Best wrench brand I can afford?

[Luke'sScreenName]

Ok, for years Ive been using a piecemeal collection of sockets and wrenches. I think I'm ready to buy a complete set. I'm talking metric and SAE up to maybe 2". I do occasionally use pneumatics but mostly hand power.

So, do I want a 6 or 12 point sockets?
What other features should I look for?

I would like tools that will last a lifetime of relatively light use and be able to find replacements for the foreseeable future.

What brand should I get?

I will never make money with these tools so there is no way to justify a premium brand like Snap-on. Of the 'second tear' brands which one is best?

 

[rustyshakelford]

I like harbor freight for the bigger wrenches. Never had any problem with them and if they got lost is stolen it's not the end of the world.

Brett

 

[4570Man]

For sockets and open end wrenches craftsman work fine. I have never broken one even with an impact wrench. 6 point is best. For ratchets I prefer Proto. For adjustable wrenches Klein is the best I have found.

 

[ray66v]

Craftsman wrenches are a good buy for the average Joe.

Craftsman sockets are decent. When you use them for a living, you will break them. I broke a lot of them. Some sizes, like 10mm, I had to keep 3 of them, so I could keep working, when they broke.

The Kobalt stuff at Lowes, isn't bad for the average guy either. And, sometimes they are 50% off.

The Mac, Matco, Snap-on sockets, do last longer, and wear better. But, that's because they cost a lot more.

Eventually, I moved up to mostly Mac sockets. Then, I broke very few.

6pt. point will not round off fasteners, like 12pt. will.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I have a couple of the sets that Costco sells, comes in a nice plastic carry case with a slot for every socket and wrench. Really keeps the tools organized. Doesn't have every size, but most of the required sizes.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

One thing I like about the "high priced spread" when it comes to sockets is, they are not only stronger, they also are thinner!! It makes them easier to get into hard to get to places...

My old crapsman sockets are thinner than the new ones....

If I had the money for complete sets, I'd buy Matco brand...

SR

 

[BHD]

I have found ACE hardware brand to be a good choice, on the open box end wrenches, I like SK brand, but the cost of them is out of my reach, and I have put the ACE brand, in the tractors, and in the wood shop, and in the welding truck, also a few sets of 3/8 sockets kits, with both metric and sae,

the local sears will not honor the warranty but ace will hand one a new socket set or wrench with out problems,

 

[Coyote machine]

When I started a partnership pro shop we both had Craftsman back in the early '80s. I traded up to Snap-on for all the essential tools, and kept occasional use Craftsman.
Our only Sears closed up shop recently. No surprise to me - I had told them years ago they would, especially with their prices and customer treatment.
Now Ace sells Craftsman like K-mart?
There are lots of good choices still, but buy the best you can afford for what you will use everyday.
6 points are good; impact sockets for when using an impact driver of any kind. Non-impacts can and will shatter and you don't want to wear the pieces.
Any brand socket can break- Snap-on too. That's why they come warrantied.

 

[TomSeller]

I have mostly used Craftsman, some as nearly as old as I am. Not being a professional, I don't spend the professional money. I break very few pieces but I only use impact rated sockets on impact wrenches, I have a few Husky, they seem like an okay brand.

 

[Wagtail]

When it comes to buying spanners in a set, keep an eye on what sizes are included. (hopefully I'm not telling you something you already know)

10mm is common but I found that 17mm, one of the 'required' sizes for tractor maintenance, isn't. I've had to purchase separate 17mm ones and have three of them now = open/boxed, open/ratchet and an open/swivel-ratchet.