Armstrong Ratcheting Wrenches? Or alternative MFG?

[catalytic]

I need a new set of SAE combination wrenches to replace my main, go-to set. I would prefer to get ratcheting wrenches. I'd prefer USA or german-made, but I understand there aren't many choices.

I'm looking at the Armstrong #25-667 10pc set. Has anyone used them & have comments on quality vs other brands? They don't appear to be offset -- are they knuckle busters? Can anyone confirm that the ratcheting mechanism is Taiwan (the wrench says Made in USA).

Here's the set I'm looking at:
http://www.armstrongtools.com/armst...polish-ratcheting-combination-wrench-set.html

The only tempting alternative I have seen is the locking flex head Gearwrench (import) set... am I missing another mfg?

 

[franzdom]

Proto has an American offering but it's splined and very pricey.

 

[monomach]

Unfortunately, ratcheting wrenches can't replace regular combos. You still need the regular set to break fasteners loose. Otherwise, you're going to be one of those guys who keeps warrantying quality ratcheting wrenches and telling everyone they're ****.

But yeah, basically Armstrong or Proto. There are Craftsman Industrial, but the ones I saw are pretty underwhelming.

Really, it's better to go import for ratcheting wrenches.
This: http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/p...EXTRA-LONG-DOUBLE-FLEX-RATCHETING-WRENCH-SET/

or the Gearwrench version of it are sets that would make your eyes light up.

 

[1950mercury]

Those are the same as the craftsman usa reversible wrenches. If you look you can still find them. I have the gearwrench in my road box and the open end is a big lobster claw.

 

[catalytic]

Unfortunately, ratcheting wrenches can't replace regular combos. You still need the regular set to break fasteners loose. ......

Interesting -- Why do you say this? I have always used the open end to break fasteners loose, since the closed end is 12pt and (in my experience) rounds fasteners when I really crank on it. I thought the general idea was use open end to break loose or tighten fully, and ratcheting end to get it the rest of the way?

 

[JDon99]

I carry an Armstrong non reversible with me at work, use it every day, never had a single issue with it. This is in a glass bottle plant, with lots of broken glass and fine glass dust.

 

[General Geoff]

Interesting -- Why do you say this? I have always used the open end to break fasteners loose, since the closed end is 12pt and (in my experience) rounds fasteners when I really crank on it. I thought the general plan was use open end to break loose or tighten fully, and ratcheting end to get it the rest of the way?

Open end will round the fastener under intense torque with the sides opening up.

I find I need the regular non-ratcheting box ends from time to time just due to clearance issues.

 

[Askme42]

I have the armstrongs. Very nice.

 

[Askme42]

Open end will round the fastener under intense torque with the sides opening up.

I find I need the regular non-ratcheting box ends from time to time just due to clearance issues.

Hence the box end/ ratcheting wrenches. Love them.

 

[jabberwoki]

I have Armstrongs and I love them.

 

[1950mercury]

Interesting -- Why do you say this? I have always used the open end to break fasteners loose, since the closed end is 12pt and (in my experience) rounds fasteners when I really crank on it. I thought the general idea was use open end to break loose or tighten fully, and ratcheting end to get it the rest of the way?

You must not wrench on stuff very often.

 

[Fedwrench]

Those are the same as the craftsman usa reversible wrenches. If you look you can still find them. I have the gearwrench in my road box and the open end is a big lobster claw.

NO. The craftsman wrenches aren't nearly as long. The Armstrongs are a long pattern. the craftsman's are shorter.

 

[kts]

I need a new set of SAE combination wrenches to replace my main, go-to set. I would prefer to get ratcheting wrenches. I'd prefer USA or german-made, but I understand there aren't many choices.

I'm looking at this Armstrong set. Has anyone used them & have comments on quality vs other brands? They don't appear to be offset -- are they knuckle busters? Can anyone confirm that the ratcheting mechanism is Taiwan (the wrench says Made in USA).

http://www.armstrongtools.com/armst...rsible-ratcheting-combination-wrench-set.html

I have both Armstrong SAE and metric reversible ratcheting wrenches and I love them. Worlds nicer than the Gearwrench set I started out with way back when.

The Armstrongs are offset so they are not knuckle busters.

I can't confirm where the mechanism is made from, my understanding was the tool was 100% made in the US so they could be used on various gov't contracts but I could be wrong. Mine are stamped Made in USA.

I got my metric set from Epstein's: http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/ratchetwr/54-950.html and I think I got my SAE set from Cripe.

As others have said I wouldn't throw out your regular combo wrenches and just go with the ratcheting. I use both all the time.

 

[1950mercury]

NO. The craftsman wrenches aren't nearly as long. The Armstrongs are a long pattern. the craftsman's are shorter.

Not the ones i have they are the same. It says in the link they are not long pattern...

 

[monomach]

Interesting -- Why do you say this? I have always used the open end to break fasteners loose, since the closed end is 12pt and (in my experience) rounds fasteners when I really crank on it. I thought the general idea was use open end to break loose or tighten fully, and ratcheting end to get it the rest of the way?

Open ends are definitely not for high-torque situations. You've got to be using some really bad box ends if you're getting better results from an open end.

Open ends spread and distort, causing them to slip around a corner and round it a heck of a lot easier than a box end. Or maybe the heads of your fasteners are rusted to oblivion?

 

[Fedwrench]

Not the ones i have they are the same. It says in the link they are not long pattern...

Please see the attached picture for clarification. The set linked is a metric set even though the author mentioned SAE wrenches.

Armstrong only makes one length of reversible ratcheting combination wrenches.

Craftsman only made one length of reversible ratcheting combination wrenches.

pictured below is an Armstrong 13mm reversible combination ratcheting wrench (54-813) compared to a Craftsman 13mm reversible combination ratcheting wrench (42424-GK).

The Armstrong is 8 inches long overall whereas, the craftsman comes in at 6.5 inches overall. The craftsman does not have a modified open end.

Looking at available choices for reversible ratcheting combination wrenches today, I would opt for the Proto full polish versions (not the black ones) of course this would require that you don't have an aversion to spline boxed ends.

I would also cruze ebay for an Armstrong bargain. My favorite ratcheting wrench is the Armstrong proswings. they feature a 15 degree offset fixed boxed end on one side and a 72 tooth ratcheting box end on the other side. Great wrenches!! you can break fasteners loose or do final tightening with the fixed end, and speed things off and on with the ratcheting end. They're similar to the gearbox series but, not nearly as long.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Open ends are definitely not for high-torque situations. You've got to be using some really bad box ends if you're getting better results from an open end.

Open ends spread and distort, causing them to slip around a corner and round it a heck of a lot easier than a box end. Or maybe the heads of your fasteners are rusted to oblivion?

Craftsman (usa) 12 points can do that. Trust me on that.

I ask this whenever it comes up but with a 12 point ring what situation would an open end be needed besides maybe clearance (with the zero offset of an open end)? Obviously them mfgs think you need it for something otherwise they could just "slug" the end.

 

[tbaggz]

I back up an impact with the ratcheting end of my protos.gear wrench just strip.

 

[sonvolt]

I have both the Armstrong and Craftsman reversible, hands down Armstrong wins

 

[CamarosRus]

FEDWRENCH, You mentioned your favorite as the Armstrong Pro Swing.

Years ago you suggested the MATCO Pro-Swing .......which I then bought both SAE and
Metric on EBAY. Are the MATCO and Armstrong "Pro-Swing" the same tool ???

and if not please compare those two.......

Thanks

 

[JDon99]

FEDWRENCH, You mentioned your favorite as the Armstrong Pro Swing.

Years ago you suggested the MATCO Pro-Swing .......which I then bought both SAE and
Metric on EBAY. Are the MATCO and Armstrong "Pro-Swing" the same tool ???

and if not please compare those two.......

Thanks

I believe the Matcos are the ones labeled as Pro-Swings. I don't believe Armstrong calls them anything other than double box end ratcheting. Great wrenches nonetheless, and made by the same company(at least the USA Matcos)

http://www.armstrongtools.com/wrenches/ratcheting

 

[Wylaco]

I have a few of each, almost like a mish mash between Armstrong and Gearwrench. Never really had any issues with either of them. I also have pretty much given up on conventional wrenches pretty much only use ratcheting at this point.

 

[BFHtime]

Craftsman made raised panel versions of ratchet wrenches also, not just the smooth finish professional versions.

The armstrongs in the first pic are not reversible.

The craftsman professional reversible ratcheting wrenches that I have, will spread on the open end with a good amount of torque. They also have the best ratcheting mechanism out of many I have tested and measured. The best ratcheting mechanism for a ratcheting wrench, I have not found a better one yet.

I suggest ez-red for long ratcheting flex wrenches, the ones that have two joints on each end and are reversible, I plan on getting a set after I move. For high torque probably not the best, but very versatile and reversible. My Snap-On guy carries these.

Ratchet wrenches are great.

I also plan on getting a set of spline reversible ratcheting wrenches, if those Protos have a similar mechanism to the craftsman, I will not hesitate to pick up a set.

 

[Fedwrench]

The armstrongs in the first pic are not reversible.

Yes we have a new picture of a different set now. Yesterday, it was a reversible metric set linked.

 

[catalytic]

Yes we have a new picture of a different set now. Yesterday, it was a reversible metric set linked.

Yea -- typo on my part... copied the link from the wrong tab. I'm looking at Armstrong set #28-901, which is 7pc SAE reversible.

 

[justme-]

Been using Gear wrenches for a long time and as my main wrench at home - breaking fasteners free with no issue. I have only had to warranty 1 (an 8mm) in quite a few years of working on vehicles in the salt belt. I'd never back an impact with one, but no worries about torque holding unless today's production is not as strong, which may be the case.
Rumer is SK will introduce a set soon.
I've used Snap-on and Blue point reversibles - neither seemed any better than my gear wrenches.

 

[stage20]

FEDWRENCH, You mentioned your favorite as the Armstrong Pro Swing.

Years ago you suggested the MATCO Pro-Swing .......which I then bought both SAE and
Metric on EBAY. Are the MATCO and Armstrong "Pro-Swing" the same tool ???

and if not please compare those two.......

Thanks

armstrong used to manufacture the pro swings for matco. i have a full set of sae and mm and love them. i broke a 13mm and found an armstrong at the flea market for a dollar, so ive still got a full set. i actually prefer the armstrong logo, and of course if you buy new, the armstrong is much cheape.r

 

[Triple macs]

Unlike the Craftsmans, the Armstrongs also have their version of flank drive on the open end.

 

[Thegratenate]

I encounter too many situations where I have to use an open end, and don't like the idea of lugging around a second set of wrenches to cover those situations. So for me it's traditional combo configuration, with a ratcheting box on the sizes I can afford to have. Reversing lever and offset are mandatory, they're not worth carrying around if they don't have those.

 

[Mr. T]

I have a MM set of the reversibles at work. I absolutely love them. Top notch in every way, especially price. Then again... I didn't pay for them.

 

[ATC]

I love my Proto Blackhawk's. They are reversible too.

 

[Ign]

I love my Proto Blackhawk's. They are reversible too.

Yeah I was just looking at those in the MSC catalog. $150 for metric 8-19mm or $105 for 5/16-3/4 (which reminds me the 1/4" is one reason I love my old SK set). They also offer jumbos 13/16 thru 1 1/4 or 21-34mm (skipping many sizes). Jumbo sets $240 ea