Anyone used stanley ratchet and sockets?

[betsy325e]

Just took the ratchet apart -- the bit that actually retains the pawl is plastic. The plastic isn't stiff...it almost feels like the plastic that retains those super thin batteries in cheapo throwaway flashlights. You can feel the plastic in the ratchet...it's really chewy and disgusting and doesn't actually work. Quality control...always with the friggin' quality control haha. Though I assume that might have something to do with the fact that it's missing one of the springs for the ball bearings.


That said, free warranty ratchet...but the one I sent in was 100x better. Has anyone bought a Stanley recently?

 

[PCustoms]

Somehow I became the go to guy for vehicle repair freshman year in college, broke a lot of cheap tools and it sucked going across campus to borrow tools. I bought a set of Stanley off eBay back in 2005, figuring they'd be handy to keep in the car and was half the price of Craftsman set. IIRC they were made in USA still.

That set has done several alternators, a water pump, a control arm, more brakes than I can remember and I'm sure several jobs I've forgotten about. Its still my go to set unless I need 1/2" drive. 0 complaints.

 

[betsy325e]

That's actually around the time I bought my set -- same deal, go to college repair guy. I had zero complaints with the set I bought back then. If they were the same quality I'd buy a set again as a spare no problemo.

 

[betsy325e]

took a spring out of one I had laying around. put it back together and it is ratcheting like a ratchet would. amazing. still feels like a chewy bag of ***, though. in the spare box it goes.

 

[CJM8515]

Since I dont like the design of the newer ones Ive beem buying the apex/gear wrench husky ones at home cheapo..

 

[geartow]

I havea set of stanleys found a near new set in a parking lot . Mostly they set in the closet as another set of spares.

 

[geartow]

I found that my chrome 12 point metric shallow sockets at work are stanley right next to the sunex stuff

 

[Brownsfan]

Was Stanley considered high quality at one point? I am 36 and I always remember the brand as a cheaper option tool wise.

 

[B_Bimmer]

Some people will only ever apply the label "high quality" to the most expensive option available. Stanley has always been positioned as decent tools for the masses. They are not a premium brand, however they in general have good quality tools which will get the job done for most people, most of the time.

 

[Brownsfan]

OK. Let me word it differently. Was Stanley ever a better option. For example. I just bought a set of Craftsman mechanics tools. Was there ever a time where a buddy would have said "dude you should have bought a Stanley set.

 

[Al Borland]

Stanley (USA made) was a decent tool for the money. Proto's cheaper little brother.
Newer (Chinese) seems alright.

 

[B_Bimmer]

Lol, well I think I would say that today. Craftsman has a more interesting history though, and a huge amount of good old USA production available at pawn shops everywhere. The future is very dark. The availability when there were sears stores in every city used to give craftsman a huge practical advantage.

 

[geartow]

OK. Let me word it differently. Was Stanley ever a better option. For example. I just bought a set of Craftsman mechanics tools. Was there ever a time where a buddy would have said "dude you should have bought a Stanley set.

Yes today is that time.

 

[Brownsfan]

OK. Was just using Craftsman as an example. Was it ever like the go to. It's always been the brand a department store sold. Cheap home owner stuff and nothing more. That's what it's been for me since I was even aware of tools.

 

[Sprintman]

Sold all my Stanley. OK for the price

 

[chevy302dz]

OK. Let me word it differently. Was Stanley ever a better option. For example. I just bought a set of Craftsman mechanics tools. Was there ever a time where a buddy would have said "dude you should have bought a Stanley set.

Yes but not for mechanics tools. When it comes to woodworking tools Stanley made some very high quality items in the past (planes, chisels, even some vintage power tools) and to some extent still do. Actually if you ask someone for a tape measure there's good odds they will hand you a Stanley.

 

[back2class]

Some people will only ever apply the label "high quality" to the most expensive option available. Stanley has always been positioned as decent tools for the masses. They are not a premium brand, however they in general have good quality tools which will get the job done for most people, most of the time.

Yes...this. Spent a decade as a contractor. Had a bunch of Stanley stuff like pliers, levels, tapes and such. All were decent quality and none were ever throwaway.

Moving into mechanics tools...same. Sockets are and have always been decent quality. I would say on par with any mid-level brand. There ratchets up untill about 8 years ago were pretty good. The chinese pearheads are pretty poor from what I can tell, but never used them. For the most part good value on their hand tools. I think to be honest, their sockets are really under appreciated here. Maybe more people would love them at GJ if they had more sizes to build a large set with. Unfortunately, they seem to mostly sell small sets that just don't cut it for the kind of people who find there way here.

 

[928'er]

Taiwanese Stanley of a couple of years ago is very different from the chicom Stanley **** of today - lowest common denominator race to the bottom.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I would honestly bet that Stanley and HF aren't all that much different in terms of performance if both were purchased new today.

 

[Jeremy77]

+1 only Stanley "Power Lock" tape measures. possibly the best out there at any price. As to the ratchets and sockets.... I bought a few sets on clearance when our local K Mart went belly up 10-12 years ago. The 3/8 and 1/2 ratchets have been some durable beaters and have endured a lot of abuse doing carpentry work on the side. Used them as hammers, with long cheaters and just general misuse. Neither has yet to fail and I don't recall any of the sockets failing either. Mine are made in Taiwan, not sure if they're better than what Stanley offers today but can't complain about my experience with them. I have warrantied some screwdrivers (the old yellow/black handled ones) through Stanley and they promptly mailed me new, made in U.S.A. vinyl grip models in return.

 

[betsy325e]

I'll just say my final word on this. I'm not hung up on China vs. Taiwan vs. whatever. Why does everyone freak out about "the Chicoms?" They were on our side in Red Dawn, people! WOLVERIIIIIIINES!!!!!

anyway.

The ratchets in the set I bought a decade ago: No idea where they were made, but they held up super well: I abused the frig out of them...like, to a degree I would absolutely not do to any tool today.

The ratchet I just got as warranty: has plastic innards, everything is fairly rough, (powedered metal? no idea)...it's just...crappy...it sounds and feels crappy. I haven't used it though, maybe it'll take some abuse.

My overall point for anyone going through this thread: I wouldn't buy this ratchet today. I'd try to find something in the price range that approximated the 2005 Stanley ratchet that served me well for over a decade. I'm sure there's something out there.