GearWrench Wrenches

[6MocoA]

Since I downy currently own any ratchet wrenches, would you guys recommend the flex heads? Or something else before or with these? Thanks

If you dont have anything else, get the reversible non-flex fist. Those are the most useful of the bunch. Once you have that accounted for, get yourself the flex heads. I have the flex heads and while theyve been just fine, I dont use them all that often (my favorite wrenches are the extra long Sunex double combination ratcheting flex heads). But if I didnt have anything else, I would use them much more frequently.

 

[burdickjp]

I always find this funny. When the situation comes that you wish you had a reversible ratchet, then you REALLY will understand.

I've more often had ratcheting wrenches which were reversible and had broken mechanisms. I'd rather have the more reliable mechanism. I gave away my reversible craftsmen wrenches when I got my xforce wrenches.

Who really leans on a ratchet wrench? If you are using that much force, you'll break the ratchet mechanism. Use a regular wrench to break it free, then use the ratchet wrenches.

I'd rather know my wrench is properly seated on the piece of hardware and isn't going anywhere unless I put it there.

If you have the money and want another set of wrenches, go ahead and get the reversible flex heads. I've hardly reached for anything else in my box after buying my long, xforce ratching wrenches.

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[HotRodHudson]

6mocoA, the reversible non flex ones you recommended, will those have the toggle switch to change direction or the very basic with out? Id seen Sears has a 20 piece set (mm&sae) for $50 I believe.

 

[justme-]

If your only experience with ratcheting wrenches is Craftsman it's no wonder you don't want reversible. Craftsman were junk beyond junk in ratcheting combos. I have a set of reversible and a set of non...in 20 years i have broken free nuts and bolts plenty with each and not broken any Gearwrench doing so.
Plus, as someone else said, once you get a non reversible jammed into a spot and can't get it out you'll understand reversible appeal.

 

[Mastermind]

I have the flex heads in standard length and several set of non reversable including the long ones with box end. Most of these I've had and abused for years. I warrantied a 14mm flex head because the washer broke on the flex and it flopped around, and my long 15mm started skipping after fighting a crossthreaded suspenion bolt. I broke it loose with the box and but had to battle it with the ratchet and it started skipping. A good whack and it started working again, but rather have the piece of mind.
Previous to the long double box I had the matco(kabo) long flex heads, those I like to shoot the screw and spring out of every couple months lol.
I'm short, I would buy the flex heads. I'm going to get the sae ones this month myself.

 

[6MocoA]

6mocoA, the reversible non flex ones you recommended, will those have the toggle switch to change direction or the very basic with out? Id seen Sears has a 20 piece set (mm&sae) for $50 I believe.

Yes, the reversible part means you can flip the switch to reverse direction. The non reversible ones, you need to physically remove the wrench, flip it over, and place it back on the bolt. 98% of the time, this is no problem, until you are working in a tight spot and you accidentally back out a bolt to the point where you have no room to remove the wrench.

 

[OSULemon]

Yes, the reversible part means you can flip the switch to reverse direction. The non reversible ones, you need to physically remove the wrench, flip it over, and place it back on the bolt. 98% of the time, this is no problem, until you are working in a tight spot and you accidentally back out a bolt to the point where you have no room to remove the wrench.

Right now I have a standard set of Blackhawk reversible combinations. I have missed the flex feature on several occasions now, so I've come up with a few options.

Mountain MTNRM6

http://www.tooltopia.com/mountain-rm6.aspx

Sunex 9923M

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

Gearwrench 120XP ratcheting/fixed combos

http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemD...kw=KDT86126&gclid=COGxhMCX18wCFQusaQodgYwPDg#

Might have to add an 8mm on top of that set ^

https://www.zoro.com/gearwrench-rat...D60Jyf18wCFQ6maQodbG0MJQ&gclsrc=aw.ds&whence=

Leaning towards the Gearwrench because of the fixed ends, but might go Mountain instead since the ratcheting ends are reportedly quite stout, and also reversible (and cheaper).

 

[pauls_workshop]

Yes, the reversible part means you can flip the switch to reverse direction. The non reversible ones, you need to physically remove the wrench, flip it over, and place it back on the bolt. 98% of the time, this is no problem, until you are working in a tight spot and you accidentally back out a bolt to the point where you have no room to remove the wrench.

Yeah, the key is really, just don't use the non-reversibles "all the way to tighten" any bolt. Use them "most of the way" but then *always* pull them off. Finish up the final torqueing with a standard box end or open end and not any racheting wrench. Then the loss of the reversible feature does not matter. I really like the GW flex ends. I've used mine alot last two years and would not be without a flex end racheting wrench set now. Mine are China coo though so I hope they hold up. I do not think the China GW is nearly as good as the older Taiwan GW. We'll see. - Paul

 

[bubinga]

How long ago did they change to the China COO?

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[pauls_workshop]

How long ago did they change to the China COO?

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Not sure and varies by item. MOST GW now is China coo but there are still some Taiwan made things. Kind of like Craftsman, sometimes you can still find older stock but the next guy gets China COO junk. I think GW does China about as good as anyone, but that isn't saying much really. It is all about making and selling things as cheap as possible to anyone who will buy them for profits. The flex here are cheap enough I think it is a real good deal, but may not be what they used to be at all - don't know yet.

My wife and I just ran into this this weekend with our fancy Cuisinart Coffee Maker we used all of 1 year. Owned by Conair, Cuisinart I've found is just junk and has a nice sounding name so people buy the stuff. Coffee maker leaked all fluid right out of the bottom. They torque the connection for the aluminum tube in the bottom too tight and it cracks over time. Also, it turns itself off randomly at 1 minute, 10 minutes, or 30 minutes from starting, so you never know if it actually would make coffee or not. This due to poor soldering in the circuit board connections. People bake the board in an oven a while to reset the solder joints, then they work good for awhile. China junk. We will never buy anything Cuisinart again. - Paul