HF composit ratchets

[mudflap]

Noticed on some other threads people have good things to say about them, and a couple guys at the shop have them. I've borrowed one a time or two, they are really smooth, high tooth count, seem really strong, dont flex like you think they would, and nice to work with when it gets cold in the shop. If you have tried one, whats your opinion ? And is there anything like that made in USA ?

 

[greasemonkey44]

they are pretty good; i used to lean on mine alot
however it has a wierd offset on the handle that i dont like; now its in the junkyard bag and i use a matco 88 instead

 

[Soon2AdjustYou]

I have one in all 3 drive sizes. I love them. They are my go to ratchet for low torque applications. But then again I'm no pro...just a wannabe.

 

[ishiboo]

I have one in all 3 drive sizes. I love them. They are my go to ratchet for low torque applications. But then again I'm no pro...just a wannabe.

Same. Just pulled much of my Kubota apart with one, they seem to be great ratchets. Very smooth.

 

[RodneyPierce]

I love mine. Especially since they have the high tooth count, and they are a very smooth ratchet. And honestly very strong as well.

 

[DanCo]

I have the 3/8" version, only use it when working on batteries, staters, alternators and fuse panels on Mack trucks. I agree on the handle offset being wierd, but for $9 you can't complain & it's a helluva lot cheaper than the Snappy composite.

 

[blackgold]

I've got a few of each size, love them. I've really put a beating on them, my original set has outlived quite a few Cman ratchet. I've had to jump on the 1/2" to break lug nuts loose (I'm about 285). Still feels good... I do love my slim Cman but even it has not lasted as long as the HF composites.
Brian

 

[Dave.R]

They are really nice and comfortable. As long as your keeping it light duty they work great.

 

[Carl B]

Dave.R
Can you define the difference between "light duty" and "heavy duty" - so I can more clearly understand your meaning.

thanks,
Carl B.

 

[WR250F]

I don't give a second thought to heavy or light duty.

These ratchets are pretty damned tough, contrary to what some folks believe. I used to think...plastic... go easy on it or it'll break...

Not so, mine hold up fine no matter how much arm I put on them.

Hell of a deal for under $10

 

[trboxman]

I've got a few of each size, love them. I've really put a beating on them, my original set has outlived quite a few Cman ratchet. I've had to jump on the 1/2" to break lug nuts loose (I'm about 285). Still feels good... I do love my slim Cman but even it has not lasted as long as the HF composites.
Brian

Why would you jump on a ratchet instead of using a breaker bar?

 

[Dave.R]

I don't think twice about using it around a motor, but I would think of Heavy duty as lug nuts or anything big on suspension. But I've only ever used mine sparingly. It could hold up, I've just always switch to my long snap-on dual 80 when I got to that kind of muscle.

 

[scylla]

I picked the Harbor Freight composites over all of the other brands I could get because it just made the most sense to me. I can afford to get the Snappys or other premium ratchet, but why spend the money when the HF's do just as good of a job.

As for them only for "light work", that's not the case. I lean and pull on them constantly without ever having a failure. If they do ever fail they have a lifetime warranty.

I consider them to be one of the few no brainer tool choices out there.

I also will give credit where credit is due. The Chinese made a darn good ratchet with these.

 

[ishiboo]

I don't give a second thought to heavy or light duty.

These ratchets are pretty damned tough, contrary to what some folks believe. I used to think...plastic... go easy on it or it'll break...

Not so, mine hold up fine no matter how much arm I put on them.

Hell of a deal for under $10

They're steel inside, just have a plastic handle that covers the entire thing. Though FRP and similar plastics are quite strong. HF Carbon Fiber ratchet = next?

 

[topher_csr]

I beat on mine all the time. i have yet to even feel it flex. I even used a hammer on it to bust some stubborn brake bolts the other day. i say beat on it like a $9 ratchet. i even had some snap on guys tell me how much they like them. They are pretty much all i use for now.

 

[scylla]

I would add I hope they come out with a long handled composite ratchet too. I'll snap it up in a heartbeat.

 

[RodneyPierce]

there was a test on here somewhere done between a craftsman 1/2 inch and a HF Composite 1/2 inch. I think the craftsman broke at just under 300 ft/lbs and the HF snapped the adapter at something like 400 ft/lbs so he couldnt get the true "breaking point" of the HF ratchet. But needless to say, that doesnt seem like a "take it easy" type of ratchet to me.

 

[blackgold]

Why would you jump on a ratchet instead of using a breaker bar?

On the side of the road, you don't always have the tools you'd like to. You improvise with what you have. I was lucky enough to have that with me.. That's been years and it's still in use regularly. I have multiple breaker bars, just didn't with me that night.
Brian

 

[rayh91]

I have a 1/4" Composite and I really don't like it. It feels weird in my hand, the selection lever is backwards and it switches direction too easily but for $8, it was worth the try.

 

[topher_csr]

On the side of the road, you don't always have the tools you'd like to. You improvise with what you have. I was lucky enough to have that with me.. That's been years and it's still in use regularly. I have multiple breaker bars, just didn't with me that night.
Brian

I will say the the HF breaker bar has been one of the best investments ive made. it was like $10 and i use it all the time. i dont even grab an impact to get wheels off anymore. just knock it out with that breaker bar. may not be a bad idea to pick up a few.

 

[digdug18]

I'm hoping someone will take the time to do an actual comparison with the various HF ratchets, torque measurement and all that, love to know how much they'll take before they break, especially compared against the better manufactures out there.

Andrew

 

[trboxman]

I can certainly understand using what you've got. I've got a breaker bar in each vehicle along with lug nut sockets just in case.

 

[Davefr]

These HF plastic ratchets are better then I thought. In 1/4" and 3/8" they can be an all around "go to" ratchet.

However at 1/2" I prefer steel.

 

[DanCo]

I'm hoping someone will take the time to do an actual comparison with the various HF ratchets, torque measurement and all that, love to know how much they'll take before they break, especially compared against the better manufactures out there.

Andrew

Here you go.
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71734

 

[GoBlue]

These are the only ratchets i own that dont say Snap on or Matco on them. Honestly they are just as good as my Snappys or Matcos and have the advantage of the plastic body. I use the hell out of them!

 

[pfbz]

Re: HF composite ratchets

Definitely like the HF composites... I have quite a few Snap-ons (Vintage & new), Matco's... and composite Harbor Freight's. Even started a thread on them about two years ago.

Just to clarify, the drive mechanism, reversing lever, ball detent, etc. are all metal, not composite. And from the stiffness of the handle, I believe there is metal underneath the plastic/composite of the handle as well.

Definitely not a smooth as my Snap-On FHF80, but way smoother than my 1962 20-tooth F651! 1968 32-tooth F731 Will the HF last 50+ years? probably not.

Which one of these is not like the others??

When this Snap-on ratchet was built in 1962, China was more interested in cultural reform and dealing with massive famines than exporting tools...

 

[machine_punk]

After a good review here for these ratchets, I bought the 1/4" & 3/8" drive versions. I don't use ratchets much, but these have become the first ones I grab, when I need one. I've never pushed them hard so far (no need to yet), but they have performed beautifully for me.

 

[Jonboy1974]

I just picked up the 3/8 drive HF composite a couple of weeks ago. I love it. i think it will become my new go to ratchet.

 

[99LeCouch]

I like mine. I have the 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" ones. They're great inexpensive ratchets. Then again, they get used once in a blue moon.

 

[losabio]

Something about the way I use a ratchet seems to be incompatible with the offset in the HF composites. I love the way they feel, love the way they're weighted, etc. but I end up rolling them over when I try to start cranking on them. Some guns point real naturally for some people while seeming to aim oddly for others. These ratchets just point weird for me I think.

 

[pfbz]

...I end up rolling them over when I try to start cranking on them.

Definitely not the ratchet I pick up when I need to crank on a fastener...

 

[dwm]

Definitely not the ratchet I pick up when I need to crank on a fastener...

Same here, I just don't trust it to hold up. Especially since the 3/8" failed pretty early in mrholeshot's test versus others. But I use them and I like them, especially on battery terminals (though they're not electrically qualified by any outside lab as near as I can tell) and when I'm concerned about dinging or gouging paint. But even though I don't yank on them, I don't think I've been any gentler on them than I normally am on other ratchets of the same length and drive size. For the price (almost disposable), I think they're fantastic.

 

[jim2664258]

Here you go.
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71734

Darn, the pics in that posting are no longer on the hosting site. Had not seen that before, wish I would have seen it when the pics were still available.