Bluepoint or Blackhawk Stubby Ratcheting Wrenches?

Toolman Taylor · Mar 5, 2012

Going to pull the trigger on a set in Metric. I am a weekend warrior, not pro but I like good tools and do not want them to break. Would love some Snap on or similar but the funds are drying up.

Which one is better quality/warranty wise?

Am I dumb for not just buying Gearwrench?

Thanks!

TonyCH · Mar 5, 2012

Never seen Blackhawks so cannot compare but I have The Blue Point ratcheting stubbies and they are quite nice. Cannot think anything about them to complain. The ratcheting head is tiny bit fatter than on my Snap Ons though.

As a Snap On company Blue Point have the same warranty service as Snap On tools.

Here is my BP BOERMS15 vs S-O SOEXRM15, ratcheting head size/shape comparison:

Toolman Taylor · Mar 5, 2012

TonyCH said:
Never seen Blackhawks so cannot compare but I have The Blue Point ratcheting stubbies and they are quite nice. Cannot think anything about them to complain. The ratcheting head is tiny bit fatter than on my Snap Ons though.

As a Snap On company Blue Point have the same warranty service as Snap On tools.

Here is my BP BOERMS15 vs S-O SOEXRM15, ratcheting head size/shape comparison:

http://i39.tinypic.com/kf4obn.jpg[/MG][/QUOTE]

The BP is serviceable?

Toolman Taylor · Mar 5, 2012

bump for votes/help

Pro-Painter · Mar 5, 2012

My $.02
Blue-point is a little better quality wise and has a better warranty. But the Blackhawk's are cheaper and still nice.

But the JH Williams sets are the exact same as the blue point's for half price. They are made by the same people, and come in the same size sets. They only difference is one says blue-point and the other says Williams.

Also, The GM Goodwrench ratcheting wrenches sold at O'rilleys auto parts are made by Blackhawk. Well I assume they are. They look just alike and the warranty address on the back of the package is the same GA address as Stanley/Proto/Blackhawk.
They are a little cheaper then the Blue-point/Williams or Blackhawk but are non-reversible.

Either way you go you will be happy. I personally would stay away from Gearwrench. The last 4 sets I bought, the quality was horrible. Since they went to china, their quality control has suffered tremendously. Many will dissiagree with me, and maybe ive just had really wacky bad luck but im done with GW as a brand.

What about Armstrong? USA made and the same price as the sets listed above. I just got a set and the quality is outstanding.

bassbone52 · Mar 5, 2012

I have the Blackhawks and they are excellent.

kippieland · Mar 5, 2012

Pro-Painter said:
I personally would stay away from Gearwrench. The last 4 sets I bought, the quality was horrible. Since they went to china, their quality control has suffered tremendously. Many will dissiagree with me, and maybe ive just had really wacky bad luck but im done with GW as a brand.

I just got a set of Gearwrench and was totally pissed to see they were Chinese...I thought for sure they would have been Taiwan (Always preferred over Chinese) but nope! :shocking:

Where did you get your Armstrongs at?

To the OP: I would go with Blackhawk since there a bit cheaper, however like Pro stated Williams are nice and the exactly the same....I think Blue-point is over-priced when you can get the same with the Williams name.

vintagefan · Mar 5, 2012

kippieland said:
I just got a set of Gearwrench and was totally pissed to see they were Chinese...I thought for sure they would have been Taiwan (Always preferred over Chinese) but nope!

Where did you get your Armstrongs at?

To the OP: I would go with Blackhawk since there a bit cheaper, however like Pro stated Williams are nice and the exactly the same....I think Blue-point is over-priced when you can get the same with the Williams name.

I used to like Gearwrench back when they were KD, but they've progressively gotten worse and worse to the point where I can't even stand owning them any more. The last set I had, I gave away.

It really irritates me, because the execs are riding the perception of quality they built with the *real* gearwrench tools, whilst lining their pockets with money from customers that don't know the difference, and heard good things from those who do/did know the difference.

Honda guy · Mar 5, 2012

I've been happy with my Blackhawk flex-head ratcheting wrenches. They're about 10 years old so they might be different than what's offered now. Mac tools carries them. Made in Taiwan. Lifetime warranty. I use mine daily on my job and they hold up really well as long as you don't use them to break loose tight fasteners.

I don't have any experience with the Blue Points but they appear to be better quality than the Blackhawks.

Pro-Painter · Mar 5, 2012

kippieland said:
I just got a set of Gearwrench and was totally pissed to see they were Chinese...I thought for sure they would have been Taiwan (Always preferred over Chinese) but nope!

Where did you get your Armstrongs at?

To the OP: I would go with Blackhawk since there a bit cheaper, however like Pro stated Williams are nice and the exactly the same....I think Blue-point is over-priced when you can get the same with the Williams name.

I got mine from the USMC deal. But I also bought a set off ebay the same day. I bought the ebay auction and not even 30 mins later the USMC deal came back. :evil:

So it ended up with both and a sore wallet

OP: One thing I forgot to add, Blackhawk ratcheting wrenches are quite a bit shorter then other brands. This was a huge turn off for me, but may not matter to you.

Fedwrench · Mar 5, 2012

I think the Blackhawk racheting stubbies are the best of the two. They have a smaller profile and crisper action. They are made in Taiwan.

the only edge Bluepoint may offer is ease of warranty.

Toolman Taylor · Mar 5, 2012

Gotta love a completely even poll.

I'm looking and see the Williams are about the same price as the blue Point. Someone mentioned they are a lot cheaper though. Maybe I just don't know where the good deals are?

MattPersman · Mar 6, 2012

I have different sets of blackhawks (non reversible metric and a larger set of metric reversible with slight offset on the box end) and 1 set of gearwrench (sae non reversible). I like them both. I broke the 15mm Blackhawk early on after I bought the set of the MAC truck many years ago, but no issues with any of the other ones since. really whatever you can get the best deal on. if you wait around and don't need them right away you can probably get a really good price.

4x4gearhead · Mar 6, 2012

I like my blue points, havent used/seen blackhawk, I try to stay away from stanley/mac aside from maybe some older PROTO items that I like. Not trying to start a ******* match, just saying that with the quality Ive seen from mac as of late I wouldnt invest anything into them.

Toolman Taylor · Mar 6, 2012

Fedwrench said:
I think the Blackhawk racheting stubbies are the best of the two. They have a smaller profile and crisper action. They are made in Taiwan.

the only edge Bluepoint may offer is ease of warranty.

Are the heads lower profile on the Blackhawks stubbies?

I'm sitting on ebay trying to decide which set to buy. haha

Toolman Taylor · Mar 6, 2012

Just grabbed a set of Blackhawk regular length double box of the for sale section...as well as some Husky Pro Stubbies in SAE.

Now for the ones I'll use the most out of:

Metric Stubby

I may just have to buy the Blackhawks to match...I'll most likely buy whatever the best deal is as there is not consensus as to which is better.

Toolman Taylor · Mar 7, 2012

Is $110 a decent price for a 13pc set of metric reversible stubbies?

Fedwrench · Mar 7, 2012

Toolman Taylor said:
Is $110 a decent price for a 13pc set of metric reversible stubbies?

Probably. I scored my Blackhawk stubbies for $50 though.

Here's a Williams set http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...s-Wrenches-Ratcheting-Combination-Metric-Sets

Toolman Taylor · Mar 7, 2012

Fedwrench said:
Probably. I scored my Blackhawk stubbies for $50 though.

Here's a Williams set http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...s-Wrenches-Ratcheting-Combination-Metric-Sets

Thanks, that's cheaper than ebay used!

So it will come down to:

New Williams set for $112 shipped
Used Blueline set for $130 shipped
New Blackhawk set for $110 shipped

unless one pops up in the FS section in the next day or so.

Toolman Taylor · Mar 8, 2012

Update:

I went ahead and picked up a set of Blackhawk double box wrenches off the FS forum and a full 13pc set of the Blackhawk Stubbies from ebay for $110 shipped.

Hopefully they work out well. Seems that there's no clear "best" wrench so I'm sure ';; be happy.

Thanks everyone for your help!

junk4dummies · Mar 8, 2012

Tool prices are going way up. Our local thirft stores and swapmeets have not cought up with the pirce increases.
I have 8 set of Gearwrench and I really like them.
You got me when you talk about quality.
I gave my grand sons the Craftsman ones because a few years ago they had 60% off sales before the prices went through the roof at Sears. They use them all the time with no porblems.
I have the
Stubby
Reversable 15 degree
Flat which you need to flip to reverse and the new
Twisted handled one. All in Gearwrench. I have had them for about 8 years. They are smooth and work just fine.
Husky made them in the US before shiping out. I picked up a Husky set of unopend for $10 at a yard sale. My son has been using them on his boat.
They all do a very good job.

My questiion is what do you find to be poor quality.
Is it because where they are made?
If that is the case then you have not given me an answer,.
All my so called cheap ones have good chrome. They all work smoth and don't hang up. After 8 years they are like new.
Eveyone says they are cheap, but no one says why.
I know they can use cheap gears and the quality of the metal can be bad but Tiawin and Chinese tools are getting to be very good.
It is like Japan tools form 50 to 60 years ago. Eveyone said they were cheap. We just hated Japan. They were and are very good tools. Yes some were cheap but for the most part they were very good at a very cheap price.
I still have several size set in the shop on the fram. 40 years later they are like the day I got them.
To me eveyone is being a tool snob and paying a very high price for it.
Yes, I know there are cheap tools,.
Clamps,
Cheap vice grips,
Dikes and a host of other things. There a host of tools that are ****.

There are many very good inexpensive ratchets. Even HF has gotten to be better than some Craftsman.
Can someone tell me what they don't like. So far no one has on any post. IT is all I don't like them and they are cheap. LOL
A fool and his money are soon parted if you ask me.

kippieland · Mar 8, 2012

Thats because you have the nicer older ones. The newer ones out of China (like I have....rrr) have gone down hill and aren't made as nice then the old ones. Danaher moved then to the "cheap quality with high price tag" market.

Its not always where is made that makes it **** (even though some guys will say it is.) For example, the HF ratchet (I have...not super fan but for $15!) is quite popular around here with the non-SO guys. Its made in Taiwan and IMO is aways preferred over Chinese. Mainly, because Chinese tools tend to be (never can make a blanket statement) more once in a while use, quantity over quality, type tools. Work alright and can get most jobs done but also can cause more problems then good....ie the super cheap HF ratchets that are complete garbage. Taiwan tend to be closer (depends on the brand of course) higher functioning, quality vs quantity, little bit pricey tools. Not always the best but a huge step up from the low end. Just like the HF ratchet or the Kobalt ratchets. Still quite a bit off of the industrial brands and truck brands....however there are a few Taiwan companies that make pro quality tools but the run about the same price as SK etc.

A word of warning....don't trump the cheap tool hardline to counter the truck brand guys.....its their opinion/money and they are vocal about it....and they will attach you for yours. Plus, that dynamic is super old and has been done by so many guys that end up leaving. Just a word of warning....enjoy what you got and be happy!

Toolman Taylor · Mar 8, 2012

I talked to a professional mechanic on here who uses almost exclusively Snap On...except for the ratcheting wrenches.

He swears by the Blackhawk. That, paired with all the others who have had no trouble with them makes me feel fine about my purchase.

Fedwrench · Mar 8, 2012

Congratulations, you have chosen wisely.

The only thing I don't understand about Blackhawk is why they skip the 7mm size. :wtf:

They go from 6 to 8mm. & 7mm can be handy in a GM environment.

If they don't work out, chalk it up to life's experiences and try a different brand. I think you'll be ok though.

Toolman Taylor · Mar 14, 2012

I broke down and bought the full Blackhawk stubby metric set, the Blackhawk double box metric set and some Husky Pro stubby SAEs

BTW: I am convinced the Husky Pro Stubbies are made in the same factory as the Blackhawks. They are almost identical in every way. Am I wrong?

crewchief888 · Mar 14, 2012

i have a set of blackhawk std length rachet wrenches that i bought several years ago.

havent managed to break one yet, and they are still shiney :lol:

i have a couple of single stanley brands wrenches i use several times a week at work.

same thing, still shiney and not broken.

:beer:

Finky198 · Mar 2, 2014

Just picked up a full set of the blue points in flex stubby and the major reason I went with these was because the were the only brand that offers a complete set with no missing sizes From 5/16" - 3/4" and From 8mm - 19mm a full 20 piece set. I do agree that they are a little thicker profile than the gear wrench line. But this is a small short coming considering that they are reversible, the flex joint is adjustable with a torx screw, can be serviced in under a few minutes, and they are made in Taiwan. ( much better than the current Chinese Gear Wrench garbage) I will say a few years ago I would have given GearWwrench the edge by there stuff has gone to **** since moving to china... Just my opinion

I disassembled a few of the wrenches the mechanism is very similar to the snap on dual 80s. They have 2 pawls with a middle spring and a selector that catches a stud on each pawl for the reversible action. They can be taken apart clean lubed and reassembled in less than 5 min each they are held together with a snap ring similar to the snap on ratcheting screw drivers

Great little wrench photo to follow.

I look at the spec and compared the 5/8" blue point vs the gear wrench. the ratcheting head depth is 0.03" thicker on the blue point not enough to make it function in any less capacity as someone previously mentioned as a bid deal...

Bluepoint or Blackhawk Stubby Ratcheting Wrenches?

Blackhawk or Bluepoint? Gearwrench?

Blackhalk stubby ratcheting

Bluepoint stubby ratcheting

Urine idiot, just buy Gearwrench

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