P.O.S. Blue-Point flex head ratcheting wrench

braincrater · Oct 26, 2012

So I bought a set of these wrenches a year or so ago and I am absolutely fed up with them....

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item..._ID=645466&group_ID=681770&store=&dir=catalog

I use them several times a week and every time I do I just want to throw them away. The bevel in the ratcheting wrench is cut so at such a steep angle that when you apply a moderate amount of torque it will slip off of the bolt. The only reason to buy these are to reach into tight areas so what good is a flex wrench slips off all of the time?!?! I dont understand why snapon doesnt make a good set of these instead of these crappy blue-points... If anyone has a set of Matco's are they any better than these?

strikeouttruck · Oct 26, 2012

Hmm I dont know what your problem with them are. I have had a set for 2 years and minus having them warrantied for the joints getting loose there have been 0 issues. Maybe swap them out as you got a bad batch. I know I had a few that were warrantied that were just **** and gave them right back till I got ones that worked fine.

west wind · Oct 26, 2012

I have had really good luck with the gearwrench ones. I don't like the locking mechanism on the blue points

Skin · Oct 26, 2012

west wind said:
I have had really good luck with the gearwrench ones. I don't like the locking mechanism on the blue points

those arent locking, they're reversible. Blue-Point is one of the few brands that even markets flexible reversible ratcheting wrenches.

The regular length are also available etched Williams instead. Same wrenches, half the price.

braincrater said:
If anyone has a set of Matco's are they any better than these?

I dont think Matco even sells ratcheting flex combination wrenches anymore. The only holdout i recall is their "Ergo" wrenches which is the exact same as Gearwrench XL X-Beam flex wrenches, other than that they push the actual GW branded flex wrenches, no Matco. I suspect that may change in time though since they're introducing more of the Kabo made 72 and 90 tooth stuff, probably to replace the GW entirely some day since the company was sold off.

I will say this, the Blue-Point/Williams stuff seems to mimic the snap-on ratcheting wrenches which, in my opinion, ****. They have some of the fatest and thickest box ends on the market which is not something desireable. GearWrench is far superior in this regard. Whoever MAC and Cornwell get their stuff from (Kabo as well?) does a nice job making compact ratcheting box ends as well.

edit: i stand corrected Matco does have a flex version made by Kabo (taiwan) already out. Little pricey though but not too bad given the inclusion of larger sizes.

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/S7GRFM16/16-PIECE-72-TOOTH-FLEX-COMBINATION-METRIC-SET/ (8-22mm, no skips, and a 24mm)

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/S7GRF8/8-PIECE-72-TOOTH-FLEX-SAE-SET/

CWP1616L · Oct 26, 2012

braincrater said:
The bevel in the ratcheting wrench is cut so at such a steep angle that when you apply a moderate amount of torque it will slip off of the bolt.

I'm trying to understand what you're describing there. :headscrat

Skin · Oct 26, 2012

CWP1616L said:
I'm trying to understand what you're describing there.

i think he's referring to the ratcheting ring being recessed in the actual box end instead of being flush.

braincrater · Oct 26, 2012

Skin said:
i think he's referring to the ratcheting ring being recessed in the actual box end instead of being flush.

Absolutely, so when you apply torque to a bolt when the wrench is at any angle other than straight it will roll off of the bolt head.

genevabuck · Oct 26, 2012

I've bought tons off of trucks over the years. Some of it is real high quality and the way to go. As far as ratcheting wrenches go, I seriously haven't found any that can outdo gearwrench.

superautobacs · Oct 27, 2012

Skin said:
...
Whoever MAC and Cornwell get their stuff from (Kabo as well?) does a nice job making compact ratcheting box ends as well.

Part of Mac/Cornwell's lline up of rat. wrenches are from Kabo.

The stuff in your links--the head shape doesn't resemble the Kabo stuff.

FiendFX · Oct 27, 2012

Can't beat gearwrench for the price. Their flex head is long and sturdy.

west wind · Oct 27, 2012

Skin said:
those arent locking, they're reversible. Blue-Point is one of the few brands that even markets flexible reversible ratcheting wrenches.

The regular length are also available etched Williams instead. Same wrenches, half the price.

I dont think Matco even sells ratcheting flex combination wrenches anymore. The only holdout i recall is their "Ergo" wrenches which is the exact same as Gearwrench XL X-Beam flex wrenches, other than that they push the actual GW branded flex wrenches, no Matco. I suspect that may change in time though since they're introducing more of the Kabo made 72 and 90 tooth stuff, probably to replace the GW entirely some day since the company was sold off.

I will say this, the Blue-Point/Williams stuff seems to mimic the snap-on ratcheting wrenches which, in my opinion, ****. They have some of the fatest and thickest box ends on the market which is not something desireable. GearWrench is far superior in this regard. Whoever MAC and Cornwell get their stuff from (Kabo as well?) does a nice job making compact ratcheting box ends as well.

edit: i stand corrected Matco does have a flex version made by Kabo (taiwan) already out. Little pricey though but not too bad given the inclusion of larger sizes.

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/S7GRFM16/16-PIECE-72-TOOTH-FLEX-COMBINATION-METRIC-SET/ (8-22mm, no skips, and a 24mm)

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/S7GRF8/8-PIECE-72-TOOTH-FLEX-SAE-SET/

Ahhh. Definitely glad I stuck with my gearwrench brand. Didn't realize they were reversible. Thanks

FiendFX · Oct 28, 2012

Reversibles are nice but they get stuck at times. Also they are not as long as the xl flex from gearwrench.

vga · Oct 28, 2012

Matco makesa very nice XL flex head wrench set.

FunkyfullWidth · Oct 28, 2012

What's the benefit of having a reversible flex head ratchet wrench? What would you gain by changing the direction that you couldn't get by turning the wrench over??? I mean sorry to kind of derail the thread, but I suppose I just don't get it. I have gear wrench straight, offset, and flex ratcheting wrenches, and couldn't ask for anything more. Usually my go to wrenches unless it's over 3/4 or a tight spot where a ratchet mech won't fit.

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

NotStock · Mar 2, 2014

FunkyfullWidth said:
What's the benefit of having a reversible flex head ratchet wrench? What would you gain by changing the direction that you couldn't get by turning the wrench over???

Wait till you get a non reversing one stuck between an almost backed out nut/bolt and some other surface. It only happens in tight spaces and it super *****.

Back on topic - I am really disappointed to hear this. I wanted these exact wrenches because they are some of the few reversible flex out there (mind you I wanted the williams branded ones lol).

Anyone else have them and hate them?

Finky198 · Mar 2, 2014

Have the and they are great just buy them you won't regret it

toufue_yang17 · Mar 2, 2014

Gear wrench do make reversible flex head wrenches.

Skin · Mar 2, 2014

toufue_yang17 said:
Gear wrench do make reversible flex head wrenches.

no they do not. Only two manufacturers I've seen are the Snap-On/Williams, and Kabo.

GreenTea · Mar 2, 2014

I have the exact set now for few years...
They work great and I only had a 13mm broke on me.
Got replaced next day when my dealer rolled by.

BUT new one is 12 point both sides.
My original ones are all 12 point one side and 6 point the other.
Anyone noticed or know why new ones come 12 point both side??

Nanashi · Mar 2, 2014

I have the gearwrench and I've been beating them up for years. Impacting on them and all. I haven't yet needed to warrenty one yet.

shockwave · Mar 2, 2014

Gearwrenches are quite nice I use them all the time but my next purchase is going to be some matco they actually off 2 different flex combo wrenchs the first being gearwrench made that will be the 12 point where the other is a spline combo that is made by kabo and a lot better engagement over the standard 12 point

Finky198 · Mar 2, 2014

Yes but the new gear wrench are not like the older ones from years ago they move there production to China now. When I priced out my wrenches I got the blue point flex head stubbys and 12 Metric and 8 Sae wrench for 250 brand new in box vs the similar Gear Wrenches 10 Metric and 7 Sae 3 less wrenchs for around $80 for the Sae and $100 for the metric.

So you decide
Blue point 20 piece set for $250
(They are reversible, serviceable, made in Taiwan and well snap on warranty..)

VS

Gear Wrench 17 piece set for $180 ish
(Non reversible, non serviceable, made in china and mail in warranty only unless you local store by chance carries these in store)

To me it pretty one sided and yes I got a very good deal on the blue points, but still you just can't compare they are better wrench hands down quality quantity warranty and convenience of replacement

P.O.S. Blue-Point flex head ratcheting wrench

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