So for the pro's on GJ , what brand ratcheting wrenches are in your box. I currently own the MATCO 90 tooth xl reversible wrenches. I have been thinking about the new Snap on wrenches that just came out. What are you guys using?
Professional use ratcheting wrenches
- Thread starter Thax
- Start date
gdocktor3
Well-known member
I really like my 90 tooth Kabo made Matco/SK stuff. Why are you looking to upgrade if you already own the Matco's?
I like the MATCO's , only problem is the 12mm has broken on me twice and the 14mm once. My dealer acts like the world is gonna end when you hand him a warranty anything. Last time it happened I was not in the mood for his ****. Just told him Matco needs to build a better wrench. I really do enjoy the feel of the Matco wrenches though.
Chief919
Well-known member
I really, really like my SK X-Frames.
IUEC Medic
Well-known member
I am still very impressed with my Taiwan-made Proto's.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
The USA made reversible Proto's are the best I've used. What I like about them is the squarish and thicker than normal handles. Also, they are spline drive which is great. Very comfortable on your hands. You wait for zorotools to have a 25% off sale and then jump on them.
anndel
Well-known member
Snap Ons are in my box
Old or the new ones?
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have a wide range of models and styles ranging from Gearwrench to MATCO with PROTO's and Blackhawks thrown in alongside SK X frames and older G Pro versions. All of them have served me well. My favorite after all of these years is still the Armstrong made & Matco branded proswing series that is a standard length wrench with a 15 degree offset fixed boxed end on one side with a zero offset 72 tooth ratcheting boxed end on the other side. With the demise of Armstrong, MATCO updated these wrenches to spline boxed ends with 90 tooth action and sourced them from Kabo in Taiwan.
Dont know if their made anymore . Gearwrench made cross frame ratcheting wrenches, made in taiwan. I have beat on those things near 8 years now, use the Matco wrenches more now . Those Gearwrench wrenches are great though.
Empty Pockets
Well-known member
While not turning wrenches for a living, I have SK X-Frames, they work as advertised
redwrench60
Well-known member
I'm using Snap On ratcheting wrenches with the flank drive plus open end (old style) and I couldn't be more pleased. Good length, compact and strong ratcheting mechanism and proven open end. These are pretty much every day use tools and I haven't broken any but then again, I try not to be a dumb ***.
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I have no idea how these Matco wrenches keep breaking. I mean how much can you reef on a 12 and 14 mm fastener. I looked over the new snappys and im impressed.
isb cornbinder
Well-known member
I just bought a MAC AR777 heavy duty 3/8"form a fellow mechanic. The price was right at $60. I have an AR249 1/4" air ratchet and an AR778 3/8" air ratchet, also MAC. These are a little pricey but after 15 plus years of reliable service, I think the $$$$ were well spent.
I like the change-on-the-go feature for chasing threads. This pawl drive system is really quick.
I like the change-on-the-go feature for chasing threads. This pawl drive system is really quick.
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SiGmA_X
Well-known member
That is definitely not a ratcheting wrench...
redwrench60
Well-known member
I don't think you're the only one. I see a lot of the other guys at work warranting Matco ratcheting wrenches. Especially the long flex head ones. Our lube guys seem to tear them up on drain plugs. I didn't think drain plugs were severe service.
zendigital
Well-known member
I have the revised SnapOn wrenches, I had my reservation at first but now that they are mostly broken in I'm definitely diggin them.
ssdave
Banned
I don't have ratcheting wrenches, except for a few singles. I bought Gearwrench when they first came out. They were a continuous warranty replacement disaster, I finally just sold them off and have done without. I've been thinking I'd like a set again, been looking at the new Snap-on, but think I'll buy the USA Proto spline reversing ones instead. Just hate to pay the price.
I don't think you're the only one. I see a lot of the other guys at work warranting Matco ratcheting wrenches. Especially the long flex head ones. Our lube guys seem to tear them up on drain plugs. I didn't think drain plugs were severe service.
Drain plugs get tricky because of, take-off torque is rarely near the installation torque. Pretty possible to break some mech's. Perfect excuse for a box/ratcheting-box
.anndel
Well-known member
I have the double box ends with date codes 1984 and 1991. The open end/ratcheting on the opposite end are date coded 2014.
I don't think you're the only one. I see a lot of the other guys at work warranting Matco ratcheting wrenches. Especially the long flex head ones. Our lube guys seem to tear them up on drain plugs. I didn't think drain plugs were severe service.
I had a set of the Matco USA ratcheting wrenches, and they were excellent and held up to everyday use. I recently "updated" them with the new Matco 90 tooth reversible ratcheting wrenches, and they were really bad. The mechanism was rough, and they would go in "neutral" just playing with them. I sent them back. Really like the new Snap On ratcheting wrenches though, and the SK X frames are very nice if you don't need the reversing feature.
Anyone use this craftsman? http://www.sears.com/craftsman-8pc-...ch-set/p-00910924000P?intcmp=crft-pdp-buy-cta
It is currently on sale, and was wondering if this is a good buy. It look similar to Gearwrench https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000T8WFBU/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I wonder if both wrenches are the same, just being sold by different name. I know the GW has more pieces, but the price is also much higher. I am just a DIY.
It is currently on sale, and was wondering if this is a good buy. It look similar to Gearwrench https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000T8WFBU/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I wonder if both wrenches are the same, just being sold by different name. I know the GW has more pieces, but the price is also much higher. I am just a DIY.
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gdocktor3
Well-known member
With the demise of Armstrong, MATCO updated these wrenches to spline boxed ends with 90 tooth action and sourced them from Kabo in Taiwan.
Well, they switched to the 90 tooth design back around 2011? so I don't think it's fair to say they updated them with the demise of Armstrong.
I've got an old GearWrench set (from when they first came out in the mid 90's) in SAE that have done well. Tried avoiding obvious abuse (i.e. breaking loose stuck fasteners) and I've never had one fail.
Originally they were used every day, thought the past couple of years their use has been more sporadic. I'm still impressed by how well the 5/16" has held up, because it has gotten tons of use and not always easy use.
Originally they were used every day, thought the past couple of years their use has been more sporadic. I'm still impressed by how well the 5/16" has held up, because it has gotten tons of use and not always easy use.
Tdo
Active member
I have the new snap on set that is working very well for me. I work in a wash down environment, and have no issues with it leaking for seizing up. I actually had a gear tech ratcheting wrench that I have used for years in the same environment too. So the harbor freight hasn't let me down, I have it because everything we use is 1/2 inch and I happened to find that wrench in a car.
vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have the USA Craftsman set and SK X Frames I use at work daily and the SK X frames are my go to wrenches more and more
I don't think you're the only one. I see a lot of the other guys at work warranting Matco ratcheting wrenches. Especially the long flex head ones. Our lube guys seem to tear them up on drain plugs. I didn't think drain plugs were severe service.
Interesting hearing that others are having similar issues. No other tech at work has these so I dont see anyone else with problems with the MATCO wrenches. Funny thing is when a 14mm broke the MATCO guy asked if it broke on a drain plug lol
crewchief888
Well-known member
mine too, i have the older DBE type.
i have a gearwrench flex for one particular nut i take off and on daily.
not sure i like the flex yet. i may go back to the old straight blackhawk ive been using or several years.
T_Roze
Well-known member
I've got a full complement of Gearwrench. Around 8 years old now. They have served me well. I do wish that they had the reversible feature, but I guess that's a weak point too.
I do not use them to break fasteners loose very often, but have occasionally. My 12 mm looks like a half moon wrench, was under an ambulance and had to snipe it to get a drive shaft off. It held up just fine.
If I could pick a new line, it would probably be the x-frames.
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I do not use them to break fasteners loose very often, but have occasionally. My 12 mm looks like a half moon wrench, was under an ambulance and had to snipe it to get a drive shaft off. It held up just fine.
If I could pick a new line, it would probably be the x-frames.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
bixxjs
Well-known member
Ratcheting wrenches are going to wear out,I've got a selection,Snapon metric from 10 to 19mm,Gearwrench SAE 7/16 to 1 inch,then I've also got a full set of the X beam Gearwrenches which are awesome,Gearwrench half moon obstruction wrenches 3/8 to 3/4 and I still use the old skewl flat ratchet wrench.
bixxjs
Well-known member
Ratcheting wrenches are going to wear out,I've got a selection,Snapon metric from 10 to 19mm,Gearwrench SAE 7/16 to 1 inch,then I've also got a full set of the X beam Gearwrenches which are awesome,Gearwrench half moon obstruction wrenches 3/8 to 3/4 and I still use the old skewl flat ratchet wrench.Hammer1963
Well-known member
I have several sets of the older Matco USA wrenches and the 90 tooth wrenches. Both have been very good. I also have several different Cornwell sets as well along with some Gearwrench Taiwanese and SK G-pro. No real favorites as all of them have their uses, but I use my Matco combos most often
In the professional world, I use ratcheting wrenches a few times a week. 9/10 times, it is for a transfercase removal or replacement (13mm, 9/16" and 15mm). The other reasons are very random. All of the above are low torque, so I felt no need to spend a fortune. I bought gear wrench brand ratcheting wrenches and none have broken his far. One instance I would buy a snap on ratcheting wrench is for ford 12mm driveshaft, where a LONG ratcheting wrench will help out for final assembly.
Believe it or not I have e had a set of duralast from auto zone in my box goin on 11 years and only had to replace the 15 cuz I broke the lever off. Only reason I'm looking to replace them is to get a full set since the duralast skips so.e sizez
Ign
Well-known member
This thread got me poking around the Matco website last night looking at the Pro Swing stuff. I didn't realize Matco was offering their ratcheting wrenches in "ergonomic" as they call it, ie CrossForce or X-frame.
In particular the reversibles caught my eye but they offer them in (non-reversible) flex too.
I'll have to keep an eye out for used 'cause their retail prices on sets are insane (or at the least much more than I'm willing to pay).
In particular the reversibles caught my eye but they offer them in (non-reversible) flex too.
I'll have to keep an eye out for used 'cause their retail prices on sets are insane (or at the least much more than I'm willing to pay).
American Locomotive
Well-known member
A lot, especially if it's a 12 point head.
I bent a Snap-On 13mm and 1/2" wrench trying to remove the 13mm bolts holding the wheel bearing onto a Jeep axle. Granted I was using a cheater pipe, but still. The bolts took it.
Ended up having to use a socket, 1/2" ratchet with the same cheater and standing on the pipe.