Ratcheting Wrenches

[wrenchin]

I come seeking advice. I'm looking to add a set of ratcheting combination wrenches to my box. As I see it, I have three options: 1) Get a set off the truck, 2) GearWrench (usually China, from Sears), 3) Pittsburgh (Taiwan, from HF).

I know I'm going to hardly use these, but I do need a set for a certain few instances that I routinely encouter. Because they won't get used a ton, I feel pretty silly getting a set off the truck for something like 10x more than the other two options, nor am I sold on needing reversibility. I guess my real question is: Which is better (less bad?): Chinese GearWrench or Taiwanese Pittsburgh?

 

[Skin]

Gearwrench is a known quantity, many board members have them and like them very much. Very rarely will you see a bad word about them unless its an initial QC problem.

Another option, just to put it out there, is Blackhawk.

Yet another option, on the expensive side but cheaper than the truck, would be Proto (full polish chrome, not the black finish), one of the very few options USA made.

If you wrench often and this is your first set you'll use them a heck of a lot more than you think. Without my ratcheting wrenches I could complete 95% of the same tasks, but i'll tell you i'd often be working a lot slower due to either having to move obstructions to use a ratchet or simply going one quarter turn at a time with a standard combo.

 

[Exceller8]

I have the HF ones and I've been really happy with them. Try out one set and make up your mind if you want to go with something better or not.

 

[wrenchin]

Wrenching pays the bills

I actually have a set of Craftsman SAE/Met ratcheting combo wrenches. I took them to Iraq with me a few years back and returned pretty beat up. I also feel they are too bulky as compared to the base GearWrench model.

 

[treblarefils]

grab this set cant really go wrong more sizes than the harbor freight set. I prefer the reversible box end with the 15 degree offset but I have these also. I own a set of the harbor freighters and the ratcheting end sticks on some of the wrenches right outta the box. I chucked the HF wrenches into a trunk kit too lazy to even return them lol. These gearwrench are great though

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-20pc...p-00935720000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

 

[Farmall450]

I like the gearwrench flex heads, good price, good quality.

 

[shockwave]

If they are going to be used seldom look at flex gearwrench they will offer the best versatility of all

But also look at Ezred spline ratcheting wrenches they ate great I have come to like them better than 12-points

 

[Mooniac]

I find them very handy and appreciate the tip on Proto/Blackhawk versions. I don't have the reversible kind and have managed to get them stuck a time or two, so I am thinking hard about an upgrade to the Proto set with the anti-slip open end as well.

 

[sberry]

If I was going to use them like a bat out of hell would get reversible. The only time I use one is a real problem solver, use common combo and power driven sockets 99.95%. I bought a 20 pc set from Cman for 60$, some sizes I will never use and have probably used them a couple dozen times where they were ideal in a couple of years. I figured I was not going to get them any cheaper but the set had un used pcs so its a break even deal I guess.

 

[Jrussell86]

Sears sells a 20pcset or SAE and metric Gearwrench together they can be bought on sale for $50 sometimes. $60 right now. Just keep in mind Sears wont warranty them (Fastenal will).

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-20pc...p-00935720000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

 

[Hammer1963]

I have several sets and since you listed truck brands as a source, I must say that my Cornwell ratcheting wrenches are my favorites. Great open end wrench pattern and the ratchets/box ends are spline drive. Very, very good products. I have these sets: CRW12MDFS and CRW15MMDS

 

[treblarefils]

This winter I have been using the ratcheting wrenches to fix my POS snowblower they are awesome for small engine repair. I cant believe Ive just jumped on the wagon for these semi recently. So awesome I bought every style GW has available in SAE and Metric.

 

[bart1]

Gedore is a very expensive German made version.

 

[thejudges69]

I beat the hell out of my gear wench and they keep on going. Actually arc'd one on a battery a couple months ago. Right on the ratchet and it still works. You can't get a better deal. Gear wrench all the way in my box.

Oh and its Taiwan not china. HUGE difference.

Gearwrench is Taiwan and great quality. Harbor freight is China and not near as good.

 

[619DioFan]

Been using the gearwrench brand for many years. never a problem. the gearwrench gear box wrenches ( extra long with ratcheting head on one end and traditional box on the other ) are a real problem solver.

 

[davesnothere]

Sears sells a 20pcset or SAE and metric Gearwrench together they can be bought on sale for $50 sometimes. $60 right now. Just keep in mind Sears wont warranty them (Fastenal will).

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-20pc...p-00935720000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

I've never had a problem getting a gearwrench wrench warranty replacement at sears.

 

[treblarefils]

these are my favorites set


http://www.sears.com/gearwrench-16-...0991335000P?prdNo=12&blockNo=12&blockType=G12

 

[basspro]

I have flexhead gearwrench in SAE 5/16-3/4 and cheap stanleys from walmart in 8mm-19mm and happen to be very good. The stanleys are much older now, are reversable, and some of the best quality ive seen, very thin on the box end. I dont use the heck out of ratchet wrenches so I would never tie up alot of money in them but they are a lifesaver from time to time.

 

[kippieland]

I have a set of HF and they are Taiwan made. They are great for the money. I had a set of GW from China that were ****......got rid of them.

 

[metaldad]

And nobody yet has mentioned USA Armstrong full polish, which I have, in combo and double.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

I have 2 sets of the reversible Gearwrench I bought on sale from Advance for $30 each. I have had to return the 15mm and the 9/16" within weeks of buying, but the rest are holding up, can't really complain for the price. I had no problem exchanging them either, just want to store, no receipt needed, and they took the broken wrench and handed me a new one.

I also have a couple of sets of the regular non reversible, I bought a couple of years ago from true value, never had any issues with them what so ever.


-Sam

 

[Hpozzuoli]

Oddly my go to ratcheting wrenches are blue point. Followed then by gearwrench.

 

[BearCuda]

I love my Matco's, but you couldn't justify their cost for wrenches that are used sparingly. I use and abuse them everyday at work.
These are the bad boys I ordered last week that should be here Friday. They were on sale for $280 and I was gonna eventually get this set anyway so I figured I better jump on it while they are cheaper.
http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/p...-ZERO-DEGREE-FLEX-HEAD-RATCHET-XL-WRENCH-SET/

 

[BFHtime]

I suggest get the proto set. They look very nice. I would like a set myself, and I have few sets. One of them is Flank drive plus, which are great. I also have some craftsman, which have fit in places that the FD+, do not fit. The Craftsman are shorter and thinner, but do spread much easier, on the open end. The Craftsman are old US made, got them around 1997. If you get them you will pick them up before a regular combination. The box end will be reduced to breaking bolts free and tight spots where the ratchet end won't fit.

If you are not sure, buy the cheapest set, then get a good set, after you break them. I think you will want good ones, after you use them, not mediocre ones.

After you get them, you will wish you would have gotten them sooner. If time is money for you. They will save you time, hence making you money.

I only have reversibles. I have a stubby flex set from blue point too. Which are nice for those tight spots.

 

[shockwave]

I beat the hell out of my gear wench and they keep on going. Actually arc'd one on a battery a couple months ago. Right on the ratchet and it still works. You can't get a better deal. Gear wrench all the way in my box.

Oh and its Taiwan not china. HUGE difference.

Gearwrench is Taiwan and great quality. Harbor freight is China and not near as good.

Actully gearwrench is now in China older gearwrench is from taiwan

 

[92integra]

how about the extra long ez red ones? double box flex head ratcheting ! alot of poeple who bought them dont know how they lived without them. but for me im getting the matco double box one end is regular box and the other is flex ratcheting

 

[KamiCrit]

Another option, just to put it out there, is Blackhawk.

Yet another option, on the expensive side but cheaper than the truck, would be Proto (full polish chrome, not the black finish), one of the very few options USA made.

Out of curiosity, what's up with the black finish ratcheting wrenches?

 

[Skin]

Out of curiosity, what's up with the black finish ratcheting wrenches?

Black chrome are made in Taiwan, and they cost a pretty good sum. If you're going to spend a premium, i think its worth going a bit more for USA.

 

[Wamsutta]

Armstrong double box. One end (set at 10 degrees offset) for breaking the bolt loose and the other end is ratcheting (at zero degrees offset) for speed.

 

[Pumpman1968]

I avoided the Gearwrench bandwagon for quite some time due to the whole Made in (enter Asian country here) thing. I had a set of Cman pressed steel ratcheting wrenches many years ago and they were absolute junk.

After reading MANY great reviews on here, I bought a set to try......no offset, flip to reverse 20 piece with 6 each stubbies from Sears

http://www.sears.com/gearwrench-32p...edirect=true&sLevel=0&redirectType=SKIP_LEVEL

I see they show $159.99 with the carrying case (which is too big for most box drawers)....but they were on sale for $79.99 with free shipping. I've heard they do that sale from time to time.

I was like the OP and thought they would be used on rare occasion.........but now that I have them, they definitely have their place! My advice, though, start the tough ones with a socket and breaker bar........I don't see them as too forgiving with the strong arm.

Also, if you work on anything GM, the set stops at 17mm....so pick up the 18mm loose.....you're gonna want it so might as well take advantage of the free shipping on the initial order.

 

[techenthusiast]

i was told by someone that after owning a gear wrench set for a while, it's good to dip the ratcheting end in clean oil and to ratchet it a little while its in the oil to ensure that the gearwrenches last a long time, especially if i dont use them often.

is this true?

thanks

 

[nicksnothereman]

I come seeking advice. I'm looking to add a set of ratcheting combination wrenches to my box. As I see it, I have three options: 1) Get a set off the truck, 2) GearWrench (usually China, from Sears), 3) Pittsburgh (Taiwan, from HF).

I know I'm going to hardly use these, but I do need a set for a certain few instances that I routinely encouter. Because they won't get used a ton, I feel pretty silly getting a set off the truck for something like 10x more than the other two options, nor am I sold on needing reversibility. I guess my real question is: Which is better (less bad?): Chinese GearWrench or Taiwanese Pittsburgh?

I got the husky ones (chinese apex I think) they're meh but usable...not consistent ratcheting though (defect on one or two of them). 15 bucks. Probably the pittsburgh pro are the ones to get in this price range (around 20 bucks) preferably without the rainbow colors though.

Usually the taiwanese stuff is made pretty well. I don't think the chinese gearwrench would be much different than the chinese husky though except when it comes to cost.

 

[Conductor562]

The new Proto ratcheting spline combos are top notch. You'll pay near truck prices for them, but they are awesome. The same ones are available as a Mac version also.

 

[Rickedstyles]

I have found US Cman's cheap as the lobster claws on ebay..lucked out with sellers not advertising as USA..and them not knowing the difference when setting buy it now price..I know before long you probably wont get a us replacement but my first set has held up great even beating on them..and as far as oil..I had some that were "left out" to the point of not being able to turn by hand..soaked in oil for a few days and work like new

 

[nicksnothereman]

I have found US Cman's cheap as the lobster claws on ebay..lucked out with sellers not advertising as USA..and them not knowing the difference when setting buy it now price..I know before long you probably wont get a us replacement but my first set has held up great even beating on them..and as far as oil..I had some that were "left out" to the point of not being able to turn by hand..soaked in oil for a few days and work like new

Those (the reversible ones) are real good. But if you bust one you know what's replacing it.

 

[bigfunwmu]

I've had a set of Blue-points for 10 years. I like the fact that I can pop a snap ring and clean & lube them. They work well and have for a long time.

I also have some Matco's, the OD of the ratcheting end is smaller so the fit tight spaces a little better than the Blue-points.

Guy at work has a set of Blackhawks that seem to always be broken and a set of large Gearwrench zero-offset combos that he loves or hates depending on if he can turn them with the box end seated. Zero offset seems to run into that limit more often than angled wrenches.

 

[Skin]

The new Proto ratcheting spline combos are top notch. You'll pay near truck prices for them, but they are awesome. The same ones are available as a Mac version also.

MAC does not offer them. All of theirs are Taiwan made, the Facom copies are the closest thing but they're significantly shorter. MAC is still worth a mention since they're one of the few distributors of 6pt ratcheting wrenches.

 

[sloppy]

Oh and its Taiwan not china. HUGE difference.

Gearwrench is Taiwan and great quality. Harbor freight is China and not near as good.

You have that backwards. The HF ones are made in Taiwan , and the Gearwrenchs are chicom.

 

[bob from indiana]

I use Husky flex wrenches at work and have had good luck with them. At home I have Husky flex and Pittsburg non flex. I use the Pittsburg more on auto/ tractor repairs and am pleased with them. I use these wrenches way more than I thought I would. I am considering getting a good set of ratcheting wrenches as I know the cheap ones have a limited lifespan.

 

[Canadian Charlie]

I have a set from Blue Point, nice set