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Who makes the best ratcheting wrench?

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bursty

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So far at work I've used GearWrench, Proto, and Armstrong. GearWrench is absolute garbage, the Protos have held up well and I love the extra length of my Armstrongs.

Are there any other brands that would have a finer action? Less range of motion per click or whatever? What ratcheting wrenches have you had the best luck with/love the most?
 
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Ritter4.0

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I like my USA made, Kobalt locking flex ones (These have the same action and locking mechanism as Matcos). I also have some reversible Duralast ones that are pretty good, but do not have really fine teeth. While the Kobalt's seem finer, the Duralast has a smaller head which makes them better for tight spaces. The Duralast also have a good length to them, be sure the get the ones that are thin with the knurled look stamped into them.

I also have some pretty old Gearwrench and Blackhawk ones that are really nice, much nicer than the new ones.
 
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Monte

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not finer or smoother but maybe the strongest :D

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jayoldschool

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I would never break a bolt loose with a GW. The ratcheting feature, IMO, is to quickly snug down or remove a loose fastener. I have GWs, and Protos, btw. Never had a problem with either, but I like the GWs better.
 
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crewchief888

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bursty said:
I've had quite a few strip the teeth out while I'm breaking a bolt loose. Got really sick of punching stuff because of GWs. Never again.
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ratcheting wrenches shouldnt be used for breaking bolts loose,
the will strip gears eventually.

the only ratcheting wrench ive ever broken in 25+ years of wrenching was trying to break loose a bolt, that i should have had a ratchet/socket on.

just my $0.02


:beer:
 
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B

bursty

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Also had them free spin when tightening. I'm sure they're fine for 90% of the home users. But I am looking for any suggestions on whats better/stronger/finer action
 
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bursty

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jayoldschool said:
I would never break a bolt loose with a GW. The ratcheting feature, IMO, is to quickly snug down or remove a loose fastener. I have GWs, and Protos, btw. Never had a problem with either, but I like the GWs better.
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Altec said:
They aren't meant to break things loose.
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lbgradwell said:
+1. They are not intended for breaking loose fasteners... :shocking:
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lbgradwell said:
Ratchets aren't meant to break loose fasteners either!!! :shocking:
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:monkey_po
 
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G1GRANDEUR

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Operator error. :lol_hitti

Never had a problem loosening bolts or nuts with 10mm,12mm,14mm wrenches.
 
K

kams1973

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I'm guilty of breaking bolts loose with my ratcheting wrenches too. I have yet to break one to date, but when I do break one I certainly will not call the brand garbage because I was hammering on it.
 
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A

Altec

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SKang is correct on the operator error. I think this is still a great thread though!

So, who does make the best ratchet wrenches?
 
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bursty

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kams1973 said:
I'm guilty of breaking bolts loose with my ratcheting wrenches too. I have yet to break on to date, but when I do break one I certainly will not call the brand garbage because I was hammering on it.
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Compared to other brands, they sure feel like ****. Like I said, I'm sure they're fine for any home user. But for my work, they don't hold up.

I am JUST looking for other brand suggestions, not a lesson on how to use a wrench.
 
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bursty

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Fedwrench said:
I'm not sure what sizes you need but, you may want to consider this style from Armstrong and Matco. The fixed boxed end would allow you to break stuff loose then speed it off with the ratcheting end.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Geared-Box-Wren...144?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45e4f673b0
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Specifically I need 24mm and 30mm. That Armstrong is what I currently use. I really like it. However I could use a finer action. Basically just wondering if anyone even makes a finer action or if the Armstrong is about as good as it gets.
 
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AZ_Catskinner

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Morenci, AZ
I personally have never had any issues with my Mac set (SAE) or my Bluepoint set (metric). I just recently bought a set of the Craftsman "universals" in SAE for work and they've done really well.
 
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pl_silverado

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West Bradford, PA
I love my Snap-on ratcheting set, use them and abuse them and they keep on kicking. Worth every penny. (note, actual snap-on set, not blue point)
 
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Fedwrench

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The 72 tooth found on gearwrench an others are pretty much the standard action here.
There is a company in Taiwan named Kabo that have higher toothed models. However, I don't know of any current US brands offering them. Kabo made the SK G pro series and make the current EZ red ratcheting wrenches.
 
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bursty

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Fedwrench said:
The 72 tooth found on gearwrench an others are pretty much the standard action here.
There is a company in Taiwan named Kabo that have higher toothed models. However, I don't know of any current US brands offering them. Kabo made the SK G pro series and make the current EZ red ratcheting wrenches.
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Awesome, thank you :thumbup:
 
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MrMark

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Armstrong is as good as it gets. Unless the BluePoint are superior as I haven't tried them. You already have the best IMO so look no further. 72 tooth count is plenty fine. I wouldn't have a ratchet wrench if it couldn't be used to break moderately tight bolts loose. Carrying two wrenches to every operation is not going to happen and I don't like the double box. The Craftsman flexhead (US made but now being phased out to China, perhaps already long gone) are almost the equal of the Armstrong. The Gearwrench do not really compare to these brands for quality and smoothness. They have a blingy finish though and they are rightfully cheap.
 
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Altec

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Checked out the E-Z Red ones. They don't seem to have a combo wrench... Or even a Box/Ratchet wrench. :(
 
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bursty

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MrMark said:
Armstrong is as good as it gets. Unless the BluePoint are superior as I haven't tried them. You already have the best IMO so look no further. 72 tooth count is plenty fine. I wouldn't have a ratchet wrench if it couldn't be used to break moderately tight bolts loose. Carrying two wrenches to every operation is not going to happen and I don't like the double box. The Craftsman flexhead (US made but now being phased out to China, perhaps already long gone) are almost the equal of the Armstrong. The Gearwrench do not really compare to these brands for quality and smoothness. They have a blingy finish though and they are rightfully cheap.
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Good to know. I might look for a flex Armstrong.

Cheers sir :beer:
 
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Seanbev24

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pl_silverado said:
I love my Snap-on ratcheting set, use them and abuse them and they keep on kicking. Worth every penny. (note, actual snap-on set, not blue point)
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X2 the Snap-On ratcheting wrenches with the flank drive plus open end are my favorites. Smooth fine action and they hold up to abuse. I also like that they're long. Plus, unlike other brands, rebuild kits are available for the reverse levers. Although on the 1 I had a problem with, my dealer just handed me a whole new wrench.
 
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Seanbev24

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MrMark said:
Armstrong is as good as it gets. Unless the BluePoint are superior as I haven't tried them. You already have the best IMO so look no further. 72 tooth count is plenty fine. I wouldn't have a ratchet wrench if it couldn't be used to break moderately tight bolts loose. Carrying two wrenches to every operation is not going to happen and I don't like the double box. The Craftsman flexhead (US made but now being phased out to China, perhaps already long gone) are almost the equal of the Armstrong. The Gearwrench do not really compare to these brands for quality and smoothness. They have a blingy finish though and they are rightfully cheap.
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The Blue Point wrenches are great and much better than gearwrench, but the actual Snap-On wrenches are the best I've used. I haven't used the armstrongs so I can't make that comparison.

I totally agree with you. If I can't break loose moderately tight fasteners with a ratcheting wrench, I wouldn't even have them in my box.
 
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bursty

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pl_silverado said:
I love my Snap-on ratcheting set, use them and abuse them and they keep on kicking. Worth every penny. (note, actual snap-on set, not blue point)
Click to expand...

Seanbev24 said:
X2 the Snap-On ratcheting wrenches with the flank drive plus open end are my favorites. Smooth fine action and they hold up to abuse. I also like that they're long. Plus, unlike other brands, rebuild kits are available for the reverse levers. Although on the 1 I had a problem with, my dealer just handed me a whole new wrench.
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I will have to check them out next time the truck comes around :thumbup:
 
S

Skin

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Boston
Seanbev24 said:
X2 the Snap-On ratcheting wrenches with the flank drive plus open end are my favorites. Smooth fine action and they hold up to abuse. I also like that they're long. Plus, unlike other brands, rebuild kits are available for the reverse levers. Although on the 1 I had a problem with, my dealer just handed me a whole new wrench.
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they had to offer rebuild kits for them, their reverse lever design is absolutely horrendous and incredibly fragile.

jabberwoki said:
Are the ratching gears made in Germany?
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The whole wrench is yes. They also cost more than SO and have what amounts to no warranty. You could literally purchase 8 sets of Gearwrench for the cost of one of their sets. Broken German tools from anything they deem abuse = you eat the cost. If its over 1 year, you eat the cost. I think the only manufacture i've seen change that stance to be competitive is Stahlwille USA.

If you get a visit from the truck, buy their brand, otherwise Gearwrench works just fine in most shops, i'm sure we have many guys here, and the boards tool truck owners, who can vouch for that.



bursty said:
I guess I can't speak for them, but I have broken several 24mm and 15/16 as well as 2 30mm wrenches using them normally (no pipes or hammers). We use the 24mm/15/16 to tighten down tire hubs on a ski lift. Each hub has 2 bolts, torqued to around 75ft lbs. All the wrenches I've broken have stripped the gear mech, all under that 75ft/lb force. Maybe that's abusing them. I really dont know but I would think it could handle 75 lbs on it.

Its ok though, I've turned most of the free spinning GWs into custom bent or stubby open end wrenches. So they still serve some purpose :beer:
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I remember you Bursty, we had this conversation back in October.

Have you still not simply purchased a torque wrench with open ends yet? Geared wrenches are not torque tools and yes asking that tiny mechanism to repeatedly take 75 ft-lbs is abuse in my book.
 
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Danglerb

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Ratcheting wrenches are new enough that I expect them to improve every year or so. For now the GW suits me fine, and I NEVER use to apply real torque.

Only one I did not like was Husky, way too much drag to get most nuts to ratchet instead of turning backwards unless I put a finger on them.
 
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