Need ratcheting wrenches...

[sorensen1987]

I'm looking for some good mechanic quality ratcheting wrenches. What is everyone's experiences/input with them? What do you recommend?

 

[RunninOnEmpty]

For a decent option with good pricing, Williams Taiwan or perhaps Proto's Taiwanese stuff. Many people like GearWrench as well but personally I was never into that brand. Though it's the same as Proto's Taiwanese stuff and a lot of other Taiwanese stuff.

For higher-end, Proto's American stuff, Snap On, and hopefully SK's upcoming X-Frame wrenches are good (if you don't mind 0* offset).

I have a set of Williams Taiwan that I haven't used much but they feel nice. No Flank Drive Plus or SuperCombo type stuff on the open end. I have a couple of Snap Ons with FDP and the ratcheting mechanism feels just barely nicer to me, though I bought the Snappies used. I have a Proto USA in the mail. Will be buying the SK ones when they are out, hopefully soon.

I had older GearWrench ones that were okay but the ratcheting mechanism did slip occasionally with some of them, though I was pretty rough on them. There's a good chance they would have been fine if I soaked them in ATF/oil overnight. I recently got a couple GearWrench and Proto Taiwan which I didn't use on a bolt (because I messed up my order and sent them back) but when I spun the ratcheting mechanism through the bag with my fingers, they felt and sounded good. Hard to say how well they would have held up to some real torque, but people here mostly seem to like them.

 

[Farmall450]

Gearwrench probably offers the most value. That's what I have.

Proto makes splendid American ones from what I see on here.

 

[Jwych]

+1 for gearwrench

 

[Cope]

I bought my Gear Wrench at Advance Auto Parts on their monthly sale. I got them 1/2 price.

 

[twertsy]

I love these...........

 

[qctech]

Gear wrench in my opinion.

 

[thegroundpounder99]

I have a set of Blue Points that I really like and some 0 degree Snap On. I have had some Gear wrench also but gifted them when I got the BP set. I liked them to and a lot of mechanics have them in our shop. I'd strongly suggest the reversible ones, that's what sold me as my Gearwrench was not.

 

[justme-]

I have sets of older Gearwrench, one standard and one reversible. I'll never go non reversible again. I don't see any benefit to getting a Williams branded Taiwan made wrench (or any other branded taiwan made ) over the original Gearwrench... essentially the same wrenches with another name and higher (?) price. I've used Bluepoint and Snapon ratcheting and can't say they feel any better or worse than my Gearwrench. I would love a reversible US made set but the cost/value of gearwrench especially with the constant sales from Advance and Sears make it hard to spend the big bucks on Snappy or Armstrong. A US made Proto is news to me - last I heard and read here (and elsewhere) the only options were Snappy and Armstrong before SK's new ones.

 

[Skin]

You can pay a little or a lot and change the COO and the wrench design but you wont beat GW for the money at home or in a full time garage.

 

[BK13]

I love these...........

I really want to get the chrome (USA made) version of those...

 

[nicksnothereman]

I love these...........

Those are beautiful. I would be afraid to use them.

If you "need" ratcheting wrenches and are cheap you go taiwan (anything, most of it is built similarly and pretty cheap but never in a full set at retail at least).

My best ratcheting wrenches are craftsman (armstrong I believe). They're good wrenches no doubt worthwhile if you can get them cheaper than a comparable set. Don't think sears still sells these unless they have old stock or sell these as the professional line. Buying armstrong branded wouldn't be much cheaper than any of the other us manufacturers short the truck stuff.

If you get gearwrench make sure it's taiwanese not chinese.

 

[Tim37]

I have a set of metric gear wrench that have to be pushing 15 years other than welding one while hooking up a battery backwards they have held up great.