Ratcheting and pivoting box end Wrench

[Trav]

Very versatile tool. I bought these recently and a Tekton sae set from Home Depot on clearance for $23. I carefully looked at the sets side by side, they are made by the same supplier in Taiwan I am sure. The Capri has more teeth in the ratchet end and a very nice open end design that grips on the flats of the hex head.
https://capritools.com/shop/flex-ratcheting-wrench-set-metric/

I bought a 7" steel vise from them (made by Yost in Taiwan) and they threw one of their ratcheting wrenches in there with a couple of other small swag items. It seems to be very decent. I have to say the small amount of tools I have from both Tekton and Capri have been decent quality, Capri for most are slightly better IMO but their selection is somewhat limited.

The Vise I got is one the best compact vises I have owned, granted it is made by Yost but it shows they buy from decent suppliers when they rebrand.
I think many of the better Taiwan tools are made by King Tony and are rebranded. This is the only tool company I have seen that provides the composition of their steel.

https://www.kingtony.com/profile_qua.php

 

[Trav]

OP, thanks for this. I just did shocks on my 96 Ram, had to cut the old ones out because I could t get any of my ratcheting wrenches on it with enough bite, enough turn, and then be able to hold the shaft. Install was less painful, be a use there wasn’t many years and hundreds of thousands of miles of salt... But it was still a chore. This, or preferably a stubby version of this would have been much better. Maybe I should have even just cut down a 3/4 wrench to do it... but I think the hinge in there is key.



Interesting comment... Ive always avoided 12pt unless absolutely necessary, because of fear of rounding a fastener in high torque scenarios.

I’ve hand-sheared the 1/2“ bolts holding shocks on my Ram, using 6pt sockets and a breaker bar. I can’t imagine 12pt would do the same, but I might be wrong.

View attachment 31429

so... what’s a good US source of pivoting, ratcheting wrenches?

My favorite non-flex head ones are my Stahlwille ones, but even they were somewhat of a pain in recent shock Jobs. I think I need s set of decent us made flex head and at least angled head stubby ratcheting wrenches.

Edit: I have a stubby 13mm Armstrong ratcheting wrench. So I went to check them out. Looks like Armstrong us made wrenches are no more? They try to push you to Apex gearwrench parts instead.

If the wrench fits the bolt head properly meaning it is not undersized by rust a 12 point will break it off just as easily, most 12 pt sockets and wrenches today use a variation of "Flank drive" which is why I replaces some of my old tools that didn't have it, it makes a difference.
12pt on a ratchet wrench is fine, you wouldn't want to use them to break rusted fasteners like that loose.

Armstrong is no more which is a real shame they were good tools, Apex put them under if favor of the cheaper and IMO overrated Gearwrench.

 

[Job]

The Wright Grip, Capri, and Milwaukee new wrenches have far superior open end designs compared to standard open end. Snap On has something too. I bought a Milwaukee pretty large set of combination wrenches on clearance as well. The Milwaukee are pretty fantastic. I have a set of Wright and they have the old school feel. The Wright Grip open end isn't as advanced as the Taiwan made Capri and Milwaukee open ends. The Wright, and Snap On has something about the same, has little teeth that dig into the end part of the flat near the fastener corner. That works great but does leave teeth marks on the fastener. The new wrenches are so superior on both open and box ends I can't see any reason to keep the piles of old USA wrenches I have from myself, father, and grandfather. They just aren't as good in technology as the new stuff.

 

[Leo99]

I have two sets of ratcheting flex head wrenches. HF and Craftsmen. The HF are surprisingly good for the price. Lots of teeth and that is what you want. Not going to try to loosen any stuck fasteners but they're great once it's loose and in tight quarters. The Craftsmen heads are much larger and don't fit in tight spots.

 

[Trav]

The Wright Grip, Capri, and Milwaukee new wrenches have far superior open end designs compared to standard open end. Snap On has something too. I bought a Milwaukee pretty large set of combination wrenches on clearance as well. The Milwaukee are pretty fantastic. I have a set of Wright and they have the old school feel. The Wright Grip open end isn't as advanced as the Taiwan made Capri and Milwaukee open ends. The Wright, and Snap On has something about the same, has little teeth that dig into the end part of the flat near the fastener corner. That works great but does leave teeth marks on the fastener. The new wrenches are so superior on both open and box ends I can't see any reason to keep the piles of old USA wrenches I have from myself, father, and grandfather. They just aren't as good in technology as the new stuff.

I don't know about Milwaukee but Wright are very good quality.

 

[AutoMechanic]

I have two sets of ratcheting flex head wrenches. HF and Craftsmen. The HF are surprisingly good for the price. Lots of teeth and that is what you want. Not going to try to loosen any stuck fasteners but they're great once it's loose and in tight quarters. The Craftsmen heads are much larger and don't fit in tight spots.

I agree completely for both. When I was in school we had the Pittsburgh ratcheting ones that done fine and at home I have one lone Chinese Craftsman from the pawn shop and it doesn’t work in a lot of spots.

 

[JHZR2]

I don't know about Milwaukee but Wright are very good quality.

I love my wright wrenches. Just used them today.

so much stuff has been offshored. Even the Williams stubby ratcheting wrenches have. Given that, might as well shop on price.

 

[dlundblad]

I have some GW flex head wrenches. Very useful where space is limited.

Not sure what’s missing, but my 14mm flops like a limp noodle. Should’ve just went with HF. Lol.

 

[Yourhomiematt]

Very nice nothing wrong if they work. We had a lot of Titan in high school automotive class it was fine but you could tell the difference in that and a higher quality one. I like the Willams ones you got as well I have a few of those I have got at the pawn shop in sizes I didn’t have like 7/8. I got my Gearwrench at Sears before they closed my dad bought them for me all four sets actually the fixed head and flex head in standard and metric. I just wish they had more sizes because they work fine I might see if Advance Auto had any of the individual ones left they seemed to be doing away with Gearwrench if not I will check online to see if I can find them in those sizes or might go for the Tekton since my Rural King sells those.

Home depot sells their husky line up individually. My ratchet wernch setup in the shop is incremental from 6mm-25, 27mm

 

[AutoMechanic]

Home depot sells their husky line up individually. My ratchet wernch setup in the shop is incremental from 6mm-25, 27mm

Thanks for the info. I’ll check those out.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I liked the 15 mm wrench so much I bought a set from Canadian Tire when they came on sale. They are 12 point and include 10,12,13,14,15,17 and 19 mm. An 18 mm would have been nice. They were under the Maximum name which is Canadian Tire’s best tools, but are actually supplied by Gear Wrench. They have a 5 degree sweep.

 

[AutoMechanic]

Good to know they are supplied by Gearwrench. I am assuming made in China as the rest of Gearwrench production has moved to China. I like my Gearwrench just wish they had more sizes the SAE don’t skip any but the metric do. My Gearwrench set has 8,10,12,13,14,15,18 and working on imports I always need a 17mm so I usually stuff a little piece of paper in the 11/16 to make it closer to 17. I really need to get those sizes just trying to save my money right now hopefully I will get them for Christmas or something.

 

[Job]

I don't know about Milwaukee but Wright are very good quality.

The Milwaukee wrenches are pretty unique and well done for the price. The closed end of the combination wrenches are a little thick in the wall, the Wright is much thinner. I think thinner used to be a sign of higher finesse in manufacturing, but the thicker look like they are very strong. The Wright has a wider grip area, less chamfering at the opening. The open end on the Milwaukee is unusual and grips the flats of the fastener.

 

[1000MPH]

I was looking for a set recently. I noticed the Amazon ratcheting wrench sets are all missing the 12mm.

 

[Job]

OP, thanks for this. I just did shocks on my 96 Ram, had to cut the old ones out because I could t get any of my ratcheting wrenches on it with enough bite, enough turn, and then be able to hold the shaft. Install was less painful, be a use there wasn’t many years and hundreds of thousands of miles of salt... But it was still a chore. This, or preferably a stubby version of this would have been much better. Maybe I should have even just cut down a 3/4 wrench to do it... but I think the hinge in there is key.



Interesting comment... Ive always avoided 12pt unless absolutely necessary, because of fear of rounding a fastener in high torque scenarios.

I’ve hand-sheared the 1/2“ bolts holding shocks on my Ram, using 6pt sockets and a breaker bar. I can’t imagine 12pt would do the same, but I might be wrong.

View attachment 31429

so... what’s a good US source of pivoting, ratcheting wrenches?

My favorite non-flex head ones are my Stahlwille ones, but even they were somewhat of a pain in recent shock Jobs. I think I need s set of decent us made flex head and at least angled head stubby ratcheting wrenches.

Edit: I have a stubby 13mm Armstrong ratcheting wrench. So I went to check them out. Looks like Armstrong us made wrenches are no more? They try to push you to Apex gearwrench parts instead.

Armstrong was put out of USA manufacturing awhile ago. Sort of like Snap On prices mavbe a little less but without the brand appeal. Capri tools has nice sets made in Taiwan for $70 plus tax, with a better open end design for gripping the fastener. Can get them direct from them. Another USA source is Home Depot and Lowes of course, walk in warranty. For USA made with USA steel, Wright is a pretty good bargain. Pay more but it;s made in the USA 100%.

 

[JHZR2]

Armstrong was put out of USA manufacturing awhile ago. Sort of like Snap On prices mavbe a little less but without the brand appeal. Capri tools has nice sets made in Taiwan for $70 plus tax, with a better open end design for gripping the fastener. Can get them direct from them. Another USA source is Home Depot and Lowes of course, walk in warranty. For USA made with USA steel, Wright is a pretty good bargain. Pay more but it;s made in the USA 100%.

I have at least one set of wright wrenches; I dont recall seeing them offer ratcheting options.

 

[Job]

I have at least one set of wright wrenches; I dont recall seeing them offer ratcheting options.

They make a different type, an old type, or put their name on them. I dont know if they are that good. Good enough for me. View attachment 34359I have a feeling they will be bashed.