Ratcheting wrenches

[Conductor562]

Kinda surprised by all the Gearwrench recommendations. I bought mine in 2004 and while the haven't been daily users, they have been great wrenches. I suspect that (as with anything Apex) the quality is headed for the ******* if it isn't there already. It's a shame too. Gearwrench has always been a nice quality tool to the DIY/Budget Pro demographic. I could handle Taiwan, but I'll pass on the China stuff.

 

[TheGrooveking]

Except for the fact that they're an enormous time saver.



They have 2 policies on this. First, for the most part, there are replacement tools available. If no replacement is available they will actually issue you a credit of the full value of the tool. For something like a ratcheting wrench I wouldn't worry about them vanishing from the catalog any time soon.

They all do it. Snap-On has certainly had their fair share of completely discontinued tools over the years.

True, but for reference when I bought my Wright made Matco ratchets in the early 80's I paid around $38 for a 3/8" std ratchet, but in 2010 all they will give me is $38 towards a $99 ratchet, sorry but that was not part of the deal when I bought it. I warrantied my Snap On F730 (my favorite ratchet of all time) for chrome flaking and the Snap On man handed me a new Dual 80 without even blinking. I realize that Snap On has discontinued tools but they sure seem to be much more fair about it.

TheGrooveking

 

[CWP1616L]

PROTO

 

[exophyusical]

Except for the fact that they're an enormous time saver. Comparing a ratcheting wrench to a regular wrench is like comparing a ratchet to a breaker bar. I don't know how you can call the former in either case a gimmick.



They have 2 policies on this. First, for the most part, there are replacement tools available. If no replacement is available they will actually issue you a credit of the full value of the tool. For something like a ratcheting wrench I wouldn't worry about them vanishing from the catalog any time soon.

They all do it. Snap-On has certainly had their fair share of completely discontinued tools over the years.

Not comparing them to a regular wrench, just stating that between your ratchet set and your wrench set there is very little that a ratcheting wrench can do better. A multi tool can be knife or a set of pliers in a pinch but its a damn poor substitute for either. Ratcheting wrenches are the Multi tool of wrenches: in a tool pouch they make sense but given the option I'd rather just have the right tool.

 

[bahcoswed]

Ratchet wrenches are useless in very tight spaces...the box end are so big compare to a regular combination wrench! I cant count how many times i have tried with all kinds of expensive premium ratcheting wrenches because i really love them and give them a chance! and i allways take my combo wrenches because its to tight in the most places on newer bmw for example!

 

[jensputzier]

I find them extremely helpful when you have to wrench nuts on a threaded rod which cant be done with a socket as it is closed on one end. I need that for the spring compression tool for my old Alfa Romeos.

 

[pilotman81]

I have had SO, Matco, and Mac ratcheting wrenches and they all have their own +s and -s. I replaced all of my end wrenches (standard and ratcheting) with GearWrench 0deg offsets from 1/4" to 2" at the beginning of the year and I have no complaints about any of them. IMHO for the money I do not believe that there is an equal for the GearWrench sets.

 

[Skin]

Ratchet wrenches are useless in very tight spaces...the box end are so big compare to a regular combination wrench! I cant count how many times i have tried with all kinds of expensive premium ratcheting wrenches because i really love them and give them a chance! and i allways take my combo wrenches because its to tight in the most places on newer bmw for example!

Depends on where the obstruction is. Ratchet wrenches shine in tight areas when there is a clearance issue with depth where a normal socket and ratchet setup would back into something.

In general I also find them quicker to work with since they're easier to swing so they're nice in general for just quickly removing fasteners.

True, but for reference when I bought my Wright made Matco ratchets in the early 80's I paid around $38 for a 3/8" std ratchet, but in 2010 all they will give me is $38 towards a $99 ratchet, sorry but that was not part of the deal when I bought it. I warrantied my Snap On F730 (my favorite ratchet of all time) for chrome flaking and the Snap On man handed me a new Dual 80 without even blinking. I realize that Snap On has discontinued tools but they sure seem to be much more fair about it.

TheGrooveking

Matco wont give you a new 88 or one of their old school 32s for a broken ratchet they no longer make? They verbally said this to you? Did you try putting the part number into the online warranty form to see what it spits back? I'd honestly be very surprised if their customer service or mail in warranty didn't just replace it with the closest newest thing available. That's SOP for pretty much all the tool truck brands.

 

[ckblum]

I like the MasterCraft (GearWrench) flex heads at home, both SAE and Metric.

Right now I'm trying to figure out the best set to have for work (aircraft structures tech). I may take the flex heads to work and buy a set of the GearBox wrenches for at home. Home is where I usually encounter bigger fasteners, often stuck on. Access isn't usually as big of a deal at home too so I was thinking it'd be better to have the flex heads at work.

Anyone run across any ratcheting wrenches that flex or have offset in the 1/4", 6mm or 7mm sizes?? I've only seen a few zero offset flip-to-reverse.