Ratcheting Wrenches - which styles do you use?

[The Critic]

As the title states, which styles are most commonly used for your type of work?

I personally use the extra long, Kabo (sold under Mountain, Icon, Platinum, etc. brands) double-box flex ratcheting wrenches more than anything else. I rarely find the need to use any other style of ratcheting wrench in my routine workflow.

 

[turnthewrench 2.0]

Reversible combos with 15° offset in the box-end. "Regular" length.

 

[JradM]

Since buying my V-series set, that's the one I use most (basically Facom wrenches), followed closely by my Proto reversible ratcheting spline wrenches.

I definitely prefer offset REVERSIBLE ratchet wrenches.

Proto:

XL box-end wrenches though, would be my third-most used. The deep socket non-ratcheting end and XL length is great for grip when you need to bust something loose - and the ratcheting end makes these wrenches still usable to run the fastener out afterwards.

 

[Just_Steve]

Reversible combos with 15° offset in the box-end. "Regular" length.

Same.

 

[Wamsutta]

Dog Bone Snap-on. That brand and only that brand. You'd have to try one to know why.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Mostly, as in whats in my cart:

Gearwrench Xl zero offset non reversable.
Mountain reversable flex head offset wrenches.
Snap on reversable combos.


If I'm not using those, it's usually Cornwell double-flexing joint combos, or reversable flex head Williams.

 

[Callelle]

Kabo double box flex head reversibles (in the Icon flavor) as well as Mac's Precision torque ratchet wrenches are my favorites that see daily use.

 

[joendoodle]

Years ago I bought Gearwrench sets, when they were about the only game in town:
15 deg off set with a "switch" to reverse.

These are my goto wrenches except when I need to really gronk on something..
As combination wrenches go these are my most used (they come on plastic holders, one for Metric, one for SAE..) I just grab the set I need and go.. when done back in the toolbox they go.
There are some jobs where these were the ONLY tool I could make work (changing inner tie rod ends on my '95 LHS comes to mind)


I have since added other brands to my collection (the flat ones you have to flip over to change direction

 

[joendoodle]

XL box-end wrenches though, would be my third-most used. The deep socket non-ratcheting end and XL length is great for grip when you need to bust something loose - and the ratcheting end makes these wrenches still usable to run the fastener out afterwards.

I think you just goofed me over, I think I may have to get set(s) of these (SAE and Metric).. long handle, one normal box end for breaking away.. blah blah blah... seems so useful..

 

[danielbuck]

0 degree long handle non reversible Williams combo is my usual wrench, followed up by the 15 (?) degree short/stubby combo reversible wrenches.

I like having Long and Short wrenches, rather than the "normal" style. normal style (for me anyway) always seems to be too long, or too short. I use the short/stubby wrenches a lot more than I thought I would when I first got them.

 

[mopar66]

For Metric I only have one choice Craftsman made is USA non flex with reverse lever, 17mm is a Proto to replace the one Craftsman I lost. For SAE I have the double box flex Mountain set which if there is room, I use them. For when there is not enough room, or I need a smaller size. I have older Gearwrench non flex with reverse lever. I feel like the older Gearwrench were better quality than today. I also just picked up a 1/4 Tekton non flex with reverse lever. Didn't have one and found several times I could have used one. It's the new version they just came out with. One thing I like about the Gearwrench is there is a little lip on top of the box end so the wrench can't slip over the fastener.

 

[Pen & Wrench]

I have Gearwrench, without any offset, and I'm looking to buy a set of standard and metric with the offset angle.

 

[Ton ton]

Flex head with no reverse is what I grab first. Yes, I do have the reversible as well.

 

[mopar66]

I had a set of Gearwrench without any offset. Never really used them.

 

[Jeff]

Armstrong reversible combo, standard length. Misc. ratchets for cycle use.

 

[Fedwrench]

I like these:

8PC METRIC REVERSIBLE LOCKING FLEX-HEAD GEAR DRIVE DOUBLE BOX WRENCH SET

SP Tools Wrenches use Chrome Vanadium Steel (Cr-V) Plating for high strength, durability, and ease of cleaning. 0° offset box end. 72 teeth flexible head ratcheting wrench. 5° swing arc to aid in tight spaces. Meets & exceeds international ANSI & DIN standards. Lifetime warranty

sptoolsusa.com

I'd like them more if they included an 18mm size

My favorite ratcheting wrench of all time is the Matco Proswing series made in the USA by Armstrong back in the day. It's a standard length set of wrenches that have a zero offset 72 tooth (later 90 tooth) 12 point (later spline) ratcheting boxed end on one side, and a fixed 15 degree offset boxed end on the other side. Unlike all of those long and extra long versions on the market today, the Proswing with its standard length was much more useful.

 

[bonneyman]

I think one should have several styles available just for that one odd job.
For the longest time I had the original Gear Wrenches,. regular length, non-reversible, no offset. Seemed to work fine. Then found one offs of other styles, and put them to use on various jobs. Come to find out I like pretty much like all of them. (It's gotta be a marketing ploy to make us keep buying more tools!)
I've also got a set of the old pressed steel ratcheting boxes - I guess called the "dog-bone". By Dunlap. I keep em handy for those corrosive nasty jobs that I don't care if the wrench gets dirt and **** all over it. I call them my apokalypse wrenches!

Most recently found a super long double ratcheting flex in 13mm x 15mm - man I could see that thing coming in handy!

 

[ChevyEFI]

No votes for vintage cam-loc or speed open end. Interesting.

 

[ItwastheChad]

For ratcheting wrenches, The ones I tend to use the most are my "cross force" craftsman reversible ratcheting wrenches. They are just easier on the hands. I was lucky to get some USA ones some years back.

Gearwrench makes the X beam now days and doesn't skip the sizes like the craftsman ones did. I think they even have flex head ones.

 

[Wyoming09]

Reversible combos with 15° offset in the box-end. "Regular" length.

Same here.

 

[AEAdam]

Beware. Some of the combos like Gearwrench are okay ratchets, but have pretty bad open ends. To me, that’s a decider. If I were buying a new set cheap, I’d buy the long double box ends, either both sides ratcheting or fixed and ratcheting. Not interested in a poor performing Taiwan open end wrench in my box. That just seems like a waste.

 

[Hakeem]

Beware. Some of the combos like Gearwrench are okay ratchets, but have pretty bad open ends. To me, that’s a decider. If I were buying a new set cheap, I’d buy the long double box ends, either both sides ratcheting or fixed and ratcheting. Not interested in a poor performing Taiwan open end wrench in my box. That just seems like a waste.

I agree, a fixed box end would be better, but the long length of the existing DBEs limits their usefulness. The Matco Proswings posted by fedwrench look great

 

[AEAdam]

I agree, a fixed box end would be better, but the long length of the existing DBEs limits their usefulness. The Matco Proswings posted by fedwrench look great

Disagree. The ratchet mechanisms are so fine, I can easily swing long wrenches everywhere I need to. The lawnmower and swing set fixers who buy 6pt combination wrenches may have this problem. My std go-to combos are long pattern snap on and they are VERY long. Love long wrenches.

 

[bassJAM]

My Gearwrench stubbies are the ones I grab most often. I also have a regular length flex head but I don't seem to use them as much.

 

[Hakeem]

Disagree. The ratchet mechanisms are so fine, I can easily swing long wrenches everywhere I need to. The lawnmower and swing set fixers who buy 6pt combination wrenches may have this problem. My std go-to combos are long pattern snap on and they are VERY long. Love long wrenches.

I’m happy you like your long pattern wrenches but the engine bays I work on are too cramped for them to offer me much utility. It’s not a matter of swinging the ratchet , more often than not a 10” 14mm wrench simply wont fit. I need accessibility more than reach or leverage .. If that makes me a lawnmower and swing set fixer, so be it.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Reversible combos with 15° offset in the box-end. "Regular" length.

I believe that's what my older Cman made in the USA are. Those are my go to.

I have a few others that aren't reversible.

 

[KSJeff]

SK X frame and gearwrench reversable in the shop. Gearwrench standards in the front garage.

 

[lardy1]

I like my reversable combo's. I like the offset and the reverse. I have other configurations but use the combos the most. I do like the idea of fixed, reversable 15 degree offset DBEs though. I wouldn't buy them now because I have enough, but I do think that would be a favorable configuration.

 

[Toold_up]

 

[setfocus]

Only ratchet wrenches I have that are reversible are my kabo made XL doublebox flex

Most used are the XL doublebox no-flex, with only one end ratcheting. My set is the Mac Expert

Also have a bunch of nonreversible combos. Set of GW, usa SK x-frames, tekton stubbies, and 21, 22, 24mm long-pattern matcos

 

[saltwater4life]

I use the black proto reversible spline wrenches everyday at work doing industrial maintenance. Very good wrenches.

 

[AEAdam]

On lawn mower and swing set fixers;

These guys want to buy cheap wrenches and they do. Only, they find the open ends spread terribly and the box ends slip. So their solution is to buy cheap 6pt box end combos. For swing sets and lawnmowers the reduced access associated with their 6 pt box wrenches is no problem.

When those same guys start fiddling with their cars, the 6pt points restrict their access so they buy ratcheting wrenches.

No criticism. Seems perfectly logical to me. I just question if a good set of combination wrenches with open ends that actually work and 12pt box ends, would have been the smarter choice. Once you realize your open end is unusable, stop there and find wrenches where all their parts work.

 

[Mike65]

I have a set of SAE & Metric double box ratcheting wrenches, old Craftsman & Mac from the early 80's.

 

[seber]

I had both metric and SAE in dog bone style. I could never find a place where they could be used. Finally got rid of them.

 

[VolvoRyan]

I'm still running with some high mileage GearWrench no-reverse flex-head standard length.

I'd love to upgrade, but the cost-benefit isn't there for me. Even a lateral move isn't making sense. Two reasons for this. First, a really complete set of 1/4" sockets/ratchets solves a lot of problems. Second, ratcheting wrenches seem to have clearance issues up the wazoo. There just isn't clearance next to the head of the fastener to get a ratcheting wrench on. Consequently, I just grab a 12-pt combo first.

I don't really care too much about the open ends on these tools. Yes, it pains me to sacrifice drawer space to them, but I've got all the other fashionable combo wrenches......and I got shipping confirmation from Mr Worker for the USAG "RBRT" wrenches last week. Dunno where they're gonna live.

-Ryan

 

[kbeefy]

The first gearwrench purchase I ever made was in the late 90's, double ended zero offset non-reversible metric and SAE.
I still use those every day, and they are still my favorite.
Second up would be the xl Mountain wrenches.






Third would be either stubbies or flex stubbies, I use both infrequently but when I do they are a lifesaver.



Last are some reversible combo's I bought about 15 years ago while traveling.
I doubt I've used them 5 times in 15 years, and I disliked them 4 of those times. I contemplated throwing them away, but couldn't bring myself to do it. Pretty much the only time I grab one of them is when I just need that size and every other option is out 'working' somewhere.

 

[mixerfixer]

I like these:

8PC METRIC REVERSIBLE LOCKING FLEX-HEAD GEAR DRIVE DOUBLE BOX WRENCH SET

SP Tools Wrenches use Chrome Vanadium Steel (Cr-V) Plating for high strength, durability, and ease of cleaning. 0° offset box end. 72 teeth flexible head ratcheting wrench. 5° swing arc to aid in tight spaces. Meets & exceeds international ANSI & DIN standards. Lifetime warranty

sptoolsusa.com

I'd like them more if they included an 18mm size

My favorite ratcheting wrench of all time is the Matco Proswing series made in the USA by Armstrong back in the day. It's a standard length set of wrenches that have a zero offset 72 tooth (later 90 tooth) 12 point (later spline) ratcheting boxed end on one side, and a fixed 15 degree offset boxed end on the other side. Unlike all of those long and extra long versions on the market today, the Proswing with its standard length was much more useful.

Those SP's look interesting, but I work for Cat. 80% of what we use is 16mm and 18mm

 

[Fedwrench]

Those SP's look interesting, but I work for Cat. 80% of what we use is 16mm and 18mm

They're nice wrenches. I think I'd rather have the ratcheting boxed end reversible instead of locking but, that's just me. Unfortunately, that set is another example of Taiwan tool manufacturers only making sizes applicable to Japanese vehicles. I picked up a standard length Tekton 16 X 18 ratcheting flex head boxed end ratcheting wrench (no longer made) to have with the set.

 

[gatewaysysop]

I may get some hate, but I have had a set of these for eons and rather like them:

 

[unslow1]

I have multiple brands including Snapon but the offset Gearwrench reversibles get far more use than the others. I've never been one to really crank on a ratcheting wrench.