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.
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.
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.
