NAPA version of Thin Profile ratchets

[davestlouis]

https://goo.io/KKQVMl

Got my 990-page 2008-2009 NAPA catalog today, and spied the NAPA version of the C-Man Thin Profile/Next Generation ratchets inside. They look like the MATCO version, with the C-Man shaped head and a round handle. Model # for the 1/4 inch is NHT NGRM46, 3/8 is NGRB46, 1/2 inch is NGRS46. I had never seen this particular variant in any of my older NAPA catalogs.

 

[Itzkwik]

 

[Itzkwik]

I'll be a nice guy and help you out with the pics.

 

[kartracer55]

Bitchin!


The reason I dont own any of those is because the craftsman handles are monsters. The ratchet weighs like 2x as much as it should. But I have a 1/2 inch drive 60tooth Matco on the way! Who knows, it might be better than the Snap on flf80's

 

[T00lJunk1e]

the thin profile c-man handle is way too big, i would def. agree with that. but IMO it feels good in your hand. its comfortable.

 

[Joe B.]

I wonder why my local NAPA only has a smattering of Chinese junk on their shelves. Maybe they have to good stuff in back?

 

[HolisticPerformance]

I love tool shopping at NAPA. Great KD tools that are usually rebranded with a jacked up price on tool trucks. We have a NAPA here that has as much or more than a well-stocked Sears, only it isn't just a bunch of home-owner DIY **** - its stuff that any pro-wrench could needs and could use.

 

[bchee]

I would much rather have the craftsman handle than that round napa handle. That's just my personal preference.

 

[davestlouis]

My store only stocks the el-cheapo stuff, but can get most catalog items in 24-48 hours. I'm curious about the 1/2 inch drive version...the C-Man is too heavy and balanced wrong, I wonder if the round handle minimizes that tendency.

 

[MAD]

I'm curious about the 1/2 inch drive version...the C-Man is too heavy and balanced wrong,

I agree about the 1/2" drive handle on the Sears version. Maybe they were going for a design that made it harder to slip a pipe over it.

The 3/8" and 1/4" drive ones feel good to me though.

 

[Basskiller]

are you going to get one and then give us a review?

 

[vssjim]

Napa has at a minimum two lines of tools when it comes to quality they always have a cheapy chinne line then atleast one if not more quaility US tool line product or a quality specialty tool makers product.

 

[davestlouis]

I already have a NM47 RHFT coming that should arrive Tuesday, I'm pondering ordering one of these too...

 

[Honda 1]

I have the 1/4 drive C-man thin profile ratchet. I used it several times and that particular drive is balanced and is very comfortable to work with. I haven't tried the 3/8 or 1/2 inch drives yet.

 

[HolisticPerformance]

I have the 1/4 drive C-man thin profile ratchet. I used it several times and that particular drive is balanced and is very comfortable to work with. I haven't tried the 3/8 or 1/2 inch drives yet.

I defend these ratchets, but the 1/4" is MUCH better than the others. Someone else put it well (can't remember who), but the smaller the better when it comes to these ratchets.

 

[billymade]

I have never liked the shape of the handles of the Craftsman thin profile units; I do think it is more of the problem on the 3/8" and downright huge on the 1/2" (I do have small hands, however!)! I cannot figure out why Craftsman/Danaher can't get their ergonomics down... just one of many issues with Craftsman tools... I think the older "pro full polish" ratchets had a better handle design.

 

[davestlouis]

I've been picking through the catalog, all sorts of goodies in there. I seem to recall that they used to separate the cheap line from the good lines of handtools, but now they're jumbled together so you have to look/read carefully to see which line an item is part of.

 

[ImportTuner]

Hey davestlouis .. where did you get the catalog from; local store or internet? Thanks

 

[davestlouis]

I walked in the store, dealt with a counterman I have never seen before. I bought one oil filter, ordered the NM47 ratchet, asked about a 10908 ratchet gut kit, and apparently he thought I knew what I was doing because I gave him the part #s from memory. He handed me the catalog, said he has a spare in back. I got my 2007 catalog the same way, with a different counterman. It's drilled with 5 holes, shiny cover, sturdy book. I really don't think it's supposed to be an item they give to walk-in customers.

 

[Fedwrench]

I have those in 1/4 and 3/8 drive from Ebay. They're lighter than the Craftsman versions but have the same internals. You can browse the Napa pro tool and equipment catalog from a link at www.napaonline.com I would not buy them new from Napa as the prices are a little steep. There are two Napa tool lines, Napa Professional Tools (Danaher made mostly rebadged KD items), and Napa Evercraft (PRC, Taiwan imported line).

 

[davestlouis]

I figure they split the difference between C-Man and Matco, as far as pricing. I'm wondering if the weight difference with the round handle is worth the extra cost.

 

[Fedwrench]

I figure they split the difference between C-Man and Matco, as far as pricing. I'm wondering if the weight difference with the round handle is worth the extra cost.

Not to me. Another option would be to pick up a Gearwrench ratchet. No, it doesn't have the quick release and depending on its vintage comes from either the PRC or Taiwan but, it has a thin head with a 60 tooth action and a snap onesque round or comfort grip handle. Ebay or a 30% or greater Sears sales is a good source for the gearwrench ratchets.

 

[HolisticPerformance]

Found out today a Matco 88 tooth is on the way.

 

[davestlouis]

where'd you hear that?

 

[Fedwrench]

where'd you hear that?

Dave Blank, a Matco dealer mentioned it in a thread called Vegas Baby a few days ago in the free parking section.

 

[HolisticPerformance]

where'd you hear that?

It was at the Vegas show. It won't be initially offered in all ratchet combinations (not drive size, but length/flex/rotating combinations), but supposed will eventually be.

 

[HandyManny]

The guts of the Craftsman, MATCO, and NAPA ratchets are all the same. Not sure why the NAPA and MATCO cost more. They are all Dahner. Same goes for the Cman Professional combo wrenches and the over priced NAPA high polished combo wrenches.

Personally in ratchets I don't like any of the Dahner made stuff. It's gotta be the Proto for me.

 

[kythri]

Part of the higher cost is the image factor, but there's also the fact that, officially, Craftsman tools aren't warrantied for commercial use (yes, I understand that this aspect of the warranty doesn't jive with the "Professional" line or the "Official Tools of Nascar").

Conversely, NAPA and MATCO tools ARE warrantied for commercial use.

I don't personally know of anyone having any issues with warranty-replacing commercially-used Craftsman stuff. My dad now works as a purchasing manager for a local farming company, and the mechanics use Craftsman stuff all the time. Every 6 months or so, they gather up box of stuff needing warranty replacement, and they take it into the local Sears (where they've purchased all of it on a corporate PO) and have had no issues replacing it as of yet...

 

[HolisticPerformance]

I walk into Sears with my work clothes on (automotive Tech) all the time to warranty return tools - never a single question raised.

 

[HandyManny]

Strange. I do know lots of pros who currently use many Craftsman hand tools on a daily basis, myself included back when I worked in the trades. Never heard of warranty returns happening that frequently with them , on hand tools, and I never had a Cman hand tool fail me on the job. I guess it does happen, just like with anything else.

 

[kythri]

Strange. I do know lots of pros who currently use many Craftsman hand tools on a daily basis, myself included back when I worked in the trades. Never heard of warranty returns happening that frequently with them , on hand tools, and I never had a Cman hand tool fail me on the job. I guess it does happen, just like with anything else.

I don't mean to imply that stuff breaks frequently, but there's something like 30-40 mechanics and maintenance techs out there working 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, so stuff eventually breaks...

 

[HolisticPerformance]

Strange. I do know lots of pros who currently use many Craftsman hand tools on a daily basis, myself included back when I worked in the trades. Never heard of warranty returns happening that frequently with them , on hand tools, and I never had a Cman hand tool fail me on the job. I guess it does happen, just like with anything else.

You are correct. I have many craftsman tools, mainly 1/4" and 3/8" drive sockets, as well as a very complete set of raised panel wrenches (metic and SAE). 80% of my returns are 3/8" sockets, and 80% of those are due to abuse (impact, anyone?). The remaining returns are typically torx bits, and they are pure junk - that is one item worth purchasing from Snap-On. But abuse aside, I think that, though not the most supreme, they are just fine, even for professional use.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Part of the higher cost is the image factor, but there's also the fact that, officially, Craftsman tools aren't warrantied for commercial use (yes, I understand that this aspect of the warranty doesn't jive with the "Professional" line or the "Official Tools of Nascar").

While they say that at Sears, they also retail/warranty them professionally, from Fastenal.

I never understood that.

 

[kythri]

While they say that at Sears, they also retail/warranty them professionally, from Fastenal.

I never understood that.

I think Fastenal requires a receipt, or they'll send you to Sears.

Fastenal charges an extreme premium for the Craftsman stuff (heck, they charge a huge premium on EVERYTHING they sell), which is probably why they'd warranty stuff used commercially.

I believe at one point that they carried a Craftsman Industrial line of stuff (from what I remember someone here saying) - regardless, they're the same tools now.

The $39.99 1/2" Next Generation Ratchet at Sears is something like $55 at Fastenal.