GearWrench - standard or reversable with anti-fall through head?

[James_B]

I've been thinking about getting a set of metric GearWrenches to add to my tools.

I already have 6 black finish Stanley branded GearWrench or GearWench clones that came as extras in a Stanley socket set, but they are all SAE (5/16"-5/8").



While I like using them, these days, the majority of the stuff I work on is metric, so the SAE tools are getting less use. It's time to get some Metric GearWrenches.

I've heard lots of stories about the "non-reversable" models ending up ratcheted into a position from which they can't be retrieved. I've yet to experience this problem, but I can see how it could happen, so at the moment, I'm looking at both the standard models (like my current Stanley branded set) and the reversable models with the anti-fall through head.

What are the forum members opinions ... standard or reversable?

I've purposely left out any mention of flex head models and the 12 point spline drive models.

 

[tbaggz]

http://www.bahco.com/english/catalogue/EN/files/mobile/index.html check these out.never seen a finer design.

 

[sk farmer]

do not get the anti fall back reversible as your first set. sometimes you need to flip the wrench over for easier access. impossible to do with that feature. it may be a nice feature on some limited applications but it severely limits many more common ones.

 

[James_B]

http://www.bahco.com/english/catalogue/EN/files/mobile/index.html check these out.never seen a finer design.

I like Bahco tools (had a number of Bahco items in the technical toolkit I was issued at work in the 70s ... and got to keep when I left 28 years later). Aren't Bahco a Snap-On supplier?

 

[Jmac00]

James B...just a heads up, the reversible gearwrenches are on sale this coming week at cdn tire for 39.99...but in the flyers there's a scratch and save, so you'll get another $5 off. I'm not sure if they have the anti fall through head or not.

 

[treblarefils]

Reversible without cap stop heads. I have both and never even touch the flat gearwrenches. I also have the flex and never use them really but they can be handy in certain situations thats for sure. so if I only could buy 1 set it would be metric reversibles I feel like they are the most valuable overall.

 

[firebox40dash5]

I wouldn't buy flat ones, that's for sure. I have one reversible, to use on my GM truck pitman puller. I don't technically need it, if I gotstuckk there's room to slide it nd undo it with an open end, but the reversible just sounded easier. That said, I've yet to get a non-reversible stuck. I have the regular flex ones, and I'm happy with them. I'd say out of your picks, start with reversibles, then maybe get flex or locking flex down the road if you need them. Or want them. Or just get addicted to tools.

 

[James_B]

James B...just a heads up, the reversible gearwrenches are on sale this coming week at cdn tire for 39.99...but in the flyers there's a scratch and save, so you'll get another $5 off. I'm not sure if they have the anti fall through head or not.

I already had them flagged on my CT "Sale Alerts" page. That said, it does seem from the image on the pages (SAE here and Metric here) that they are the anti-fall through type.

 

[sloppy]

I like the anti fall thru design.. It can speed up work for sure..

If I ever get a weird situation where I need to flip a wrench I will just grab a different wrench..

One thing to keep in mind the reversibles to me they dont see as strong, I have blown out a few of the smaller sized wrench's, and broke off a couple selectors.. I have never blown out a flat/flip style wrench. I do prefer and use the reversibles more just a heads up..

 

[James_B]

Looks like I'll be visiting Canadian Tire when the sale event starts on Friday. I'll start with a set of the 7 reversables in both SAE and Metric.

If the set of 30 SAE+Metric non-reversables goes on sale in the future, I'll consider those when I see what the sale price is.

Edit: Circumstances have changed and it looks like it'll be a case of wait until the GearWrenches go on sale again at Canadian Tire.

My "discretionary" tool money just got absorbed by a nearly $500 veterinarian visit.