Reversible ratchet wrenches *best* ?

[franzdom]

I need a set of metric reversible ratchet wrenches 8-19mm and am looking for opinions on the best. I have the GW flex head set from 8-25mm but I don't always want something flexing and need to add a fixed set to the box again.

I love what Proto is doing except I have never been a spline lover.

Had the SO at one time but couldn't justify them, seemed like an overblown Gearwrench set for a lot more $ (if I was sure the ratchet part was USA I may have kept them) and I already have FD+ wrenches complete set metric so I didn't need that.

Considering Hazet or just Gearwrench, any other suggestions? Which are the thinnest in wall thickness like from the center of the hole to the outer wall (not height)?

 

[SMKS]

The Blackhawk ones I've seen seem to be quite nice. Made in Taiwan.

The Williams ones are the same as the Blue Point ones but significantly cheaper.

 

[JDon99]

Armstrong, made in USA.

 

[franzdom]

Where is the best place to get the Armstrong ones?

 

[alpaca]

I've got the gearwrench, they're meh. Reverse mechanism gets stuck and is rough.

 

[teamarctic]

i like my bluepoints. have held up great and have been using them for over a year professionally

 

[franzdom]

I am really leaning towards Hazet, they seem like they may be *best* if you aren't into spline. Otherwise the Proto really seem awesome.

 

[bahcoswed]

facom 467 , hazet or stahlwilles new ratcheting wrench! All made in taiwan but very good quality! I have facom and are very satisfied with them! Allmost zero incline arc and very smooth and soft mechanism! Really thin head!

 

[DodgeMech]

not sure who the oe is, but, the blue points are awesome...they hold up to way more abuse than a gear wrench should...

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I use blue point and gearwrench.

 

[Skin]

Regular Armstrong and Matco (when they were made by Armstrong) were pretty good but i'd probably consider Snap-On or Proto reversible wrenches over them given my negative past experiences. I've had a few reversible models that liked to jump directions while ratcheting and the chrome in general isn't the most durable. Seems like it all chips/peels after some years of hard use.

Snap-On's are a good combination of long length, their excellent FD+ open ends, and a nice ratcheting mechanism. On the downside the box ends are a little on the fat side and the lever sticks out necessitating replacement if you snag it and break it off.

BP are nearly identical to Snap-Ons as far as the ratcheting mechanism design is concerned. They can even be disassembled by removal of a clip. The wrenches are a little on the short side in my opinion however.

Gedore has their slim open end models with fairly compact ratcheting box ends to boot, made in Germany. Negatives are that they're roughly 50 teeth mechanisms (still not bad with a 7* swing) and they're Snap-On expensive with a 1yr warranty.

Kabo/Matco current Taiwan models are very nice. Good compact ratcheting box ends and a few options including 90 tooth models with a FD+ type design in the open ends. Downside there is definitely the MSRP which is insane for the 90 tooth models. They also offer a more basic 72 tooth version which are priced much lower (still expensive for imports).

GW, best bang for buck.

 

[Bruce57]

I have the Armstrongs and really like them. I bought them individually on ebay at a very low cost. Sometimes Cripes Dist has them pretty cheap. Very good quality.

 

[4x4gearhead]

I have used both blue point and us made Matcos for a few years now. I will say the Matco set wins when it comes to how bulky the box end is. I used 0 deg sets of gear wrenches before, one was an x beam set. I don't like how you can't flip the wrench over and use the offset oppositely on reversible gear wrench brand.

 

[DodgeMech]

fwiw, the matco/armstrong, and bp and snap ons you can flip them over and use backwards...

and the older matcos are damned awesome...but i don't trust the new ones for some reason...really don't trust anything off the matco truck

 

[stonesfan68]

Where is the best place to get the Armstrong ones?

H J Epstein Co. carries them.

http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/ratchetwr/54-950.html

 

[nicksnothereman]

Armstrong, made in USA.

Did they make the reversibles for craftsman? I got those, they are very good probably cheap to find on the internet...cheaper than some of that other stuff.

 

[Hako86]

Try some Hazet or Gedore ratcheting wrenches! I don't have any of them, but I've got some other tools from those brands and I can tell you, you won't be disappointed with them! They are really nice tools and I'm pretty sure they are made in Germany

 

[colin39]

Im a diesel tech an every thing from small to heavy vehicles and have gone through a china gear tech set a set of blue point and last year bought the facom set, havent had any failier yet. Now I dont know how true this is but my tool man says they are not greased, so they dont hold dirt and grit wearing parts out, and the click on the larger spanners does deffo sound kinda dry. Hiwever saying that 14months on I still have a complete set, no failiers and am over the moon with the set. Although the aint the cheapest

 

[franzdom]

Hazet are on the way, I couldn't resist.

 

[colin39]

The hazets are a cool set

 

[Skin]

Try some Hazet or Gedore ratcheting wrenches! I don't have any of them, but I've got some other tools from those brands and I can tell you, you won't be disappointed with them! They are really nice tools and I'm pretty sure they are made in Germany

Hazet ratcheting wrenches are made for them by Hi-Five in Taiwan using forging dies supplied by Hazet to obtain their signature wrench design. Very nice modern 72 tooth ratcheting action. Gedore are made in Germany and are ~50 teeth.

 

[Kev442]

So I google Facom rat wrenches to see what they're all about and this wild idea popped up. Quite the variation on what Gearwrench came up with.
Sorry, It has nothing to do with the OP's question whatsoever.

 

[Rico.]

I have the 67 series reversable Facom set 6-24mm and they are amazing.
In fact I liked them so much I ended up buying the Flex, Zero degree offset and
the stubby reversable set... Incredibly strong and beautifully finished.

If for any reasons the Hazet's don't work out (Highly unlikely )
I can certainly recommend the Facoms.


Facom 6mm - 24mm Reversable offset Ratchet Spanners and Flare nut Spanners



Facom 6mm - 19mm Straight, Stubby and Flex Head Ratchet Spanners