ratcheting wrenches: reversible or not? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

doodah man · 10-20-2011, 10:22 AM

I'm looking at the GearWrench ratcheting combo wrenches. Could someone on here give me an idea if there are pros or cons with going with the reversible vs. non-reversible? One thing I'm curious about is whether the non-reversible ones are thinner. Any experiences or opinions are welcome.

Thanks in advance.

jays68yak · 10-20-2011, 10:49 AM

Personally I have nothing but the non reversible ones. At work, my boss has the reversible ones, so If I need them I can use his. They come in handy for the angle on the end. Ive also noticed that the newer reversible ones you can only put the nut/bolt in from one direction. The older ones you could go from both sides. I dont like the flex head ones only cuz the flex wears out and its more of a pia.

crushermechanic · 10-21-2011, 08:57 PM

i have the gearwrench non reversing and stanley reversing. i use both on a daily basis. for the price the stanley cant be beat and have lifetime warranty.

cableguy0 · 10-21-2011, 09:03 PM

If its the only set you will have. Get the reversible set. The tilted head helps more than it hurts in automotive work. PLus being able to flip the wrench and have a new angle can make all the difference in the world. If you get straight non reverisble ratchet wrenches. Get the set of long wrenches. I find that the only time I need a straight ratcheting wrench is when the bolt is a long ways down and the super long wrenches make it a breeze.

ETsC10 · 10-23-2011, 12:50 AM

Subscribed. My Christmas List tools.

Chris4x4Gill2 · 10-28-2011, 08:38 AM

I have both, and use the non reversible the most, only because they are longer.

Perfect world, I would have a set of reversibles that had the longer reach of my non-reversing wrenches.

GCncsuHD · 10-28-2011, 09:20 AM

I have the non-reversible, and they are great, I don't know how I ever worked without them, but even then I have gotten in a few situations where I NEEDED the angled head of the reversible set, and had to revert to using regular box end wrenches, grumbling and complaining the whole time

Gunner41 · 10-28-2011, 10:42 AM

GO with reversible. UNLESS you breaking somthing that is rusted on. I agree with Jay68 on the flex head but because the reverse is there does not mean you have to use the switch. Craftsman makess a good set anfd you dont have to chase the truck around only to be told to leave it with them until they can get you a new one cause they dont have it in stock. (Snap-on/Matco/Mac/Cornwell)

vin63 · 10-28-2011, 02:46 PM

I have a couple of sets of non-reversible from Mac and Matco. I had an issue with the switch on a set of reversible ratcheting wrenches.

Rooster's 67 · 11-09-2011, 12:37 PM

both reversable and non, and tilting and fixed. metric and standard. use the crap outta them

brans72 · 11-09-2011, 09:22 PM

Got the reversable,flex head,shorty and super long flex, man do i love them all!!!!!!!

doodah man · 11-11-2011, 09:23 AM

Well, I waited on getting these. Now they are on sale today and tomorrow at Sears. $40:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...17=00944003000

Just ordered 2 sets. One for me and one for my Dad for christmas.

GCncsuHD · 11-11-2011, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doodah man

Well, I waited on getting these. Now they are on sale today and tomorrow at Sears. $40:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...17=00944003000

Just ordered 2 sets. One for me and one for my Dad for christmas.

Wait a couple more weeks, and they are usually $29 or so on Black Friday...A friend of mine used to go buy as many sets as he could, then resale them on Ebay for $50.

Edit: NVM those are reversible, that's a great deal!

BurnoutNova · 11-29-2011, 04:53 PM

I have Snap On flex head reverseable and craftsman non flex reversable. I like the craftsman ones the best, becasue the head is more compact than the Snap On ones.

The problem with the non reversable ones is if you get it stuck on something, it makes it tougher to get it off. I've had some of the cheaper ampro or stanley ones that were this way.

Overall the Craftsman ones are my favorite by far.

10-20-2011, 10:22 AM	#1
doodah man Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 173	ratcheting wrenches: reversible or not? I'm looking at the GearWrench ratcheting combo wrenches. Could someone on here give me an idea if there are pros or cons with going with the reversible vs. non-reversible? One thing I'm curious about is whether the non-reversible ones are thinner. Any experiences or opinions are welcome. Thanks in advance. __________________ 1972 C-10 Deluxe 350 V8 - 350TH ------------------------------ We're not the jet set We're the old Chevrolet set

10-20-2011, 10:49 AM	#2
jays68yak Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Gilroy, CA Posts: 1,454	Re: ratcheting wrenches: reversible or not? Personally I have nothing but the non reversible ones. At work, my boss has the reversible ones, so If I need them I can use his. They come in handy for the angle on the end. Ive also noticed that the newer reversible ones you can only put the nut/bolt in from one direction. The older ones you could go from both sides. I dont like the flex head ones only cuz the flex wears out and its more of a pia. __________________ 1969 Chevy Project SWB Fleet, 20s, 5.3, t56, in the weeds. 1970 Chevy Truck cab on a 1979 Jimmy frame-8.1 liter 496 bbc/sm465/np203-jeds doubler-np205/d60/14bff Welded/42 tsls on recentered H1s 1998 Chevy Crew Cab K3500 SAS'd with hpd60, links and swayaway coilovers. 8.1l vortec DD/towrig "I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. "

10-21-2011, 08:57 PM	#3
crushermechanic Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Fort Walton Beach, Fl Posts: 357	Re: ratcheting wrenches: reversible or not? i have the gearwrench non reversing and stanley reversing. i use both on a daily basis. for the price the stanley cant be beat and have lifetime warranty.

10-21-2011, 09:03 PM	#4
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	Re: ratcheting wrenches: reversible or not? If its the only set you will have. Get the reversible set. The tilted head helps more than it hurts in automotive work. PLus being able to flip the wrench and have a new angle can make all the difference in the world. If you get straight non reverisble ratchet wrenches. Get the set of long wrenches. I find that the only time I need a straight ratcheting wrench is when the bolt is a long ways down and the super long wrenches make it a breeze. __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

10-23-2011, 12:50 AM	#5
ETsC10 Hand Crafted C-10 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Burien, WA Posts: 5,180	Re: ratcheting wrenches: reversible or not? Subscribed. My Christmas List tools.

10-28-2011, 08:38 AM	#6
Chris4x4Gill2 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 794	Re: ratcheting wrenches: reversible or not? I have both, and use the non reversible the most, only because they are longer. Perfect world, I would have a set of reversibles that had the longer reach of my non-reversing wrenches. __________________ "Lifetime" 72 C10 Project

10-28-2011, 09:20 AM	#7
GCncsuHD Charlie Daniels w/ a Tq Wrench Join Date: May 2009 Location: Statesville, NC Posts: 1,570	Re: ratcheting wrenches: reversible or not? I have the non-reversible, and they are great, I don't know how I ever worked without them, but even then I have gotten in a few situations where I NEEDED the angled head of the reversible set, and had to revert to using regular box end wrenches, grumbling and complaining the whole time __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ 67 C10 Shortbed "Great Grandpa's Truck" I6 3 on the Tree 71k original miles 5.3 swap in the works 69 K5 Blazer-Family Beach Cruiser Project 78 K30 Dually Semi-Retired Fire Truck 350/SM465 35"s SOLD01 2500HD ECSB 6.0 4x4 5.13's 8" lift 38"s

10-28-2011, 10:42 AM	#8
Gunner41 Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Jose, Ca Posts: 94	Re: ratcheting wrenches: reversible or not? GO with reversible. UNLESS you breaking somthing that is rusted on. I agree with Jay68 on the flex head but because the reverse is there does not mean you have to use the switch. Craftsman makess a good set anfd you dont have to chase the truck around only to be told to leave it with them until they can get you a new one cause they dont have it in stock. (Snap-on/Matco/Mac/Cornwell)

10-28-2011, 02:46 PM	#9
vin63 It's Better With Nitro Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 2,261	Re: ratcheting wrenches: reversible or not? I have a couple of sets of non-reversible from Mac and Matco. I had an issue with the switch on a set of reversible ratcheting wrenches. __________________ 1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads 4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch Tubular front and rear suspension Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes

11-09-2011, 12:37 PM	#10
Rooster's 67 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: DFW Posts: 765	Re: ratcheting wrenches: reversible or not? both reversable and non, and tilting and fixed. metric and standard. use the crap outta them __________________ The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?

11-09-2011, 09:22 PM	#11
brans72 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Durham,NC Posts: 636	Re: ratcheting wrenches: reversible or not? Got the reversable,flex head,shorty and super long flex, man do i love them all!!!!!!!

11-11-2011, 09:23 AM	#12
doodah man Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 173	Re: ratcheting wrenches: reversible or not? Well, I waited on getting these. Now they are on sale today and tomorrow at Sears. $40: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...17=00944003000 Just ordered 2 sets. One for me and one for my Dad for christmas. __________________ 1972 C-10 Deluxe 350 V8 - 350TH ------------------------------ We're not the jet set We're the old Chevrolet set

11-29-2011, 04:53 PM	#14
BurnoutNova Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: CA Posts: 2,057	Re: ratcheting wrenches: reversible or not? I have Snap On flex head reverseable and craftsman non flex reversable. I like the craftsman ones the best, becasue the head is more compact than the Snap On ones. The problem with the non reversable ones is if you get it stuck on something, it makes it tougher to get it off. I've had some of the cheaper ampro or stanley ones that were this way. Overall the Craftsman ones are my favorite by far.



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