Rarified27
Well-known member
Got this from Cripe Distributing on ebay for $26.
First- I don't care about the COO because the set is really nice. I buy USA when I can and have more Channellocks than I'll ever need, but sometimes I take a chance. This was worthwhile.
There are no inconsistencies in the chrome, all pieces are good inside and out- including the ratchet guts (very simple and the pawl has like 10-12 teeth that engage, so it's solid. The factory left it relatively dry, so I added super lube.
The extensions don't wobble, but have enough play in them for regular tasks and the universal joint is standard, nothing fancy.
The sockets are excellent, go from 4-15 and 3/16-9/16 with no skips. There are a few .5 sizes /32's. The included 1/4, 5/16 and 3/8 allen sockets are nice, but I use 5/32 and 3/16 constantly, so they may not see much use. The included torx sockets are 10, 15 and 20- much more appropriate for what I do and a great addition.
The ratchet is very nice and the head is thin compared to something like a Craftsman RP. I tried it on a solid 9/16 bolt with no skips, although (IMO), anything above 12 or 1/2 could be too much for this one's short handle. No auto-reversing or locking up. I may hunt down a 3/8 on ebay to see if I get similar performance.
The case is not oversized and doesn't waste space except for around the allen/torx sockets. They could have included more or a palm ratchet in that space. There is a hair of extra room around the ratchet and extensions that could have housed a breaker bar as well, but doing that without enlarging the case would have made the handle less comfortable.
The case is definitely a GearWrench clone, but doesn't have the same-side hinges like GW's do so the lid can be removed for placement in a chest drawer.
The only thing I found odd was that the shallow sockets were cut a bit deeper in the well than the deep ones were (see pictures).
Overall, I'd give it a 9.5 out of 10. No item will truly be perfect and my additional item requests are just suggestions, not necessities that are dealbreakers.
If I didn't intend on using this at work for a truly complete set, it would absolutely suffice at home and can handle anything a weekend warrior will throw at it. The pro wrench's may have a different opinion ;-)
First- I don't care about the COO because the set is really nice. I buy USA when I can and have more Channellocks than I'll ever need, but sometimes I take a chance. This was worthwhile.
There are no inconsistencies in the chrome, all pieces are good inside and out- including the ratchet guts (very simple and the pawl has like 10-12 teeth that engage, so it's solid. The factory left it relatively dry, so I added super lube.
The extensions don't wobble, but have enough play in them for regular tasks and the universal joint is standard, nothing fancy.
The sockets are excellent, go from 4-15 and 3/16-9/16 with no skips. There are a few .5 sizes /32's. The included 1/4, 5/16 and 3/8 allen sockets are nice, but I use 5/32 and 3/16 constantly, so they may not see much use. The included torx sockets are 10, 15 and 20- much more appropriate for what I do and a great addition.
The ratchet is very nice and the head is thin compared to something like a Craftsman RP. I tried it on a solid 9/16 bolt with no skips, although (IMO), anything above 12 or 1/2 could be too much for this one's short handle. No auto-reversing or locking up. I may hunt down a 3/8 on ebay to see if I get similar performance.
The case is not oversized and doesn't waste space except for around the allen/torx sockets. They could have included more or a palm ratchet in that space. There is a hair of extra room around the ratchet and extensions that could have housed a breaker bar as well, but doing that without enlarging the case would have made the handle less comfortable.
The case is definitely a GearWrench clone, but doesn't have the same-side hinges like GW's do so the lid can be removed for placement in a chest drawer.
The only thing I found odd was that the shallow sockets were cut a bit deeper in the well than the deep ones were (see pictures).
Overall, I'd give it a 9.5 out of 10. No item will truly be perfect and my additional item requests are just suggestions, not necessities that are dealbreakers.
If I didn't intend on using this at work for a truly complete set, it would absolutely suffice at home and can handle anything a weekend warrior will throw at it. The pro wrench's may have a different opinion ;-)
