brooktre
Well-known member
What are some opinions of these?
Pass through socket sets
- Thread starter brooktre
- Start date
jdlong
Well-known member
If you don't own a set of ratcheting wrenches, they're kind of handy.
BTL-A4
Well-known member
I do not like mine because they are too big to fit in tight places my regular sockets fit. I bought them to work on my car and they never seem to fit anywhere.
well what ever you do, don't get the CHannelFuckers sets... they are crappy, the rachet selector is plastic, breaks just from looking at it, and warranty is a scam....
I liked my Craftsman sets both 3/8 and 1/2 (rare) sets , The Kobalt set is nice, but discontinued... HF have a set that looks like CHannelDic's at less price.... great for long bolts and structs on VWs...
I liked my Craftsman sets both 3/8 and 1/2 (rare) sets , The Kobalt set is nice, but discontinued... HF have a set that looks like CHannelDic's at less price.... great for long bolts and structs on VWs...
bob from indiana
Well-known member
I have Husky sets in 1/4 and 3/8 drive. The 3/8 is handy for a couple of things I do at work on electrical panels. I got the 1/4 set for a gift and haven't used them at all but they may be needed in the future.
99LeCouch
Well-known member
I like my GearWrench set. It gets into places that neither a shallow socket or a ratcheting wrench can. Or, when a deep socket is a hair too shallow, but there is space above to swing a ratchet. A bit of a niche, and really the perfect tool when they are needed.
If there is a flex head set, grab it. That makes the whole deal a lot more useful than a regular set.
If there is a flex head set, grab it. That makes the whole deal a lot more useful than a regular set.
Ign
Well-known member
Somewhere here is an exhaustive thread of which brands interchange. And I mean impressively exhausting, mentioning at least a couple brands I promise you've never heard of or at least didn't know they even make these particular tools.
I'd search if I cared enough.....
I'd search if I cared enough.....
Rarified27
Well-known member
The only real benefit I noticed to a pass through socket set rather than the ratcheting wrenches is it takes up less space. Beyond storage issues, I haven't encountered anything where the socket set was any more capable, unless the ratchet didn't flex, then it's way less useful and the wrenches are king.
Voi
Well-known member
A friend of mine owns a cabinet shop and has a set with very thin walls and they can at times be very useful for replacing parts on some of the equipment. I find the thin walls to be more useful than the pass through feature.
I bought a Bostich set that isn't nearly as thin walled as his set and in fact are probably the thickest non-impact sockets I own. Not ideal but I paid so little for them I keep them around for when I need the pass through feature.
Most recent example was installing a trailer jack. A pass though socket and ratchet on the C-channel side was easier to keep on the nut and could ratchet further than the ratcheting wrench I started with. Not required for the job but worth rolling in my chair across the floor to go get them.
Glad to have them. Wish the set I had was as thin walled as others.
I bought a Bostich set that isn't nearly as thin walled as his set and in fact are probably the thickest non-impact sockets I own. Not ideal but I paid so little for them I keep them around for when I need the pass through feature.
Most recent example was installing a trailer jack. A pass though socket and ratchet on the C-channel side was easier to keep on the nut and could ratchet further than the ratcheting wrench I started with. Not required for the job but worth rolling in my chair across the floor to go get them.
Glad to have them. Wish the set I had was as thin walled as others.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
Pretty much. It will 100% save your *** like 5 times. Otherwise it will sit in the box. I'm happy with mine, nice for shock nuts if you don't have deep offset wrenches.
Napa has some gearwrench sets on sale, but I’m not sure I would use them. I don’t recall being in a situation where something else didn’t work.
Good feedback M6erfan. I did search after your suggestion. Most said not needed, but many did recommend for shock work or when you have an allen fitting on top of a stud.
Good feedback M6erfan. I did search after your suggestion. Most said not needed, but many did recommend for shock work or when you have an allen fitting on top of a stud.
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That's about the only use for them, in an automotive environment. Often times a 60° offset box wrench will work there too.
Very nice to have if you do any work at all with unistrut and/or threaded rod. Will fit places a ratcheting wrench can't.
My Harbor Freight set saved me probably an hour of work on a commercial garage door the other day. Only other option would have been 1/16 turn at a time with a open end wrench. Adjusting nut had spring tension on it so couldn't just break loose and spin with my fingers either.
My Harbor Freight set saved me probably an hour of work on a commercial garage door the other day. Only other option would have been 1/16 turn at a time with a open end wrench. Adjusting nut had spring tension on it so couldn't just break loose and spin with my fingers either.
Mr Ratchet
Well-known member
I have an older Kolbalt (Vortex) in 1/4" and 3/8" both with locking flex head ratchets. They work as extra deep sockets when hooked to extensions. They are also lower profile than a standard socket/ratchet combination. My pass through sets also have sockets that are a little smaller OD than my regular sockets. I've used mine where other sockets would not fit down in a hole. I also have a CM (Vortex) spinner/screwdriver handle for the 1/4" set. I use it with an extension and socket for any nut driver type of work.
They are not something I use all the time or on high torque fasteners. They usually bring a smile when I need them though.
They are not something I use all the time or on high torque fasteners. They usually bring a smile when I need them though.
There's a few cases they're the best solution...my fave use is on endlinks on certain cars that have a central hex that you have to put an allen key in. I also tend to use them where I need a ratcheting wrench but want more reach/leverage since the handle is longer. I have the 3/8" Gearwrench flex head set, have been waiting to find a good deal on the 1/4" and 1/2" sets as I'd add them to the set. They also interchange with the Gearwrench tap/die drive tools which can be handy.
retDAC
Well-known member
The first thought is they are just like crow's feet and obstruction wrenches. You will rarely ever need them. When you do you are really glad to have them.
Negen
Well-known member
I had a gm goodwrench pass through set that was OK but used it on a stuck fastener and the detent ball flew off and the ratchet was useless along with the sockets. The gear wrench stuff looks nice.
Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app
Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app
gtsgarage
Well-known member
That gear wrench 8946 1/4 and 3/8 set looks pretty slick. I almost bought it but don’t think I’d ever use it.