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New HF long handle ratchets... rebranded SOs?

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Dugan

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7799.jpg


But its chrome, swivels, and its black and red. :p
 
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nieuport17

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It probaly better to start a new thread. The other thread has mostly China vs Taiwan that u have to scroll through... and then u miss interesting posts in between :)
 
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fourtythree

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nieuport17 said:
It probaly better to start a new thread. The other thread has mostly China vs Taiwan that u have to scroll through... and then u miss interesting posts in between :)
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That describes every Harbor Freight thread on here...
 
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BirdMobile

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The new HF ratchets are definitely NOT rebranded Snap On. I have 2 of them (3/8 composite ans 1/4 flex) that I disassembled and photographed yesterday. The mechanism is completely different from Snap On's Dual 80 mechanism (which I also have ratchets of...).

These new HF professional ratchets are VERY nice, though... high quality, ergonomic and ridiculously inexpensive. I highly recommend them, based on my own hands-on experience and use of them so far.
 
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Dugan

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BirdMobile said:
The new HF ratchets are definitely NOT rebranded Snap On. I have 2 of them (3/8 composite ans 1/4 flex) that I disassembled and photographed yesterday. The mechanism is completely different from Snap On's Dual 80 mechanism (which I also have ratchets of...).

These new HF professional ratchets are VERY nice, though... high quality, ergonomic and ridiculously inexpensive. I highly recommend them, based on my own hands-on experience and use of them so far.
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I knew I would stir up trouble ever putting those two brands in the same sentence haha. I dont currently own any HF ratchets or sockets. All my stuff is SO CM or Husky, But ive been thinking lately about getting a longer 3/8 drive ratchet. I saw this and first thought was it looks (on the outside) just like the snappy one. Im gonna pick on up and try it out... for 20$ ill bring it back 1000 times. better than trying to track down the truck again and listening to the driver B**** and moan he has a family to support and cant warranty a ratchet.
 
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BirdMobile

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Dugan said:
I knew I would stir up trouble ever putting those two brands in the same sentence haha. I dont currently own any HF ratchets or sockets. All my stuff is SO CM or Husky, But ive been thinking lately about getting a longer 3/8 drive ratchet. I saw this and first thought was it looks (on the outside) just like the snappy one. Im gonna pick on up and try it out... for 20$ ill bring it back 1000 times. better than trying to track down the truck again and listening to the driver B**** and moan he has a family to support and cant warranty a ratchet.
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Yeah... my first thought when I read the thread title was "troll thread".
The similarity between the SO and HF ratchets is striking though... it's pretty obvious who HF is targeting with the "look" of these new ratchets, right down to the stamped circle above the selector.

Buy one, you'll like it. I really love mine so far... especially the composite.
 
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Dugan

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BirdMobile said:
Yeah... my first thought when I read the thread title was "troll thread".
The similarity between the SO and HF ratchets is striking though... it's pretty obvious who HF is targeting with the "look" of these new ratchets, right down to the stamped circle above the selector.

Buy one, you'll like it. I really love mine so far... especially the composite.
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Yea Im gonna grab a 3/8 18" as I already have a CM 1/2 swivel 18"..

Ive never looked at their composites... never knew a good use. I saw someone post in the other thread they are great in the winter. I work with no heat/AC in an uninsulated pole barn with concrete floor. I might pick one up for this winter ahead.
 
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BirdMobile

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Dugan said:
Yea Im gonna grab a 3/8 18" as I already have a CM 1/2 swivel 18"..

Ive never looked at their composites... never knew a good use. I saw someone post in the other thread they are great in the winter. I work with no heat/AC in an uninsulated pole barn with concrete floor. I might pick one up for this winter ahead.
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The composites are also good for working on car battery terminals, tightening alternator and starter terminal bolts, and anywhere else there is live electricity and the possibility of shorting the ratchet handle to the chassis.
 
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Dugan

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Brownsfan said:
I bought one and some other pink tools for my daughter to "help " dad fix things. She loves them.
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When we finally find a nice chassis 60s mustang for my GF to start on, ill buy her some nice pink ones.. Wonder if they make purple.. she likes that more...

shes mad no company makes the walki-talki shooting muffs in purple, only pink..
 
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toolmutt

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BirdMobile said:
The new HF ratchets are definitely NOT rebranded Snap On. I have 2 of them (3/8 composite ans 1/4 flex) that I disassembled and photographed yesterday. The mechanism is completely different from Snap On's Dual 80 mechanism (which I also have ratchets of...).

These new HF professional ratchets are VERY nice, though... high quality, ergonomic and ridiculously inexpensive. I highly recommend them, based on my own hands-on experience and use of them so far.
Click to expand...

Are those pictures posted on here somewhere? I'd like to see them.
 
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smokeysevin

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I like the idea of using the composites on battery terminals. Y'all sold me on them.

Sean

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk
 
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KEH

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I looked at them in the HF store only, not really in the market for another ratchet. I noticed on the HF rats that it was fairly easy to get the reversing lever stuck in the neutral position. I paid attention to that lever in my MATCO 88 3/8 drive ratchet and it didn't have that problem. The HF lever is easy to use(as is the MATCO) while the SO is a little stiff. None of them compare in ease of reversing to the old Thorsen open gear rats.

IMO with a little use the HFs will work just fine. Now if someone wants to do a strength test....

KEH
 
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monomach

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Dugan said:
http://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-long-handle-flexible-ratchet-62333.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-long-handle-flexible-ratchet-62332.html

Im gonna go buy one of these and try it out.... That looks identical to the SO ratchets...
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Nah. Other way around. The Snappys are rebranded HFs.

Dugan said:
....where the hell have these BEEN!

Def getting some pink tools.
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Sears. :thumbup:

toolmutt said:
Are those pictures posted on here somewhere? I'd like to see them.
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It's the same 72t mechanism that's in pretty much every Taiwanese ratchet nowadays. No surprises there.
 
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Fedwrench

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Big Gus said:
I thought Duralast ratchets were re-branded Snap-on. :dunno:
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Actually, aren't they clones of the old 36 tooth series ratchets? :lol:

I saw the HF long flex head 3/8 and 1/2 flex head versions today. The only thing they have in common with Gearwrench is the red and black colored handle. :lol:

The heads are about twice the thickness of a gearwrench 84 tooth ratchet and the guts are completely different. There aren't any grooves or a detent ball on the flex head to prevent head flop, and the HF handle is gummier new without being exposed to chemicals.

I don't think their list price is realistic for HF customers but, at their current half off sale price might not be a bad purchase if you're looking for a long flex head ratchet.

I grabbed the new 3/8 composite ratchet with comfort grip to experiment with. It's about the size of a normal 1/2 drive ratchet. I'd like to see HF release a 1/4 drive version of this ratchet.

I say buy them to use and abuse to see if they're worth that list price but, don't think it's anything other than an HF ratchet. :beer:
 
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Art From De Leon

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Says a lot about the Snap-on 'mystique', reputation, appearance, when these 5th and 6th rate 'tool' companies have to copy their appearance to attract customers.

This has been going on for years, starting with the identical, sans Snap-on logo, black screwdriver handles.

You don't see them copying Matco, MAC, Cornwell, Proto, S-K, etc. Hell, you don't even see them copying the design of Chinese made 'Crapman' tools, do you?
 
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Loscaldazar

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Fedwrench said:
I don't think their list price is realistic for HF customers but, at their current half off sale price might not be a bad purchase if you're looking for a long flex head ratchet.
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Seriously, when does HF ever sell anything at list price? Everything they sell has major discount off list. The half off sale price will be the permanent regular price they are always at. With a 25% off coupon, i can get a 18in 1/2 drive flex ratchet for $25 on any day. It's getting annoying to see so many people keep repeating that these are overpriced and the list price is too high. They will be permanently on sale like every other HF item ever.

The list price has absolutely no bearing on their value.
 
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ecotec

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Loscaldazar said:
Seriously, when does HF ever sell anything at list price? Everything they sell has major discount off list. The half off sale price will be the permanent regular price they are always at. With a 25% off coupon, i can get a 18in 1/2 drive flex ratchet for $25 on any day. It's getting annoying to see so many people keep repeating that these are overpriced and the list price is too high. They will be permanently on sale like every other HF item ever.

The list price has absolutely no bearing on their value.
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Agreed. I ONLY buy from HF when the item is both on sale and I have a valid 25% off coupon.

I have been waiting for the blind bearing puller kit to go on sale for ages. I would buy the OTC kit before I would pay full price.
 
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