Duralast revisted

[MrMark]

One at least. This of course proves that Duralast make awesome ratchets.

There ya go.

 

[HandyManny]

Yeah.. No Biggie.. It sounds like the Duralast Ratchet is appealing to many Here and has some Usage to back it up. I do question the longevity claims and Snap on Comparison claims but only time will tell. How long has Duralast been making ratchets? Does anyone have a 15 year old Duralast Ratchet?

I don't think they've been around much more than 7 years or so. I guess only time will tell.

 

[hguerrero]

when i was a kid, my dad owned a 69 toyota gt2000,
sold it to a collector in H town....one of only a handful in the u.s.
he also owned a 98 toyota supra that he also sold....
and both and my wife owned 95 toyota land cruisers...also known as street legal tanks.

in addition to owning a few classic american made pony cars through out the years...

i'd like to see more duralast reviews...
thanks for posting this OP.

such as? ten characters

 

[Kirbot]

I'm not really sure what this has to do with ratchets, but...

One of the coolest trucks ever built imo

 

[MrMark]

I'm not really sure what this has to do with ratchets, but...

One of the coolest trucks ever built imo

OK, I think you nailed the other one. I forgot what it had to do with ratchets too.

But I am still waiting on holeshot to tell about some other shite cars he beats with that 5 pound dead blow.

 

[HandyManny]

Not to get off subject, but I've never bought a Toyota myself. My wife has owned two and I've worked on both those. I still see a lot of old Land Crusers on the roads today and I'm talking pre-1980's too. Besides older American pick-ups and older American muscle cars and older Jap cars you don't see too many older everyday-driven European cars on American roads unless they are well maintained collectors pieces. One thing common to most older Jap vehicles is that their bodies do rust faster than you can blink an eye. You'd probably see a lot more of the older Jap vehicles in use if the bodies didn't degrade so badly. The engines are great. Even the Jap small engines are great and long lasting. I've always prefered Ford, Chevy, or Dodge pick-ups myself.

 

[Kirbot]

One thing common to most older Jap vehicles is that their bodies do rust faster than you can blink an eye.

True, somebody I know has an older landcruiser that no longer casts shadow the body is so rusted out.
But then, my Jeep from the same era is just about as bad.(working on changing that)

 

[Theloniousmonk]

damn, i forgot all about the FJ's... awesome vehicles - i've had the pleasure of working on a number of newer 60's... easy cheesy, well engineered and logically assembled. Hey, the duralast could be the same way (won't know until I pick one up for s/g today) "well engineered and logically assembled with quality materials"

IIRC, the 60 series are still made in like India or something, for the UN and various other gov. organizations.

 

[mrholeshot]

How did kia's get brought up? If you can't work on a kia then you need to find a new line of work.

?

You got that right

 

[mrholeshot]

Geez sorry I ever mentioned Kia.

I don't think you get my point. In 40 years how do you think this ratchet will hold up? Do you think the quality of chrome and thickness of chrome, the alloy makeup, the steel used to make the mechanism, etc etc will hold up? If you think it'll hold up great that awesome. Nothing like supporting cheap labor and piss poor working conditions. Right on!

I don't think you get my point, Sam the gearhead may need a ratchet. He doesn't have 100+ dollars for it and needs it tommorow. Whats the best he can get for 20 dollars? I think it's Duralast.s the reason I wrote about it because it worthy. That In 40 years it will be holding up as good as any other 40 year old ratchet. It's a ratchet and a well built one. You have personal information on the plant they are made in and the people who made them. Please share

 

[ZenMoto]

Since we're talking about the durability of Toyotas (and tools), I give you this bit from the BBC's Top Gear:

There's more to the story beyond the video, but I'll leave that to those interested to find it.

 

[Bull]

Dear Supreme Being: What have I, Bull, done to deserve this thread?

Can someone please send me a PM when a thread about ratchets gets this totally off topic and just plain bad? When I first was in here, it was fine. Now, it's gone all to Heck.

I don't even know when I'm going to find time to clean it all up.

 

[mrholeshot]

Yea screw americans. Lets just buy foreign china stuff and we'll keep the unemployment at 12%.

Yeah lets forget about all the related jobs getting the ratchet to the shelf and raised unemployment another 10%. Buy your stuff at a Flea market and lose another 5% Buy more used stuff on ebay and take out 20% more. Great plan

 

[mrholeshot]

I really don't see the point of all the fuss over me just telling people what I think about a tool. I'm sorry that so many people feel so threatened by the exsistance of a quality tool that wasn't built in the USA, Germany or the rest of the old country. The fact remains it is an excellant ratchet in it's price range. Some guy who doesn't want to dump over 100 dollars in a new ratchet or could be on a limited budget would find a good tool here. It's just that simple and uncomplicated. If you don't like them don't buy them.

 

[HandyManny]

Dear Supreme Being: What have I, Bull, done to deserve this thread?

Can someone please send me a PM when a thread about ratchets gets this totally off topic and just plain bad? When I first was in here, it was fine. Now, it's gone all to Heck.

I don't even know when I'm going to find time to clean it all up.

Good point. We did get off subject here.

 

[Kirbot]

I really don't see the point of all the fuss over me just telling people what I think about a tool. I'm sorry that so many people feel so threatened by the exsistance of a quality tool that wasn't built in the USA, Germany or the rest of the old country. The fact remains it is an excellant ratchet in it's price range. Some guy who doesn't want to dump over 100 dollars in a new ratchet or could be on a limited budget would find a good tool here. It's just that simple and uncomplicated. If you don't like them don't buy them.

Personally, I enjoy all of your ratchet reviews, and I hope you continue with them.

 

[mspecperformance]

I really don't see the point of all the fuss over me just telling people what I think about a tool. I'm sorry that so many people feel so threatened by the exsistance of a quality tool that wasn't built in the USA, Germany or the rest of the old country. The fact remains it is an excellant ratchet in it's price range. Some guy who doesn't want to dump over 100 dollars in a new ratchet or could be on a limited budget would find a good tool here. It's just that simple and uncomplicated. If you don't like them don't buy them.

don't let them get to you. There are a lot of people on this forum that appreciate your threads and posts!

I personally buy as much US made tools as possible however when a quality tool from a foreign country comes along that has a great price point, I buy. I am not that righteous.

 

[ZenMoto]

...there was a subject?

Seriously though, thanks for your efforts and posting the reviews Mr.Holeshot. I ended up picking up a few of the Duralast pieces to fill some gaps in my toolbox. I have a bunch of Snap-On, Matco, and a PILE of old Cman stuff (some close to 30 years old, and going strong); but as you obviously know, one of something is never enough.

We'll see how they hold up; hopefully the flex head hangs in there longer than my 10 year old SO which is so floppy now as to be useless. ...still, I've been lazy about trying to get a replacement/repair though Snappy. I'm just a home mechanic (mostly motorcycles) and it was easier to drop by AutoZone than send in for SO Service or track down a truck in my area.

 

[warmpancakes]

I think we need to take up a collection to by mrholeshot a new mallet for smashing stuff

 

[shotgunfatcat]

Dear Supreme Being: What have I, Bull, done to deserve this thread?

Can someone please send me a PM when a thread about ratchets gets this totally off topic and just plain bad? When I first was in here, it was fine. Now, it's gone all to Heck.

I don't even know when I'm going to find time to clean it all up.

I knew when the thread jumped up 2 pages in a few short hours there was some bickering going on. I just came in to check up on it, and well......

 

[NWphotog]

I definitely see your point here and in the end a fine tool is a fine tool. I'm just not at the point yet where I can feel good about using this Taiwan/China stuff. I guess it is in part a mind thing. Some of us have allegiances to certain brands for whatever reason. It could be because we grew up with them or the plant is in our town or we have a thing about using US tools on American cars or German tools on German cars or whatever.

And that is exactly how the Germans and Japanese eat the US car companies' lunch. Blind loyalty that resulted in laziness of design and manufacture. Now Chrysler is own by Fiat for God sakes and GM is only open because the US government dumped loads of cash into them and kissed it good buy. In reality only Ford has survived without bending over.

 

[warmpancakes]

And that is exactly how the Germans and Japanese eat the US car companies' lunch. Blind loyalty that resulted in laziness of design and manufacture. Now Chrysler is own by Fiat for God sakes and GM is only open because the US government dumped loads of cash into them and kissed it good buy. In reality only Ford has survived without bending over.

ford leveraged everything to the hilt before the credit crunch GM and chrysler waited too long so they had to "borrow" money from the government

 

[NWphotog]

Except that Chrysler only stayed alive because Fiat was willing to buy it. Otherwise the "gubernate" has going to let it go full BK. With GM the only way it worked is because the Politicos were willing to forgive BILLIONS in loans and then loan GM even more. Talk about a total and complete sell out!

 

[warmpancakes]

GM is a new company they lefy all the dept and property with the old company

 

[NWphotog]

GM is a new company they lefy all the dept and property with the old company

LOL. Yeah I would like to create a new person. I am taking the house and the savings account but I will leave the mortgage, credit card, and other bills! Oh and those poor investors that invested their life's savings with me? Frake em. I don't care. I was brought up a Chevy man but I'll be hard pressed to ever buy another GM product again. I'll take a Toyota, Honda, or Nissan over em any day.

 

[stricht8]

I don't think you get my point, Sam the gearhead may need a ratchet. He doesn't have 100+ dollars for it and needs it tommorow. Whats the best he can get for 20 dollars? I think it's Duralast.s the reason I wrote about it because it worthy. That In 40 years it will be holding up as good as any other 40 year old ratchet. It's a ratchet and a well built one. You have personal information on the plant they are made in and the people who made them. Please share

I agree here. I appreciate your review and testing of this ratchet and I have little doubt that it is anything but a superior tool. If I were in situation you describe ( need it fast, weekend, and only $20) then I would almost certainly go this route. If however, I do not have to rush into the purchase and money was not an issue then I'd would not consider this ratchet.

 

[bsaint]

I believe I officially am the reason this thread went into cars lol. I dont get how one could be working on a car and not have a spare ratchet. I think we all have 2 of each kind.

Either way I just come across a lot of information on overseas factories and qc. I can't speak for all but Im not going to investigate. All the manufacturing shops I've been to in the states and Canada have very good QC. And I work for a machine tool manufacturer so I goto mfg facilities every week. I hate to see shops first hand laying off employees.

 

[HandyManny]

I enjoyed the review very much and I thank mrholeshot for it. I think it's a great tool at any price point, pro or not. It's been a long time since I've seen solid quality at this price point. They're not cheap either, but at a price I'm willing to accept as reasonable. In comparison with my other older prefessional branded tools, these Duralast tools seem so far to compare very equally in all aspecs. I'm very impressed and I don't impress very easily either. Just my opinion. I'll leave it at that.

 

[NWphotog]

I believe I officially am the reason this thread went into cars lol. I dont get how one could be working on a car and not have a spare ratchet. I think we all have 2 of each kind.

Either way I just come across a lot of information on overseas factories and qc. I can't speak for all but Im not going to investigate. All the manufacturing shops I've been to in the states and Canada have very good QC. And I work for a machine tool manufacturer so I goto mfg facilities every week. I hate to see shops first hand laying off employees.

Really? Factories in Japan and Germany don't have good QC?

 

[mrholeshot]

I All the manufacturing shops I've been to in the states and Canada have very good QC. And I work for a machine tool manufacturer so I goto mfg facilities every week. I hate to see shops first hand laying off employees.

I'll put it this way, Somebody somewhere in Taiwan has some serious quality control going on. You don't just build that nice a tool without it. Somewhere back a few years ago some American companies forgot about quality control. Somewhere along the way American workers decided it was easier to live off welfare, disability, lay out high, drunk or a thousand other reasons not to show up to do an honest days work when they were perfectly healthy to do so. For every 100+ applications that came across my desk there may have been 2-3 that could fill a position for an auto technician and they were these.

PASS drug test
Pass background check (no Violent crimes)
Valid Drivers Licence
Own Transportation

It was hard to hit all four points and that wasn't even getting into experiance.
It use to take me 2-4 months to come up with a decent canidate for a job. Seems in this day and time that not many people take pride in their work until they are in fear of losing their job.

Like it or not Tiawan is hitting home runs in some areas and USA can't seem to get on base.

 

[kab00m]

mrholeshot, do you have or have you tried the 60 tooth Gearwrench ratchets? I see they have a comfort handle flex head ratchet that is 13" long.

 

[mspecperformance]

the gear wrench rats are awesome, ESPECIALLY for the price .

 

[May Pop]

MrHoleshot
Thankyou for taking the time and energy used in your tests and replys. I honestly hope you keep doing them. It shows tremendous power on your end to keep at it. I am glad you are showing Americans that we are up against a world economy whether we like it or not. My point is to say THANKYOU for your time,effort and I hope not agony potrayed by others. Keep up the testing.
Ron

 

[Bull]

See, I came in here and used the soft-touch a few posts back. I pointed out that the thread had gone off-topic, and was problematic. The rough touch would be to close it down, clean it up by deleting posts etc. Then people would be upset about my fascist iron fist.

But people are still carrying on with the off-topic stuff. So guess what glove I have to put on my hand? Yeah, the iron one.

 

[north]

I really don't see the point of all the fuss over me just telling people what I think about a tool. I'm sorry that so many people feel so threatened by the exsistance of a quality tool that wasn't built in the USA, Germany or the rest of the old country. The fact remains it is an excellant ratchet in it's price range. Some guy who doesn't want to dump over 100 dollars in a new ratchet or could be on a limited budget would find a good tool here. It's just that simple and uncomplicated. If you don't like them don't buy them.

I for one have enjoyed your say about Duralast as a tool and I hope you continue to speak your mind about this and other tools.

 

[tjackson]

I think you need more ratchets !

 

[NWphotog]

I think you need more ratchets !

What he said!

 

[mrholeshot]

mrholeshot, do you have or have you tried the 60 tooth Gearwrench ratchets? I see they have a comfort handle flex head ratchet that is 13" long.

I havent tried them yet. I'm waiting on a set of the new Craftsman ratchets right now. Maybe the gearwrench after the first of the year when I can get back to making some money. I'm sure the Gearwrench are great as about everything Ive tried from them has been great. Some things I'm not real crazy about but not really a quality thing. Money is a little tight but I have them on the "To get" list.

 

[kab00m]

I went ahead and picked up a flex head Duralast ratchet. The only thing I have noticed is that it requires a little more effort to rotate the drive compared to the only snap on ratchet I have which is the F80.

 

[sselander]

more popcorn ...