bestatv
Well-known member
This includes screwdrivers,torx drivers,picks,etc.Any thoughts?
Gearwrench looks too much like Snap On
- Thread starter bestatv
- Start date
expatriated
Well-known member
Not on the price tags 
Jeeper
Well-known member
better than emulating HF.
tonydanzah
Well-known member
not the worst thing in the world, and probably a reason for it.
mcdtommy23
Well-known member
I smell a conspiracy. LOL.
Joelfke
Well-known member
hmm...idk about snapon.....but i thought matco and gearwrench are actually the exact same thing minus the name on it....especially their ratcheting wrenches
mrshaun
Well-known member
gearwrench and matco are owner by danaher same for kobalt and easco and a few others
tonydanzah
Well-known member
i think he means how the handle on the gear wrench ratchets the red and black look alot like the snap on on rubber/soft grips. But in person the snap on feel much better.
...and Allen
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Not all of the ratcheting wrenches are the same. Most of Matco's proswing ratcheting wrenches have USA stamped on them which probably makes them closer to the Armstrong versions than Gearwrench. Matco does sell an extra long zero offset ratcheting wrench set that are clones of the Gearwrench Gearbox. Matco also makes an extra long zero offset wrench with a fixed boxed end and a flex ratcheting boxed end which are made by Kabo not Gearwrench. All things are not equal across the Danaher made brands despite what the conspiracy theorists would lead you to believe. There are many more differences between Matco and Gearwrench.
They work just as good, and have similar fit and finish on alot of products also............................since they are imported, alot of folks don't know this. Looks like them, performs like them, cheaper, and easy warranty.............enough said. If they were made in USA..............oh boy would tool trucks have a problem, for now they can criticize for the import thing, but the truck brands are not far behind in the import game, soo.......................pretty soon it won't make a difference.
Merkava_4
Banned
Snap-on Tools: Often replicated. Never duplicated.
mrshaun
Well-known member
wow merk good answer.
now you see why snap on has to get patents world wide they have to keep everyone from copying everything they make.
now you see why snap on has to get patents world wide they have to keep everyone from copying everything they make.
Snap-on Tools: Often replicated. Never duplicated.
As a total package ill agree, Snap on's customer service/Warranty is First Rate and when you couple that with the Quality of there tools they are Without a doubt the Winner. I wouldnt go as far as to Say there arent tool companies that cant complete with Snap on other levels including workmanship or durability including Imports such as Gearwrench.
I could be wrong here, but I thought Kobalt was a trademark owned by Lowes. Has Danaher acquired this trademark?
Teken
Well-known member
No, the Kobolt brand is theirs . . . Armstrong tools manufactures the said parts on behalf of Lowes under the Kobolt moniker . . .
Okay, but I'm still confused. When you say Kobalat is theirs, do you mean Lowes or Danaher? I just wonder who owns the trademark.
Merkava_4
Banned
tonydanzah
Well-known member
Its not just armstrong that makes their tools, gearwrench also makes tools for lowes.
Teken
Well-known member
Only certain / specific tools are made on behalf Lowes, under the Kobolt moniker from Armstrong Mfg Co . . .
In the beginning it was all the sockets, ratchets, wrenches . . . Now, it is a mixed bag as to who produces the tools under the Kobolt brand . . .
Only the stamped made in the USA are manufactured by Armstrong tools, anything else is produced from the other vendors . . .
One must look carefully if COO is important to them! If, it isn't then all is good . . .
In the beginning it was all the sockets, ratchets, wrenches . . . Now, it is a mixed bag as to who produces the tools under the Kobolt brand . . .
Only the stamped made in the USA are manufactured by Armstrong tools, anything else is produced from the other vendors . . .
One must look carefully if COO is important to them! If, it isn't then all is good . . .
Snap-on Tools: Often replicated. Never duplicated.
LOL, I'll agree with that! Only Snap-on is Snap-on. They are very good tools! So are many other brands. GearWrench is king of the ratcheting wrench bar none, even Snap-on. I have had both, GW ratcheting wrenches over all others, even if price was no object!
RbrtAWhyt
Well-known member
Snap-on Tools: Often replicated. Never duplicated.
Isn't replication duplication?
Often imitated, never duplicated, maybe?
rjohnson
Well-known member
I'm inclined to agree!
Also the Gearwrench extension bars, even sockets.
I mean the feel and finish I do not know how well they hold.
I mean the feel and finish I do not know how well they hold.
wantedabiggergarage
Member Emeritus
Kobalt tools were ORIGINALLY owned/made by J.H. Williams tools. They sold Lowe's the trademark and stopped selling them online (how they were originally sold) and then only sold them in Lowe's stores. Lowe's said they weren't making them fast enough (bottom dollar) and closed out the Williams made ones, and brought in Danaher as the contractor.
Some of my best deals, were when I bought the closeouts of Williams made Kobalt tools. Their flare nut wrenches compare quite favorably with Snap on's and are close enough, that when your hand is on the wrench, I was accused of using someone elses Snap on.
I bought some Kobalt tools while they were made by Williams. The combo wrenches are excellent, and I will never part with them. Sockets have also worked very well.
Recently I bought some 1/2" drive Kobalt sockets. They IMO seems just as good as the first set I bought.
Based on my budgetary constraints, I almost never can afford Snap-on, so I got one Snap-on tool that I know I would use 90% of the time: a 3/8" 80 tooth ratchet. That way I feel like I have gotten the best "bang for the buck" on Snap-on tools for my situation.
Recently I bought some 1/2" drive Kobalt sockets. They IMO seems just as good as the first set I bought.
Based on my budgetary constraints, I almost never can afford Snap-on, so I got one Snap-on tool that I know I would use 90% of the time: a 3/8" 80 tooth ratchet. That way I feel like I have gotten the best "bang for the buck" on Snap-on tools for my situation.
jeepnut24
Well-known member
Gearwrench got actually sent me a catalog, through UPS no less, while Im still waiting on my SO catalog which I paid for two days earlier than the gearwrench catalog....
Joelfke
Well-known member
Not all of the ratcheting wrenches are the same. Most of Matco's proswing ratcheting wrenches have USA stamped on them which probably makes them closer to the Armstrong versions than Gearwrench. Matco does sell an extra long zero offset ratcheting wrench set that are clones of the Gearwrench Gearbox. Matco also makes an extra long zero offset wrench with a fixed boxed end and a flex ratcheting boxed end which are made by Kabo not Gearwrench. All things are not equal across the Danaher made brands despite what the conspiracy theorists would lead you to believe. There are many more differences between Matco and Gearwrench.
well put good sir, I have learned AGAIN