expired Posted by GimmeYoTots • Feb 8, 2023
Feb 8, 2023 6:43 PM
Item 1 of 5
Item 1 of 5
expired Posted by GimmeYoTots • Feb 8, 2023
Feb 8, 2023 6:43 PM
GEARWRENCH 1/4" Drive 72 Tooth Gimbal Ratchet
$11
$29
62% offAmazon
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A) The 'grip' surface is polished. Slippery hands? No grip. Using this in an automotive environment? It really won't work with nitrile gloves.
B) The ratchet resistance is high. This compounds the grip problem. Ratchet doesn't work when a fastener is loose.
Ok the more I think about this the more this tool isn't all that great. Pretty much the only purpose it serves is to provide a handle when free-spinning sockets. It doesn't provide enough torque to break fasteners loose, and when they are loose the ratchet mechanism is too tight and won't activate.
Avoid, even at this price.
Gearwrench brand left a bad impression on me long ago when I bought metric & SAE sets (7 piece each set) of their flex-head ratcheting combination wrenches.
Each set had 3 out of the 7 wrenches that had a very heavy drag and very 'gritty' ratcheting mechanisms, far beyond acceptable levels.
I then bought identical sets in TEQ Pro brand (at Advance Auto, same as where I bought the Gearwrenches) and all 7 of each set operated smooth as glass.
I returned the Gearwrenches and kept the TEQ Pro's and never looked back.
IMO, Gearwrench is massively overrated.
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If you're interested in that SK thumbwheel I linked, if you sign up for Zoro emails, and esp if you buy anything from Zoro, they may send you additional 20% coupons (on anything). So, you can get that $40 SK thumbwheel for $32; which is the best price I could find anywhere on an SK thumbwheel ratchet.
A) The 'grip' surface is polished. Slippery hands? No grip. Using this in an automotive environment? It really won't work with nitrile gloves.
B) The ratchet resistance is high. This compounds the grip problem. Ratchet doesn't work when a fastener is loose.
Ok the more I think about this the more this tool isn't all that great. Pretty much the only purpose it serves is to provide a handle when free-spinning sockets. It doesn't provide enough torque to break fasteners loose, and when they are loose the ratchet mechanism is too tight and won't activate.
Avoid, even at this price.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank jeff34270
Gearwrench brand left a bad impression on me long ago when I bought metric & SAE sets (7 piece each set) of their flex-head ratcheting combination wrenches.
Each set had 3 out of the 7 wrenches that had a very heavy drag and very 'gritty' ratcheting mechanisms, far beyond acceptable levels.
I then bought identical sets in TEQ Pro brand (at Advance Auto, same as where I bought the Gearwrenches) and all 7 of each set operated smooth as glass.
I returned the Gearwrenches and kept the TEQ Pro's and never looked back.
IMO, Gearwrench is massively overrated.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank westermac
Gearwrench brand left a bad impression on me long ago when I bought metric & SAE sets (7 piece each set) of their flex-head ratcheting combination wrenches.
Each set had 3 out of the 7 wrenches that had a very heavy drag and very 'gritty' ratcheting mechanisms, far beyond acceptable levels.
I then bought identical sets in TEQ Pro brand (at Advance Auto, same as where I bought the Gearwrenches) and all 7 of each set operated smooth as glass.
I returned the Gearwrenches and kept the TEQ Pro's and never looked back.
IMO, Gearwrench is massively overrated.
This tool is stupid, right up until you need it. I've only grabbed it a handful of times but usefulness vs price vs # of times used it fares pretty well against any of my "specialty" tools and I'm just a DIYer. The 3/8 one was particularly useful tightening torx screws on the back of a headlight without removing it. Couldn't have done it with any other tool I own.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank jeff34270
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This tool is stupid, right up until you need it. I've only grabbed it a handful of times but usefulness vs price vs # of times used it fares pretty well against any of my "specialty" tools and I'm just a DIYer. The 3/8 one was particularly useful tightening torx screws on the back of a headlight without removing it. Couldn't have done it with any other tool I own.
Do you have one of these doohickeys? I'm also just a DIYer, but I find myself using this often for tight situations like you described.
Do you have one of these doohickeys? I'm also just a DIYer, but I find myself using this often for tight situations like you described.
It was 2 separate sets with 6 out of 14 being unacceptably defective. That's nearly a 43% defect rate.
I was one of those who also bought the last batch of genuine SK tools/ratchets before their takeover by China's GreatStar. Unfortunately USA's SK's ending production also had many similar flaws in their ratchet mechanisms. I had to disassemble 4 ratchets, which turned out bone dry (zero lube), with a bit of internal 'machine grit' included, and I had to debur a few 'missed spots'. Yes, now they are smooth as silk, far different than received.
But I sure wasn't going to go thru that again with 6 out of 14 ratcheting box ends. Not when the TEQ Pro's (also on sale at exact same price) immediately solved that issue.
I'm very familiar with the relationship/association between Apex Tools and Gearwrench and TEQ Pro, but it's funny how you defend Gearwrench and will buy & cheerlead for Gearwrench, but seemingly won't do the same for TEQ Pro, even tho your main point is they are 'identical' and "made by the same company".
'Technically' they are made by the same company, but in the real life world that doesn't mean they are made with equal quality.
I've worked for a company and its subsidiary/sister company, where 'technically' everything produced was "by the same company". I saw how the workers and management at one were all careless idiots, while those at the other half of the company were quality-minded proficient workers & management. The end products turned out night & day different in quality.
I suspect the same happening between the Gearwrench production line and the TEQ Pro production line.
At least from my first-hand observations of their QC results.
If you're interested in that SK thumbwheel I linked, if you sign up for Zoro emails, and esp if you buy anything from Zoro, they may send you additional 20% coupons (on anything). So, you can get that $40 SK thumbwheel for $32; which is the best price I could find anywhere on an SK thumbwheel ratchet.
One thing this thread convinced me of is that I might pick up the HF thumbwheels next time I'm there.
One thing this thread convinced me of is that I might pick up the HF thumbwheels next time I'm there.
The above said, the SK is silky smooth. While $40 isn't cheap for a palm ratchet, it is an SK, it is made in the USA, and it just works SO much better than the cheaper ones. Very light back drag with a high tooth count. Zoro sends me 20% coupons all of the time. It's totally worth $32... in my opinion, at least.
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