Ratchet wrench sets - spline or 12 pt Proto or Wright

[isuhunter]

I'm in the search of a nice wrench set. I know its debated between many about what is the best. My consensus is this site and many professionals like SnapOn. Wright, Mac, Proto, Matco, Cornwell, and many others have a strong following also. I am a weekend warrior. I will be buying a used set or on sale set from ebay/amazon/craigslist. I mainly work on my John Deere mower, Ford truck and other odd jobs around the house and with toys.

I've narrowed my choices down to two that I like. Proto & Wright

Proto ratcheting reverseable spline or 12 pt?
Wright - They have extremely high reviews. However do they offer a combo w/ reverseable ratcheting wrench set?

 

[Dirty Diesels]

Get 12 point, because they will also fit spline, if you get a chance to look at spline and 12 point, they are identical!

 

[gdocktor3]

Doesn't he mean get spline, because they will fit 12 point??

I like the spline because they bite rounded/damaged fasteners better. I have the black Proto spline ratchet wrenches, made in Taiwan, and they have sharp, narrow beams. Can't say for sure the USA versions are also like that though. I know my Mac Knucklesavers (same as Proto) are a little thicker and rounded off, but they aren't ratcheting. Never used Wright. Have used Matco spline ratchet wrenches though and they are way nicer than the Proto's. Cream of the crop IMO.

 

[Dirty Diesels]

Doesn't he mean get spline, because they will fit 12 point??

So I did mean it that way, just wrote it the other way around!

 

[Thax]

Doesn't he mean get spline, because they will fit 12 point??

I like the spline because they bite rounded/damaged fasteners better. I have the black Proto spline ratchet wrenches, made in Taiwan, and they have sharp, narrow beams. Can't say for sure the USA versions are also like that though. I know my Mac Knucklesavers (same as Proto) are a little thicker and rounded off, but they aren't ratcheting. Never used Wright. Have used Matco spline ratchet wrenches though and they are way nicer than the Proto's. Cream of the crop IMO.

Agree 100% on the Matco spline ratchet wrenches. I have the extra long Matco's and they are fantastic, I dont think I have picked up my other ones since I got the Matco's.

 

[Know Wosad]

I'm in the search of a nice wrench set. I know its debated between many about what is the best. My consensus is this site and many professionals like SnapOn. Wright, Mac, Proto, Matco, Cornwell, and many others have a strong following also. I am a weekend warrior. I will be buying a used set or on sale set from ebay/amazon/craigslist. I mainly work on my John Deere mower, Ford truck and other odd jobs around the house and with toys.

I've narrowed my choices down to two that I like. Proto & Wright

Proto ratcheting reverseable spline or 12 pt?
Wright - They have extremely high reviews. However do they offer a combo w/ reverseable ratcheting wrench set?

Here is Wrights offering in a 12 point reversing ratchet wrench.Not pretty. they havent changed them in 40 years. The Cougar line of theirs is Taiwan and much like the Proto and Blackhawk reversibles
Take a look at Blackhawks offerings too.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I have black Proto splines and Blackhawk 12pts and both are great. As others have said, the splines really bite well into fasteners. The other ones I would look at are the higher end Gearwrench offerings made in Taiwan (NOT China).

 

[isuhunter]

Here is Wrights offering in a 12 point reversing ratchet wrench.Not pretty. they havent changed them in 40 years. The Cougar line of theirs is Taiwan and much like the Proto and Blackhawk reversibles
Take a look at Blackhawks offerings too.

Thats all I could find...that kind of rules out the Wright for me unless I find a deal on a set of standard polished wrenches.

 

[isuhunter]

I like these.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4769971&postcount=24

 

[ku17]

I like these.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4769971&postcount=24

I second this. My SAE ratcheting wrenches are all USA made Proto wrenches. I've used them a lot and came away impressed with both the ASD open end and the ratcheting box end. Specifically, I've applied some serious torque on some rusted 13/16 nuts to get a hub stud off of an F-250 wheel hub and the open end of the wrench never slipped or otherwise marred the nuts. I've also put the smaller sizes to work disassembling lawn mowers for maintenance, which imho is where ratcheting wrenches come into their own, especially tooth counts and swing arcs.

I haven't used the Wright wrenches but I've used the Proto's a lot and I feel confident recommending them to anyone that is in the market.

 

[isuhunter]

ku17 - great to hear

 

[isuhunter]

not many used sets for sale out there...

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

There's this ratchet wrench obsession on GJ... personally its one of my least used tools, but that's me. I'm more than happy with my simple mix of GW and Dewalt rat wrenches (some reversible, other flex-head).

Just consider how often you really need them. Personally I would love to try those double box-end ones or XL-versions.... and dump all the combos.

 

[hangfirew8]

There's this ratchet wrench obsession on GJ... personally its one of my least used tools, but that's me. I'm more than happy with my simple mix of GW and Dewalt rat wrenches (some reversible, other flex-head).

Just consider how often you really need them. Personally I would love to try those double box-end ones or XL-versions.... and dump all the combos.

I think there's reason for the obsession, it's a relatively new category of tool. A set is something most of us haven't inherited, nor something us older tinkerers have leftover from our salad days.

There is also a lot of rebranding, more than usual (I think) for any tool category, which makes for more discussion.

How often do I need them? I use one of them at least once per job, about on a par with actual wrenches, meaning most work gets done with air tools and/or sockets. Lack of clearance for a socket/ratchet combination is the usual reason.

Double box ends, ratchet or otherwise, seem to be out of style. I can see the attraction, though, more sizes in less tools. I'd like a nice set off conventional DBE but only Stahwille makes what I'm looking for, and they're kind of pricey!

 

[shockwave]

Look at Carlyle line from Napa or Armstrong aswell

But I would look into mountain extra long deep offset aswell

 

[justme-]

When I got my first sets of ratcheting wrenches I uses them for everything. For many years they were, and remain my go to wrench at home. Mine are GW fwiw. I have a set in work now and hardly use them despite using them at home except in certain low clearance situations.

 

[KMdef9]

What's your budget?

Looking for SAE and metric?

 

[isuhunter]

Metric first 100ish

 

[KMdef9]

Also, how many sizes do you need?

 

[isuhunter]

Also, how many sizes do you need?

Around 10... 8mm-18mm would fit most everything I do

 

[gdocktor3]

You're not going to get new Proto or Wright for $100 and since it's already been 2 weeks since you first posted this, you obviously don't need expensive stuff like that, especially for a diyer. Even used Proto/Wright is expensive. While I understand the reasoning behind buying USA, you'd be more than fine with Gearwrench. Almost all my ratchet wrenches are gw. Their quality and affordability are unbeatable. Most pro mechanics use gw every day.

 

[tarbellb]

Couple of GJ guys here love their Gearwrench Spline XLs, I do.

86450 - 11pc SAE
86426 - 14pc Metric

A very narrow beam tho, something to consider. Also, any spline drive rat will potentially leave marks on the fasteners. Could be a issue depending on application.

 

[Strouty]

The USA proto sets are still really expensive, but zoro.com has the best prices and they are offering an additional 25% off today (Wednesday August 31st, 2016). I have the spline 120 XP, but they are the long double box flex style. I have never been a fan of gearwrench open ends, but I have had good luck with the older ones and taiwan made, almost no experience with the china made stuff. For $100 they will probably be your best bet, but I am not convinced you need splined on a ratcheting wrench. The splines usually come into play when breaking rusty fasteners loose and most ratcheting wrenches are not designed to be used like that all the time.

 

[isuhunter]

Thanks for all the input. I'll watch ebay and different deals.