Ratcheting Wrenchs-Who's is best

Looking to finally buy some ratchet wrenches. Looked at gear wrench. Kinda like the flex heat style. I also like the kind that have the little switch to change direction instead of flipping the wrench over. What does everyone recommend?
 
flexhead has it's place and is inconveient in other places
switch will get you out of trouble in a tight spot when you realize you can't get the wrench off the bolt and have to reverse it and turn the bolt back in
have all three styles in both metric and standard still want stubbys and then maybe some of the bigger ones
open end racheting wrenchs, quickwrenches as sold by Sears long ago are very handy in certain spots.
start with whatever is on sale and build from there
good luck
Ron
 
I have at least 10 sets-standard and metric,all the way up to 1 in. all Gear Wrench brand. Some of them are over 15 years old, I use them every day and I have never broken one. Gear Wrench only for me. You will find the little lever is nothing but a pain in the A--. Get the ones you flip over.
 
This is one tool I have never owned/used. I don't really know why. I recently acquired some cheap ones with some property I bought. On a recent difficult job, I thought of them. I would take a smooth, fine tooth ratchet over the little flip lever any day. I was almost mad enough with them to throw them in the scrap. After all- I only consider them in a tight spot!
 
I have a 20 year old set from Sears that I like a lot. They have their place, they are only medium duty and not precise, but are fast and light. For heavy duty work I use a socket set or standard wrenches.

I agree with evilboweivel, find a low cost set and see how you like it before spending much.
 
i have had some gearwrench brand for apx 5 years now and i have broke one and they replaced free of charge. i also have some blackhawk and they are not as smooth.
 
(quoted from post at 22:30:43 09/11/14) Looking to finally buy some ratchet wrenches. Looked at gear wrench. Kinda like the flex heat style. I also like the kind that have the little switch to change direction instead of flipping the wrench over. What does everyone recommend?

I think I brought my first gearwrench in the 90's. Up till then all ratchet wrenches I ever used were junk... I treat mine with respect because they save me so much time and effort... Gearwrench brand tools are good if you by a set get the set that does not skip "SIZES"... Yes they cost more but worth it...
I think I have every set they have ever made :) When I get a tuff bolt to break I break it with a regular wrench the use the gear wrench they save time and energy..

I have the standard and metric set of these (EZRED) The most useful wrench I have ever used... I am amazed at were I can get them and the tools they eliminate when getting into tight places...

http://www.walmart.com/ip/E-Z-Red-R...=16494042&sourceid=1500000000000003260430
 
I love my Gearwrenches. On;y problem is I use them so much that the odds caught up with me and I lost the 7/16 and 1/2. Bought a cheap knockoff set at TSC the other day for $9.99. Not Gearwrench quality, but they work.
 
Yup, Gear Wrench is A1
I guess this thread also shows why GearWrench builds all types. Personally I hated the flip over type and quickly replaced them with flex heads. I now also have a set with the angled head and reverser lever and feel like I have the ultimate set up in ratchet wrenches/
 
The flip over ones are straight, the ones with the lever are angled, and you will find the angle is a benefit some of the time. All of the lever ones are not angled but the same wrench does not work in every situation.
 
Wish Gearwrench made one 9/16 one end and 1/2 the other, I'd buy 10 of them! Flip over Gearwrench gets my vote as the best.
 
I have a full set of both the straight long and stubby 12 point one way ratchet ones in standard and metric from master craft :roll:
I hardly ever use one.
They might look good on the garage wall of some wanna be mechanic though :wink:
 
#1 Snap-on #2Gear Wrench #3 Blue Point. Blue point are as good as Gear Wrench, but demand too much of a premium. Most brands are made by Gear Wrench, so if someone has a good sale on them, I'd just buy them. The wrenches without a lever can get you in trouble. #1 It's annoying. #2 It can get you in trouble if you ever start to take a bolt out with little clearance and realize you don't have enough room.
 
Frankly I prefer the offset switch style.

The flat flip-over style are KNUCKLE BUSTERS if you have to work on a surface where you can't get a clean grip on the handle.

The offset switch style also have a ridge inside that prevents the wrench from slipping too far over the nut.
 

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