Gear heads I need some tool advice

June 03, 2026, 12:00 PM

1) mechanics gloves
2) cordless ratchet, I have a Milwaukee
3) twisted combo wrench set
4) all the above

The twisted wrenches look odd but has your hand pushing on the flat instead of the edge. Disclaimer… I don’t have a set… yet. Multiple brands offer them.

Maybe this link will work

https://abclive1caulfields.s3....age/P-G02830___L.jpg

June 03, 2026, 12:08 PM

HRK

Most of mine are older craftsman, they work well for my occasional wrenching.

If I need a tool I don't have it's either HF Icon, or off to Lowes for their house brand Kobalt, pretty well made and have worked without flaw.

They have complete sets like this 302 piece set that comes in a hard case that keeps it organized.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobal...-Tool-Set/5016244793

you might want to check out HF, Lowes and HD for their house brands. Lowes now owns Craftsman tools.

June 03, 2026, 11:13 PM

David Lee

quote:
Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:
quote:
Originally posted by David Lee:
I gotta add something to this topic. If you want to see the Samari Sword of ratchet wrenches Kyoto tool of Japan. I believe they are now made in Taiwan but the beauty is evident. Such beautiful wrenches.

This. They are not cheap but I have been VERY impressed with any KTC (also branded as Nepro) tool I’ve held. I want to replace all of my old Craftsman ratchets with them.

There is a new set on Etsy at less than half price located in Japan but, I imagine they get costly with tarriffs, duty and import fees. Then we gotta pay a delivery service here. Some high quality tools for certain.

June 04, 2026, 01:27 PM

jimmy123x

Have you considered cutting lengthwise soft vacuum hose that's ID is slightly larger than the wrench stems and gripping that? Or using Mechanix gloves to cushion and add grip? There's nothing like the quality of Snap on.

June 16, 2026, 05:58 PM

MikeGLI

quote:
Originally posted by 1967Goat:
I have Craftsman that have served me well since my dad bought me my first set back in the late 1980's. Craftsman today is not the same.

I'm buying Icon for my sons when they go on sale. As a matter of fact, their Icon wrenches are 35% off this week. You need to be a "club" member for the early part of the week (Mon - Thurs), but it opens to non-members on Friday. I'm not a club member so I wait. The sale happens a few times per year.

ETA: The website isn't reflecting the sale prices. Make sure they are on sale if you decide to go Icon. In store only.

Do you happen to know if this is a common sale they run a few times a year or is it a once a year thing? I'm happy to wait if it means 35% off.

June 17, 2026, 08:07 AM

jelrod1

I like my Wrights. I put a Wright 5/8 next to a Craftsman for comparison. Not a lot of difference in length but a big difference in feel.

June 17, 2026, 08:55 AM

HRK

quote:
Originally posted by MikeGLI:

Do you happen to know if this is a common sale they run a few times a year or is it a once a year thing? I'm happy to wait if it means 35% off.

They run sales all the time, weekly specials, and then some bigger sales during the year. Hard to say what's going to be on sale though.

Go to the web page and sign up for emails and you'll get notifications of the sales that way, you can also get mailers, perfect for the occasional reading material in the loo...

https://www.harborfreight.com/my-account/register

June 17, 2026, 04:45 PM

MikeGLI

quote:
Originally posted by HRK:

They run sales all the time, weekly specials, and then some bigger sales during the year. Hard to say what's going to be on sale though.

Go to the web page and sign up for emails and you'll get notifications of the sales that way, you can also get mailers, perfect for the occasional reading material in the loo...

https://www.harborfreight.com/my-account/register

Got it. Thank you, Sir.

June 17, 2026, 05:52 PM

ScreamingCockatoo

Here's my main toolbox.
It's mostly Harbor Freight tools. There's a few hand wrench sets bought off Amazon.
I did buy Icon swivel sockets)sae and metric)

And my "community box"(what I let friends use so they leave mine ALONE)
All Harbor Freight. Have had these for years and have yet to break one.