"sloPro" (IvanD)
12/10/2013 at 17:12 • Filed to: GearWrench, amazon, ebay, x-beam, ratcheting, wrench
3
19|
"sloPro" (IvanD)
12/10/2013 at 17:12 • Filed to: GearWrench, amazon, ebay, x-beam, ratcheting, wrench | 3
| 19 |
I present to you an "apprentice" (one level below master, in my opinion, cause it doesn't have the 5 other bigger sizes) 12pc. set of X-beam Flex-head ratcheting combination wrenches. 8mm thru 19mm. GearWrench 85288. Ordered them on Amazon on sunday, got them today, with free shipping. whoohoo! I had 2 or 3 other sets in mind, but after careful deliberation settled on this one.
Here is my thought process, also for those who might be considering a similar purchase, hope this helps since i'm including all the serial numbers which you could search on either amazon or ebay or whatever floats your boat.
Originally i was debating between GW 85989, which is their master set 17pc 8mm-25mm of XL (ooooh it's so long!) ratcheting combo wrenches, and 85988 which is a 12 pc set without the extra 5 larger sizes. i couldn't bring myself to pay extra 90 bucks for the extra 5 wrenches.
but after that i also found that the flex-head is a lot more convenient (especially when u definitely need it), so i started looking at this next master set: GW 9902:
which is also available in the "apprentice" flavor, AND on top of that, they actually offer the other larger sizes as a separate 5pc kit, that you could buy down the line.
but finally I settled on my GW 85288, only the blow molded case is different from the amazon image all the way on top, since it has all the features I actually desired:
1. Flex-head for when you definitely need it. Sure it might be inconvenient at times, but i promise my old 5pc set definitely got me out of a jam more than enough times.
2. X-beam for extra grip and leverage, one of the reasons i was looking at the XL set in the first place.
3. Ratcheting end
4. GearWrench: which is carried by Sears, so if anything goes wrong, i'll just bring it there. and it's actually quality tools as well.
5. and save a ton of monies by not going to the tool trucks. (mark-up like a mofo, sorry oppo tool truck drivers/operators)
Agrajag
> sloPro
12/10/2013 at 17:14 |
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Flex head wrenches were one of my best tool purchases. Be damned if I can find them when I need them though.
Squid
> sloPro
12/10/2013 at 17:15 |
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How much did you spend on those bad boys? I know I will end up with a set of those in the future, they are just too damn useful to not want to get.
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sloPro
> Agrajag
12/10/2013 at 17:16 |
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oh i'm locking these bad boys away, and NOT lending them out.
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sloPro
> Squid
12/10/2013 at 17:19 |
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142 shipped from amazon. but i bought other things as well, that havent shoved up yet, and i was using my amazon account, so there were other perks that brought down the whole deal a little bit. but that's still a good deal, in my opinion, considering the XL set i was going to buy is 290, and for now i forsee little use out of the larger (20,21,22,24,25mm) ones.
DocWalt
> sloPro
12/10/2013 at 17:20 |
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I'll have to try new flex-head stuff, my experience with old stuff was less than desirable. Lots of bashed knuckles.
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Agrajag
> sloPro
12/10/2013 at 17:22 |
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Thing is, I'm like James May with tool organization. Wrenches have their spot, yet whenever I open drawer, there might as well be a tumbleweed.
FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
> sloPro
12/10/2013 at 17:24 |
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first off who makes gearwrench? Sounds like some knock off china brand. At least when I bought my craftsman set of ratcheting wrenches they were still made in the USA. That was about 10 years ago though so not sure about now.
Anyway, I have both a flex head set and a non-flex head ratcheting set. And of the two I much prefer the non-flex head set. 9/10 I don't need the flex head (which should be noted is somewhat annoying to use as the locking mechanisms never seem to stay locked when in tight spaces) and so I go for my non-flex head set. I will say that that 1/10 when you need the flex head you NEED the flex head and it will save you so much time. My 2 cents. Below is a link to the craftsman set I have.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_…
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sloPro
> FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
12/10/2013 at 17:46 |
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honestly dont know where/who makes them. i think they are actually a stand alone company and then other rebrand their stuff, considering i have their serp belt kit, which nobody else carries the exact same type. but honestly i dont really care, both the serpentine kit and the wrenches are good quality, isnt that what matters?
also coming back to the flex-head, neither these nor the old set i have, have a lockable ratcheting switch, u have to flip them in your hand so that was never a problem for me, but i got accustomed to using the old flex heads, and i honestly dont even reach for the regular combo wrenches any more. i try to use a socket when i have to apply a lot of force.
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FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
> sloPro
12/10/2013 at 17:51 |
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Wait I'm confused, how do you lock the "flex" angle in place? My two craftsman sets have function differently. The rigid set which I use all the time has a switch to change directions (tighten or loosen) while the flex set you flip over to change direction. But, the flex set has a switch which locks the angle of the ratchet head in place. This is the annoying bit which always comes undone and the thing goes crazy while you are ratcheting.
As for the brand they are owned by Apex tool group who wiki claims makes most of their stuff overseas. I'm a big supporter of buying American, but I understand that cost is sometimes the over riding factor.
AW46M3
> sloPro
12/10/2013 at 17:54 |
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hmm.... I have an old set of ratcheting wrenches, but they were at a fixed angle. These look like they would be a lot more useful! Thanks for posting them.
NaturallyAspirated
> sloPro
12/10/2013 at 17:57 |
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I always buy the reversible versions of the GearWrenches. I have gotten the non-reversible wrenches permanently stuck and had to cut the wrench off the fastener (like this guy did: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthre… ). Fun times.
I'm with you 100% on Amazon. I bought myself a set of JH Williams "SuperCombo" wrenches (JH Williams is Snap-On's industrial brand) from Amazon recently and am really happy with them.
It's also fun to order stupidly heavy things and make them ship it 2nd day air with Prime. I think my best one so far is all four struts for my Ford Taurus.
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sloPro
> NaturallyAspirated
12/10/2013 at 19:43 |
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yeah, i've only been almost stuck once. learned real quick to watch out after that.
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sloPro
> FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
12/10/2013 at 19:44 |
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yeah i was talking about the direction switch. not the "flex" lock. in either case i dont use or like either, just more things to break.
VincentMalamute-Kim
> sloPro
12/10/2013 at 19:51 |
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He didn't get the set with the locking flex angle. I have the Craftsman with the locking flex angle. http://www.sears.com/craftsman-7-pc…
I usually use the flex wrenches more than the non flex wrench. And that locking switch is indeed always unlocking itself but I find it better to have it than have the head flop all over.
Party-vi
> FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
12/10/2013 at 20:59 |
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Gearwrench is good stuff. Very good stuff.
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Party-vi
> sloPro
12/10/2013 at 20:59 |
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If I were rich the only tools in my garage would be Gearwrenches.
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FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
> VincentMalamute-Kim
12/10/2013 at 21:05 |
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Yeah interesting, I can't imagine using flex wrenches without that lock. I guess its all what you know.
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FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
> sloPro
12/10/2013 at 21:06 |
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Yeah interesting, I can't imagine using flex wrenches without that lock. I guess its all what you know. Either way ratchet wrenches are a must as far as I'm concerned. Don't know how I lived without them.
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FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
> NaturallyAspirated
12/10/2013 at 21:07 |
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I once ordered a portable DeWalt table saw on prime. it was over 100 lbs.