gearwrench quality?
- Thread starter ry57pont
- Start date
porschedude996TT
Well-known member
I bought a set of SAE stubby ratcheting combo box/open end and used one for the first time last weekend. I was impressed with the ratcheting. I also have a set of 1st generation Craftsman ratcheting box ends and with those if you load it axially the ratchet skips. I think the GW's are about a 3 or 4 on you scale. I know they are made in China, but they are way better than most Chinese junk. I want to buy American and I mostly do buy American, but I can't afford ALL American Tools all of the time.
38Chevy454
Well-known member
Well, I use mine all the time and they work great. No complaints. I wonder how I lived without them for so long?
As for a rating scale, I don't have many snap-on or HF, do have mostly craftsman. The gearwrenches are made nice and I think they are good quality. Worth the money in my opinion. I have not broken any, but for real high torque I use a real box end wrench or socket. I am sure that small ratchet parts inside the gearwrench have some limit on strength, although it is way above the normal torque for a given fastener. I use mine to tighten all the time, but if the bolt/nut is real hard to break loose, then I use the alternate box wrench or socket.
As for a rating scale, I don't have many snap-on or HF, do have mostly craftsman. The gearwrenches are made nice and I think they are good quality. Worth the money in my opinion. I have not broken any, but for real high torque I use a real box end wrench or socket. I am sure that small ratchet parts inside the gearwrench have some limit on strength, although it is way above the normal torque for a given fastener. I use mine to tighten all the time, but if the bolt/nut is real hard to break loose, then I use the alternate box wrench or socket.
i guess the reason i ask, is that i bought a set of x-beam metric ratcheting wrenches. the 18m did not fit my transfer case fill puug (too loose) but my c-man fit tight. ??? mabye a bad wrench? all of the others i have used seem to be ok.
Stick Figure
Well-known member
Not trying to defend gearwrench here, but to be fair did you do any measurements? I mean right now you COULD have a craftsman that is smaller than it should be or a gearwrench that is larger than it should be. You either need a tie breaker wrench/socket, or you need to put a caliper on the bolt head.
RbrtAWhyt
Well-known member
I think the GearWrench quality is excellent. I would rate my GearWrench ratchets much higher than my Craftsman ratchets. My GearWrench wrenches and other hand tools are also top quality.
rwhite692
Well-known member
I have had good luck with the gearwrench wrenches. Highly recommend the ones with the flex head at the box end, makes them much more useful, IMHO.
djd99
Well-known member
GearWrenches are a excellent product, I use mine 99% over my regular wrenches. I have made mine a complete set even with the oddball sizes. We use to have a hardware store that sold gearwrenches individually witch isn't around anymore. 
As for the flex head I really don't use them that often but they do have there time and place. My suggestion would be to find a complete set and you'll use them often.
As for the flex head I really don't use them that often but they do have there time and place. My suggestion would be to find a complete set and you'll use them often.Kjbakke2
ALLIANCE MEMBER
they are actually taiwanese
i am actually not afraid of tai tools because they actually seem to know how to heat treat something
another thing to consider is that they are a subsidiary of danaher tool
another subsidiary of danaher is matco
take it for what its worth
but i have had great luck with my gearwrench stuff
tonydanzah
Well-known member
not all of them are made in tawain, some of the new ones are being made in china
i bought these at ace during a big sale at
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Cryptic1911
Well-known member
exactly, I got a whole set of the flex heads recently. The 8piece sae and 12 piece metric are both made in china, but they both had additional 4 piece completer sets (4sae/4metric) and both of those sets were made in taiwan
with that said, they seem pretty nice regardless
tonydanzah
Well-known member
yeah either way they are excellent
posaune
Well-known member
Care to expound on that?
tonydanzah
Well-known member
I have a Standard and Metric set of those 4-Sizes-In-1 Wrench. I opt to use these whenever possible. I like how there are more teeth in the ratchets than Craftsman.
Got each set for 50% off too, around Father's Day last year.
Got each set for 50% off too, around Father's Day last year.
rwhite692
Well-known member
On the HF knockoff ones I have seen, the gear action flat-out ***** by comparison, it is nowhere near as fine/precise as the Gearwrench so you have to move the handle much further to get to the next tooth engagement.
Miter Wrench
Well-known member
I bought a GearWrench 12 piece combo set (std & metric) about 3 years ago for $24.95 on a 50% sale at Sears. I've been adding "in-between" sizes as I need them. I wish I would have bought a larger set as buying them one at a time adds up $$. Anyway, they've been great quality wrenches.
Dave Carney
Well-known member
Taiwan is China...just ask China... ;=)
wadd1
Well-known member
Is there any Gearwrench products
produced by Danaher in the US?
i have seen some socket sets advertised so....
produced by Danaher in the US?
i have seen some socket sets advertised so....
alamerang
Well-known member
I picked up a Metric set a few months back and they are really good. The ratcheting mechanism is really smooth compared to others including the C-Man version. Plus the ratchet head is thinner so it can get into those tight spaces.
Only problem I have with the Gearwrench is the warranty. C-man replaces the tool if it is broken no questions asked right then and there at the store. Gearwrench will repair or replace at their discretion. Haven't had to take one back yet, but its kinda disheartening. I wouldn't want to have my tool sent off for repair for 6 to 8 weeks while I'm stuck needing it. But then again if you take care of your tools, they'll take care of you.
Only problem I have with the Gearwrench is the warranty. C-man replaces the tool if it is broken no questions asked right then and there at the store. Gearwrench will repair or replace at their discretion. Haven't had to take one back yet, but its kinda disheartening. I wouldn't want to have my tool sent off for repair for 6 to 8 weeks while I'm stuck needing it. But then again if you take care of your tools, they'll take care of you.
mooman
Well-known member
I have not has a problem with the warranty. Just a quick call and BOOM, new tool at the door in a few days.
tonydanzah
Well-known member
no problem hear either, i bought a set online that they don't normally sell in the stores and broke a wrench from that set. I called them told them it was broken. Asked if then need a model number or a me to send the tool. Said nope to both, mailed me a replacement within a week.
MomentumPhoto
Member
I had a similar experience - just called the customer support line on a Friday afternoon and had the replacement by Wednesday.
(888)-757-1812
mkdive
Well-known member
I would like to hear why you think that also?
I have both Cman & lots of Gearwrench ratcheting wrenches. Although I like the fact the craftsman's are made in USA.....hands down the Gearwrench are smoother & they have a better finish.
JakeDSnake
New member
I've had a set of GW metric pivot head wrenches for a few years and really like them. I honestly never thought they would have lasted this long. My only complaint is that the pivoting head sometimes is a little too loose for my liking, but thats pretty minor.
79firebird
Well-known member
i have a cman and GearWrenche ones only prob i have is with the GearWrenches ones at work once a month im replaceing the #10 and 13 mm ones. i use them the same amount at home for over a year and never had to replace any of them yet. Mabey it all depends where you buy them frpm. the ones at work i got from napa. the ones at home i got from lordco