Gearwrench tools?

[Dirtman]

Anyone use this brand? They seem like decent quality stuff and have a lifetime warranty. Thinking of buying some new ratchets and wrenches and want something decent quality but not snap-on priced. I usually buy craftsman pro stuff but they seem to have gone down hill in quality.

 

[Roert42]

I've never had a problem with their ratcheting box wrenches, and I use them a lot for working on machines. I also bought a set of Pozi drive screw drivers because they are the only ones I could find that sold them as a set.

I can say Tekton makes some nice wrenches for a good price, I wouldn't hesitate to buy other stuff from them.

Most of my ratchets are Kobolt 90 tooth smooth action and they have held up pretty good too.

 

[Shran]

I have a significant amount of GearWrench tools - probably 50% of my sockets, 6 or 7 ratchets, every size flex head ratchet up to 21mm/1", every fixed head up to 24mm/1-1/4", a big screwdriver set, and other random stuff.

What I like: their flex head wrenches! I rarely use the non-flex heads anymore. They are just stupid handy, very durable. I also really likes SOME of their ratchets. The older 1/4" and 3/8" drive ones are great... the new ones are crap, basically a Stanley/Kobalt knockoff.

What I don't like: I think their sockets are made of low quality, soft metal. I have some chrome plated thin wall 1/2" deepwells that I think I paid $10 for a set of at Menards years ago, no-name cheapos. I have beat on them relentlessly, they're on my impact 98% of the time and still going strong... contrast that with my GearWrench impact sockets, that are designed to be on an impact - they are so far lightly used and already some are loose on fasteners and obviously worn. I have also trashed a bunch of the deep well 3/8 metric sockets by using them on a Milwaukee cordless ratchet. I think they look nice but are maybe on par with Harbor Freight sockets. Not real impressed.

What I really, really, really do not like: It is somewhat hard to warranty a lot of their tools. I used to have Menards, Carquest, NAPA, Fastenal, Ace, Tractor Supply and a couple other local stores to exchange broken tools... now I've got NAPA and Fastenal. Everybody else quit carrying the GearWrench brand entirely apart from maybe a holiday special 5 piece wrench set. To add insult to injury, Fastenal often has very little in stock and is a week out if they order a replacement. NAPA is hit or miss but usually my go-to.

FWIW.......... Matco and GearWrench tools are both made by Apex Tool Group...and a lot of their tools are identical or very, very similar. I've got a fair amount of Matco tools too and the quality is about the same as GearWrench.

I used to be a GearWrench snob but the recent lack of retailers that carry the brand has really turned me off.

 

[Dirtman]

The two things I'm eyeing first are their flex head ratcheting wrenches and their 90 tooth flex head ratchet set...

But they also seem to have some decent plier sets and other tools that look interesting.

 

[Roert42]

I'm not sure if gear wrench offer them, but craftsman has flex head ratcheting wrenches with a switch that can hold the angle. I prefer them to the regular flex heads because when you are putting a lot of torque on them they don't flop around and slip off the bolt.

 

[Shran]

All of my ratchets are the older 84 tooth models. I have the 1/4" flex head and love it. The rest are just the fixed head ones. I want an offset handle 3/8 flex head real bad.

I think GW makes locking flex head wrenches. I don't have any of them although I can see where that could be a benefit.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If you still have a Sears around they used to have a holiday section that was loaded with pretty good deals on Gearwrench stuff. That is how I accumulated most of mine.

I love my pass thru Gearwrench socket set:

 

[adsm08]

I have the flex head and standard/metric fixed Gearwrench sets.

My biggest complaint about them is that when they do wear out it is hard to get them warrantied out. But that is rarely an issue.

 

[Curious Hound]

I really like Gearwrench ratcheting wrenches. Wish I had more..

I have a few of their sockets but haven't used them much.

 

[Dirtman]

I have the flex head and standard/metric fixed Gearwrench sets.

My biggest complaint about them is that when they do wear out it is hard to get them warrantied out. But that is rarely an issue.

I got to be honest, my snap-on stuff isn't very easy to get fixed/replace either and I break snap-on stuff just as much as craftsman.

When I worked at a shop that had a snap on truck come by weekly it was awesome, still had to wait for stuff to get fixed alot but I could just throw tools at him and say fix this. With craftsman I just went to sears and picked out new stuff and handed in the old.

Now with snap-on I gotta track down the truck and I don't get great treatment since I'm not one of his "customers" even though I still have a credit account.

I'm done with snap-on, I'll keep making them fix what breaks but I have no reason to buy anything new from them. They only care if you're on their route, and corporate doesn't care about anyone they just refer you to the local dealer. The whole franchise aspect of snap-on is screwed up unless you work at the same place your whole life. Good luck being independent.

 

[racsan]

I have 1 sae gearwrench ratcheting wrench, a 9/16 for work, it replaced a stripped no-name (china crap probably). I like it, I also have a set of metric in 8mm-18mm. but it doesnt have every size (think 11 & 16?) came that way, havent used them much but I like them. most of my stuff is craftsman, circa 1988, the stuff I had issues with (like 3/8” drive metric sockets) I replaced with snap-on, but that was when I worked at the boat dealership some 25+ years ago. I have a few mac tools, not many I think a 3/8” flex head ratchet and some small wrenches. I need a new big toolbox, my ‘88 craftsman box has gotten too small and the homak (off-brand, black with gold drawer pulls) was bought used and is pretty wore out.

 

[Dirtman]

My snap-on tool box retailed for something like $18,000? 12 foot 27 drawer. It was a repo and I got it for 6k with the condition that I still held the full warranty. One of the drawers broke and I called for service, dude comes out and literally drops a pile of parts and leaves.

I called snap-on and said no no no... took 3 weeks to get them out and actually fix it. And im sorry, yes I could have fixed it myself but for a peice of sheetmetal that costs more than a car, i demand service.

 

[Shran]

I have a pretty significant investment in Craftsman too. I love their wrenches - the typical raised panel style in particular. The new ones seem to be a little rougher, I had to file burrs off several in one of my newer sets. I hate their ratchets though. The newest ones are an improvement but the old tear drops are just absolute junk. Can't even count how many I've broken.

My new favorites for hand tools are Gray Pneumatic and Carlyle from NAPA. Actually I don't mind any of the tools NAPA sells - even Evercraft isn't bad, it's cheap but seems to be pretty good quality. One of my Evercraft flex head ratchets is close to #1 on my list of favorite tools. Cornwell makes some pretty nice tools too.

Snap-on is OK. Our rep is kinda hard to track down but otherwise a nice guy. Mac sucks donkey balls, could care less if I never bought another one of their tools. Rebranded Stanley junk, might as well buy tools at Walmart.

 

[sgtsandman]

ll I have is their fixed ratcheting box end wrenches. I like them. I never tried their flex head models.

 

[97RangerXLT]

If you still have a Sears around they used to have a holiday section that was loaded with pretty good deals on Gearwrench stuff. That is how I accumulated most of mine.

I love my pass thru Gearwrench socket set:

I have this same set. Worked great on changing the front shocks on the Ranger. Overall great quality, but not sure how easy it would be to find replacement sockets for it.

AJ