gearwrench vs sk wrench set

[MoellerMotorsports]

Hello all I'm new to the forum but I own and operate a small atv/motorcycle shop and I'm still working with the old raised panel craftsman wrenches.

I'm really wanting to get a new set. I'm thinking gearwrench or sk or possibly a used matco set. How do they compare? I've been doing some reading but still wanted to post it. I can't justify spending $400 on a new SO or matco set. What do you guys think??

 

[hifi_hokie]

Personally, I would go SK.

Welcome to GJ.

 

[BK13]

Take a look at Wright.

 

[AmishFury]

don't count out some of the others... wright, williams, proto, etc

one thing to consider is maybe getting a size you commonly use in a couple different brands to see how they work for you... different brands for different hands

 

[Kellyblues]

Great advice right there.

don't count out some of the others... wright, williams, proto, etc

one thing to consider is maybe getting a size you commonly use in a couple different brands to see how they work for you... different brands for different hands

Ive owned both multiple sets of GW and SK for many years. SK are my favorite. My Snap-On guy as offered to replace then with a new set just to see them leave the top of my cart. Free of charge and I keep the SK's but use the Snap on's as my go to wrench sets. I've turned him down every time. Its an open standing offer now. Not gonna happen. I love my SK's

 

[Skin]

Any will serve you well. Matco and GW have open end modifications that grip really well. That said the box end is the primary working end of a combo.

 

[Leoruiz]

I'm a Proto ASD guy.I hate the Snap Flank+ and Wrong Grip.You get near my H2 or 'stang with those and I'll shoot you
I own them both and they ARE extremely effective.....moreso perhaps than the ASD....when working on a cRusty P.O.S.
I don't work on garbage. I send them down the road. I did a cRusty pool pump yesterday.
Un-rolled the wRong Grip. Twisted the head right off !
No biggie.The pump is on my bench awaiting coffee and daylight.

 

[oldldh]

If money is a major consideration...and...isn't it always...

GearWrench #81919

44 pc SAE and Metric Combination Wrench Set is available all over the internet...

www.toolmancentral.com has it for $ 182.88...

That's a bunch of wrenches (1/4" to 1 1/2", and 6mm to 32mm), for not a bunch of money...

I'm trading my 43pc Craftsman raised panel set in, for these next year, if the tool money shows up...

www.nathenarnoldtools.com has the set for $ 179.95...

 

[1950mercury]

Buy one of each in your most common used size and figure it out for yourself. Because opinions are like assholes....everyone has one and some people's stink

 

[Flivver250]

Take a look at Wright.

+1 Wright is priced well and arguably the best on the market bar none.

 

[MoellerMotorsports]

Wow thanks for all the responses guys! I've used the standard matco and snap-on wrenches in my schools powersports program. I personally didn't like the matcos, they just don't really feel right.

I've got some old sk sockets and extensions I use everyday and I like them, and I've been told to try the sk wrench sets do I think I'll give them a try. Also I read in a thread that the long pattern sk wrenches are the same length as the standard snap-ons?

 

[LXCam]

I have both as well. I'd go sk

 

[Rock Hound]

I only have a handful of SK tools (mostly stuff I found during demos of buildings), but the quality of them are very nice.

I own a couple small sets of Gearwrench 3/8 drives that stay in the vehicles. I quite like their ratchets. Their sockets are decent quality, but nothing special.

Tool truck sets are too expensive for me. But I do own a handful or assorted tools, not enough to make a set of anything.

My recent purchases that are my favorite sockets are the Dewalt sets I picked up for a song on the Sears website when they had them on sale. I really like the knurling on the sockets and extensions, makes them easy to work with with oily hands. Their finish is top notch, they are easy to read, and I prefer their smaller cases swing action to any other mechanics tool cases I have used. They are a huge step up in socket quality from anything I own other than the handful of the tool truck brands I own. By far the best bang for the buck in my opinion, good even at regular price and a steal at the sale prices. However, while the ratchets are comfortable in the hand, they are somewhat bulky. I prefer my Armstrong Maxx or the Gearwrench ratchets over the Dewalts.

 

[John in OH]

+1 Wright is priced well and arguably the best on the market bar none.

I totally agree with this!! WrightGrips are excellent wrenches and made in USA!

However, you asked about SK vs. Gearwrench. There currently seems to be some degree of confusion regarding the COO of Gearwrench wrenches, but regardless, they are of Asian manufacture, not US.

Go with SK ... very good wrenches and also made in USA.

 

[67King]

I try to support American companies when I can, which, ceteris paribus, would lead me to SK. And most of my tools are now SK, having replaced most of my Craftsman stuff. But my combo wrenches are Wrights, due to the grip feature, as there are far too many times when I have to use the open end of a wrench.

 

[rockinacummins]

Between GW and SK, it's SK for me every time.

That being said, I prefer Williams or Wright to SK, and the Carlyle tools from Napa are really nice as well.

Wouldn't be anything at all wrong with a used Matco set either!

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Also I read in a thread that the long pattern sk wrenches are the same length as the standard snap-ons?

Yes, the long SK wrenches are approximately the length of the standard Snap-On wrenches.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Matco/MAc are the only brands I've seen (truck market) that spread consistantly. In the alignment shop, matcos/macs usually end up getting warrantied often.

GW also has the same problem.


Wright, is the answer.



Williams would also be acceptable (US or Tiawan). I don't own any SK wrenches, but I would assume based on the quality of other offerings, that their quality is fine.



To answer your actual question: SK would get my money, between the two.

 

[1950mercury]

On thing to keep in mind is that the wright grip and fd+ open ends have teeth in them that will leave marks on nuts and bolts.

 

[AmishFury]

On thing to keep in mind is that the wright grip and fd+ open ends have teeth in them that will leave marks on nuts and bolts.

from what i've heard they don't leave marks any more than any other wrench under normal use... only when you are really cranking on a fastener (like when you're attempting to snap a bolt head off during a review)

 

[Skin]

They leave marks during normal use, not as pronounced but they're there. It really doesn't matter unless you're working on show cars though.

 

[Leoruiz]

from what i've heard they don't leave marks any more than any other wrench under normal use... only when you are really cranking on a fastener (like when you're attempting to snap a bolt head off during a review)

That depends on the quality of the bolt being toyed with.Most are grade zero or three at best. Header bolts and bolts holding a pressure plate or flywheel on can go 5 to 8. Pretty hard to leave teeth marks in those.
'Intakes, water pumps, carb flanges, master cylinders and other hardware readily seen are a different animal.
Makes no difference on a daily driver. On a show car-or bike--stay the hell away with the teeth.

 

[HanShotFirst]

I have the SK long pattern wrenches and they are my absolute favorite wrenches. I bought them probably 25 years ago and they have served me very well.

That said, if I were buying a top quality wrench today, I'd probably go with Williams or Proto (I'm actually nickle & diming my way to a set of Proto reversable ratcheting right now).

 

[Barrymaxx]

I have GW wrenches. The finish is great and I love the length of them. However the open ends kind of **** in my opinion. The knockoff flank drive thing does pretty much nothing and the ends spread too much to do any tough work with the open end. A USA craftsman raised panel has a better open end.

Havent used SK yet.