The History & Lore of GearWrench / KD Tools

[@marcmckenzie5110]

Miss those K/D tools - enjoy your video work!👍🏼

[@ballinator]

Thanks! Glad you're enjoying the series.

[@gregwillis7767]

When I was a young Tech, a tool roll of KD wrenches was sold as "The Official Tool of Harley Davidson" at the motorcycle dealership where I worked. The old guys told me that these tool rolls were "auto shipped", and intended to be included in new bike purchases, but were moved to the parts division and "sold separately".

[@ballinator]

Interesting. I didn't know about the KD / HD connection. Thanks for the info!

[@gregwillis7767]

​@@ballinatorThis could have been just a Marketing ploy thru our dealership. Also - I'll be 65 this month, so I'm not talking about "recently"..😂

[@ruquik]

Technically there were USA made GearWrech sockets made. They were the pinless swivel impact and made in the same facility as the Armstrong and Matco sockets.

[@ballinator]

Thanks for the info! Somewhere I have a spark plug thread chaser by GearWrench that says USA on it.

[@markusa5521]

Yep apex owns gear wrench Armstrong, craftsman, KD, Allen, masterforce. originally they did Armstrong is gone I think so is KD

[@markusa5521]

Also napa

[@ruquik]

@@ballinator I have Matco, Armstrong and GW usa made pinless impacts. Matco was available in deep and shallow, 3/8, 1/2. Laser engraved 2 sides and stamped one side with size. Armstrong was available in shallow, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2. Laser engraved one side and stamped on the opposite side. Gearwrench was only available in shallow 1/2". Stamped and location didn't always alighn with one of the 4 side when installed on a rail. Craftsman was available in 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 universals only

[@shawnthomas7404]

@@markusa5521 not Craftsman

[@DorisandDaddyOffRoad]

It might be childish, but I can't bring myself to buy any GearWrench tools because I'm bitter about Apex closing Armstrong (and Allen) and essentially replacing their lines with subpar imports. To this day I have not found a set of reversible ratcheting combination wrenches that outperform the USA made ones I have from Armstrong.

[@ballinator]

Yeah a ton of US brands got killed off when that Armstrong plant closed. I'm digging into that some more for a future Armstrong video.

[@blackflag_fishing]

I love these history videos. I have a model 27 ratcheting wrench with a 1/4” and 5/16” hex drive and a number of bits with hex shaft in the middle and a standard bit type on either end.

[@ballinator]

Thanks! Glad you're liking them. The double ended bit ratchet are pretty cool.

[@danohstoolbox]

snap on had the patient on the double ended box end ratcheting wrench that was licensed to different tool companies i have mac lange herbrand and even mastercraft examples all with the same patient number

[@ballinator]

Thanks, I'll research that some more for when I do a Snap-On video.

[@danohstoolbox]

@@ballinator do you have facebook or instagram

[@degz1s]

Thanks for the history lesson Mr plinkett

[@ballinator]

LOL. You're welcome.

[@MarkTrades__]

Another enjoyable tool history lesson man! I had NOT heard of KD tools at all im 31. That catalog cover has so many tools that are frustrating to look at they are so odd lol.

[@ballinator]

Thanks! I'm tempted to get that catalog cover printed out to hang up in my shop.

[@MarkTrades__]

@@ballinator would be good. I especially hate looking at the handsaw(pipe saw?) That is regular length but takes stubby blades 🤣

[@ballinator]

Yeah, that's really odd. In the ad it says it can 'cut around corners' - Now I need to try and track one of those down...

[@MarkTrades__]

@@ballinator lol man what guys that must've had working at that time

[@andyvonyeast332]

I’ve got quite a bit of KD stuff. They made nice tools and maybe not quite as nice as Mac or SnapOn, but KD cost much less. KD also used to make specialty tools for NAPA. I was said to see them go. How about a video on Lisle Tools?

[@ballinator]

@andyvonyeast332 Thanks! I'll add Lisle to the list.

[@mlieser1230]

Great video!

[@ballinator]

Thanks!

[@iranhernandez6659]

Cool video !!!

[@ballinator]

Thanks!

[@twisted2291]

Even thought Gearwrench absorbed KD Tools. They still made good tools. As for the warranty. They are a bear to get taken care of. I have a power steering pulley puller/installer that they no longer make or will warranty. Which sucks, It was one of the best ever made.

[@jimhaines8370]

I have all these brands from when I started with KD Tools Lancaster. PA. even used to go to the races and go by the factory off of US 30, I do wish that APEX tools would expand the special tools side again as when KD/Danaher did as from KD or NAPA special tools they had a very well covered special tools catalog. AS time went on and independent auto parts stores and tool warehouses were going away NAPA probably sold more special tools under the NAPA brand than KD did back when it all started to change. APEX did try to move to Sumter SC. but to years of neglect and deferred maintenance they as they were trying to rebuild a flood took out the factory and that was the end as it would have been like starting from scratch so what can you say.

[@ballinator]

Sad about the flood. Helps to explain how KD kinda just faded away.

[@vw4x4]

Gear wrench is famous for there ratcheting box wrench. These tools have very limited use or value. Any real stress on the tool will break it. I will never own tools like this. Therefore I consider Gearwrench tools marketing junk. Having purchased KD tools could have puts them back in the game but again manufacturing over sees puts them back in the junk pile. Who ever is running that company sure knows how to f things up!