Reversible Ratcheting Wrenches - Taiwan vs Taiwan

[Marc Benjamin]

Hey Gang,

So I'm looking for a nice metric set of reversibles and I think I've decided between:

Blue Points: Metric, Ratcheting Box / Open End, Standard, 15° Offset, (12 pcs.)
Stock#: BOERM712

or

Matco's : S7GRRCM12
12 PIECE 72 TOOTH METRIC REVERSIBLE COMBINATION RATCHETING WRENCH SET

Or

Gearwrench's: 12 Pc. Reversible Combination Ratcheting Wrench Set Metric
Catalog Number: 9620N


The price differences doesn't matter much to me. It's just a shame that I can't hold any of them side by side first so I defer to you guys who might have done so.

What say you?


PS: I mean, I really "want" the USA Snap On: SOEXRM710 but that's not gonna happen since I'm only working on my cars in my garage.

 

[Wizzard]

I would go with Gearwrench, cheaper, quality more or less the same, and easy to warranty at a local Advance Auto. Advance Auto's website will have a much cheaper price, and the coupon code TRT30 gets you 30% off on their website.

 

[Marc Benjamin]

Thanks Wizard , one thing I forgot to mention is that I can get my friends kid in tech school to buy be the Blue Point, Snap on or Matco close to 60% off so that makes them close to the GW's pricing.

Does that change things?

 

[jim1987]

How do you know the gw's are going to be Taiwan and not Chinese? If price wouldn't matter I'd go snap on hands down. No brainer

 

[Brownsfan]

Look into a Williams version of the Blue Points. They are usually much cheaper.
Here you go. https://www.toolsdelivered.com/mobi...s-Wrenches-Ratcheting-Combination-Metric-Sets

 

[Marc Benjamin]

How do you know the gw's are going to be Taiwan and not Chinese? If price wouldn't matter I'd go snap on hands down. No brainer

Oh no the SnapOn's are off the table. I just put it out there as a wish. So it's really between the Matco and BP i guess.

 

[Wizzard]

If price is the same then I would go with what would have the best resale value...probably Matco since it is a 'truck' brand. Only difference is that you would probably have to mail-in for warranty service. So in the end it would probably boil down to resale value (Matco) vs ease of warranty (Gearwrench...considering they are Taiwan made). Maybe others with more experience w/the tools will chime in. Good luck.

 

[jim1987]

Oh no the SnapOn's are off the table. I just put it out there as a wish. So it's really between the Matco and BP i guess.

Still, how do you know the gw you're going to get will be Taiwan and not Chinese?

 

[Fedwrench]

Still, how do you know the gw you're going to get will be Taiwan and not Chinese?

As long as he doesn't buy them from Sears or another big box type store, he has a pretty good shot at getting Taiwan produced reversibles that don't have that stupid capstop feature.

I find the Williams/blue point versions to be bulky around the boxed end. If you can get the Matco set at the student price, I would be all over that especially if it was the long pattern set. The Kabo made Matcos are vastly superior to the Gearwrench versions but, that's just me.

 

[Adam.C]

Why is Snap On off the table again? I bought my set SOEXRM710 off ebay brand new for $250. No brainer, better steel, best open end in the business

 

[Marc Benjamin]

Why is Snap On off the table again? I bought my set SOEXRM710 off ebay brand new for $250. No brainer, better steel, best open end in the business

Because I can get the Matco ones for $99 or blue pointe for $150. I suppose getting the SO ons for $210 isnt that far but at some point the "want's" spending has to stop lol.

 

[Brownsfan]

Because I can get the Matco ones for $99 or blue pointe for $150. I suppose getting the SO ons for $210 isnt that far but at some point I cant buy it all lol.

So why not the Williams for 30 less than the Blue Points shipped ? For the exact same wrenches. But for the price you can get the Matco. Thats what I would be buying.

 

[jim1987]

I'd still buy the snap on in this case. I use ratchet wrenches for everything. Not that often you know someone in school to get you a huge discount. Probably longer then most standard wrenches. And can get FD+

 

[Marc Benjamin]

So why not the Williams for 30 less than the Blue Points shipped ? For the exact same wrenches. But for the price you can get the Matco. Thats what I would be buying.

That's what I'm leaning towards but since I can't touch and feel either before buying, I wanted to know peoples opinion on how they feel in hand. I wear L gloves.

 

[Marc Benjamin]

I'd still buy the snap on in this case. I use ratchet wrenches for everything. Not that often you know someone in school to get you a huge discount. Probably longer then most standard wrenches. And can get FD+

Ah man, what a bunch of enablers lol.

I already own the FD+ Regular combination 10 set in Metric and that was a pretty penny as well.

 

[joebachor]

if the gearwrench is still Taiwan made don't be surprised if they switch over to Chinese like they did with their other ratchet wrenches. then your most used sizes would be warranted out to Chinese junk. I have the blue points and would buy them again if I had to.

 

[jim1987]

Ah man, what a bunch of enablers lol.

I already own the FD+ Regular combination 10 set in Metric and that was a pretty penny as well.

Sound like maybe the $$ would be better spent with xxl double box flex ratchet wrenches...

 

[thegroundpounder99]

I own the Blue Points and more then happy with them.

 

[Marc Benjamin]

Sound like maybe the $$ would be better spent with xxl double box flex ratchet wrenches...

If you can get the Matco set at the student price, I would be all over that especially if it was the long pattern set. The Kabo made Matco's are vastly superior to the Gearwrench versions but, that's just me.

I already own the Matco: SRFBZLM102TA - 10 PIECE ZERO DEGREE FLEX RATCHETING EXTRA LONG WRENCH SET

Hence another reason why I'm not really all too keen (while I certainly can just pay it) on getting another "want" on the SnapOn reversibles. Cause really, I've been using the flex long pattern's everywhere anyways and just the regular FD+ or SO sockets for when I can't use the longs.

Only reason I think about this is 1. I don't own reversibles and 2. I can get (before that kid drops out) the truck brands on the student discount...


Heck, maybe just none of the above and just get an asian massage... As long as it's Taiwan and not China I guess lol

 

[jim1987]

I already own the Matco: SRFBZLM102TA - 10 PIECE ZERO DEGREE FLEX RATCHETING EXTRA LONG WRENCH SET

Hence another reason why I'm not really all too keen (while I certainly can just pay it) on getting another "want" on the SnapOn reversibles. Cause really, I've been using the flex long pattern's everywhere anyways and just the regular FD+ or SO sockets for when I can't use the longs.

Only reason I think about this is 1. I don't own reversibles and 2. I can get (before that kid drops out) the truck brands on the student discount...


Heck, maybe just none of the above and just get an asian massage... As long as it's Taiwan and not China I guess lol

How about stubby reversibles to compliment your existing wrenches? Not trying to be a pita, just trying to think logically here..

 

[Nyati]

I had the same dilemma as you - didn't want to pay SO prices. I went a slightly different direction - ordered some Stahlwille 8-19 Reversible Ratchet Wrenches from Ash @ German Hand Tools. $299 delivered. I think they are worth $35 more than Taiwanese wrenches.

 

[Skin]

But the Stahwilles are Taiwanese wrenches. They also have little reverse buttons sticking out of the side which is awkward considering the normal swing motion of a wrench so you can inadvertently knock it.

Blue-Point, Williams and Snap-On use a mini dual 80 pawl design. The BP/Williams ones can be completely gutted and cleaned via removal of a clip. The Snap-Ons are sealed and can only be oiled through the reverse lever (or dunking the wrench). The Snap-Ons are also quite a bit longer, and are available in FD+ and speed open end styles. On the down side (besides price) the levers stick up and can be broken (and replaced) but it also makes them finger friendly to switch and since all the brands are basically accommodating a ratchet design the box ends are slightly on the fatter side, not width wise, just thickness.

The Kabo made Matcos are also extremely nice and have some of the most compact ratcheting box ends on the market. Hard to give any bonus points for USA vs Asia here considering the modern ratcheting wrench was born in Taiwan and they basically created the demand and love for that type of wrench single handedly. I don't think the Armstrong versions are anything to write home about either.

Gedore does actually made a German made ratcheting wrench if the COO interests you. They come in standard and XL length (actually a little longer than Snap-Ons) however they cost a pretty penny, are all roughly 50 teeth, and the XL versions have beefed up box ends so they're some of the largest ratcheting box ends on the market. Oh and the XL style only starts at 13mm for whatever reason. They do make reversible stubbies though which are kind of rare.

FACOM/MACs (Taiwan) "Precision Torque" ratcheting wrenches are also worth a look. Its a slightly different forged offset design that is quite popular with mechanics. And there is of course Proto with a more traditional offset but Facom's I-Beam wrench design which are USA made.

 

[Marc Benjamin]

But the Stahwilles are Taiwanese wrenches. They also have little reverse buttons sticking out of the side which is awkward considering the normal swing motion of a wrench so you can inadvertently knock it.

Blue-Point, Williams and Snap-On use a mini dual 80 pawl design. The BP/Williams ones can be completely gutted and cleaned via removal of a clip. The Snap-Ons are sealed and can only be oiled through the reverse lever (or dunking the wrench). The Snap-Ons are also quite a bit longer, and are available in FD+ and speed open end styles. On the down side (besides price) the levers stick up and can be broken (and replaced) but it also makes them finger friendly to switch and since all the brands are basically accommodating a ratchet design the box ends are slightly on the fatter side, not width wise, just thickness.

The Kabo made Matcos are also extremely nice and have some of the most compact ratcheting box ends on the market. Hard to give any bonus points for USA vs Asia here considering the modern ratcheting wrench was born in Taiwan and they basically created the demand and love for that type of wrench single handedly. I don't think the Armstrong versions are anything to write home about either.

Gedore does actually made a German made ratcheting wrench if the COO interests you. They come in standard and XL length (actually a little longer than Snap-Ons) however they cost a pretty penny, are all roughly 50 teeth, and the XL versions have beefed up box ends so they're some of the largest ratcheting box ends on the market. Oh and the XL style only starts at 13mm for whatever reason. They do make reversible stubbies though which are kind of rare.

FACOM/MACs (Taiwan) "Precision Torque" ratcheting wrenches are also worth a look. Its a slightly different forged offset design that is quite popular with mechanics. And there is of course Proto with a more traditional offset but Facom's I-Beam wrench design which are USA made.

Very cool info! Which ones of the standard lenghts feel best in your hand?

 

[1950mercury]

It's a no brainer by the snap on you could sell them for more than what you pay for them

 

[Nyati]

But the Stahwilles are Taiwanese wrenches.

No they're not. They are stamped "Germany". I will post a photo when I get home from work.

 

[Kaane]

No they're not. They are stamped "Germany". I will post a photo when I get home from work.

All the ones I have seen were Taiwanese.

 

[Skin]

Very cool info! Which ones of the standard lenghts feel best in your hand?

I like leverage, I prefer the Snap-Ons or Matco XL. Taiwan Gearwrench are also very nice and the Chinese ones are good too, oversized open ends aside. I have a few sets of Armstrong made Cman and they don't feel quite as smooth.

No they're not. They are stamped "Germany". I will post a photo when I get home from work.

I sincerely doubt it. They're made by Kabo in Taiwan. Hazet is in a similar situation where theirs are made by Hi-Five. They supply the wrench forgings, the Taiwanese companies do the rest. Still a good set.