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The Craftsman Wrench Set That You Should Buy Today

A new review shows that at least one special subset of today's Craftsman wrenches beats Harbor Freight's Icon brand, is as good as Snap-on…and is much cheaper.
Tool Test Reveals Surprising Craftsman Recommendation

The Tools I Buy and Why

Earlier I posted an article admitting that today, I shop mostly from Harbor Freight for my DIY tools with the exception of either some specialty tools they do not carry or one's I've discovered online that are exceptional when it comes to a particular task.

And I am not ashamed to admit it…or repeat admitting it.

However, this does not mean I equate the quality of Harbor Freight tools with the likes of Snap-on. Or with the Craftsman Tools of yesteryear. The point of the article was reporting what one popular tool reviewer had to say about why Craftsman Tools declined over the past 30-40 years.

The other point was that you cannot beat Harbor Freight's prices with their Icon brand as part of Harbor Freights' move to up their tool game in both cost and quality.

I agree with the comments that a good share of HF tools do break. However, if you've done your homework, you will know which ones are one-use throwaways and which are investments.

One of the biggest tool-purchasing mistakes people make is spending too much for a quality tool that is used only once for a task and then never again, lying dormant in a toolbox or cabinet for years. That's the allure of tool shopping at Harbor Freight; It just makes good economic sense.

Wrench Brands Recently Put to The Test Against One Another

A recent test of common mechanic wrenches shown on the Torque Test Channel YouTube channel was created to confirm or discount the truthiness of some popular TikTok videos circulating online that claimed Harbor Freight's Icon wrenches were―if not superior―at least equal to similar wrenches from the Snap-on brand.

Pitting the Harbor Freight Pittsburgh and Icon brands against the Snap-on brand, the hosts of the channel built an affordable push button automated wrench dyno torque tester they named "Pushy" designed to determine which brands were made not just of stronger materials but also those which have tighter tolerances in manufacturing, resulting in a better fit on fasteners which reduces slippage and rounding―all of which are important factors whenever rating one wrench brand over another.

Cost, of course, was also shown in the comparisons, but with less focus on this aspect.

Implicit in all of this is the recognition that for professionals, investing in higher-end brands might make better sense, whereas DIYers might opt for more budget-friendly options without sacrificing too much quality.

In fact, this is what the test results showed as Snap-on wrenches proved to be more durable than Icon (but not by much) under torque stress measurements beyond ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) standards.

A Surprise Finding: Some Craftsman Tools of Today Are As Good As Those of Yesteryear

Using the same tests with a special subset of Craftsman wrenches, a pleasantly surprising finding was revealed toward the end of the video: Wrenches tested from the CRAFTSMAN® OVERDRIVE™ Series of hand tools proved to be just as good and, in some cases, better than their Snap-on counterparts; As well as being significantly less expensive.

The results of the tests can be seen from the timepoint beginning at 16:25 to the end of the video. However, watching the entire video is well worth the time spent and is highly recommended to see how the tool test comparisons were done.

TikTok says Harbor Freight Beats Snap-On. Our new wrench tester says...

 

Final Thoughts

When comparing wrenches and either switching or sticking to a favored brand for whatever reason(s), smart mechanics typically weigh multiple factors against their specific needs, whether it's for professional use, occasional work, or specific tasks requiring specialized tools. One good example is tool thickness, which sometimes is more important than durability―especially in today's cars with little free space for wrenching.

For additional articles related to car repair and maintenance tools for the DIY mechanic, here are a few recommended useful ones for your consideration.

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

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