Thorsen puck wrench for $1.42

Know someone who'd like a puck wrench as a stocking stuffer?  Pep Boys sells the Thorsen puck wrench (model #22-333) for just $1.90, but by using coupon code MMJ25 you can get it for even less: $1.42 (through July 3rd).

This puck wrench is kind of neat as an "extra" wrench, and might make a good cheap gift for anyone who likes tools.  Read a full review of the Thorsen puck wrench here.

Tool Reviews: Thorsen 22-333 Puck Wrench

Key Features:
 +   14 different socket sizes
 +   Good grip
 -    Hard to use in tight spaces


Some people might look at a puck wrench as a gimmick tool -- something more for novelty than for functional use.  But the Thorsen 22-333 puck wrench can actually be a useful tool.  It will never take the place of a ratchet and socket set, but as an extra tool it can have its uses.

The Thorsen puck wrench is a roundish, rubber-wrapped metal tool with seven sockets.  The sockets are ribbed on the inside, so they can be used with bolts or nuts of varying designs.  The sockets work well with both SAE and metric sizes, and the sizes are clearly marked on the wrench.

There is also a 1/4" hex bit holder, so you can use the puck wrench as a small screwdriver.  The bit holder has a small magnet that will hold the bit in place but will not attract or hold fasteners.  (The puck wrench does not come with any bits.)

The wrench is small, so you can easily stow it in a tool bag, pocket, or just about anywhere else you keep tools.  The shape of the wrench and the rubber coating combine to provide a fairly good grip.  The main drawback to the wrench is that it can't be used in tight places where there isn't at least a couple of inches of clearance around the bolt or nut, because of the wrench's shape.

For $1.90 at Pep Boys, this puck wrench is a good deal.  Or for $2.90, Pep Boys sells a Thorsen ratcheting puck wrench, which looks the same (blue instead of red) but features a 3/8" drive ratchet in the center of the puck.

Thorsen 22-333 Puck Wrench price comparison:
- PepBoys:  $1.90
- Menards:  $4.00

Tool Review: Thorsen 24-505 Multi-Pliers

Key Features:
 +   Tools are easy to extract
 +   Strong pliers with good tension
 -    Rubber grip pieces fall off easily
 -    Wire cutters do not touch

The Thorsen Multi-Pliers (model #24-505) is a decent multi tool.  It does what it does well, but it's too heavy to carry as a pocket tool.  For $5.90 on clearance at Pep Boys, it's a fairly good deal.  If you're looking for an everyday-carry multi tool in the same price range, you'd be better off with the Shop Basics 15-in-1 Multi Tool from Big Lots for $5.00.

This multi tool is mainly a large pair of pliers, with a few other tools that fold out from the handle.  The pliers include both a straight-jaw and curved-jaw area.  The jaws do not line up completely, but it's close enough that you wouldn't notice it during use unless you were looking for it.  The wire cutters at the base of the jaws overlap but don't touch.  I haven't used the wire cutters yet, but based on their construction I wouldn't have much faith in them.

The other tools include a knife blade, saw blade, bottle opener, and can opener.  A Phillips screwdriver swings out from the opposite side as the other tools, and the end of the saw blade functions as a slotted driver.  The two screwdrivers are what you'd probably expect from a multi tool -- usable but not great.  The knife is sharp with a sharp tip, and the saw blade is sharp as well.  On the back side of the saw blade is a file.

One of the best things about this multi tool is that all of the tools swing out easily.  Many multi tools have tension problems with at least some (if not all) of the tools they have, but on these Thorsen pliers, everything pivots out smoothly.  The tension on the pliers is strong.

The Thorsen multi pliers are very similar to Sheffield's hammer multi tool, with a couple of distinct advantages.  The tools on the Thorsen pliers are much easier to extract than those on the Sheffield multi tool.  Because the Thorsen tool features pliers instead of a hammer as the main tool, the pliers jaws open much wider, allowing for much more usability, as opposed to the pliers function on the Sheffield hammer tool, which don't open very wide.

Thorsen tool reviews

Multi Tools:
- Thorsen 24-505 Multi-Pliers

Wrenches:
- Thorsen 22-333 Puck Wrench