Ratcheting Combination Wrenches

[Wolverine]

Who has em'? What kind do you have? Do you like them? Do you use them with any regularity?


I've been looking at the Craftsman and SK standard length versions. I noticed that Matco has a stubby set........ which might be very handy. MAC carries them, but I'm not sure if they actually make them because they have a different label (BlackHawk). Not sure of MAC's prices either. Snap-on prices are out of my league for tools.


Give me your opinions.


Much appreciated!

 

[Wolverine]

Damn these are expensive:

http://www.matcotools.com/Catalog/toolcatalog.jsp?cattype=T&cat=2539&select=&page=3

 

[Wolverine]

These look good, anybody have em'?



http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/SK-89600.html

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/SK-89700.html

 

[Wolverine]

Craftsman's version:


http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...OL&fromAuto=YES&bidsite=CRAFT&pid=00946407000

 

[kartracer55]

My vote is the craftsman. Why? because I have yet to find any marketing on where the SK's are made. In the toolwarehouse catalog, they dont make anymention of them being made in USA like they do other SK tools, They dont mention it on thier website, and it isnt mentioned on the SK website. The snap on version is made overseas. Im sure the quality of the SK's will be up to thier usual standards, but they may not be made in USA. If there is a retailer near you, take a look, and let us know. If they are made in USA, Go for it, if not im sure they will be good but the craftmans are very good as well.

Jim

 

[hguerrero]

I have the Gear Wrench brand...metric and sae...
I also have the Husky stubby...metric and sae
And the Husky Flex wrenches in metric and sae...

These are good enough for my use...since I only use them to work on my personal toy/car.
That and I'm a garage junkie.

 

[Jay H 237]

I have a few sets of the Gear Wrench brand. I have a set of standard and metric at home plus two sets of metric at work. All the equipment at work is metric and I've had one set for 4 years now plus I went and bought a second set when they came out with the ones that are reversible without having to flip them over. They get a lot of use and have yet to fail. I've only had to put a few drops of WD-40 on them ocassionally when they wouldn't ratchet smoothly. Both sets come in handy because the ones that are reversible also have an angle to them that can still hinder movement in tight areas, so for those times I use the older set (nonreversing ones). The reversible ones are nice because they have a lip in them that stops the bolt head from passing through.

 

[kartracer55]

The gear wrench branded ones are all the rage aparantly. They are made by KD tools, a division of Matco. They are however, taiwanese made. Maybe check out the armstrong branded ones from MSC. Armstrong is Danahers industrial tool brand, kinda like Proto is to stanley. The sets are liek 110-130 for the metric and standards, but armstrong tools are top notch.

Jim

 

[Wolverine]

Are Armstrong tools actually made in the USA?

 

[pl_silverado]

i got the metric snap-on set. i use them all the time.

 

[Glen]

I also have GearWrench, bought from Sears on sale. When I compared them side by side with the Craftsman version, I thought they were better made, had a better finish, and just "felt" better in my hand. And not just because they were on sale and less expensive.

 

[Rickster]

I have the Craftsman sets (metric & standard), the cheaper ones that you have to flip over to reverse. I like them a lot, used them several times now with no problems. The ratcheting seems a bit stiff, but I figure they'll loosen up a bit with wear. I went with the Craftsman mostly due to the ease of replacement if anthing should break.

 

[Satatic]

I have some stanley ones and I love them. Ive used them with breaker bars on them, they flex but dont break. Of course you shouldn't use them to break free bolts but they sure can take the abuse. Plus they fit the bolts really well. Not like a lot of wrenches that fit loosly on bolts.

 

[kartracer55]

Well I have the same Cheapo style of craftsman ratcheting wrenches like Rickster, but I never really have to switch directions anyway, so it works.

Armstrongs are indeed made in USA, and I have Armstrong ignition wrenches and some oddball sockets too. Top notch stuff. Like I said, They are Matcos Industrial counterpart, and you wont be dissatisfied. Snap ons are made in.. Gasp...taiwan. Im sure the SK quality will be great like most of thier other tools, but im not sure where they are made.

Jim

 

[pl_silverado]

Snap ons are made in.. Gasp...taiwan.
Jim

Get it straight. Snap-on are made in USA. Blue Point, subdivision of snap-on are made in taiwan.

 

[kartracer55]

Nope. the Snap on Branded ratcheting wrenches dont say made in USA anywhere on them, because they are in fact made in Taiwan.

This isnt true for thier ratcheting double box end wrenches, as they are made by KASTAR, the same people who make all the specialty tools. Kastar also makes the craftsman double box wrenches, but for craftsman they use a plastic/nylon spaced instead of metal like in snap on, and use a smoother ratcheting mechanism.

jim

 

[Moltar]

I have the metric flexhead Blackhawks and are very happy with them. They were about $180 for a 12 pc. set.

According to my Mac dealer the patent for the ratcheting mechanisim only exists in Taiwan and that is why almost all of the ratcheting wrenches are made there. The very few that are made in the USA are only assembled in the USA with the ratcheting mechanisms shipped from Taiwan.

 

[pl_silverado]

Nope. the Snap on Branded ratcheting wrenches dont say made in USA anywhere on them, because they are in fact made in Taiwan.

This isnt true for thier ratcheting double box end wrenches, as they are made by KASTAR, the same people who make all the specialty tools. Kastar also makes the craftsman double box wrenches, but for craftsman they use a plastic/nylon spaced instead of metal like in snap on, and use a smoother ratcheting mechanism.

jim

No, all snap-on wrenches and sockets are cast from forgings in the usa. The ratcheting mechanisms and stuff may be imported, but the tools are made here. This is coming straight from snap-on, talked to corporate today.

 

[MaverickDMD]

So it's gotta be true right? Unless it has stamped on the actual tool, it's not from the USA. Look it up under the UTC international trade laws.

 

[lardy1]

I have Tekton and they serve me well. I picked up a set of Titan dirt cheap one time and they were very stiff and clunky mechanism. They have got better with ATF soaks and usage but they realy aren't what I would consider good. Adequate at best but they were on discount and I had Amazon credits so not much invested.