Gearwrench 20 Piece Ratcheting Wrench Set Review

The Gearwrench 35720 20-piece ratcheting wrench set is a good starter set consisting of wrenches in the following sizes:

SAE:

1/4, 5/16, 11/32, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16 and 3/4 in

Metric:

6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18mm

The wrenches feature a nice chrome finish with an open end and a ratcheting box end.  The wrenches meet or exceed ANSI, DIN and federal torque specifications.  The ratcheting box end moves the fastener with the speed and precision of a fine tooth ratchet, requiring only 5 degrees to move a fastener compared to 30 degrees for a standard box end. The box end also features a surface drive to prevent rounding of fasteners. The wrenches have no offset and are non-reversible.

Using the wrenches is very straightforward.  The open end is like any other wrench, although the casting looks a little goofy and is larger than some other wrenches, even in the Gearwrench lineup.  The ratcheting end works as it should but needs to be flipped over to change direction.  A user will need to be mindful of using it in tight spaces.  The lack of a reverse switch can make loosening a fastener tricky if the end is near an obstruction with no way to change direction.  For most, this shouldn’t be a big issue.

As mentioned earlier, this set would be good for a low cost option to start a collection or for someone that just uses it around the house.  For serious automotive work, reversible wrenches with a slight offset or flex are a must.