GearWrench virgin...stubby,flexhead, reverse, or straight?

[Treeman]

This will be my first time (gearwrench purchase)......please be gentle.


I have the basic standard combo wrenches and socket sets for occasional wrenching. After pouring through all the past threads here about gearwrenches, I have become "turned on" to loose my gearwrench virginity.

Zero offset, reversible offset, flex head, stubby.......too many "positions" for an amateur. I know many of you have become gearwrench whores (related to ratchet whores, I am told) and succumb to paying for the happy ending.....doing ALL of the styles.

I know there is endless debate regarding the pros/cons of the different styles......does size/style really matter, or is it technique. Am I losing anyone yet?????

Any LOGICAL help on which style to buy for my first time??? , if I think I only want to buy one kind? Anyway to "stretch" one style to make it serve multiple uses...cover two birds with one wrench.

The "old" part of me says to stay with the tried and true, "traditional" 15 degree offset, but I would like to hear arguments otherwise.


Thanks.

 

[TKmech]

I have the original style straight GearWrench in both standard and metric in my toolbox. My Dad on the other hand has the straight type and the offset reversible. Ive found that in most uses the straight type will work just fine.

 

[Fedwrench]

Buy the style of Gearwrench that mirrors the type of regular wrench you use mostly now. If you like the 15 degree offset, then buy the reversibles.
The first set I got were the Matco proswing box type that have a regular box end for breaking fasteners loose on one end, and the ratcheting box end on the other for quickly loosening fasteners. I still like those alot.
You could also build your collection slowly by getting what's on sale first.
It really doesn't matter what you start with as the more you use them, the more sets you'll covet and buy. It's like an addiction.

 

[Stuey]

For what, general purpose usage? I'd say go for the reversible ratcheting wrenches first. Wait for the next 40-50% off sale and pick them up at Sears.

Then go for the stubbies and/or zero offsets if you find any limitation in the 15 degree offsets. There's also flex head ratcheting wrenches, but like the other minor varieties, those are only worth the investment if you know you'll need them.

Then again, if you know what sizes you use most often, you can pick up the 15 offset set and then a few stubby or flex ratchets as needed.

I don't like 0 offsets because most of the time they wouldn't offer any benefit for me. I know of others who like nothing but because of how they need to use them.

 

[DHCrocks]

If you're only gonna get one get the flex head. it'll give you the most practical use. It comes in really handy in tight spots.

 

[justinmc]

I'd vote for flex head for the most... well flexibility. I've been debating just selling my standard gear wrenches for a set of flex's just because one set will do the job of both sets. I do have a set of stubby's that are Westward brand (Graingers houses brand) I picked up for CHEAP awhile back but I have only ever used one wrench out of the set. Still worth the investment though!

 

[cambell]

If you're only gonna get one get the flex head. it'll give you the most practical use. It comes in really handy in tight spots.

I second this. I have the straight and the stubbies and to be honest the zero offset sux. I really want to use them but most of the time I cant because there is no offset. If I could do it all over again I would either get the flex heads or the reversables. The only thing I dont like about the reversables is the end cap, it only lets you use one side of the open end.

 

[eschoendorff]

I started with the straight GearWrench brand, and then went to Craftsman and Husky reversibles. Also added Craftsman flex and GearWrench stubbies. Not much difference between the three... but I use the reversibles the most.

 

[JayL]

The first Gearwrenches I bought were the ratcheting combination set long pattern ( XL). I chose this because I needed the extra torque and I did not want skipped sizes in the 8-19mm range for my first set.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HBAIK4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The Double Box is also a good starter set since its 8-19mm without skipped sizes and with only 6 wrenches. I eventually bought these too at a Sears sale for $35.99.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944031000P?vName=Tools

 

[bchee]

The only thing I dont like about the reversables is the end cap, it only lets you use one side of the open end.

You can get a reversible without the 'capstop' feature, I think.

 

[l_bilyk]

Reversible. No question about it. First of all, since the head is bent you actually get some clearance for your knuckles. Second, if they don't reverse it's possible to back them into a spot where the wrench will get jammed.

 

[ImportTuner]

The reversibles are the best IMHO ... I have the Craftsman set and the SK GPro set ...

 

[Stuey]

I think I would like Cman's flex wrenches better than Gearwrench since they have a locking mechanism. GW has a similar style out now as well, but they're even costlier.

 

[eschoendorff]

I think I would like Cman's flex wrenches better than Gearwrench since they have a locking mechanism. GW has a similar style out now as well, but they're even costlier.

I concur. However, due to the locking feature, the Craftsmans are a lot bulkier.

 

[Treeman]

Thank you everyone for the intelligent responses. You are a class act. I was afraid that with so many threads about GearWenches (to tie into my original post), you might just tell me to study them more.

But, I appreciate your responses.

I'm still leaning towards the reversibles first , then maybe the flex heads next....they are so damn inexpensive.

Pro/cons to all models. Some say the larger size of the flex head can be a problem sometimes. How much a problem?

I've wrenched for 35 years on cars, p'ups, and ag equipment and always find a way to get the job done. On my last Mustang brake job I could not fit a ratchet on some caliper bolts so I had to wrench them with a plain old combo wrench....the misery....the gear wrench would have been perfect.....save me two or three minutes......we are so spoiled.

 

[eschoendorff]

Thank you everyone for the intelligent responses. You are a class act. I was afraid that with so many threads about GearWenches (to tie into my original post), you might just tell me to study them more.

But, I appreciate your responses.

I'm still leaning towards the reversibles first , then maybe the flex heads next....they are so damn inexpensive.

Pro/cons to all models. Some say the larger size of the flex head can be a problem sometimes. How much a problem?

I've wrenched for 35 years on cars, p'ups, and ag equipment and always find a way to get the job done. On my last Mustang brake job I could not fit a ratchet on some caliper bolts so I had to wrench them with a plain old combo wrench....the misery....the gear wrench would have been perfect.....save me two or three minutes......we are so spoiled.

Once you use the gearwrenches, you'll wonder how you ever lived without them.

 

[cruiser808]

Hi Treeman - I too am a long time wrench, but a newbie to the wonders of ratcheting wrenches. Couldn't see it at first, but thanks in part to this board, I just picked up some metric reversible and stubbie Grearwrench sets at Sears.

Sears has sales on these wrenches quite often. Can't add much more to what the rest of the group has said, except that once you start buying these, the lure to "collect em all!!" can be overpowering. See ya at Sears

 

[Steve_S]

If you're only gonna get one get the flex head. it'll give you the most practical use. It comes in really handy in tight spots.

Agreed 100%. I don't know what I ever did without them. Bought the Craftsman set on sale at Osh.

 

[Fedwrench]

Pro/cons to all models. Some say the larger size of the flex head can be a problem sometimes. How much a problem?

It depends on what you're working on. There may not be enough clearance around the fastener for the boxed end of a Gearwrench to fit. Sometimes you just don't have all of the room you need but, I think those instances are few and far between again, depending on what you're working on.

 

[eschoendorff]

It depends on what you're working on. There may not be enough clearance around the fastener for the boxed end of a Gearwrench to fit. Sometimes you just don't have all of the room you need but, I think those instances are few and far between again, depending on what you're working on.

What he said. The Craftsman locking flex heads are significantly more bulky than the GearWrench non-locking flex heads. Buy, the GearWrench won't lock into one position either...

If I were going to do it all over again, I would probably get the GearWrench non-locking over teh Craftsman locking flex that I have now...