Ratcheting Wrench - Anyone use them?

[gar777]

After a few jobs on the Protege, I've noticed how tight some of the access is. I'm thinking about getting a ratcheting combo wrench set. Has anybody used these? What sets are good? Is the reversible ratcheting worth the extra cost? As of now, I'm looking at the Sears combo set at
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00942405000&subcat=Wrench+Sets

Any suggestions?

[Kooldino]

I have the Gearwrench brand with the swivel heads.

[dominoy2k1]

i like em. i have the ones with a 15degree angle on them. i didnt like the swivel head ones. oh yeah i have the gearwrench brand also.

[Leppy]

I've got some craftsmen ones with a ratcheting head on both ends. the metric ones came in really handy on the Pro. Worth it

[traitorhound]

yup i got em. .lol got them yesterday cause i was pissed at not having my own set and having to go to my parents to use my dad's. . but i got the 30 dollar craftsman ones that you pictured. .. .only thing diff is that it didnt' come with a 17. ....but it was 40 bux cheaper

[Kain]

Those ratcheting wrenches with swivel heads are uber-useful on Japanese cars, where there's little room to work with.

[peepsalot]

I was thinking about getting something like those. The black part that ratchets, isn't that made of plastic? I'm worried it would break on me if I come across a tight bolt. To the people that already own these, how durable would you say these are?

[rednecks_r_us]

I was thinking about getting something like those. The black part that ratchets, isn't that made of plastic? I'm worried it would break on me if I come across a tight bolt. To the people that already own these, how durable would you say these are?

Get the Craftsman ones. They come with a lifetime guarantee. If you break it they replace it.

I have a set of metric and SAE and use them all the time. I need to get some more. Keep a standard set in the saddle bag of the chopper and a set of metric ones in my tank bag on my ninja and a set in the Pro.

But for the price of them I only have one set of each.

[505zoom]

After a few jobs on the Protege, I've noticed how tight some of the access is. I'm thinking about getting a ratcheting combo wrench set. Has anybody used these? What sets are good? Is the reversible ratcheting worth the extra cost? As of now, I'm looking at the Sears combo set at
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00942405000&subcat=Wrench+Sets

Any suggestions?

I have a couple sets of the Gear Wrench brand, and they are really awesome. There are a couple of clamps on my intercooler piping that are very hard to get to, and even a deep well socket won't get all the way over the screw part of the clamps. They are perfect for jobs like that, and others where you don't have very much room to work in. I have the standard ones that don't swivel or reverse, and IMO you don't really need anything more than that. To switch from loosen to tighten, you just flip the wrench over.


I was thinking about getting something like those. The black part that ratchets, isn't that made of plastic? I'm worried it would break on me if I come across a tight bolt. To the people that already own these, how durable would you say these are?

The plastic part is VERY strong, but if you come across a bolt that is so tight that you are concerned about breaking it, you shouldn't use ANY type of ratchet really. Instead, just use a standard box-end wrench (or the solid metal end of the gear wrench) to get it loose, then use the gear wrench to get it the rest of the way out.

[peepsalot]

The plastic part is VERY strong, but if you come across a bolt that is so tight that you are concerned about breaking it, you shouldn't use ANY type of ratchet really. Instead, just use a standard box-end wrench (or the solid metal end of the gear wrench) to get it loose, then use the gear wrench to get it the rest of the way out.

Good point there, I didn't even think about that. I guess that's what the other end of them is good for. I'm such a noob.

[gar777]

Wow, great response. Thanks for all the input. I'll think I'll give the Craftsman set a try. I like being able to return them forever if they break. The swiveling Gearwrench set looks useful, too, so may consider that down the road as well.

After all, whoever dies with the most tools wins.