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Duralast or Pittsburgh/HF ratchet?

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dakota_522

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Aug 26, 2009
Messages
49
go with the HF one, there both good ratchets for the price the only reason i say get the harbor freight one is auto zone is going to stop carrying those and switch some new line of duralast tools so warranty will be a problem in the future cause im sure the new line is going to be a rebranded great neck or sumthing along those lines.
 
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tw33k2514

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Chicago
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Shipfittin

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Dec 15, 2009
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Portsmouth, VA
Rapyoke, I'd go with that Duralast ratchet. Since you are only going to be wrenching on the weekends and what not, it'll last you forever. Just be smart with it, if you need a breaker bar you need a breaker bar. Don't put a pipe on it, it's a sure way of breaking any ratchet, I don't care who made it.

Now if you can get a deal on something like an SK ratchet on eBay, go for it. I use a 1/2" SK at work, never have had a single problem with it.
 
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mrholeshot

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They are both surpisingly good ratchets. The Duralast is still much better built. The HF ratchet will still withstand over 500 ftlbs. (thats as far as I could go) I took one and cut the handle and added 10 inches to it and put it in the box on my 4 wheeler. It's tough
 
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Shipfittin

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Portsmouth, VA
SticketsFTW said:
Do you really need help chosing between $11 ratchets
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I can understanding where he's coming from. It can be a little confusing when you are just getting into it all, especially around these parts. You could post that you just bought a 1/2" Craftsman ratchet and half the responses will be that you just bought a piece of junk and the other half will be that you have a reliable tool.

And it sounds like he doesn't have a lot of money to throw around on tools and just wants something he knows will be reliable for at least the next few years. So he's probably just worried about buying into a piece of junk tool that a few of us may say is good.
 
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mrholeshot

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Shipfittin said:
I can understanding where he's coming from. It can be a little confusing when you are just getting into it all, especially around these parts. You could post that you just bought a 1/2" Craftsman ratchet and half the responses will be that you just bought a piece of junk and the other half will be that you have a reliable tool.

.
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I would bet that if he posted he was going to buy a new raised panel Craftsman 9 out of 10 would advise against it. Thats a real peice of **** although used correctly as intended it will do just fine
 
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HandyManny

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Out West
mrholeshot said:
I would bet that if he posted he was going to buy a new raised panel Craftsman 9 out of 10 would advise against it. Thats a real peice of **** although used correctly as intended it will do just fine
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I'd be one of those 9 too. The new ones are a real piece of **** ratchet, don't care if it is stamped USA. Craftsman should just spare us all some embarrasement and just remove USA from all their domestic tools. I'll take a Duralast ratchet over a Cman any day of the year.
 
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thrifty bill

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Jan 12, 2011
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The Mountains of North Carolina
Well, I just bought a few of the old style Duralast, they look pretty good to me.

Nothing beats finding used tools at a good price. I picked up a SK 1/2 drive set years ago at a garage sale, been using them for 30 years now...
 
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idoitproject

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Jan 2, 2011
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Elk Grove, CA
I'd say get the HF simply because is he is just starting out...more than likely he will lose it first then break it. Unless he's **** like me and be an *** to everyone in the vicinity if a tool has gone MIA until it's found. In that case get the Duralast 3/8 flex, I have two of them.
 
C

cglasgow

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Jun 12, 2010
Messages
1,139
Go HF. The Duralast is $22 (here, anyway -- I understand pricing varies) whereas the HF is $12. With an 20% coupon you could get one for $9, plus a second one for $12 and have two for the same price as one Duralast. Both are Asian import, so neither scores over the other in that regard. You won't break either one, but if you /did/ break the HF one, you'd have a spare. Or if you lost one, you have the other. Plus, it can be handy at times to have two ratchets -- e.g., you've got a loose bolt and nut (though you could also use the ratchet plus a box or open wrench), or you're working on something that uses two sizes fasteners frequently so rather than switching sockets back and forth on one ratchet, you have one socket on one ratchet and the other socket on the other ratchet....
 
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Kirbot

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New Jersey
I think the Duralast is a much better tool, but the Harborfreight does have one advantage over it...

Harborfreight tools have, if anything, probably increased in quality.
Duralast is going the opposite way, and replacing the good tools with ****.
So as far as Warranty goes, I'm going to have to say Harbor freight is the winner.

If that doesn't bother you though, the old style Duralast are really nice tools.
 
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Pro-Painter

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Oct 4, 2010
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Winston-Salem, NC
Kirbot said:
I think the Duralast is a much better tool, but the Harborfreight does have one advantage over it...

Harborfreight tools have, if anything, probably increased in quality.
Duralast is going the opposite way, and replacing the good tools with ****.
So as far as Warranty goes, I'm going to have to say Harbor freight is the winner.

If that doesn't bother you though, the old style Duralast are really nice tools.
Click to expand...

That is a very good point to consider. Sad to think about, But a very good point.
 
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mrholeshot

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SticketsFTW said:
He's chosing between an $11 ratchet and a $22 ratchet I dont think he's worried at all.....
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Just because you don't have the money to buy a $100+ ratchet doesn't mean you arn't worried about quality. That 22 dollar Duralast is a better ratchet than a 67 dollar Mac or 35 dollar Craftsman. All that glitters isn't gold and everything inexpensive isn't junk.
 
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idoitproject

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Jan 2, 2011
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241
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Elk Grove, CA
Kirbot said:
I think the Duralast is a much better tool, but the Harborfreight does have one advantage over it...

Harborfreight tools have, if anything, probably increased in quality.
Duralast is going the opposite way, and replacing the good tools with ****.
So as far as Warranty goes, I'm going to have to say Harbor freight is the winner.

If that doesn't bother you though, the old style Duralast are really nice tools.
Click to expand...

I disagree! That's like saying date the fat girl whom has been working out and losing weight, she's starting to look good. Don't date the pretty one because she's letting herself go.
 
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Kirbot

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idoitproject said:
I disagree! That's like saying date the fat girl whom has been working out and losing weight, she's starting to look good. Don't date the pretty one because she's letting herself go.
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Depends...
This isn't a one night stand after all....


Few years down the road when your married to a whale, you might just regret it....:lol_hitti


Actually, I would still tend to lean towards the Duralast, but I don't think you could wrong with either of them.
 
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ajchien

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Sep 3, 2010
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Location
Los Angeles, stuck on the 60 freeway.
IMHO, The Duralast ratchet seems to be better made and has a better chrome finish. While the HF has more teeth, and a quick release button. Id choose based on whether I wanted a quick release button or not, or if the difference between 36 and 48 teeth make a difference over the finish of the ractchet for the OP. Also the $11 difference is enough to get an additional breaker bar which may be helpful.
 
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XxToolAholicxX

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May 28, 2014
Messages
1,449
Location
SF **** Bay Northern California
rapyoke said:
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ac...25el?itemIdentifier=482529&_requestid=1169003

Or

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-half-inch-drive-heavy-duty-quick-release-ratchet-40582.html

I'm just a college student who wrenches on my own/parent's/friend's/relative's cars on the weekend. So Snap-On/Matco is out of the question for now
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I would say go with the new Williams Taiwan made. It is exactly the same thing as the Blue Point which comes off the Snap-On trucks. I gutted them both and parts are interchangeable. Maybe made at the same factory. But is whole lot cheaper and better than Duralast. Just my opinion.


I am a Toolaholic,Sometimes I regret it,Espwecially when the Toolman wont give me no credit
 
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Ratsofftoya

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Sep 13, 2012
Messages
124
Location
Southern Minnesota
XxToolAholicxX said:
I would say go with the new Williams Taiwan made. It is exactly the same thing as the Blue Point which comes off the Snap-On trucks. I gutted them both and parts are interchangeable. Maybe made at the same factory. But is whole lot cheaper and better than Duralast. Just my opinion.


I am a Toolaholic,Sometimes I regret it,Espwecially when the Toolman wont give me no credit
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Dude, this tread has been dead for like 3
Years!!
 
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montanafordman

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Feb 10, 2013
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Meridian, ID
This.

Boromirmeme.jpg
 
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jonti48310

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Joined
Nov 11, 2013
Messages
238
Duralast my friend! Don't worry about warranty, they'll warranty it out no problem if it goes out. If a new lineup comes out they will only upgrade the warranty, they will not warranty it out for a cheaper ratchet. Ex: Great Neck. Hope this makes sense and hope it helps.
 
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Sonny2010

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Joined
Jul 20, 2014
Messages
100
Location
Southeast, Missouri
jonti48310 said:
Duralast my friend! Don't worry about warranty, they'll warranty it out no problem if it goes out. If a new lineup comes out they will only upgrade the warranty, they will not warranty it out for a cheaper ratchet. Ex: Great Neck. Hope this makes sense and hope it helps.
Click to expand...

Yeah they will warranty it out no problem but I know the good ratchets don't break. I bought a socket set and it came with the ****** ratchet I broke that and warrantied it for the good ratchet #70-870 and that ratchet has been perfect !
 
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aaronrkelly

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Feb 25, 2014
Messages
419
Location
southern Iowa
Out of those two.....I honestly dont know, never handled either.

But $22 is the cost of the Duralast right?......add $13 to that and get a ratchet with SnapOn dual 80 internals. I have one as well as a flex head SO dual 80 - both are just as smooth and strong.

The BAHCO 7750

31zs038caAL._SL500_AA300_.jpg


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bahco-3-8-D...1003279516&pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr



Ah ****.....I hit 88mph in my Delorean again.....oops.
 
J

jim1987

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Feb 16, 2014
Messages
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Location
Ohio
Oh what the hell, I'll had to it!

Duralast has 72teeth ratchets now! Available in 3/8 and 1/2! And that's it! For now anyways. Hope they add flex and long and comfort grip as well.
 
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