, but also as a way to understand how different brands, models, and styles differ from each other.

What I have  found is that Crescent’s adjustable wrenches are still the best for the money. They offer good value and strong reliability with a timeless design.

Shown above is one of my older Crescent adjustable wrenches, and I have a couple of newer ones in tool boxes and at different workstations.

Crescent’s adjustable wrenches are workhorses. This is the professional standard.

Crescent is a ToolGuyd sponsor, and what I’m about to say might surprise you. This is not my favorite adjustable wrench. My favorite adjustable wrenches cost quite a bit more, and I’m happy to pay the premium.

However, when it comes down to time-in-hand, I now use Crescent wrenches at least as much as my pricier wide-mouth adjustables.

I of course also adjustable pliers, combination wrenches, socket wrenches, and a variety of other tools.

Despite having other fastening tools and adjustable wrenches at my disposal, I will never give up my Crescent wrenches.

My Crescent wrenches are strong, reliable, and convenient.

And, I recently bought another.

My father-in-law asked me for a larger adjustable wrench, and so I ordered him a 15″ Crescent wrench. Although I don’t anticipate using this size a lot, I also ordered one for myself. Even if I don’t use it often, this Crescent wrench is going to be a lifetime tool.

There are still places where you can get USA-made Crescent wrenches, such as Harry Epstein Co. I purchased several newer production samples from Home Depot over the years, and the quality has largely remained the same. I have noticed some improvements actually, with more recent Crescent wrenches having slightly tighter and smoother thumbwheel gearing.

I find myself in a position that’s difficult to articulate. I tend to use 8″ adjustable wrenches the most, followed by 6″ and then maybe 10″.

No, Crescent’s aren’t my favorites, I like a particular cushion-grip wide-opening model that costs twice as much. Would I buy Crescent wrenches again? Absolutely – I have and I will continue to buy and recommend them to others.

Why? That’s easy – because I keep using them.

Now that I’m thinking about it, I never upgraded my Crescent wrenches either. I added a black phosphate-finish wrench to my kit, and cushion-grip wrenches, but Crescent continues to be my go-to when it comes to chrome finish plain-handle (or dipped-grip) adjustable wrenches. They clean up well, and as mentioned the Crescent tools have been strong and reliable.

As for what prompted this post, I’ve been working on a more expansive tool kit buying guide, and of course an adjustable wrench must be a part of any properly capable kit.

After some comparisons, I came to the conclusion that Crescent is still the best brand of adjustable wrench for the money.

For a few years, I thought I “outgrew” the brand, until they proved their utility once more. Since then, this 8″ returned to my main tool box and is again an indispensable part of my kit. I have a couple of others where they might be needed, and also in my reserve box.

There are still reasons to consider other brands or models, but that doesn’t change the fact that Crescent is still the industry standard. While a couple of competing brands have tried to challenge Crescent’s popularity and market dominance, but they’ve been widely unsuccessful.

Let me know what you think – is Crescent still the best adjustable wrench for the money?

Raise your hand if you’ve got a Crescent wrench in your kit.

Buy Now via Home Depot
Buy Now via Amazon

Related Posts:

New Amazon Basics Combination Wrench Sets – So What? The Best Mechanic Tool Brands in 2021? My Crescent Adjustable Wrench is Better Than I Remember

A reader recently wrote in, asking for reversible ratcheting wrench recommendations, and they also expressed concern that Tekton seems to have discontinued all of theirs.

Reversible ratcheting wrenches typically feature a 15° offset box end and lever for reversing the ratcheting direction. More basic ratcheting wrenches lack the offset and direction selection lever and instead must be flipped over should you need to reverse the working and ratcheting directions.

I tend to prefer reversible ratcheting wrenches, partly because of the offset-angled box end, but also because it’s more convenient to reverse the ratcheting action with a flip of a lever. There are also rare circumstances where a non-reversible ratchet can back out and become trapped in tight spaces.

We reached out to Tekton, and they confirmed that they did discontinue their reversible ratcheting wrenches.

This development does not reflect anything about the products themselves, or the popularity of reversible ratcheting wrenches. Tekton encountered issues with their supply chain, and this has affected their ability to continue offering these tools. Tekton does not have any plans to replace these tools with new products at this time.

There are of course other brands that still offer reversible ratcheting wrenches, but this is still disappointing news for anyone looking to start or expand a mechanics tool kit with Tekton offerings.

It looks like the supply and production issues are affecting all of Tekton’s reversible ratcheting wrenches. At this time, Amazon still has listings for Tekton’s 6pt reversible ratcheting wrench sets, stubby wrenches, and open stock sizes.

Buy Now via Amazon
Buy Now: Stubby via Amazon

Related Posts:

New Milwaukee Flex-Head Ratcheting Wrenches Best Combination Wrench Set for DIYers? GreatStar Aquires SK Hand Tool from Ideal Industries

It seems that last month’s rumors were true – Ideal Industries has sold the SK Hand Tools brand to Hangzhou GreatStar Industrial.

SK Hand Tools joins a growing number of tool brands in GreatStar’s portfolio, including Goldblatt, Arrow, Pony, Jorgensen, WorkPro, and Shop-Vac.

Here’s the official announcement, dated July 2021:

We are pleased to announce that Hangzhou GreatStar Industrial Co., Ltd. has completed its acquisition of SK Hand Tools. We are excited to build on our foundation and gain all of the proprietary SK patents and designs to help us provide diverse products and new opportunities to our valued customers.

Founded in 1914, SK is a leading provider of high-quality hand tools for professionals across a variety of industries. Operating in its 128,000 sq. ft. production facility outside of Chicago, the company offers a premium product portfolio that includes wrenches, ratchets, impact driving tools, sockets, screwdrivers, etc., and a variety of automotive-specific hand tools. One of the featured best sellers is the X-Frame Ratcheting wrench which is designed to apply torque in the tightest spaces.

Supported by its patented products and valuable technologies, SK has been able to build strong lasting relationships with its customers across various markets, such as industrial supply, automotive repair, and hardware repair.

Combining all of our patents, technologies, and resources will allow Great Star and SK to deliver the best innovative and professional products to our customers on a daily basis.

About Hangzhou GreatStar Industrial Co., Ltd.

Established in 1993, GreatStar is the leading manufacturer of hand tools in Asia serving DIY, professional, and industrial markets worldwide. GreatStar also manufactures a full range of specialty tools for drywall, masonry, painting, tiling, plumbing, and automotive applications as well as power tools, tool sets, and flashlights. GreatStar’s culture of innovation, firm commitment to R&D and extensive customer insight ensure their leading brands and high-quality products meet the specific needs of the consumers and professionals they serve.

This is the second brand to leave Ideal Industries in recent years, with the company closing its Western Forge brand in early 2020.

GreatStar has gotten in the habit of rescuing failed brands, such as Pony, Jorgensen, and most recently Shop-Vac. It will be interesting to see how this story develops, and what they will do with the SK Hand Tool brand and associated patents and tool designs.

(Thank you to everyone for the heads-up!)

Related Posts:

New Milwaukee Flex-Head Ratcheting Wrenches

What brand, size, or style of combination wrench set would you recommend to DIYers or homeowners?

My in-laws stopped by for a visit today, and I gave my father-in-law a 15″ adjustable wrench. A couple of months ago he had asked for a larger adjustable wrench, as whatever size he was using for a minor plumbing repair was just too small. So, I bought him a 15″ wrench, figuring that it should do the trick.

Do you happen to have a wrench set?

I know exactly what I’ll get him – a Husky 10pc inch combination wrench set (shown above), and a 10pc metric wrench set.

This is similar to what I purchased for myself a while ago, but better. I bought raised panel wrenches, which were decent, but short. These Husky wrenches are full-polish and look to be standard length wrenches.

Right now, as part of Home Depot’s Father’s Day 2021 tool deals, they have the Husky wrench sets for $20 each.

SAE sizes: 1/4″, 5/16″, 3/8″, 7/16″, 1/2″, 9/16″, 5/8″, 11/16″, 3/4″, 7/8″

Metric sizes: 8mm, 10mm, 11mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, 16mm, 17mm, 19mm

Price: $20

Buy Now: SAE via Home Depot
Buy Now: Metric via Home Depot

I think this is an unbeatable value to start out with. I don’t know what wrenches my father-in-law might have, but this should cover 99% of his needs.

I’m thinking back to when I purchased my first wrench set. I didn’t need all 9 sizes, I needed maybe 3 sizes. But the way the tools were priced, it didn’t make sense to buy them individually, so I bought the 9pc set.

With these Husky 10pc sets, there’s are more sizes than I got with my first sets, and I like the full-polish aspect.

These wrenches aren’t one-style-fits-all, meaning more advanced users might have different preferences or needs.

But for someone looking to get a wrench set to cover all of their bases, this will definitely do the trick. If these sets were available when I was first starting out, this is what I’d buy.

Right now they’re $20 special buy for Father’s Day, and you’ll need to get order them for in-store pickup.

Husky also has a Lifetime Warranty and no questions, no receipt required policy, which makes these sets even more compelling.

Buy Now: SAE Set
Buy Now: Metric Set

I think that these sets are all my Father-in-law will ever need.

For a more casual user, these sets might be the perfect upgrade over an adjustable wrench.

What about me? These would have been a good starting point for me, but I’ve benefited from expanding my wrench set over the years. Meaning, if I bought this 15 years ago, I would have added to it, but would probably still have it today.

The beauty of these wrenches is that they’ll still be useful even if a user ever needs or wants to upgrade or expand their kit, since many tasks might require two wrenches. I often use one wrench as a backer wrench, holding a nut or other rear fastener in place, and another wrench or ratcheting wrench to do the main work, turning a bolt head or other front fastener.

My mind is set – I’m heading out to Home Depot to pick up these Husky wrench sets, but I’m curious to hear if you have any other recommendations.

What about ratcheting wrenches? I think that combination wrenches are a better option to start out with. Let’s say you’re using a socket wrench and need a backer wrench. I’d rather use a non-ratcheting 12pt box end over a ratcheting box end. I think that a ratcheting wrench set is a great next-step, though.

If you were shopping for a combination wrench set for a DIYer, homeowner, or similar user, would you go with these sets, or something different?

Related Posts:

New Milwaukee Flex-Head Ratcheting Wrenches

Milwaukee has come out with a new aluminum Cheater pipe wrench, model 48-22-7318.

The original Milwaukee Cheater pipe wrench was announced in 2015, and it featured a unique pipe wrench design that shipped with 2 attachable handle sizes.

The new aluminum Cheater pipe wrench is similar, but has a single extending handle. You get 3 pipe wrench lengths here, but there are only 2 parts.

You can remove the included handle for jobs where the pipe wrench needs to be used in tight spaces.

Add the handle back in and extend it out for when extra leverage is needed.

Here’s a look at the three different configurations. New to this design is the quick-slide function which means you don’t need to keep track of extra pieces.

Compact Configuration: 11″ for use in tight spaces, with the handle extension removed.

Standard Configuration: 18″ for general purpose use, with the handle extension inserted all the way in.

Maximum Leverage Configuration: 24″ for greater leverage, with the handle at max extension.

The pipe wrench features an OVERBITE JAW that Milwaukee says gives the wrench “the largest gripping surface.”

The aluminum Cheater pipe wrench has a 2.5″ jaw capacity, matching the capacity of traditional 18″ pipe wrenches.

The handle has a tether-ready lanyard hole for when working at heights.

Price: $120
ETA: June 2021

Buy Now via Tool Nut
Buy Now via Home Depot
Buy Now via Acme Tools
More Milwaukee Pipe Wrenches via Home Depot

Discussion

Milwaukee’s Cheater pipe wrench has always made sense to me, and I know some users love it while others prefer to carry and use separate wrenches.

The benefit here is that you have an 18″ pipe wrench that can be used in tight spaces or higher leverage applications without having to carry multiple tools.

In compact situations, you have the jaw capacity of an 18″ wrench in the body of a smaller wrench. For when you need greater leverage, you don’t need to figure out how to carry a 24″ pipe wrench with you.

Price-wise, well, things get complicated. Milwaukee’s 18″ aluminum pipe wrench is $60, their $24″ wrench is $90, and their 10″ or 14″ wrenches are both $40 each. Buying 14″ and 24″ pipe wrenches would set you back $130, or $128 if you buy them as part of a bundle.

The Cheater wrench will save you money compared to buying 3 aluminum pipe wrenches, but its adaptability is the main selling point.

What’s your take on things?

Milwaukee Pipe Wrenches as of May 2021

At the time of this posting, here is a full list of Milwaukee’s pipe wrench sizes and styles:

Milwaukee Steel Pipe Wrenches

• 6″: 48-22-7106
• 8″: 48-22-7108
• 10″: 48-22-7110
• 12″: 48-22-7112
• 14″: 48-22-7114
• 18″:  48-22-7118
• 24″: 48-22-7124
• 36″: 48-22-7136
• 48″:  48-22-7148
• 60″: 48-22-7160

Milwaukee Aluminum Pipe Wrenches

• 10″:  48-22-7210
• 12″:  48-22-7212
• 14″:  48-22-7214
• 18″: 48-22-7218
• 24″: 48-22-7224
• 36″: 48-22-7236
• 48″: 48-22-7248
• 10″: Aluminum Pipe Wrench w/ POWERLENGTH Handle 48-22-7213

Milwaukee Offset & Smooth Jaw Pipe Wrenches

• Steel Offset Hex Pipe Wrench: 48-22-7171
• 12″ Smooth Jaw Pipe Wrench: 48-22-7186
• 14″: Aluminum Offset Pipe Wrench 48-22-7184
• 18″: Aluminum Offset Pipe Wrench 48-22-7185
• 24″: Aluminum Offset Pipe Wrench 48-22-7182

Cheater Pipe Wrenches

• CHEATER Steel Adaptable Pipe Wrench 48-22-7314
• CHEATER Aluminum Adaptable Pipe Wrench 48-22-7318 (NEW)

Related Posts:

New Milwaukee Flex-Head Ratcheting Wrenches

Milwaukee has announced that they are coming out with a full line of flex-head ratcheting combination wrenches.

The new Milwaukee flex-head ratcheting wrenches feature a 12pt box end design with 144 ratcheting positions for a 2.5° arc swing.

At the open end, Milwaukee’s MAX BITE grooves are said to improve fastener grip and allow for 25% more torque compared to smooth-faced wrench openings.

The wrenches have I-beam-shaped handle for user comfort and ergonomics, similar to Milwaukee’s other combination wrenches.

The flexible box end features a hex fastener at the pivot, allowing users to tighten them up if needed or to suit their preferences.

As an aside, Milwaukee does not make hex keys, L-wrenches, or T-handle drivers… yet?

Milwaukee will be offering the flex-head ratcheting wrenches in several different set configurations. Shown here are their 15pc sets, which are bundled with drawer-friendly trays.

Milwaukee will also offer 7pc sets that are bundled with convenient hand-carry organizers.

Additionally, all of the flex-head ratcheting wrenches will be available as open stock, meaning you can buy each or any size individually.

Milwaukee Flexible Ratcheting Wrench Set Options

• SAE 15pc set: 48-22-9413
• Metric 15pc set: 48-22-9513
• SAE 7pc set: 48-22-9429
• Metric 7pc set: 48-22-9529

SAE Wrench Sizing

1/4″, 9/32″, 5/16″, 11/32″, 3/8″, 7/16″, 1/2″, 9/16″, 5/8″, 11/16″, 3/4″, 13/16″, 7/8″, 15/16″, 1″.

The 15pc SAE set includes the full range of sizes from 1/4″ to 1″.

7pc SAE set sizes: 3/8″, 7/16″, 1/2″, 9/16″, 5/8″, 11/16″, 3/4″

Metric Wrench Sizing

8mm, 9mm, 10mm, 11mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, 16mm, 17mm, 18mm, 19mm, 20mm, 21mm, 22mm.

The 15pc metric set includes the full range of sizes from 8mm to 22mm.

7pc metric set sizes: 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, 17mm

Warranty

Milwaukee’s mechanics hand tools are covered under a lifetime guarantee.

Pricing and Availability

The 15pc sets are $290 each, and the 7pc sets are $170 each. Individual wrenches are priced from $20 to $45 depending on size.

ETA: May 2021

Buy Now via Home Depot

Discussion

This seems to have been a natural progression for Milwaukee Tool – adding flex-head ratcheting wrenches to their mechanics tool lines.

They’ve been expanding their mechanics hand tools selection, and already offer ratcheting and non-ratcheting combination wrenches.

Thus, this isn’t a big surprise.

However, there’s one surprise takeaway that I didn’t anticipate, and that’s the open stock SKUs. All 30 wrenches have individual SKUs and prices, indicating that you can buy them separately.

As Milwaukee has been expanding their hand tool selection, their focus has been on sets and bundles. They have since started offering socket rails and separate ratchets, and this is another step in that direction.

When they were just starting out, sets made sense. But now, graduating to also offering open stock SKUs is a big deal that shows how serious Milwaukee Tool is about growing their presence in the automotive hand tool industry. And, they’re none done yet.

See Also

New Milwaukee Tool Ratchets Expansion: Stubby and Extended Length

A Closer Look at Milwaukee Combination Wrenches

New Milwaukee Ratcheting Wrenches

Related Posts:

Facom 440 Combination Wrench Review

A reader messaged me with what I thought would be a quick and easy question to answer. Which is the best brand of mechanics tools right now?

They’re not looking at professional or industrial offerings, but they also don’t want lower-end junk that’s frustrating to use or cheaply made.

This was a complicated question to answer 10 years ago, due to the abundance of decent brands, but the options changed rather quickly, leading to only a handful of choices. This was true for a couple of years, but now? – there are even more options than ever.

I’m not going to get into specific mechanics tool set recommendations right now, as that’s an entirely different question. For the sake of simplicity, I’m also ignoring how the answer might change depending on the time of year.

Here, let’s talk about different options for someone looking to decide on a brand or two to buy into.

Home Center Mechanics Tool Brands

Home Depot: Husky

There are automotive retailers and other more regional home centers and hardware stores, but Home Depot and Lowe’s are by far the largest chains.

Sears is still around – I think so at least – but they’re not an active player in the tool market anymore. They used to be, and they used to dominate the mid-range mechanic tools market, but that has changed.

What I like about Husky is that they have a very strong selection, and a lot of their tools offer an upgrade path. (Side note, we have a paid partnership with Husky Tools right now, but I’ve been testing, using, and buying Husky tools for many years prior to this, and will do the same for many years to come.)

I have long felt that Husky and Home Depot need to do better at getting the word out on their tools, and I suppose our current partnership is part of the answer to this.

If I find that I need a particular socket size on a Saturday morning, I’d likely head to Home Depot, believing it to be the best chance I’d have at finding one.

Lowe’s: Craftsman, Kobalt

As for Lowe’s options, Kobalt’s availability has been limited in recent years, due to Craftsman’s emergence and now prevalence. Both brands seem to focus on sets and assortments, and the last I checked there were some open stock availability as well.

Harbor Freight

Harbor Freight’s new Icon series of mechanics tools are worth paying attention to, but they’re also priced at a premium.

As with the other retailers, open stock availability is very limited.

Do you want to buy a wrench set? Great – you can choose between several different Harbor Freight brands. Oh, you just want a single wrench? Good luck with that.

Warranties

A lot of the brands here have lifetime guarantees and generous hand tool warranty policies, but the days of getting a replacement at the local store are over.

Online Options

Gearwrench

Once you turn your attention to online retailers, you have a LOT more brand choices.

Gearwrench is a good choice, and probably the best choice for users that don’t want to do a lot of researching.

There are other brands, depending on whether you’re looking for something that Gearwrench doesn’t yet offer.

Tekton

Tekton has come out with some neat innovations over the years, and they have also been working hard to raise their quality level. They now have a very solid reputation and have also become known for great customer service.

I don’t believe that all of their older tools are up to Tekton’s modern standards, but most core tools have.

I spoke with a Tekton manager 7 years ago, and it seems they have made good on their promises.

So I Spoke With a TEKTON Tools Manager Today…

Power Tool Brands’ Offerings: Dewalt vs. Milwaukee

Who would have thought that Milwaukee Tool would become a serious name when it comes to mechanics hand tools? They still have plenty of growth and expansion ahead of them, but Milwaukee already has some very compelling wrench, ratchets, and socket set offerings right now.

I bought a couple of Milwaukee socket sets during the winter holiday shopping season as they matched the modularized nature I was looking for.

Here’s more on some of their previous releases:

• Milwaukee Tool Ratcheting Wrenches
• Milwaukee Ratchets Expansion

Dewalt also makes some decent options, mainly a wide variety of set options.

They have a wide range of tools, but availability can be limited. I would consider Dewalt mechanics tool sets, but their open stock tools don’t carry the same appeal of top-of-mind presence in my opinion.

Professional and Industrial Brands

Proto, Blackhawk, Williams, Wright, SK Hand Tools – these are just some of the brands you could and should consider if you’re looking for more professional and industrial-grade tools.

If you want unique offerings, there’s also Wera and Facom, which mainly produce tools for the European market. Wera in particular has seen an incredible surge in interest in recent years as they work to expand their wrench and socket set offerings.

Then you have Snap-on, Mac, and other tool truck brands that service professional automotive shops and other such users. With those brands, you’re partially paying for the at-your-door service. With most of the other brands mentioned here, you shouldn’t expect timely replacements for individual tools.

The difficulty with recommending Snap-on is that their tools are priced considerably higher than competing brands that serve industrial customers rather than automotive maintenance shops. If you need at-your-workplace service, they’re a great option. If you don’t, they can still be worth it, and are considered by many to be the best of the best, but you’re not getting as much bang for your buck.

Buying Snap-on and other tool truck brands tools is almost like buying a soda at the movie theater. If you’re seeing a movie, you’re paying more, but you suck it up and enjoy the show. If you’re not seeing a movie and are just looking for a place to stop and get a soda, there are so many other places to get the same or similar quality for less money.

This is why I tend to like industrial brands – you usually pay less, and sometimes a lot less than truck brands, and more of what you’re paying is for the actual tools you are buying.

Which is the Best Brand I Would Pick?

In the past year, I have purchased mechanics tools from Husky, Milwaukee, Wera, Proto, Facom, and Gearwrench. I have purchased from more brands than this, but these are the “for use” brands that I purchased, as opposed to when I buy something mainly for review or other editorial purposes.

So with respect to brands available locally to me, Husky (via Home Depot) was the best pick for me, and when shopping online I went with Milwaukee, Wera, Proto, Facom, and Gearwrench.

Reader Questions

At the risk of asking too open-ended of a question, which mechanics tool brands would you recommend these days, and why?

Do you have any questions or criteria you’d like to see addressed in the next update to this post?

Read Also:

Which Wrenches and Sockets for Homeowners?

Related Posts:

Best Combination Wrench Set for DIYers? GreatStar Aquires SK Hand Tool from Ideal Industries

Update 1/6/20: I own or have used wrenches from many different brands, including (Sears era) Craftsman, Gearwrench, Proto, Armstrong, Williams, Wright, Wera, Husky, Kobalt, Milwaukee, Dewalt, and Tekton, and Facom is still my favorite brand.

Someone recently asked about my favorite combination wrenches, and it seemed like a good idea to bring this older review back to the front page.

This post was originally published on 3/20/15, and in the nearly 6 years since then I have purchased several more Facom wrench sets, so that I can keep them in portable kits and everywhere else I might need some wrenches.

In yesterday’s post Do Facom Tools Suck Because They’re Made by Stanley?, I mentioned Facom 440 combination wrenches, which are interesting in design and among my favorite wrenches to use.

I should clarify – these aren’t technically made by Stanley, but since Facom is a Stanley Black & Decker brand, they kind of are. Short answer: no, they most definitely do not suck. In fact, these are among the best wrenches I have ever used.

Okay, so what’s so special about these Facom 440 combo wrenches? They are quite exotically designed, but all of the standout features are purposeful. The design isn’t about making the wrench look good – they help make the wrench function better much of the time.

Facom 440 Open End

To start, Facom 440 wrenches have an unusual open-end geometry. You might have seen this deep offset on Proto’s recent spline ratcheting wrenches. The larger offset angle means you can achieve a wider swing when working in tight spaces before you have to remove and reposition the wrench.

Facom says that the open ends of their 440 combination wrenches can save 20% time and “15% space” in very tight spaces. I had no reasonable way of verifying these numerical claims with my use, but I did notice that these wrenches fit better in tight spots, compared to other brands’ more traditional wrench designs.

The offset angle is 15°.

Facom 440 Box End

Next up – the 12px box end, which is thicker and designed for better fastener accessibility. The 440 box ends can better fit fasteners in recesses, and can also reach fasteners that are up close and next to other fasteners that can be difficult for traditional box end wrench designs to reach.

These wrenches won’t replace your sockets, but they can handle fasteners where other combo wrenches simply fail.

One more thing to like about these wrenches is that the box end features Facom’s OGV socket profile, which contacts fasteners’ flats and not their corners. This means greater torque transfer for more powerful tightening, greater durability, and less wear on fasteners.

The offset angle here is also 15°.

See Also: Facom Angled Socket Wrench Review

Facom 440 User Comfort and Handle Shape

You have probably noticed that Facom 440 wrenches have an I-beam-style design – again, similar to Proto’s ratcheting spline wrench. They’re not quite the same as Proto’s though. Proto’s I-beam spline wrenches have straight edges, as you would expect from a wrench, while these Facom wrenches have greater curvature.

Facom says that the variable handle cross section doubles the surface in contact with the hand, for more comfort and painless torque application.

Are these wrenches comfortable to hold and use? Absolutely. That’s not to say that you’ll feel a world of difference. I didn’t. All I know is that the wrenches are simply comfortable to use.

Facom says that there are additional benefits as well, and that the 440 wrenches’ geometries help during pre-tightening. They say the geometry makes the wrench more stable, easier to guide, and that the wrench does not turn in the hand.

In Facom’s words, these wrenches combine compactness with strength. In terms of strength, these wrenches exceed tooling, ISO, and aerospace torque standards. And in regard to compactness, following are comparisons between a 9/16″ Facom 440 wrench, and a standard length Craftsman Professional wrench of the same size.

Size and Shape Comparisons

Facom 440 wrenches are short. They’re definitely not stubby wrenches, but they’re also not anywhere as long as traditionally designed wrenches, at least not the sizes I use regularly.

Although I haven’t done a direct comparison, I would think that Facom 440 wrench lengths are comparable to those of Craftsman’s raised panel wrenches. If you have Craftsman raised panel wrenches and at least one professional, industrial, or aerospace brand of wrench in your toolbox, I’m sure you know what I mean.

In this direct comparison, the Facom wrench has a lower profile open end than the Craftsman Pro wrench. The Craftsman Pro wrench was presumably built with the same processes as Armstrong wrenches, and compare well against other professional and industrials brands’ standard or even long pattern wrenches.

It’s not as easy to see the difference between open end geometries, but it might help to focus your attention on the curvature of the wrench’s lower jaw. You could also see a more two dimensional outline of the Facom geometry in the second photo from the top of the page.

And, as mentioned, the box end is quite a bit chunkier. This is a deliberate feature, and a good one at that, but there are downsides, such as in scenarios that really call for a lower a profile wrench.

Satin Chrome Finish

If I didn’t already like satin chrome finished tools, I would now. Some brands’ satin finishes just plain stink, but these are really very well done. They’re easy to clean, and also satin finished without being gritty.

Overall

I am quite pleased with these wrenches. They’ve been stellar, no matter what I’ve thrown at them. I don’t do much automotive work, but have used these wrenches for fabrication work, assembly, disassembly, and other similar tasks.

The open end design does increase the swing range of the wrenches before they have to be removed, returned, and repositioned, and the box end does provide additional fastener access capabilities that you won’t find with other combination wrenches.

Do I miss the reach of my long pattern wrenches? Sometimes, yes. I don’t use my 440 wrenches all the time. Yes, these wrenches are spectacular, but sometimes I need or want the length or flat sides of a traditionally designed wrench. There are also times when I want a ratcheting wrench, in which cases these manual wrenches just won’t do. I also only bought a set in fractional sizing, and so if I need metric I also have to reach for something else.

I spent $160 (less 10% GJ member discount at Ultimate Garage) on a set of 13 fractional wrench sizes, model MOD.440-4. Metric sets are priced higher and lower, depending on the sizes and set configurations you want.

Update: I have since purchased additional Facom wrenches via Amazon UK and Amazon DE.

I’d buy these wrenches again in a heartbeat.

Yes, I heartily recommend them, but advise that you consider your needs before purchasing. Facom doesn’t have a huge foothold in the USA, and so warranty replacements – or even purchasing replacements – wouldn’t be easy.

Buy Now via Amazon
Buy Now via Amazon UK
Buy Now via Amazon Germany
Buy Now via Ultimate Garage

Ultimate Garage is a fantastic independent vendor that carries a nice selection of Facom tools. Some of the Amazon 3rd party sellers offer free shipping, which is great if you just want to try one or two sizes for feel and evaluation purposes. Who couldn’t use an extra wrench in their most commonly reached-for size?

If you’re interested in giving these a try, consider purchasing just a single Facom 440 wrench for evaluation purposes. The handle ergonomics are superb, and both the open ends and box ends offer improved accessibility compared to other wrenches. But you have to ask yourself this – will the thicker box end and shorter wrench length be an issue? If so, then these wrenches might not be idea for you.

I believe these wrenches are made in Taiwan. It doesn’t say so on the wrenches, and I threw out the packaging a long time ago.

Related Posts:

GreatStar Aquires SK Hand Tool from Ideal Industries

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Stuey (@toolguyd)

Well, there’s now a Craftsman model, CMMT12003.

It looks updated compared to the FatMax version, although not necessarily improved. If you ask me, the differences all look to be cosmetic. There could be some functional strength enhancements – it’s really hard to tell – but I would say probably not.

So… what might one use this Craftsman adjustable wrench with pry bar for?

I’m sorry, it’s not just a wrench with a pry bar, Craftsman says this is a 4-in-1 tool.

The demolition tool has the following features and functions:

• Adjustable wrench
• Pry bar
• Nail puller
• Hammer strike face

The strike face is “dedicated and reinforced” for “hammering nails.”

I posted about the Stanley FatMax wrench four years ago:

Stanley 10″ Adjustable Demo Wrench

Now under Craftsman branding, this is still a very interesting and special tool.

Yes, of course it looks silly and gimmicky at first glance. And, it might also invoke an eyebrow-raise with subsequent glances as well.

But, here’s the big question – does it work?

The adjustable wrench? Looks pretty functional to me. Although I would urge anyone and everyone to consider Channellock adjustable wrenches, Stanley and other Stanley Black & Decker brands have made some decent adjustable wrenches in the past.

What about the pry bar and nail puller? Granted the adjustable wrench head doesn’t make the best handle, but it could work.

The hammering strike face? I’ve used tools improperly before, and this one just has a flat dedicated surface for such a task.

This is far from being the only multi-functional adjustable wrench on the market, but at least with this one Stanley and FatMax knew what they were going for – a demolition tool.

Would I rather have a pry bar, adjustable wrench, and demo hammer? Of course. But here’s a 10″ tool that does all of that for users who might want to save some space in their tool bag.

Price: $19

Buy Now via Amazon
See Also: Stanley via Amazon
See Also: Stanley via Acme Tools

Do you want a better 10″ adjustable wrench?

Buy Now: Channellock 10″ Code Blue

Related Posts:

New Milwaukee Flex-Head Ratcheting Wrenches Best Combination Wrench Set for DIYers?

Channellock’s adjustable wrenches are among my favorite tools to gift to others, for a number of reasons.

To start off, they’re far better than most other brands’ adjustable wrenches.

Here’s why I really like them:

• Wide jaw opening width
• Strong gearing
• Higher tolerance gearing
• Short gear protrusion saves space
• Comfortable grip

A good rule of thumb is that the better the adjustable wrench, the minimal rattle you’ll hear in the adjustment wheel when you give it a shake. Channellock adjustable wrenches are among the quietest designs I have ever used.

The greater the tolerance, the lower the slop.

Channellock adjustable wrenches open up wide, and their Code Blue wrenches adjust even wider.

They are a bit pricey though, and so you’re not going to get a 3pc set for $10. This 8″ wrench typically retails for ~$25 to $30.

That’s also why I like giving these as gifts – it can be a difficult expense to justify for users who are still building up their tool collections.

This is a permanent addition to my tool box. If you don’t have one, consider treating yourself, adding it to your last-minute gift wishlist, or get one for someone else and promptly ask to borrow it. I don’t recommend that last idea. What’d I do is get one for someone else, and then justify buying one for myself as well to stave off potential jealousy.

Buy Now: 8″ Code Blue via Amazon

Start Smaller

$25 for an adjustable wrench can be a big hit to your wallet.

Alternatively, consider this 6″ chrome-finish Channellock wrench for just under $15.

I really like Channellock’s regular adjustable wrenches, despite the opening widths being slightly smaller than on their Code Blue wrenches.

These wrenches also have strong and higher-tolerance pawls than other brands’ wrenches.

Buy Now: 6″ Chrome Finish via Amazon

My first Channellock adjustable wrench had a black phosphate finish, because I was more sensitive to the pricing than surface finish.

It has held up well over the years, and remains another option of the Code Blue proves to be a but too much of an investment right now.

Buy Now: 6″ Black Finish via Amazon

All the evidence points to Irega being Channellock’s OEM partner. These wrenches are made in Spain.

Are you still not yet convinced? Give it time, this won’t be the last time you hear from me about these wrenches. Almost every time I use these wrenches, I think to myself “more people should really upgrade from whatever home center brand they’re using.”

Read More:

5 Things That Make Channellock Adjustable Wrenches so Good

Related Posts:

Best Tool Kit Upgrades and Add-Ons (Spring 2021)

I’ve been having a friendly debate with Tools in Action. They posted about adjustable universal wrenches recently, and are convinced that these are pretty handy to have around.

They posted about the Geardrive brand specifically, but that brand sold out on Amazon. These Duratech wrenches appear to be identical.

All of these universal box-end style wrenches remind of the Husky Total Socket from a couple of years ago:

Husky Total Socket

The Husky wrench was decent, and priced at $10 for one wrench size. This Duratech has 2 sizes for $24.

I eventually gave my wrench away, as I never really used it. It wasn’t bad, I just didn’t find it particularly useful for my needs and work habits.

Is this a gimmick?

So I teased Tools in Action’s Dan a little bit, about 2013 calling and wanting their tool of the holiday season back, but he made a good point – this could be perfect for the times when you need a backer wrench when turning a bolt and nut from both sides.

Hmm…

Did I make a mistake in giving mine away? Is this something that ToolGuyd readers might be interested in again?

Inherent to the design, you can use either wrench on inch or metric sizes fasteners. The 2-piece set comes with 8″ and 10″ tools that together cover “44 sizes” from 3/16″ to 1-1/16″ and 5 to 27 mm.

Is it practical and useful, or another gimmicky holiday gift idea that one buys or receives during the holiday season but never really uses, which is what I experienced?

Buy Now via Amazon

Side note – I think this might also make handy punch or cold chisel holders, but don’t tell that to Dan.

Here’s what they said about it:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tools In Action (@toolsinaction)

Related Posts:

New Wera Joker 6004 Self-Adjusting Ratcheting Adjustable Wrenches

Over at Amazon, they’re having a pre-Black Friday 2020 sale on quite a few Gearwrench mechanics tools and accessories.

A lot of the Gearwrench sale items are on tool kit add-ons – socket sets, bit sockets, adapters, and so forth, that you can use to fill in holes in your existing kit.

See These Deals at Amazon

Me? I need ball hex bit sockets. I’ll be buying a different brand as soon as my industrial supplier runs their Cyber Monday coupon, but that’s because I’m buying for business use and not personal, and I can justify the premium for USA-made tools.

But for personal use, I’d more strongly consider this Gearwrench set at maybe 5/8ths the price. Actually… I need SAE sizes. I might need some metric sizes, and this Gearwrench set could provide those sizes and more, and at lower pricing.

As an example, this set is $36 right now, and priced at $44 elsewhere (such as Home Depot) and way higher elsewhere.

Torx bit sockets and many others are included in this sale.

They do have some sets as well, such as this Gearwrench 84pc bit socket set in 1/4″, 3/8″, and 1/2″ sizes.

If this doesn’t suit you, they also have a smaller bit socket set on sale. Ignore the pass-thru if you don’t have a compatible ratchet – these can also still be used on traditional 1/4″ and 3/8″ drive wrenches.

Swivel impact-rated sockets? They have standard on sale as well, and at what looks to be really good pricing.

They also have some individual sockets and bit sockets on sale as well.

I’m going to take a good long look at the 4 pages of Gearwrench sale items, and recommend you do the same if like me you’ve got a couple of “I wish I bought that sooner” items on your wishlist.

You might want think about what you need first, before looking at the sale list. My list would have included hex bit sockets and impact sockets, but now I’m wondering if I need swivel impact sockets and locking extensions.

Gearwrench Deals at Amazon

What are you buying, if anything?

Also, please let us know about any good deals you might be coming across these days!

Related Posts:

New Milwaukee Flex-Head Ratcheting Wrenches Best Combination Wrench Set for DIYers?

A reader asked about this Husky 30pc ratcheting wrench set deal, part of Home Depot’s Black Friday 2020 tool deals. I’ve been giving it some more thought, and have concluded that this is a crazy-good and hard to pass up deal for anyone looking to buy their first ratcheting wrenches.

Buy Now via Home Depot

Candidly, I prefer reversible ratcheting wrenches, and have from the start. When I bought my Gearwrench wrenches more than 12 years ago, I don’t quite remember what gave me this preference, but I liked them better in theory. I have reversible combination wrench sets and non-reversible (flip to reverse) flex ratcheting wrenches.

Most of the time, flip-to-reverse wrenches are perfectly suited for the tasks at hand.

I’ve used my non-reversible flex wrenches just fine over the years, and am wondering if I made a mistake with my preference. Then again, the zero-offset ratcheting wrench deals we have today weren’t available when I was building up my tool box.

With this 30pc set, you get a 20pc set of ratcheting combination wrenches, and a 10pc set of stubby wrenches. The 20pc set is currently priced at $80 via Home Depot, but they’re not in stock. Husky’s 10pc set of stubby wrenches is priced at $30.

$60 for 30 wrenches comes down to $2 each. That’d even be a good price for quality non-ratcheting combination wrenches.

Over at Amazon, they have a Gearwrench 20pc ratcheting wrench set priced at $66 and change, and a 34pc set including stubbies for a little over $90.

These Husky wrenches look to be identical, and given that Apex Tool Group – Gearwrench’s parent company – makes a lot of mechanics tools for Home Depot’s Husky tool brand, there’s a chance that these are made at the same factory.

The Husky wrenches feature 72-tooth gearing, for fine ratcheting action, and are said to have a slim design that fits into tight spaces. The Husky wrenches have 12pt box ends, which is standard for combination wrenches.

For someone without any ratcheting wrenches in their tool box, this set is an incredibly deal. Heck, I’m tempted to buy a set for myself – there were times recently when the zero-degree offset would have come in handy.

This isn’t the type of set I chose when building up my ratcheting wrench set, but they also didn’t have big set options a few years ago. Looking back at older Home Depot Black Friday sales flyers, they used to have Husky 7pc sets on sale for $20 or $25. Starting in 2014, they had a Husky 20pc set on sale for $50.

Around 2011, I first noticed Gearwrench 20pc sets selling for $50 during the holiday season, first at Sears and then at other retailers.

So, $50 sale pricing for a 20pc set is the “baseline” to consider the value of this deal against.

For this Husky set, you get an extra 10pc stubby ratchet set, valued at $30 given current Home Depot pricing, for only $10 more.

$60 for a 20pc ratcheting wrench set and 10pc stubby ratcheting wrench set.

Do you need the stubbies? Can you use them? Will they come in handy? That’s the $10 bet you’re making with this set, over waiting to see if Home Depot or other retailers bring back a 20pc set for $50 deal option this year.

I don’t own stubby ratcheting wrenches, but I can say that there were a couple of times when I wish I did. I usually improvise with the one stubby wrench I do have, or with short ratchets, crow’s foot wrenches (I only have SAE so far) or smaller adjustable wrenches or pliers.

This is a very good deal, and if you want the same selection of tools, you’re probably never going to see it for any less than the current $60 Black Friday 2020 sale pricing.

I would say “don’t buy it if you don’t think you could use the stubby wrenches,” but there’s a risk you won’t be able to get a 20pc set for $50 if you do want those.

If you’re on the fence, check out the reviews for Gearwrench’s 20pc set at Amazon. There are currently 1857 user reviews, with 86% 5-star and 10% 4-star reviews. The Husky set has 343 user reviews, also mostly 5-star.

Buy Now via Home Depot
See Also: Gearwrench via Amazon

If you’re still on the fence, I’d say don’t buy these if you’re intent on reversible switch ratcheting wrenches. For that, I’d likely consider Tekton these days, or the smaller Gearwrench sets if on a budget. I’ll be on the lookout for deals, but the flip-to-reverse ratcheting wrench sets, like the Husky discussed above, have become far more popular.

Related Posts:

Best Combination Wrench Set for DIYers? New Milwaukee Flex-Head Ratcheting Wrenches

Over at Amazon, they have this Dewalt 8pc SAE combination wrench set on sale for $20, and it comes with a tool box drawer-friendly case that also stacks with other like-sized cases. Model number is DWMT73809.

Sizes range from 1/4″ to 11/16″.

• 1/4″
• 5/16″
• 3/8″
• 7/16″
• 1/2″
• 9/16″
• 5/8″
• 11/16″

Features include 12pc box ends and open ends with “DirectTorque technology” to help prevent rounding of fastener corners. These Dewalt wrenches have a full polish finish and 13° box end offset.

Regular Street Price: $30
Sale Price: $20

Buy Now via Amazon

I’m not quite sure how new these cases are, but they stack together with like-sized Dewalt mechanics tool sets.

They also have a Dewalt 1/4″ SAE and metric ratchet and socket set, DWMT73805.

This is a 25pc set that includes a 72-tooth ratchet, extensions, and standard/shallow sockets with polished chrome finish.

Here’s what you get:

• 1/4 Drive Quick Release Ratchet
• 3” Extension
• Drill Adaptor
• SAE sockets:
  • 5/32, 3/16, 7/32, 1/4, 9/32, 5/16, 11/32, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16 inch
• Metric Sockets
  • 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 mm

Regular Street Price: $30
Sale Price: $20

Buy Now via Amazon

Are These Good Deals?

Dewalt mechanics tools are decent, and with these deals you get these two sets at ~33% discount – $10 off their regular prices of ~$30 each.

The cases should stack together, which is convenient, and they’re thin enough to be tool box drawer-friendly.

These seem to be very good deals if you can use these particular sets.

Related Posts:

The Best Mechanic Tool Brands in 2021? Dewalt Xtreme Subcompact 12V Impact Wrenches – Now Available