Black & Decker MSW100 Ready Wrench

This tool is a great idea, but the B&D version isn't a great tool.

The problem is that it attempts to fit both SAE and metric sizes. While there are a few sizes that are very close (19mm and 3/4" are within 1%, 16mm is about 5/8"), most of the sizes are not. That means this wrench is sloppy on almost every fastener. The looseness combined with the flat six point sides puts pressure on just the tips, leading to rounded nuts and bolt heads.

I still see the potential of this design. Craftsman has individual tools for metric and SAE, and I've put the metric one on my Christmas list to see if that version lives up to my hopes.

In my home shop, I have a variety of power tools that require height and tension adjustments and use machine bolts and screws for that purpose. I like a clutter free shop and sometimes the need to have a ratchet and a handful of sockets out is a bit annoying, this item helps alleviate that.

As advertised and already listed, this wrench has 16 of the most frequent socket sizes installed on one hand tool. I can dial the socket size I need and not have to frequently pull out a socket set. I do work on my lawnmower and I also take apart, store, and pull back out furniture items that use nuts and bolts also. Would I say that this one tool would replace a mechanic's tool set? No, probably not. But it does make life a little easier for me. If I need to perform any car repair, I do have my ratchet sets. If I am under the car and in difficult spots under the hood, a ratchet still is the best choice. It may ,however, be quite useful as a breaker bar.

Special items to note -

1. The sockets are 6 point and not the cheaper 12 point versions. For those that are unfamiliar with the difference, professionals will use 6 point sockets because they have less of a tendency to round over bolts. 12 point sockets can do a lot of damage to a bolt when applied with too much torque. I am pleased they went with the higher end sockets.

2. This tool, in most situations, will reduce the need for deep sockets and will reduce the amount of times you need to use a wrench instead of a socket. Sometimes bolts are long and when you attempt to use a socket, the socket is too short to fit over the bolt. I run into this when assembling and disassembling my kitchen table. I have to use a wrench because the socket bottoms out on the bolt before touching the nut. The way this is designed, the bolt (most times) could slide through the socket on the opposite side, allowing the socket to grip the nut firmly.

3. Only complaint of this tool (and not really a large one) is that the 45 and 90 degree stops for the sockets do not lock. There is a stop for the angles, but not a full locking mechanism. During high torque situations, this might make for more tricky situations. This is where the choice of using 6 point, rather than 12 point sockets is a large factor.

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I bought this as a gift for my father and one for myself. We both love this tool. It does not replace a large socket set completely, but it does replace 90% of the socket use I have. The sizes they have on this are by far the most commonly used sizes. The build on the items seems very high quality as well. It can be a bit tough in really tight places where racheting is important, but overall for most applications this does the trick. It is nice to not have to search my sockets for the right size. It is all in one here, so no chance of losing them. A great idea from Black and Decker!

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Due to the design and size, this wrench does not work in about 65% of the situations tried. Also the standard/metric use for each socket head is no good. If either the metric or standard sizes fit well and tight, then the opposite on the same socket head does not. Very poor product.

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I titled this "Almost" because it almost fits American and almost fits Metric. I have always considered Black & Decker tools for quick and easy projects. And this wrench fits the bill. I have a lot of their battery power tools so I do understand their uses and limitations. I went out to my garage and tried this wrench on a variety of different nuts and bolts. Whatever nuts and bolts fit loosely in the wrench I tried them with an American socket or a metric socket just to see the difference. In all cases, the right socket fit more precisely, which was to be expected.

I've been a shade tree mechanic (my hubby is writing this) since my teen years so I've always tried to use the proper tool for the proper job. Would I use this tool for any serious work, probably not. But I don't believe it was designed for that purpose. Would I grab this wrench to go tighten a nut or bolt? Probably so if I didn't have to apply a great amount of torque to the nut or bolt, especially if the socket fit loosely. I don't believe this six sided socket would allow you to round the corners of a bolt or nut if the fit was close.

I knows this tool was not intended to be the fit all of all wrenches, but it does have its place in your tool bin.

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