gear wrench opinion

[TheEuronater]

Uh oh.... That last comment may start a huge flare up in the GJ..


But i have bought gearwrench through out the years and still have yet to buy one that was not made in Taiwan. Maybe I am lucky? All the tools work great and are still working. I am wanting to get more of the 120xp line as it is awesome stuff.

I have the comfort grip flex 120xp set and they're so great, they really need to come out with a 120xp comfort flex ½. Pretty much the only hand told I own that aren't US

 

[1990 Grand Wag]

I believe I've heard you talk about Carlyle on here before. Between the two, if you've had experience with both, which company makes a better quick release?

I know you are asking for opinions between the two QR ratchets (I don't have a Gearwrench or Carlyle QR ratchet, but I DO have Gearwrench 120XP (multiple), GW 84T (multiple), GW mechanics sets and wrenches, a few Carlyle non QR ratchets and wrench sets, and I will be honest, I'd give the nod to Carlyle across the board. Carlyle is top notch, Gearwrench can be hit or miss (but I do like GW), but IMNSHO, Carlyle is better.

 

[Greg85mcss]

I would agree that some gearwrench stuff is nicer than USA craftsman. But it depends on what it is and how you define better.

First to the op I have the swivels & like other people said I've only used one once. I'd go for the impact unless it's just something you'd like to have for the collection.

I enjoy using my gw sockets much more than my cm ones but have broken 2 3/8 14mm & never any craftsman. Same for ratcheting wrenches but to be fair I never use the craftsman ones & the gearwrench that broke is the 8mm I bleed brakes with.


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[dclassical]

I can't remember if I answered this before or not and I am too tired to check lol (been up for close to 20 hours now)...

But I have the 3/8" swivel from GW and I like them.
I have the 1/2" swivel impact from SK and I like them too.

 

[gdocktor3]

I know you are asking for opinions between the two QR ratchets (I don't have a Gearwrench or Carlyle QR ratchet, but I DO have Gearwrench 120XP (multiple), GW 84T (multiple), GW mechanics sets and wrenches, a few Carlyle non QR ratchets and wrench sets, and I will be honest, I'd give the nod to Carlyle across the board. Carlyle is top notch, Gearwrench can be hit or miss (but I do like GW), but IMNSHO, Carlyle is better.

Interesting to hear you say that. Anyone else who has used Carlyle and GW choose Carlyle ratchets over GW?

 

[lightning02]

Interesting to hear you say that. Anyone else who has used Carlyle and GW choose Carlyle ratchets over GW?

Probably easier to warranty carlyle as well. I haven't found a store that will warranty GW around where I live yet. They all say call the company. That's why I won't buy GW. Where a carlyle you most likely can just walk into any napa and walk out with a new tool (if in stock)

 

[gdocktor3]

Sears should warrant GW as well as Advance Auto Parts.

 

[lightning02]

Sears should warrant GW as well as Advance Auto Parts.

Not in my town. Some other people have reported the same. It's hit and miss. Better to ask before buying.

 

[Greg85mcss]

Advance will warranty gw but their system doesn't show purchases from other locations so keep your receipt. I asked about non craftsman lifetime before buying a gearwrench set at sears & they said no problem. I exchanged a pair of crescent pliers without issue but when I broke the other pair from the set I took them in. Apparently company policy changed so we're sol unless you find an associate that's competent enough to do the transaction & doesn't know or care about the change.


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[Fedwrench]

Interesting to hear you say that. Anyone else who has used Carlyle and GW choose Carlyle ratchets over GW?

I do. I own ratchets from both lines and several other brands to include truck brands but, my reach for first ratchets on my cart are a 9 inch or so 3/8 drive 90 tooth flex head ratchet with comfort grip and a stubby 1/4 inch drive 90 tooth comfort grip ratchet. I really like these two ratchets and they have served me well.

 

[DSLTRK]

I have one 1/4" roto ratchet from HF and it works, yes, but it is extremely rough and clanky. It does have a quick release, but other than that, I don't like it. I bought it to compare to my Crescent (Apex/Gearwrench) roto ratchet that doesn't have quick release. The Crescent is much smoother and it has longer, more comfortable handle. Neither are serviceable, however.....

The Gearwrench/Crescent uses a spiral retaining ring to secure the ratchet drive in the head. You must use a small pick and have a good set of eyes to find the end and carefully wind it out.

I have the Crescent branded GW rotos and the quality is amazing. Rivals the S/O round head equivalents in function and form, at what, a tenth of the cost?

 

[DSLTRK]

Gear wrench is very good in most cases but they are starting to raise prices as there recognition grows. Their screwdrivers and pliers aren't very good but they price this stuff like their already proven tools (ratchet wenches). I also think they should make some xl DBE wrenches that ratchet on both ends and have 2 sizes per wrench like Mountain and Sunex carry

I dissent about the GW screwdrivers, the ones I have are tough and fit my hand well. They also have the hex steel shanks on the larger drivers as well as diamond coated tips. Price is good also at just under $3 each for a 20 pc set.

 

[kythri]

Sears and Advance (and, really, any GearWrench dealer) is required to, by part of the whole "we carry this product" agreement with the brand, required to handle warranties. If they're refusing, that's idiocy at the store level, not something with the chain. Ask for a manager.

Additionally, I've got to agree with DSLTRK - GW screwdrivers are great - really, just like the rest of their stuff is great. You really can't go wrong with GW stuff.

 

[DSM_PWR]

I like that GW comes out with innovative tools that few offer anywhere else. For instance, the Gearwrench XL Flex Ratcheting Spline wrenches.

Other than Matco, no tool manufacturer sells wrenches quite like these.

 

[nutsnbolts]

Because its not craftsman everyone gets a free pass except them

I strongly disagree with this statement. It isn't like Craftsman and Sears have done everything the way they always have and everyone just turned on them.

20 years ago I went to Sears and bought a Craftsman 300 piece do-all set. When I bought it, there were a handful of knowledgeable guys there ready to answer any question that I had. Those tools have stood the test of time...I still have a lot of them, even though I have moved half a dozen times, left some in a crummy shed that leaked, and, at times, just plain neglected them.

Fast forward 20 years, I went into the same Sears store to buy new tools for my new job as a maintenance tech. There were a few different lines of tools, which told me there were different levels of quality. I looked around and looked around and couldn't for the life of me find anyone for help. Finally I found a kid and he couldn't tell me anything. I looked at the different tools and none of them looked to be the same level of quality of the old tools that I still had. They were new and shiny...and Chinese made. I will pass, thanks.

 

[gdocktor3]

If you look hard enough you can still find some USA made stuff..

That was meant to be funny, but seriously they still make channel locks, adjustable wrenches, hammers, cold chisels, punches, screwdrivers, awls, crow bars, flat bars, pry bars, ratcheting box wrenches, pliers and a few others I'm forgetting. I know I got a 3/8" USA 6 point wrench that I exchanged for an old broke 12 point I had the other day. I didn't know it was USA when I asked, I just wanted a 6 point instead of 12, but sure glad I did. We all have between 3-10 Craftsman 12 point 3/8" wrenches I'm sure, but very few 6 pointers.

Now, I'm sure those are all made by other companies like Mayhew for example, but my point is you can buy those items from Sears at a fraction of the cost you would anywhere else, and always have that no questions asked warranty. And they're good. I have a large collection of tools from all the big names and the USA Craftsman stuff is hands down the best deal period. Not to mention, its usually the same exact stuff, but with other companies logo's on it and a 4x price tag. I won't touch Sears chinese stuff unless its an exchange. And then it goes in the tool box on my trailer. The other day my buddy gave me two 1/2" ratchets that he had broke. So I got one rebuild kit, but couldn't get the other. So I went home and took the guts out of an Asian made ratchet I had gotten on exchange once, put it in the USA ratchet, and then went back to exchange the Asian one.

Also Husky and Kobalt hard handle screwdrivers are made in USA. And just to touch on it, I have one nice, large 15" or so Gearwrench flathead screwdriver that is hex shank and magnetic tip. Its perfect for hard to reach areas. Crescent also makes magnetic tip screwdrivers. Here is a thread I made that compares a lot of different brand tools. All big players or USA made. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=315245