Buying Allen Ratchets good or bad?

JASTECH · Jan 16, 2012

What is your opinion on this Allen ratchet please? I am need of a couple ratchets in 1/4" to 3/4" drive. As some of you know I'm on disability and don't have money to spend like I did way back when it was a sport, fun time, vacation ect. to mech on hot rods to me.

Allen 66846G 3/8" Drive Quick Release Ratchet

P.S. I will check classified, forgot about it being here again, I'd rather buy here from family then ebay and not knowing if it's all true.

SMKS · Jan 16, 2012

That ratchet is imported. It's most likely made in China. The other imported Allen tools I've seen recently were all Chinese.

I don't know if any of the Allen branded tools are USA made any more. Apex tools has really been speeding up the outsourcing.

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btbsandman · Jan 16, 2012

I think Allen is being phased out.
I rarely have seen it for sale anywhere.

Kevin54 · Jan 16, 2012

Menards is a big seller of Allen brand

btbsandman · Jan 16, 2012

Kevin54 said:
Menards is a big seller of Allen brand

I do see some Allen brand there, but I see more Masterforce though.

Scout Driver · Jan 16, 2012

That's a chinese Allen ratchet. $6.00 from Cripe Distributing. http://cripedistributing.com/index.php/allen-66846g-3-8-drive-quick-release-ratchet-ro.html

I have a couple of these that came in sets from Menards. Not bad ratchets at all. Especially for the money. While I don't know how well they will stand up long-term, mine have been fine. They have withstood breaking loose some rusted fasteners at the junkyard without issue. If you are looking for a good, low-dollar backup ratchet, or a ratchet for a road-box, it should be fine.

A lot of the Menards stock is now Masterforce, which is re-branded Allen. Around Christmas time, there are usually some import Allen sets available.

Scott

SCscoutguy · Jan 16, 2012

The older stuff was Danaher made in USA stuff comparable to Craftsman but lately it seems that all of the new stuff from them is imported. I know that the older ratchets used the same exact rebuild kits as Craftsman did.

JASTECH · Jan 16, 2012

Wow, thanks guys! I have one comming from Ebay as I need some but would rather have old USA stock. I just came home from Menards and bought 3 ratchets 1/4"-1/2" for 7-9.00 each, 3/8" & 1/2" breaker bars 5 and 6.00 each then a set of damaged nut/bolt remover made in USA! I will post pics tonight after this phone charges more ok?

thesilverone · Jan 16, 2012

^did you get the allen rhft from ebay this morning?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Allen-3...183?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d31e124ff

JASTECH · Jan 16, 2012

Here are the pic's for them ratchets, Breaker Bars and a rusted/stripped bolt remover kit

Penny88 · Jan 17, 2012

For some odd reason there is a lumber business up my street that sells Allen Tools and they are made in the USA maybe just old stock? They even gave me a catalog(the catalog did note industrial line). I even have an Allen wrench somewhere and I have to say it's damn good quality If I had to rank it in comparison I would say its a step better than Proto.

JASTECH · Jan 17, 2012

thesilverone, I did bid on one but different pic, so I did Buy It Now on pair head Allen ratchet for 6.00. I like the feel of these Tool Shop pair head pollished ratchets. They should be just fine in tool box/fuel can for my 4x4's. My son is 5yrs now and wants his own first real set. Should I go with Taiwon's Tool Shop or make his USA too which is where I am leaning?

sberry · Jan 17, 2012

You are talking about tools here so cheap they are almost at disposable pricing,, its not worth a lot of mental anguish.

Hank McMauser · Jan 17, 2012

sberry said:
You are talking about tools here so cheap they are almost at disposable pricing,, its not worth a lot of mental anguish.

If you are still making $30-50,00 /yr yes, but did you read the part about him now being disabled? I can relate as I spent 5 yrs putting my wife through college (bs in education)while raising 2 beautiful teenage daughters,
all of this on a lumber guy's pay. I know well the feeling of pondering for weeks on how to be able to afford a $20.00 set of tools.
As was stated earlier, those ratchets are not bad, we have a set at work in an imported "crescent" brand kit that gets used regularly.Being crescent is also apex tools it's probably the same ratchet.
You may want to check out the classifieds here ,you may be able to get an older more experienced usa made tool for the same or maybe a couple dollars more(hint-light rust/owners marks usually in no way hamper the usability of a ratchet or other tools)and also look for the less well recognized names-- fleet/powrkraft/sparta etc.

tbobbo · Jan 17, 2012

I have used a couple of new allen ratchets that seemed fine. Dont let us tool snobs get in your head. Some of the best work I have ever done was during the times when I had the cheapest tools! It's you for 98 percent of it, not the tools that gets the job done.

Muffduster · Jan 17, 2012

The easiest way to tell imported Allen from USA Allen is by the part number ending in a "G". Only import Allen part numbers end in a G.

sberry · Jan 18, 2012

Hank McMauser said:
If you are still making $30-50,00 /yr yes, but did you read the part about him now being disabled? I can relate as I spent 5 yrs putting my wife through college (bs in education)while raising 2 beautiful teenage daughters,
all of this on a lumber guy's pay. I know well the feeling of pondering for weeks on how to be able to afford a $20.00 set of tools.
As was stated earlier, those ratchets are not bad, we have a set at work in an imported "crescent" brand kit that gets used regularly.Being crescent is also apex tools it's probably the same ratchet.
You may want to check out the classifieds here ,you may be able to get an older more experienced usa made tool for the same or maybe a couple dollars more(hint-light rust/owners marks usually in no way hamper the usability of a ratchet or other tools)and also look for the less well recognized names-- fleet/powrkraft/sparta etc.

Hank, that was my point, buy something that works and use it.

bobemmerich · Jan 21, 2012

Yes. They really cheapened the Allen name. 90% of mine are U.S.A. made. The only imported Allens' I have are a pair of locking pliers, 3/8 drive hex and torx bits and metric 1/2 drive sockets. I have the ratchet you mentioned and it isn't a bad ratchet, but compared to my U.S. Danaher ones, there IS a difference.

SCscoutguy · Jan 21, 2012

Muffduster said:
The easiest way to tell imported Allen from USA Allen is by the part number ending in a "G". Only import Allen part numbers end in a G.

This Allen 3/8" flex head I have is made in the US and doesn't have any letter in the part number.They are pretty well made tools I must say and it is sad they sent production of them off shore.

JASTECH · Jan 21, 2012

Thanks guys! I miss the times of getting anything I needed or wanted from the SO truck, and was offered the newest of toys before others on the route to try out.

Thanks, JASTECH

I will try and look at classified, I do believe in buying USA if I can.

Hank McMauser · Jan 21, 2012

If you are in the market for a 1/2" Cripes has an allen version of the beloved RHFT ratchet for somewhere around $15.I'm pretty sure it's US made,the item # is 731111 please don't buy them all,I have one in my cart but won't order it until Monday morning

DanCo · Jan 21, 2012

I got a couple of USA made Allen 1/4" rats for sale. Insert shameless bump Here.
Dan

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