first scratch on a new ratchet

[davestlouis]

https://goo.io/KKQVMl

Damn, this is worse than the first door ding on a new car...I had a brand new Cornwell 1/4 inch ratchet in my hand today, with a 10mm long socket on it, putting new license plates on one of the cars. The ratchet got away from me, and hit the driveway. The driveway is on a hill, and the poor thing skittered and slid for 5 or more feet before it finally stopped. Now the shiny chrome is all skinned-up. What a drag, of course I couldn't have dropped a grubby old ratchet that already has "character".

 

[GSSFC]

I worked at a marina in college for a couple years. One of the head techs had a ritual he would do. Every time he would buy a new tool, he would come in the shop and drop it on the floor before he put it in his tool box. That way he wouldn't have to worry about being careful with it. Kinda funny, but tools are made to work with not look at in my opinion.

Tim

 

[Fedwrench]

Chicks dig scars, At least you didn't drop it and it fell into a storm drain. You could buff out the scratches with some flitz. It will be ok.

 

[Merkava_4]

Whenever I'm using my tools, I always have a cardboard tray ready to sit them down on - if they're not in my hand, they're in the cardboard tray. I never sit my tools down directly on concrete or asphalt. You can get cardboard trays for free all day long at Costco.

 

[LoneGunman]

Yeah, I'm kinda like that with the Hazet ratchet I just got, it's too pretty to use, I should chuck it across the concrete to beat it up a little.

 

[Merkava_4]

I should chuck it across the concrete to beat it up a little.

As you can imagine, I cringed when reading that.

 

[wrenchr]

My brother had a Brand new MINT NOS F830 that our cousin used one day and it was no longer that way when finished!! He was working on his car in my garage while I was not home and I still here about that from my brother!! !@#$

 

[Merkava_4]

My brother had a Brand new MINT NOS F830

I've got two of those snuggled up in warm bubble rap right now - the MAC 3/8" drive is my point man on duty.

 

[ImportTuner]

Damn, this is worse than the first door ding on a new car...I had a brand new Cornwell 1/4 inch ratchet in my hand today, with a 10mm long socket on it, putting new license plates on one of the cars. The ratchet got away from me, and hit the driveway. The driveway is on a hill, and the poor thing skittered and slid for 5 or more feet before it finally stopped. Now the shiny chrome is all skinned-up. What a drag, of course I couldn't have dropped a grubby old ratchet that already has "character".

It's called breaking it in ... ouch!

 

[billymade]

Used tools are great; you never have to worry about the agony of breaking a tool in! Its ready to go!

 

[Uncle Buck]

Used tools are great; you never have to worry about the agony of breaking a tool in! Its ready to go!

You get an ATTA BOY for that one billymade! Plus you get the added benefit of buying the tool at a greatly reduced price!

 

[rcleaver]

You guys have a serious problem.

 

[Deafautotech]

Used tools are great; you never have to worry about the agony of breaking a tool in! Its ready to go!

that why i bought tons of used tools and i have no problems as it is used and i dont have to worry.. even i own used toolboxes which i dont worry about it but i still clean and wipe it off to keep look nice..

 

[davestlouis]

I like used tools, and have bought a bunch of them. It still gripes me to drop the silly thing like I did. I have bought several brand new Colt 1911's over the years and almost hate to shoot them the first time...they're too pretty to get dirty, and really, a new 1911 doesn't necessarily work all that well or feel very good until you've put 100 or more rounds down the pipe. A brand new ratchet can be notchy and not feel all that great either.

 

[Merkava_4]

but i still clean and wipe it off to keep look nice..

Try some of that Eagle One spray on wax Andy - it shines the paint up real nice and has a wonderful cherry LifeSavers scent.

 

[Junkman]

It is a ratchet.... not a hearse.. it is meant to be used and abused. Do you buy tools to look at like art on a wall?

 

[davestlouis]

We do wash the hearses daily and wax them monthly...they cost nearly $100K each, so we take good care of them. Tools are tools, I'm more irritated with myself than anything...how the hell did I drop it doing something as simple as license plates?

 

[davestlouis]

And, now that it's not a virgin any more, I don't have to worry about it. I do really prefer the feel of older ratchets, my old Plomb pearhead is MILES smoother than any of my newer ratchets.

 

[GSSFC]

Now you won't feel bad when you do something more technical with it! A box with brand new looking tools indicates to me the owner doesn't use them! I box full of worn scratched and used tools, means the guy who owns them uses them to their fullest potential!

Tim

 

[davestlouis]

The real irony in all this is that I could have just used a rusty old Chinese 10mm open end wrench and done the same thing that my $75 ratchet did...for that matter, old Vise Grips would have worked too.

 

[Deafautotech]

Try some of that Eagle One spray on wax Andy - it shines the paint up real nice and has a wonderful cherry LifeSavers scent.

really??? i just afraid to wax it because i did once before and got red paint on rag...

 

[Merkava_4]

Just get yourself another new ratchet and save it back; now the used ratchet with the scratch is now deemed the workhorse.

 

[autoace]

Whenever I'm using my tools, I always have a cardboard tray ready to sit them down on - if they're not in my hand, they're in the cardboard tray. I never sit my tools down directly on concrete or asphalt. You can get cardboard trays for free all day long at Costco.

Oh my goodness!

 

[Merkava_4]

Oh my goodness!

I guess I should mention the giant cardboard slip sheets that come with the palettes of toilet paper then huh?

 

[autoace]

I guess I should mention the giant cardboard slip sheets that come with the palettes of toilet paper then huh?

I thought I was picky, with tool care, but you get the award for sure.

 

[Merkava_4]

I thought I was picky, with tool care, but you get the award for sure.

The 4' x 6' cardboard slip sheet goes on the concrete patio, and then the mower goes on the cardboard slip sheet. If I happen to forget about setting the tools down in the cardboard tray, the slip sheet is there to provide 5 star hotel accommodations.

 

[RAYJAY]

You guys have a serious problem.

x2 hand tools are made to be used

Jeff

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

I bought the quick adjusting Irwin pipe wrench from Lowes the other day, at first i was afraid to use because it looked nice and peaceful, i ended up dropping it and now it's ding and scratched.

I was looking for my impact gun today and happen to see that pipe wrench,i'll admit it did hurt to see it ding and scratched up.

 

[J.A.F.E.]

Damn, this is worse than the first door ding on a new car...I had a brand new Cornwell 1/4 inch ratchet in my hand today, with a 10mm long socket on it, putting new license plates on one of the cars. The ratchet got away from me, and hit the driveway. The driveway is on a hill, and the poor thing skittered and slid for 5 or more feet before it finally stopped. Now the shiny chrome is all skinned-up. What a drag, of course I couldn't have dropped a grubby old ratchet that already has "character".

I empathize with your pain. I see a world of difference between the patina of use and munging something up first time out of the gate.

The 4' x 6' cardboard slip sheet goes on the concrete patio, and then the mower goes on the cardboard slip sheet. If I happen to forget about setting the tools down in the cardboard tray, the slip sheet is there to provide 5 star hotel accommodations.

Cardboard is slightly abrasive you might want to put them on a soft rag or an old towel.

~Steve

 

[Frank Elson]

I am glad I know you guys are not serious and just use your tools and scratch them, just like the rest of us.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

oh dear - console yourself by laying another coat of wax on your toolbox

 

[eschoendorff]

Wow... REALLY????

I have plenty of newish SO stuff... I drop it, use it, sometimes abuse it. It still looks good and I still smile when I use those tools (well, okay, I don't really smile, but you get the idea).

I use my shiny Snap On stuff every chance I get. My theory is that at the price it cost, it had BETTER be able to stand up to the use that would kill cheap tools.

I have only a very few tools that I keep just to keep - not use. They are Facom (with the Ferarri logo on the package) and they stay in the package on a shelf in the house. Anything not still in its package is fair game!

 

[peteco]

This is the reason I don't like buying a new car (besides being cheap). Worrying about or getting upset about that first scratch or ding.

 

[davestlouis]

I have taken to buying older cars, and nicer tools, so I can work on those older cars and still save money vs. buying new cars. And I don't have to worry about that first door ding.

 

[goodfellow]

Wow... REALLY????

I use my shiny Snap On stuff every chance I get. My theory is that at the price it cost, it had BETTER be able to stand up to the use that would kill cheap tools.

QUOTE]

Finally a voice of reason!!

I use 'em every chance I get. New tools need to be used.

 

[Thumper]

Damn.........I buy my stuff to use....not keep in a ****** jewerly box.

My tools have always had to earn their keep. But I do understand about scratching up a new one at the price the damn things sell for.

 

[gotmud13613]

Damn.........I buy my stuff to use....not keep in a ****** jewerly box.

My tools have always had to earn their keep. But I do understand about scratching up a new one at the price the damn things sell for.

^
I agree. But after the first scratch who gives a rats patoot (these things are used to make $). My 80 series SO's sure don't have that high polished look anymore

 

[jay50]

Damn.........I buy my stuff to use....not keep in a ****** jewerly box.

My tools have always had to earn their keep. But I do understand about scratching up a new one at the price the damn things sell for.

Yeah, same here, no "feather duster" or polishing wax for the wrenches or tool boxes in my shop.
And the only lube the ratches may ever get is if they accidently fall into a bucket of oil or ****** fluid....

 

[Uncle Buck]

I really hate polisher threads, yea, I know don't post if you don't like the thread and all that. It is just that threads like this are such an embarrasment for guys that pay no attention to the shine.

 

[nissan_crawler]

If I had a brand new ratchet, and somebody near me asked to borrow it, I wouldn't think twice about sliding it across the floor to him.