Are these the same tool?

[x1134x]

Looks to me like this ratchet:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Napa-1-4-Dr...657014?hash=item1a245457f6:g:iNkAAOSwvgdW2MCC

was made by Armstrong for Napa?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ARMSTRONG-1...711592?hash=item5b39fa0928:g:e4YAAOSwFqNZP~0u

http://www.armstrongtools.com/armstrong-10-915a-1-4-drive-roundhead-ratchet-knurled-handle.html

$9.87 for a $30 ratchet, think I might have to buy that one.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Danaher made "tri-wing" round heads. Also sold under Craftsman. Not the best of the RHFT ratchets, but can't beat the price from Cripe or Hand Tools for Less.

 

[x1134x]

Was wondering if I'm getting perhaps a different internal kit with the bargain brand vs armstrong, and thinking I could just get an armstrong kit for it, to bolster that up if need be in the future.

 

[3baygarage]

Armstrong, Napa, Craftsman, Allen, K-D, Masterforce. Did I miss any?
You can find all in that same style.

Not my favorite, but a new ratchet for that price is pretty darn reasonable.

 

[Fedwrench]

That ratchet ***** at any price.

Sears put their version of that ratchet in sets back in the late 1990's-2000. They sucked so much, that Sears went back to using the 36 tooth pear head ratchet.

You would think that it wouldn't be that hard to make a round head ratchet but, that particular ratchet slips and fails pretty easily.

No other repair kit is interchangeable in its head. $30 might have been NAPA's full list retail price but, they were usually sold for about what its eBay price is.

Sometimes what seems like a bargain, isn't.

 

[hefnerconstructionlc]

Yeah I had that ratchet in the craftsman brand. Used it very little did not use it all in a broke in no time at all. Total piece of ****. I would also stay clear of that style.

 

[x1134x]

Well that's disappointing, I thought Armstrong brand was supposed to be a cut above, at least on par with "Industrial" tool line offerings, not exact same as Sears home garage tools.

 

[HanShotFirst]

If you want a decent round head, pick up a used SK for $20.00

 

[x1134x]

Are williams-made tools of "industrial tool" quality like proto? or more like a craftsman usa tool as well?:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kobalt-1-4-...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

S-K seems to exists in some plane between industrial quality and professional quality, and usually priced as such. My diamond logo 3/8" is my goto 3/8 ratchet, so I'm eyeballing them too now.

 

[Fedwrench]

Are williams-made tools of "industrial tool" quality like proto? or more like a craftsman usa tool as well?:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kobalt-1-4-...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

S-K seems to exists in some plane between industrial quality and professional quality, and usually priced as such. My diamond logo 3/8" is my goto 3/8 ratchet, so I'm eyeballing them too now.

The Kobalt set you linked wasn't made by williams so, I'm confused.

The kobalt set linked is second generation which was made by Danaher. The bottom line is that set is the same as craftsman of that period aside from the branding and ratchet handle shape.

Only the first generation Kobalt tools were made by williams in columbus georgia prior to manufacturing being combined in kenosha.

Williams has two lines, one US made the other Taiwan made. Both are good tools.

 

[mbshop]

Huh, I have one and its been fine for a long time. Granted I no longer use it much but it held up when I was using it.

 

[x1134x]

The Kobalt set you linked wasn't made by williams so, I'm confused.

DANGIT, why do tool makes and origins have to be so complex? This is the first I'd heard that was two USA kobalt manufacturers, So they went from nice , to cheaper, to cheap.

The search continues.

 

[mikebaker1129]

Pass on the Napa, pass on the Kobalt set also, that ratchet ***** too !
Williams USA is a good choice new or used as is SK.
The SK Tuff1 series of ratchets are good as are the round heads they have made for 75 years.

 

[DadsTools]

Pass on the Napa, pass on the Kobalt set also, that ratchet ***** too !
Williams USA is a good choice new or used as is SK.
The SK Tuff1 series of ratchets are good as are the round heads they have made for 75 years.

Yep, this.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

DANGIT, why do tool makes and origins have to be so complex? This is the first I'd heard that was two USA kobalt manufacturers, So they went from nice , to cheaper, to cheap.

The search continues.

Yeah, it can get confusing as things changed over the years, and all the old stock and used sets pop up on eBay. There's a LOT more of the Danaher made tools available between Cripe & HTFL all over eBay branded under Kobalt, Allen, KD, NAPA, etc. Decent stuff, basically good era Craftsman & Armstrong. The one definite thing is the ratchets have been the standard Craftsman pearhead sloppy ****, or the mediocre round heads (mine never slipped, but was still sloppy feeling to use).

The Williams/Snap-on made Kobalt stuff is rare to come by (and the ratchets aren't supported by anyone, so good luck with a rebuild kit).

Pass on the Napa, pass on the Kobalt set also, that ratchet ***** too !
Williams USA is a good choice new or used as is SK.
The SK Tuff1 series of ratchets are good as are the round heads they have made for 75 years.

Spot on. The current 36 tooth Williams USA ratchets are the old Snap-on mechanism, which when worn in is crazy smooth for that tooth count.

The regular SK 1/4" & 1/2" roundheads are great, but they fall flat in 3/8" drive with the oddly low tooth count and jumbo head. That was fixed with the Tuff1s.

OP, if you're shopping on eBay, keep a search for "SK 45175" for a regular length 3/8" Tuff1 ratchet. They average $15-20 shipped for a used one, pop up pretty often, and quickly have become my favorite non-QR mechanism. I sold off a couple of Snap-on Dual 80s and replaced them with the equivalent Tuff1s, they're that nice.

 

[wvrailroader]

[emoji38]Yeah, it can get confusing as things changed over the years, and all the old stock and used sets pop up on eBay. There's a LOT more of the Danaher made tools available between Cripe & HTFL all over eBay branded under Kobalt, Allen, KD, NAPA, etc. Decent stuff, basically good era Craftsman & Armstrong. The one definite thing is the ratchets have been the standard Craftsman pearhead sloppy ****, or the mediocre round heads (mine never slipped, but was still sloppy feeling to use).

The Williams/Snap-on made Kobalt stuff is rare to come by (and the ratchets aren't supported by anyone, so good luck with a rebuild kit).


Spot on. The current 36 tooth Williams USA ratchets are the old Snap-on mechanism, which when worn in is crazy smooth for that tooth count.

The regular SK 1/4" & 1/2" roundheads are great, but they fall flat in 3/8" drive with the oddly low tooth count and jumbo head. That was fixed with the Tuff1s.

OP, if you're shopping on eBay, keep a search for "SK 45175" for a regular length 3/8" Tuff1 ratchet. They average $15-20 shipped for a used one, pop up pretty often, and quickly have become my favorite non-QR mechanism. I sold off a couple of Snap-on Dual 80s and replaced them with the equivalent Tuff1s, they're that nice.

Or get a new 3/8" Tuff1 for $25 with free shipping on Amazon.

SK 45175 Tuff 1 3/8-Inch Drive 7-1/2-Inch Reversible Ratchet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FAL40K/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Or get a new 3/8" Tuff1 for $25 with free shipping on Amazon.

SK 45175 Tuff 1 3/8-Inch Drive 7-1/2-Inch Reversible Ratchet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FAL40K/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I had no idea (don't have Amazon), good to know!

 

[wvrailroader]

I had no idea (don't have Amazon), good to know!

The same seller also has the 1/4" and 1/2" versions also (it is a 3rd party seller).

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[x1134x]

Or get a new 3/8" Tuff1 for $25 with free shipping on Amazon.

SK 45175 Tuff 1 3/8-Inch Drive 7-1/2-Inch Reversible Ratchet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FAL40K/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

I have five 3/8" drive ratchets already, My diamond logo S-K roundhead, that ihateminimumwage hates is my go-to 3/8 ratchet. I love that thing, can't complaing about it at all, its RLL'd and works perfectly.

I'm trying to put together some 1/4" drive toolery, but since I don't NEED it right now, I'm willing to wait out on a good deal on some fairly good ones. Usually when 3/8 drive stuff is too unwieldy for the job I reach for the hex-set and nut drivers. My new 1/4 set would be more "pride of ownership" to sit in the drawer and look pretty than for actual "need". I don't own any armstrong tools, and had gotten the impression they were on par with s-k or proto.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

I have five 3/8" drive ratchets already, My diamond logo S-K roundhead, that ihateminimumwage hates is my go-to 3/8 ratchet. I love that thing, can't complaing about it at all, its RLL'd and works perfectly.

No hate for it, I've owned a few. They work well (and kick the **** out of the old pearhead Craftsman ratchets). I just ran into too many situations where the heads were too bulky or the area too tight (lots of crammed spark plugs), so I went a different route. I am looking forward to SK putting out the drop in kits to double the tooth count.

 

[mikebaker1129]

Yeah, it can get confusing as things changed over the years, and all the old stock and used sets pop up on eBay. There's a LOT more of the Danaher made tools available between Cripe & HTFL all over eBay branded under Kobalt, Allen, KD, NAPA, etc. Decent stuff, basically good era Craftsman & Armstrong. The one definite thing is the ratchets have been the standard Craftsman pearhead sloppy ****, or the mediocre round heads (mine never slipped, but was still sloppy feeling to use).

The Williams/Snap-on made Kobalt stuff is rare to come by (and the ratchets aren't supported by anyone, so good luck with a rebuild kit).


Spot on. The current 36 tooth Williams USA ratchets are the old Snap-on mechanism, which when worn in is crazy smooth for that tooth count.

The regular SK 1/4" & 1/2" roundheads are great, but they fall flat in 3/8" drive with the oddly low tooth count and jumbo head. That was fixed with the Tuff1s.

OP, if you're shopping on eBay, keep a search for "SK 45175" for a regular length 3/8" Tuff1 ratchet. They average $15-20 shipped for a used one, pop up pretty often, and quickly have become my favorite non-QR mechanism. I sold off a couple of Snap-on Dual 80s and replaced them with the equivalent Tuff1s, they're that nice.

Yes and you can also search for a JS brand made TUFF1 made by SK also,same ratchet but lacks the name recognition.

 

[mikebaker1129]

Armstrong did make some quality tools,just the ratchet in the picture was not of of them.
The 88 tooth ratchets are good and the RHFT craftsman clones are as well ,wrenchs,bit sockets,punches ,pinless impact sockets are all good stuff.