Which ratcheting wrenches to buy?

[pmpski_1]

I have a GC for Sears and I think I'm gonna pull the trigger on some ratcheting wrenches. I'm looking for recommendations about which ones to buy since there are a couple available.

Should I go with the fully reversable set, or is the normal ratcheting set ok? I like the idea of being able to flip it to reverse without having to take the wrench off the bolt.

There's also the choice of whether to buy the set with an open end on the opposite end or another sized ratcheting wrench on the other end. I already have a good set of wrenches, so I don't really need the open end wrench. But I can see how it would be nice to not have to switch wrenches all the time if you need the open ender.

What do you use?

 

[li0nhart123]

Personally..

I would like to have the non reversable ones with an open end and a flex joint.

non reversible = less parts to break (you can reverse by flipping the wrench over)

flex joint = makes it easier to get into tight spaces as the non reversable wrenches have no offset on the gear head.

open end = as mentioned, so I do not have to change wrenches.

The perfect wrench for me would be all of the above but with a regular offset boxed end on one side for higher torque use and the gear ratchet on the other.

I am under the impression the Gearwrench owns the patent for these types of wrenches and manufactures them for other brand name companies.

 

[GT crew]

I have a set of the polished Craftsman reversibles - no complaints here.

 

[Stanger]

I have the Gearwrench stubbies and Gearwrench reversibles. That combination has done everything I've needed.
Grant

 

[the fab shack]

I have a set of blue point combination ratchet wrenches.. i love em.

I was at Sears the other day and looked at the Craftsman box end ratcheting wrenches and man, they were cheesy as hell. they werent smooth, they rattled, they looked like the old school MAC double box ratcheting wrenches, except these felt cheap as can be and not 'sturdy' at all.

 

[Chris Adams]

I have a selection and they are all good.
The flex end is handier than you would think.
The reversible might save you in a tight bolt situation.

Most of the time I seem to be reaching for the ones with the flex head first.

Don't seem to use the reversable much, but then, most of the time it's very quick or light work when I use a gear wrench rather than cordless impact.


Sears seems to get too much for all the brands.

Took this pic because I'm playing with adding photos. Sorry it's poor quality.

There are 5 brands here but using them there is not a lot of difference.
Just metric wrenches in the picture.

 

[Fedwrench]

I would try to get the Craftsman full polish reversible sets on sale. They're durable, US Made, and on sale a bargain. I use mine daily at work and haven't had any issues with them.

 

[Deafautotech]

i have craftsman heavy duty double box ratcheting wrench set (both mm and sae) it is very handy for me if i need strong ratcheting wrench and won't slipping.. but i bought stubby ratcheting wrenches set that have locking and flex wrenches (own both sae and mm) it is made my life easier because i can lock it and ratcheting it.. i have many of ratcheting wrenches.. more than any one in my dealership... even they ask me to let them borrow my craftsman's ratcheting wrenches... so well... but i just bought matco longest zero degree ratcheting wrenches set (metric) it is very handy to me on ford and chrysler... i would recommend to you about it but it is pricey as it is paid my job...

 

[Danglerb]

Wait for the 50% off sale on GearWrench brand, buy them all, combo, stubby, flex, locking flex, as well as non ratcheting.

None of the other brands seem especially better than GearWrench, but several seem worse, lots of drag, poor feel.

When I joined this forum I thought I might end up buying a lot of sockets, but really its been wrenches up the wazoo, that I never even knew I needed until I had them.

 

[Deafautotech]

Wait for the 50% off sale on GearWrench brand, buy them all, combo, stubby, flex, locking flex, as well as non ratcheting.

None of the other brands seem especially better than GearWrench, but several seem worse, lots of drag, poor feel.

When I joined this forum I thought I might end up buying a lot of sockets, but really its been wrenches up the wazoo, that I never even knew I needed until I had them.

my dad had gearwrench set and i got few of wrenches seized while i tried to ratcheting and just try to tight it up... so well that why i had bought myself craftsman sets and had no problem even used cheater bar on it and it still working..

 

[JRGSPE73]

My vote would be for the GearWrench flex head combo wrenches. I have both the regular and the flex head, and I always find myself reaching for the flex head (even when I don't necessarily need the flex). The non-flex are handy for getting into very narrow spaces, though, as they are not offset and seem to have a thinner profile than the flex heads. Really, its mostly a matter of personal preference and what you're going to be using them for most frequently. I would say head to the store, pick them up and play with them a bit - find out which ones you like best and go with those.

I would definitely go with GearWrench over Craftsman, though (and this is coming from a guy who owns almost exclusively Craftsman tools). The ratcheting action is much smoother in the GearWrenches than in the Craftsman wrenches, especially in the larger sizes.

Just my $0.02.

-Josh

 

[Red Green]

I have the Craftsman revesible and have had them for 3 or so years no problem other than I broke the 9/16 when I used a second wrench for more leverage and broke the gear.

 

[ImportTuner]

I have both the Gearwrench and the Sears ratcheting wrench with the lever; I prefer the Sear's ratcheting wrench only because it is easier to change directions with the lever ...

 

[pmpski_1]

I wasn't even considering the flex heads - until now. I'm concerned about the flex head coming loose when I need it to stick. I've never used flex head wrenches before. That being said, the ratcheting wrenches are for tight places where I can't fit a regular ratchet and socket, and end up flipping the wrench a thousand times to get the job done. Soooo, the flex head seems like it would give me an additional "tight spot" factor.

It looks like the GearWrench flex heads are on sale right now:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...r+Wrench+7+pc+Flex+Head+Ratcheting+Wrench+Set

 

[Spookrider]

Gear Wrench flex head version. I have been hanging off the 15mm and others when doing oil changes and it is still going strong.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00991345000P?keyword=gear+wrench

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00991340000P?keyword=gear+wrench

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944005000P?keyword=gear+wrench

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944006000P?keyword=gear+wrench

 

[eschoendorff]

I have a set of the polished Craftsman reversibles - no complaints here.

Same here in metric. And the reversible SAE set by Husky. And the non-reversible GearWrench brand. Oh, and Craftsman flex... I like them all and would recommend them all. Just be careful with the GearWrench brand reversibles... they have a cap on the box end so that the wrench cannot slip over a nut or a bolt. it can be a real pain.....

 

[JB740i]

I've got Gearwrench metric and SAE stubbies. Love em. Most of the time using them I haven't needed anything longer anyway so they've worked well. (though I'm finding all sorts of bolts on this FJ40 that aren't as tight as I'd like em.)

 

[Sack]

Couple years ago I got the Blue Point flex head ratchets. Hands down the most used wrenches in my garage.

 

[TNToy]

I just bought the flex-heads from 8mm through 25mm (only skips 20 and 23) last week. I've been aching for a set forever. Gearwrench #9902, I think.

I have the standard Gearwrench reversibles from 10-19 as well, and they're okay. They work, but you can't really flip 'em over to use them with a reverse-offset, and I find myself bumping the lever now and then and accidentally reversing them.

If I were going to only buy one set, it'd be the flex-set in 10-19. The only reason I won't buy from Sears is because I hate buying tools that skip sizes. And all the sets they carry skip half the metric sizes. So I buy online.

 

[ron in sc]

I have a set of the polished Craftsman reversibles - no complaints here.

I have same set and recommend too.

 

[Brandon_Lutz]

Another vote for the full polished Craftsman reversibles. I have a set in both Metric and SAE and I've had zero problems with them.

 

[v8garage]

my dad had gearwrench set and i got few of wrenches seized while i tried to ratcheting and just try to tight it up... so well that why i had bought myself craftsman sets and had no problem even used cheater bar on it and it still working..

This is odd since the Craftsmans ratcheting mechanism is made by Gearwrench. I wouldn't think that they would put a poorer quality mechanism in their own wrenches.

 

[Chris Adams]

This is odd since the Craftsmans ratcheting mechanism is made by Gearwrench. I wouldn't think that they would put a poorer quality mechanism in their own wrenches.

I wonder about that. I have five brands of Gearwrench wrenches. Don't see a lot of difference in quality.
I have different models, different designs but the quality is uniformly better than regular craftsman wrenches.

This is on Armstrong, Pittsburg (cheap from HF) MasterGrip Geartech and GearWrench.

The only one that seems slightly better than the pack is Armstrong, made in USA.

Gearwrench doesn't say where it's made.
The other three are from Taiwan.
Gearwrench from Sears
Armstrong from E-bay vendor
Geartech and Pittsburg from HF
MasterGrip from Costco.
All are good quality.

 

[Fedwrench]

This is odd since the Craftsmans ratcheting mechanism is made by Gearwrench. I wouldn't think that they would put a poorer quality mechanism in their own wrenches.

There is a difference between the two lines of wrenches aside from the fully polished reversible Craftsman models being US made and the Gearwrench made in Taiwan. The reversing levers are shaped differently, the wrenches differ in length, weight, and balance. I don't know if the Craftsmans are rebadged Matco or Armstrong but, they're not a perfect match to their Gearwrench brothers.

 

[Merkava_4]

I don't know if the Craftsmans are rebadged Matco or Armstrong but, they're not a perfect match to their Gearwrench brothers.

Is that good or bad?

 

[pmpski_1]

I ended up with the GearWrench reversables. I was looking at the flex heads and was willing to try them, but in the end it came down to being able to buy both metric and SAE reversable sets vs. only a single set of the flex heads. I have a baby on the way so I'm trying to squeeze the budget as much as I can... I think I'll be happy with these. Thanks for the input!

 

[v8garage]

There is a difference between the two lines of wrenches aside from the fully polished reversible Craftsman models being US made and the Gearwrench made in Taiwan. The reversing levers are shaped differently, the wrenches differ in length, weight, and balance. I don't know if the Craftsmans are rebadged Matco or Armstrong but, they're not a perfect match to their Gearwrench brothers.

I didn't say that Gearwrench makes the wrench, reversing levers etc. I said the "ratcheting mechanism" is made by Gearwrench. And yes it is made in Taiwan. Sears can say theirs are made in USA, Assembled in USA, Assembled in USA from Global Components or whatever. It is still the same ratcheting mechanism. My point to all this is why pay more for the Craftmen wrenches when the Gearwrench has the same mechanism and in my opinion is better looking and feels better to work with.

 

[DavidtheDuke]

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=17480&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

I got these online (ebay) plus the 8 and 9 mm's.. they have just about the perfect angle/offset and the FD open end. Very long and reach way into places.

 

[eschoendorff]

I didn't say that Gearwrench makes the wrench, reversing levers etc. I said the "ratcheting mechanism" is made by Gearwrench. And yes it is made in Taiwan. Sears can say theirs are made in USA, Assembled in USA, Assembled in USA from Global Components or whatever. It is still the same ratcheting mechanism. My point to all this is why pay more for the Craftmen wrenches when the Gearwrench has the same mechanism and in my opinion is better looking and feels better to work with.

Yup... I bet that only the wrench body in teh Craftsman (and Armstrongs and Snap Ons) is made in the USA.