Tekton or Gearwrench 1/2 set

[AreYaSerious]

Which one would you choose and why? Kind of undecided but let me explain why. I like the 84 pc set Tekton has because it's a complete set. However I dislike tekton's ratchets because they're so bulky and I'm not a quick release fan. I like the 120xp ratchet gearwrench has and I already have the gearwrench 3/8 and 1/4 drive set.

Are the gearwrench or tekton sockets same quality or is one better then the other?

So should I stick with gearwrench or buy tekton and get 1/2 gearwrench 120xp 1/2 ratchet?

 

[jumbojak]

Tekton has new 90 tooth ratchets that'll probably find their way into kits soon enough. If you're set on chrome in half inch it might be worth it to wait and see, just for a bit.

 

[AreYaSerious]

Tekton has new 90 tooth ratchets that'll probably find their way into kits soon enough. If you're set on chrome in half inch it might be worth it to wait and see, just for a bit.

Might have to, but I was hoping to get it next week. I'm going to research the new ratchet design. More options, more complicated this becomes.

 

[CR888]

GW sockets have 'some' pro features and are probably a better desiged than the Tektons. GW ratchets have a solid reputation both 84t & 60t-dual pawl (120 click) designs. But tekton has recently released some well designed 90t ratchets that appear solid. You could have a decent setup buying Tekton 90t rats & GW sockets on rails when on sale there dirt cheap. Tekton warranty is good they actually DO what is expected with minimal fuss, that's a big plus. Personally I own GW rats in 120xp and 84t (about 10 in 3 drive sizes, flex etc) and rate them great value for money, there really nice to use. I have a few GW rails of sockets and there decent but I prefer other brands & I wouldn't buy Tekton sockets chrome or impact. Though if looking for a cheap truck set or whatever, both Tekton & GW are value for money. You can spend 3X the $ on ratchets and end up with worse quality than GW.

 

[Professional Tool User]

When you buy sets, the ratchets in the sets usually aren't that great. I would skip the fixed handle ones that usually come in the sets and buy flex head ones instead. I personally would go with Tekton. No size skips, Made in Taiwan, easy to warranty, and well finished. As for steel quality, it's hard to say. I only have Tekton 1/4 drive sockets and all the other sockets I use regularly are impact. I hate apex tool group and how they have discontinued certain brands like KD and Armstrong. Gearwrench quality has been going downhill with their cost cutting. These days, Gearwrench is just overpriced Made in China stuff.

 

[Tonyuk]

The sockets will just be standard chrome sockets, the ratchets are usually where the real differences are.

You might be better off just buying a set of chrome 1/2" sockets and a ratchet separately, i would get the sockets from wherever local to do does a good range and offers a lifetime warranty.

Personally i don't use 1/2" chrome much, mostly impact for that size.

 

[WittHay]

I have a GearWrench 1/2 metric socket set on a rail. Nice sockets with knurling and stepped sockets along with a nice rail with the holders in the inside. Used in a smaller area for diesel pickups and small tractors. I dont think they will crack or break in normal home garage use, that warranty will have to be a consideration

The GearWrench i have comes from a local store with a large wall display. All the socket sets on rails and the individual sockets are all made in Taiwan along with the ratchets and extensions

I have 1/2 drive sockets ranging from the Chinese made Mastercraft Maximum to Snap-on 12 point US made. The GearWrench falls somewhere in the middle quality wise. If you are doing really heavy duty work there are other brands that are heavier and have thicker walls

 

[magicrat]

I got a new tekton 90 tooth 1/2 ratchet..... basically they put a 3/8 head on a 1/2 ratchet. The quality is good but the handle is thinner as well. Good if want more access in a tight spot..... I think the gearwrench would be more durable tho.

 

[Tallpilot]

I know it’s hard to wait but Dave from Tekton recently commented here that a redesign is coming for their sockets. Nobody else has a set that is as complete as their 84 piece set.

I like the older 84 tooth Gearwrench but I think Tekton might have a winner with the 90 tooth design. One thing is for sure, a phone call or an email gets a Tekton ratchet fixed. Gearwrench is way more hit and miss.

 

[Mr_B]

Yeah the GW sockets are better design, they have large size stamping, knurling, stepped shouldering all of which makes them little nicer use.
The other plus with GW is included ratchets are worth having, I prefer the 84T as slimmer head profiles and more reliable mechanism .
Seems you got GW already choice seems pretty easy .
I never buy as set, always tend buy sockets as rail sets and add sizes if needed and handpick ratchets and extensions to my preferences .
New tekton ratchets look interesting but sockets are plain old average .

 

[AreYaSerious]

When you buy sets, the ratchets in the sets usually aren't that great. I would skip the fixed handle ones that usually come in the sets and buy flex head ones instead. I personally would go with Tekton. No size skips, Made in Taiwan, easy to warranty, and well finished. As for steel quality, it's hard to say. I only have Tekton 1/4 drive sockets and all the other sockets I use regularly are impact. I hate apex tool group and how they have discontinued certain brands like KD and Armstrong. Gearwrench quality has been going downhill with their cost cutting. These days, Gearwrench is just overpriced Made in China stuff.

I'm getting new ratchets either way

 

[M6erfan]

For reasons already pointed out, I agree, GearWrench for the win

 

[ptgarcia]

Based on my recent 90t ratchet purchase from Tekton, I think I would delay my purchase until they release their new sockets. It is clear Tekton is set on producing quality tools and every new release seems to up their game. On the other hand, and it's just my opinion, Gearwrench quality seems to have declined some. I'm hoping Tekton's new stuff arrives before Thanksgiving because I'm taking a road trip and need a full set of tools for the truck.

 

[ChrisLS8]

I like the GW sockets, good knurling, large size stamps, nice chrome and I have never broken one. I also like the rail they come on as well.

They are also dirt cheap through Advance with a 25% coupon

 

[CR888]

Tekton does appear to be heading in the right direction design wise, but until they upgrade their socket design the socketry they offer has no place in my toolbox. There are too many other good options out there. But Tekton appear to know this and I'm looking forward to see there new tools.

 

[barrybeefburger]

I'm getting new ratchets either way

If your getting new ratchets why not buy the Williams USA sockets and the ratchet of your choice??

 

[drtyler]

Tekton deep sockets are fully broached, if that makes a difference to you.

 

[AreYaSerious]

If your getting new ratchets why not buy the Williams USA sockets and the ratchet of your choice??

I'm not a pro, I'm a glorified weekend warrior. Can't justify it.

 

[joebachor]

Choose Tekton because they take care of you better than Gearwrench and, speaking from personal experience, new Gearwrench is poorly made and troublesome compared to older Gearwrench.

 

[Mr_B]

How much trouble can you have with a socket lol.
Warranty is pointless on basic sockets, you best buying on decent design over warranty for a 2 to 5 buck individual value item .
Ratchets are more useful for warranty but a weekend guy not going get full value from warranty like a pro so in reality it not that important .
Some of best affordable ratchets that do have warranty are carlyle IMO, gearwrench 84T acceptable and very cheap .
Gearwrench not as good as it was, personally only sockets I buy these days are infar/premier, cheap with decent design features way better than most midrange common sets and even some top end stuff .
For ratchets I like snapon, mac, facom and carlyle and some of the taiwan 72T in various brands picked purely on design/function basis doing me proud too .

 

[GrayFlattop]

I'm not a pro, I'm a glorified weekend warrior. Can't justify it.

It's your money - you get to choose how to spend it.

Funny because I've been going through a lot of my hand tools and upgrading - even though I'm less likely to use them as much or as hard as I have for the last 40+ years. About half of what I had was Craftsman that went back to the 70's and 80's. A lot of it saw very heavy use in a manufacturing environment. While some folks call it crapsman, their tools from that era were very well made.

But I like the broaching style of modern sockets (formerly known as "flank drive" from SO) that are more common today. Much less likely to round-off rusted fasteners. That and I had a fair amount of Proto, Williams, Armstrong and Snap-on sockets - along with a sprinkling of Japanese made tools. SO I've been filling out my set with Proto or Williams and cycling the well used craftsman stuff into a big drawer. At this point in my life, I am able to pay a little more for quality, but I must admit that the current "made in Taiwan" tools look 1000% better than the versions made in the 80's!

I've even picked up a few of the newer Tekton fine tooth ratchets and a few from Gearwrench and I'm sure that they will be fine, but I prefer my Proto.

If I was starting out today with a limited budget or with the idea of limited use, I just might go with either Tekton or Gearwrench.

 

[Tallpilot]

https://www.tooldiscounter.com/Item...id=EAIaIQobChMIgvPEoo-73QIVlouzCh2qCgj1EAQYAy

https://www.tekton.com/1-2-inch-drive-6-point-socket-set-13203ABEgIodvD_BwE

1/4 or 3/8 it’s easy to suggest USA Williams. 1/2” the only reasonably economic choices are GW, Tekton and Carlyle (only on sale). I carry Tekton in the truck and have Carlyle in my main box.

Compare those two sets. Tekton has better range and more accessories. New GW sockets have large sizes but they are etched not stamped. Tekton are stamped just small. I do wish they had knurling but neither are fully necked down. You need to step up to Carlyle for that.

Now imagine the Tekton set’s range with Carlyle features at the GW price point. See why you should wait and see Tekton’s new designs?

 

[Mr_B]

^
I not seen any GW with etched sizes, they all still stamped that I see.
I can understand going etched large and having smaller stamped 180deg offset so dual marked but unfortunately cutting a cent here and there for shareholders is more important than worthwhile product for most of these stupid companies .
If tekton introduce better pro design sockets and stick with roll stamping or dual marking if have to go laser etching they be onto a winner as only way you get pretty decent sockets these days is searching off brands from higher end taiwan manufacture, infar premier being about best bang for buck you can get, carlyle pretty nice but pretty high price considering napa history of tool brands and i hate pay the warranty premium and in 10yrs time if want warranty them get whatever average **** they marketing if carlyle or the quality goes south (history suggests it will lol)

 

[teejaywhy]

Just picked up a 13 pc set of GearWrench 1/2" drive metric sockets, standard depth, 12-point. 12mm-24mm no skips.

FYI - $36 at Advance Auto Parts. $10-12 less than anywhere else based on a quick search.

AAP also having a 40% off sale on GW ratchet wrench sets. The guy at the counter said to keep watch, they always have something GW on sale each month.

 

[Tallpilot]

Ok gentlemen and occasional lady, let's have a look.

These are Taiwan production; who knows when since they don't have date codes. The Proto in the back are what I would call proper roll stamped. Your fingernail will get caught in it if you rub over it.

The Gearwrench appear to be laser etched to me but perhaps it is just ridiculously shallow stamping? My fingernail doesn't get caught in it.

BTW, I do agree about NAPA. Anybody that bought USA made NAPA Professional wrenches is not going to be very happy with a Taiwanese warranty replacement.

 

[Mr_B]

^ looks cut or stamped to me but shallow, my older ones much deeper crisp stamping but they also from era when done decent full length stepped shouldering on the deeps rather than current 1/3-1/2 stepped shouldering .
Use to market fact they done full length stepped shouldering but guess saving couple cents for the shareholders more important, and then wonder why brand appeal and sales goes down lol .
way way better taiwan sockets can be had for similar money if buy sockets only on clip rails and bbonus of that is compliment them with extensions and ratchets of your taste over putting up with and paying for what bundled in cased sets ...

 

[jd_1138]

Ratchets should not be the determining factor in what set to buy. You can always add other ratchets to the mix and put the ones you hate in the toolbox in your trunk/shed.

I like the HF roto ratchets and they're like $10 each, or their composite ones too. Or splurge and buy an SK or Proto ratchet(s) off ebay. I use SK ratchets and HF Pro roto ratchets.

I'd just look at the quality of the sockets and wrenches in the set. That'd be what I'd base my decision on.

 

[Yarpo]

I really like my tekton stuff, but I really really like my gearwrench stuff. I can always find somthing on sale and have yet to be dissapointed in any of their tools, plus sockets for example do have a few features tekton are missing as noted above.

Ok gentlemen and occasional lady, let's have a look.

These are Taiwan production; who knows when since they don't have date codes. The Proto in the back are what I would call proper roll stamped. Your fingernail will get caught in it if you rub over it.

The Gearwrench appear to be laser etched to me but perhaps it is just ridiculously shallow stamping? My fingernail doesn't get caught in it.

I think they're just shallow stamped, due to the thinner profile "font" gearwrench is using? My fingernail also barely catches on mine, but it is noticeable.

 

[AreYaSerious]

Ok gentlemen and occasional lady, let's have a look.

These are Taiwan production; who knows when since they don't have date codes. The Proto in the back are what I would call proper roll stamped. Your fingernail will get caught in it if you rub over it.

The Gearwrench appear to be laser etched to me but perhaps it is just ridiculously shallow stamping? My fingernail doesn't get caught in it.

BTW, I do agree about NAPA. Anybody that bought USA made NAPA Professional wrenches is not going to be very happy with a Taiwanese warranty replacement.

it's a stamp, they claim it is easier to read. It really isn't.

https://www.tooldiscounter.com/Item...id=EAIaIQobChMIgvPEoo-73QIVlouzCh2qCgj1EAQYAy

https://www.tekton.com/1-2-inch-drive-6-point-socket-set-13203ABEgIodvD_BwE

1/4 or 3/8 it’s easy to suggest USA Williams. 1/2” the only reasonably economic choices are GW, Tekton and Carlyle (only on sale). I carry Tekton in the truck and have Carlyle in my main box.

Compare those two sets. Tekton has better range and more accessories. New GW sockets have large sizes but they are etched not stamped. Tekton are stamped just small. I do wish they had knurling but neither are fully necked down. You need to step up to Carlyle for that.

Now imagine the Tekton set’s range with Carlyle features at the GW price point. See why you should wait and see Tekton’s new designs?

You make a great point

 

[panzerkiller13]

I own the 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" drive Tekton sets that I got through their student program, and I would definitely recommend them. I was kinda torn between GW and Tekton too, but after reading some feedback on warranty service and support for each brand I swayed Tekton and never looked back. The stamping is adequate to me as it is, but I'm interested to see what they might change in a redesign. The ratchets that come with the sets are maybe a little on the fat side in the smaller sets, but the 1/2" one is fine as I usually am using it when there's plenty of clearance anyway. The breaker bar in the 1/2" set is also of good quality, although its a little on the short end for some situations.

 

[Lisamelting]

I have the Tekton set and have been happy with it.

 

[M6erfan]

I own the 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" drive Tekton sets that I got through their student program, and I would definitely recommend them. I was kinda torn between GW and Tekton too, but after reading some feedback on warranty service and support for each brand I swayed Tekton and never looked back. The stamping is adequate to me as it is, but I'm interested to see what they might change in a redesign. The ratchets that come with the sets are maybe a little on the fat side in the smaller sets, but the 1/2" one is fine as I usually am using it when there's plenty of clearance anyway. The breaker bar in the 1/2" set is also of good quality, although its a little on the short end for some situations.

I have the Tekton set and have been happy with it.

Tekton is a great company with outstanding customer service, but their socket design is nothing special. Perfectly serviceable but zero features. Who knows how long it will be util they release any new "updated" socket designs. They did a good job on the 90t ratchets seemingly.

I can't stand GearWrench. But I have to admit, their socket design is decent. Not perfect, but better than most other easily available in the U.S. sockets (S-O, Williams, ProTo, Wright, SK...) Carlyle has nice sockets too, and ratchets.

 

[AreYaSerious]

Tekton is a great company with outstanding customer service, but their socket design is nothing special. Perfectly serviceable but zero features. Who knows how long it will be util they release any new "updated" socket designs. They did a good job on the 90t ratchets seemingly.

I can't stand GearWrench. But I have to admit, their socket design is decent. Not perfect, but better than most other easily available in the U.S. sockets (S-O, Williams, ProTo, Wright, SK...) Carlyle has nice sockets too, and ratchets.

With that being said I hope the new socket set is worth waiting for.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I bought several sets of GW chrome sockets when they were 50% at Advanced. I have been happy with them. I don't have any chrome Tekton sockets but do have two sets of impact sockets and none of them have failed. I don't think you could go wrong with either company for the price.

I dont have any Tekton ratchets but I do have the 4 piece flex set of GW 120xp. The 1/4 and 3/8 are great. They're not my go to ratchets but I do use them a great deal. The 1/2" drive is just ok. The action is smooth, low degree swing and hasn't slipped. My grip is the size of the head. Compared to my other 1/2 ratchets it's huge. The 84 tooth model is supposed to be thinner but the head is still just as wide.

 

[Tallpilot]

Tekton is a great company with outstanding customer service, but their socket design is nothing special. Perfectly serviceable but zero features. Who knows how long it will be util they release any new "updated" socket designs. They did a good job on the 90t ratchets seemingly.

I can't stand GearWrench. But I have to admit, their socket design is decent. Not perfect, but better than most other easily available in the U.S. sockets (S-O, Williams, ProTo, Wright, SK...) Carlyle has nice sockets too, and ratchets.

I know a lot of people like them but I dislike DIN style wrenches. I like a thicker, rounder beam and I prefer polished chrome even if it just gets scratched.

On the other hand I like DIN style sockets like your Hazet. It is interesting how different the US vs German tool design philosophies are.

 

[M6erfan]

I know a lot of people like them but I dislike DIN style wrenches. I like a thicker, rounder beam and I prefer polished chrome even if it just gets scratched.

On the other hand I like DIN style sockets like your Hazet. It is interesting how different the US vs German tool design philosophies are.

What's a DIN style wrench? How does it differ?

 

[Tallpilot]

https://www.misterworker.com/en-us/...MIrM-8g8-93QIVLbCzCh0k-gm0EAQYCCABEgIgg_D_BwE

https://www.jensputzier.com/hazet/h...c/hazet-600n-8-combination-wrench-set-84.html

https://picclick.com/Snap-On-Combination-wrench-YOU-PICK-lot-529-323323643975.html#&gid=1&pid=1

Most German or even Japanese/Taiwanese copies of German wrenches will have DIN stamped on them (most likely that refers to the standard tolerances but the designs are also very similar). Notice the thinner, sharp edged profile compared to the American full polish style which is thicker in the beam and has rounded corners. To me they feel better in the hand but that is purely personal preference.

 

[ChrisLS8]

I know a lot of people like them but I dislike DIN style wrenches. I like a thicker, rounder beam and I prefer polished chrome even if it just gets scratched.

On the other hand I like DIN style sockets like your Hazet. It is interesting how different the US vs German tool design philosophies are.

same with a lot of things. I have a set of F **** German kitchen knives and they are meaty bruisers. Hold an edge but lack the refinement I need occasionally.

I also have a set of Japanese Shun Damascus 67 layer ($$) santuko and chef knives. Razor sharp, flawless in design and well balanced but I'm more careful with them.

 

[Mr_B]

^^
I think german stahlwille wrenches have one of best beam profiles around, smooth rounded edges and dipped centre all in a slim package that easy handle and doesn't cut in if pressing hard on them, gedore, elora ect not so good and unfortunately ones that get used as base design copy .

 

[sberry]

Man,,,, we got some golden arms here.