Any ratcheting wrench recommandations ?

[hemdale]

Hi guys,

I'm in the market for a good set of ratcheting wrenches. I saw a product rather interesting which is the Wera Joker.

Are they any good so far or is there any others I should be looking at.

Also, I know some wrenches are completely flat and some others are slightly bent at the end. What type would be more useful ?

In case that would matter, I won't be working in automotive related jobs and I need the ratchet system to go fwd and reverse.

Thanks a million for your help.

Hem

 

[GSMotorrad]

I have the Jokers, they're completely flat at the ends, with no offsets. They're also not "reversible". They don't have a lever, so you have to flip them over to change directions, which adds to why they don't have offsets, but the open end is completely straight forward too, and have that steel plate with flank-drive-like teeth. That plate also helps to hold a nut, if you let the corners fit into the "other" points in the 12-point open-end. They're a weird wrench, that's for sure. They sure do feel nice though.

 

[GSMotorrad]

 

[gdocktor3]

I don't own any Jokers nor have I used them, so can't comment on that. However, every brand sells ratchet wrenches these days. The best bang for buck is Gearwrench. They are professional grade at consumer DIY prices. Snap On, Matco, Mac, SK, Proto, all make them, but essentially they all do the same thing. You may be able to lean on the big name's a bit more, but ratchet wrenches aren't meant to break hard nuts and bolts anyways. Others will chime in with their favorite brand and experiences, but I'm willing to bet GW will be the most popular. I would definitely stay away from Expert ratchet wrenches. They're junk. I have GW, Proto Taiwan, Craftsman Taiwan, Husky, Expert and Matco ratchet wrenches and they've all served me well. Here's a thread I made. Some ways down there is a review on all the ratchet wrenches I own with pics. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=315245

 

[lightning02]

make sure whatever you get that you have ease of getting them warrantied if need be.

 

[IUEC Medic]

I have a bunch of gearwrench, reversible and non reversible, they work pretty good but I've broken a few of them.

I also have the full set of Proto SAE black reversible wrenches. It goes from I think 7/32 up to inch and a half. I absolutely love those wrenches.

 

[moriboy]

I bought metric and sae flat, no offset, no reversible Gear Wrench ones a few years back. They work just fine but really dislike the lack of offset. I just bought a set of Snap On offset with the reverse switch and I like them much better.


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[toolaholic]

I like the discontinued SK G pro deep offset ratcheting wrenches. I have several of the new SK x beam 6 point ratcheting wrenches. While gearwrench offers huge bang for buck, the SKs are much better IMHO.

 

[thegroundpounder99]

I'd definitely recommend reversible ones......I use Blue Point and I love them. Have had them and used them everyday professionally for years now. Compared to Gearwrench and a couple others they're heavier which I like. Depending on what you're gonna use them for if they're worth the difference in price.


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[DeliveryGuy]

I used regular Gearwrenches for several years, both the flat type, which you flip over to change direction, and the 15 degree bent type, which have a reverse lever. The ones that have the 15 degree bend are more useful than the flat type, in my opinion. All my flat ones became the backup set, and only got used when I needed two of the same size.

 

[shockwave]

I recommend the Carlyle line from Napa (same as Matco) they have much better heads than gearwrench brass fittings on side is givaway on them

I am curious on the new hazet ones though

 

[thebeekeeper1]

I bought a set of Crescent brand, which are offset and reversible, and have had good success with them. I don't think Crescent is a "good" brand but these are well made and have stood up to my limited use very well. The mechanism is tight, works well, and seems very strong.

 

[cliftonbros89]

I have regular non-reversible Gearwrench. They aren't bad. I also have flex Gearwrench that I really like. I also have a set of double box Armstrong. One side ratcheting, the other non. Those are the only ones I have experience with but they're not bad.

 

[catalytic]

I have both the Armstrong USA reversing and the Armstrong USA non-reversing. I prefer the reversing ones. If you go with armstrong, they had had some QC issues with the shape of the open side a few months ago (maybe old tooling?). Hopefully they've fixed it.

If I were to do it again, I would be tempted to buy Snap on. They're still USA-made, but no longer USA stamped.

 

[fras_auto]

Hi guys,

I'm in the market for a good set of ratcheting wrenches. I saw a product rather interesting which is the Wera Joker.

Are they any good so far or is there any others I should be looking at.

Also, I know some wrenches are completely flat and some others are slightly bent at the end. What type would be more useful ?

In case that would matter, I won't be working in automotive related jobs and I need the ratchet system to go fwd and reverse.

Thanks a million for your help.

Hem

Carlyle (NAPA) are by far the best ived used bit pricey but awesoem 90 tooth 6 point

 

[kts]

I used a set of Gearwrench reversibles for many years doing just about everything as a home DIY person working on my cars every weekend and still have those Gearwrenchs in the toolbox I take with me to the track.

When I had the $ I bought a set of Armstrong reversibles for my main toolbox and I really like them. So far they've been great and I really like the extra length over my old Gearwrench setup. If you have the $ to burn Armstrong makes a great reversible ratcheting wrench but for a far more budget friendly option I think Gearwrenh is the way to go. (I think the Gearwrench set was half of the cost of my Armstrong set.)

 

[Wamsutta]

When you need a ratcheting wrench, you don't need the open end.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I have broken some Gearwrenches, but only when I was going way overboard.
I'm less a fan of the reversables. They have their place for sure, but in everyday use, I foul the reversing lever too often. I have straight, flex, and stubby fairly complete sets, 8mm is broken right now.... I was turning a #8 allen with it after breaking 2 sockets.

 

[jrobb316]

I prefer 0 offset. I just went down this road, I wanted a USA made set, 12 pt, 0 offset. SKs new xframes are 6 pt with no offset, so I passed. No other animal exists domestically (maybe Armstrong but I'm not impressed with their stuff) so I went with the Wera jokers. Nice wrenches and I've used a few of their advanced features too, I'm happy with them. If sk, or when sk, makes xframes in 12 pt I will probably be a buyer. If you want the best in reversible wrenches, I have the proto ASD USA sets. Beware, you will pay for them. Other than that I would go with protos black Taiwan offerings. Gear wrenches are ****, actually complete ****. I have old Taiwan made sets that are very nice, but the latest stuff maybe in the last 5 years out of China is garbage. Open ends are huge and thick compared to the originals and the ratchet is cheap. And yes I use the open ends, a lot.

 

[gdocktor3]

I recommend the Carlyle line from Napa (same as Matco) they have much better heads than gearwrench brass fittings on side is givaway on them

I am curious on the new hazet ones though

Do you have Matco wrenches to compare to? Are the Carlyle spline box end?

 

[malykaii]

Dude's in France. Don't think Napa is exactly popular there

 

[hemdale]

Thanks for these nice images mate. Very helpful. Did you mean that if the ratchet system was reversible they SHOULD be offset at the end ? Not sure if I should go for an offset end wrench or not, however I saw this set which has reversible ratcheting:

http://www-de.wera.de/product_detail.html?L=1&file=root_category_joker_jokerset_switch_11&lang=en

 

[T45]

Dude's in France. Don't think Napa is exactly popular there

Then he should be looking at Facom or USAG, same as the proto but better I would presume for the local market.

Issue there is budget, and if need cheaper solutions, I would look at the specials for hazet and stahlwille coming out now. They are asian coo but so is everything else, and you get decent ergos and better steel than GW or similar china stuff.

 

[hemdale]

Thanks for to the other members' input, very helpful indeed.

A couple of other questions for you guys:

- Seems the offset feature is nice to have. Maybe we don't all agree on this but I think it could really come handy.
I (rarely but when it happened that was really annoying) found myself in a situation where a bit of something (small screwhead or anything small that would stick out) would prevent me from using the wrench

- Can you confirm that the ratchet is ONLY design to get the bolt going but not to properly tighten (hard) the bolt. I've been told the ratchets cannot (or were not designed) to handle strong tightenings.

Thanks

 

[Niniek]

I have some wera joker ratcheting wrenches and I love them. I've also worked with facom ratcheting wrenches and those were excellent to.
If you are looking for some offset ratcheting wrenches and are looking at the wera joker and can wait till september. Then you can pick the new jokers that have offset and a switch!

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

- Seems the offset feature is nice to have. Maybe we don't all agree on this but I think it could really come handy.
I (rarely but when it happened that was really annoying) found myself in a situation where a bit of something (small screwhead or anything small that would stick out) would prevent me from using the wrench

sometimes it helps, sometimes no so much . In an ideal world, we all would have both. Either way you are miles ahead of the person with neither.

- Can you confirm that the ratchet is ONLY design to get the bolt going but not to properly tighten (hard) the bolt. I've been told the ratchets cannot (or were not designed) to handle strong tightenings.

Hard to say, esp with a switchable offset as the offset and switch can be facing either way. I have only killed them in loosening applications. My old small gearatchet binds up sometimes, after years of abuse in both directions. I cant ascribe its problems to any one incident.

 

[Monte]

 

[Fedwrench]

Do you have Matco wrenches to compare to? Are the Carlyle spline box end?

The Carlyle aren't the same as Matco US made proswing series and the Carlyle ratcheting combination wrenches have 6 point ratcheting boxed ends with a 90 tooth action. Now Matco does sell Kabo made ratcheting wrenches that may be similar but, I believe they are all spline boxed ends.

The Matco US made proswing series are 12 point and 72 tooth.
Hey, to me I don't really care about an open end on a ratcheting wrench. I've got lots of combination wrenches to meet my open end needs.

To me, the best overall ratcheting wrench is the Proswing boxed end sold by Matco or Armstrong and Kabo has a similar wrench but with spline ends. I digress, what makes this wrench the best to be to me is that on one end you have a fixed 15 degree offset boxed end for breaking a fastener loose or for final tightening. On the other end is a fine tooth zero offset ratcheting boxed end for speeding the fastener on or off. Now don't confuse these wrenches with Gearwrench Gearboxes. The Gearbox is a fine wrench but, its extra long length makes them almost too long to use in some situations.

 

[DeliveryGuy]

Can you confirm that the ratchet is ONLY design to get the bolt going but not to properly tighten (hard) the bolt. I've been told the ratchets cannot (or were not designed) to handle strong tightenings.

Thanks

I only have experience with Gearwrench. Everyone says, as well as it's written on the package, that ratcheting wrenches are not meant for breaking frozen fasteners loose. They aren't "as strong as" the regular box end.

That being said, I've put a serious amount of torque into the 7/16", 1/2", and 9/16", and I've never broken one. Those are the ones I use mainly. 15/16" is the nut size on 5/8" wedge anchors, and I've tightened them down with almost my whole body weight (245lbs) and that wrench works like new, still. 9/16" is the nut size for 3/8" bolts, and the ratchet end will strip the threads on a grade 5 bolt without breaking.

I watched a video today on changing control arms on a Sentra, and the guy used a 22mm Gearwrench brand to break the bolts loose, AND he did the "2nd wrench for extra leverage" trick.

I believe the tool companies simply tell you not to use the ratcheting end for high torque simply for liability and warranty reasons. Some common sense is always needed, but you can lean into Gearwrenches with more than enough torque for 99% of the stuff you will do.

 

[rattlesnake436]

gear wrench makes some great ratcheting wrenches

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[gdocktor3]

The Carlyle aren't the same as Matco US made proswing series and the Carlyle ratcheting combination wrenches have 6 point ratcheting boxed ends with a 90 tooth action. Now Matco does sell Kabo made ratcheting wrenches that may be similar but, I believe they are all spline boxed ends.

The Matco US made proswing series are 12 point and 72 tooth.
Hey, to me I don't really care about an open end on a ratcheting wrench. I've got lots of combination wrenches to meet my open end needs.

To me, the best overall ratcheting wrench is the Proswing boxed end sold by Matco or Armstrong and Kabo has a similar wrench but with spline ends. I digress, what makes this wrench the best to be to me is that on one end you have a fixed 15 degree offset boxed end for breaking a fastener loose or for final tightening. On the other end is a fine tooth zero offset ratcheting boxed end for speeding the fastener on or off. Now don't confuse these wrenches with Gearwrench Gearboxes. The Gearbox is a fine wrench but, its extra long length makes them almost too long to use in some situations.

So the Carlyle ratchet wrenches have a higher tooth count then Matco and GW, but do they feel good in the hand? Are they smooth like the Matco of clunky like an old 6 point craftsman ratcheting box wrench?

As for the double box end wrenches, I've wanted them for a while. One day cruising on eBay I found a new set of Expert double box end ratchet wrenches. They were metric, which I rarely use, and cheap, so I gave them a shot. Boy are they junk! I haven't really tested the fixed end, but the ratchet mechanism is sooo sloppy it looks like a blown out wheel bearing wobbling around.

 

[T45]

'cheap, so I gave them a shot. Boy are they junk! '

suprised? this is one area where you don't really want to buy used or chep

get a decent set with warranty and when the fail, get some support

in europe this may be tougher to manage as alot of the co's don't do lifetime replacements

but ratched wrenches are not strong/durable nor are they rebuildable for the most part

so this needs to be considered....at point of purchase

i've had to warranty them after a couple years and appreciate having good units and good customer svc...

and if you are breaking bolts an stuff it will happen sooner or later probably with any brand

 

[gdocktor3]

'cheap, so I gave them a shot. Boy are they junk! '

suprised? this is one area where you don't really want to buy used or chep

They're Expert sold by Proto and Mac. I use a lot of Taiwan made Blackhawk and Proto at work and it's all decent stuff. I assumed these would be too. I actually made a thread asking about them and everyone told me to go for it. I'm not too upset about it as they were only $80 and not the $150 originally advertised, but I wouldn't recommend them for $40. I paid less for my Gearwrench stuff and they're great.

 

[Fedwrench]

So the Carlyle ratchet wrenches have a higher tooth count then Matco and GW, but do they feel good in the hand? Are they smooth like the Matco of clunky like an old 6 point craftsman ratcheting box wrench? They have a high tooth count of at least 72 teeth but, the reversible combinations are a standard length wrench and not long pattern. they are quite smooth. They remind me of the old G Pro aside from being 6 point.

As for the double box end wrenches, I've wanted them for a while. One day cruising on eBay I found a new set of Expert double box end ratchet wrenches. They were metric, which I rarely use, and cheap, so I gave them a shot. Boy are they junk! I haven't really tested the fixed end, but the ratchet mechanism is sooo sloppy it looks like a blown out wheel bearing wobbling around.

I've never used the Expert line. For extra long ratcheting boxed end wrenches, it's hard to beat the Gearwrench Gearbox or their 120xp spline series.

 

[houdni]

Matco's extra long set....hard to beat... expensive? Yes...but worth it!

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Just picked up a Gearwrench 20-pc set from Sears yesterday and I love them! Great bang for the buck. The sale price was $49.99 online plus my points so I ended up paying about $37 for the set.

 

[shockwave]

Do you have Matco wrenches to compare to? Are the Carlyle spline box end?

I have the spline Matco ratcheting flex which is the same as as Carlyle the 12 points are rebranded gearwrench I believe unless you get older proswing usually in red box

I am curious on those gedore wrenches theylook super nice

 

[Leon67]

As Monte pointed, the only ratchet wrenches made in Europe with warranty are the Gedore in the picture. Go for the newer model. 8-19mm in a metal box can be found at about 200-240 euros.

The Hazet mentioned are sourced in Taiwan, they do not have the German flag in the catalog. Facom-Usag-Expert are also Taiwan-China.

 

[jt777]

I own lots of gearwrench and i love them. I have straight ones and flex head ones. I want to get a set of reversible offset because there are many times they would have saved me alot of time. I make a point not to use the ratcheting end for high torque so i have never stripped one.

 

[Jim Diesel]

I also use Gearwrench daily. Never had any dramas, mind you i never miss treat them.