No-Skip Metric Combination Wrenches Needed

[JeffKeryk]

Europeans often prefer high quality brands with high-quality matte or satin finish to provide a non-slip grip (think oily) and to hide scratches that appear over time.
Chrome has benefits, primarily corrosion resistance and high wear resistance due to extreme hardness. Chrome plating offers extended life and ease of cleaning.

When I was in Germany I was somewhat surprised to see the matte finish; I figured there must be a reason because these were in industrial use. Maybe I should get me some? I can tell you the Knipex Cobra pliers are flat-out amazing; the best I have ever used.

Snap-On tools are appreciated everywhere, but may be thought of as luxury items. I sure do.

 

[Trav]

Europeans often prefer high quality brands with high-quality matte or satin finish to provide a non-slip grip (think oily) and to hide scratches that appear over time.
Chrome has benefits, primarily corrosion resistance and high wear resistance due to extreme hardness. Chrome plating offers extended life and ease of cleaning.

When I was in Germany I was somewhat surprised to see the matte finish; I figured there must be a reason because these were in industrial use. Maybe I should get me some? I can tell you the Knipex Cobra pliers are flat-out amazing; the best I have ever used.

Snap-On tools are appreciated everywhere, but may be thought of as luxury items. I sure do.

I went to the Hazet factory for a tour some years ago and bought some ratchets, the neat part of it was watching the tools made from pouring and forging to the finished product. All done with the best German tool steel and highly skilled German workers, you see the older guys doing the forging and machining while the apprentices do minor operations.
They want you to see the forging marks not cover them up by grinding and polishing then a layer of chrome, they feel like full chrome is a way cheap tools hide poor quality or the forging as can be seen on many low quality tools.

Americans and Asians generally like the polished chrome and trust the quality of a brand name which is also okay, I personally love the the look and feel of the matt finish. The finish of Stahlwille tools is flat out amazing, something they add to the steel mix almost make it seem like finer grains, in the forging it creates a silky smooth feel to the tool, hiding that under a layer of chrome would almost be a sin.

 

[JeffKeryk]

He who dies with the most tools wins.

 

[Trav]

D60 is going for the win he is younger.

PS I am still not done yet.

 

[JeffKeryk]

D60 is going for the win he is younger.

PS I am still not done yet.

I can't afford this game... But I'm pretty sure I NEED a couple of those Stahlwille wrenches...
I understand the feel of one in your hand is amazing.

 

[IndyIan]

I went to the Hazet factory for a tour some years ago and bought some ratchets, the neat part of it was watching the tools made from pouring and forging to the finished product. All done with the best German tool steel and highly skilled German workers, you see the older guys doing the forging and machining while the apprentices do minor operations.
They want you to see the forging marks not cover them up by grinding and polishing then a layer of chrome, they feel like full chrome is a way cheap tools hide poor quality or the forging as can be seen on many low quality tools.

Americans and Asians generally like the polished chrome and trust the quality of a brand name which is also okay, I personally love the the look and feel of the matt finish. The finish of Stahlwille tools is flat out amazing, something they add to the steel mix almost make it seem like finer grains, in the forging it creates a silky smooth feel to the tool, hiding that under a layer of chrome would almost be a sin.

It is funny what you get used to. It would take me a while to get used to matte finish again. Your wrenches remind me of my teens using a random collection of cheap, worn out, double open ended matte finish wrenches that seemed to round off everything they touched or skin my knuckles when they slipped...
Now I have a decent set of shiny chromed combination wrenches that seem to work like magic, or at least break the fastener before they slip!

 

[rstsco]

He who dies with the most tools wins.

I'm trying to win... if my wife doesn't kill me first.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I'm trying to win... if my wife doesn't kill me first.

I inherited most of mine. My brother owned and operated a great shop in Santa Cruz, CA. Greg got cancer and we lost him at 44. He left me his hand tools. Here's the 10mm wrenches and his favorite 3/8 ratchet. @Trav would approve because it wears its battle scars proudly.

 

[rstsco]

I inherited most of mine. My brother owned and operated a great shop in Santa Cruz, CA. Greg got cancer and we lost him at 44. He left me his hand tools. Here's the 10mm wrenches and his favorite 3/8 ratchet. @Trav would approve because it wears its battle scars proudly.

I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[D60]

The Hazet set *I* got (because it was a good price) skips 9 and 11. The former I could see, but the latter confuses me.

I mixed it in with my Tektons so I've got a mix that would make @The Critic twitch. Hey, in today's age we're apparently all allowed to have TRIGGER WARNINGS

And yeah, the matte finish hearkens back to HF made in India wrenches of 1999 in my brain

 

[JeffKeryk]

I'm sorry for your loss.

Greg had a real up-and-down life. He was known as the only sober mechanic in Santa Cruz. He used to tell me VWs were not, "The People's Car", rather they were the "People with No Money's Car". He was known as the goto guy for Bathtub and early 911-912's all the way down the Monterrey Bay and beyond. I dream of a 356B one day. Has to be red. He liked the early, more rounded cars best. My other favorite were the Karmann Ghias. If you ever get a chance to drive one, do it. Poor man's 356.

If a homeless person strolled in, Greg always bought them a sandwich or whatever. Always.

 

[Sam_Julier]

I went to the Hazet factory for a tour some years ago and bought some ratchets, the neat part of it was watching the tools made from pouring and forging to the finished product. All done with the best German tool steel and highly skilled German workers, you see the older guys doing the forging and machining while the apprentices do minor operations.
They want you to see the forging marks not cover them up by grinding and polishing then a layer of chrome, they feel like full chrome is a way cheap tools hide poor quality or the forging as can be seen on many low quality tools.

Americans and Asians generally like the polished chrome and trust the quality of a brand name which is also okay, I personally love the the look and feel of the matt finish. The finish of Stahlwille tools is flat out amazing, something they add to the steel mix almost make it seem like finer grains, in the forging it creates a silky smooth feel to the tool, hiding that under a layer of chrome would almost be a sin.

Agree. There’s nothing like these tools in hand.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

A vote for a matte finish. I love my wright wrenches.
You are in texas so it may not matter here for you but they have these teeth on their wrenches that do a good job of holding rusty hardware.

 

[rszappa1]

I still have and use my Metrinch set that I purchased in the early 20s. They work on both metric and SAE....They are the best set of tools I have ever bought and they still work great today.....They are my go to set to use....

 

[Saturnguy]

Six points wrenches are rare these days, but I have these…

https://steelmantools.com/products/...ench-set-16-piece?_pos=9&_sid=5105b7ad3&_ss=r

 

[Saturnguy]

Of course, when doing brake and tube fitting, flare wrenches are better

https://steelmantools.com/products/...set-7-piece-78323?_pos=3&_sid=01f4cb99c&_ss=r

 

[Saturnguy]

https://www.harborfreight.com/double-end-metric-flare-nut-wrench-set-5-piece-68866.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/fully-polished-metric-combination-wrench-set-14-piece-68790.html

 

[wtd]

I still have and use my Metrinch set that I purchased in the early 20s. They work on both metric and SAE....They are the best set of tools I have ever bought and they still work great today.....They are my go to set to use....

I still love my Metrinch set that I bought in the 90's and it is probably my most used socket set even today. I also have a 76-piece socket set that they sold at one time. I also have some of their different size ratchets and some with adjustable heads. Unfortunately, their US website doesn't seem to work anymore, and you cannot get a hold of anyone, and no one contacts you back.

I also need a new case for my 62-piece set but they are out of stock, and I doubt I would get it if they were.

 

[rszappa1]

I still have and use my Metrinch set that I purchased in the early 20s. They work on both metric and SAE....They are the best set of tools I have ever bought and they still work great today.....They are my go to set to use....

I actually found the paperwork and purchased them in 1997 off of a TV infomercial....

 

[wtd]

I actually found the paperwork and purchased them in 1997 off of a TV infomercial....

I don't know where my paperwork is but I bought them in the 90's off of a TV infomercial as well. Mine was originally a 48-piece set but when they offered the bit drivers, I bought those and bought a new case that held them.

They came out with upgraded cases a few years ago but I missed buying one and regret that. One of the plastic clasps on my case is broken and the other one is not far behind.