Gearwrench ratchet screwdriver review.

[waterboy12]

Went to sears to pick up some valentines day stuff for my girlfriend and saw this Gearwrench set for sale and thought what the hell. I picked it up for 34.99. It's a 54 piece set, sockets, bits extensions and the ratcheting screwdriver and ratcheting t-handle. Comes in a black plastic case that seems sturdy. It seems well made and stout. Definantly strong enouph for home owner use. Coo is Taiwan. It's not USA made but seems well built.

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[Rico.]

That looks like good value for $35, very comprehensive set.

 

[Danglerb]

I bought that same set during the holiday sales for I think half price, and I give it a mixed review.

Generally it works pretty well, but ....

The flex shaft is worthless, twists like a pigs tail with any amount of torque.
Both of the handles are LARGE, like I have on big pry bars, but I have big hands so only issue is it takes to space to use them.
A little too much wobble to suit me in the coupling on the handle.

There are three shorter tool holders not included in this set plus a smaller handle all worth getting. The nut driver set is also on my watch for a deal list.

As I understand it the mechanism is licensed from Snapon, and GearWrench stuff will fit in a Snapon handle, but Snapon stuff doesn't fit in GearWrench or vice versa.

 

[waterboy12]

I have big hands as well. So it's fine. It's not going in my box at work but for home use it will be fine.

 

[thesilverone]

thanks for the initial inspection/thoughts.

 

[Altec]

I have this same set. Bet you went through a lot less trouble to get it!

I do like my set.

 

[BBBC23]

Let us know tomorrow how your girlfriend liked her Gearwrench stuff

 

[waterboy12]

Haha. I'm sure she will be thrilled. Lol she got the usual card, jewelry and roses so she'll be happy. I guess you could say I bought myself a Valentins day gift...I don't need an excuse to buy tools. Lol

 

[jjjrmx5]

Doesn't sound like a review, but more like an affirmation that all parts were included and it does indeed turn a screw.

LOL.

For home use or for light duty, especially given the vaule of the bits and accessories included, it is a good deal.

For pro, dependable and day-in-and-day-out of billed by the hour or mfgr. duty, it's not the correct tool. Seen it first hand.

Only thing worse was the Craftsman red handled ratcheting screwdrivers.

They'd go boom in an employee's hand and then either had to borrow something or risk spending OT finsihing a job due to time and poor tools.

if you are a professional, you use big-boy professional tools or risk the loss of hourly efficiency and pay. Sorry. It's the way the world works.

No snobbery here, but broken tools and poor tool excuses do not finish a job nor keep a schedule on time.

 

[Honda 1]

I bought this set about a year ago on sale. It is a good set for the price I paid.Gearwrench usually makes a good product.

 

[el tanque prohibido]

Take that back and get a real ratcheting screwdriver. Get a Snap On.

 

[plung]

I have a set I bought about 7 years ago. Rarely used because its always in the case, I should take it out. It's decent for home usage.

 

[rayh91]

That set some times goes on sale for $18. I got one for Fathers day at that price.

My first set was $35 and it was worth it. I wish it came with a stubby though.

 

[waterboy12]

Yea your right it wasn't a review. More or less a first impression. And like I have said a few times already this product would be suitable for a home owner not a pro mechanic. Oh....I don't drink the snap on koolaid.

 

[saturdaymechanic]

I have that set and love it for DIY use. I've used it for appliance work, electrical, auto and general home use. It's tough enough and has a nice ratcheting mechanism.

That being said, I still want a SO one.

 

[plinker]

As I understand it the mechanism is licensed from Snapon, and GearWrench stuff will fit in a Snapon handle, but Snapon stuff doesn't fit in GearWrench or vice versa.

Correct on the mechnasim pat. being loaned out,

The Gearwrench shanks will not fit the S-O handles unless some material is removed.

The Snap-on blades shanks will fit the Gearwench handles.
But if your going to pony up for the S-O blades/shanks, get a S-O handle

 

[Danglerb]

When I find a Snapon handle a "little" cheaper than the $30 or so I've seen so far for a used one, I may open it up and spend a little quality time with a file so I can use all the GW shafts and get a smaller handle with a tighter file fit.

I wish I could have found the set Plung showed, the nut setters and shorter extensions would be handy to have instead of another set of 1/4 sockets.

I also agree the packaging lends itself much more to show than use. So far I toss the whole box into a tool bag along with whatever I think I need for a remote job, and it adds a lot of weight and takes a lot of space, then to use the tools you need a place to open the box.

 

[dragoocoda]

I've been thinking about getting that set for myself.. Looks like a great DIY set..

 

[volunteers]

So SO shanks can fit Gearwrench handles, but Gearwrench shanks cannot fit SO handles. How can that happen?

Correct on the mechnasim pat. being loaned out,

The Gearwrench shanks will not fit the S-O handles unless some material is removed.

The Snap-on blades shanks will fit the Gearwench handles.
But if your going to pony up for the S-O blades/shanks, get a S-O handle

 

[plinker]

The Gearwrench are a little bigger in dia.

You can lathe them down though and they'll fit according to what I've read here.

(it's really a conspiracy so you cant use the less expensive Gearwrench shanks in the Snap-on's )

 

[jjjrmx5]

So SO shanks can fit Gearwrench handles, but Gearwrench shanks cannot fit SO handles. How can that happen?

To get the Gearwrench nut driver shanks to work with Snappy ratcheting screwdrivers, I just bought and use a tiny 1.5" long 1/4" square drive ratchet extension bought from Sears Craftsman for less than $2. The Craftsman (as well as most others) std. 1/4" square drive extensions will fit no problem (extension dia. is OEM dia.) into the sq. drive portion of the Snappy ratcheting screwdriver handle when you remove the sq. drive shank bit shaft. Just put the stubby in there and hook the Gearwrench nut driver shanks into the female square of the shorty 1/4" extension just like any socket or ratchet. You add about an inch or less. Whoopie doo. If no 1.5", buy the 3". Same results.


$2 solution I use all the time since the*&^% GW bulls&^t shaft size issues when using co-workers or friends tools /weird shanks with the SO handle.

It's a cheap no-brainer and uses your Snappy ratcheting handle as usual.

 

[jim2664258]

To get the Gearwrench nut driver shanks to work with Snappy ratcheting screwdrivers, I just bought and use a tiny 1.5" long 1/4" square drive ratchet extension bought from Sears Craftsman for less than $2.

I have the GearWrench set and have no intention of buying the Snappy, but cheers to you for cluing everyone in on the nice workaround.

 

[amolaver]

Doesn't sound like a review, but more like an affirmation that all parts were included and it does indeed turn a screw.

LOL.

For home use or for light duty, especially given the vaule of the bits and accessories included, it is a good deal.

For pro, dependable and day-in-and-day-out of billed by the hour or mfgr. duty, it's not the correct tool. Seen it first hand.

Only thing worse was the Craftsman red handled ratcheting screwdrivers.

They'd go boom in an employee's hand and then either had to borrow something or risk spending OT finsihing a job due to time and poor tools.

if you are a professional, you use big-boy professional tools or risk the loss of hourly efficiency and pay. Sorry. It's the way the world works.

No snobbery here, but broken tools and poor tool excuses do not finish a job nor keep a schedule on time.

well, i've used the SO, the williams, and a couple different copies of this, and my experience says otherwise; the ratcheting mechanism and handle is of essentially the same quality as both SO & williams. the included bits aren't as durable, but better than most of the stuff you can get at HD/Lowes.

if you break this, you'll just as easily break a SO/Williams.

ahm

 

[jjjrmx5]

well, i've used the SO, the williams, and a couple different copies of this, and my experience says otherwise; the ratcheting mechanism and handle is of essentially the same quality as both SO & williams. the included bits aren't as durable, but better than most of the stuff you can get at HD/Lowes.

if you break this, you'll just as easily break a SO/Williams.

ahm

Nope.

I'll agree to disagree with years of first person experence to prove it wrong in a mfg. environment on many levels. But you are welcome to buy what you want. As always.

 

[Danglerb]

Everybody has an opinion, but sounds like you are stating a fact, so why not lay out some details like how many of the GearWrench handles (which I can buy from Cripes for $4) did you break vs $70 Snapon handles?

My own manufacturing experience is that employees are often not reliable sources of opinion. Tools they for whatever reason don't like tend to get broken, and the reason they may like a tool may have nothing to do with normal use.

 

[allinon72]

Bought this set last year for $19, used it maybe once.

 

[t1r2u3s4t]

I bought the set when it was at haft price before Xmas from Sears. Had high hope for it but didn't fall in love with the big handle and the coarse ratchet. I gifted it away. Recipient was very happy though...

 

[tjmonsen5]

I bought this set with a gift card about 2 years ago. Used it a few times in my college apartment to replace some doorknobs, thats it. I would probably use it more often if I put it in the screwdriver drawer, outside of its box. Right now its down in the bottom of the box with my other plastic cases stacked up.. which is why i probably dont use it.

 

[volunteers]

I just tried tonight. The Snap-On shank fits the Gearwrench handle, and the Gearwrench shank fits Snap-On handle too. It is exchangeable for my handles.
BTW, the gearwrench handle looks exactly the same as SO's. Who is the copycat?

Correct on the mechnasim pat. being loaned out,

The Gearwrench shanks will not fit the S-O handles unless some material is removed.

The Snap-on blades shanks will fit the Gearwench handles.
But if your going to pony up for the S-O blades/shanks, get a S-O handle