GearWrench Gone To Hell?

[Ign]

Obviously your entitled to your opinions on what characteristics are important for you in regards to why you choose brand x or y. I can tell 1st hand, a tools warranty statement has absolutely no bearing on the tools quality, I get it.. I've read hundreds of warranty threads here at Gj, I know people are severely hung up on warranties but I have a boxes full of brands that are no longer warranted and they aren't simply falling apart.

I will take a quality tool over some jumbled up words written by a law firm any day of the week.

I'm not sure it's that, or it wouldn't be for me. If a company backs out of warranty, doesn't mean they know their product is ****, but it does mean they're not the type of company I want to do business with.

A good or lengthy warranty is not a requirement for me to buy tools, but it's also not about that. It's about the AGREEMENT from the start. If, when I buy it, they say it has XY warranty, then that should be the case until period XY has elapsed.

If Ford suddenly said all their cars which previously had a 100k mile drivetrain warranty were now only covered for 20k miles, many people would be upset simply based upon principle, even if they never had to make a warranty claim for those 100k miles. I would be one of those people.

 

[Hootbro]

I keep a set of GW at the shop for toilet work. A coworker was so impressed with them he went out and bought a set. Turns out mine are Taiwan and his are China. He doesn't care at all about COO, but he's already had two fail on him and I think now he's starting to.

Is your friend breaking the initial torque loose with the ratcheting end that is not rated for it?

 

[Hiball]

I get that. I don't expect a tool to last my lifetime. But to me a company without a warranty say they expect it to break, and one with it says them don't expect it to break, but if it does, we got your back.

I would buy a used quality tool even if the company doesn't exist anymore.

There is a quote from the movie tommy boy that comes to mind..

 

[shiftdrift]

I have 3 gear wrench ratchet wrench sets. Two Taiwan and one China as well as the 120xp's. I've only broken one wrench and it was a 10mm getting hit with a hammer. Warranty was exchanged in 3 days at fastenal, much quicker than my Mac ratchet warranty (2 weeks)

 

[toolstools]

There is a quote from the movie tommy boy that comes to mind..

Being

 

[Hiball]

I'm not sure it's that, or it wouldn't be for me. If a company backs out of warranty, doesn't mean they know their product is ****, but it does mean they're not the type of company I want to do business with.

A good or lengthy warranty is not a requirement for me to buy tools, but it's also not about that. It's about the AGREEMENT from the start. If, when I buy it, they say it has XY warranty, then that should be the case until period XY has elapsed.

If Ford suddenly said all their cars which previously had a 100k mile drivetrain warranty were now only covered for 20k miles, many people would be upset simply based upon principle, even if they never had to make a warranty claim for those 100k miles. I would be one of those people.

I never codoned mid stream warranty changes.. I agree changing policy and more importantly enforcing that policy for people who purchased products prior to the change is BS.

Quality > warranty all day long.

 

[Hiball]

Being

You need to get out more, tommy boy was a classic.

 

[Ign]

I never codoned mid stream warranty changes.. I agree changing policy and more importantly enforcing that policy for people who purchased products prior to the change is BS.

Quality > warranty all day long.

I agree. That's why I buy better parts at Napa with a limited warranty than **** parts at Autozone with a lifetime warranty.

But, IF I do buy those **** brake pads at Autozone and they tell me it has a LT warranty, I EXPECT new pads when I bring the old ones in. It's not about being greedy or unreasonable, it's about the initial agreement.

I do it all the time with work: stupidly quote a job too low but I honor my quote because that was the agreement.

 

[SMKS]

I haven't seen any new production gearwrench from Taiwan, my 84 tooth ratchets said china, not sure about the xp.

Are you sure that you got an 84 tooth ratchet from China?

I had several 84 tooth ratchets and they were all Taiwanese. I think I've only read people saying they 120 ratchets are Taiwanese, but perhaps I missed the people saying they were Chinese.

I agree that it isn't 100% clear what is made in Taiwan and what is made in China.

The only thing I can say is that I never see any Taiwanese ratcheting wrenches any more from GW. All the new stock GW ratcheting wrenches I see are Chinese.

 

[Hiball]

Are you sure that you got an 84 tooth ratchet from China?

I had several 84 tooth ratchets and they were all Taiwanese. I think I've only read people saying they 120 ratchets are Taiwanese, but perhaps I missed the people saying they were Chinese.

I agree that it isn't 100% clear what is made in Taiwan and what is made in China.

The only thing I can say is that I never see any Taiwanese ratcheting wrenches any more from GW. All the new stock GW ratcheting wrenches I see are Chinese.

I bought the standard length set from tooltopia (comfort grip) and the flex set (comfort grip) from tooltopia and I'm fairly certain that they had made in china on the sticker. I recall because I was hoping for Taiwan and was disappointed.. I no longer have them, but I'm sure some of the membership here does, maybe someone can confirm and I might even have a picture of them at home. I'm gonna check my photobucket account now.

Here is the set I had, but the coo must have been on the wrapper, because I don't see anything on the case.

 

[03protege]

I'm confused on where Gearwrench is making what these days.

I'm not sure about wrenches. The 84 tooth and 120 xp ratchets I recently acquired are Tawain made. The 120xp is a new product as are the mid length sockets I've picked up that were also Taiwan made.

Has anyone bought Gearwrench ratcheting wrenches that have the lobster claw open end? That would be the kiss of death to see that to me.

My thoughts were that they currently produce in China and in Taiwan.

My Gearwrench reversibles are from China while the standard ratcheting wrenches are from Taiwan.

Both have held up nicely for me although I really only use the reversibles.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

why is everyone so quick to "IBTL" nowadays??

Because it's impossible to be "IATL"....Unless your a MOD..Then you can be "IATYL." (In Any Time You Like.)

 

[RCStocker]

I made a post about how defective the Gearwrench 1/4" drive impact sockets were.
Every dolt tried to make fun of my post but as the fools they were I did not respond.
They center of the deep sockets had metal almost all the way to the tip on some of the sockets and they would not go over the post on the rack. I did post that I tried a bolt and it would not go through the wholes either. If they don't slide over the post on the rack they will not go over a long bolt or stud. They were useless. They were ****. I sent 2 sets back.

If the dolts that read my post red it instead of poking fun, they would have known they were bad but I guess so many on here can't read.

Gearwrench has gone to HELL! You are right.

 

[SMKS]

I made a post about how defective the Gearwrench 1/4" drive impact sockets were.
Every dolt tried to make fun of my post but as the fools they were I did not respond.
They center of the deep sockets had metal almost all the way to the tip on some of the sockets and they would not go over the post on the rack. I did post that I tried a bolt and it would not go through the wholes either. If they don't slide over the post on the rack they will not go over a long bolt or stud. They were useless. They were ****. I sent 2 sets back.

If the dolts that read my post red it instead of poking fun, they would have known they were bad but I guess so many on here can't read.

Gearwrench has gone to HELL! You are right.

Your post in that thread was so silly. You didn't show at all that they were defective, other than your Hansen tray pic.

Interior shots of the sockets are needed to see what you're talking about. You did a very poor job explaining it in your other thread, so don't call everyone else "dolts."

And for anyone interested in reading it, here's the thread:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=208061

 

[mopar01]

cheap stuff .why get hung up about the warranty ?

My thoughts as well. I have gearwrench ratcheting wrenches and they have served me well but when thhey break, im not guna worry about it. I paid 100 for sae and metric, not 300 just for one set.

 

[thesilverone]

Being

You need to get out more, tommy boy was a classic.

He's too busy polishing his tools to watch a movie.

 

[bonneyman]

Obviously your entitled to your opinions on what characteristics are important for you in regards to why you choose brand x or y. I can tell 1st hand, a tools warranty statement has absolutely no bearing on the tools quality, I get it.. I've read hundreds of warranty threads here at Gj, I know people are severely hung up on warranties but I have a boxes full of brands that are no longer warranted and they aren't simply falling apart.

I will take a quality tool over some jumbled up words written by a law firm any day of the week.

10-4 Like Bonney, and Williams Superrenches.

 

[slob]

Maybe. I don't know. We work different shifts. All I know its he wasn't able to break my Taiwan wrenches whenever he borrowed them and is somehow able to break the Chinese wrenches he bought.

 

[toolstools]

He's too busy polishing his tools to watch a movie.

How in Gods green earth am I a tool polisher?

 

[thesilverone]

10-4 Like Bonney, and Williams Superrenches.

I'll add Easco to that list

 

[carterbeauford]

Hmm, this has been an educational thread because I didn't realize that they had moved Gearwrench production to China vs. Taiwan. I need the SAE completer set, so I will be trying to find the NOS to have the entire flex head set.

I have older Gearwrench, and have been very happy, but with switching produciton, that might have changed. Good to know...

educational and depressing, I used to recommend Gearwrench every time I turned around, I disappear for a few months and come back to find this

my Taiwan made Gearwrench tools take a beating.

 

[John in OH]

You need to get out more, tommy boy was a classic.

I get where toolstools is coming from regarding the warranty issue. It doesn't really matter what the words are on the package. What counts is what happens when you bring a defective or broken tool in for replacement. If the company responds in a quick, positive manner, then the warranty is good. And usually such positive action is reflected in GJ postings. But if the company hems & haws and fails to provide satisfaction, then that attitude also gets reflected on GJ and that company's product is off my list. Won't even consider it. If one has only a modest tool budget, then the warranty performance reflected in GJ postings is an important factor in making a tool choice ... as is the tool's quality reputation.

Also, your obtuse reference to some movie quote was totally lost on me ... maybe I need to get out more too, but I never even heard of the movie Tommy Boy.

 

[johnachak]

why is everyone so quick to "ibtl" nowadays??

I see nothing that would cause such reaction... There has been a lot of it lately. Most arent locked either...

ibtl??

 

[firebox40dash5]

Taiwan made Gearwrench tools take a beating.

Me too... got the flex ratcheting wrenches in MM and SAE, and just sprung for the completers not long ago. I've only broken the 15mm, and the flex on the 10mm and 14mm is loose (and the tension bolt head too small) but I tend to be impatient and forget to not hit them with a hammer.

I use my hex and torx insert bits with an impact all the time. To the point I joke about breaking them every time I do it. The other day I used a torx on my 2115, and snapped off a Silverado tailgate hinge bolt with it, and the bit still looks just fine. Somehow, I have yet to break one.

 

[johnachak]

Now a days, all the cheap cr#p tools say they are lifetime warrantied. They need a receipt or they just keep replacing them since they really expect you to just throw them out when they break. It just tells you how much they are really worth.

 

[Hiball]

I get where toolstools is coming from regarding the warranty issue. It doesn't really matter what the words are on the package. What counts is what happens when you bring a defective or broken tool in for replacement. If the company responds in a quick, positive manner, then the warranty is good. And usually such positive action is reflected in GJ postings. But if the company hems & haws and fails to provide satisfaction, then that attitude also gets reflected on GJ and that company's product is off my list. Won't even consider it. If one has only a modest tool budget, then the warranty performance reflected in GJ postings is an important factor in making a tool choice ... as is the tool's quality reputation.

Also, your obtuse reference to some movie quote was totally lost on me ... maybe I need to get out more too, but I never even heard of the movie Tommy Boy.

Maybe I just don't get the whole warranty speel, because I simply don't have that many tool failures. I can't remember the last time I broke a tool, and I put in a lot of wrench time.

Something to be said for buying quality and using and knowing the correct tool for the job. Obviously tools wear out, fail unexpectantly, but this all this warranty talk leads me to believe some of you guys are tearing stuff up daily.

 

[johnachak]

What good is it if the cheap tools are warrantied, they break, are replaced, they break, are replaced, ad nauseum?

 

[John in OH]

Just for yucks I jumped over to Amazon and looked for "gearwrench ratcheting wrench set". Following is from the first three listings that showed up:

GearWrench 16-Piece Reversible Combination Ratcheting Wrench Set, Metric
by GearWrench -- KDT9602 -- Imported (China)

GearWrench 13-Piece SAE Master Ratcheting Wrench Set
by KD Tools -- KDT9312 -- Imported (China)

GearWrench 16 Piece Metric Master Ratcheting Wrench Set
by KD Tools -- KDT9416 -- Imported (China)

Looks as if I won't be buying any of these three sets anytime soon!!

 

[John in OH]

Maybe I just don't get the whole warranty speel, because I simply don't have that many tool failures. I can't remember the last time I broke a tool, and I put in a lot of wrench time.

Something to be said for buying quality and using and knowing the correct tool for the job. Obviously tools wear out, fail unexpectantly, but this all this warranty talk leads me to believe some of you guys are tearing stuff up daily.

Yeah, you're right, the warranty topic can get over-blown somewhat. I guess I just look at the tool's warranty "reputation" as just one of many factors that should go into a tool purchase decision.

I also don't really worry too much about tool failure ... last time I actually broke a tool was when I put a length of pipe on a breaker bar and ended up splitting the socket! I guess I could have returned the socket for warranty replacement, but didn't ... I thought being able to sleep at night was more important!!

 

[1953mercury]

I've bought all my ratcheting wrenches at Cost-Co. As far as I can remember all the sets were around $30 and I have gotten good service from them and they can really be a life saver in certain hard to get to places with little room to move. That being said I think it's important to recognize the inherent limitations of the tools you are using. If something is really tight, I will use a standard box wrench to break it loose and then use the ratchet wrench to remove it. Common sense is also a tool. Mike

 

[CWP1616L]

Well, for example the 25pc sets at Sears, GW doesn't even list them on their site. They seem to be made specifically for sears (and yes Fedwrench they have lobster claw open ends) so I guess you could call that a second tier.

What is a lobster claw open end?

 

[John in OH]

What is a lobster claw open end?

I think this is what they are referring to:



I've never used one so can't offer any opinion other than it looks kind of funky to me.

 

[CWP1616L]

That must be another one of their "innovative products."

 

[toolstools]

I think this is what they are referring to:



I've never used one so can't offer any opinion other than it looks kind of funky to me.

No that's not it. The reference us the added metal on the new Chinese wrenched on the open end To compensate for lesser quality steel. Huge difference. Lol. Its all bad.

 

[mmack66]

The "lobster claw" open end wrenches have huge open ends, like 50-75% more material than normal wrenches.

Craftsman wrenches are where they got their start.

See the picture in this post from a different thread.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1608667&postcount=25

 

[CWP1616L]

^Those little wrenches got some big mittens on them.

 

[kc-steve]

Maybe I just don't get the whole warranty speel, because I simply don't have that many tool failures. I can't remember the last time I broke a tool, and I put in a lot of wrench time.

Something to be said for buying quality and using and knowing the correct tool for the job. Obviously tools wear out, fail unexpectantly, but this all this warranty talk leads me to believe some of you guys are tearing stuff up daily.

He-he, I've seen Tommy Boy a few times and still had to look at your clip because I didn't remember the warranty thing. I'm like yourself, I don't break tools, but I have had to warranty some Harbor Freight stuff so I quit buying it for the most part. As someone else pointed out, GearWrench ratcheting wrenches aren't made for heavy duty torquing.

It's kinda hard to argue with people that are mostly in agreement with ya.
It must be the bad times, or something where people need to vent.

Steve

 

[woody 73]

First off I am lost so help me to understand what is being said:

Are people saying all gearwrench are junk?
The ones being made in china are junk?
The ones coming from Taiwan are junk?
The very first ones made a few years ago are ok?
The new line-up made today are ****?
The gearwrench that are made in Taiwan are ok?
All the new gearwrench are now made in china today?

Could someone shed some light into this matter for me.

 

[kc-steve]

First off I am lost so help me to understand what is being said:

Are people saying all gearwrench are junk?
The ones being made in china are junk?
The ones coming from Taiwan are junk?
The very first ones made a few years ago are ok?
The new line-up made today are ****?
The gearwrench that are made in Taiwan are ok?
All the new gearwrench are now made in china today?

Could someone shed some light into this matter for me.

I think you understand perfectly, . . . that is what is being said.

Steve

 

[bcradio]

I think you understand perfectly, . . . that is what is being said.

Steve

Precisely!!! Basically everyone is saying something different and nobody really agrees on anything.

I mean seriously, we have people saying that because a tool is made in China and has a larger open end that it contains inferior materials with absolutely nothing to back it up. Kind of comical actually.

I have had good luck with all of my Gearwrench tools so far.