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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Dec 2013 Posts: 770 Former BMW Rider | | Former BMW Rider Joined: Dec 2013 Posts: 770 | I've been wanting a Metric and SAE set of these wrenches for a while. I was just going to get the ratcheting wrench sets, but I've been told by several people to get the flex heads. BTW, GEARWRENCH has a lifetime warranty. Any opinions, pro or con? SAEMETRICThanks, | | | | | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,436 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,436 | The swivel head ratchets are real Handy Andy. (Pun Intended)
But don't use them to break bolts loose or do the final torque with.
The ratchet is not that strong and you may strip the teeth off.
Don
1967 GMC 9500 Fire Ladder Truck"The Flag Pole"In the Stovebolt Gallery'46 2-Ton grain truck | '50 2-ton flatbed | '54 Pontiac Straight Eight | '54 Plymouth Belvidere | '70 American LaFrance pumper fire truck | '76 Triumph TR-6 Of all the things I've lost in my life, I miss my mind the most! | | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,985 Crusty Old Sarge | | Crusty Old Sarge Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,985 | I have the Craftsman version of these wrenches. They are great for tight spots and odd angles, but as 2-Ton pointed out they are not so go good for torquing on. I also have a set of reversible ratchet wrenches, these have a thumb pawl for changing direction, these get the most use around my shop.
~ Craig 1958 Viking 4400"The Book of Thor"Read the story in the DITY1960 Chevrolet C10"A Family Heirloom"Follow the story in the DITY Gallery'59 Apache 31, 327 V8 (0.030 over), Muncie M20 4 Speed, GM 10 Bolt Rear... long term project (30 years and counting) Come Bleed or Blister, something has got to give!!! | Living life in the SLOW lane | | | | | Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,168 "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! | | "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,168 | I have the standard/non-flex head versions. Haven't had the need for a flex head yet. Maybe my work doesn't require me to go around corners. I have a flex head ratchet that I haven't used in forever. It tended to bust knuckles more than the standard version. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2019 Posts: 119 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2019 Posts: 119 | I have both flex head and straight ratcheting wrenches. They are the Gear Wrench brand. I agree that I would be uncomfortable putting a heavy load on them. The Flex Heads are really nice to use when you have room for the head. And that is also a limitation. And in some cases even the head on the straight wrench is to big.
If I could only have one set I would keep the flex.
Rusty
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2013 Posts: 770 Former BMW Rider | | Former BMW Rider Joined: Dec 2013 Posts: 770 | FYI-I bought a 20 piece set of these: GEARWRENCH SAE and METRICTime will tell as to how well I like them. Thanks for the input! | | | | | Joined: Jun 2015 Posts: 68 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2015 Posts: 68 | Same wrench set on Amazon $20 less than NAPA
Chuck | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 | You're going to find that the ratcheting box ends will be too big to get into a lot of the spots we work on around a stovebolt engine compartment. They're handy for spinning bolts and nuts down as long as there's plenty of room around the bolt head. I had a set of ratcheting box ends in sizes from something like 3/8" to 3/4", but a former employee liked them so well they followed him home when he changed jobs, along with a bunch of other tools.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 9,830 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 9,830 | I had a set of ratcheting box ends in sizes from something like 3/8" to 3/4", but a former employee liked them so well they followed him home when he changed jobs, along with a bunch of other tools. Jerry, Maybe you should follow him home with a different "tool" to retrieve them.  I have a set of ratcheting box wrenches, but rarely use them (they're in metric for the modern stuff). I find a socket and ratchet wrench fits more places than a ratcheting box wrench. Some places just require a stubby box wrench (don't have any of those  Hey, maybe I should go buy a set.  )
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 2,061 Big Bolt Forum Moderator | | Big Bolt Forum Moderator Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 2,061 | I have a set of the offset box ens ratchet wrenches (MAC) and a couple of sets of the flat box end ratchet wrenches, also bought a set like in the original post (got them in a box of stuff from harbor freight) and actually use a couple of them quite a bit for certain things. | | |
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