Capri Tools 100-Tooth SAE Flex-Head Ratcheting Combination Wrench Set (8-Piece)

These are good. I have a big set of SAE and Metric Gearwrenches to compare with. The Gearwrenches that I own do not flex. The sizing on these is accurate. The flexing is smooth. They easily loosen and tighten the bolts that I had easy access to, 5/16″, 7/16″, 1/2, 9/16″, and 5/8″ The finish is highly polished, but they did not feel excessively slick in my hand, no doubt, due to the knobby end that wasn’t engaging the nuts. This is yet another review where, if these don’t fall apart within the year, they easily go to 5 stars. I believe that they will survive. (I have an impact wrench for really stubborn nuts)

A highly desirable set of open / box end combination wrenches with many additional features. Frankly, I was unimpressed by the industry’s initial offerings in ratcheting and swivel head wrenches; but Capri has allayed those concerns. The 100-point ratchet not only significantly limits the required swing, but if constructed as I surmise, provides strength and longevity to the ratchet mechanism. I’d like to see the interior of one of these. (I do not fondly recall trying to rebuild early versions of such wrenches.) According to the manufacturer’s illustrations, something like 12 pawl teeth engage the ratchet gear. There is a direction of swing arrow on the obverse face of the wrench. I’m conditioning myself to look for it versus my ingrained habit of “feeling the ratchet” (with both hands). Though the latter is done without looking, it seems more productive to let each hand be on its own way. The 15-degree tip angle is another asset to working productively. The finish of these wrenches is superb. I appreciate the appearance, comfort and ease of maintaining them clean and neat. They are corrosion resistant if not abused. No fine tools will tolerate lying on pavement. The 180-degree swivel is a big advantage for me. I can approach obstructed fasteners – such as in engine compartments – with alacrity exceeding that afforded by 15-, 30- and 45-degree offset wrenches. The variable angle also lets me “sneak past” appurtenances like wiring and hoses without further disassembly. Note that at 90 degrees the swivel head will start fasteners with finger pressure similar to using a nut driver. So, in several ways, these wrenches replace the necessity for a number of tools. (Ratchets, offset wrenches, flex shaft adapters, hollow shaft nut drivers…) I’m not getting rid of any of my standard tools, but I will use these Capri wrenches preferentially when I’m away from my roll cab or just commencing a maintenance job. My other initial concern about these was the small bit of play I detected in the swivel head. But, because of the closely machined joint, the applied torque doesn’t just place shear stress on the roll pin but causes the knuckle faying surfaces to bear. As wrench size increases, so does the knuckle size increase. Thus far I don’t observe any wear (either visual or “sloppiness” feeling) at this point; nor have I succeeded in deforming or breaking any of them. The wrench set covers an appropriate range of ‘starter’ sizes. Searching the manufacturer’s website, however, did not show any additional sizes offered. Thankfully, fasteners larger than ¾ inch typically are less obstructed. I very much appreciate the packaging. The tote tray serves well in tool drawer storage and is easy (and secure) to grab and go. Other makers (such as SK) provide such totes, but this one seems more substantial than the common polypropylene versions. Also nifty is the color coding of SAE and metric tools. Handily, Capri takes this one step further than the color- coded tote handles and marks the tools themselves (as does Pittsburgh Forge – socket sleeve labels, and Armstrong Tools – Eliminator pass-through socket end colors) by providing the latter. The 12-point box end is standard, it seems, with ratcheting wrenches. More than starting convenience and the asserted torque distribution advantages (more important to the tool’s well-being than to its user I suppose) the configuration impresses this user with its tolerance of slightly irregular fasteners, be they modified, worn or poorly made. At the open end, the anti-slip grooves (serrated jaws) are new to me. I’ve not yet seen an advantage, but I suppose that a worn fastener might be tolerated to some extent. This is a fine set of eight wrenches. I take pride in owning them. And I expect them to serve me well for a long time.