Garage Gazette
TOOLS AND THE SHOP => MECHANIC HAND TOOLS WE USE => Topic started by: muddy on September 21, 2020, 10:49:25 PM
-
I was cruising through Lowe's and I checked out the clearance section. That's where I found these.
5/16 - 3/4, minus the 11/16. Not sure why they wouldn't include that one, it the most often used in my daily set?
Made in Taiwan, the chrome, broaching and sizing is pretty well done. It even has a Craftsman version of flank drive (Snap-On), Opti Torque (Matco) or knuckle saver (Mac) or what ever you want to call it in the open end. Also they are "long pattern" which I always prefer
Overall for $16 I think I'd have kicked my self for not picking them up.id put them on par if not above the likes of silver eagle or blue point. The recent matcos I've seen aren't much better then these either.I plan to use these in my home box, so they won't see the abuse a daily set would. Time will tell!
(https://i.postimg.cc/15cfrDyb/KIMG1577.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hfvDSzz0)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Gp9tRNv1/KIMG1578.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Z9t4Fwff)
(https://i.postimg.cc/DfGWmtHv/KIMG1579.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/23zjKXCM)
(https://i.postimg.cc/gkPxhgbv/KIMG1580.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/CdmMTH11)
(https://i.postimg.cc/XYsqT3G8/KIMG1581.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/dhTJyb9k)
(https://i.postimg.cc/pThmf7dB/KIMG1584.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/BL3ZsmH8)
(https://i.postimg.cc/bwydCdJr/KIMG1586.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/MvLWX61J)
(https://i.postimg.cc/xd7C1RPN/KIMG1587.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/d72vWGpJ)
-
Ok, looks like a bargain to me too. I have been adding stuff to my work box, which is home since retiring. Just dont get much unless it fits my price range, cheap. Have never run across Silver Eagle tools, new or used. Where do you buy them?
-
My guess is the metric set has 17mm and stops at 19mm.
That they would fill the gaps with having both sets like a lot of homeowner grade sets do.
In the metric set 11, 15, 16, 18 mm would be the possible gaps.
-
John, silver eagle ia Matco's value line
-
I'd say that is a pretty good buy for $16. That is strange as to no 11/16" in the set.
-
Muddy, take em to work and use em for a week or so. I mean like put your most used ones away.
Sometimes you have to force yourself to use something to see if you like it or if it really is better. Habit tells you to use what you are used to. Putting them in the rotation for a while will quickly tell you the story.
-
That set is a great bargain Tim. Well made and definitely some quality chrome. For the price you paid, it's a winner.
-
My guess is the metric set has 17mm and stops at 19mm.
That they would fill the gaps with having both sets like a lot of homeowner grade sets do.
In the metric set 11, 15, 16, 18 mm would be the possible gaps.
11/16" is around 17.5 so it doesn't interchange well with 17 or 18. So they shouldn't be skipping 11/16" thinking folks will be able to use metrics instead.
On a metric set yeah you could skip 11 and 16 because 7/16" and 5/8" will work. 15 and 18 are needed in metric. Though these days, when a lot of folks have no reason to buy SAE wrenches, metric sets shouldn't have skips like they did back in the day.
-
I tend to use whatever fits close, it works well for me to interchange, hell, a few whitworth are in my user kit.
I never look at the wrench past ' it fits '.
Pro level kits avoid skips. I have some of those too. But if the bike kit is closest anything goes to geterdun and OCD be damned.
-
Interestingly, my dad had 2 sets of wrenches back in the day. Both sets didn't have an 11/16, which was not a problem until we rebuilt the suspension on the tent trailer after our 1971 Alaska (from Toronto) trip. So he always had one oddball 11/16, cars went metric soon after, so he never had a set with a matching 11/16!
-
I just checked my old Craftsman Pro and Craftsman Industrial sets -- 11/16th is included. The Industrial set also included 20mm -- which is a size I don't recall I've ever used.
-
Yep, 11/16" not popular for cars, hugely popular on tractors.
I had a set of Matco Silver Eagles that took me for-eeeevah to pass on to the next owner. As noted, not a US produced item.
-
Between Taiwan & China, Taiwan make better machines ...lathes, mills
-
The Industrial set also included 20mm -- which is a size I don't recall I've ever used.
GM fuel filters is the only application for 20mm I've encountered.
-
Yep, 11/16" not popular for cars, hugely popular on tractors.
Just about everything on the early ford tractors were 11/16. I’ve worn out many 11/16 sockets
-
Had a farmer come in and buy about 8 15/16 wrenches. Said lots of that size on tractors and implements. Bought all the cheap ones and most of the ok USA made ones. No snappys as the tend to get lost :))
Came across a 15/16 combo with one end broken after he left. Whacked off the broken end and gave it to him the next time he was in. Left some length but told him he might want to make a stubby out of it
-
Muddy, take em to work and use em for a week or so. I mean like put your most used ones away.
Sometimes you have to force yourself to use something to see if you like it or if it really is better. Habit tells you to use what you are used to. Putting them in the rotation for a while will quickly tell you the story.
I plan on doing this with some HF Icon ratchets. They compare them to snappy and that's what I use at work. Well see if they are up to the standards.
Yep, 11/16" not popular for cars, hugely popular on tractors.
Just about everything on the early ford tractors were 11/16. I’ve worn out many 11/16 sockets
Yep just like Toyota forklifts 12mm and 14mm and you can pretty much take the whole lift apart.
Sent from my E6910 using Tapatalk