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Building up my wrench and socket collection

Kristi2k

Kristi2k

Golden Member
Lately I've been trying to handle my own small repairs on the vehicles and need to build up a collection of wrenches and sockets.

For wrenches, I'm looking at:
  1. Kobalt 8-Piece Set 12-point Metric Flexible Head Ratchet Wrench Set
  2. Kobalt Universal 8-Piece Set Spline Metric Standard Combination Wrench Set
  3. Kobalt 24-Piece Set 12-Point Standard (SAE) and Metric Combination Standard Combination Wrench Set
A few questions, I'm not sure if the flexible head would be that beneficial? What are the benefits to the universal end of he wrenches? Wouldn't they tend to round off the bolts? I think that I'd most likely use the open mouth end the most.

Thank you


edit: I do plan on getting sockets as well.
 
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By universal do you mean the box/closed end? If so you are actually less likely to round a fastener with that vs the open end, particularly on lower quality tools. Combination of lower risk of fastener damage + potential for ratcheting makes it the go-to unless it's a situation where it can't be used.

If this is your first purchase I would look at something like this set:


Not sure what is up with that link it's not working reliably for me but seems to be correct. If it doesn't work for you search for Lowe's item number 840031.

Save flex/stubby/etc for later down the road when you need more than that set can provide. Ratcheting is useful from the beginning, though you could likely drop that to cut the cost a bit if the price jump is too much. Your #3 would be a good choice - But get ratcheting if you can, it's worth it.

Viper GTS
 
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if you are just starting out and doing small things, i recommend a set a regular wrenches, a 1/4 in socket set and a 3/8 socket set, a good set of screw drivers, and a set of torx drivers. I find a lot of small stuff on a car now is torx head fastners, like changing a cabin air filter, or removing trim pieces.

the harbor freight stuff is of pretty good quality. I have been happy with the hand tools i have bought there recently. I needed some not so common stuff for a brake job on my truck and a few bits on my tractor. I also have a few tekton tools, and they seem to be on par with the major brands like craftsman /husky / kobalt. you can find them online. My set of gunsmithing punches is very nice for the price from them.

i would look for a set like this:


and
www.harborfreight.com

Fully Polished Metric Combination Wrench Set, 14 Piece

Amazing deals on this 14Pc Polished Metric Combination Wrench Set at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.
www.harborfreight.com www.harborfreight.com

in a metric and a standard set.

and a set or torx drivers

www.harborfreight.com

Star Bit Screwdriver Set, 6 Piece

Amazing deals on this 6Pc Star Bit Screwdriver Set at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.
www.harborfreight.com www.harborfreight.com
 
The flex head wrenches have their uses. I prefer non flex wrenches. Instead of your choices I would get a basic 3/8" drive socket set in both standard and metric and a set of combination wrenches in both standard and metric. Then do the same with a 1/4" drive set
 
  1. They are nice for when you can't quite clear a nearby obstruction, but I don't know they would be a first choice for me. I use ratchets for most of that sort of thing.
  2. I'm not a huge fan of these. Seems like a crutch for not having tools that fit.
  3. These are bog standard wrenches. Its useful to have both a set of these and the geared type. When I need to apply a lot of torque, these hold up better. I like my gear wrenches a lot, but I wouldn't use a cheater bar or hammer on them.
 
herm0016 said:
if you are just starting out and doing small things, i recommend a set a regular wrenches, a 1/4 in socket set and a 3/8 socket set, a good set of screw drivers, and a set of torx drivers. I find a lot of small stuff on a car now is torx head fastners, like changing a cabin air filter, or removing trim pieces.


i would look for a set like this:

Click to expand...

FWIW buy as large a socket set as you can when you get one. Its a super expensive to buy sockets by the piece and you almost always end up having to rebuy all your core sockets if you start with a really small set.
 
Midwayman said:
  1. They are nice for when you can't quite clear a nearby obstruction, but I don't know they would be a first choice for me. I use ratchets for most of that sort of thing.
  2. I'm not a huge fan of these. Seems like a crutch for not having tools that fit.
  3. These are bog standard wrenches. Its useful to have both a set of these and the geared type. When I need to apply a lot of torque, these hold up better. I like my gear wrenches a lot, but I wouldn't use a cheater bar or hammer on them.
Click to expand...

Point #3 is valid, but with a Lowe's on every corner and hand tools falling under their lifetime replacement:


I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Viper GTS
 
Viper GTS said:
Point #3 is valid, but with a Lowe's on every corner and hand tools falling under their lifetime replacement:


I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Viper GTS
Click to expand...

Fair point. Though the 2nd issue with geared wrenches is they typically come in smaller sets. They skip sizes or don't go large or small enough. You always end up needing a standard set anyways. If you got a big enough set though it would be fine.
 
I'm getting a socket set as well, wanted to start out with some wrenches.

Some sets come with certain sizes I need yet are missing others. I can buy the missing ones individually but couldn't store them with the cases that come with the sets (minor problem).

EDIT:
What's the difference between these two wrenches? Other than one ratchets and the other doesn't, are both universal (not metric vs SAE) on the closed ends?
 
Kristi2k said:
I'm getting a socket set as well, wanted to start out with some wrenches.

Some sets come with certain sizes I need yet are missing others. I can buy the missing ones individually but couldn't store them with the cases that come with the sets (minor problem).

EDIT:
What's the difference between these two wrenches? Other than one ratchets and the other doesn't, are both universal (not metric vs SAE) on the closed ends?
Click to expand...

You need to forget this idea of universal, those are both 12mm wrenches. The product descriptions are not great (containing both metric and standard) but they are 12mm.

The difference between them is that one is spline drive. You probably don't need them but some info here:

Why Spline wrenches?

Every store's tool department I visit now days has spline wrenches? What are they for? Is there a new fastener out there? I'll admit I'm a new guy around here, but i'm a 46 year old car hobbyist since my early teens. The only "new" car I've messed with in 18 years is a new Charger I just...
www.garagejournal.com www.garagejournal.com

Lowe's is using the 'universal' term to refer to the spline drive end ability to drive things beyond the normal hex fastener.

Viper GTS
 
Viper GTS said:
You need to forget this idea of universal, those are both 12mm wrenches. The product descriptions are not great (containing both metric and standard) but they are 12mm.

The difference between them is that one is spline drive. You probably don't need them but some info here:

Why Spline wrenches?

Every store's tool department I visit now days has spline wrenches? What are they for? Is there a new fastener out there? I'll admit I'm a new guy around here, but i'm a 46 year old car hobbyist since my early teens. The only "new" car I've messed with in 18 years is a new Charger I just...
www.garagejournal.com www.garagejournal.com

Lowe's is using the 'universal' term to refer to the spline drive end ability to drive things beyond the normal hex fastener.

Viper GTS
Click to expand...
I'm using the wrong terms. Just wondering the difference between the box ends of those 2. One looks like is a spline and one a 12 point.
 
I've been a backyard mechanic over 50 years, not a pro. I have a button that says, "I'm not old - I just have a lot of experience points". And I have a collection of tools in a carry case that's gotten heavy.

I use my socket sets with a ratcheting drive much more than combination wrenches. But I keep both, and there certainly are times when there is not enough space to get a ratchet head/socket into position and a combo wrench is needed. And I guess if you're starting out and have limited $$$ for now, combo wrenches without a socket set is a good start.

That set with the flexible box-end heads may be useful at times when you can't get a straight alignment from the side. I usually am using a socket wrench for that access problem, so I would have few occasions where I need that feature. I'm not clear whether the cost is worth it.

By "universal end" I presume you mean the ones with 12-point openings that have rounded teeth to accommodate spline and star heads. I encounter bolts or nuts like that very infrequently, so I would not buy that myself. And I agree, they would have less grip on the normal hex heads, and would be more likely to round them off. In fact, even a normal 12-point socket or box-end can round off hex heads in a high-torque situation, and for those really stubborn bolts like that I may go get a real 6-point socket.

Some of those sets have box-end opnings with a ratchet feature. That is more expensive and maybe less strong than a simple solid end. It is useful for tight spaces when you can't get a wrench into position because of angle of access. But there is a useful technique for that, especially for the open-end wrench end which makes a slight angle with the handle. Just turn the wrench over (180 degrees) and it gives you a different range of attack angles.

I'd be more inclined to get the larger plain-design set for more wrenches over a wider size range, rather than those extra-feature models. A comment pertaining to ability to deal with odd sizes. Especially on older bolts and nuts that have rusted, sometimes they seem "swollen" with rust, sometimes they actually are too small because they have lost metal due to rusting. Then thier size does NOT match the standard wrench opening. But the best way I handle that is to go the the "other" sizing system. If it's an American standard nut that is marginally too small so the wrench just starts to round it off, I switch to the Metric wrenches. There's usually one of those that falls between two American sizes. If necessary, I get one that is just marginally too small and use a hammer to tap it onto the bolt head securely before torquing on the bolt.

A suggestion for addition. I really find useful two sizes of locking pliers ("Vise Grip" or similar) I have for lots of uses. One of those is getting a good grip on worn nuts that a wrench does not grab, especially ones rounded by rusting or wear. They are also handy as a small hand-held "vise" to hold some small item I'm working on with another tool.
 
Kristi2k, as said above the "universal" term is being used for ones that can deal with Spline and Star heads. Look closely and you'll see that those have rounded points in the openings, whereas the standard 12-point plain openings have sharp corners on each point. I think that makes the "universal" design less able to exert force on the flat surfaces of hex bolt heads, and more liely to round off their corners.
 
Organization.

I'm in the camp that thinks you should get the largest set that your budget allows, and comes with its own (single) case, not separate sets unless you'll be putting these in a chest or hanging on a workbench, etc., but not any larger than you can comfotably handle weight-wise so you have the majority of the tools you use, already next to you instead of having to go back and forth to get them.

Later on you might want a tool cart or other organizational method but starting out, having most common things together in a case that sorts them by size, with a specific spot for everything rather than being in a pile in a box, helps. It also helps you realize when you've misplaced a tool because there's a spot in the case with nothing in it.

Obviously there will be tools you need that won't fit in such a case, but the more often you can just reach an arm's length away and grab something that'll work, with minimal piles of different things scattered around, the less tedious the repair will be.
 
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All good information, a bit overwhelming. Here's what I typically work on:
  • Changing of oil on Honda vehicles - I actually helped change an alternator (we used mostly sockets but did use a few wrenches)
  • Misc. furniture setups
  • Set up a Bosch miter collapsible miter stand that would have been nice to have the right tools for, alot of their bolts/nuts were 5mm and 10mm
Looks like I need to decide between: A) Non-ratcheting box-end wrenches B) atcheting box-end wrenches C) Universal Spline box-end wrenches
 
Kristi2k said:
All good information, a bit overwhelming. Here's what I typically work on:
  • Changing of oil on Honda vehicles - I actually helped change an alternator (we used mostly sockets but did use a few wrenches)
  • Misc. furniture setups
  • Set up a Bosch miter collapsible miter stand that would have been nice to have the right tools for, alot of their bolts/nuts were 5mm and 10mm
Looks like I need to decide between: A) Non-ratcheting box-end wrenches B) atcheting box-end wrenches C) Universal Spline box-end wrenches
Click to expand...

I would get a good set of ratcheting wrenches (mine are Gearwrench - I don't have experience with Kobalt) and then a cheap set of non-ratcheting wrenches. Non-ratcheting wrenches are useful to link together for additional leverage when a ratchet/breaker bar won't fit (like this).
 
Pawn shops used to be a place to get quality sockets dirt cheap. I don’t know if that is still the case but you might check out a couple.
 
Another option is Harbor Freight, they usually have stuff that are pretty cheap. If you are just using them occasionally then it's not bad.
 
jlee said:
I would get a good set of ratcheting wrenches (mine are Gearwrench - I don't have experience with Kobalt) and then a cheap set of non-ratcheting wrenches. Non-ratcheting wrenches are useful to link together for additional leverage when a ratchet/breaker bar won't fit (like this).
Click to expand...

I don't like cheap end wrenches. Either the jaws of the open end spread when you're really cranking on a nut/bolt...often resulting in busted knuckles, or the box end strips out...and those things seem to always happen at the most inopportune times. Lowe's Kobalt, Home Depot's Husky, or Craftsman are about the "cheapest" wrenches I'd ever buy.

Kristi2k, get yourself a decent quality 3/8" and 1/4" socket set, a decent set of combination end wrenches, (skip the "Universal/Spline" thing) and if you want to spend the $$$, a decent set of ratcheting end wrenches.
Beware CHEAP tools...they're cheap for a reason...and for anything other than very occasional use, they won't last...and will generally fail you.
 
Kristi2k said:
Are the Kobalt tools considered cheap?
Click to expand...

They are Lowe's house brand. They are definitely not a high end tool but they have a decent reputation and are backed by a company that is everywhere. If you break one you can just go get a new one at any Lowe's store. You could do a lot worse, and they'll probably be just fine for you for quite a while. If you are able to spend more I'm sure we can help you find options, I'm partial to GearWrench.

Viper GTS
 
BoomerD said:
Beware CHEAP tools...they're cheap for a reason...and for anything other than very occasional use, they won't last...and will generally fail you.
Click to expand...

Biggest issue is they just don't fit. Cheap tools tend to have a lot of slop. Combined with the flex it can end up in a lot of rounded bolts.

Kobalt is cheap-ish. I mean for most things its fine. Not every tool needs to be snap-on.

I've started migrating to Wiha and Wera for my 'precision' tools though. Chinesium is not fun when you're trying to get out a seized 2mm hex.
 
I think that I'm going to go with Kobalt or Craftsman at this point, what I have now is very very cheap tools and missing pieces.

It seems like most people are saying to stay away from Spline box end wrenches? Go for the 12point box end instead? I'm not sure how much I'd use box end but would like the best option for the job if it arises.
 
BoomerD said:
I don't like cheap end wrenches. Either the jaws of the open end spread when you're really cranking on a nut/bolt...often resulting in busted knuckles, or the box end strips out...and those things seem to always happen at the most inopportune times. Lowe's Kobalt, Home Depot's Husky, or Craftsman are about the "cheapest" wrenches I'd ever buy.

Kristi2k, get yourself a decent quality 3/8" and 1/4" socket set, a decent set of combination end wrenches, (skip the "Universal/Spline" thing) and if you want to spend the $$$, a decent set of ratcheting end wrenches.
Beware CHEAP tools...they're cheap for a reason...and for anything other than very occasional use, they won't last...and will generally fail you.
Click to expand...

Craftsman is relatively cheap IMO...they aren't what they used to be. If I were starting over I would try the Taiwan-made Harbor Freight wrenches for basic box ends - I almost never use them and would consider cutting cost there to prioritize better ratcheting wrenches. My ratcheting wrenches are Gearwrench and I also have their 120XP ratchets. I have been happy with Harbor Freight sockets (both impact and standard).

I do have one lonely 10mm Snap-On wrench and it is lovely - I just can't bring myself to pay for a new set.
 
jlee said:
I do have one lonely 10mm Snap-On wrench and it is lovely - I just can't bring myself to pay for a new set.
Click to expand...

Look into Wiha, They aren't snap on prices and I've been really impressed
www.wihatools.com

24 Piece Combination Wrench Set - Metric and SAE

Inch and Metric Combination Wrenches a complete set of combination wrenches in a locking storage rack that securely holds wrenches in place. The wrench holder can be mounted on a wall or stored.
www.wihatools.com www.wihatools.com
$99 for a 24 piece wrench set. Sure its not Kobalt prices, but not unobtainable either.
 
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