Williams Reversible ratcheting wrenches

[Wolfe 21]

Looking for a good set of reversible ratcheting wrenches and stumbled on the J.H. Williams brand at zoro. Have a few of their regular supercombo combination wrenches I'm happy with and was wondering how the ratcheting version stacked up. Are they 6 times better than the gearwrench set I paid $23 for? Looking a metric and likely SAE.

ETA: I just saw FormerJeeper's thread on the usa made supercombo versions(no idea they made these). They look nice, but are basically double the $$$. Not a practical decision for my DIY home owners box.

 

[demarpaint]

I own them and I'm very happy with them. I don't recall paying 6 times more for them than a Gearwrench set. IIRC at the time I was in the market for them Gearwrench skipped sizes which I needed and was one of the reasons I didn't buy their set.

 

[Mr_B]

the icon reversible ratchet sets with standard type open jaw are pretty good buy.
made by high-five to pretty decent spec.
with a good coupon they a good buy.
they do metric and sae, i'm using metric professionally and can't complain plus current easy warranty good bonus should get an issue ...
others to consider if want cheaper is OEM Tools or nice quality slim design Facom

 

[bobcatdan]

To my knowledge the Williams ratchet wrenches are the exact same as the Blue Point ones sold on the snap on truck. They are imported. I don't own any, but generally understand they are nice wrenches. Are they in anyway any better than GW, I can't say, but doubt it. I do have Blackhawk ratcheting wrenches, mainly because they make the larger size. I give them a big thumbs up. Once again are they any better than GW, hard to say, but just tossing out another option.

 

[designer485]

To my knowledge the Williams ratchet wrenches are the exact same as the Blue Point ones sold on the snap on truck. They are imported. I don't own any, but generally understand they are nice wrenches. Are they in anyway any better than GW, I can't say, but doubt it. I do have Blackhawk ratcheting wrenches, mainly because they make the larger size. I give them a big thumbs up. Once again are they any better than GW, hard to say, but just tossing out another option.

They offer both the imported (made in Taiwan) and the made in USA Supercombo versions. The made in Taiwan sets are identical to the Blue Point sets.

The Supercombo sets look fantastic:

https://www.toolsdelivered.com/williams-mws-10rcu-reversible-ratcheting-supercombo-combination-wrench-set-10-19mm

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I have a few sets of the Taiwan made, and one set of the new USA made. Very happy with both, good value. As said, the Taiwan ones are bluepoint. IMO it appears the old snap-on ratcheting mechanism has become the USA made Williams mechanism. The new SO mech is much thinner.

As I said, good value for money. I use mine professionally, although I don't use them super often.

 

[Wolfe 21]

I just lucked out on the Gearwrench sets. Got less than $25 a set in them on clearance at the local farm store. You are correct on skipped sizes. That is part of the reason I am looking for an upgrade. I suppose I could just fill in the gaps, but the mismatched sets bug me.
I will look into the harbor freight sets next time I'm in the store.

 

[Mr_B]

^
That a shame, gearwrench at clearance prices always a sweet buy .
HF ICON metric is 10pc 64842 set no skips, as far as I remember the sae is a 7pc set so you may want review if that enough sae coverage for you .
Wouldn't buy them without using the ICON 20% or better coupon and would avoid the anti-slip open end sets as the taiwan anti-slip designs not that great as they late to the patent party on that concept .

 

[woody6904]

The problem i see after using the blue points is the box end is huge. The imported williams is the same. The usa williams in the link look huge as well. Have two sets of Blackhawks, have yet to find a better design. I do like the Icons for a longer pattern.

 

[ecotec]

The Supercombo ones say USA on the other side?

 

[KnurledNut]

The Supercombo ones say USA on the other side?

The wrenches are forged and assembled in USA.
Taiwan mechanism.

 

[ecotec]

The wrenches are forged and assembled in USA.
Taiwan mechanism.

Gross. I will stick with the Gearwrench that I already have.

 

[bsaint]

I have them and they are great. I dont think they are supercombo's.

 

[Wolfe 21]

Are the new Proto/SBD owned Blackhawk as good or should I be looking for a used US set online? I have some of the old USA 12 point sockets and they seem well built. I don't use them simply because they are an incomplete set from EBay.

Yeah, having used a buddy's bluepoint stuff made me start looking to upgrade my own. They are a definite (at least to me) step up from my Gear wrench stuff in smoothness and fit/finish.
Not relevant to this discussion, but I am also saving pennies for an upgrade to SO ratchets this year. At least 1/4 & 3/8.

 

[bobcatdan]

Are the new Proto/SBD owned Blackhawk as good or should I be looking for a used US set online? I have some of the old USA 12 point sockets and they seem well built. I don't use them simply because they are an incomplete set from EBay.

Yeah, having used a buddy's bluepoint stuff made me start looking to upgrade my own. They are a definite (at least to me) step up from my Gear wrench stuff in smoothness and fit/finish.
Not relevant to this discussion, but I am also saving pennies for an upgrade to SO ratchets this year. At least 1/4 & 3/8.

I have the newer reversible Blackhawk and I give them a big thumbs up. They are a fairly standard length so nothing super long. Ratchet end works well and the open end does what it suppose to. From what I hear Blackhawk is going bye bye so Craftsman can fill their spot. That leaves the question of warranty down the road. That said given their length and knowing when to use a regular wrench, I doubt I'll break one unless one unexpectedly locks up like a few of of GW have.

 

[designer485]

The wrenches are forged and assembled in USA.
Taiwan mechanism.

Are you sure about this? My understanding was that the supercombo ratcheting wrenches were 100% USA and use the last generation mechanism from Snap-On.

 

[KnurledNut]

Are you sure about this? My understanding was that the supercombo ratcheting wrenches were 1000% USA and use the last generation mechanism from Snap-On.

The ratcheting mechanism is the same as Bluepoint/Williams.

Its not coincidence that it takes a magnifying glass, but under USA is says Forged and Assembled.

View media item 109187

 

[designer485]

The ratcheting mechanism is the same as Bluepoint/Williams.

Its not coincidence that it takes a magnifying glass, but under USA is says Forged and Assembled.

View media item 109187

Right on, thanks for pointing that out. I missed that. With that being said, the Supercombo beam design is much more comfortable than the all Taiwan made wrenches.

 

[Formerjeeper]

Yep the beam design on the supercombos was the deciding factor for me. Very happy with mine though the 16mm open end is out of spec, haven’t got around to sending in for replacement yet.

 

[Ign]

About 5 years ago I stumbled upon these BP's in 24 and 25mm. I gave $20 ea. I've used the 24mm a few times and it's "good". Nothing phenomenal but nothing to complain about, either

I did go 100% Williams for ratcheting flex heads because they're one of the few that offer reversible, and without the stupid side button that always gets bumped. As linked above Tools Delivered tends to be the best source, which was something I learned here on GJ

 

[Northern26]

In case you are interested, you can find the ICON alternative 10-19mm on Ebay for $95-$110 and the Dewalt alternative for $87 in HD 8-19mm

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-...DWMT19230/301868435?NCNI-5&searchtype=suggest

 

[Verg]

The USA super combo are very nice; similar ratchet end to the older snap on ratchet wrenches. Picked the Williams up for $1 on eBay.





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