wrenches

[Lone Wolf]

ehh junk if you ask me...that's just bigger not better

What do you recommend then? It looked strong to me why is it junk?

 

[cantgitright]

What do you recommend then? It looked strong to me why is it junk?

its a round head...once the teeth on the handle wear out its useless! "teardrop" design ... fully rebuildable

 

[Lone Wolf]

its a round head...once the teeth on the handle wear out its useless! "teardrop" design ... fully rebuildable

Teeth on the handle huh

 

[cantgitright]

Teeth on the handle huh

have you ever pulled a round head ratchet apart? the teeth are broached on the inside of the head/handle, the pawls are the only thing to replace...

 

[cantgitright]

round head

vs
teardrop

 

[cantgitright]

BTW I consider these particular teardrop ratchets junk also...they only use a 2 tooth pawl...would strip them teeth right off!

 

[Wagnerwerks]

I'm a full time mechanic and I'm not brand specific. I sold MAC tools for two tears under the Manufacturer direct sales rep program. I currently have a Snapon and Cornwell guy that service our shop.

My wrenches are a reversible gearwrench set from 10-27mm, a blackhawk flex head set 8-19, a harbor freight long handle metric set with long handle gearwrench 13 and 16 to fill in the voids, and a set of MIT double open short angle head wrenches 8-32mm.

I have broken one or two in each set, but they are all great. I used the long handle HF set the most when I do alignments and I've only sprung one open end on the 19 (I think... It's been a while) when I what doing a land cruiser. I have 35 bucks in this set and love them. The other sets get used almost daily.


The moral of the story is. .... I have less that a 8-19mm set of snapon wrenches in all 4 sets. Are they as good? Maybe not....

I use almost all sunex sockets... When the did the 2015 rebate program I got the biggest metric 1/2 drive set for 24 bucks and the huge 3/8 set with swivels and torx for 103. Can't beat that with a stick.

My ratchets are snapon, mac, Matco, proto, and gearwrench. Lately I did buy the new red black handle HF 1/2 and 1/4 flex heads and I love them. They've been my go to for the past few months.

 

[skidooguy]

I don't turn wrenches for a living but I farm so I use my tools a lot and I have grown fond of my kobalt ratchets. They handle being in the dirt well and have only broke one with a cheater pipe so far, and even that one I think anything would have broke. Lowes replaced it with a new one no problem. I don't like to buy tools not made in the USA but the tools in my pickup don't get the greatest treatment so I stay with cheaper ones in that department. How has the quality of Matco proven to be with you folks? I am interested in some of their tools for the shop.

 

[hseII]

When I worked at the Dealership, I accumulated mostly Snap On because:
a. It was convenient: pay a weekly rate and get what you need.
b. A lot of the Chinese stuff at the time wasn't holding up. Sunnex sockets got big later on and are an exception to that rule.
c. When I went to working out of a service truck, I did not have the luxury of using someone else's stuff if mine broke during the day/night.

From reading this thread, I gather the Chinese tools have come along way in the last 10 years.

 

[hseII]

I don't turn wrenches for a living but I farm so I use my tools a lot and I have grown fond of my kobalt ratchets. They handle being in the dirt well and have only broke one with a cheater pipe so far, and even that one I think anything would have broke. Lowes replaced it with a new one no problem. I don't like to buy tools not made in the USA but the tools in my pickup don't get the greatest treatment so I stay with cheaper ones in that department. How has the quality of Matco proven to be with you folks? I am interested in some of their tools for the shop.

Matco was good 10 yrs ago, but I am not in that circle anymore.

Do you have any decent pawnshops near you?

I've scored great buys on Snap On and MAC on rainy days.

 

[srcarr52]

I don't turn wrenches for a living but I farm so I use my tools a lot and I have grown fond of my kobalt ratchets. They handle being in the dirt well and have only broke one with a cheater pipe so far, and even that one I think anything would have broke. Lowes replaced it with a new one no problem. I don't like to buy tools not made in the USA but the tools in my pickup don't get the greatest treatment so I stay with cheaper ones in that department. How has the quality of Matco proven to be with you folks? I am interested in some of their tools for the shop.

I've had good luck with the kobalt brand ratchets but I will say they are bulky in the head and have a very coarse tooth count compared to a Mac or snap on. But the price is right for their short comings.

 

[skidooguy]

Would have to agree they are a course tooth. I only have one pawn shop in town and it's not worth going to. I have picked up a few good tools from pawn shops in the bigger towns around me.

 

[exSW]

I've had good luck with SK had them for years and have a distributor near. Fracom (used to own SK) made in France of all places. Fantastic durable quality mostly 600v rated pliers,dikes,screwdrivers and needle noses.

 

[stihl sawing]

round head
View attachment 16151
vs
teardrop
View attachment 16157

Well dang, He made a worthwhile post.

 

[cantgitright]

Well dang, He made a worthwhile post.

i'll surprise ya when you least expect it!

 

[stihl sawing]

i'll surprise ya when you least expect it!

Well keep up the good surprises, although I already knew that. I still have a couple of those old round head ratchets. But even your good Chinese ratchets are pear heads now.

 

[Wagnerwerks]

Matco ratchets are outsourced. I can't remember who... I kid you not... My hf ratchets are nice.

Snap on course tooth ratchets are 15-25 bucks used on my local truck. Good deals to be had, but I don't like them. The old kobalt tools were jh Williams. Awesome quality for the $$$ but those days are gone. I have 3 of the new big kits.. One in my work truck and one in each shop. Great for the money at 99 bucks on black Friday.

 

[stihl sawing]

I just bought this set of huskys for 25 bucks on clearance. Their not bad looking. regular 100 bucks. I don't need them but for 25 I couldn't pass em up.

 

[Wagnerwerks]

I don't turn wrenches for a living but I farm so I use my tools a lot and I have grown fond of my kobalt ratchets. They handle being in the dirt well and have only broke one with a cheater pipe so far, and even that one I think anything would have broke. Lowes replaced it with a new one no problem. I don't like to buy tools not made in the USA but the tools in my pickup don't get the greatest treatment so I stay with cheaper ones in that department. How has the quality of Matco proven to be with you folks? I am interested in some of their tools for the shop.

Marco stuff that's affordable is almost all outsourced. I'm not saying they're bad, but most can be had for half the money from other sources.

 

[Guido Salvage]

I probably have 50-60 ratchets here, from Snap-On down to no name Asian crap I have picked up in bulk purchases. I only use a few, some are brand new and never been used. I desalt need to have a garage sale.