I've got a set of blackhawk flex that have been beat to death. Some of the heads are looser thn id like but they re great pieces if you cn get a deal on them. Williams or blue point not a bad option. Hard to beat the gearwrench for the money.
Gearwrench alternative
- Thread starter Thamuza
- Start date
Brownsfan
Well-known member
For the Carlyle price you are almost at Wright, Proto,SK or USA Williams. I would cough up the extra dough for any of those. In some cases they are almost even. I bet if I looked hard enough I could find some.stuff cheaper than Carlyle. In Gearwrench price range not so much.
I had a similar situation recently. Decided on long pattern SK. I really liked the Carlyle, but a few posters made a really good point. Napa has changed their brand a few times now and who knows how long Carlyle will be around. For that reason I added a few bucks to my budget and bought SK.
I looked at Bluepoint but our snappy guy doesn't even stock them, he will only order them special and pretty much says he wont warranty any of the ratchets. the only Bluepoint stuff he carries on the truck is air tools and lights. As far as Blackhawk goes.. once again the only option where I am is Grainger.
The impacts are idenitical they definitely are from the same factory.
Do yourself a favor and skip the gearwrench for the wrightgrips
I knew the sunex and ATD and Pittsburg Pros were all the same because a few guys in my shop have all those and they are all identical. Gearwrench just has the most complete sets of the impacts. Im looking at the wrightgrips but im still heavily considering the gearwrenchs'.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
It's the small sizes that are difficult for these discount tool companies to make accurately. The larger sizes are easier for them.
Well, it is an impact socket so they're not going to be very different looks wise...
Sunex is always stamped and etched even when sold under another name, Pittsburg Pro is only etched and the 1/2 drives are stepped instead of the angle nose from Sunex.
I'd like a photo please.
It wasn't that long ago that SK and 'who knows how long they'll be around' were synonymous. Take care of your tools and don't be so reliant for warranty to make up for your abuses. You will do better than focusing on what might happen with well made tools some years down the road than just using them.
Not pointing to you specifically but it's how I feel. At one point I thought it was easier to go the near-disposable route with a lot of things. Now I would rather buy a nice mid-high end something that will last if it's treated well. I really feel like some overshoot it and we can all tell from here most struggle with undershooting the mark.
John in OH
Well-known member
Guess I don't understand why you are even considering taking the risk of Chinese Gearwrench combos when you could go straight ahead and buy top quality USA made WrightGrips ???? Or SK, Proto or Armstrong?? I realize these brands will cost you more, but don't forget the wise quote, "The bitter taste of poor quality remains long after the sweet taste of low price is forgotten."
dede2897234
Well-known member
Jim1987,
Would you please share the name and address of the NAPA store in Ohio that carries the large stock of Carlyle hand tools?
Thanks,
Dave
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Thamuza,
I agree with "John in OH" above about spending a little bit more upfront and purchasing a quality WrightGrips set on Amazon for about $150 than a Chinese made Gearwrench set with an inferior open end design. I know you will use the open end a lot less than the box end. However, when you need that open end for a critical repair automotive job, you might not be able to complete it.
If you have not seen the "WrightGrip Wrench" video on Youtube via the "RealToolReviews" Channel, check it out.
Dave
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Parrothead
Well-known member
I'd certainly take a look at the Tekton wrenches (taiwan), and they fit the budget. I recently picked up the metric set, and I am certainly going to grab the SAE's soon. I plan on doing a quick comparison of the box store brands, my Craftsman Pro's and some other wrenches. Additionally, the warranty on Tekton is pretty fantastic. Go read there Amazon reviews, they seem to take care of the customer if there's a problem.
*somebody mentioned Kobalt being made in taiwan...not anymore, they've made the switch to China.
*somebody mentioned Kobalt being made in taiwan...not anymore, they've made the switch to China.
I just bought a small set of tekton wrenches to check out. Tonight my son and I were disassembling a engine and needed to use the open end to reach behind a obstacle. So I grabbed him a GW 15mm and watched him slip on the bolt. So I checked it out fir myself andthat pos had an enormous amount of slop. Very disappointing. My CM and proto fit correctly btw.
XxToolAholicxX
Well-known member
Harbor Freight. Same stuff just a whole lot cheaper.
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I am a ToolAholic,Sometimes I regret it,Especially when the Toolman wont give me no credit
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I am a ToolAholic,Sometimes I regret it,Especially when the Toolman wont give me no credit
dede2897234
Well-known member
LXCam,
Was that Gearwrench 15mm wrench a long pattern, non-ratcheting wrench that had an open end with the anti-slip design?
Did you try a Tekton 15mm wrench on that stubborn bolt on that engine job? How did it perform compared to the CM and Proto wrenches?
Thanks,
Dave
Yes it was, but does not have the antislip. No, I just ordered that set a couple days ago. Tell ya what, when those wrenches come in I'll compare each with measurements and a test. I've said it three times in this thread so far, their open end wrenches ****....k, make that four
. If it wasn't for the long pattern and the box end is decent, I'd sell them.Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Pittsburgh Pro have that groove cut into the base of their impact sockets whereas, Sunex does not. Kin of hard to identical without the groove.
I guess I should not have said exactly identical but by look size fit and finish. I would have to believe they come out of the same factory. My CM wrenches have lasted over 15 years but those are from when I didn't know about all the brands. Now that I have experience with other tools. I see their flaws and I want a better set. I'm just really starting my buildup as a pro and gearwrench seemed to be the most cost effective, and universally accepted. I looked through the Carlyle catalog and a lot of their stuff just seems to be gearwrench. Especially since their apex as well. I'm mainly talking about the Crowfoot,sockets,and flarenut wrenches. The reg wrenches are reasonable and the long patterns aren't priced too bad. I like the size range on their stubbys as well.
Cambridge Ohio. Only one in town. Something stubeville ave
Parrothead
Well-known member
Just to be clear, we're talking about the GW that slipped, right? Or no?
John in OH
Well-known member
The NAPA in Cadiz, OH, also carries a pretty good stock of Carlyle. And what they don't have in stock they can get in a day or LESS. 740-942-2153
hangfirew8
Well-known member
I have two sets of GearWrench ratcheting combination wrenches, purchased right after their shift from Taiwan to China. The Metric are Flex Heads while the SAE are not.
After a few years of modest use, there are many small brassy spots where the chrome has come off. Some of the open ends are a little too large, others are OK. I never use either end to break rusty fasteners loose, that's what box end wrenches are for, but the ratcheting end can sure speed up some jobs.
I got them on sale at Sears for a reasonable discount. I guess I got my money's worth, but I may replace them in the future because of the annoying flaking chrome issue. All in all I think of them as another case of Chinese offshoring almost getting things right.
So, how much road salt do they use out there in the Mojave Desert?
After a few years of modest use, there are many small brassy spots where the chrome has come off. Some of the open ends are a little too large, others are OK. I never use either end to break rusty fasteners loose, that's what box end wrenches are for, but the ratcheting end can sure speed up some jobs.
I got them on sale at Sears for a reasonable discount. I guess I got my money's worth, but I may replace them in the future because of the annoying flaking chrome issue. All in all I think of them as another case of Chinese offshoring almost getting things right.
The way things modern s*it is...you have to actively go looking for a situation where you can use a friggin wrench on a bolt.
...
No doubt wrenches are easier for angular torque but...not used so much anymore.
So, how much road salt do they use out there in the Mojave Desert?
1950mercury
Well-known member
I bought a set of reversible metric and sae when autozone had then half off. They are china and have a lobster claw Compared to my old craftsman reversibles. I bought them for a road bag and for 30 bux a set i wont complain. Buy im glad they are not my everyday users. The open end ***** on the some have a sloppy fit and they all have a lobster claw
nicksnothereman
Well-known member
My "sears outlet" has plenty of us made raised panel wrenches. Might be worth the trip if you got one in your city. They were like 13 bucks for the larger sets (6 point), 9 bucks for the smaller sets (12 point). 45 bucks for a decent sized us made mech set. I mean...it's pretty good stuff to start out with/regularly use.
oldldh
Well-known member
To throw some more gasoline of the fire...
I don't own any GearWrench wrenches...
But I do own these sockets and ratchets...
All made in Taiwan...
All bought in the last 90 days, for Christmas presents...
All of really nice quality, and finish...
And the ones I've used, so far, are really good fits on the fasteners...
No complaints...
And I like the trays they're in...solves that storage problem, we all have, and they make inventory a snap...
The 44pc wrench set, in post #20 of this thread, remains, at $ 188.99, a helluva deal...worth trying if you need wrenches...
I don't own any GearWrench wrenches...
But I do own these sockets and ratchets...
All made in Taiwan...
All bought in the last 90 days, for Christmas presents...
All of really nice quality, and finish...
And the ones I've used, so far, are really good fits on the fasteners...
No complaints...
And I like the trays they're in...solves that storage problem, we all have, and they make inventory a snap...
The 44pc wrench set, in post #20 of this thread, remains, at $ 188.99, a helluva deal...worth trying if you need wrenches...
Attachments
Those don't ratchet
So Parrothead,
The Tekton came in today and I found out something interesting I didn't know about my GW stuff. They are the anti-slip or whatever they call it. So with that said the next time I actually go to use them I'm going to pay attention. But in the mean time I took measurements of four open end wrenches just for kicks. The measurements are heal first (towards the inside) and the open end. The exception being the GW.
Matco: 14.25/14.27 30yrs old and lots of use
CM: 14.22/14.24 same as above
Tekton: 14.25/14.25 brand spanking new
GW: 14.55 then just before the antislip 14.33, "AS notch"14.55 and 14.22 at the opening. brand spanking new.
I was going to do a comparison for angle of slip, but that'll need to be another evening.
The Tekton came in today and I found out something interesting I didn't know about my GW stuff. They are the anti-slip or whatever they call it. So with that said the next time I actually go to use them I'm going to pay attention. But in the mean time I took measurements of four open end wrenches just for kicks. The measurements are heal first (towards the inside) and the open end. The exception being the GW.
Matco: 14.25/14.27 30yrs old and lots of use
CM: 14.22/14.24 same as above
Tekton: 14.25/14.25 brand spanking new
GW: 14.55 then just before the antislip 14.33, "AS notch"14.55 and 14.22 at the opening. brand spanking new.
I was going to do a comparison for angle of slip, but that'll need to be another evening.
BUILTTOLAST
Well-known member
+1 this^^
I decided to get the gearwrench long pattern set and Im getting my stubbys and regulars in Carlyle. After using The gearwrench sockets I had already planned to buy them but my craftsmans are doing fine right now, so ill upgrade them after I get the wrenches done.
IMO you're doing it backwards. Get carlyle in long pattern. They have the teeth on the open end. Nicer then gear wrench by a long shot. Then imo, get stubbies in kobalt or even harbor freight. Whatever the cheapest option is. Not really putting enough stress in stubbies for quality to be a concern imo.
If you have craftsman wrenches, I wouldn't even bother getting regular wrenches. I never reach or have a use for regular length wrenches any more.
I'm with you. The hf is lifetime warranty anyway.
Crackerballer
Well-known member
I too have a ton of Gearwrench stuff. Most of my ratcheting flexhead wrenches are old and Taiwanese. I just bought a few of the random sizes so super cheap as well as some of the other sizes on the ratcheting fixed head. I also have two of their 1/4 drive sets in the blow mold cases (thanks to deals found in the last year and some change here) as well as their 3/8 set in the blow mold case.
I believe all 3 of my socket/ratchet sets are Taiwanese and they are NICE. I purchased all the 3/8 6 point sets from HJE days, and will not be buying any 1/4 stuff just because the gearwrench sets are so nice.
Now when I build my 1/2 set, I will do SK, but I have no plans on replacing the GW sets I have. I'll get some pictures.
I believe all 3 of my socket/ratchet sets are Taiwanese and they are NICE. I purchased all the 3/8 6 point sets from HJE days, and will not be buying any 1/4 stuff just because the gearwrench sets are so nice.
Now when I build my 1/2 set, I will do SK, but I have no plans on replacing the GW sets I have. I'll get some pictures.
John in OH
Well-known member
+1 !! This is right on target!
Also I'm with you 1000% on the stubbies. For the life of me why would someone pay a couple hundred bucks a set for something that gets barely any torque applied to it. I bought both a metric and SAE set from Northern a year or so ago for like $10.00 each on clearance and I'll be damned if I have one single complaint. Fit and finish is perfect and trust me it was a pleasant surprise, not the kind of quality I was expecting. It'wouldn't surprise me to find out they are a ADT manufactured tool.
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Are those the Klutch mfg stubbies?
I'm clueless bud, maybe you or someone else can tell from this crappy picture. They do say Northern on them. I never paid any attention to them until recently doing a major league AN fitting project and because they were new and I didn't have some AN wrenches in every size I needed I grabbed these. They fit great and didn't leave one single mark on my fittings (well they are brand new with no damage). No complaints.
Kirbot
Well-known member
+1 more on the stubbies.
I have a cheap set of Chinese Husky, and they work perfectly.
Go cheap on the stubbies, and put your money in the longer ones.
I have a cheap set of Chinese Husky, and they work perfectly.
Go cheap on the stubbies, and put your money in the longer ones.