Best ratcheting wrenches?

[redbarron57]

What brand of ratcheting wrenches do you use, do you plan ongoing with something else in the future? Is there brand you have seen at work in your co workers box that you really like?

 

[Dobbin]

I have 2 sets at the moment. In my tractor tool box are Facoms that are absolutely fantastic. In the general workshop are Teng which unlike the Facom have no offset which is a definite disadvantage . Although by way of contradiction I am looking at the Wera jokers for my truck. They also have no offset but might be outweighed by the interesting open end. Other guys on the farm have Snap on ,Draper, Britool. With anything ratcheting I would to go higher end price range. Hope that is any help

 

[Marc Benjamin]

I have and love this:



10 PIECE ZERO DEGREE FLEX RATCHETING EXTRA LONG WRENCH SET

Hard to beat.



Planning on getting the Snap-ON SOEXRM710 next:

And I should be done buying wrenches!!! I promise!

 

[ng8264723]

I love my gearwrench. I bought a combined set of SAE and metric for $60 at Sears

 

[IFMJohn]

I've got gearwrench reversables and gearwrench 0 degree offset stubbies. I love both of them and use them professionally.

 

[jonjon1]

I have to say I used the snapon, sk, mac, and matco. I prefer the gear wrench sets, I also like the 0 degree because it kills two birds with one stone, you get a zero degree wrench for your box and a ratcheting wrench..

I just picked up one of them pass through 3/8" kits from napa for $30ish, and I like that too, I have had the matching magnetic oil drain set for a while, and now the matching ratchet from that set...

I have a bunch of the gear wrench sets, the 16pc metric and sae, the stubbies, the flex, and the X beams, all work very very well and I have yet to break one..

 

[bahcoswed]

Facom 467! Very slim design! I adore these wrenches because of their very low arc swing and a thin ratchet head design! The satinfinish is great to, not like stahlwilles, but better than polished chrome that is like a wet soap in your hands I dont get the idea to build a tool so slippery...I know its a benefit when you are cleaning it, but i doesnt se any problem at all to clean my satin tools, little harder to vipe clean maybe.

 

[redbarron57]

Those Matcos are nice how much did that set you back?

 

[redbarron57]

How do you post an URL image?

 

[brook41]

Here you go http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=283512

 

[Tim37]

I have a set of metric gearwrench that are atleast 15 years old. I also have a set of Cornwell at work.
Mine are both the zero offset nonreversable type I have been thinking about adding some reversible or some fled
X head like the matco shown.

 

[cheechi]

I have had GW from when they first came out as well as some more recent ones, cman, HF, and blue point/williams. The mechanism in the blue points is the best of all these listed, followed by the most recent GW I have.

None of them are bad. If you are a pro go with the brand thats easiest for you to warranty because everyone uses them to break stuff loose and then will eventually get a broken one, probably in your most common size.

 

[redbarron57]

I dont use ratchets or anything that spins to break torque, or I try not to. I had a set of gear wrenches before and I stripped/ spun out 3/8,7/16,1/2 and 9/16 in about a two year window.needless to say that was about 12 years ago and their product is probably better now. That is why I guess I am asking for advice on them. I was really turned off to them for a while but I have been seeing some pretty good stuff out there now.

has anyone used or heard anything about these?

<img src= "http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41X0jouLaxL.jpg">

ATD Tools 99650 XL Ratcheting Wrench Set with 10 Metric Sizes - 5 Piece

<img src= "http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31zbgzmhmuL._SX466_.jpg">

Mountain (MTNRM6) 5 Piece Metric Double Box Universal Spline Reversible Ratcheting
Wrench Set

<img src= "http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51STL7evtrL.jpg">

or these, Armstrong 54-950 10 Piece 12 Point Full Polish Reversible Ratcheting Combination Wrench Set

or this,
<img src= "http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61%2BC6MsPkqL._SL1000_.jpg">

Sunex 9931M Metric V-Groove Flex Head Combination Ratcheting Wrench Set, 12-Piece

 

[jobo1004]

I dont use ratchets or anything that spins to break torque, or I try not to. I had a set of gear wrenches before and I stripped/ spun out 3/8,7/16,1/2 and 9/16 in about a two year window.needless to say that was about 12 years ago and their product is probably better now. That is why I guess I am asking for advice on them. I was really turned off to them for a while but I have been seeing some pretty good stuff out there now.

has anyone used or heard anything about these?

<img src= "http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41X0jouLaxL.jpg">

ATD Tools 99650 XL Ratcheting Wrench Set with 10 Metric Sizes - 5 Piece

<img src= "http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31zbgzmhmuL._SX466_.jpg">

Mountain (MTNRM6) 5 Piece Metric Double Box Universal Spline Reversible Ratcheting Wrench Set

I've got the SAE & Metric sets of the Mountains (only difference I can tell between the Mountain, ATD and Platinum versions of these wrenches is that the Mountain ones have 90 teeth). They're nice to look at, but I've only had them for a couple of weeks and wouldn't say I've put them through much of a test so far.

 

[redbarron57]

So far these are what I am looking at, I am leaning toward the double boxed end.

 

[jobo1004]

A lot of people also seem to like the GearWrench version that is only ratcheting on one end. I opted for the Mountain wrenches because I liked the reversible feature and the offset. In tight quarters though it is possible to accidentally reverse the Mountain wrenches.

http://www.tooltopia.com/kd-tools-86126.aspx

http://www.tooltopia.com/kd-tools-86142.aspx

 

[Sanny81]

I love my gearwrench. I bought a combined set of SAE and metric for $60 at Sears

I have the same set and like them a lot.

 

[kythri]

Do you have better pictures of the Mountain wrenches? I'm not understanding the whole reversible and offset aspect of them. The pictures here and that I've found look like they're simply a flex-head double-box wrench, so, assumably, to reverse, you'd flip them over, and the off-set would be determined by the flex.

 

[hamilton113]

I have a set of metric Gearwrench reversibles that came highly recommended by a couple of guys I worked with. I've used them professionally for a few years now and love them.

 

[Showkey]

I have flex head and fixed head with an off set.

I choose the flex head version 99% of the time.

They all happen to be Grearwrench brand........

 

[jobo1004]

Do you have better pictures of the Mountain wrenches? I'm not understanding the whole reversible and offset aspect of them. The pictures here and that I've found look like they're simply a flex-head double-box wrench, so, assumably, to reverse, you'd flip them over, and the off-set would be determined by the flex.

I hope the attached pictures help. It may be the wrong terminology, but I was referring to the black part that sticks out from the rest of the wrench as the offset. The little button slides back and forth to change the ratcheting direction.

 

[kythri]

Ah, thanks for the pictures. That definitely helps to illustrate.

I don't know what you'd call the exposed/extended bit there - the socket? Offset, in wrenches at least, refers to the angle of the box end in relation to the beam. How you have the head in those pictures would be a 0-degree offset. Flex it 15 degrees, and it's now offset 15 degrees.

 

[czgunner]

I bought the Proto set a few weeks back. So far, so good.

 

[Strouty]

Proto, Made in Texas!

 

[Marc Benjamin]

Those Matcos are nice how much did that set you back?

Around $450 with Tax.

Had to pass on that months ****** budget to get those.

 

[avairgen]

I've used GW's professionally for years day in and day out. Only had one issue in all that time. My most commonly used flex head got a little to floppy for my taste. As long as you use a solid boxed end for breaking loose stubborn bolts GW's will put cash in your pocket every day without issue

 

[BK13]

Man, I want to get some of those Protos!

I'd also like to try out some of the Facoms, and I'd really like to give the Gedores a look...

 

[BK13]

Around $450 with Tax.

Had to pass on that months ****** budget to get those.

Bummer about the hookers. By your description, I assume the blow was still available? LOL

 

[Marc Benjamin]

Bummer about the hookers. By your description, I assume the blow was still available? LOL

Did too much blow at the time I guess to plunk down $450 on a set of wrenches.

 

[BK13]

Laughin'

 

[T_Roze]

I use a metric and sae GearWrench set professionally. Love them. Break bolts loose, and occasionally they see a snipe, as they are my zero degree offset wrenches as well. 5 years and no trouble yet.

Only thing I would change, is to get a reversible style. Mine do not have a reversing lever, you just flip the wrench over. This leads to the possibility of trapping the wrench against close quarters objects to the bolt you are working with.

 

[bahcoswed]

I have had GW from when they first came out as well as some more recent ones, cman, HF, and blue point/williams. The mechanism in the blue points is the best of all these listed, followed by the most recent GW I have.

None of them are bad. If you are a pro go with the brand thats easiest for you to warranty because everyone uses them to break stuff loose and then will eventually get a broken one, probably in your most common size.

The bluepoint,Wurth and jh williams has dual80 mechanism! I like them to, very smooth! BUT the arc swing is huge and the box end is huge that to! http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=243672&highlight=facom+wurth

 

[JonDick13926]

Honestly, the only ones I have used at a small set (skipped sizes) or made in china Husky non reversible. Thought they would be absolute junk, but in the last week I have used them at school twice (once to take a rack and pinion out of a 2003 civic, and once to disassemble/reassemble a transmission out of a 2006 RL). Glad I had them with me.

I have also used Gearwrench, which seem to be finer. No idea if one is stronger than the other, as I have never broken any.

I do plan to get some of Snap On's FD+ reversible ratcheting wrenches at some point in the near future.

 

[SantaAna12]

Looking good Strouty!

 

[kctyphoon]

i dont have anything to contribute except this video i came across.. nobody mentioned carlyle, so i will..

 

[Monte]

Gedore - because they´re german

 

[Rico.]

I used to have Gearwrench but once I got my first set of Facom ratcheting spanners I ended up selling the Gearwrenches and buying 4 sets of Facom ratcheting spanners.

6-24mm reversible
6-19mm zero offset
8-19mm flex head
8-17mm stubby reversible

The Facom's are in a different league compared to all the others I've used. They really are that good IMHO.

 

[Strouty]

I used to have Gearwrench but once I got my first set of Facom ratcheting spanners I ended up selling the Gearwrenches and buying 4 sets of Facom ratcheting spanners.

6-24mm reversible
6-19mm zero offset
8-19mm flex head
8-17mm stubby reversible

The Facom's are in a different league compared to all the others I've used. They really are that good IMHO.

No SAE?

 

[czgunner]

Proto, Made in Texas!

Interesting, mine are Taiwan....

 

[Strouty]

Interesting, mine are Taiwan....

Yeah, Proto has made it a little confusing. These are the "I beam" style wrench.

Are yours the black ones?

These were also on sale and I still paid $1200 total for both sets. They were about $1900 regular price.