Best wrench set for building a deck? Need advice!

Hey everyone, I'm about to start building a 12x16 deck next weekend and realized my old wrench set is missing half the sizes and pretty rusted. I need to tighten a ton of lag bolts and carriage bolts. Should I get a ratcheting wrench set or just a standard combination set? Also, what sizes are must-have for deck framing? I'm on a budget but don't want to buy junk. Any recommendations? Thanks!

For deck building, you'll definitely want a good set of ratcheting wrenches. They save so much time when you're tightening dozens of bolts. I've had great luck with the GearWrench set from Home Depot. It's about $60 for a 20-piece metric and SAE set. As for sizes, you'll mostly need 1/2", 9/16", and 3/4" for standard lag bolts. If you're using carriage bolts, they often have a square neck that bites into the wood, so you only need to turn the nut. Also, consider a deep socket set for your impact driver – that's a game changer. Good luck with the build!

I've built a few decks and sheds. Honestly, a good impact driver with a socket adapter is faster than any wrench. But you still need a wrench for the final tighten so you don't over-torque and snap the bolt. I'd get a set of combination wrenches in SAE (since most deck hardware is SAE) and maybe a ratcheting one for the hard-to-reach spots. Don't cheap out on the ratcheting mechanism – cheap ones slip and strip. I like the Husky sets from HD. They have a lifetime warranty. Also, get a couple of adjustable wrenches for backup. And a good breaker bar for stubborn bolts. What size joists are you using? That might affect bolt sizes.

Thanks guys! I'm using 2x8 joists, 16" on center. I think I'll go with the GearWrench set Dan recommended. I saw it on sale at Amazon actually. And I'll pick up a socket adapter for my impact driver. DrillMaster, do you think I need a breaker bar? The bolts are going into fresh pressure-treated wood, so they should go in pretty easy with the impact.

If you're using an impact driver, you probably won't need a breaker bar unless you hit a knot or the wood is really wet and swollen. But it's good to have one in your arsenal. Also, make sure you use washers with those lag bolts to prevent them from sinking into the wood. And pre-drill your holes to avoid splitting. That's more important than the wrench brand. Post pics when you're done!