Anyone used stanley ratchet and sockets?

[BioNerd]

I was working on a VW bus and I wish I had 2 of each socket... 13-15 etc... And a nicer ratchet, I have a crescent ratchet. Not so good.

After using my friend's snap ons I felt the difference. I know I'm not gonna get that good of a ratchet for cheap.

However, I can't afford expensive mechanic tools because I'm working on getting back on track on my woodworking arsenal. Woodworking is my money making trade.

I looked around and I saw this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000K..._SY165_QL70#atwl_secondary_view_1418172925849

Thoughts?

I want a craftsman socket set better but I don't like their ratchets so much.

I wish I could just get a set of metric sockets, and 1/4-3/8 ratchets.

 

[Brownsfan]

I have a 1/4 dr set they sell at Wal-Mart. Its like 16pc deep well 6pt. The ratchet works fine. Sockets are fine. I use it in my on site install tool.set. So they see some use and constant temp changes and some.moisture exposure. They have held up great. Not bad for the $15 I spent. All my shop sockets are USA made Craftsman and sure i would have liked to have a better set but for something that has a great chance of being lost or stolen. These are fine. The ratchet is better than the.standard craftsman ratchet USA made or China made. They should be fine for you.

 

[raiderhillbilly]

http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-...p-00934271000P?prdNo=8&blockNo=8&blockType=G8

The craftsman ratchet in this set is very nice. Stanley sockets are not bad but the ratchets are not great. The sizes will wear off the Stanley sockets too.

 

[Brownsfan]

http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-...p-00934271000P?prdNo=8&blockNo=8&blockType=G8

The craftsman ratchet in this set is very nice. Stanley sockets are not bad but the ratchets are not great. The sizes will wear off the Stanley sockets too.

I have all 3 drive size in those sets and got the last of the USA made stuff. Those are my shop tools socket set. The ratchet in that set is VERY nice. Like I said. I.didnt want to take my more expensive stuff when there's a chance of theft or loss. All things equal now because craftsman is made in china too. The Stanley is a better set for.the money.

 

[lightning02]

http://www.harborfreight.com/21-Pc-12-in-Drive-SAE-Metric-High-Visibility-Socket-Set-62304.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-t...-metric-high-visibility-socket-set-61954.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-t...-metric-high-visibility-socket-set-62303.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-drive-professional-composite-tear-drop-ratchet-62318.html

not snap-on but as close as your going to get without spending alot and better then CM and Stanley

i have them and use all the time. never let me down.

 

[Tronyadorable]

What is the closest drive ? Stanley dealer, Harboring Fright or Crapsman ?
Buy accordingly.
I beat the **** out of a Stanley set and only killed the 1/4 ratchet once.
That involved beer a 9/16 alternator bracket bolt and a 1 inch combo to give the li'l ratchet more ***.
FAIL !
Went and traded it in a few days later. No questions asked.

 

[lightning02]

there is always armstrong if you want to up the budget some.

 

[PureLeaf]

This is the same ratchet as your buddy's snap on. Its a Dual 80, just rebranded bahco (they're owned by snap on). Literally has the same inside guts.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=119127

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006MHEFWY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[zhome888]

Another option is to hit up garage sales and pawn shops. Sometimes you can get quality tools for a low price.

 

[Kaane]

I was working on a VW bus and I wish I had 2 of each socket... 13-15 etc... And a nicer ratchet, I have a crescent ratchet. Not so good.

After using my friend's snap ons I felt the difference. I know I'm not gonna get that good of a ratchet for cheap.

However, I can't afford expensive mechanic tools because I'm working on getting back on track on my woodworking arsenal. Woodworking is my money making trade.

I looked around and I saw this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000K..._SY165_QL70#atwl_secondary_view_1418172925849

Thoughts?

I want a craftsman socket set better but I don't like their ratchets so much.

I wish I could just get a set of metric sockets, and 1/4-3/8 ratchets.

That stanley set is actually very nice. I have the Husky branded version that was my first set and I've had it for almost 8 years now. It has held up great for years of abuse. I've upgraded now, but I would not hesitate to buy that set again.

 

[BioNerd]

You know, my friend was telling me that Pittsburg and craftsman are pretty much the same quality.
He has Matco Mac snap on as main tools and craftsman to modify and beat up. But he is a mechanic.

I live pretty close to harbor freight. I might just go get their Pittsburg metric sockets and also 3/8 & 1/4 nicer ratchets.

That bahco looks nice.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Askme42]

You know, my friend was telling me that Pittsburg and craftsman are pretty much the same quality.
He has Matco Mac snap on as main tools and craftsman to modify and beat up. But he is a mechanic.

I live pretty close to harbor freight. I might just go get their Pittsburg metric sockets and also 3/8 & 1/4 nicer ratchets.

That bahco looks nice.

Thanks for the advice!

The Pittsburg pro ratchets are pretty sweet at harbor freight. Grab you a few 25% off coupons and hit that place up.

 

[RustnGrease]

I bought they stanle 1/4 and 3/8 drive and wrenches all in one set a few years ago at wally world, to say the least i've been impressed, have yet to break it and it's my go to grab box. I've used it on anything from a weedwacker to a cat d9 and haven't had a problem yet. Wish i could say the same for my craftsman ratchets of the same vintage. (less than 5 years old)

 

[Chris83]

I have a Stanley set in my tool box at home. The black finish does wear off after a while but it doesn't bother me. At work it's all snap on.

 

[warweapon762]

The only stanley ratchet i have is the "Rotator" which i received as a gift awhile back. Basically you can actuate the handle back and forth and it will turn your socket in the direction that its selected on. Its pretty nice for running down bolts if you dont have air tools, but its a little ackward when using it in tight places. Usually retails for like $28 but you can get them cheap on ebay.

 

[sometoyotaguy]

I have a stanley set, and it's been ok so far. As with any ratchet, you can't beat on them too hard. I actually have a small 3/8 breaker bar in my set to keep from having to hammer on my ratchet.

 

[erty67]

I have a couple stanley ratchets I use at home and in my pit box. I've been using them for years with no issues. The secret is to use them properly and they will stand up well.

 

[gungatim]

I've had a 1/4" stanley set in my Jeep for a few years, use it all the time and it is pretty decent, I notice no difference between that and Kobalt, and better than craftsman IMO.

I bought the 201pc set on Amazon for $55 for a friend, it arrived with a 1/4" wrench instead of 10mm. Very good quality, called they sent a Dewalt 10mm that was too long to fit in the case. I think whoever makes stanley must also make dewalt and probably some other taiwan brands. for the money it's a good backup set.

i also have a set of Crescent I picked up a few years ago in 3/8 drive. Sockets and wrenches good, ratchet is POS. Sticky, and the ball plunger either stays extended so you can't put a socket on, or if you smack it with a hammer, it goes in but won't come out to hold the socket...poor tolerance design...

 

[James_B]

I have a 1/2"+3/8"+1/4" Stanley set that I bought back in 2008 while waiting for my many boxes of tools to arrive from Australia. It got me out of a bind when I needed a 12 point 19mm socket after I split apart the unbranded Chinese 12 point 19mm socket I was using while trying to remove a corroded 12 point bolt in a set of brake calipers. All the other 19mm sockets I had were 6 point.

These days the 1/2"+3/8"+1/4" Stanley set stays fully packed as an emergency grab kit. The kit also came with 6 of Stanley branded GearWrench SAE combination wrenches, but those were removed and are now part of my day-to-day regular use tools. The black finish on those is wearing off fast where the high points have slid along the asphalt on the driveway.

I also have a 1/4"+3/8" Stanley kit that I throw in the car when I am traveling, just in case I need more than the limited kits that are permanently stored in each of the cars (each car has a specialized kit assembled out of selected items from a number of small Canadian Tire Mastercraft 1/2" kits that I bought as they went on special).

The standard Stanley ratchets are nothing special (the ones in their FatMax kits appear have a finer tooth count), but they're a lot better than most of the Chinese made tools.

 

[theluke]

Stanley sockets and ratchets are fine. I would buy them over anything at harbor freight. If you do manage to break a ratchet or socket you just call their customer service and they send u a replacement. I have craftsman stanley and blackhawk sockets and ratchets and haven't broken anything in the last 15 years.

 

[Davefr]

The Pittsburg pro ratchets are pretty sweet at harbor freight. Grab you a few 25% off coupons and hit that place up.

I reluctantly have to agree with this.

HF has really stepped up to the plate with their new ratchet lineup. I would have no reservations using their "Pro" lineup. Some of them look like their very close to tool truck quality. (get the new long handle 3/8" composite too!!)

I'd choose them over the other store brands.

 

[jsharpphoto]

My only problem with stanley tools is that the only place around me that sells their stuff is walmart. I can't imagine walmart being good about warranty replacements two or three years after date of purchase. Can you afford to wait for a replacement via mail? If yes, than go for it.

I would buy either Husky, Kobalt, Craftsman, Pittsburg or whatever is closest to you. But don't but a "set". Buy your sockets from whoever sells the best configuration for your needs, then buy a good ratchet. I really like my gear wrench 120xp flex head ratchets. The likelihood of you breaking anything while repairing your VW is pretty slim, unless you're using a tool incorrectly. My guess is you can do almost everything on that bus with a complete 3/8's set.

I would get the following

metric socket set from whoever, 6 pt, shallow and deep
3/8 ratchets - 12-14" handle and a stubby
a set of locking 3/8 extensions - the harbor freight set is great for the price
3/8 impact gun
then buy individual 3/8 impact sockets as needed for things that are too much for the 3/8 ratchet
and most importantly, a 3/8's breaker bar. Get this for $10 at harbor freight.

 

[CJM8515]

Ive used stanley for years as my go to for cheapo tools in my roadbox. That set has seen constant use for over 5 years and the sockets have yet to fail. I never broke anything but the 3/8 ratchet which I simply wore out-but I abused it as a hammer as well. Even then it really didnt fail, the selector just kept switching as I would use it. The sockets are chrome and the sizes are stamped into them.

my home tools are a combo of stanley/husky (when stanley made husky stuff for awhile) as well as some tool truck brands. But I cant break the stanley stuff, so I never upgraded. It is WAY nicer then the equivilent craftsmen stuff.

 

[AndrewV]

I have love for stanley, for years now. Just not practical for daily use. So i buy mac/proto to fill in bits, as i need them.
Look into blackhawk tools. The industrial(cheaper line) of proto. The 3 companies are owned by stanley, so it is a quality stanley product.
As to mac percision torque sockets, i have them, and they work great. Im in automotive, have yet to ruin a faster on them. But your main hurdle is budget i guess. Look at the offerings, and go with what feels right.

 

[theluke]

You don't return stanley tools to a store. Just call their customer service and they send you a replacement. I don't think the op wants these for daily use. I think he wants them more for home use.

 

[ravenzfusion]

I've got nothing but praise for my Stanley set that sees occasional use. Sockets are strong. The ratchet is better than craftsman. Exceptional quality for the low amount of money i paid.

 

[BioNerd]

I wish I could see pics of this set after been used and its loosing its coating.

I cant find it on chrome tho!

Does anyone know if its ratchets are 72 tooth at least?

 

[BioNerd]

Oh. And the cars arent mine. I have been doing a paid apprenticeship at a friends shop.

Today, I was working on a (maybe '75) malibu classic chevelle.

 

[Brownsfan]

Pretty sure the ratchet I have in 1/4 is not 72t. I know its more than craftsman and is nicer and smoother as well. Its this set but the ratchet pictured is not what comes in it. Its a pear head quick release.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Stanley-16-Piece-1-4-Deep-Socket/14146078

Here is the ratchet that comes with the set. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Stanley-1-4-Pear-Ratchet/14146066

 

[betsy325e]

Recently broke the Stanley 3/8 ratchet I bought in a cheap kit at Walmart roughly a decade+ ago. Served me well despite the amount of too-lazy-to-get-abreaker-bar-cheater-pipe abuse I gave it, and definitely paid for itself dozens of times over. I kind of liked it actually, and I was surprised it held up so well. (Sockets and extensions are still going strong.)

I mailed it in for warranty, and it was replaced with a brand new ratchet instead of rebuilt within a week. Again, no complaints.

However, the brand new one seems (and definitely sounds) quiiiiiiiiiiiiiite a bit shittier than the one it's replacing. Could be wrong though, maybe it's fine? Gonna throw it in the drawer as a spare as I've long since upgraded.

 

[B_Bimmer]

Stanley tools are a great bargain. Around here they go for more at the pawn shops then they do new at wal-mart or on amazon, it always makes me laugh. Their kits are great to have in a vehicle. I first gave them a chance a thousand miles from home when the alternator went out on the family van. Got the job done easily and cheaply. They have replaced craftsman as the kit to get for the young realitive who shows an interest in tools. Personally I'd feel terrible giving anyone stuff from harbor fright, Stanley has a fairly complete line of basic hand tools, and good support. I would agree harbor fright's current offerings in some categories aren't too bad, but the variability in suppliers and designs assures that they will change in the future, sometimes for the better, but always for the cheapest. That has always been their target market, and they are good at it. Stanley however is a long time brand with a reputation, no matter what you think of how they run their business, the fact is they make some of the greatest, most reasonably priced tools out there. Every time I pick up a utility knife it becomes clear in short order wether or not there are Stanley blades in it, they last longer than any other i have tried. I can't tell you what is different about the wonder bar, but I can tell you it'll pull ring shank roofing nails out of the barn roof I'm taking down WAY better than any of the other three no name ones I tried. Bairly a speck of paint left on the thing after all the projects it's been through, not bent despite feeling a sledge more than once, and I think I paid $5 on sale. Then their tape measures... I lose them, I cut one, but they don't give up on their own. Really the current line of cheap screwdrivers is the only thing I wouldn't recommend. Most everything else, you are getting your moneys worth.

 

[Brownsfan]

This thread is 2 years old now and I'm still using the Stanley deep well set 1/4 drive I bought and have had no issue. Well worth the $15 I paid. All things considered I would buy China made Stanley over China made Craftsman. Cheaper and better.

 

[bigjeff94]

I have the black chrome 123 piece set. I have absolutely no complaints here. I like my craftsman USA stuff better but for the price point the Stanley stuff is hard to beat. With that 123 piece set you can get a fairly complete set for little more than a weeks lunch money. I agree with the Stanley China over craftsman China sentiment here.

 

[Jazz1]

#1 son gave me a 3/8" Stanley ratchet last week...there's a reason. No complaints and it feels like the black coating has some grip. I wiped it down thinking it was shipping goop. Canadian Tire is carrying Stanley and has in store warranty replacement now..Previously you had to mail Stanley tools for warranty. I still likely would not buy them..I think C Tire will move on to the next low bidder JMHO

 

[shanny19]

They have replaced craftsman as the kit to get for the young realitive who shows an interest in tools.

+ 1. Have a blue set waiting for the nephew to graduate HS.

 

[skunkape1]

I've got a buddy who does a/v equipment, remote starter, and similar instals in vehicles. He is a dyed in the wool Snap-On guy but he has a Stanley 1/4 ratchet that is in his hand an awful lot of the time I see him working. I've used the thing a bit and can see why he likes it. It was a much smoother and more comfortable ratchet than I expected.

It's probably 6-7 years old and is the regular pear shaped head style. I think he said it cost him $15 bucks. The work he does never gets too heavy though so it depends on intended use.

Too many guys dismiss certain brands out of hand simply because of the brand name and COO. Mind you, I will only buy Made in USA tools but I can admit that some offshore tools are pretty decent for the money.

 

[betsy325e]

Just tested the warranty ratchet I received in the mail. It immediately just binds up in loosen and tighten with a socket on it. Haven't even used it yet. So disappointed...I felt good about how the whole warranty thing went. Oh well. Guess I'll take it apart.

Is this yet another "find the older ones" sort of thread?

 

[DBendr]

My 1/2 drive SAE sockets are all Stanley pro.USA *I think*. No matter. Stunning chrome and hold up fine.I think my short metric 1/2 are too ? Have to look.
I have a black box kit in the smarter halfs car.Not sure COO either. Don't care. It's a nice set of 1/4 and 3/8 with a couple wrenches, a plier and a driver with bits.$80 ? Can't beat it either.The 1/4 ratchet is kinda crappy. The 3/8 is pretty decent.

 

[sberry]

The whole thread above it great. Good solid testimony about the tool itself and how well it actually works.
A guy buys a 15$ too set and worries about if he could warranty a piece or 2 several years don the road? Whats wrong with this picture? Chances are you will lose it first but,, hi tech gets a lot of credit, on the top 10 of revolutionary things has to be the advent of the good cheap hand tools.
If I had to start over again it would be to see who has the best at the bottom. This cass isn't all sold as the cheapest but the best at that price and many sold at the fleas are sold upscale with a brand stamp. Put the HF in a different box with a different stamp on the truck and someone will think its the very best they have ever used.
The Stanley is good, the Sears is great in the sales sets and the ratchet line at HF has come to speed. Yo shouldn't give buying this a second thought, it should be a first solution to a problem at lunch money costs. If there was something I needed I would find the nearest store at lunch and pop down 15$ to 25$ as fast as I could. Get a whole set of what ever I needed.
3 or 4 times over the years in the 80's and early 90's I bought Sears sale sets to get out of a jamb and early on they used to have 10 piece for 9.99 on sale once in a while, I think they may have been composites of broken sets et who knows but snatched up a deep 3/8 sets, several wrench sets, couple adjustable sets and the last real set I bought was ratchet wrenches there on super sale.
I could have never tooled and duplicated t the extent we have with all premium tools and along the way we found out it really didn't make so much difference.
We leave them all over, no one takes them. There are good and better things sprinkled in but no one even gives the cost of a handful of hand tools real concern. I hate to loose things I need and count on it being there but a pickup is 40K and gas was at 4$ a gallon and a guy wonders what the warranty on a Stanley ratchet will be if he manages to wear it out,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, This is the sole thing tat never ceases to amaze me.
By all reliable accounts and statistical analysis the ratchet will outlive the owner by decades but yet we can first find someone to worry about it and then another o back it up with some distorted reasoning how Walmart is screwing them.

 

[sberry]

+ 1. Have a blue set waiting for the nephew to graduate HS.

These tools are super idea,