justinmc
01-12-2007, 01:51 PM
So I picked up this set of new in the box Westward brand (Grainger house brand) metric ratcheting wrenches from my local overgoods store for a song at $8.99. The price on Graingers website is $63.90.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/itemDetailsRender.shtml?ItemId=1613507973
Its a "short set" basically geared towards guys working on imports or with common metric sizes only. 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 & 17mm. It woulda been nice to have the 16mm and a 19mm but for short reach stuff where you need a stubby these should work great. My big question was how would they stack up to my GearWrench branded ones in standard length. So I rolled them out on the workbench and did some comparisons.
The WW (Westward from here out) units have a great chrome finish on them and the sizes are easily readable being stamped right on the heads of the open end vs. in the middle of the body of the wrench w/ the GW (GearWrench from here out). The WW logo and Made in Taiwan along w/ the model # is etched into the chrome.. which makes me wonder how long it will hold up as its not a very deep or defined etching.
I grabbed the 17mm from each set and laid them out side by side for a series of comparison photos including putting each one on a 17mm drain plug (new) that I had laying on the workbench. You'll notice the WW has a larger head on the box/ratcheting end than the GW. It also has a screw on one side of the head which I'm assuming allows these to be serviced w/ oil or rebuilt? The GW's do not have this feature as they are a completely sealed type design from what I can tell. The thickness of the handle and head is almost identical with the slimmer head actually being on the WW units. The handles are almost identical thickness though and both have a nice chrome job and feel smooth to the touch.
The BIG difference I notice in the two is on the open end side. The WW wrenches have almost a raised "notch" in one side of the open face. I was concerned this might cause fitment issues but it did not. Rather it looked like it might even cradle the bolt head further back into the face of the wrench. I haven't torque tested the open end to see if it spreads but honestly I didn't buy them for the open side. The ratcheting mechanism in the WW's feels positive and other than being loud compared to the GW feels about the same. The loudness is probably due to new/unworn teeth making positive stops vs. any real problems with the manufacture of the wrenches.
All in all I think the WW looks like and feels like a quality product.. it is like I said a "short set" and at full retail price isn't really a deal. However if you poke around Ebay or something you might get lucky and find a set heavily discounted. They do offer a lifetime warranty (as do the GW's) through grainger so these are a replaceable unit should they ever give trouble. Lets hope they don't.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/itemDetailsRender.shtml?ItemId=1613507973
Its a "short set" basically geared towards guys working on imports or with common metric sizes only. 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 & 17mm. It woulda been nice to have the 16mm and a 19mm but for short reach stuff where you need a stubby these should work great. My big question was how would they stack up to my GearWrench branded ones in standard length. So I rolled them out on the workbench and did some comparisons.
The WW (Westward from here out) units have a great chrome finish on them and the sizes are easily readable being stamped right on the heads of the open end vs. in the middle of the body of the wrench w/ the GW (GearWrench from here out). The WW logo and Made in Taiwan along w/ the model # is etched into the chrome.. which makes me wonder how long it will hold up as its not a very deep or defined etching.
I grabbed the 17mm from each set and laid them out side by side for a series of comparison photos including putting each one on a 17mm drain plug (new) that I had laying on the workbench. You'll notice the WW has a larger head on the box/ratcheting end than the GW. It also has a screw on one side of the head which I'm assuming allows these to be serviced w/ oil or rebuilt? The GW's do not have this feature as they are a completely sealed type design from what I can tell. The thickness of the handle and head is almost identical with the slimmer head actually being on the WW units. The handles are almost identical thickness though and both have a nice chrome job and feel smooth to the touch.
The BIG difference I notice in the two is on the open end side. The WW wrenches have almost a raised "notch" in one side of the open face. I was concerned this might cause fitment issues but it did not. Rather it looked like it might even cradle the bolt head further back into the face of the wrench. I haven't torque tested the open end to see if it spreads but honestly I didn't buy them for the open side. The ratcheting mechanism in the WW's feels positive and other than being loud compared to the GW feels about the same. The loudness is probably due to new/unworn teeth making positive stops vs. any real problems with the manufacture of the wrenches.
All in all I think the WW looks like and feels like a quality product.. it is like I said a "short set" and at full retail price isn't really a deal. However if you poke around Ebay or something you might get lucky and find a set heavily discounted. They do offer a lifetime warranty (as do the GW's) through grainger so these are a replaceable unit should they ever give trouble. Lets hope they don't.