I have a excellent selection of Craftsman tools that I have been collecting since I was 15. At one point I had every metric tool that they sold but since then they have more offerings that I have not purchased.

My sons were asking what I would like for Christmas and a set of those ratcheting box end wrenches came to mind. I am leaning towards the Craftsman because I have had good luck with their hand tools in the past. I looked and saw that they have three different varieties.

Does anyone have any recommendations for these wrenches. Any real world experience out there who would care to post?

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Doug

1987 300TD x 3
2005 E320CDI

The China version is poor quality.
The Craftsman version is good quality.
The major brand names are premium good quality.

http://www.wrighttool.com/

www.snapon.com/

www.matcotools.com/

J.H. Williams tools http://www.bahco.com/us/#

The following are owned by Stanley www.stanleyworks.com/
Stanley® Brand name
Stanley Proto® Brand name
and Blackhawk™ trade mark
Mac Tool Brand Name [url]www.mactools.com/
Husky Tool Brand Name www.huskytools.com/

I'd also like to add:

-Snap-on/Williams
-Stanley PROTO

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-1983 VW Rabbit LS Diesel (5speed, VNT/Giles build)

When you mentioned "major brands" were you referring to Snap On, Mack and Matco?

Do you think Husky is better than Craftsman? I can remember as a kid that Husky was considered equal to Craftsman then it disappeared for a while, then Home Depot has it. I figured they bought the name and were having tools made offshore.

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Doug

1987 300TD x 3
2005 E320CDI

Husky has generally been a step up from Craftsman.

"major brands" are:
* Snap On
* Mac
* Matco
* Wright
* Williams
* Stanley
* Proto
* Blackhawk
* Husky
* STARRETT

There are others, just can't recall them all at the moment.

Now Were talking.

Add Brown and Sharp, and Mitutoyo. NEVER buy Fowler (junk.) Interped if you can afford it.


Blackhawk is the cheaper of the stanley tools. MIT is also a good, cheap brand if you just need a tool you'll only use a couple of times (ugh, like a 46mm socket...)

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-1983 VW Rabbit LS Diesel (5speed, VNT/Giles build)

My brother in law has some craftsmen Ratcheting box wrenches. One end ratchets the other is an open end. Very nice tools, much better than my harbor freight POSes.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine