Gearwrench 44 piece Combo Wrench Set

[DTB]

I looked through the Gearwrench catalog at all their tools,which don't look to bad,despite not being a USA line and seen their non ratcheting combination wrenches.I've got a full set of the USA Craftsman Pro's now,but they skip a couple sizes.I'm looking to add another set of long pattern combos to my set.These Gearwrench sets look decent,have the modified open end similar to the Matco Optitorque.Only downside I suppose is being offshore.That really doesn't bother me,because they still appear to be decent wrenches. Anyway,seen they have a master 44 piece set.I haven't seen many places that carry the set,but seen a few places online.The # on the set is 81919.Prices seem to vary,but seem to be between $180-250 which is crazy cheap for 44 wrenches in that size range in my opinion.Anyone have this set or anything good to say about their combination wrenches in general (Besides not being USA)?

 

[osborn.ozzy]

What do you mean they skip a few sizes?

 

[John316]

Gearwrench Non ratcheting combos are actually pretty nice wrenches. I believe the 44pc set is discontinued (It's no longer listed on the GW site), so you may get lucky and get Taiwan made wrenches. All newer GW stuff is made in CHINA, although even the Chinese versions are pretty nice. They have a great finish, decent beams, and surface drive ends. I would defiantly put them up against the CM "full polish" wrenches. Of course, they are both made by Danaher.

 

[kythri]

I can't speak to the new "full polish" sets, but for the old Professional line, for metric, you had available:

7-19, 21-25 and 30.

No 6, no 20.

If we're using the GearWrench "Long Pattern Combination" as comparison to the now unavailable Craftsman Pro set, we get:

6-24, 27, 30, 32.

Edit: And that's from the increasingly inadequate GearWrench website.

The 81919 set describe above comes with:

6-28, 30, 32

That's just metric. It also comes with SAE.

That's a pretty darned tasty set.

 

[kythri]

DTB: If they're the same quality as the rest of the stuff GearWrench makes (and I'd bet they are), I'd buy them. If I didn't already have my USA Craftsman Pros and some really nice Stanley full polish long pattern stuffs, I'd be all over a set like that.

 

[Appleyard]

I have a set of non-ratcheting Gearwrenches and I like them. They quickly replaced my Craftsman raised panels as my go-to wrenches. As far as the open end design, I'm not thrilled with it. They are similar to the Matco open ends, but not quite there. I'll grab some pictures tomorrow of both the Gearwrenches and the Optitorques side by side so you can see what I mean.

 

[Fedwrench]

I got the Taiwan vintage metric set a few years ago during one of those half off sears online sales. They're great wrenches for the money. Off corner boxed end engagement, modified open end, nice chrome, decent balance. They aren't as nice as Snap on or Matco but, then they are 1/3 the price.
Shop around for the best deal though.

Cripe has a killer deal on the large SAE set.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GearWrench-...525?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cfad322e5

 

[DTB]

Yeah,the missing sizes I referred to was the lack of a 20 mostly,and then skipping anything from 25-30.Also missing is the 1 3/8,1 7/16,which I didnt even look to see if they were in the Gearwrench set.I looked on the GW site,and didn't even see the 44 piece set listed,just seen in the catalog PDF.
I thought even the current Craftsman Pro (Pre discontinued) was a good bang for your buck.26 wrenches for $150-170 (depending on sale).44 wrenches for even $300 seems like a bargain.I just don't know how reputable the sites are,that listed the set.I just spent $200 on some of the last Craftsman Pro I seen available (5 piece pry bar,box offset wrench set,screwdriver set,etc.)Maybe around December I will pull the trigger and try this GearWrench set.It seems GW is stepping it up.Looking through the catalog,I would almost choose over Craftsman,from the way they are going.Seen on GW's facebook page,that they will be releasing 84 (or 88?) tooth ratchets first of the year.I might have to try a few (Probably flex head) against my dual 80's.

 

[kythri]

81650 1/4" Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81652 5/16" Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81653 11/32" Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81654 3/8" Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81655 7/16" Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81656 1/2" Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81657 9/16" Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81658 5/8" Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81659 11/16" Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81660 3/4" Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81661 13/16" Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81662 7/8" Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81663 15/16" Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81664 1" Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81733 1-1/6" Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81734 1-1/8" Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81735 1-1/4" Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81749 1-5/16" Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81750 1-1/2" Long Pattern Combination Wrench


81736 6 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81737 7 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81665 8 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81666 9 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81667 10 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81668 11 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81669 12 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81670 13 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81671 14 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81672 15 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81673 16 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81674 17 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81675 18 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81676 19 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81677 20 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81678 21 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81679 22 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81741 23 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81742 24 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81751 25 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81752 26 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81743 27 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81753 28 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81744 30 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench
81745 32 mm Long Pattern Combination Wrench

Looks like 19 SAE and 25 Metric.

 

[Appleyard]

Gearwrench <a href="http://s850.photobucket.com/albums/ab66/akombuchamushroomman/?action=view&current=f5c3e4a8.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab66/akombuchamushroomman/f5c3e4a8.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>
Matco <a href="http://s850.photobucket.com/albums/ab66/akombuchamushroomman/?action=view&current=14264d61.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab66/akombuchamushroomman/14264d61.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>
Gearwrench <a href="http://s850.photobucket.com/albums/ab66/akombuchamushroomman/?action=view&current=4a27bda8.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab66/akombuchamushroomman/4a27bda8.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>
Matco <a href="http://s850.photobucket.com/albums/ab66/akombuchamushroomman/?action=view&current=54eccc23.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab66/akombuchamushroomman/54eccc23.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>

For the money the Gearwrenches are a great deal.

 

[DTB]

Thanks for the pictures and info.I think I will be purchasing this set before the end of the year.How good are the tolerances on the GWs?From the picture,the bolt head looks pretty snug against the open end.

 

[Appleyard]

Thanks for the pictures and info.I think I will be purchasing this set before the end of the year.How good are the tolerances on the GWs?From the picture,the bolt head looks pretty snug against the open end.

Pretty tight I'd say. Not much slack at all. I'd reach for my GW before my Craftsmans. As long as the COO doesn't bother you, they're a great set of wrenches. Really comfortable in your hands too.