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Ratcheting Wrenches: Reversible Essential to You?

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Bull

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Do you greatly prefer your ratcheting wrenches to be reversible? I have some Stanley stubbies and Blackhawk double boxes that are and sure, it's good. But I have some Blackhawk metrics that are not, and it doesn't seem to be a big deal to me to flip the wrench over the change direction.

How do you feel and why?
 
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redwrench60

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Non reversable ones are not offset, and you can ratchet a bolt out into an obstacle and trap the wrench if you don't pay attention.
 
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vga

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In my line of car repair projects ( Porsche, BMW, Datsun I use just about every type of wrench I own. I started a engine front oil seal replacment job on a 944 today which req's the removal of the entire front of the engine Timing, balance shaft belts, covers, PS pump starter,ect, ect. I used every type of wrench, socket, extension flex and at least 4 diffrent ratchets and was glad that I had them to use as they made a already maddening job a bit easier for me and less time consuming!!
 
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wreckercologist

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redwrench60 said:
Non reversable ones are not offset, and you can ratchet a bolt out into an obstacle and trap the wrench if you don't pay attention.
Click to expand...

Quite true. The zero offset is also handy at times when a 15 degree offset won't clear. Bull needs both kinds:D

I prefer the reversable style with the standard 15 degree offset for daily use, mostly due to the hand clearance...........plus all the cool kids have 'em. :lol:
 
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redwrench60

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wreckercologist said:
Quite true. The zero offset is also handy at times when a 15 degree offset won't clear. Bull needs both kinds:D

I prefer the reversable style with the standard 15 degree offset for daily use, mostly due to the hand clearance...........plus all the cool kids have 'em. :lol:
Click to expand...

Yeah, who am I kidding. I never passed up an opportunity to have more tools and like I always say, a mechanic can't have too many different types of wrenches!:rocker:
 
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XaqNautilus

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Alberta
My main set of wrenches in my toolbag are a set of Flex head Gear Wrenches. I'm sure they're China made but can't complain. They are the most versatile in my opinion and I gotta keep toolbag weight down.
 
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bcradio

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being reversible would be a benefit to me, but a very small one. I have no problem turning the wrench around and I just use a little extra caution not to get it stuck and its really not an issue in the slightest.

As for the offset, i use flex heads (I have locking and non) which gives me any offset i want. Only ones i have that are reversible are the S shape and half moon which are a must to have on those.
 
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relic7680

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Northeast Florida
I have both Matco and C-man ratcheting wrenches w/out the reverse. They have served me well....if I really need the offset I just grab a regular wrench.
 
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Ign

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I've been preaching this forever but people just like the lower price tag of the non-reversibles. TWICE I've backed a relatively stiff fastener into an obstacle before it came out. Fortunately I was using my reversibles. That's all the convincing I need.

Having to flip it over to reverse it "isnt a big deal" until you can't flip it over.
 
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tjmonsen5

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Crystal Lake IL
I like using my 0 degree offset non reversible ones the most. they get used 99% of the time, most likely because they were my first set and i just feel most comfortable with them. I hardly ever grab the reversibles.

I did get one stuck on a intake manifold bolt of my jetski though. Stupid mistake by me. There is a thread somewhere on here that I made asking for help lol. Ended up needing to cut the stud off with a hacksaw. That sucked.
 
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ears

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I use the non reversing about 90% of the time. Only use reversing when I need the offset.
 
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DARKSCOPE001

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I have a set of the gearwrench flex head ratchet wrench sets. Its probably one of the most non used tools in my box. The flex head flops around uselessly, Havent ever trapped one but I could see how you could. I think if i was going to buy another set of ratcheting wrenches i would get the offset ones with a direction leaver. GW makes ones with a little lip on them to hold bolts from getting pushed all the way though. Looks sweet could have used something like that the other day.
 
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Cryptic1911

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Hm, my GW flex heads are the first thing I reach for. I'll admit, the flex head is a pain in the *** sometimes, but I'll never go back to using regular wrenches again
 
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volunteers

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I don't use any ratcheting wrenches, the regular 12PT wrench is my current weapon.
I am wondering: can the ratcheting wrench gives same torque with regular wrench? I thought the ratcheting part might break if I abuse it.
 
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kippieland

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volunteers said:
I don't use any ratcheting wrenches, the regular 12PT wrench is my current weapon.
I am wondering: can the ratcheting wrench gives same torque with regular wrench? I thought the ratcheting part might break if I abuse it.
Click to expand...

Ratcheting wrenchs are designed for high torque loads.....at least that what I have been told. :dunno:
 
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amolaver

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i much prefer the non-reversible. i do 'look ahead' on jobs to make sure i don't back myself into a corner, but i can count on one hand the number of times its been an issue. i've also managed to flip the reverser switch a million times while trying to get a fastener down quickly - freaking annoying.

as others have said, the flex heads give you more flexibility than a 15 degree reversible, and gearwrench offers a lockable flex (on my list).

i just don't find the 15 degree makes much of a difference on most automotive jobs - as often as i need the knuckle clearance, its just as likely the offset means i swing into an obstruction.

my 0 degree non-reversible XL gearwrench are what i reach for 1st. i know i'm going to get the lockable flex set and i'll try to switch to them as primary - we'll see if i like 'em.

ahm
 
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cgv69

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A locking flex head design seems to be the most... well... flexible to me and pretty much eliminates the need for the them to be be reversible. I wish somebody would make a double box end, ratching, locking flex head set. I already have a good set of standard combo wrenches that I don't want to part with but I would like a set of ratching, locking flex heads but don't see the need in another "combo" set.

So basically combine the long handle, locking flex head of this set...
beautyshot.jpg


With the double box head aspect of this wrench...
beautyshot.jpg


Make them in America by a decent company and I would by a full set of SAE and Metric today. Hell I'd even buy them from GearWrench if they made them! :lol:
 
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ajchien

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Reverse is not ESSENTIAL for me. But it sure seems nice to have.

I understand the obstruction issue, yet so few nuts I see have flanges, so I havent run int that problem.

Frankly, it's be nice to have a reversible locking flex, but I havent seen that made yet.
 
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cgv69

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jim2664258 said:
?? Not seeing that. Reversible and locking flex are two completely different things with different purposes, to me.
Click to expand...
What's so hard to grasp?

You have a nut in a hard to reach area and the only way to get to it is with a 15deg offset wrench to loosen it. Now you have replaced the part and need to tighten that nut back up. If you have a fixed angle wrench the only way to do it is put the wrench in reverse assuming it has that feature? If it's a flex head, you can just turn the wrench around and set the offset to 15deg in the other direction. No reverse mechanism needed.
ajchien said:
Frankly, it's be nice to have a reversible locking flex, but I havent seen that made yet.
Click to expand...
And you never will because there is no need for it. See above.
 
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bcradio

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cgv69 said:
What's so hard to grasp?

You have a nut in a hard to reach area and the only way to get to it is with a 15deg offset wrench to loosen it. Now you have replaced the part and need to tighten that nut back up. If you have a fixed angle wrench the only way to do it is put the wrench in reverse assuming it has that feature? If it's a flex head, you can just turn the wrench around and set the offset to 15deg in the other direction. No reverse mechanism needed.

And you never will because there is no need for it. See above.
Click to expand...

The reverse comes in handy when you get your one way ratcheting wrench stuck because it won't slip off over the bolt you are taking off due to an obstruction. You then have no easy way of screwing the bolt back in without a reverse lever.

However, this is a non issue if you just pay extra attention when using non reversibles.
 
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jim2664258

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cgv69 said:
What's so hard to grasp?

You have a nut in a hard to reach area and the only way to get to it is with a 15deg offset wrench to loosen it. Now you have replaced the part and need to tighten that nut back up. If you have a fixed angle wrench the only way to do it is put the wrench in reverse assuming it has that feature? If it's a flex head, you can just turn the wrench around and set the offset to 15deg in the other direction. No reverse mechanism needed.

And you never will because there is no need for it. See above.
Click to expand...

You're assuming there is no need then for a reverse switch for other reasons? You're just focusing on the offset part of it. What's so hard to grasp?
 
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Cookannapurna

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Honestly the answer is both because we ALLWAYS need more tools.

I have both and use both, but I do reach for the reversables more often.
 
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madbasser

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My craftsman sets have a feature that i just push up on the wrench and it releases. It does not have a directional change and there is no offset.
 
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dieselmike

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cgv69 said:
A locking flex head design seems to be the most... well... flexible to me and pretty much eliminates the need for the them to be be reversible. I wish somebody would make a double box end, ratching, locking flex head set. I already have a good set of standard combo wrenches that I don't want to part with but I would like a set of ratching, locking flex heads but don't see the need in another "combo" set.

So basically combine the long handle, locking flex head of this set...


With the double box head aspect of this wrench...


Make them in America by a decent company and I would by a full set of SAE and Metric today. Hell I'd even buy them from GearWrench if they made them! :lol:
Click to expand...

x2 for this!
 
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