I did some testing of different brands. These are only initial results, no long term testing for durability. My understanding is there are a handful of Taiwan OEM's making a majority of the ratcheting wrenches. I have been looking to replace my old Stanley set. I do have the non reversing Gearwrench but prefer the reversible type with an offset. I was testing 3 sizes of SAE wrench. 9/16, 5/8, and 11/16. I will give the results of the arc from tension to "Click", and results from "click to return to tension. I will not be listing the actual degrees or any measurements. i don't really need a debate on how someone else thinks the test should be done. I did use new, high quality, grade 8 fasteners. I tested each wrench in 6 different positions of the ratcheting mechanism, both forward and reverse. I admittedly had a slight bias towards the Williams as they are the only serviceable wrench. I actually purchased a second set hoping my first set was a lemon.
Here are the brands I tested:
Craftsman (the USAG/Facom version)
ICON
Stanley (20years old)
Capri
Masterforce (Menards Brand)
Powerbuilt
Wen
Williams (the laser etched, not stamped)
Distance to click from having tension on fastener.
Lowest to highest. They are in groups because some were almost Identicle
9/16"
Craftsman
Icon
Capri
Powerbuilt
Masterforce
Stanley
Wen
Williams
5/8"
Capri
Icon
Masterforce
Stanley
Craftsman
Wen
Powerbuilt
Williams
11/16" (I do not have an 11/16" Stanley
Powerbuilt
Capri
Icon
Masterforce
Craftsman
Wen
Williams
From the "Click" back to engagement/tension. Lowest to Highest.
9/16"
Icon
Stanley
Masterforce
Craftsman
Wen
Capri
Williams
Powerbuilt
5/8"
These were all to close to call except the Williams fell short
11/16"
Powerbuilt
Icon
Masterforce
WEN
Craftsman
Capri
Williams
Open end tolerances were all ok. The Capri had the tightest tolerances. Powerbuilt had the worst, but they had a non slip design. Masterforce was the biggest shock in testing. They performed pretty well for a $60 set. However, the reversing switch ended up falling off the 5/8" wrench.
Fit and Finish:
In my opinion, the Williams had the best looking chrome. It had the deeper luster that almost matched my Full Polished Wright wrenches. The Wen had that same look, just not as smooth. The Williams were also the most comfortable in my hand. I love the idea of them being serviceable, and part of the Snap-On group. Laser etched is ok with me since they will not see hard daily use. My 8 year old rated these the best because they had the smoothest ratcheting. His name is William though so he might have been a little biased.
I really like satin tools so the Capri looked good to me. Unfortunately, 6 point is a huge disadvantage in my opinion. I messed around a little with my lawn tractor and side by side just to see how they were, and the 12 point is a huge advantage when getting a wrench on by "feel". They were really finished very nice though. I also like that they were a little longer than standard length. I do question the warranty as i have noticed with some of their products, they just stop offering them.
The Craftsman look to be the same I-Beam design of their Facom sibling. The finishing work leaves a lot to be desired though. The Craftsman are the most compact and lowest profile. They also have the cool Facom style case. I think they would be perfect for a tool bag. Because of their thin profile, they were the most uncomfortable to use. As of June 2022, Craftsman warranty is a pain in the *** if the product is not carried in store, which these currently are not that I could see.
The Masterforce are made in Taiwan but feel like junk. I think I could have pushed the ratcheting ring out by hand if I tried hard enough.
The Wen set is an amazing value. 1/4" through 1" with no skips under $100. I saw another review comparing them to Gearwrench in which he said they seam better and have good customer service for any possible warranty issue. I did call their customer service and I agree with the other reviewer. However, Wen doesn't really have a hand tool line. I question how long they will offer these. If they don't have them anymore, no more warranty. These would be my recommendation for someone who is looking for a set of Reversible Ratcheting Wrenches.
The Powerbuilt were the only ones with the "slider" switch. I didn't care for it but it is just personal preference. Otherwise these would probably be my second recommendation. Pretty good value for a large set. 1/4" to 7/8" for about $100 on Amazon. The foam case was also very nice for a budget set.
I tested the Icon more out of curiosity than anything. There are a lot of reviews on them so I can't add much. It is a small set of the most popular sizes. The box end is almost as compact as the Craftsman. They performed average and they have a non slip open end that is supposed to work pretty well. They were almost as comfortable in hand as the Williams. They are the longest by far, therefore offering superior leverage. I did enjoy the leverage demonstration with my 10 year old. It's always fun having lessons in the garage.
I also tested a couple metric wrenches and would like to give a couple opinions.
First, I have read there are only a couple good OEM's making most of the wrenches in Taiwan. Just because one OEM makes wrenches for different labels does not mean they are equal. I assume and OEM will manufacture to different specs and tolerances depending on what the tool company wants to pay. For example, I read on here that the Icon and Hazet were manufactured by the same OEM. I believe High Five or something. These are both great but not the same. I have to believe Hazet is still forging the wrench and the Taiwan OEM is providing and assembling the ratcheting mechanism the their spec. The offset in the Hazet is forged. They are not "bent to 13-15 degrees" like 99% of wrenches. I purchased 2 sets of the Hazet wrenches from Amazon. One in my first set was bent. These were BY FAR, the most consistent with tolerances and performance. They seam to have a lighter spring which makes them very smooth. And this was consistent in both sets. The Hazet wrenches open end tolerance is average. I do prefer their design because they are more comfortable for me and have the best grip when oily. I also like they are longer than standard length.
I also decided to try some "NonStop" wrenches I came across. Boasting a "superfine 120 tooth". I had to check out the gimmick just for fun since they were returnable on Amazon. After putting them through the tests and even pushing their torque limits. I now have another set of reversible ratcheting wrenches. These CRUSHED everything else in the sense of who has the best ratcheting mechanism. Obviously these are just bench tests, no long term reliability tests. Who knows, once I start actually using them I could find out I wasted $150.
So what SAE set was the best choice for me? After all the testing I ended up getting the Icon set, and the set from OEM tools. OEM was purchased after the testing. I did a few tests and they tested about the same as the Icon, except on the 9/16", On that one they tested better than everything else. They had everything I wanted. 12 Point, satin, very smooth and comfortable. Plus, they have a nut grip on the ratcheting end that works pretty well.
I also got the Icon set because I have to deal with rust, so the leverage is nice. i am also trying to get kids interested in things and the reaction I got from my son not being able to loosen a nut, to getting it loose with a longer wrench, made it worth the extra purchase. Plus I got them at 25% off.
Well that's my opinion on a few budget brands of reversible ratcheting wrench. I hope it helps someone.
capritools.com
