Best wrench brand I can afford?

[brown40]

Craftsman usually offers a 'mechanics set' from 1/4 to 1/2 drive, with 6 and twelve points in a 4 drawer case for ~$200. Nice thing is there are usually fairly close places to exchange/repair when something breaks. They aren't the finest, but are very good. Deep socket variety and larger ones (like on tractors) are usually not in sets, unless you get a really big one with many of the tools you already have. I have a cheapo 3/4 drive set that appears pretty regularly when the tractor is the project. Ugly, cheap, overly heavy and thick--haven't broke one yet though. Stanley and Channelock sets have been good (big box store sets), but are for smaller stuff--light automotive and assembly. They do round and polish the handles--I do like that--if I were turning wrenches for a living, I'd spring for the comfort.

 

[LD1]

Harbor freight stuff works just fine for a home mechanic. I use alot of their stuff. Their impact sockets, wrenches, and the more pricey ratchets are good. But avoid their channel locks, pliers, and crescent wrenches.

Best crescent I have is a fuller, made in Japan. No idea where I got that one though.

 

[coobie]

I would check out the Northern tool sockets.

 

[JKR]

Craftsman would be your best buy. Life time warranty. TSC has some large wrench that are at a fair price and work well.

 

[jeff9366]

New Craftsman wrench sets and socket sets can be purchased on eBay for 30% of the cost in stores.

However, today's Craftsman, like Sears itself, is not what it was.

Sears is expiring. In bankruptcy warranties are voided.

 

[Dftodd]

Gear wrench for your wrenches. 100% warrantee, and quite a few hardware stores carry them. Along with most of your tool trucks. Matco, mac, and snapon. Makes it extremely convenient if you bust one, or have a ratcheting set that strips, to get a new one fast

 

[DFB]

Don't really think you can beat Craftsman for combination wrench sets for price especially when they are on sale and can get both metric and standard in 6 and 12 point configurations.

My starter set of Craftsman chrome sockets like 3 decades ago was a kit of loose standard sized sockets all packed in plastic bags. Pretty complete sets with 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 drive. Then eventually I got a metric kit the same way. I have use those chrome rails to secure and organize the sockets in order and put a magnetic tape on the bottom of the rails holds them well in a metal tool box tray. Overtime added what I needed in larger deep well sizes.


Every now and then you see different plastic case offers full of mechanic stuff some are more useful than others so look closely at them. They bump up the numbers counting every little hex allen key as individual pieces

Ratchets on the other hand I have acquired different Craftsman ones over time and mostly there just okay and have had to rebuild one before. I have others ratchets china made with tighter gearing and rubber grip handles that I like much better.

After a while you end up with impact sockets and barely use the others :laughing:

 

[Turbys_1700]

I typically buy low cost tools like Harbor Freight since I am not a professional mechanic. Last year my son gave me a gift certificate to Sears and I splurged on a nice set of Dewalt sockets. They are not cheap but the quality is much better than I have ever had before.

DWMT72162 25 Piece 1/2" Drive Socket Set | DEWALT Tools

 

[Gary Fowler]

I don't think the OP asked for the most expensive tools available like many of you are posting. He wants a cheap set for occasional use that are the best quality for the money. For me that is still Harbor Freight and they do warranty their tools for life. I have metric and SAE sets of combo wrenches from 1/4-2" and some 3/4" drive sockets from 7/8" to 2" in both SAE and metric. I have used the 3/4" drive with an impact gun to remove and reinstall 1 3/8" nuts from my row hippers and they performed flawlessly.

I had to get the big wrenches when I got my tractors and HF had the socket sets on sale for I think it was $69 each set (maybe less-it has been 5 years ago) and it included a ratchet, breaker bar and 6" extension. I doubt you could buy more than 2 of those large sockets in Snap-on brand for that price. They do honor the warranty also. I was removing a large socket from the ratchet by rapping it across some steel and when the socket came off, so did the retainer ball bearing. They replaced it with no questions asked. I have used it a lot and so far that is all that has ever broken. The combo wrenches are very finely polished and I have used them a lot too with no problems.
Craftsman tools are getting too high to buy and their warranty is not like it used to be either, so I got away from them totally although I still have a lot of them, just don't buy them any more. I have some of their 1/4-7/8" ratchet wrench combos that I bought on sale for $19. I haven't used them enough to see if they will last though.

I have a few Kobalt tools also and they seem to be pretty good and the price is low on them too.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Regarding the ratchet wrench sets from Craftsman. While they seemed like a good idea, the body is so thick that in many to most places they wont go on the nut due to lack of clearance. Just thought I would toss that in in case someone was looking to buy them.