"Blue Point" ratcheting wrenches

[Wolverine]

Do you have them and how do you like them? I've seen a lot of "new" sets on eBay for somewhat reasonable prices. I wish they were the "snap-on" version, but don't see many of those out there.

 

[Canadian Charlie]

Whats the difference between the Snap On ones and the Blue Point ones?

 

[kartracer55]

Well both are made overseas, at least the ratcheting mechanism is because the patent exists in taiwan or so I have found out on here. Stanley branded ones are the same way. Same deal with the SK too, although Id imagin the wrenches themselves might be made here.

Jim

 

[motorheadjohn]

I have a set of the Blue Points. They're nice. I think they have a slightly better feel than Gearwrench brand. However, they cost more, and they suffer the same problems i.e. don't use them to break bolts loose, and be careful tightening bolts to high torque, or you risk damaging the ratchet mechanism. I busted my 7/16" Blue Point over-torqueing some nuts and had to replace it. Not a cheap mistake.

 

[Wolverine]

I have a set of the Blue Points. They're nice. I think they have a slightly better feel than Gearwrench brand. However, they cost more, and they suffer the same problems i.e. don't use them to break bolts loose, and be careful tightening bolts to high torque, or you risk damaging the ratchet mechanism. I busted my 7/16" Blue Point over-torqueing some nuts and had to replace it. Not a cheap mistake.

No lifetime warranty? Maybe I should just go with the Craftsman ratcheting wrenches, then if one breaks like that, walk to the counter and just pick up a new one?

Maybe it's just not worth the fuss with ratcheting wrenches?

 

[kartracer55]

No lifetime warranty? Maybe I should just go with the Craftsman ratcheting wrenches, then if one breaks like that, walk to the counter and just pick up a new one?

Maybe it's just not worth the fuss with ratcheting wrenches?

Craftsman pros are nice... my friend has them, and we have both put these to some serious work, and they hold up. I have the cheap standard ones, and they arnt nearly as nice, btu I primarily use ratchets. Eventually ill get the pros, or maybe the SK... they are coming down in price.

Jim

 

[YJTypeR]

The Craftsman Pro's have taken quite a bit of abuse from me. I constantly use them, much more convenient than a ratchet more times than not on small things. I have some of the flex head gearwrenches and they feel quite a bit cheaper in the ratcheting mechanism.

 

[motorheadjohn]

No lifetime warranty? Maybe I should just go with the Craftsman ratcheting wrenches, then if one breaks like that, walk to the counter and just pick up a new one?

Maybe it's just not worth the fuss with ratcheting wrenches?

I ignored the warning to not break bolts loose with them, then broke it tightening a bunch of 1/4-20 nuts on a project. I am not a mechanic, just a garage junkie, and haven't been able to get hooked up with a local truck/dealer. I bought it on-line. So, combining the hassle of dealing with the internet for an exchange, and more importantly being a personal-accountibility kind of guy, knowing I over-torqued it......my fault, I paid for a replacement.

I looked at the Craftsman ratchet wrenches when they first came out, but they looked identical to the reversible Gear Wrenches with a $20 higher price tag ($59 versus $79).

If you KNOW you are going to break 3-4 of them and expect Sears to exchange them, then the $20 higher cost may be justified. Otherwise, I would buy the gear wrenches and just be careful how you use them.

I use mine a lot...very handy...just can't go gorilla on them all the time.

 

[kartracer55]

You CAN go gorilla on the sears pro ones... at least I have

Jim

 

[motorheadjohn]

My comments above were from 3-4 years ago when Gear Wrenches first came out. Now that I think about it, I've never had a problem with my Gear Wrenches and I have used them pretty hard. Maybe I just had a flawed 7/16" Blue Point? I dunno. I assumed it was my fault when it broke, so I bought a new single wrench to replace it.

I didn't realize Sears now has a Professional version of the ratcheting wrenches. I was in Sears a month ago doing all my Christmas shopping and didn't notice them

I've got both regular Craftsman and Professional sets of combination wrenches. I dig the Professionals. Now I gotta go back and look for the Professional ratcheting wrenches. You guys are bad bad influences!!!

BTW, everyone on my list this year got a 5-pc Craftsman Professional screwdriver set, AND either Professional wire cutters and needle nose pliers or Professional standard pliers. Two brothers, two friends, grandpa...5 sets of each...it was quite a stack of tools at the checkout counter

 

[stupidjet]

the gearwrenchs are made overseas where as the craftsman are USA.

 

[comp]

got mine at NAPA ,,,Love them

 

[pl_silverado]

Well both are made overseas, at least the ratcheting mechanism is because the patent exists in taiwan or so I have found out on here. Stanley branded ones are the same way. Same deal with the SK too, although Id imagin the wrenches themselves might be made here.

Jim

Not 100% true my friend. Blue Point ones are made in taiwan, made and assembled in taiwan. The snap-on ones are cast in the usa, even though their guts may be made in taiwan, they are still cast and assembled in the usa.

I own the snap-on set.

 

[iiibdsiil]

Buy the Gearwrench ones (KD tools, I think?). They have a wobble head on the side that ratchets. I don't use my Blue Points at all since I got these.