Gearwrench flex head wrenches: are they needed?

[toolaholic]

I have a metric set like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0019LWMKU/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1403573257&sr=8-1. And I have sae single flex heads in every sae size to make a set. Got them cheap in clearance years ago at lowers. Never use them. Are they worth having. Maybe I haven't found a use or did a job that requires them yet . Or maybe I should eBay them.

 

[ZRX61]

I use mine, handy on aircraft.

 

[cheechi]

I had some GW flex head full sets years ago. Loved them, but can't say there has been a situation where the flex was 100% needed. The flex heads got real floppy on them and I sold them. Got along since then without any. This was back when the only store around that had them was Lowe's and still cost quite a bit so when somebody offered, I didn't think twice. Nowadays, I would think harder about it.

I currently have some stubby flex head SAE ratcheting wrenches. Again weren't 100% needed but definitely convenient. I think the stubby flex head is a bit more 'needed' than the standard length. Usually flex head ratchets help you get leverage with the dept of the socket being a factor. Ratcheting wrenches don't have as much of that issue, and you have the option of S/C/stubby to help out if they do.

 

[F-117HWK]

Your link doesnt seem to work for me, but assuming its THESE?

Myself and two other roommates literally use these on almost every job we do in the garage. They are indispensable on brake jobs for cars/trucks, as well as so many other jobs in hard to reach areas like the engine compartment. The only time we break out the non flex and non-ratchet types is when a breaker bar is being used or we need something bigger than the sizes the Gearwrench sets go up to.

If they were getting floppy, could you not just tighten up the flex head screw a little? We beat the **** out of our sets and they are all still as tight as the day we bought them.

 

[koditten]

I had a hard time getting used to mine when I got them. Now that I've had them for a few years, I find myself grabbing the flex head more often than the frixed head.

I have to admit that I could now not have both.

 

[toolaholic]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll keep em. In the past I have jettisoned tools when new better ones arrived. I sold my craftsman robogrips when I got knipex pliers. And just plain sold my craftsman clench wrench, ratcheting adjustables, and pocket socket. I got a cool new sk89450 ratcheting deep offset spline metric set so I thought maybe I could clear out done gearwrench.

 

[cheechi]

If they were getting floppy, could you not just tighten up the flex head screw a little? We beat the **** out of our sets and they are all still as tight as the day we bought them.

The 'range' between stiff/locked and floppy eventually deteriorated to zero. Like a quarter turn went from flaccid to rigid. I will say this when you tightened them they were about as good as a locking flex head. They weren't going nowhere.

I am sure something got worn in them, as I got them when the flex head GW first came out. We're talking like 03. And they were stupid expensive compared to now. I think they were $200/set for 8-19mm and 1/4-7/16 with skips.

 

[shockwave]

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/S9GRFM16/16-PIECE-90-TOOTH-FLEX-COMBO-METRIC-SET/ I was actually considering these instead of the gearwrench ones to replace my straight and reversible gearwrenches.


Lately the casting of open end gearwrench have been very big and not quite as good as a few years back

So the spline ones from matco that are made by kabo look really nice

 

[90zcar]

I have the flex head gearwrench set in metric and I myself have been wondering if I could do without em and have the normal reversible ratchet wrenches


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[SnowDrifter]

I have something similar

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CP8DKR0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

And they get SO MUCH use

 

[nicksnothereman]

I have a metric set like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0019LWMKU/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1403573257&sr=8-1. And I have sae single flex heads in every sae size to make a set. Got them cheap in clearance years ago at lowers. Never use them. Are they worth having. Maybe I haven't found a use or did a job that requires them yet . Or maybe I should eBay them.

Probably engine compartment (depends on the car of course). Elsewhere not so much. If you're a wrench guy you probably get good use out of them, don't think it's a bad idea to keep them because they probably haven't appreciated (or are worth more than you paid). Might come in handy at some point, dunno.

With me, the minute I'm thinking "I don't use this, why do I need it?" I end up needing it/using it. It's some psychological ocd thing that a lot of people on here have so you'll probably end up using these in the next week, it's gonna happen.

 

[Ratsofftoya]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll keep em. In the past I have jettisoned tools when new better ones arrived. I sold my craftsman robogrips when I got knipex pliers. And just plain sold my craftsman clench wrench, ratcheting adjustables, and pocket socket. I got a cool new sk89450 ratcheting deep offset spline metric set so I thought maybe I could clear out done gearwrench.

Not cool dude, you shouldn't have sold those robo grips. Friends don't sell friends robo grips...

 

[Farmall450]

My only gripe is that mine aren't reversible.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I just picked up 2 sets of the gearwrench flex heads. I need one for something and realized I could get some use out of them. I do mostly classic stuff so getting at things isn't bad, but these will help.

 

[SMKS]

I like my flex head ratcheting wrenches.

 

[F-117HWK]

The 'range' between stiff/locked and floppy eventually deteriorated to zero. Like a quarter turn went from flaccid to rigid. I will say this when you tightened them they were about as good as a locking flex head. They weren't going nowhere.

I am sure something got worn in them, as I got them when the flex head GW first came out. We're talking like 03. And they were stupid expensive compared to now. I think they were $200/set for 8-19mm and 1/4-7/16 with skips.

Ah I figured that may have been what happened. I will be interested to see how all the sets we have (Roommate has 1 set of Metric and I have Metric/SAE in standard and stubby configs) hold up over the coming years.