new professional grade harbor freight ratchets

[nieuport17]

Thank you for the pictures
Those ratchets do look good. I just need to find the time to go there.
The prices on the web seem decent. I hope the prices in the store are the same as the web.

back on topic, here is some quick things i put together comparing the ratchets.

kobalt long flex new long composite and new pro 3/8 extra long ratchet.

i feel hf made a mistake. they have 2 long and longer 3/8 ratchets. the shorter version i did not buy, its just an inch short of my kobalt. the long version is longer than my long pattern kobalt. i would have liked to seen a short 3/8 flex for tight areas i guess.

only had 2 coupons so prob go back tomorrow and maybe grab one of the 1/2's. the long 1/2 is really long. 18 or 20 id guess.

mechanisms look exactly the same across the board, though i did not disassemble. my kobalt feels like it has a finer tooth, maybe because its well used? kobalt uses the ball detent like the gearwrench and the hf uses a smooth flex similar to the snap on
i dont have a gearwrench to measure, but the hf is clearly thinner without the quick release by a good bit.

 

[Parrothead]

I had been wondering for about a month what the ratchets in the third photo of this (http://www.harborfreight.com/72-in-18-drawer-glossy-red-industrial-roller-cabinet-61656.html) item were. Now I know! Looks like they still have to release 1 more (can't find it on the website).

You know what's interesting...there's only the 3/8 composite in that picture...

 

[BirdMobile]

I had been wondering for about a month what the ratchets in the third photo of this (http://www.harborfreight.com/72-in-18-drawer-glossy-red-industrial-roller-cabinet-61656.html) item were. Now I know! Looks like they still have to release 1 more (can't find it on the website).

Yes. Looks like they show four 3/8 drive ratchets in the photo (including the composite). Looks like the one on the far right has a thicker shaft than the other 3. I'm guessing either a telescoping, or locking design.

Cool! Can't wait to see it in person... if they haven't mothballed it.

 

[BirdMobile]

Thank you for the pictures
Those ratchets do look good. I just need to find the time to go there.
The prices on the web seem decent. I hope the prices in the store are the same as the web.

If you had been able to read my post a few pages ago (buried in the China vs. Taiwan idiocy) you'd know that the store will match the online price. I just showed the price to them on my phone from their website. I'm sure a printout of the web page would accomplish the same purpose. The price in the store "system" is the full retail, but they know it's a new product so there are bound to be a few glitches at first.

They took my 20% coupons too... rang my 2 ratchets as 2 different sales so I could use both. The manager was standing there watching the whole thing whole they did it too... they don't seem to care about "coupon abuse" at HF these days.

 

[nieuport17]

If you had been able to read my post a few pages ago (buried in the China vs. Taiwan idiocy) you'd know that the store will match the online price. I just showed the price to them on my phone from their website. I'm sure a printout of the web page would accomplish the same purpose. The price in the store "system" is the full retail, but they know it's a new product so there are bound to be a few glitches at first.

They took my 20% coupons too... rang my 2 ratchets as 2 different sales so I could use both. The manager was standing there watching the whole thing whole they did it too... they don't seem to care about "coupon abuse" at HF these days.

Lol. Thanks. I actually skipped all the c vs t posts. I just scrolled and scrolled until I saw the pictures then I scrolled more.

 

[BirdMobile]

Lol. Thanks. I actually skipped all the c vs t posts. I just scrolled and scrolled until I saw the pictures then I scrolled more.

No prob... what we're all here for.
Go back and find my post, I actually tried to do a decent review of the ratchets and store experience. Kind of sad it was lost in the noise, maybe I'll repost.

 

[ecotec]

I had been wondering for about a month what the ratchets in the third photo of this (http://www.harborfreight.com/72-in-18-drawer-glossy-red-industrial-roller-cabinet-61656.html) item were. Now I know! Looks like they still have to release 1 more (can't find it on the website).

Looks like a telescoping version.

I am losing hope on a 1/4" and 1/2" version of the composite ratchet.

 

[BirdMobile]

This is a repost from yesterday. The original was lost in all the China vs. Taiwan moronic posturing and ego wanking.

Just left HF a few minutes ago.

When I got there, I was dissappointed to see no new ratchets on the rack. Asked the manager if they got any new ratchets in, he told me he didn't think so... but a SKU number would help him find out. I pulled out my phone, dialed up this thread, and gave him numbers. He told me the last shipment that was dropped off this morning had all the SKU's on it!

We went to the back of the store, found the right boxes, and opened them. Wow!

I was planning to buy just the composite long 3/8, but when I saw the others, I knew I had to buy the 1/4 flex head too! VERY nice ratchets, all of them. All made in Taiwan, they REEK of quality. I even liked how they felt in my hand, and this is coming from someone who HATES comfort grip handles!

They overcharged me, but I showed them the price on their website, and the manager adjusted the prices. Used a pair of 20% off coupons on 2 different sales tickets to get them even lower. Manager didn't care. Great shopping experience all around! Out the door a little over $25 later, with two ratchets I expect will last as long as I do.

I'm pleased... super happy with my purchase so far!

Addition: On the flex head ratchet, the flex tension ("floppiness") is adjustable. I tightened mine up when I got home to make it a bit "stiff" for less lateral slippage.

 

[stage20]

But I still have more room in the drawer.

And when its full just buy another box so you can buy more ratchets.
I sold 10 spare ratchets last night and I still have too many. Prob gonna stop into hf and buy a couple more

That 3/8 stubby might be new, never seen one ubless it was a round head in a 3 pack. No reviews on it either.....seems new.

 

[BirdMobile]

And when its full just buy another box so you can buy more ratchets.
I sold 10 spare ratchets last night and I still have too many. Prob gonna stop into hf and buy a couple more

That 3/8 stubby might be new, never seen one ubless it was a round head in a 3 pack. No reviews on it either.....seems new.

You, Sir, are sick. Kudos!

 

[rmsg0040]

pretty cheap:

http://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-drive-teardrop-composite-ratchet-62318.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-long-handle-flexible-ratchet-62332.html

all the new ratchets are 1/2 off

 

[BirdMobile]

I just finished some work replacing a drive belt on my recently purchased wood planer. I used the 1/4 flex on the allen socket bolts, and the 3/8 long composite on the pulley nut.

Impressions so far: quality and ergonomics all the way! I think this 3/8 long composite could easily become my new "go to" ratchet for 3/8 drive... I have to say that so far it is impressing the hell out of me.

 

[ecotec]

Impressions so far: quality and ergonomics all the way! I think this 3/8 long composite could easily become my new "go to" ratchet for 3/8 drive... I have to say that so far it is impressing the hell out of me.

I like it too. I really like how the grip is level with the composite. I wish they would have done a transition like that on the flex heads (so the transition from metal to grip would be even, with no lip…).

 

[tbaggz]

I looked but didn't like them.stupid opposite reverser.just more junk.

 

[cbus]

Just picked up the 1/2 drive flex long handle. 25 bucks including tax with coupon. If it performs as well as it looks, these are a no brainer.

 

[BirdMobile]

I looked but didn't like them.stupid opposite reverser.just more junk.

Opposite to what?
i have ratchets from a dozen different manufacturers in my boxes, some are selected one way, some the other. Don't even notice it, I just flip it if it's set the wrong direction.

 

[BirdMobile]

Here are the internals of the 3/8" long handled composite:

 

[BirdMobile]

Here are the internals of the 1/4" flex head.
BTW, both the 3/8 composite and the 1/4 flex head LOVE the RLL - as smooth as any of my Snap On ratchets after a few drops of the Permatex Ultra Slick.

 

[BirdMobile]

Finally, a photo of the old style (Gen. 2) fat handled 3/8 composite, next to the new long handled 3/8 composite for size comparison.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Finally, a photo of the old style (Gen. 2) fat handled 3/8 composite, next to the new long handled 3/8 composite for size comparison.

Thank you! Exactly what I was looking for.

 

[Hiball]

Opposite to what?
i have ratchets from a dozen different manufacturers in my boxes, some are selected one way, some the other. Don't even notice it, I just flip it if it's set the wrong direction.

It's all what you are used to, some people have similar issues with round head ratchets because they can tell what direction it's set for. I grew up with round heads so its second nature for me to simply rotate the anvil/socket prior to using. I do find myself paying more attention to my pear heads with correctly aligned selectors when using them, but not a deal breaker.

 

[92integra]

can you guys who have them snap some pics of head thickness compared to other ratchets like SO MATCO and maybe GW

 

[stage20]

Don't know good or bad here but I used my long 3/8. Then grabbed my kobalt. The hf is lighter. I don't have a small scale but feels like the kobalt is less balanced as well and its an inch shorter.

 

[ATC]

I stopped at HF today to check them out. I have a gift card...so free ratchets are always the best ratchets!

They had none of the new stuff...

 

[chicane]

Taiwan is closer to being an American state than it is to being a part of the People's Republic of China. They're democratic. Their workers live in actual houses rather than being forced to sleep on a cot in a factory compound. They use American guns and fighter jets.

They are ethnic Chinese, and whether it is mainland or the island it is Chinese made. Just ask the people of Hong Kong how Democratic the Chinese are, as if that means squat as to the quality of their tools.

So all of those posts in which you asked for help were hypothetical situations because you just wanted to talk. You were only pretending to not know for the sake of conversation. Gotcha.

All these posts? Which ones are you referring to? And what bearing does that have on my depth of knowledge on hand tools? Are you saying pros never ask questions? You're dreaming. And what exactly are your qualifications? I doubt being the oil boy at the local Jiffy Lube qualifies as a pro tech.

You're the genius trying to pass your uneducated opinion off as fact to pros.

What pros? Once again for the intellectually impaired: THIS IS A HOBBYIST/ENTHUSIAST FORUM, if their are pros here it is only because they share a love of tools. I never ever said I was a professional mechanic, and my educated OPINION is as good as yours.

You can't know which tools are **** and which aren't without actually using them.

But I do use them so there is the rub chump, now I find it interesting that you are spending so much bandwidth trying to defend your toolbox filled to the brim with Harbor Freight which to me says you are not a very skilled mechanic yourself for if you were, your box would be filled with Snap-On or Hazet. So why don't you head back to the local Jiffy Lube and don't forget to tighten that filter.....

 

[Brownsfan]

These dont look bad. Are they China or Taiwan made? For the sale prices the long flex heads are a pretty good value. Much cheaper than a equivalent Gearwrench. I may just break my no HF hand tool rule. I vowed never to use them again after a set of slip joint pliers self destructed while in use. And the others I had rusted so fast. These were being used in my road box for on site installs. So they were exposed to moisture. Nothing extreme. I replaced them with Craftsman and they have been fine.

 

[chicane]

There is a horrible tier of tool Taiwan in incapable of making. China can and does make it. They LOVE making it because they have a lot of crappy metal to get rid of and a lot of uneducated, unskilled, unemployed people who don't know how to do anything. These tools are just as shiny as quality tools. When you order it, you don't know it's a dog until you get it. Companies have been buying those pieces of ****, and pricing them just low enough to get the purchase over a known quality Taiwan or US tool. Well, or in Sears' case, increasing the price and pocketing the greater profit.

And you know this how? Because you are a metallurgist and an expert on Chinese tool manufacturing processes? Gimme a break. You are a blow hard and a wanna be know-it-all.

You have zero facts to back up anything that you just said other than you just stated it as fact.

 

[woody 73]

Today I stopped into the HF store to get a good look at all their new ratchets but alas they only had old stock; do all the stores now carry them where you guys are located?

 

[flying eyeball]

birdmobile

 

[BirdMobile]

can you guys who have them snap some pics of head thickness compared to other ratchets like SO MATCO and maybe GW

I'll photo them next to Snap On, Kobalt, Craftsman, and Carlyle tomorrow.
I'm out of the shop for today!

P.S. I only have the new Composite 3/8 and Flex head 1/4... though that might change in the next few days if I can scrounge up a few more 20% coupons!

 

[BirdMobile]

Hey.
Why don't you China vs. Taiwan twats go ruin some other thread? This one's about the new HF ratchets... or at least it used to be!

 

[cagullett1]

And you know this how? Because you are a metallurgist and an expert on Chinese tool manufacturing processes? Gimme a break. You are a blow hard and a wanna be know-it-all.

You have zero facts to back up anything that you just said other than you just stated it as fact.

stop ruining a decent thread. Debate in PM's

 

[flying eyeball]

 

[cagullett1]

Today I stopped into the HF store to get a good look at all their new ratchets but alas they only had old stock; do all the stores now carry them where you guys are located?

Did your store still have 1/4" rotos?

 

[MagnumForce]

Just die already

 

[Ratsofftoya]

I'll photo them next to Snap On, Kobalt, Craftsman, and Carlyle tomorrow.
I'm out of the shop for today!

P.S. I only have the new Composite 3/8 and Flex head 1/4... though that might change in the next few days if I can scrounge up a few more 20% coupons!

Hey.
Why don't you China vs. Taiwan twats go ruin some other thread? This one's about the new HF ratchets... or at least it used to be!

Looking forward to more pics!! Thanks!

 

[Ruger_556]

Just die already

No

 

[MRunabout]

I went to my local store yesterday and they didn't have any but just received the ad today in the mail with the ratchets advertised so I'll check again on Friday.

 

[oldtools]

Finally, a photo of the old style (Gen. 2) fat handled 3/8 composite, next to the new long handled 3/8 composite for size comparison.

That new composite ratchet look pretty darn good. I might get one.

 

[alinc100]

Not trying to stir the pot but the website shows the 3/8" drive flex head standard length to have a 90 day warranty.
Now it may be a typo/website hasn't caught up with reality but I figured it's worth noting.

I do like the looks of these ratchets and my hands are not getting any younger so it may be an affordable way to slip into comfort grips.

http://http://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-drive-flex-head-ratchet-62321.html?hftref=cj