Ratchet Refurb - Page 2

rumatt · 03-27-2018, 07:37 PM

There's a sears near me. Maybe I should exchange it to help them go bankrupt faster.

kognito · 03-27-2018, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rumatt

There's a sears near me. Maybe I should exchange it to help them go bankrupt faster.

Don't go throwing a wrench in their financial plans

AF · 03-28-2018, 04:58 AM

Are you kidding me ... they have a warranty on these things ... for some dumbass reason i’ve gone through 2 or 3 ratchets over the years when removing the lug nuts from my cars. I had no idea I could go back to Lowe’s and get a replacement

No kidding around I literally just bought another one a month or two ago

rumatt · 03-28-2018, 07:00 AM

Yeah, app those broken wrenches could have been free.

But why are you using a ratchet p wheel bolts? Buy an impact gun for removal and a torque wrench for tightening!

Not necessary, but way more fun.

AF · 03-29-2018, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rumatt

Yeah, app those broken wrenches could have been free.

But why are you using a ratchet p wheel bolts? Buy an impact gun for removal and a torque wrench for tightening!

Not necessary, but way more fun.

I only use it to break the lug then I usually use a dewalt power thing to zip them off and on then a torque wrench to finish the job.

I bought an impact gun but didn’t like the way it bangs against the bolt and dings it up.

John V · 03-30-2018, 12:38 PM

I'm just about to the point of throwing away the last of my craftsman ratchets. The quality on the new ones is extremely poor. I exchanged two of them last year for various issues and the replacements are just junk.

On a whim I bought a new 1/2" and 3/8" from Harbor Freight around Christmas and so far I really like them. I intended for them to live in the travel toolbox (full of cheap tools that I don't care too much if I lose one of or if one walks off with a competitor). We'll see how they hold up, but there is a lot less hysteresis in the ratcheting mechanism - they're both really close to as good as the Matco 1/2" that I have.

blee · 04-04-2018, 09:42 PM

Speaking of non-Craftsman tools, what's the line on the premium-level tool market? Among the Snap-Ons of the world, what's the best compromise between cost and quality?

I love my 15-year-old Craftsman tools, but I agree that the newer stuff is disappointing. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, it's getting less and less convenient to even find a Sears worth shopping for automotive tools. If I'm going to deal with ordering stuff, I might as well go whole-hog...

Nick M3 · 04-04-2018, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blee

Speaking of non-Craftsman tools, what's the line on the premium-level tool market? Among the Snap-Ons of the world, what's the best compromise between cost and quality?

I love my 15-year-old Craftsman tools, but I agree that the newer stuff is disappointing. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, it's getting less and less convenient to even find a Sears worth shopping for automotive tools. If I'm going to deal with ordering stuff, I might as well go whole-hog...

Here’s the real rabbit hole:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/...d.php?t=136120

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/...d.php?t=249851

The tool truck equivalent threads. It’s not like Snap On or anyone else actually makes much for itself.

*clyde* · 04-04-2018, 10:39 PM

Dunno if those Garage Journal threads get into it, but there's also been a lot of tool company consolidation and shifts in production (factories and countries). Worth checking this out:

https://pressurewashr.com/tool-industry-behemoths/

blee · 04-05-2018, 01:20 AM

I'll have to check out those threads when I'm on a computer that isn't so dumb about "security." But, yeah, I know that relatively few tool companies have their own factories. For as long as I'm aware, Sears never did, either, and I know there are some real tool geeks who know which companies made Craftsman tools at different times.

Still, it seems to me that branding does make a difference, in some cases. The same factory might push out open-end wrenches for three different labels, but to what tolerances and design specs are each of them manufactured -- even if they ship from the same building?

04-04-2018, 10:39 PM	#19
clyde Chief title editor Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 23,313	Dunno if those Garage Journal threads get into it, but there's also been a lot of tool company consolidation and shifts in production (factories and countries). Worth checking this out: https://pressurewashr.com/tool-industry-behemoths/ __________________ OH NOES!!!!!1 MY CAR HAS T3H UND3R5T33R5555!!!!!!1oneone!!!!11 Team WTF?! What are you gonna do?

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

03-27-2018, 07:37 PM	#11
rumatt Mugwump Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3 Location: NY Posts: 17,023	There's a sears near me. Maybe I should exchange it to help them go bankrupt faster.

03-28-2018, 04:58 AM	#13
AF What ev's Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,502	Are you kidding me ... they have a warranty on these things ... for some dumbass reason i’ve gone through 2 or 3 ratchets over the years when removing the lug nuts from my cars. I had no idea I could go back to Lowe’s and get a replacement No kidding around I literally just bought another one a month or two ago

03-28-2018, 07:00 AM	#14
rumatt Mugwump Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3 Location: NY Posts: 17,023	Yeah, app those broken wrenches could have been free. But why are you using a ratchet p wheel bolts? Buy an impact gun for removal and a torque wrench for tightening! Not necessary, but way more fun.

03-30-2018, 12:38 PM	#16
John V No more BMWs Join Date: Apr 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: 987S, Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8 Location: Glenwood, MD Posts: 12,625	I'm just about to the point of throwing away the last of my craftsman ratchets. The quality on the new ones is extremely poor. I exchanged two of them last year for various issues and the replacements are just junk. On a whim I bought a new 1/2" and 3/8" from Harbor Freight around Christmas and so far I really like them. I intended for them to live in the travel toolbox (full of cheap tools that I don't care too much if I lose one of or if one walks off with a competitor). We'll see how they hold up, but there is a lot less hysteresis in the ratcheting mechanism - they're both really close to as good as the Matco 1/2" that I have.

04-04-2018, 09:42 PM	#17
blee Doctor Mudgeon Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 6,416	Speaking of non-Craftsman tools, what's the line on the premium-level tool market? Among the Snap-Ons of the world, what's the best compromise between cost and quality? I love my 15-year-old Craftsman tools, but I agree that the newer stuff is disappointing. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, it's getting less and less convenient to even find a Sears worth shopping for automotive tools. If I'm going to deal with ordering stuff, I might as well go whole-hog...

04-05-2018, 01:20 AM	#20
blee Doctor Mudgeon Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 6,416	I'll have to check out those threads when I'm on a computer that isn't so dumb about "security." But, yeah, I know that relatively few tool companies have their own factories. For as long as I'm aware, Sears never did, either, and I know there are some real tool geeks who know which companies made Craftsman tools at different times. Still, it seems to me that branding does make a difference, in some cases. The same factory might push out open-end wrenches for three different labels, but to what tolerances and design specs are each of them manufactured -- even if they ship from the same building?