gear wrenches

Jason Tower · **Joined:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:31 pm **Posts:** 1173

i need a set of gear wrenches pretty badly. is there any particular reason to stick with the "gear wrench" brand or are the other ones (craftsman, kobalt, husky, etc) just as good and priced comparably or better?

Dustin Fredrickson · **Posted:** Sat Nov 28, 2009 10:19 pm

Check out the Pittsburg Professional ones from Harbor Freight. While most HF stuff has a cheapness about it, these are well built and have served me well for 2-3 years without a single issue. In fact, they have the same feel as GW branded ones I've used - I'd be very surprised if these didn't come off the same line.

BretLuter · **Posted:** Sat Nov 28, 2009 11:17 pm

I'm with Dustin on this. I think there are one or two production lines in Taiwan making these things- they all seem to be about the same to me in looks and feel.

Sears typically puts them on sale this time of year for 50% off- keep your eyes out for that. I don't like the feel of the craftsman brand wrenches- those that look like their standard "raised panel" combo wrenches with the gearwrench on one end- but Sears has lots of GearWrench branded tools too.

AgriSupply in Garner has their own store branded gearwrenches that are a pretty good deal if you buy a full set. They also sell them individually if you just need one particular size.

KouroshNeshat · **Posted:** Sun Nov 29, 2009 4:27 pm

ive got the gearwrench (brand) that you just flip the wrench to reverse it.

ive also used the ones where it goes on one way and you flip the lever to go in reverse. i dont really like these. they are convenient at first but we've had many bust on us at the body shop. and they were good brands too.

less moving parts, the better.

ive had my gearwrenches for 4+ years not. i love them. Ray had his for a little bit and 2 of his wrenches have already frozen up on him. not sure on the brand, but i think it was gearwrench

Kevin Harvey · **Posted:** Tue Dec 01, 2009 6:54 pm

I'll tell you to buy Kobalt, but that is because it helps my paycheck if you buy at the big blue box.

Jason Tower · **Joined:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:31 pm **Posts:** 1173

Kevin Harvey wrote:

I'll tell you to buy Kobalt, but that is because it helps my paycheck if you buy at the big blue box.

i dunno, the last kobalt (torque) wrench i saw didn't fill me with confidence

Kevin Harvey · **Posted:** Wed Dec 02, 2009 8:46 am

LOL, just look at the user. Does the phrase "feather and an anvil" mean anything???? He has broken two of those things in a row. Meanwhile, mine has lasted for over three years with constant use.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Dustin Fredrickson wrote:

Check out the Pittsburg Professional ones from Harbor Freight. While most HF stuff has a cheapness about it, these are well built and have served me well for 2-3 years without a single issue. In fact, they have the same feel as GW branded ones I've used - I'd be very surprised if these didn't come off the same line.

I prefer the Pittsburgh Professional ones to real GWs -- they're completely flat where the GWs have like a 10* cant to them adjacent to the ratcheting head. That's Kool and the Gang when you're working on flat surfaces, but on cars I find that they're a pain in the pooper.

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Thu Dec 03, 2009 4:59 pm

Wes Eargle wrote:

Dustin Fredrickson wrote:

Check out the Pittsburg Professional ones from Harbor Freight. While most HF stuff has a cheapness about it, these are well built and have served me well for 2-3 years without a single issue. In fact, they have the same feel as GW branded ones I've used - I'd be very surprised if these didn't come off the same line.

I prefer the Pittsburgh Professional ones to real GWs -- they're completely flat where the GWs have like a 10* cant to them adjacent to the ratcheting head. That's Kool and the Gang when you're working on flat surfaces, but on cars I find that they're a pain in the pooper.

There are a several different GW models.

Some are reversible with a switch. Those are usually angled. Some are reversible by flipping them over. Those are not angled.

Both of them can have their advantages depending on where the bolt/nut is located. I tend to use the flat ones more often though. I really like the older model angled ones with the lip to keep the head of the wrench from slipping past the bolt head. They stopped making them that way though.

Dustin Fredrickson · **Posted:** Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:01 pm

Wes Eargle wrote:

Dustin Fredrickson wrote:

Check out the Pittsburg Professional ones from Harbor Freight. While most HF stuff has a cheapness about it, these are well built and have served me well for 2-3 years without a single issue. In fact, they have the same feel as GW branded ones I've used - I'd be very surprised if these didn't come off the same line.

I prefer the Pittsburgh Professional ones to real GWs -- they're completely flat where the GWs have like a 10* cant to them adjacent to the ratcheting head. That's Kool and the Gang when you're working on flat surfaces, but on cars I find that they're a pain in the pooper.

Mine are actually the hinged ones, so can be flat or angled up to 45% (or more, but not very useful at that point), so best of both worlds. These have worked REALLY well for me, and despite the extra moving part, look and work as good as new after a few years of use.

Sean O'Connell · **Posted:** Thu Dec 03, 2009 9:19 pm

Jason Mauldin wrote:

I really like the older model angled ones with the lip to keep the head of the wrench from slipping past the bolt head. They stopped making them that way though.

snap-on makes some like that but i'm sure i dont have to tell you $$$$$$$$

Graham Jagger · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:53 am **Posts:** 1718

Kevin Harvey wrote:

I'll tell you to buy Kobalt, but that is because it helps my paycheck if you buy at the big blue box.

...or you could just stop giving Jimmy Johnson checks for $6.5 million for racing and who knows how much for the Kobalt commercials :wink:

JamesShort · **Posted:** Sun Jan 03, 2010 12:11 pm

I like my flex head ones from HF. My only qualm is that the heads flex too easily. The craftsman and GW ones were a bit more stiff (or had a lock). But I have a plan for rigging up a way of fixing the head.

I also have few Titan double box end GW 'style' wrenches from Northern Tool. 17mm/19mm. Usually the sizes are n mm and n+1 mm but this one had the desirable sizes for working on an import car (the 16 or 18mm would have been worthless).

I haven't have a problem with either of them.

Jason Tower · **Joined:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:31 pm **Posts:** 1173

i forgot about this thread! picked up a set of eight (fixed head, 10mm-17mm, gear wrench brand) yesterday from lowes for $44, along with a sheet of lexan for my side windows.

Kevin Harvey · **Posted:** Sun Jan 03, 2010 4:09 pm

Graham Jagger wrote:

Kevin Harvey wrote:

I'll tell you to buy Kobalt, but that is because it helps my paycheck if you buy at the big blue box.

...or you could just stop giving Jimmy Johnson checks for $6.5 million for racing and who knows how much for the Kobalt commercials :wink:

That is money well spent, my friend. Very well spent.

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