Review on WEN WR162M Professional Grade Reversible Combination by Tony Conlon

I hate to write a review before I actually do it Had a chance to use these wrenches but as there is still so little information on this kit on the internet I decided to write down some first impressions. This is a little wordy, so I'll include a brief synopsis below. First let me say this is the CHEAPEST set of reversible ratchet wrenches I could find that is not from a brand commonly known as junk. On the other hand, Wen doesn't have a good reputation for hand tools yet, so it was a bit of a gamble on my part just to see if they steal a deal. The key role is surprisingly good. I've seen and used "Big Boy" buns that were almost completely useless. The reel that came with my Proto metric set of short reversible ratchet wrenches had clear plastic key holders and at least one broke when I removed the key the first time. I won't be using this reel as I like having my keys organized neatly in my tool chest, but it's still something worth noting. The key pouches are quite well formed and don't have any sharp edges, but the finish and workmanship leave little to be desired. be desired. The chrome has many scratches and marks and generally does not crack like expensive instruments. I noticed they all had a thin film of oil - I suspect a little extra protection against corrosion during storage and shipping - the chrome looked a little better after being removed with a mild degreaser. It didn't really help with pimples though. Be sure to apply a rust preventative, dry lubricant or even just WD40 after removing the factory oil to prolong their life. Take care of your tools and they will take care of you. The ratchet in this wrench set is quite inconsistent. Some feel nice and smooth, others feel a bit scratchy and rough. Some have good backswing and minimal play, others feel sloppy and stiff. Also, the selector only has a pleasant "click" on a small number and feels soft and/or grainy most of the time. I went ahead and poured some medium viscosity oil (a home made mix of ISO-150 Teflon based synthetic oil with lots of added tungsten disulfide) into the gears and around the selectors using a needle type grease fitting. For most wrenches, this made a big difference. It didn't add a "click" to the shifters, but the transmissions run a lot smoother, and maybe it's just my imagination, but I'd say they're a little tighter. The remaining shortcomings can probably not be eliminated with conventional means and ultimately lie in the processing quality. A heavier oil might have helped a little more, but it would also have come with a risk of premature failure, like when used in something like a differential or geared motor. my collection. I tested 7-15, 17 and 19 as those were the only sizes I had and they all seemed pretty good. They engage far enough from the corners of the heads that I don't have to worry about them rounding the fasteners, and they have enough extra clearance to accommodate the slight manufacturing tolerance differences inherent in the fasteners themselves. One thing I noticed is that the entire head profiles of both the body and box centers are scattered all over the place. Some of them are a bit slimmer and some are quite thick. I'll try to take some pictures when it's less gloomy outside. Conclusion for non-readers: Overall I think it's great for the price. They won't surprise you, but $113 for a set of 16 reversible ratchet wrenches is hard to argue with. They do need some cleaning and lubrication out of the box, but afterwards - at least in the hand - the ratcheting feel is on par with a budget gearwrench. If I manage to break them after minimal use I'll come back and report it, but for now I'd say it's a pretty good deal. UPDATE: Have been using them at work for a few weeks now and they do their job perfectly. It's too early to tell about durability, but they haven't broken right after use, so they're already doing better than some other cheap brands. I noticed that they are strikingly similar to the Rock River keys we use. at work. This is Fastenal's own brand and according to their website, a key costs $15 to $30. I took some photos for comparison and to be honest I think they are from the same factory. Casting, processing, refining, everything is too similar. Even the shifter has the same details. Does that mean they're as good as a $250 wrench set? No just that Fastenal is a scam but they still have great value.