No-Skip Metric Combination Wrenches Needed

[rstsco]

While doing a brake job yesterday on my daughter's 2009 CR-V, I needed a 17mm open-end wrench in order to hold a nut on the sliding pin in order to remove the bolt. Went to get my open-end metric wrenches to find the 17mm was skipped. This is an older Craftsman set with ratcheting box-end. I guess I never needed a 17mm before yesterday, or had forgotten and made due with something else, like a left-handed, adjustable, metric/SAE wrench .

I've been pretty happy with Milwaukee tools and was thinking of getting this 15 piece set from Home Depot, ranging from 8mm to 22mm with no skips. It's currently priced at $119 and I get a 10% military discount.

I'm getting older and don't know how much use it will get (probably not needed much). Price isn't a limiting factor, but would you invest in something like this? Or would you go with a set costing less? If so, what would you recommend? Thank you.

 

[maraakate]

If you just need a 17mm because it was missing then just order whatever from Amazon. Don't buy the cheapest thing, but no need to get crazy either. Realistically, how many times will you need it?

I can't think of any time that a "no skip" variety was needed on things I've been working on.

For stuff that's oddball sized or chewed up I like to use needle nose vice grips. I've never had good luck with crescent wrenches.

 

[spasm3]

Wright Tool, top quality usa made wrenches.

I have them they are worth it over cheaper wrenches

https://www.amazon.com/Wright-Tool-752-Metric-Combination/dp/B00279JJNQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=20JQ6LOUKQUSS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7C3KPpB8PjLYKp2WkkCSmhmFA3hiPoMC0vD_xGwms5RhNQhA2NbHQLYRrCur457JHF2GL1o4jovQyg57kO_nTB60HYUYg9dWmG72UfLsQ_t4GwDZBeCrgweTm7kRaD-XS3mHBPi_qWf1N44rcP5R1bdO1BscPW8sHsRO5Iuf79E_L1syUE-yuWeEGGu5RsF7YFClKerJ8aUWM4mGpyqztg.fDmVZdwBm2QJjZbcqMo4enfMQoPyhaLtpkAO2mRubqY&dib_tag=se&keywords=wright+grip+2.0+wrench+set&qid=1774880466&sprefix=wright+grip,aps,223&sr=8-1&th=1&psc=1

 

[cptbarkey]

Milwaukee is okay. I prefer Tekton or Gearwrench. Also, consider buying a 2nd set. The moment you are doing a job and needed another wrench to hold an opposing nut you will kick yourself.

Here is a cheap secondary set: https://www.amazon.com/SWANLAKE-GAR...h+se,aps,188&sr=8-101&xpid=asY6pw6hHnvSH&th=1

 

[rstsco]

If you just need a 17mm because it was missing then just order whatever from Amazon. Don't buy the cheapest thing, but no need to get crazy either. Realistically, how many times will you need it?

At least once... yesterday. Excellent idea.

I used to go pawn shopping regularly. Got all our kids musical instruments for a song (pun intended). Not junk, either. Things I'd otherwise never bought, like a mint-condition, Yamaha flute that was solid silver with 10k white gold keys. That set me back $150!

My wife used to come with me sometimes. I had a loop I'd run every few months that was a little over 100 miles. She'd read her Kindle while I ran it to look around. I found her a Guild 12-string at a pawn shop. Sounds like a good excuse to go pawn shopping again.

 

[Chris142]

Vim makes a thin wrench set just for caliper bolts. If you just need/ want a 17mm wrench I would go on ebay and order a name brand one.

 

[Vexorg]

I have a set now of Milwaukee standard wrenches and Gearwrench ratcheting wrenches. Both have been great and I would buy again.
These 2 sets replaced 2 sets of cheapo no name wrenches, and the cheap junk is a maddening experience in quality. The jaws would spread on the cheapos and then the handles would bend. I have many bruised knuckles and cuts from the cheapos and will never reccomend anyone buy them. Buy once, cry once as they say.

 

[shortyb]

I just got these. Very thin but very sturdy. Plus the ratcheting feature is nice and smooth.

https://www.amazon.com/Astro-71012-...atcheting+wrenches+no+skip+set,aps,137&sr=8-1

 

[JunkdrawerDog]

Being the frugal type, I would go to Home Depot or Lowes and buy just the one wrench I needed. As always, YMMV

 

[wtd]

I just got these. Very thin but very sturdy. Plus the ratcheting feature is nice and smooth.

https://www.amazon.com/Astro-71012-Wrenches-Super-Thin-Ratcheting/dp/B01JBNBF82/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3QGF3WU67C7W&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.tOhiFcG6bEtkRAp25mThVTCW__m190K3SSjx-0QV4HdIhIh-FC-SJwxjn-z3AsTTHzGhuufbYqQifeTVzXIvytCQum33lmokE1AojNw3QMuzF8bD_oAtYiE8tvU_MtA6eNudhC4LlVhVsO1Sas_7nLkswGxYUvjGwE1L5x-4o6cnE2GVZj9hxx-R9ZqhOEanmTNoj-3oo8nJ18ZgCpGRS3upEnwr2qcNK-jTqKLGR1AWXV76fb59yC7lvWqmt8ZK9_AaNT0x1gI-kz7qp3YIzQ7W4S1es9krHMUS-l_oaXc.1xDdEONkrOytxuu3C8I1wgk5PGeBwDPZm92Odj3o6xw&dib_tag=se&keywords=astro+thin+ratcheting+wrenches+no+skip+set&qid=1774882407&sprefix=astro+thin+ratcheting+wrenches+no+skip+set,aps,137&sr=8-1

I bought these last year and they are very nice.

 

[rstsco]

These are the same ones that @shortyb linked to. Two votes for the same complete set.

I need to go downstairs in the garage and look at all the skips from the set I have. If more than one, I'll probably get a complete set. Unfortunately, after getting up and down so much changing out the brake pads and rotors, my legs feel like yesterday was leg day at the gym. The biggest issue is being in my mid-sixties, I don't heal as quickly as when younger.

 

[Hohn]

Wright Tool, top quality usa made wrenches.

I have them they are worth it over cheaper wrenches

https://www.amazon.com/Wright-Tool-752-Metric-Combination/dp/B00279JJNQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=20JQ6LOUKQUSS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7C3KPpB8PjLYKp2WkkCSmhmFA3hiPoMC0vD_xGwms5RhNQhA2NbHQLYRrCur457JHF2GL1o4jovQyg57kO_nTB60HYUYg9dWmG72UfLsQ_t4GwDZBeCrgweTm7kRaD-XS3mHBPi_qWf1N44rcP5R1bdO1BscPW8sHsRO5Iuf79E_L1syUE-yuWeEGGu5RsF7YFClKerJ8aUWM4mGpyqztg.fDmVZdwBm2QJjZbcqMo4enfMQoPyhaLtpkAO2mRubqY&dib_tag=se&keywords=wright+grip+2.0+wrench+set&qid=1774880466&sprefix=wright+grip,aps,223&sr=8-1&th=1&psc=1

Just a comment on the WRIGHT wrenches.

The Wright open ends grip so well that I've stopped using flare nut wrenches-- the Wrights work better on things like brake bleed screws. At the prices you pay on Amazon, the Wrights are 100% worth it. They'll never wear out and are heirloom grade.


That said, any set that lacks 17mm is a pretty serious problem because 17mm is one of the bread and butter JIS sizes, You will come across it on every Honda and Toyota, most Subarus as well. If you haven't noticed it missing until now, you probably don't work on these brands much.


Now, missing a single wrench doesn't necessarily mean you should go buy a whole new set of wrenches. But if you are going to buy combination wrenches, you certainly can't go wrong with WRIGHT.

In my personal work flow I use four kinds of tools:
1) Nano sockets with the Astro drive tools
2) Ratcheting box ends (Tekton in my case)
3) Traditional ratchet/sockets
4) Traditional wrenches.


I tend to use double box ends now more than combination wrenches just because I need an open end so rarely and I'd rather grab 2-3 wrenches from the box to cover all the sizes rather than have to grab 5-6.

Since all my vehicles are Honda or Toyota, I can grab 10, 12, 14, 17 and 19mm and cover most of the entire vehicle.

 

[Hohn]

I bought these last year and they are very nice.

Astro Tools has been killing it lately. They are vastly overrepresented in my tool acquisitions of the last 4 years or so. I own their Nano sockets in both 3/8 and 1/2 along with short and long drive tools for both. I also have their rechargeable lights which just awesome. I have their bit sockets for the Nano setup also.

Great tools, very well made and reasonably priced.

 

[LeeA]

Tekton makes some nice sets.

 

[rstsco]

That said, any set that lacks 17mm is a pretty serious problem because 17mm is one of the bread and butter JIS sizes, You will come across it on every Honda and Toyota, most Subarus as well. If you haven't noticed it missing until now, you probably don't work on these brands much.

Now, missing a single wrench doesn't necessarily mean you should go buy a whole new set of wrenches. But if you are going to buy combination wrenches, you certainly can't go wrong with WRIGHT.

In my personal work flow I use four kinds of tools:
1) Nano sockets with the Astro drive tools
2) Ratcheting box ends (Tekton in my case)
3) Traditional ratchet/sockets
4) Traditional wrenches.

Since all my vehicles are Honda or Toyota, I can grab 10, 12, 14, 17 and 19mm and cover most of the entire vehicle.

I haven't bought any combination wrenches since the years started with 19xx. Back then, everything I worked on was SAE. Turns out this older Craftsman with ratcheting box ends' set starts at 10mm, skips 11, has 12,13,14,15, skips 16 and 17, has 18 and 19. Yep. Time to get a complete set of metric and move the SAE from my main toolbox to a backup location.

This is not the first Honda in the family (now 3, counting our Pilot), but the first requiring repair to be performed by me where I can remember not having a needed wrench. The 2009 CR-V is the daughter's, but her oldest will be getting her drivers license soon, so it needs to be as safe as I can make it (shocks next on the list). She also has a 2016 Pilot and we have the 2025 Pilot. The daughter just went through a divorce, so I'm trying to help her as much as possible by doing the work that she would have previously taken to a mechanic.

The Wright tools look amazing, but I doubt I'd get that much use from them. Anybody they'd get pasted down to wouldn't know or appreciate their value.

 

[spasm3]

If you need really thin wrench for some calipers and suspension end links, Capri Tools makes a good super thin wrench set.

 

[QwikKota]

I think I would lose sleep at night using an open end wrench on a brake bleeder, hah.

Speaking of heirlooms, I have tons of tools I hope my kids would make good use of one day but by the time I am no longer able to use them, they will have purchased their own. Shame.

 

[spasm3]

Not sure what will happen to my tools when I'm gone. My daughter in law says she would want them.

 

[shortyb]

Astro Tools has been killing it lately. They are vastly overrepresented in my tool acquisitions of the last 4 years or so. I own their Nano sockets in both 3/8 and 1/2 along with short and long drive tools for both. I also have their rechargeable lights which just awesome. I have their bit sockets for the Nano setup also.

Great tools, very well made and reasonably priced.

Yessir, they are quality tools for not a lot of money. However, I do blame YOU for increasing my tool collection and lightening my wallet (slightly) with these Astro gems .

 

[Vercingetorix]

Thin ratcheting wrenches seem like a waste.