- Jan 2, 2006
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How much am I going to regret buying a really cheap ratchet set from Walmart vs. spending more on some kind of name brand? I don't use it that often, and I have a hard time imagining a simple ratchet breaking.
How much am I going to regret buying a cheap ratchet wrench set?
- Thread starter fuzzybabybunny
- Start date
GagHalfrunt
Lifer
- Apr 19, 2001
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It depends what you do. Light household work you won't have any trouble. If you're going to do heavier stuff like automotive repair with frozen bolts you'll split half a dozen sockets quickly and toss the set in the garbage. If you have to ask this question you're probably not going to be using them on jobs where it will matter, so you should be fine.
BoomerD
No Lifer
- Feb 26, 2006
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For lightweight household use, they should be fine. For working on your car, they may or may not last, and it never fails, a cheapo socket will split or strip just when you need it the most, and there's no place open to get a replacement. Personally, I don't buy any tools cheaper than Craftsman, even though I rarely work on my own cars anymore. For about $100 you can get a decent of SAE/Metric sockets and ratchets that will serve you well, probably for the rest of your life or until you have kids...which ever comes first. However, as with anything, YMMV.
- Jan 2, 2006
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I really have no idea even. Probably a mix. The first thing I'm going to be doing is tightening the bolts that will hold my new trailer hitch to the car.
blurredvision
Lifer
- Oct 19, 2000
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- Jan 2, 2006
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What are some good name brands? All I know is Craftsman and Kobalt. I actually have a nice Craftsman set, but alas, it is 300 miles away at my parents' house.
Someone got me a cheap ratchet set for my birthday or something; I was trying to get a bolt off my truck and the adapter from ratchet to 1/4" socket simply twisted right off.
If you already have a nice set, just get a cheap one to get by and write a note to pick up your good one.
If you already have a nice set, just get a cheap one to get by and write a note to pick up your good one.
BoomerD
No Lifer
- Feb 26, 2006
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For decent quality inexpensive tools, I'd recommend :
Craftsman
Husky (Home Depot's brand)
Kobalt (Lowe's brand)
IMO, avoid any tools made in China or India. The steel is usually too soft for serious work, the tolerances in the tools usually sucks, and the build quality usually isn't there.
Craftsman
Husky (Home Depot's brand)
Kobalt (Lowe's brand)
IMO, avoid any tools made in China or India. The steel is usually too soft for serious work, the tolerances in the tools usually sucks, and the build quality usually isn't there.
Craftsman will be fine, but try to get a set on sale. I lucked out when mine came with spark plug sockets, heh.
GagHalfrunt
Lifer
- Apr 19, 2001
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Craftsman, Kobalt, Mac and Snap-On are all great. I like Craftsman because you can usually get them on sale and there are plenty of places to get replacements if one does happen to break.
This, plus if you ever break a Craftsman simply walk into any Sears and the exchange is no questions without a receipt.
GagHalfrunt
Lifer
- Apr 19, 2001
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The basic hand tools like sockets, box wrenches, hammers and screwdrivers do. Specialty tools like torque wrenches don't.
BoomerD
No Lifer
- Feb 26, 2006
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The issue with cheapo tools isn't that you'll wear them out by using them too much, it's that they're usually poorly made of low-quality materials, and can let you down when you NEED them.
I've had cheapo wrenches that didn't fit the proper size nuts/bolts, that spread the jaws when you tightened the nut/bolt, or were too soft, so they deformed when you tightened nuts/bolts. I've had crappy cheapo sockets that would split the socket, round off inside the socket, or twist off the drive of the ratchet with only moderate use.
I'm used to quality tools that you can put a 2 foot cheater pipe on the ratchet and break frozen nuts loose without damaging the tool, that you can connect 2 end wrenches together for extra leverage and not damage the tool, or that I can really apply torque to without rounding off the head of the bolt or nut, and won't spread the jaws and bust my fucking knuckles in some tight spot in the engine compartment. I want tools I can depend on.
I am all about craftsman, and have used their tools in the service of not only my cars/vehicles and other projects, but also working in a large dealership. Most of the techs had snap-on or other super expensive tools and were making monthly payments on their sets but I was quite content with my Craftsman brand. Did have one socket wrench take a dump but it was the cheapest 1/2" socket wrench they sell and I had a four foot cheater bar on it when it went out. That being said, when I went to exchange it, Sears was out of the same ratchet, so they gave me an $80-$90 dollar one in place of it.
That being said, many of the Harbor Freight tools do come with a lifetime warranty where you just have to exchange the whole set, instead of each piece, and they are dirt cheap, made in China tools if you are lucky, just have to look each piece over individually and make that call.... Usually cheaper than say walmart, but probably better than what you might find at a dollar store....
That being said, many of the Harbor Freight tools do come with a lifetime warranty where you just have to exchange the whole set, instead of each piece, and they are dirt cheap, made in China tools if you are lucky, just have to look each piece over individually and make that call.... Usually cheaper than say walmart, but probably better than what you might find at a dollar store....
What everyone else said. As long as you don't put much torque on a cheapo ratchet, you will probably be ok, but once you really start *using* it, it will probably break. Especially the junk sets that come with a 3/8" wrench - but almost all 1/4" drive sockets and a shitty 3/8" to 1/4" adapter so that you can use them with the included ratchet. I twisted the end off of at least 5 of those adapters using dirt cheap sets in HS and college before I could afford at least average quality tools. Split a fair number of sockets, too.
One thing you might try is pawn shops, used tool shops, or Craigslist. You can often get high quality name brand tools for the same amount of money you'd spend on new junk from China.
One thing you might try is pawn shops, used tool shops, or Craigslist. You can often get high quality name brand tools for the same amount of money you'd spend on new junk from China.
OUCaptain
Golden Member
- Nov 21, 2007
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I doubt you'd regret buying the cheap set as you don't really have a benchmark to compare to. One thing I can tell you however, is that you definitely will NEVER regret buying a good set. Snap On would be way over board for you but IMHO Kobalt or Huskey should be the lowest quality tool anyone buys. With average homeowner use, you'll have a bigger problem not loosing them rather than breaking them. I've got a socket set that's going on 12 yrs without a single issue, at least with the ones I haven't lost. Pay the money for tools that will last a life time. I have some misc tools my grandfather got in the 20's that still work perfectly.
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