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Ratcheting wrenches???

Askme42

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Dec 9, 2012
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Location
Goreville IL
mugydu8a.jpg


1 5/8 gear wrench. Why?? Because it was 50 bucks and I didn't have one.


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Great now I want one!!!!!!
 
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bczygan

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Nov 4, 2009
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DETROIT! Arsenal of Scrappers
I used my reversible set to put together my HF 5 drawer service cart.

A couple of nuts were hard to get at.

So I bought a flex head set!

My neighbor borrowed one to work on his car.

So I bought him a $10 set at the hardware store. He uses it all the time on his cars and bike.
 

AndeiH

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Jun 7, 2014
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284
Location
texas
i have the craftsman offset ratcheting wrenches in SAE. i need to pick up the metric set before the US made ones go out of stock. i only take them out every now and then but when i do i'm so glad i have them :D.
 

Skin

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Feb 24, 2010
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Boston
Black chrome Proto's were Taiwan. Their newer full polish are USA.
 

jrobb316

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May 18, 2014
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WI
Are those US made? If so... do want! :drool:

They are not US made, they are chinese. I got a set of them and they ****. I sold them off, the open ends are hideously disproportional. One was even bent right out of the package. I have a set of the Taiwan made gear wrenches (straight), and they are great. Bought them like 10 years ago.

I bought the set of polished protos (US) instead. Paid a pretty penny for them but they are worth every cent. The black ones are Taiwan, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy a set of those over gearwrench anyday.
 

chadster1

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Aug 25, 2009
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Location
Terrell, Texas
For most people, a set of gear wrenches will do fine. They are widely available and will probably have the easiest time getting warranty service due to the large number of retailers selling them.

I have a set of Snap-on SOEXR and SOEXRM ratcheting wrenches. Longer, more offset, flank drive plus were the main features for me plus I got them at a deal. :bounce:
 

cgv69

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Jan 11, 2012
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Location
Boone Co., KY
Saying they aren't necessary is exactly the same as saying a ratchet isn't necessary when you can use a breaker bar to me.
I think that is probably a pretty fair analogy. Ratcheting wrenches are to standard combo wrenches what ratchets are to breaker bars. I would never get rid of my standard wrenches any more then I would get rid of my breaker bars but in most cases the ratcheting version is going to be quicker and easier.

Add me to the camp that thinks the only ratcheting wrenches worth having are the reversible ones.
 
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shanny19

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May 24, 2014
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PNW
They are not US made, they are chinese. I got a set of them and they ****. I sold them off, the open ends are hideously disproportional. One was even bent right out of the package. I have a set of the Taiwan made gear wrenches (straight), and they are great. Bought them like 10 years ago.

I bought the set of polished protos (US) instead. Paid a pretty penny for them but they are worth every cent. The black ones are Taiwan, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy a set of those over gearwrench anyday.

Say what? Your first paragraph says the black Proto's are made in China and inferior to GW, your second paragraph says the black Proto's are made in Taiwan and superior to GW.......

In any event, the "hideous" open end is the ASD design. I like it a lot. Next time you have some to sell off.....
 

jrobb316

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May 18, 2014
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WI
No I said the black protos are made in Taiwan. The old gear wrenches i own, the kind that are straight and you flip over to reverse, are the original taiwan made ones which i like. The newer gear wrenches (of both straight and offset design) are Chinese with the **** lobster claw and i'll never buy a set again. I am unfortunate enough to have 2 sets of them in SAE but for as often as they're used I don't care too much. The metric lobster claw is far worse than the SAEs anyways, those are the ones I dumped. Both straight and offset, junk IMO. There are better, though not too many cheaper, options out there if you want quality.
 

ajchien

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Sep 3, 2010
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Los Angeles, stuck on the 60 freeway.
An example of ratcheting wrenches being the perfect tool is when you're trying to remove a fan or and/or fan clutch. What used to be a half hour job can be done in a few minutes using ratcheting wrenches.

Just did this on my driveway yesterday. Used a 10mm flex head GW.

Strictly speaking, I have not run across anything that requires a ratcheting wrench.

Now, you've just jinxed yourself! :evil:
 

Gurp

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Jun 12, 2014
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366
Location
So.Ohio
Couldn't beat a a $30 set to reversible kobalts when I had my 68 beetle. Upgraded to gearwrench when they were on sale.. love them.
 

Haveblue

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Feb 8, 2013
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1,484
Location
kansas
Napa has the 7 piece Gearwrench sae and metric flex head sets on sale for $40 each through august. I had to take the boss's van on a service call a few years back, and I did the whole job quickly with his set of flex head gearwrenches. (My first time using gearwrench) I never wanted to spend the money on them, but that job made a believer out of me. I have been hooked ever since. They can save you a lot of time!
 
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AndrewV

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Dec 28, 2013
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1,368
Location
Fl
Really want to get those carlyle 6pt, no slip ratcheting wrenches....
 

Brownsfan

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Apr 16, 2012
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Location
Cleveland Ohio
I have a few Gearwrench sets. I don't use them much but when you need them YOU NEED THEM!! Case in point. I was changing a blend door actuator in a 2003 Explorer 4dr. If you don't have a 8mm ratcheting wrench you will be removing a lot of dash. With them just the knee panel and dash bezel around the radio to gain access to the top bolts and the other panel for the bottom bolts
 
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