Metric wrenches

[Anonymous-0]

I've been thinking about buying another set of Craftsman metric combination wrenches and I noticed that some of the sets have some gaps in the wrenches that are included. I don't use metric tools alot but more of the things I work on have aleast some fasteners or fitting that are metric. I was just wondering which sizes you use alot and which one seem to never get used? In the standard sizes I seem to use almost every size because the ones that aren't for fasteners are used for hydraulic fittings. I probably should have paid more attention to which one I have used. Thanks Bill

 

[MisterT]

I have found that the sizes missing from the metric set can usually be filled in with wrenches from your sae set.

 

[old]

The most common are the even number ones like the 10, 12, 14, till you get there then it goes the other way and then it is the 17 , 19 and 21. That said yes at times you do use the 11, 13, 115, 16, 18 but not as much as the others. So if you buy a craftsman set you will find it will have for the most part what you will need 99% of the time. I 2 do not use them much but I do enough to have a fair number of them on hand I even have a set of impact sockets on hand and the funny thing is it is missing the 14mm which is needed probably more then any other size

 

[Billy Shafer]

On the small side 8,10mm is the most common I have found. 15,17,19 are the most common on the large side to me.

 

[John Harmon]

I have use for 10mm & 15mm it seems more so than the other although I have had a need for others at times.I have two sets of Metric,one Craftsman and one Thorson,both old I suppose by todays standard but any way they both range from 9mm to 18mm and in my simple needs I have never found I need any other sizes besides the ones provided in the sets.I am not a pro mechanic ,I am retired and work on my vehicles some so my MM tools serve me well.My Sockets go to 22mm and cover what Auto work I do needing those sizes. If the occasional need arises it gets a Crescent Wrench or a Pipe Wrench, and maybe not in that order.Jh

 

[John Harmon]

Old,I'll bet,an the chances of me winning is good, that if you went and looked around on some of your vehicles ,tractors or machinery the mystery of the missing 14 mm would be solved.JH

 

[old]

Well I can tell you this your lucky you did not bet any real money on that one. The reason I say that is because when I got that set brand new by the way it did not have that 14mm in it never have figured out why it was not there but it wasn't and the box they came in does not even have the room in it to hold another socket so it was never there. I did get them from a surplus type tool place so that may have been why the most common size was also the size they left out of the box

 

[TimV]

One pesky one is 18 mm. Seems pretty common on GM vehicles and many sets either stop at 17 or go from 17 to 19, plus there's no common SAE equivalent. I've actually purchased a couple of 18 mm combo wrenches to fill in the gap but luckily they were at flea markets and so I didn't have to pay retail.

 

[Anonymous-0]

The ones that aren't included are 20, 23, 25, 26, 28, and 30. Are those sizes used very often?

 

[old]

Those sizes are the ones sort of like the 1-1/4 and bigger in the SAE sets and yep not used all that much. Ya you do run into them once in a while but for the most part on most stuff the 19 is about as big as you need. Sort of like most of the SAE sets only go up to 15/16 or an inch

 

[JDemaris]

Metric sets keep getting smaller and smaller. They used to come with every whole number size plus many half sizes (like 9.5 mm, 10.5mm etc.).

In many new sets, I see 11mm, 18 mm, and 20 mm often left out. Note I find I need 18 mm often.

Same goes for SAE. Many sets used to include every 16th inch size plus many extra 32nd inch size. I just bought a complete set and it was a rare find. Every size from 3/8" up to 1 1/4 with many 32nds inbetween.

A few months ago, SportsmansGuide had comeplete sets for $22 each. I got both. I've used them and for the price they are fine. Metric came with every whole size from 7 mm to 21 mm. SAE came with every 16th increment and many 32nds. Hard to beat for $22.

 

[JML755]

(quoted from post at 14:56:16 01/18/11) I've been thinking about buying another set of Craftsman metric combination wrenches and I noticed that some of the sets have some gaps in the wrenches that are included. I don't use metric tools alot but more of the things I work on have aleast some fasteners or fitting that are metric. I was just wondering which sizes you use alot and which one seem to never get used? In the standard sizes I seem to use almost every size because the ones that aren't for fasteners are used for hydraulic fittings. I probably should have paid more attention to which one I have used. Thanks Bill

9,10,13,15,19 seem to get the most use from me and I use them mostly for my Pontiac and Silverado p/u. I DID have to add a 5.5mm socket for steering column work. What a screwy size.

 

[Ken Macfarlane]

I use 26 and 30 a bunch. I just bought a 3/4 drive metric set to get those sockets.

In the smaller sizes, it depends if you do work on ISO or DIN metric stuff. Japanese cars are 8,10,12,14,17,19,21,24 mm. I had quite the shock working on some Ford and GM stuff, out comes the 18mm and some other sizes I had never used.

 

[Pycoed]

Can't understand why you guys haven't mentioned 13mm. Almost everything on stuff in UK/Europe is 13mm!!
The standard small sizes used here are 8,10, 13, 15, 17,19. Hardly ever used any of the others - in fact I took them out of my sets & kept them separately in a drawer - too much confusion between 12, 13, 14 when you & they are covered in oil!
In August, I got a 99 4X4 made in Korea & hang me, it uses 12s,14s & 16s everywhere, so I emptied my "odd drawer" to keep in the new truck.

 

[old]

guess you didn't read my first post because it does in fact say something about the 13

 

[Brian G. NY]

Then.....there are those old fashioned 32nd size wrenches.

 

[JDemaris]

I thought the issue with the 1st post is about the sizes often left OUT of sets. NOT the sizes commonly included. I've never seen a set that left out 13 mm. Never seen 10mm, 12MM, 15MM left out either. Many sets skip and leave out 11 MM, 16 MM, 18MM. 20MM, etc.

 

[bison]

you are correct.

 

[1936]

10, 13, and 15 are the ones to own.

 

[jared in wi]

the most common metric wrench sizes are 10, 13, 15, 16, 18, 24, 27, 30, 32.

If you look closly at the wrenches that are used the most and th ones that are missing from the craftsman sets, they are usually the ones listed above.

Jared

 

[old]

Have to disagree with you the 12 nd 14 are super common as is the 10. But if you do not work on motorcycles and cars like Toyota and Nissan you may not run into them being common

 

[MF24-4]

My most used are 7,8,10,13,and 18. I carry a 7 in my pocket almost all the time.

 

[IH2444]

15 and 18 mm seem to be ones commonly left out of sets.

 

[ASEguy]

The Japanese vehicles use a lot of 10, 12,an 14mm. I've found the old big three use a lot of 10,13 and 15mm. The 16mm wrench was usually the oddball out from wrench sets years ago.

 

[JOHNNY from MI]

I've been looking for a set of metric vice grips!

 

[old]

I knew you would agree with me on this but you also know what I have and what I have worked on. Yep I hate these new GM/Ford/Dodge that have a mix of metric and SAE stuff makes it hard to have the correct tool in your hand for bolt to bolt

 

[Anonymous-0]

Thanks for info. I think I will probably buy that set of Craftsman wrenches plus a 30mm to go with it.

 

[bc]

Interesting thread. It has me wondering which metric wrench is close to a points wrench? I can"t find one anywhere and when I replaced guages a while back, those have the same size nuts as points.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Craftsman sells 10 piece sets of ignition wrenches in both standard and metric. I'll bet one of the auto parts stores would have something similar.

 

[Hobo,NC]

(quoted from post at 19:56:16 01/18/11) I've been thinking about buying another set of Craftsman metric combination wrenches and I noticed that some of the sets have some gaps in the wrenches that are included. I don't use metric tools alot but more of the things I work on have aleast some fasteners or fitting that are metric. I was just wondering which sizes you use alot and which one seem to never get used? In the standard sizes I seem to use almost every size because the ones that aren't for fasteners are used for hydraulic fittings. I probably should have paid more attention to which one I have used. Thanks Bill

The reason wrenches are left out of a set is to make the cheaper price appealing,,, If you price out a complete set its cheaper than replacing the left out wrenches in a mixed set... I have brought mixed sets to replace one lost wrench out of a complete set instead of buying just one wrench.

US of A cars,, 7,8,10,11,13,15,16,18,19MM Its rare to need a 17, sometimes you need a 23 (are what ever is close to 7/8 )

Fer'n cars 8,10,12,14,17MM sometimes a 19

Sises that sometimes can be crossed
8 ) 5/16
13) 1/2
16) 5/8
17) 11/16
19) 3/4

I would by a complete set and leave the mixed set B

 

[WGM]

I'm looking for a dvd re-winder.