Best flex-head ratcheting combination wrench

[petalmasher]

Shortly after I got my job I had a bolt head that I couldn't get at with a Ratchet and socket. I ended up going to a nearby Ace and bought a set of 5 GearWrench flex ratcheting combination wrenches. As it happened, I ended up using these wrenches a lot. Having a few of the more commonly used sizes in my tool bag has saved me a lot of time, not needing to open up my socket set find the socket/extension/ratchet and assemble them. They have saved me some trips back out to my car to get my pass-through socket set. Plus, there are the occasions when only these wrenches would give me access to a nut or bolt.

After a year of use, the rings occasionally start to slide out of the two sizes I use most as I’m using them. I can pop it back in, but I feel like I’ll eventually end up having a spring or some other component fall out from inside the wrench when the ring slips out, so I am looking to replace them. I am not into warranty replacements because if the way and frequency with which I use a tool causes it to break or ware out, I don’t need another one to replace it, I need a better one that can stand up to my use. Particularly since the same thing is happening with two of them, it seems they are just aren't up to the task as opposed to being a freak manufacturing defect that wouldn't be likely to happen again.

I know that ratcheting wrenches are kind of Gearwrench’s wheelhouse, but I’d like to know if anyone knows if there is a company that does it better. I’m looking at these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001HWOQAK/?tag=atomicindus08-20, I’d like to hear if anyone has experience that sets apart a particular brand as clearly better than others.

 

[west wind]

Gearwrench are a great value. I got a blue point set recentley I really like. Seams like they are a little smoother.

 

[Qualitytools]

The Blackhawk by Proto is a division of Stanley tools. Good product although, I have no first hand experience with it. Take a look at Facom 467 series of wrenches, they make a flex and non-flex, their wrenches are thinner overall so getting into tight spots is a plus. I am waiting for my Facom 467 set to arrive, I made the decision to buy them based on a lot of praise and recommendations from GJ members that have them. Let us know what you end up getting and how you like them in comparison.

 

[SASORacing]

Get something with the flank drive plus style open end, its a must if you ever want true confidence when torquing with that end. It might just save your bolt from rounding, and knucjkles from bleeding!

 

[tbaggz]

Protos .hands down.

 

[bcradio]

Protos .hands down.

Yeah, give proto a shot for sure.

 

[BK13]

Learn something new every day. I didn't know Proto made flex ratcheting combos....

I wish they were US made and reversible though....

 

[noggs]

I use my Gearwrench set almost daily. I love them

 

[Chuck122]

MAC tools. I prefer them to my coworker's snap on and any gearwrench I've ever used. They just feel... Tighter... Or they just don't feel as loose and fragile

 

[BFHtime]

I have my eye on EZRed double jointed double box reversibles. I played with them a little and they are nice. I do not know if they have these available with an open end.

If you need an open end I would suggest Flank drive plus because they are the best for not slipping and/or spreading. They are not for finish work though, as they leave bite marks on fasteners. These are not made in flex head.

I have found that the old Craftsman professional ratcheting mechanism has the best action although probably not the strongest.

I have a friend with reversible stubby Blackhawks which work well, but has some with broken selector switches.

I do not know of a US made flex head ratchet wrench, maybe SK? Snap-On does not make one, Blue Point does.

There are some with splines too, that I have seen on here that are pretty decent.

Matco has some varieties as well, although there stuff is rebranded and not us made, if that matters to you.

Mac has a nice set of wrenches that come in a nice little holder case where it holds half of the wrenches in the top, and the other half in the bottom. The case flips open, clamshell like, it is a nice little case and may be convenient for you. I do not remember if they came in ratcheting types with flex heads, but that case held the wrenches tightly together. The wrenches seemed light but worked very well. I only used them a couple times as they were not mine, but they were very nice.

Some brands have it so the flex head can be locked at an angle, this may be something you like, or maybe it gets in the way. I don't have any that lock so, I do not know. I have tried some in my hand, but never really had a chance to work them, to have an opinion ion on them.

Gearwrench makes many different styles as well. Although they are popular I don't have love for them, other brands feel better to me.

My oldest set which are Craftsman professional reversibles, not raised panel, have the tightest tolerances and least back drag of all of the ones I have ever tried. I did many comparisons, and even took measurements. I have a couple Snap-On sets, a stubby flex Blue Point set and the Craftsman, they are all a little different, and each have their advantages and disadvantages, within the ratchet wrench world. Newer Chinese made craftsman are too big to fit in tight places, although newer production has improved, I hear the industrial Craftsman are good. I will probably get a set of those too, because they ratchet better than the rest, and I am afraid they won't make them anymore, at some point in the future.

I hope that helps. Good luck.

 

[Ign]

Interested. Would like to know which are locking though.

 

[BFHtime]

Craftsman and Matco have locking, also EZRed. I just look at the EZRed, and they are not double joint like I thought they are locking.

I believe Matco has some with a double jointed box. I am sure there are others, because Matco does not make their own tools, but they do have their own specs sometimes, so there are name brands out there with similar or the same stuff, with a different name.

 

[Hammer1963]

Matco or the Cornwell double flex head wrenches

 

[BFHtime]

I did not know Cornwell made those too, cool.

 

[Hammer1963]

I did not know Cornwell made those too, cool.

and they are Spline drive at that. Very nice product!

 

[BFHtime]

I will have to look into those, thanks for posting.

 

[Hammer1963]

I will have to look into those, thanks for posting.

Check the Cornwell October sales flyer on their web page as I believe they are on sale this month

 

[BFHtime]

Ooo, oh boy. checking now.

 

[BFHtime]

Those do not look like they are locking, but that is a pretty good discount.

 

[logixjock]

My unicorn is a set of NON-LOCKING flex head ratcheting wrenches with Flank Drive +, or something similar. I HATE locking flex heads. If Gearwrench would go back to the non lobster claw production and improve the bite of the open end they would sell like gangbusters IMNSHO. I know I'd be in for a set of SAE and Metric for both work and home.

 

[240sxguy]

I have an old set of Blackhawk I bought from Mac tools in about 2003. They are worlds better than the gearwrench ones that I bought as a backup set. The ratchet mechanism moves more freely so it doesn't just turn the damn nut or bolt back and forth.

 

[tbaggz]

http://www.protoindustrial.com/en/i...atcheting-Combination-Wrench-Set---12-point-/

 

[petalmasher]

Well dang,
There were some good suggestions here. It took a while for this tread to get rolling and I just ended up buying the blackhawk wrenches from Amazon. I kind of wish I had seen the suggestions first. The Blackhawks are OK; a little smaller than the Gearwrenches they replaced. I think the ratchet moves more freely on the Gearwrench and I could defiantly do without the locking head. The real test will come with time and whether or not they stand up to prolonged frequent use.

 

[BFHtime]

The black hawk mechanisms move pretty well, but be careful with the reverse levers, they seem to break easy. My friend has a set that are stubby, not used often. There are several missing the reverse levers.