Craftsman ratcheting wrenches?

[eeprete]

I am looking to pick up some ratcheting wrenches. I've noticed there are several styles out there.

There is the "pawless" wrench, like pictured here:

Then ones with the polished finish like these, coming with reversible, secondary action etc:

How are the pawless ones?

My local Sears Hardware is closing and I am thinking about trying to get both metric and SAE as the time comes close all depending on which ones I can get.

Although I still see much lower prices on ebay, and also even Sears.com seems to be way cheaper than the store. Currently the store has 20% off all tools. Ashame there is no holiday sale occuring at the same time.

 

[lithdoc]

I own the reversible polished ones I got at Kmart years ago I got there at clearance for $15. They are very nice, high quality wrenches, but they do not come in any usable case.

The pawless ones look very much like their run-of-the mill basic wrenches with a ratcheting end. They're subtantially lower quality, feel lighter, metal is softer. I've had several of them simply slip when more torque was applied - the jaws would simply spread!

 

[Brandon_Lutz]

The pawless ones are average at best.

I have an SAE and Metric set of the reversible Craftsman wrenches. High polish, excellent quality and I've yet to have an issue with them after 3 years of use. I would like to note that my sets are the old USA made series. I don't know if you can get the USA made sets anymore.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

I have a set similar set to what is first posted. The difference being is the open end has a head designed for removing rounded bolt heads and nuts. They work well in this manner.

I haven't used the ratching end a whole lot. Less number of teeth than the offset version. I prefer the gearwrench reversible type that I have. With the offset end, it makes some room to get you hand under the wrench when working in close quarters.

I suspect that the craftsman and gearwrench reversable are both danaher products, they're the same tool just rebranded

 

[junk4dummies]

I have all the chrome ones. I have stubby, regular, T wrench sets. I have revers lever and ones you flip. I have them in SAE and Metric, I have them in 15 degree up angle and streight. I have all gearwrench and gotten my grandsons some nice Craftsman. I use the streigth ones on my mill and metal late. When I want to tighten a bolt or nut it is a 90 degree steight pull on the tool post. I don't like the wrench angled up for working with my machines. If you are doing auto work and don't have room for you fingers the angled ones are better. I love the twisted handled ones. They have a larger flat to pull on. For repaiirs I like my lever reverse sets.
I would got wit the levered angled reverse sets in polished Chrome. My stubby reverse are very handy in tight places.

 

[Fedwrench]

I suspect that the craftsman and gearwrench reversable are both danaher products, they're the same tool just rebranded

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The polished set pictured is desirable old stock that was made in Armstrong Factories in the United States. They are not as long as Armstrong reversible ratcheting wrenches nor do they have the opitorque modified open end.
However, they are great ratcheting wrenches. They are finished nicer than anything with Gearwrench stamped on it, have thicker beams, and have a crisper ratcheting action. Sadly, current versions are made in the PRC and feature crab claw open ends.
Now, those pawless wrenches are pitiful. They have like a 36 tooth action that just *****. They were phased out in regular Sears stores quite awhile ago. I would avoid those.

 

[lithdoc]

I second on the low quality of GearWrench ratcheting wrenches also. They are thin, light, made of cheap steel. The chrome was tons of scratches after just mild use, while the Craftsman ones are still nice and shiny.

 

[Ishy]

I have the older USA made polished ones and they are my second favorite tool. Incredibly useful, and I mistreat them and they just keep on tickin' (pun intended). I would not find a non-pawled set nearly as useful. The pawled ones can get into lots of awkward spaces.

The oddest thing was the set I bought did not come with a 14mm wrench (it wasn't missing, Sears just did not include it in the set at the time), so I had to buy that separate. That was super annoying, as I'm a Nissan guy and half the bolts on a Nissan are 14mm.

I would love to have a full set of metric and SAE of the polished ones.

 

[cbracer]

I suspect that the craftsman and gearwrench reversable are both danaher products, they're the same tool just rebranded

I have a craftsman set of the non-reversible, flat no angle, and it is different from the Gearwrench version. They are longer and not the same as the long Gearwrench. The set I have is USA made, likely by Armstrong. Only problem is they don't offer 9mm and the sets skip 11mm. And have nothing bigger than 19mm (same with Armstrong). I bought a set of Gearwrench ones that I'm very happy with and they come in all sizes. I'd much rather have my craftsman USA made ones, but they don't offer all the sizes I need.

 

[tpolley]

the reversible set isn't made anymore. they have some china **** now. those of us with the reversible sets are f***ed if we have to warranty a wrench.

 

[Altec]

I met the guy who invented those pawless wrenches not long ago. He was a great guy, and he pointed out some very nice features about them that I would never of noticed. For starters that are amazingly simple in design. Second they have a much stronger mechanism because the lack of a pawl. Instead it uses the wrench itself. Which is a stronger metal. Finally, they have the ability to free wheel when you need. If you get bound up for example. Just push the wrench toward the leaf spring inside, and it releases the engagement of the teeth.

Not end-all, or fine tooth, but are neat to have...

 

[Rocket1]

I have one of the polished wrenches and it's very nice. I've had it several years and the only reason I have just the one was for a project I was doing. The 21mm size I needed only came separate and that was the only 21mm on the shelf. I wish I had gone back and bought the whole set now.

 

[kippieland]

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The polished set pictured is desirable old stock that was made in Armstrong Factories in the United States. They are not as long as Armstrong reversible ratcheting wrenches nor do they have the opitorque modified open end.
However, they are great ratcheting wrenches. They are finished nicer than anything with Gearwrench stamped on it, have thicker beams, and have a crisper ratcheting action. Sadly, current versions are made in the PRC and feature crab claw open ends.
Now, those pawless wrenches are pitiful. They have like a 36 tooth action that just *****. They were phased out in regular Sears stores quite awhile ago. I would avoid those.

Pitful is an understatement! I was given thoughts pawless ones for a gift 5 years ago. They are complete sh*t! They are so rough, it makes their ratchets feel smooth. I saw them at a local ACE and they want $60 bucks and change for them. I am replacing them with a Genius set. Avoid like the plague!

 

[Halligan]

I was lucky enough to find the USA made full polish sets in both sae and metric last year so I purchased them. They seem like good quality and I'm happy with them. I doubt you will find a USA made set nowadays but if you do I would buy it asap.

 

[eeprete]

thanks for all the responses. I have found a set of reversing c-man USA metrics. It seems as if those are preferred over the GW? Now the only catch is, they want 100 for them but they are 20% off, bringing them down to 80.

I also located a couple of SAE and metric non-reverse ratcheting c-man sets. Seems the going rate on those is about 60 per? is that a fair price? Not too worried about warranty purposes, none of my tools see ultra heavy use.

 

[purplezr2]

I have a set of polished ones that are 10 years old or so, other then some chrome peel on the common sizes they have been good, I have broke a few abusing them over the years. I would say they are damn close to snap on in respect to actual ratcheting action, I have both, I like the Snap on due to the extra length.