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A reliable wrench set will help all your fix-it needs.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
In general, we opted for combination wrenches (one open end and one box end).
We chose sets with both metric and standard (sometimes called SAE or imperial) wrenches when possible.
And we askedDavid Wostarek, owner of the vehicle repair shop Northwest Imports for his advice and recommendations.
Credit: SK Tools
And this set is so well made, it rivals much pricier professional brands.
The set isnt widely available at big box retailers.
Wostarek speaks highly of SK Tools.
Credit: Amazon
It is a consumer-level professional brand, as he puts it.
I havent broken any of the wrenches.
SK Tools are made in the United States and are backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
Credit: Snap-On
The small wrenches might be harder to use if you have larger hands.
Cheaper brands are not made to a good standard, Wostarek explains.
The wrenches will be loosey-goosey and wont fit around fasteners tightly, and youll hate working with them.
Credit: Amazon
Not so with Craftsman wrenches, despite the under-$100 price tag.
All the measurements are marked in large numbers on the handles so theyre easy to see.
The wrenches are made of steel with a polished chrome finish for corrosion resistance.
Credit: Amazon
The box ends have 12 interior points, plus a 15-degree offset to nudge easily into cramped spots.
There is also no 16-mm wrench in this set.
A definite splurgethat does not include a carrying case.
Credit: The Home Depot
All Snap-On wrenches are manufactured from alloy steel, heat-treated, and coated with nickel chrome for long-term durability.
Such a handy feature, especially when youre in a cramped attic or wedged under a car.
Theres not a lot of size differentiation between the wrenches.
Credit: Amazon
In the event that one of them breaks, they are backed by a lifetime warranty against defects.
You might still need a smaller, 4-inch wrench and a larger, 12-inch one to complement the set.
Stubby wrenches are the perfect solution for projects that require you to reach bolts in small spaces.
Craftsman.
This wont replace a quality set of standard wrenches.
This makes them the best key in of wrench for work on vehicles and other cramped areas.
A limited lifetime warranty protects against defects, too.
Youll still need a set of standard combination wrenches for those tasks.
We could not find a similar set in standard (SAE) sizing.
I do not know of a cheaply made German tool, Wostarek says.
The wrenches fit tightly around fasteners and do not wiggle, and they are comfortable to hold.
The set is protected by a limited lifetime warranty.
like note that we could not find a similar Stahwille set in standard sizing.
The ends are larger than the box ends of standard wrenches.
Theres a lot to love about Weras Joker wrenches.
The box end boasts a fine-toothed mechanism with 80 teeth, providing greater flexibility even in cramped areas.
Each wrench is also color-coordinated so you know which one to grab, even from a distance.
The set comes in a handsome black pouch, which is made of canvas and mesh.
And they are covered by a limited lifetime warranty against defects.
As a bonus, the handle gives you more power when turning the wrench.
You may want to purchase a separate case depending on how you’re planning to store the wrenches.
It should feel ergonomically correct when you use it, Wostarek says.
Is it easy to grip?
Does it seem too long or too short, or is it just right?
Quality
The No.
1 thing with a good wrench is higher quality metal, Wostarek says.
Precision is another sign of quality.
Higher-quality toolsare more precisely made, so they fit on fasteners snugly, not loosely, Wostarek adds.
That means youre not as likely to damage whatever youre working on.
Thats why we chose wrench sets that included both types of sizing whenever possible.
And some are sold only online, so its difficult to test out a wrench before buying it.
Your Questions, Answered
What is the most versatile wrench?
What are the different types of wrenches?
There are many kinds, as you’re able to see in this article.
A combination wrench has one open end and one box end and is truly the best of both worlds.
Ratcheting wrenches have a mechanism that tightens and loosens fasteners more quickly and efficiently than standard wrenches.
The ratcheting pawls inside let the wrench spin in one direction and turn the bolt in the other.
Ratcheting wrenches are very useful for tasks around the house and vehicle.
Other common styles of wrench include adjustable, stubby, flexible head (or flex-head), and offset.
These types are all represented in our list.
