At the time of this posting, this Gearwrench 13pc AutoBite pliers and Bolt Biter tool set (81002) is on sale for $69.20 at Amazon.
Update 4/12/22: 9:30am The price has now dropped to $49.99 at Amazon and Acme Tools.
Update 4/12/22 11:10am: The price is now back to $69.20 at Amazon, and Acme Tools sold out again.
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I ordered a set at the end of October for $90. I ordered another set last month to send to a reader as a giveaway bonus, and I thought $80 was a great deal. Now, at just under $70, it’s a fantastic bargain.
Here’s what you get:
- 3/8″ 90T ratchet (compare at Home Depot)
- 8″ and 10″ Pitbull AutoBite pliers (compare at Amazon)
- 2pc impact extraction screwdriver set (compare at Amazon)
- 8pc Bolt Biter impact extraction socket set (compare at Amazon)
From what I found, the tools would cost ~$142 if purchased separately.
I purchased a set for myself for several reasons. 1) I really like Gearwrench’s 90T cushion-grip ratchets and wanted another, 2) I really like the AutoBite style of pliers and wanted more sizes, 3) I wanted to try the extraction screwdrivers, 4) Gearwrench was a sponsor and I wanted to explore some of their newer products.
In my experience, the Bolt Biter sockets are decent, but that was more of a bonus “good to have” part of this assortment. I tend to more often encounter rounded and stripped screws, machine screws, and socket cap screws than I do hex-head bolts and the like.
Back in late October, when the set dipped down from its $99 holiday season price, I thought that the $90 price I saw was good for what I wanted out of the set.
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I had not posted about this set earlier, as I could not find the right words. This seems intended to be a fastener extraction tool set, but I see it more as misc. “try me” assortment that introduces users to a varied selection of Gearwrench tools.
I’m unlikely to make heavy use of the extraction sockets, but the other tools have already found a home in my kit.
Now at its $69.20 price, this assortment is an even better buy.
Should you buy it? Figure out which tools you might want, check out the street pricing on those components (I included links above for price comparisons), and judge its value.
So far, I’ve got zero regrets.
If I had to guess, I’d say that Amazon slashed the price to help move remnant holiday season inventory, but there’s no way to know for certain.
Jaycob P.
That set was $35 at Acme a month ago and I picked one up then. The $70 isn’t terrible for the pieces, but it has been way cheaper in the past.
Stuart
I saw the one-day-only “March Madness” deal announcement, but when I checked it was already sold out. It’s unknown how many they actually had available at that price, but that seems like a one-time-only-ever price. Acme has it back in stock now for $142.
Lindsay
Apparently, Acme just dropped the price to $49.99
Lindsay
It’s also $49.99 at Amazon
Stuart
Thank you!!
The price was $69 for a week, I post about it, and then of course it drops another $20. Coincidence?
Jared
Seems to be back to $69 again. 😢
Stuart
Sorry. I almost feel like the algorithm is toying with us.
Ball_bearing
Nice, add a screw extractor kit, and you will be ready to tackle almost anything.
Jared
Those screwdrivers are neat. Very similar to the Vessel ones. I use a manual impact frequently, but I think a dedicated screwdriver would be nice too.
It would be nice if someone came out with a 1/4″ insert bit driver too. I realize that’s not much different from a manual impact driver – but a screwdriver-like form factor might be nice.
JoeM
I dunno… It’s a good deal, but I don’t use all of those tools on a regular basis. In a lot of ways, I have to resort to “If money were no object” kinds of arguments. I like Gearwrench (especially since they were sponsoring ToolGuyd for a while.) but if I want to go their direction, it’s all-or-nothing for me. Even with reasonable prices (and they usually are extremely reasonable prices wherever I find them.) those prices add up for the number of things I’d want to replace among my tools. Mostly Screwdrivers and Sockets though. I’m sure they have more in that realm I’m interested in, but I’m trying to practice shorter, more to-the-point posting. (Right Stuart?)
P.S. I kinda love the new drawer ad, Stuart. Unlike so many other sites, the ad is there, and when you tell it to go to sleep, it elegantly slips away. Many Kudos for this feature! It also doubles as a “Wait, maybe I’ll look later” drawer! Might be something you don’t want up on the screen while reading the article or posting, but hey, maybe it also caught your eye before you told it to sleep! Well Done, Sir! Excellent Choice! And, sorry for the off-topic commentary about this feature. I just… had to say it, that’s all. So, Thank You!
Stuart
Regarding the ad, Google auto-opted us into an experiment, and so far I haven’t been annoyed by it, and nobody complained much yet.
Adam
Only noticed until it was brought up here. It’s not obtrusive at all. I can live with it
JoeM
Well, my feedback is that I find it the least obtrusive, and most elegant solution, of all the necessary evils of having Ads. Whoever is responsible, Kudos. Though I like giving those Kudos to you, Stuart, as it’s your site. I’m biased, obviously.
Nathan
I will say the bolt biter sockets there if you can’t tell have hex ends on the back so you can drive them with either a bigger socket or wrench too. So if you say had to run one with an impact and wanted to run the 10mm but it’s 3/8 drive and your don’t have a 3/8 drive adapter etc. you can put something like a 15mm on it (I don’t know the size off hand) and also drive it that way. nice feature.
meanwhile bolt bit sockets like that are nice to have in the box even if you don’t use them often – it’s something you can pick up when you need one but nice to have.
also these cover looses metric and SAE sizes so don’t worry so much on size coding and supposed will grab a 12pt. NEver tired it that way but I’ve heard of people using one that way. rounded 12 pt for example can grab it with one of these too.
OH and that ratchet they include is nice quality from their new line.
Stuart Y
How do the extraction screwdrivers compare to the Vessel Megadora Impacta.
I don’t need another ratchet, so I got just the 8pc extractor sockets for $33 at amazon
Scott F
Damnit, $69 was too much but $50 is not…. I have always wanted bolt extraction sockets for the one time you really NEED them, and the other things in here are worth it. I do not have any good striking drivers, but do have plenty of standard 3/8″ ratchets and a full set of Knipex Cobras… Guess these will be house pliers/ratchet!
Stuart
If it makes you feel any better, I bought two more sets as well. One to give away, and the other to part out – I’ll likely give the sockets away locally and keep the other tools for my kit.
Scott F
LOL couldn’t pass them up for the price – glad I’m not the only one!!! I really thought it through yesterday when you posted this, and convinced myself not to do it. But c’mon another 35% off an already good price, and for GearWrench, be dumb not to.
Are these pliers anything special/do anything particularly well that the cobras don’t/won’t? Self adjusting is a big win for one handed operation, so I’m glad that at least is a differentiating factor from the other tools I already have.
Stuart
Knipex Cobras are better pliers, and also more sophisticated.
These adjust in a clever way, and I feel more comfortable using this type of pliers in certain situations over the Cobra.
Let’s say I poke another irrigation line outside when digging large rocks out of the ground to place a raised garden bed. I’d rather take these pliers out than the Cobras which might be harder to clean mud from. Tongue and groove Channellocks might be an even better bet. But, compared to Cobras, these don’t have spring-action buttons or the like to muck up.
Jared
Only a true tool nut could find a rationale for buying essentially the same pliers in tongue and groove, automatic and cobra push-button styles. 👍
Stuart
Ha, that’s funny, that you think I *only* have 3 variations of this style of pliers. =)
This is ToolGuyd – I’ve gotta explore them all!!
Franck B.
I understand your reasoning, but if you like the Cobras, then Alligators have the great teeth and slim design of the Cobras with a similar operation to Channellock’s tongue and groove.
But I wouldn’t be too worried about cleaning up Cobras, you can disassemble them so that worn parts can be easily replaced (and they’re easily available). Since the Cobra’s spring is basically a leaf design, it’s pretty durable.
Davethetool
I was alerted earlier this morning by another website at the price drop to $49 this morning and when I used the link to Acme Tools it already stated they were OOS online so I am thinking Amazon price matched and once Acme ran out they went back to the higher price.
blocky
$39.99 this morning. I pulled the trigger.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/GEARWRENCH-Bolt-Biter-Gearpack-SAE-Metric-Tool-Set-13-Piece-81002/316896687