GearWrench sockets same as Pittsburgh?

[rick carpenter]

The "GearWrench has the First Gender Fluid Socket Rebrands 2022" youtube vid by CP the Tool Addict shows a double-stamped 10mm deep socket with GearWrench and Pittsburgh markings on it. Can anyone explain this? Looks like HF is a discount outlet for Apex Tools? If so, I wasn't aware of that. HF doesn't have the number of offerings GW has though.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Reality is that whoever produces the socket has the capability of producing to both the Harbor Freight and the Apex requirements.

As to if that means they are the same ... well ... none of us have any idea other than some mismatched stamps for both brand and for sizing.

I'd venture to say that the composition of them could be similar, but there is zero proof. With that said, Harbor Freight has decent sockets, but, so does Gearwrench. Truthfully, it's 2022 and inexpensive tools are plentiful and rival plenty of more expensive ones. Their features are not the same, but their inherent function is, especially for the average Joe.

 

[Fedwrench]

This is nothing new when you have one factory pumping out tools for several brands. In this case the SATA factory in China people's Republic of probably made this socket. They make Gearwrench, Husky, Duralast, and others. The same thing happened here when the Armstrong plant was open. you might get a NAPA socket mixed in with your Craftsman. I had a similar experience awhile back when I bought a 3 piece locking universal joint set from Capri. The 1/4 & 1/2 drive were stamped Capri but, the 3/8 was stamped MAC Tools
I don't really understand why CP the Tool Addict has gone off the deep end about this socket unless he's trying to agitate his base.
You have to remember that there isn't a Harbor Freight tool factory, a Capri Factory, a Matco tool factory or, many other fill in the brand name factory. There are tool factories that make tools for these brands though so, errors will happen from time to time. Move along, nothing to see here.

 

[Professional Tool User]

This is what happens when the supplier has underutilized or leftover tooling made for producing another client's product.

 

[Jtels85]

The fact that GearWrench has opened an investigation into this, according to CP, is laughable.

GearWrench quality is absolutely terrible compared to where it was a decade ago. Even they know Harbor Freight Pittsburgh blows their lobster claw garbage out of the water. Just because you’re sold at Home Depot now doesn’t mean you’re a quality brand. I have NOT bought anything GearWrench in years - it’s all atrocious anymore. Just as Craftsman did many years ago… cut corners, make a cheaper product and ride the brands reputation all the way to it’s grave.

 

[rick carpenter]

This is nothing new when you have one factory pumping out tools for several brands. In this case the SATA factory in China people's Republic of probably made this socket. They make Gearwrench, Husky, Duralast, and others.

So I wonder if, in general, the quality of different brands coming out of one factory is near identical while features such as knurling, broaching, lengths, recessed bases, etc differ?

For what it's worth, the Zoro website states for the 80392 GW 6pt 10mm deep socket (the one CP featured):

• Country of Origin (subject to change): Taiwan, Province of China

I have a modest investment in GW sockets so I'll continue with them for new purchases because I like them all to be the same brand and I'm pleased with their quality. But If I break or lose one and need a replacement *today* I'll bebop on up to HF and not think twice.

 

[lardy1]

I can remember the occassional Goebel's beer buried in a 12 pack of Stroh's for all the same reasons.

 

[j3rf]

I prefer the knurling on the GW metric sockets so I prefer to keep the GW stuff I have.

 

[Fedwrench]

So I wonder if, in general, the quality of different brands coming out of one factory is near identical while features such as knurling, broaching, lengths, recessed bases, etc differ?

For what it's worth, the Zoro website states for the 80392 GW 6pt 10mm deep socket (the one CP featured):

• Country of Origin (subject to change): Taiwan, Province of China

I have a modest investment in GW sockets so I'll continue with them for new purchases because I like them all to be the same brand and I'm pleased with their quality. But If I break or lose one and need a replacement *today* I'll bebop on up to HF and not think twice.

Whether all sockets rolling off the same factory line are the same with different names stamped into them has been debated for years. To me, I see no difference other than the name, font, size marking size, and other additional finishing processes. I also don't think a mismarked socket means you should throw all of your Gearwrench tools away and never buy any more.
The only problem with beboping over to Harbor Freight to replace a missing socket is that they don't have open stock or individual chrome sockets for sale. It's sets only. Now, you can swing by Home Depot and grab a Husky chrome socket to replace a missing socket.

 

[Lt CHEG]

You have to remember that there isn't a Harbor Freight tool factory, a Capri Factory, a Matco tool factory or, many other fill in the brand name factory. There are tool factories that make tools for these brands though so, errors will happen from time to time. Move along, nothing to see here.

I completely agree with what you are saying. However some of those tool companies market their products as if they have their own factory and I think that is the source of people’s complaints. I’d be willing to bet that a fairly decent percentage of Matco customers for example, think that their tools are literally made by Matco when the only thing they make in house is tool storage. And Im not picking on Matco, I’ve bought their tools fully knowing that they were made by someone else, but paid a premium for premium warranty, premium service and premium features. For example I paid handsomely for a carbide burr from Matco a couple months ago, but was happy to do so because I could meet the truck that day, finish the project that day instead of waiting for something else to be shipped, and my dealer assured me that if I ever burn that baby out, he will gladly replace it with a brand new one for free. I’ll bet that your average professional wrench isn’t as well versed with these realities as your typical garage journal member though, and some may buy a tool from a source because they think they really are producing it themselves and it’s better than anything someone else can produce. I personally think that CP is going off on GearWrench as hard as he is because they seem to be fairly big offenders of this. GearWrench charges more for their tools than Harbor Freight, a lot more, and market their products as being standouts from Harbor Freight or some of the other generic makes and worthy of comparison to the tool trucks but at a lower price. They certainly do not give the impression that they are coming off the same assembly line as Pittsburgh, even if they are built to an improved spec. GearWrench gives the impression that they are somehow different than Pittsburgh or Evercraft, Craftsman, whatever, but in reality they are made at the same factory as many of those other brands. I think it’s more a matter of a slimy feeling to the marketing.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I don't really understand why CP the Tool Addict has gone off the deep end about this socket unless he's trying to agitate his base.

Because Youtube. My guess is he wants to do lest actual work and more video recording.

 

[reader2580]

I just noticed a week or two ago that one of my Gearwrench ratcheting wrenches is actually labeled as Husky. I have never purchased a Husky ratcheting wrench in my life so the set had to come that way and it took me years to notice.

 

[Bubba Fett]

This is nothing new when you have one factory pumping out tools for several brands. In this case the SATA factory in China people's Republic of probably made this socket. They make Gearwrench, Husky, Duralast, and others. The same thing happened here when the Armstrong plant was open. you might get a NAPA socket mixed in with your Craftsman. I had a similar experience awhile back when I bought a 3 piece locking universal joint set from Capri. The 1/4 & 1/2 drive were stamped Capri but, the 3/8 was stamped MAC Tools
I don't really understand why CP the Tool Addict has gone off the deep end about this socket unless he's trying to agitate his base.
You have to remember that there isn't a Harbor Freight tool factory, a Capri Factory, a Matco tool factory or, many other fill in the brand name factory. There are tool factories that make tools for these brands though so, errors will happen from time to time. Move along, nothing to see here.

This. That same factory also makes a lot of tools for Crescent, also an Apex brand. I have a set of Westward (Grainger's house brand) sockets/ratchets/wrenches that all look identical to the ones labeled Crescent, etc. I have zero doubts that all of these and several other brands are made in the same factory.

 

[Jtels85]

I just noticed a week or two ago that one of my Gearwrench ratcheting wrenches is actually labeled as Husky. I have never purchased a Husky ratcheting wrench in my life so the set had to come that way and it took me years to notice.

Current Duralast and Husky mechanics tools are identical, made by Apex. They share a lot of similarities to GearWrench.

 

[unslow1]

There are tons of rebranded items. What's the difference between that and them messing up the stampings? I have a Craftsman thread chaser set that is identical to the Snapon one I used to have. Once I pulled Crane lifters out of a Sealed Power box that was still factory sealed. Next thing you know people are going to say the Snapon jacks are the same as the Harbor Freight. They all do it. Wait until you see how much of that goes on in the auto industry.

 

[Zewnten]

Cornwell dealer had a blue power impact socket with GP stamping also on it. If it's made in taiwan and not branded with the manufacturer; toptul, hihefive, it's a rebrand. Should not be any real news to people who are using this forum.

I do think it's interesting to see who is rebranding what. That HF is having Apex or Apex's manufacturer make their sockets is kind of interesting. Does Apex own factories or is it just a trademark/patent holding company?

 

[Fedwrench]

I do think it's interesting to see who is rebranding what. That HF is having Apex or Apex's manufacturer make their sockets is kind of interesting. Does Apex own factories or is it just a trademark/patent holding company?

As far as I know, Apex owns the SATA plant in the PRC.

 

[kngelv]

So I wonder if, in general, the quality of different brands coming out of one factory is near identical while features such as knurling, broaching, lengths, recessed bases, etc differ?

For what it's worth, the Zoro website states for the 80392 GW 6pt 10mm deep socket (the one CP featured):

• Country of Origin (subject to change): Taiwan, Province of China

I have a modest investment in GW sockets so I'll continue with them for new purchases because I like them all to be the same brand and I'm pleased with their quality. But If I break or lose one and need a replacement *today* I'll bebop on up to HF and not think twice.

Taiwan is not a province of China no matter how much Xi wishes it so. I think it's pretty sad for Zoro to list it this way to placate the Chinese. Gearwrench quality has been going downhill for a long time. Their ratcheting x-beam wrenches have consistently failed me.

James

 

[visionguru]

The "GearWrench has the First Gender Fluid Socket Rebrands 2022" youtube vid by CP the Tool Addict shows a double-stamped 10mm deep socket with GearWrench and Pittsburgh markings on it. Can anyone explain this? Looks like HF is a discount outlet for Apex Tools? If so, I wasn't aware of that. HF doesn't have the number of offerings GW has though.

I quickly fast forwarded through that video. Some of his comments are rather idiotic.

The explanation seems simple:
GearWrench is a manufacturer, who makes most (if not all) the things they sell.
Harbor Freight is a trader, who makes nothing, but sources from all different manufactures, probably on a batch by batch basis. Their suppliers could be constantly changing. For example, all the wrenches have gradually changed to "made in India".

Probably at one time, Harbor Freight bought a batch of factory seconds from a GearWrench factory, that's where the relationship ends. I haven't seen "Pittsburg Pro" branded chrome sockets for a while. "Quinn" and "ICON" seem their socket brands now.

Taiwan is not a province of China no matter how much Xi wishes it so. I think it's pretty sad for Zoro to list it this way to placate the Chinese. Gearwrench quality has been going downhill for a long time. Their ratcheting x-beam wrenches have consistently failed me.

Actually Zoro's "Taiwan, Province of China" couldn't be more accurate.

The mainland is PRC (People's Rebuplic of China)
Taiwan is ROC (Replubic of China)

They have the same territorial map, well, ROC's map is even bigger, which additionally includes Mongolia. Taiwan is considered a province by both PRC and ROC.

"Taiwan, Province of China" is a smart way to leave all the politics out, good for both sides.

 

[Bubba Fett]

Taiwan is not a province of China no matter how much Xi wishes it so. I think it's pretty sad for Zoro to list it this way to placate the Chinese. Gearwrench quality has been going downhill for a long time. Their ratcheting x-beam wrenches have consistently failed me.

James

The proper name for Taiwan is Republic of China, while the proper name of China is the People's Republic of China, which causes a LOT of confusion, even among distributors.

Taiwan is an independent country, a democracy, and a trade partner with the US. It has considered itself independent from China since 1949. The PRC claims that Taiwan is a part of them, but that is simply not the case, and is nothing more than propaganda.

Also, SATA manufactures most Gearwrench and Crescent tools now (all are part of Apex Tool Group), and they make tools for many other brands, including house brands and discount store brands.

 

[Zewnten]

As far as I know, Apex owns the SATA plant in the PRC.

Is the plant in china or taiwan? All the gearwrench and HF pro sockets I've seen have been labeled COO Taiwan.

 

[rick carpenter]

Whether all sockets rolling off the same factory line are the same with different names stamped into them has been debated for years. To me, I see no difference other than the name, font, size marking size, and other additional finishing processes. I also don't think a mismarked socket means you should throw all of your Gearwrench tools away and never buy any more.
The only problem with beboping over to Harbor Freight to replace a missing socket is that they don't have open stock or individual chrome sockets for sale. It's sets only. Now, you can swing by Home Depot and grab a Husky chrome socket to replace a missing socket.

Yeah, you're right about that, HD sells open stock (Husky=Apex) not HF. Though I did notice that HF sells on their website one individual socket, a 10 mm deep... probably because everyone loses one or more of them.

 

[ecotec]

I completely agree with what you are saying. However some of those tool companies market their products as if they have their own factory and I think that is the source of people’s complaints. I’d be willing to bet that a fairly decent percentage of Matco customers for example, think that their tools are literally made by Matco when the only thing they make in house is tool storage. And Im not picking on Matco, I’ve bought their tools fully knowing that they were made by someone else, but paid a premium for premium warranty, premium service and premium features. For example I paid handsomely for a carbide burr from Matco a couple months ago, but was happy to do so because I could meet the truck that day, finish the project that day instead of waiting for something else to be shipped, and my dealer assured me that if I ever burn that baby out, he will gladly replace it with a brand new one for free. I’ll bet that your average professional wrench isn’t as well versed with these realities as your typical garage journal member though, and some may buy a tool from a source because they think they really are producing it themselves and it’s better than anything someone else can produce. I personally think that CP is going off on GearWrench as hard as he is because they seem to be fairly big offenders of this. GearWrench charges more for their tools than Harbor Freight, a lot more, and market their products as being standouts from Harbor Freight or some of the other generic makes and worthy of comparison to the tool trucks but at a lower price. They certainly do not give the impression that they are coming off the same assembly line as Pittsburgh, even if they are built to an improved spec. GearWrench gives the impression that they are somehow different than Pittsburgh or Evercraft, Craftsman, whatever, but in reality they are made at the same factory as many of those other brands. I think it’s more a matter of a slimy feeling to the marketing.

I bought a lot of Matco from VIM when they still had a sale section of their website.

 

[inliner311]

So I can explain some of this in a broader sense. I have not compared HF sockets to gearwrench but Apex is a big manufacturer of tools in general. Most likely HF isn't taking second unless Apex is sorting through for imperfection before engraving everything. What is most likely happening is Apex is selling excess capacity for other companies to make their sockets. Husky, Duralast, etc that we all know use Apex for their product most likely have contracts for their whole catalog of tools and for a certain amount of years.

HF on the other hand might be taking up excess capacity for a certain amount of production runs with just certain tools. Companies like Apex want to make the most out of their factories capacity and take advantage of economies of scale. Changing over to produce a complete different tool can be costly because the factory is idle when doing so. Having to make small changes to their production to make a tool that is almost the same as what they were already making can save them from going idle. Even if it's a competitor they are making tools for, they are maximizing their factory and it can be more profitable.

HF tools may change their style more often because once a company doesn't have as much excess capacity, HF has to go find someone else to make that certain product. That's where the finish, style, engravings might change because another factory or company gives HF a better deal for their excess capacity or they just are forced to find someone to make that certain product.