Anyone use Gearwrench brand ratcheting wrenches?

[WallyWest]

Saw that Ace has the 20 piece on sale for $49.

SAE - 1/4, 5/16, 11/32, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4

Metric - 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 mm

I have a bunch of standard ones, but no 18mm, which kinda sucks for working on the TJ. Not sure I really NEED the Gearwrench feature, more of a quality of life thing for spots I can't get a socket into. But for that price, worth it?

 

[Sea Cot]

I generally prefer them over sockets for most applications.

 

[tworley]

Seems like a good price. I'll have to see if my ACE has the same sale.

Gearwrench, from what I have seen, is a decent brand too. I just bought their tap/die set and have no complaints other than the finishing on the ratcheting handle looks like it would rust/scuff very easily.

 

[jjvw]

I use GW and sockets, sometimes together. They are nice to have.

 

[Ephry73]

I've used them in several applications. Hammered on them etc. Can't complaint for the price

 

[AMS417]

Thanks for the notice, going to pick up a set for the Jeep tool bag.

 

[pagrey]

They are worth it. I bought a set on sale at Ace as well at least ten years ago. Funny that they are still running sales on them. Really nice wrenches.

 

[Babygools99]

Worked with a 8-24mm set everyday for the past 4 years, haven't had to warranty a single one. Absolutely love their wrenches

 

[mrblaine]

Worked with a 8-24mm set everyday for the past 4 years, haven't had to warranty a single one. Absolutely love their wrenches

We've had to warranty a 3/8", 9/16" 10mm, and a 3/4" in about the same length of use. We don't abuse them either.

 

[pagrey]

We've had to warranty a 3/8", 9/16" 10mm, and a 3/4" in about the same length of use. We don't abuse them either.

Do you still use them or have you switched to another type? Not a fan of what a busted wrench does to knuckles.

 

[mrblaine]

Do you still use them or have you switched to another type? Not a fan of what a busted wrench does to knuckles.

They don't do that. The ratchet quits working and locks up. We also keep them sprayed down with WD to keep the ratchet moving freely so it doesn't catch half a tooth and skip. The 3/4" had a bizarre issue in that a small ring must have gone bye bye and the guts fell out. Still haven't seen how they stay together so I don't know what the ring looks like.

But no, we still use them daily and haven't switched due to how much use they get and how well they work for the price.

 

[pagrey]

That's good to hear, at least it's not a bad failure mode, not that any is good. I'll have to start cleaning them from time to time.

 

[TJ Starting]

Bought the same set for a similar price a while back and they are worth the money.

 

[Apparition]

I have a full set of them, no complaints other than sometimes it’s nice to have the thinness of a non ratcheting wrench, such as for driveshaft removal.

GW have been very handy on my rubicrawler install.

 

[Babygools99]

We've had to warranty a 3/8", 9/16" 10mm, and a 3/4" in about the same length of use. We don't abuse them either.

My specific sets aren't the reversible version, which would be my only complaint, and my own fault at that.

 

[pagrey]

My specific sets aren't the reversible version, which would be my only complaint, and my own fault at that.

What's the purpose of that, I've always wondered. Can't you just flip the wrench?

 

[Babygools99]

What's the purpose of that, I've always wondered. Can't you just flip the wrench?

My set has a 0 degree offset, so it has its time and place in tighter areas. The reversible set with the directional changing lever, if i remember correctly has a 15 degree offset, which would be a pita in alot of situations where the offset wouldn't allow you to get a grip on a bolt or nut in one direction or the other. But most of the time, i dont need the 0 degree offset, and trying to guess which direction to flip the wrench and getting it wrong the first time its on the fastener is annoying.

 

[WallyWest]

Ok, I'm sold.

Side note, always pays to Google. I saw this set at the hardware store next to where I work for $69. Which seemed like an ok price. But then I Googled it and found the Ace sale. Which goes through the end of the month, FYI.

 

[mrblaine]

What's the purpose of that, I've always wondered. Can't you just flip the wrench?

You can but the wrenches are straight for the "just flip it over" type. That goes from inconvenient to this won't work in a lot of places when the handle hits crap that stop it from moving.

 

[WallyWest]

But most of the time, i dont need the 0 degree offset, and trying to guess which direction to flip the wrench and getting it wrong the first time its on the fastener is annoying.

So I just checked the set I got a few minutes ago. There is a mark on one side of the wrench, a S on the metric, and a R on the SAE. With that mark facing up if you slipped the ratchet end over a bolt/nut you would be tightening it.