OK, I'm a hypocrite now

[bonneyman]

Harbor freight was having this liquidation sale, crazy discounts off of their already low prices. So.....I went in and bought a pair of their composite ratchets. Been thinking about it for a year after Jacks recommendation. Lighter, comfort curved handle, non-conductive (compared to steel), and less apt to mar finishes. Something just kept holding me back. Well, for $16 and change for the two of them I now have a 1/4" and 3/8". Don't ride me too hard that they're not Bonney's!

I asked the cashier why the liquidation? Were they closing? No, she said, just getting in new inventory.

Hmm. I don't know.

[J.A.F.E.]

Were you able to get the hang tags off?

I think the majority of us have HF tools - I do for some of the users and about half my junk yard kit is HF.

[bonneyman]

Yeah, the hang tags come off.

For $8 and $9 I had to pull the trigger. Give them a try out, see how they perform. I don't need any more ratchets, but the lighter weight and comfort handle just demanded a personal review.

[ken w.]

The HF near me has a liquidation sale about once a month or two. I found one of these ratchets in 1/4" at a yard sale for a dollar. I personally didn't like the handle. The rest was ok.

[hickory n Steel]

I've checked one out and it seemed like a decent tool, but no matter the quality I just feel a bit shameful or guilty about a tool with China or Taiwan on it.
I would like to be able to appreciate such tools if they can be useful, but growing up all my tools were cheapos from Taiwan or China and I got sick of it.

[Rusty]

When I was growing up the cheap tools said USA or Japan.

[hickory n Steel]

When I was growing up the cheap tools said USA or Japan.

I had a couple older Japan sets too.

I don't want to bring this off topic, but I'm not sure my post made much sense.
Here's the best analogy I can think of.
Say growing up the only protein your mom cooked with was beef , good or bad you probably wouldn't choose a beef dish if given the choice.

[jabberwoki]

No hf in my toolbox ...never.

[slip knot]

I've got one of the 1/4 drives and its not too bad. I use it quite a bit. nice light weight fine tooth ratchet.

[bonneyman]

I will admit the handle shape might take a bit to get used to. The 1/4"er seems fine - the 3/8"er seems a bit big for the drive size. But at those prices I figured I gotta try it.

[strik9]

Stanley was my first flagship brand and supplimented by any cheap stuff I  could afford.
    That included cheap Asain and old crap.

  If a HF opened here I would be there four days a week to just get high on uncured rubber. 

   Not sure I would buy much but to have the selection would be great.

   For me the non mechanic homeowner crap has bigger appeal.   Two uses a year before setting in useful clutter catagory a long time.....
  Why park a lot of money?

[Cruiser808]

Harbor freight was having this liquidation sale, crazy discounts off of their already low prices. So.....I went in and bought a pair of their composite ratchets. Been thinking about it for a year after Jacks recommendation. Lighter, comfort curved handle, non-conductive (compared to steel), and less apt to mar finishes. Something just kept holding me back. Well, for $16 and change for the two of them I now have a 1/4" and 3/8". Don't ride me too hard that they're not Bonney's!

I asked the cashier why the liquidation? Were they closing? No, she said, just getting in new inventory.

Hmm. I don't know.

No worries Bonneyman, just ride the hell out of them and give us a report on how they hold up.

[muddy]

Those composite ratchets are good workers. Had a 1/4" one iny work box till I upgraded to Matco.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

[bonneyman]

Just saw a video where the guy reviews these ratchets (actually the Tekton equivalent), and he cuts into the handle - revealing the steel core that runs about 2/3 the way down. I'm split on my reaction. Happy theirs some steel in there so I know it'll take some torque, but pissed that they advertized composite and it's just a coating. But then again what can I complain about over an $8 ratchet?

Guess I'll have to do my own review and post it for you guys.

[Uncle Buck]

No hf in my toolbox ...never.

I don't have much HF stuff in my box, but I will admit to a few bits and pieces here and there. I will never have much HF in there though. I would sort of feel like I was diluting/corrupting the bloodline of my tools.......