Is Thorsen any good?

[four.cycle]

Thorsen made a

part number 16mm - 3/8" drive 16mm 6-point standard socket

part number 1016 - 16mm "v-groove" combination wrench

the 1988 catalog does NOT show any 16mm sockets in 1/2" drive, or any 16mm deep-well in 3/8" drive.

the 16mm "v-groove" combination wrench was only included in the 12-and-14-piece sets or from open stock, so it's reasonable to assume they may well be in short supply.

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

Here’s my anecdote about stress testing the ratchet during that project. We had just made new frames to hold these battery boxes in place. We test fit them to the car frame with just the boxes, no batteries- so the size was confirmed but weight wasn’t taken into account. Big mistake. I’m installing it, the first side goes on smoothly, the second is going on rough. I feel a bolt start to stretch and stop and say I think I’m about to break it. Boss says it’s a pretty strong bolt, keep going. Guess who was right? One easy out later and with the weight supported differently the ratchet finished the job just fine.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I'm curious as to what you got out of that thing... $20 bucks?

What diameter was the bolt you snapped off with it?

Even if it was only .... 1/4-20 (6mm-1.0) that's still a pretty strong pull (although... when I first started using sockets and ratchets in 1970 I was snapping 1/4" bolts off left and right.... so... )

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

I believe $18! And was able to check and the bolt in question was 3/8-16. So nothing too crazy but definitely reasonable range for 3/8” drive.

I have to give this thread credit for putting Thorsen on my mind because today for $8 this ratchet followed me home. 77NR long handle 1/2” drive. Enclosed head, 36 tooth, chrome in reasonable shape. This’ll make life a little easier by replacing a breaker bar in the tool kit for a tube bender.

 

[bonneyman]

Thorsen made a

part number 16mm - 3/8" drive 16mm 6-point standard socket

part number 1016 - 16mm "v-groove" combination wrench

the 1988 catalog does NOT show any 16mm sockets in 1/2" drive, or any 16mm deep-well in 3/8" drive.

the 16mm "v-groove" combination wrench was only included in the 12-and-14-piece sets or from open stock, so it's reasonable to assume they may well be in short supply.

Oh well, I've got a Wright filling the pegboard slot till I find one, if ever.

 

[matthew]

Spotted today - old stock / surplus. I didn’t open the box, photo is printed on the back of the box. Seemed to be packed in a metal box under the cardboard.

 

[four.cycle]

^ That is the later Taiwan-import Thorsen. Sketchy at best.
There is a ton of it out there - new old stock - Whatchamacallittools in Oklahoma City has a boatload of it. He has a lot of listed on Ebay, but even more in the store.

 

[AGuinn]

Thorsen were the house brand tools we sold at Advance Auto when I worked there from 98-00, and they were in that exact same silver and black packaging. I still have the metric wrench set and a 3/8 stubby ratchet I bought way back then. The wrench set got retired long ago - they were too short and the chrome was flaking off the 10 and 13mm. Despite that, until recently, the stubby was my most used ratchet. I found it to be the most comfortable to use, even though the mechansim was loose and sloppy.

Edit to add:

Looking on Ebay for pricing on NOS sets from that era, there's no way I would pay what they're asking. IMHO, Thorsen of that era is comparable to low-end Pittsburg - on a good day.

 

[four.cycle]

^ If you are looking at the Thorsen currently being offered by Whatchamacallittools, you will note there is a real disconnect there from reality.

I'm sure that other members here will agree with me: You almost cannot GIVE AWAY Thorsen or Giller on ebay. Most of the Thorsen ebay purchases I've made - all U.S. product - were ridiculously cheap, and I would probably have difficulty recouping my investment.