Here’s the list of products reviewed. More details in the video description. Thank you! Proto: amzn.to/3P4MBXG GearWrench 90: amzn.to/3qEf7W3 GearWrench 120: amzn.to/3X3C8h2 Stahlwille: amzn.to/3JdgOQt: Hazet: amzn.to/3p66OBF Wera: amzn.to/3qF5syi Crescent: amzn.to/4601ctk SATA: amzn.to/440JPHf Duratech: amzn.to/3MXamyc Der Erwachte: amzn.to/3p9gZFA Snap On: Available online at the Snap On store Husky: Available online at Home Depot ICON: Available at Harbor Freight Milwaukee: Available online at Home Depot TRO Prototype Website: www.trodesigns.com/
I've always preferred the reverse switch to be stiff, nothing agravates me more than trying to maneuver a ratchet into position inside a tight spot where i cant reach only to have something bump the lever into the wrong setting, I've had to go as far as wrapping the handle in electrical tape to make it stop.
Can we get a comparison of the cost vs depth of various commercially available submarines? Cost savings is my number one priority, so ideally I can use things I already have like a Logitech or PlayStation controller!
The TRO and 3d printed contenders were an extremely entertaining addition. It's always very interesting to see how the top performers don't necessarily come from a particular company, country, or at the highest price.
I would rather pay more for a Jap, German, or American tool than sponsor the CCP by buying Chinese. Taiwan is the best option in many cases since the make good stuff and need the cash for weapons systems to defend from CCP attacks.
I appreciate how thorough your tests are. I need a new 1/4" wrench and stopped myself from just impulsively buying the husky when I walk by. Now I know that it's actually a quality product for the price. Thanks for putting an end to this ongoing battle in my head every time I go to home depot LOL
The thing I appreciate most is how quickly he shows what each item is, the testing and results. It keeps me engaged with the video otherwise I get distracted too easily lol.
Seeing prototypes in the lineup is kind of exciting! I appreciate that you protect the integrity of the test by buying the item, and remind us that this thing is still being developed.
@@gregoryv.zimansr4031 That's been my experience with expensive tools. 🙄 It helps when it's from someone that the thieves haven't heard of although Facom is becoming better known in USA last few years
As always a fantastic review. So cool to let me know a $30 ratchet is great for 99% of the things I’d ever expect it to do. That’s one reason I enjoy your non biased approach to testing! Thanks!
Unless you're buying the tools for use in a professional environment where tools breaking cost you more than just the price of the tool or the time to repair/replace it, Harbor Freight's Pittsburgh line is perfectly fine. If you just want better quality, Icon is an excellent choice.
@@aaronthomas6155 Yep..mine too. And they've done a ton of work! Dinged and worn...but Husky STILL working well. I've got a Husky10" portable bulb worklight...that still outperforms my newer LED versions!
I bought a 1/4 and 3/8 stubby duralast. 6 months and still working great even if it breaks right now it has helped me made enough money to buy another one without crying
The close ups of the ratchet mechanisms and failure points are not only a joy to us gearheads, but a goldmine to manufacturers. The effort to disassemble, video, and assess the internals is not lost on me, and it is high time we had a behind-the-scenes video. Please understand that we love what you do, with passion. A behind-the-scenes with you at a video editor, you setting up tests, you shopping for test equipment (the proto torque tester was not cheap), a simple and cheerful interview about how you came up with sending oil samples to a lab, your favorite WHATEVER. For sure you have an envious karma surplus, it is past due you acted a little selfish.
The fact you've made all your jigs and tests so far without having a 3D printer in your arsenal is "VERY IMPRESSIVE"! Excited to see what kind of things you come up with in the future utilizing it!
@Dillybar777 some do sure, but there is a LOT of use to it. You can make parts that are otherwise impossible or at the least out of reach for the average person. Honestly anyone who does repairs should pick up an ender 3 and a few spools of cheep filament and learn to 3d model. I've fixed everything from crock pots to monitor arms to automotive caps and while I could have replaced each of those for 10-40 bucks, the time and utility it offers is immense. Think about it like a lathe, you could get the same utility out of other tools, a mill and drill press come to mind. But it's faster and has a level of accuracy that you couldn't get by using another tool
Todd is revolutionizing how consumers can save real money in todays crazy times. You are the best if the best on utube and it’s not even a close second. I can only imagine how many manufactures reach out to you on a daily basis for positive and negative feedback. Keep them coming Todd. It’s a blessing to all of us followers for real info. Respect!!!!
I agree I would like to see the scores totalled with that removed. For me it isn’t relevant. If it is physically difficult to move like it is seized or broken it is a problem but other than that it doesn’t really matter
Also agree with you. I like a stiffer swing on the switch. A 1/4 ratchet is made for tight spaces and how annoying is it when the silly switch inadvertently gets reversed.
I bought Milwaukee 3/8 and 1/4 to replace my mis-matched sets. The 1/4 worked great. Once. Used it a second time and ratchet started acting up and finally gave up completely. Tried to get it apart to see what was up but couldn't. Returned it to Farm and Fleet where I got it and they reluctantly replaced it. The new one seems fine. We'll see if it lasts.
Todd, I don't know how you continue to improve on your already "best out there" videos, but you do. You truly give the most comprehensive and professional comparisons. Thank you very much. God Bless.
@@ProjectFarm how about a test for minimum engagement angle? Working in tight spaces it would be nice to know which ratchet needs the least space to engage
@@collingebhardt3098 He did. The ratchet that makes the 360° turn in the least ammount of swings has the smallest engagement angle. Comparing minimum engagement angle is the whole reason for that particular test.
That's cool that you've become prominent enough that some companies are starting to pay serious attention to you. That's exactly what we need! Very Impressive!
I expect that the company will make changes to the prototype based on what they see on this video. Really they should be copying his testing setup and doing it themselves.
My first thoughts -- for the ratchets that are serviceable like the Gearwrench, the internal grease can be removed and replaced with superlube which would improve the backdrag. The failure load for all the ratchets seemed more than adequate, so that really makes the backdrag and rotation metrics the only important things to consider IMO. Husky looks like a great value!
Yes, I’m having a hard time imagining needing a 1/4” ratchet to stand up to such significant torque. In my experience the problem is the opposite - breaking fasteners.
Who’s servicing their own ratchets though? I’ve never done that and I’ve been a shade tree mechanic for over 25 years… I’d rather be able to just meet up with my SnapOn/ Mac person or drive over to HFT, HD, or Lowe’s and exchange my broken wrench.
@kevrides5706 good luck at lowes. I've had the hardest time with warranty from lowes. Nothing like sears used to be. HF has probably the best warranty. But servicing a ratchet don't hardly take any time at all. I used to do it all the time. Had to spray it down with water almost every night.
As an aircraft mechanic, the TRO ratchet shows great promise as a prototype. I think the gears need to be improved upon, namely the arc swing as I need to get into some pretty tight spaces sometimes. If that can be improved upon, I'd strongly consider buying one for my tool box. As a flight mechanic, the weight is also important to me because I need to take my tools on commercial flights and I struggle with leaving tools behind at home because my tool box weighs too much. Like I said, it shows promise, but can be improved upon.
Yep. And not also aircrafts, but I guess there are a couple additional places were it's useful: 1) Places were you carry your tools to height or distance (towers, antennas, far away places...) 2) Highly magnetic places (i.e., the Magnetic Resonance in a hospital, but the tool has to be 100% titanium, and I don't know about that) 3) maybe high corrosion environments, like the sea
I liked the look but it seemed too bulky. The Thick handle would drive me nuts and the grip looked like it would be slippery. It probably only needs a couple grooves. Also the gap in the handle gave me pause because I felt it might get stuck and tug at things like safety wire in small spots.
@@AlvaroGonzalez_Andor I'll definitely agree with carrying tools up or down. Had to work on some equipment that was 170ft underground in an underground reservoir, the access was by vertical ladder which wasn't much fun with 80lbs of tools
How many tools are you really going to carry with you on a flight? I have a Pelican case with just very basic line mechanic stuff; wrenches, ratchet, sockets, screwdrivers, pliers, plus my headset and bypass pins. It comes in well under the 50 lb weight limit for a checked bag on a commercial flight. All you really need is the basics to comply with the MEL/DMP and get the airplane out. If the plane is really broke, you’re going to call in support, anyway. Remember, we’re here to move ‘em, not to improve ‘em.
I’m a huge fan of the premium and specialty tool tests. I work in industrial maintenance and love tools so seeing the German and Japanese brands included along with this new prototype one is awesome!
I've worked as a professional mechanic. When starting to look at this video I was thinking that some of these ratchets won't be very strong, and there is some difference in the failure loads, but not a lot and even the lowest one at 66 ft-lb would be stronger than what a person should need from a 1/4" drive ratched with a short handle. If you need more torque then get a larger ratchet. I think the most important test for these small ratchets is the back drag test. You will frequently be using a small ratchet on small fasteners that don't offer a lot of resistance. Second most important is how well they work in a tight space because you are likely to be using a ratchet like this in a tight space.
I worked as one awhile too. My problem always was, when you have that bolt that you can't fit your 3/8 flex head onto, that 13mm, and its really tight, so you put on your 1/4 and use an end wrench as an extension. That's been the doom of several of my cheap 1/4 ratchets. My SnapOn has held up so far for 5 years though, and then i know ill always be able to get the drive replaced if i need to. The cheapos i had i don't even remember the brand, but it wasn't one of these.
You and TTC are just the best. Love the time and effort you put into making your videos, plus the attempt to make it as acurate as possible. Your channel is really just amazing. Thank you.
I would love to see prototype tools get compared to actual production tools. It is neat to see the journey that manufacturers take to releasing a tool.
Protype tools are not easy to get or test. Most developers are very protective of their designs. I respect the company's that let you test their Protype .
I agree with the manufacturers who don't want their ideas stolen, so they guard their prototypes. But a test from Todd would show up weak points, and cost the manufacturer nothing.
For what it's worth, I actually own the Husky 1/4" ratchet. I am somewhat arthritic in my hands so comfort matters. High torque has not been my concern for a small ratchet so 70 lb is more than enough for my use. I've owned/used it for several years now (3-4 I think) and it is still in excellent shape and works very well. I do like to hear personal testimonials, so I though I'd post mine. Take that with a grain of salt. 🤓
I've owned a 1/4 and 3/8 Husky set for many, many years. I do have Snap On and a few other brands, but I just can't find fault with the Husky in most instances, particularly for their cost.
i also have one husky and one amazon one and the husky is better, less backlash, the amazon one is annoying and switching directions feels like a mile both work tho.
yep .... i almost never reach for a 1/4 ... it always feels like a toy not a tool . UK here so have a Halfords socket set ( large chain store in the UK ) that ive had for most likely over 30 years . Buying quality simply lasts .
Pro Tip: You can reduce your ratchet's back drag by applying a SMALL amount of lube to the internals. If your ratchet is old, you can disassemble it, clean it, and LIGHTLY lubricate the internals and it will significantly reduce your back drag. I like a drop or two of ATF. It has a lot of detergent in it and keeps things clean when you go to clean and lube the ratchet in the future. I do this twice a year.
Thanks for the comment. As anal as I am about maintaining my vehicles and other stuff, I’ve 100% neglected my ratchets. Back drag is by far the most annoying. Just did iATF on one of my 1/4 “ ratchets and it’s very noticeable. I’ll do it on all of them
Just a dork that drives a desk for a living, but isn't ATF hydroscopic? In that it pulls in moisture? Personally, I've switched most of my liquid "lube once, and forget it" to silicone based products (SuperLube has several) - you can get them from fine machine oils to heavy greases. No VOCs to evaporate that slowly dry the lube out, and they handle really wide temp ranges. If I don't want it trapping grit, I tend to use powders such molybdenum disulfide - yea, expensive, but a little goes a long way. Old school powdered graphite also works wonders.
The Mac Tools ratchet and Proto ratchet should be almost identical. They are both professional brands for automotive and industrial mechanics respectively under the Stanley Black and Decker parent company. The main difference is the turned groove vs knurled grip portions of the handle. Love the tests! Super informative as always!
You let us choose tools based on our uses and likely modes of failure. Some people use 1/4" for so much that knowing the weak points is a blessing. Thanks for all your effort! Also, "3d printer for upcoming episodes" has us all worked up.
I absolutely love your videos! I'm an auto tech of 30+ years and I consider your tool reviews to be the most thorough and fair out there! Thank you and keep them coming!!!!
Awesome test as always! Getting a "Very Impressive!" is the best compliment any manufacturer can receive. Thanks for including our ratchet against the best from the US, Japan and Germany - we're striving for improvements for the next time around!
That's awesome, thanks for also taking consideration to make improvements based on testing channels like these which are very valuable to the actual user base.
@@Subsoniqful We updated some interested people on the GJ forum - we lost our Japanese gear mechanism manufacturer, so we had to cancel and refund the orders. Good news is, we actually improved the strength AND back drag and actually beat them on this test! We're looking at further improvements based on this test.
I love showing your videos to die hard Snap On guys -- I've got over 25 years experience as an auto/marine mechanic and I never sold myself out to those tool trucks. I've always been a Craftsman/Husky and then added Pittsburgh to my sets and do the same jobs people say 10x the amount for tools. Being in the marine industry, if I drop a 10.00 ratchet off the back of a boat in the water, oh well.. It wasn't a 100+ dollar ratchet.
One problem. I inherited my uncles wrenches all snap on over 30 yrs old. anything breaks which they havent i can still replace for free even if i find a broken snap on wrench on the ground i can get a new one.
Thanks for all the work you put into the testing and reviews! You are the gold standard for product reviews for myself, and I'm sure many others. 10/10.
I’m a mechanic and I love the tool testing videos. Please continue to test snap-on and mac tools. Along with Milwaukee and gearwrench. Amazing videos! Keep it up please.
Gearwrench really is an amazing value when you look at this and the 3/8 version. I may mention this to my mechanic. 90 ft-lbs on a quarter inch drive is insane. Think of how many rust-welded bolts/nuts in tight spaces you can free up with that strength and a little pb blaster.
The real stuff is Gedore and Hazet from Germany, but you gotta have the wallet for that. Snap-on digital torque wreng is 2000€, a digital torque wreng from Hazet is 3000€. 25€ a socket from Hazet.
I'm actually surprised at how well the Mac ratchet held up in this video. I've broken dozens of them over the last 20 years, and it's always a case of the drive teeth stripping and always under far less force than applied in this video. The Icon ratchet I bought to replace my Mac ratchet has taken considerably more abuse without failure, as have my Snap-On ratchets....
@@aaronthomas6155 Use only fixed (combination) wrenches or a "breaker bar" to "unlock" nuts and not the ratchet, use the ratchet only to remove the nut and it will never fail.
I love how transparent all the tools you test become. Like if anyone wants to build the best toolkit for their money, they find your channel and they get quality tools based on your tests and not brand recognition. Literally, If Im thinking of adding a type of tool to my garage I look up PF and see if yall made a video on the options.
As a professional GM master tech i have both snap on blue point and Milwaukee 1/4 inch ratchets and the Milwaukee is my favorite to use for tight spaces. And i have a swivel head snap on 1/4 with a six inch long handle ratchet that i use for places i need extra reach or leverage. Great review as always!
I've got that exact model (I think) of Snap On and have often wondered what its failure load would be. Now I know! On a handle that long I can't see myself breaking it in a hurry. I bought it on the strength of seeing a friend remove a cylinder head using a Snap On quarter-inch ratchet, which I still think is an impressive feat for anything that small.
If you can find a Snap-On truck on your travels, it's worth getting a repair kit. (although prices can be a shock) Finding a garage or shop that has a tool truck every week then knowing when it will arrive can be handy.
Doing the prototype vs mainline video would be awesome! It'll be nice to see what these companies are trying to do in terms of reinventing or modernizing tools with what is essentially a timeless design. I've recommended tools youve reviewed to guys at my job, and regularly share what new reviews you have. So thank you Todd, for being your thorough self.
It's amazing that over 3k comments and you've responded to almost every. Just an incredibly amazing guy and channel and it's definitely caused me to switch brands. One from Levis to cheaper Wranglers but changed my oil to the more expensive Amsoil. Still hoping for a video about which coolers are the best. Keep up the amazing work, sir!
Something to keep in mind with the direction switch is it’s not always good for it to be easy to switch when new as they will loosen up with use. The easy ones can end up switching direction while in the middle of working and is very annoying especially in tight areas.
i'm just a shade tree mechanic and i still have the s-k socket sets in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 that i bought as a teen in 1965. i have added various other brand pieces over the years but never put the wear and tare a pro would put on tools but i like what i have. i enjoy watching your reviews and demos.
Yet another fantastic product testing video PF! Nice to see the reasonably priced Husky ratchet perform so well! 👍👍Have a Happy & Safe 4th of July! 💥💥💥💥
I like how light that prototype ratchet is and how little force it takes to change direction, but I wonder if it's too light. Sometimes working on things an easy changing ratchet can be an issue when you're trying to loosen/tighten something and it accidentally switches direction while ratcheting. That gets annoying quick when you have to keep switching it back to the direction you're trying to use it in.
I love SK and they are still USA made. They recently underwent a tool shortage because of them moving their manufacturing plant, but didn't leave the US. They now make tools in Williamsport, PA. Yes, Chinese ownership, but led by their USA division.
I have a 60 year old Snap-On ratchet (3/8") - I've broken dozens of sockets over the last half century with that ratchet (and a 3-ft cheater bar). Best tool I've ever owned. There might be a lot of ways to look at a ratchet - but not all of them should be weighted equally - strength is more important than any measurement (with price being #2).
This was the best representation of top brands that I’ve seen you do yet. This channel just keeps getting better with time. I wish you had picked a Koken Zeal but that’s a minor issue, it’s actually good that people see that their normal range of ratchets use antiquated designs.
it may be an _antiquated design_ but it still works for it's intended purpose. i'll take a low backdrag ratchet any day before a high tooth count with way more backdrag for most use, modern cars stupidly cramped and mechanics adverse motor bays is not one of those though... 😸😮
I like Husky tools. They feel really sturdy and well built to me. I don't do anything heavy duty or use tools every day, but I haven't been let down by one. One of the best store brands imo.
Husky tools are a great DIY and light duty tool. In the professional field they will not last. I collect ratchets as a hobby, so I have pretty much every ratchet he's tested so far. I work on heavy machinery and I'm hard on my tools. The Husky didn't last more than a week. On the other hand, my Matco's, Snap On's, Macs, and Kokens I've never once had to warranty them.
@@Deontjie Because it looks badass and its extremely light weight. That's my guess. It'll be the next ratchet to go into my collection mainly for the coolness factor.
@@reconbbs360Surely heavy machinery is a different level all together. For the average user, automotive/carpentry, Husky have proved durable for me. I’ve used Husky to remove truck lug nuts on a few occasions requiring a breaker bar. That’s well above the average expectation of a ratchet and I’m yet to break one. I can only imagine what you’re using them for.
I have that Proto 1/4" ratchet as well as the 3/8". They are both awesome to use, smooth, reliable, comfortable in hand (subjective, but important), and worth every penny. Awesome testing, as always!
Glad to see that quality 1/4" ratchets can take far more torque than I would ever apply. ~70-90 ft/lbs is a lot considering that I'm normally measuring in in/lbs when torquing fasteners with a 1/4" drive socket.
@@cheesecurd100s I had to by a Spud Ratchet Wrench because I kept snapping ratchets with breaker bars. Do tool manufacturers ever hear of something called "rust?"
@@blacksheep25251 if you want a production 1/4" ratchet to support more than ~120 ft/lbs torque, you want a tool steel ratchet or similar, not just a high-carbon steel there are techniques to loosen the rust, but that's it, it's really complicated to assess how much force you'll require against a set amount of rust due to it being of chemical origin
I dream of finding smart, right-to-the-point well-reasoned videos like this one with useful data for making useful specific comparisons. Thank you sir, nicely done!
Great review as always. I am a Koken fan. I hate backdrag and the Kokens performs well in that regard. I think the 36t was included, i would like to see how the newer 72t design performs.
I'm a big fan as well. Koken has a few tiers in their tool line. I live in Japan and the one shown here looks, like what they sell at a hardware store in Japan that serves low-demand customers, people looking for quick and cheap. Those are still produced and are not great.
That TRO does have some really great features, especially back drag. That's a big one for me as I like to mod and service my car and there are lots of tight spaces in an engine bay. It's definitely expensive, but it does have that cool factor going for it, especially if you get it with a Titanium Nitride finish like they offer on the website. Hopefully they improve the Bs to As based on your testing! Love your channel and all the effort you put into it!!
I work in aviation and grabbed that Husky 144 ratchet set as soon as I could. No buyer’s remorse, those ratchets have been A LIFE SAVER. Excellent performance for everything I’ve used them for (1/4”, 3/8”, and 1/2”).
I’ve been having a Husky mechanic tool set for probably around 20 years, it was a 387 piece for $387. The only problem I had was not loosing pieces. 😂 Great video as always!!
Why is "not loosing pieces" a problem?.... i would be happy not loosing any pieces from my socket set..... (if you want to feel happy and loose a few pieces, then by all means its my pleasure to give you my address and im happy to pay any shipping costs to help you with your problem)... 😂😂😂
That was an amazing performance by Husky. I think of Husky as a perfectly serviceable brand but not as the brand that a specialized professional might need. It looked to me like Husky was the winner of this contest. Proto did a little better mostly on the torque to failure test, but I can't imagine ever putting more than 50 ft. pounds on a 1/4 inch ratchet. So, IMO, Husky won or tied on everything that mattered and it was among the cheapest tested.
I'm always impressed with how good Husky tools are. They actually make the best socket adapters and impact 1/4" hex to socket adapters as well. I found that out by burning through and breaking 4 Milwaukee hex to socket adapters on one job. Then I just went and got a couple husky adapters and they worked the rest of the job, and I'm still using them 1 year later.
I really appreciate the way you don’t insult the manufactures . Instead you encourage better production . Your transparency and facts make your judgement trustworthy. Keep up the good work 👍
Regarding Koken, I'd like to see the Z series put up to the test. They're 72 tooth. I have a few of them and they're my go to ratchets. Koken is known for their low back drag designs. This is more important to me than fine tooth count.
FLIPPING FUNNY i was saying the same thing Super Thumbs up on that ... Hammers to Cheater bars ... Really Carbon Fiber WTF one time used as a Hammer or Cheater bar or drop it on the ground and that Jenkey Style Ratchet is TRASH or a hot exhaust melting the carbon fiber handle AKA Flaming style Ratchet NO THANKS \
Great video. I'd buy the TRO, Koken, or Husky depending on what I wanted it for. My favorite ratchet of all time though is a US made Craftsman low-profile(purchased ~2005). They sell used for around $100!
Great video always love the dedication you have to making the most detailed test you can possibly think of have you done a best right angle attachment for a impact driver would be a cool video i think
I really like these shootouts. I'm a mechanic and it's amazing how brand loyal some people are without really knowing if their choice is any good over all or not. I have stuck with Craftsman most of my life due to lifetime warranty and quality vs. price, but you didn't have one in this matchup. Odd...
Given how ubiquitous and that it's one of the higher quality, widely available, reasonably priced brands of wrenches, not including one is indeed is really unfortunate. If there was any baseline for comparison to the rest of the market, I would think Craftsman would be it.
@@Dylanearcraftsman is a junk brand now that they have been sold off. They are now constantly bouncing around their designs from China, Taiwan and USA. By the time this comment is here the ratchets would have changed design or factories. 😂
I have a Snap-on TLLF72 that I purchased a couple of years ago when they first came out: $99. By far the most I've ever spent on a ratchet, let alone a 1/4" drive ratchet. But, it's by far the most used ratchet I own. I use it for pretty much everything short of lug nuts! Expensive? Yup. But worth every penny.
Until it breaks I had mine fail a couple of times when I was using it daily in shop environment even though I never fitted larger than 10mm (3/8") socket on it Always switched to 3/8" drive for 11 to 17mm, 1/2" up to 36mm and breaker bar after that (or even breaker bar when loosening anything over 26mm - roughly 1")
The back drag on my snap on ratchets became a lot less once i broke them in. Brand new they were a little sticky, but after a week or two i couldnt even feel them ratcheting because the clicks were so light 🤯
Thanks You for these reviews. The consumer needs to have 1 for 1 unbiased comparisons of the products they buy. The depth of detail you provide in these is perfect. Keep up the great work!
@@ProjectFarm I agree with @jackbachman1385. Pipe wrenches are (to me at leas) one of those tools that I inherited from dad, and never think about until I need it. Then I go for that rusty old thing and it might work. Later on I purchased an Irwin quick-release style pipe wrench to replace the rust wrench. Big mistake. That Irwin barely grabs anything and when it does it slips. I’ve since gone back to dear old dads wrench. So seeing a review of different pipe wrenches would be great.
Continuously impressed by your ability to come up with tests to replicate what we care about in the real world ! Also great print, cf is not the easiest to work with
Most other review videos on youtube are so slow that I have to fast forward to get to the interesting bits. This channel I have to rewind to make sure I’ve taken in all the info. There is so much work put into these comparisons!!
One of the most common ratchets out there is a Craftsman. I was surprised to not see it in the lineup. I suppose the video would be forever long if you tested all the brands that are out there. Thanks for the results.
That back drag thing is actually pretty important in a lot of scenarios. I do wonder if some of the versions that performed poorly in that test, might break in after a bit of use and end up having less back drag than when they were brand new. I was very surprised that the icon did not perform better. That line of Harbor Freight tools is generally pretty good quality. I guess some of the Icon tools are better than others. One thing we've seen in this video is we clearly do not have to spend $150 to $200 to get a good 1/4 inch ratchet. Really you don't even have to spend $100. I already had a Kolbalt ratchet that came with a large kit, but I was searching the clearance rack at Lowe's and found a swivel head Kobalt for about $10 and bought it just because it was marked down ridiculously cheap. I don't know how they would perform these tests since they weren't included, but I've been using these tools for a few years and they perform fine.
I do exactly the same when I see 1/4" drive ratchets as you know they will break eventually and generally when 1/4" drive is all you can use. Although I also have Snap-On and Facom I don't carry them around to relatives when 'fixing stuff'
@@1crazypj I have a stubby Husky brand ratchet and it is two sided. It has 1/4 in on one side and 3/8 drive on the other side. That little thing is pretty awesome and I've had it for probably 10 years or so. It came with a small set that I got off the clearance rack at Home Depot. I don't know why more people are not making them like that. You to lose a little bit of clearance but it's good for most things.
Mac ratchets are rebranded Proto, which is why they finished next to each other in the tests. Having a small versatile 1/4" ratchet is essential, thanks for the tests!
@@jameslowe3792 Not Really Snap on is way more expensive not sure when Todd bought that Snappy Ratchet that 1/4 drive is around $150.00 a good long lasting Ratchet stick to a Proto ... I could be Wrong but Proto has been around longer than Snap on BTW i am a fan of Snap on Tools But the Price you just got to walk away they are way too expensive
Love the testing here. Super useful for real life use! I would be very interested in seeing your results in testing different mosquito traps, maybe a couple of categories consisting of small units and then larger ones such as those that use propane. Thanks!
That's a good idea, we are in Florida with a small lake opposite which has 'dead' area's where mosquitos can (and probably do?) breed. City put aerators in a few years ago but I don't think any fish have returned? Maybe the frog population helps keep amount of larvae down?
The funny thing about the 30 degree arc test is that a ratchet that gets 5 degrees will actually score better than a ratchet that can get 4.5 degrees, but I can’t think of a better real world test. You do awesome work! I love your videos!
Awesome job as usual. I have a few of these and I love the Wera over the others. It feels much better in my hand and has a smoother mechanism than my Snap On. Maybe you can also talk about the subjective side in your tests. You just talk about the numbers but often it comes down to what feels better.
Looks also are a thing, like that golden ratchet...... really liked that, and maybe in a set, gold plated sockets..... completly useless but look lovely....
I would love to see more Kobalt hand tools in the mix. I’ve had my Kobalt ratchet set for years and despite them getting rained on and set in water for longer then I care to admit they have done every task I’ve asked of them including using breaker bar torque.
Hey I have a request if you haven't already.. would you mind reviewing multimeters? I bought one from harbor freight for $20 and it seems okay but I'd like to see it compared to others. Thank you so much! I really enjoy watching your videos! I hope you have a great day and a safe 4th of july! :)
If you do test multimeters please include at least one from Klein tools. I recently got a Klein tools MM325 and while it’s been great for me so far I would love to see how it stacks up
@@ProjectFarm you're welcome! Haha I think you would do a great job comparing these.. I found the package mine was in. It's called a cen-tech 11 function digital multimeter with audible continuity. The item number is 61593. Thanks a lot!
Disappointing to see the Icon fall short here. In some of the other videos, some of the more premium Harbor Freight options have been really good beating out some of the other cheaper options on the list. One of the ones that stand out to me, are definitely the Doyle water pump pliers that rivaled the Knipex ones.
I'm glad to see the pawls and main gears in most of the wrenches are holding up quite well, unlike many older imported wrenches that go bad with ordinary use. One issue I have with many wrenches is bumping the reversal switch, so a bit stiffer one might be good rather than a negative, as well as recessing it some. A unique ratchet is Harbor Freight's Ratcheting Breaker Bar (3/8" and 1/2"). It has big clunky pawls inside. But, hopefully is also durable. It would be worth adding to the tests.
I'm with you. Over the decades I've accidentally reversed my ratchets an ungodly number of times. But I've only experienced the inability to NOT reverse them when they were broken.
![Digital Circus Episode 4 [TRAILER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/abZtsmMUbJo/mqdefault.jpg)
Here’s the list of products reviewed. More details in the video description. Thank you!
Proto: amzn.to/3P4MBXG
GearWrench 90: amzn.to/3qEf7W3
GearWrench 120: amzn.to/3X3C8h2
Stahlwille: amzn.to/3JdgOQt:
Hazet: amzn.to/3p66OBF
Wera: amzn.to/3qF5syi
Crescent: amzn.to/4601ctk
SATA: amzn.to/440JPHf
Duratech: amzn.to/3MXamyc
Der Erwachte: amzn.to/3p9gZFA
Snap On: Available online at the Snap On store
Husky: Available online at Home Depot
ICON: Available at Harbor Freight
Milwaukee: Available online at Home Depot
TRO Prototype Website: www.trodesigns.com/
I've always preferred the reverse switch to be stiff, nothing agravates me more than trying to maneuver a ratchet into position inside a tight spot where i cant reach only to have something bump the lever into the wrong setting, I've had to go as far as wrapping the handle in electrical tape to make it stop.
Was thinking the same thing...you want a little resistance to direction change
I agree with You. When working in a hard to reach place, where you might have to work by feel only its super annoying to accidently change direction.
There’s a little spring in there near the handle end that pushes up and holds the switch in position. You can replace it with a stiffer spring.
I literally came to the comment section to make this exact comment. Thank you!
but flush is definitely better, less accidental swipes or it getting stuck somewhere
Carbon fiber + titanium are THE BEST combination of materials for a SUBMARINE.
Great point!
Yoos 😂 if you love to go to heaven
Can we get a comparison of the cost vs depth of various commercially available submarines? Cost savings is my number one priority, so ideally I can use things I already have like a Logitech or PlayStation controller!
Lol too soon ? Too soon??!! Mwaa
He knew what he was doing 😂
The TRO and 3d printed contenders were an extremely entertaining addition. It's always very interesting to see how the top performers don't necessarily come from a particular company, country, or at the highest price.
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
I would rather pay more for a Jap, German, or American tool than sponsor the CCP by buying Chinese. Taiwan is the best option in many cases since the make good stuff and need the cash for weapons systems to defend from CCP attacks.
After the Ocean Gate Titan we might be a bit sceptacle about TRO's titanium & carbon fiber construction.
They absolutely do only come from a few particular countries, open your eyes
@@n.mcneil4066yawn
I appreciate how thorough your tests are. I need a new 1/4" wrench and stopped myself from just impulsively buying the husky when I walk by. Now I know that it's actually a quality product for the price. Thanks for putting an end to this ongoing battle in my head every time I go to home depot LOL
Thanks and you are welcome!
I have been waiting to buy a 1/4 same as you. Been waiting for Project Farm to show what is the best value...Husky it is! Thanks Project Farm!
I absolutely consider Project Farm when I air out my wallet
I like husky tools. What I carry in my car.
@@oncomics1128now Lowes has project source.
I don't think there's a channel on RUclips that comes close to your level of testing. Outstanding as always! Thank you
Thanks so much!
There's torque test channel, but they test other products.
Not tools but I think Rose Anvil is similar when it comes to work boots and other footwear
Im not sure there are many commerical labs that do either.
The thing I appreciate most is how quickly he shows what each item is, the testing and results. It keeps me engaged with the video otherwise I get distracted too easily lol.
Seeing prototypes in the lineup is kind of exciting! I appreciate that you protect the integrity of the test by buying the item, and remind us that this thing is still being developed.
Thanks for sharing!
Interesting tests. Some of these are way out of reality price wise.
How long would they last in a shop before they disappeared?.
@@gregoryv.zimansr4031 Haha - good point! 🤣
@@gregoryv.zimansr4031 That's been my experience with expensive tools. 🙄
It helps when it's from someone that the thieves haven't heard of although Facom is becoming better known in USA last few years
Todd, you are almost single-handedly changing tne tool world You are the exact definition of positive social influencer! Great work as always.
Thanks!
I'm expecting a tool company will come out with ratchet with a funny-shaped handle, thinned down right where the blocks are in that tester.
As always a fantastic review. So cool to let me know a $30 ratchet is great for 99% of the things I’d ever expect it to do. That’s one reason I enjoy your non biased approach to testing! Thanks!
Unless you're buying the tools for use in a professional environment where tools breaking cost you more than just the price of the tool or the time to repair/replace it, Harbor Freight's Pittsburgh line is perfectly fine. If you just want better quality, Icon is an excellent choice.
I've always liked Husky products.
@@matsudakodo Nothing wrong with Husky products either. My first ratchet and socket set was from Husky.
@@aaronthomas6155 Yep..mine too. And they've done a ton of work! Dinged and worn...but Husky STILL working well. I've got a Husky10" portable bulb worklight...that still outperforms my newer LED versions!
I bought a 1/4 and 3/8 stubby duralast. 6 months and still working great even if it breaks right now it has helped me made enough money to buy another one without crying
The close ups of the ratchet mechanisms and failure points are not only a joy to us gearheads, but a goldmine to manufacturers. The effort to disassemble, video, and assess the internals is not lost on me, and it is high time we had a behind-the-scenes video. Please understand that we love what you do, with passion. A behind-the-scenes with you at a video editor, you setting up tests, you shopping for test equipment (the proto torque tester was not cheap), a simple and cheerful interview about how you came up with sending oil samples to a lab, your favorite WHATEVER. For sure you have an envious karma surplus, it is past due you acted a little selfish.
Thanks for the feedback!
wtf
I would love to see that! What a great idea.
@@ProjectFarm I would enjoy that too!
The fact you've made all your jigs and tests so far without having a 3D printer in your arsenal is "VERY IMPRESSIVE"! Excited to see what kind of things you come up with in the future utilizing it!
Thanks and you are welcome!
believe it or not there was a time when EVERYTHING was done without a 3d printer.
@@dirtrider88 Say it ain't so!
You 3d printer people crack me up. You act like its the end all, be all of manufacturing and building
@Dillybar777 some do sure, but there is a LOT of use to it. You can make parts that are otherwise impossible or at the least out of reach for the average person.
Honestly anyone who does repairs should pick up an ender 3 and a few spools of cheep filament and learn to 3d model. I've fixed everything from crock pots to monitor arms to automotive caps and while I could have replaced each of those for 10-40 bucks, the time and utility it offers is immense.
Think about it like a lathe, you could get the same utility out of other tools, a mill and drill press come to mind. But it's faster and has a level of accuracy that you couldn't get by using another tool
Todd is revolutionizing how consumers can save real money in todays crazy times. You are the best if the best on utube and it’s not even a close second. I can only imagine how many manufactures reach out to you on a daily basis for positive and negative feedback. Keep them coming Todd. It’s a blessing to all of us followers for real info. Respect!!!!
Thanks so much!
I generally agree with most testing methodologies, but the ratchet switch being too loose is just as much of a problem as it being much too tight.
I agree I would like to see the scores totalled with that removed. For me it isn’t relevant. If it is physically difficult to move like it is seized or broken it is a problem but other than that it doesn’t really matter
Same goes for his first test. If you had a handle with a very small diameter you could ratchet that circle in very few turns
Also agree with you. I like a stiffer swing on the switch. A 1/4 ratchet is made for tight spaces and how annoying is it when the silly switch inadvertently gets reversed.
The overall score isnt that important. The video gives us testing data and we can take away from that data whatever we will 👍
I bought Milwaukee 3/8 and 1/4 to replace my mis-matched sets. The 1/4 worked great. Once. Used it a second time and ratchet started acting up and finally gave up completely. Tried to get it apart to see what was up but couldn't. Returned it to Farm and Fleet where I got it and they reluctantly replaced it. The new one seems fine. We'll see if it lasts.
Todd, I don't know how you continue to improve on your already "best out there" videos, but you do. You truly give the most comprehensive and professional comparisons. Thank you very much. God Bless.
Wow, thank you!
@@ProjectFarm how about a test for minimum engagement angle? Working in tight spaces it would be nice to know which ratchet needs the least space to engage
@@collingebhardt3098 He did. The ratchet that makes the 360° turn in the least ammount of swings has the smallest engagement angle. Comparing minimum engagement angle is the whole reason for that particular test.
That's cool that you've become prominent enough that some companies are starting to pay serious attention to you. That's exactly what we need!
Very Impressive!
Thanks!
I expect that the company will make changes to the prototype based on what they see on this video. Really they should be copying his testing setup and doing it themselves.
@@ProjectFarm😢😢
It proves good consumer protection is just good business (except for the EMS and urgent care industries, oh well).
@@ProjectFarm:( ruined your independent cred
My first thoughts -- for the ratchets that are serviceable like the Gearwrench, the internal grease can be removed and replaced with superlube which would improve the backdrag. The failure load for all the ratchets seemed more than adequate, so that really makes the backdrag and rotation metrics the only important things to consider IMO. Husky looks like a great value!
Thanks for sharing!
Yes, I’m having a hard time imagining needing a 1/4” ratchet to stand up to such significant torque. In my experience the problem is the opposite - breaking fasteners.
Who’s servicing their own ratchets though? I’ve never done that and I’ve been a shade tree mechanic for over 25 years… I’d rather be able to just meet up with my SnapOn/ Mac person or drive over to HFT, HD, or Lowe’s and exchange my broken wrench.
At less than $30, I wouldn't bother waiting for the snap-on rep to drop by.
@kevrides5706 good luck at lowes. I've had the hardest time with warranty from lowes. Nothing like sears used to be. HF has probably the best warranty. But servicing a ratchet don't hardly take any time at all. I used to do it all the time. Had to spray it down with water almost every night.
As an aircraft mechanic, the TRO ratchet shows great promise as a prototype. I think the gears need to be improved upon, namely the arc swing as I need to get into some pretty tight spaces sometimes. If that can be improved upon, I'd strongly consider buying one for my tool box. As a flight mechanic, the weight is also important to me because I need to take my tools on commercial flights and I struggle with leaving tools behind at home because my tool box weighs too much. Like I said, it shows promise, but can be improved upon.
Thanks for sharing.
Yep. And not also aircrafts, but I guess there are a couple additional places were it's useful: 1) Places were you carry your tools to height or distance (towers, antennas, far away places...) 2) Highly magnetic places (i.e., the Magnetic Resonance in a hospital, but the tool has to be 100% titanium, and I don't know about that) 3) maybe high corrosion environments, like the sea
I liked the look but it seemed too bulky. The Thick handle would drive me nuts and the grip looked like it would be slippery. It probably only needs a couple grooves. Also the gap in the handle gave me pause because I felt it might get stuck and tug at things like safety wire in small spots.
@@AlvaroGonzalez_Andor
I'll definitely agree with carrying tools up or down. Had to work on some equipment that was 170ft underground in an underground reservoir, the access was by vertical ladder which wasn't much fun with 80lbs of tools
How many tools are you really going to carry with you on a flight? I have a Pelican case with just very basic line mechanic stuff; wrenches, ratchet, sockets, screwdrivers, pliers, plus my headset and bypass pins. It comes in well under the 50 lb weight limit for a checked bag on a commercial flight. All you really need is the basics to comply with the MEL/DMP and get the airplane out. If the plane is really broke, you’re going to call in support, anyway. Remember, we’re here to move ‘em, not to improve ‘em.
I’m a huge fan of the premium and specialty tool tests. I work in industrial maintenance and love tools so seeing the German and Japanese brands included along with this new prototype one is awesome!
Thanks for sharing!
Crazy to see the TRO ratchet beat Nepros AND Koken lol. I didn't see that coming!
I've worked as a professional mechanic. When starting to look at this video I was thinking that some of these ratchets won't be very strong, and there is some difference in the failure loads, but not a lot and even the lowest one at 66 ft-lb would be stronger than what a person should need from a 1/4" drive ratched with a short handle. If you need more torque then get a larger ratchet. I think the most important test for these small ratchets is the back drag test. You will frequently be using a small ratchet on small fasteners that don't offer a lot of resistance. Second most important is how well they work in a tight space because you are likely to be using a ratchet like this in a tight space.
Thanks for sharing.
I worked as one awhile too. My problem always was, when you have that bolt that you can't fit your 3/8 flex head onto, that 13mm, and its really tight, so you put on your 1/4 and use an end wrench as an extension. That's been the doom of several of my cheap 1/4 ratchets. My SnapOn has held up so far for 5 years though, and then i know ill always be able to get the drive replaced if i need to. The cheapos i had i don't even remember the brand, but it wasn't one of these.
@@eclipsegst9419 A very good point. Snap On warranty would repair or replace. Show me another brand on here doing that.
@@echobeefpv8530 pretty sure most brands will replace I've replaced husky ratchets before
You couldn’t be more correct in my opinion
You and TTC are just the best. Love the time and effort you put into making your videos, plus the attempt to make it as acurate as possible. Your channel is really just amazing. Thank you.
Thanks!
That TTC (torque tech channel) review of Amazon laser pointers was very helpful, I didn’t realize I could blind my cat so easily.
Boltr videos from ave are the og reviews.
Keep your dick in a vise
I love your test methods, the pace, and practicality of the thought you put into these reviews. Pure infotainment. No fluff. Keep that up!
Thanks, will do!
I would love to see prototype tools get compared to actual production tools. It is neat to see the journey that manufacturers take to releasing a tool.
Protype tools are not easy to get or test. Most developers are very protective of their designs.
I respect the company's that let you test their Protype .
Thanks for the suggestion.
Could you keep in touch with them and test their final production run? See if they improved or changed things? I love that you got a prototype
@@rcollinge325 It is Project Farm though lol. You can bet on it being a fair test.
I agree with the manufacturers who don't want their ideas stolen, so they guard their prototypes. But a test from Todd would show up weak points, and cost the manufacturer nothing.
I love seeing prototype, vintages, luxury brands and homemade tools! It's interesting how compares to regular brands
Thank you for the video idea!
For what it's worth, I actually own the Husky 1/4" ratchet. I am somewhat arthritic in my hands so comfort matters. High torque has not been my concern for a small ratchet so 70 lb is more than enough for my use. I've owned/used it for several years now (3-4 I think) and it is still in excellent shape and works very well.
I do like to hear personal testimonials, so I though I'd post mine. Take that with a grain of salt. 🤓
Feeling this too, going to order one myself.
I've owned a 1/4 and 3/8 Husky set for many, many years. I do have Snap On and a few other brands, but I just can't find fault with the Husky in most instances, particularly for their cost.
I bought a used Proto 1/4" ratchet 50 years ago and it is still my go to 1/4" ratchet. Cordless screw guns have made the arc swing almost null.
i also have one husky and one amazon one and the husky is better, less backlash, the amazon one is annoying and switching directions feels like a mile both work tho.
yep .... i almost never reach for a 1/4 ... it always feels like a toy not a tool .
UK here so have a Halfords socket set ( large chain store in the UK ) that ive had for most likely over 30 years . Buying quality simply lasts .
Pro Tip: You can reduce your ratchet's back drag by applying a SMALL amount of lube to the internals. If your ratchet is old, you can disassemble it, clean it, and LIGHTLY lubricate the internals and it will significantly reduce your back drag. I like a drop or two of ATF. It has a lot of detergent in it and keeps things clean when you go to clean and lube the ratchet in the future. I do this twice a year.
Thanks for the comment. As anal as I am about maintaining my vehicles and other stuff, I’ve 100% neglected my ratchets. Back drag is by far the most annoying. Just did iATF on one of my 1/4 “ ratchets and it’s very noticeable. I’ll do it on all of them
@@thomasjefferson1081 glad I can help. ATF also makes your rubber/plastic screwdriver handles look like new.
Great advice
Super Lube, it's what snap on uses, made in the USA, great stuff
Just a dork that drives a desk for a living, but isn't ATF hydroscopic? In that it pulls in moisture? Personally, I've switched most of my liquid "lube once, and forget it" to silicone based products (SuperLube has several) - you can get them from fine machine oils to heavy greases. No VOCs to evaporate that slowly dry the lube out, and they handle really wide temp ranges. If I don't want it trapping grit, I tend to use powders such molybdenum disulfide - yea, expensive, but a little goes a long way. Old school powdered graphite also works wonders.
I think having a prototype showdown would be awesome! It’s always fun to see the newest technology out there.
Thanks for the suggestion.
+1 for wanting a prototype showdown!!!
I agree
Another master class on how to test things creatively for the benefit of all! Thank you, sir!
Thanks again!
To call him a professional would be an understatement.
@@deletdis6173he's who the pros watch to see what to buy/ replace 😆
This man is a work horse. The benefits to society are immeasurable.
Thank you!
I don't know about that. Judging from his videos, I think he'd find a way to measure it and put it in a grid for easy comprehension.
YES
The Mac Tools ratchet and Proto ratchet should be almost identical. They are both professional brands for automotive and industrial mechanics respectively under the Stanley Black and Decker parent company. The main difference is the turned groove vs knurled grip portions of the handle.
Love the tests! Super informative as always!
Thanks and you are welcome!
You let us choose tools based on our uses and likely modes of failure. Some people use 1/4" for so much that knowing the weak points is a blessing. Thanks for all your effort!
Also, "3d printer for upcoming episodes" has us all worked up.
Thanks for the feedback.
I absolutely love your videos! I'm an auto tech of 30+ years and I consider your tool reviews to be the most thorough and fair out there! Thank you and keep them coming!!!!
Thanks, will do!
Awesome test as always! Getting a "Very Impressive!" is the best compliment any manufacturer can receive.
Thanks for including our ratchet against the best from the US, Japan and Germany - we're striving for improvements for the next time around!
That's awesome, thanks for also taking consideration to make improvements based on testing channels like these which are very valuable to the actual user base.
Didn't you cancel these on GJ?
I'd start to buy tools that had the "Very Impressive" stamp on the packaging. Lol
@@Subsoniqful We updated some interested people on the GJ forum - we lost our Japanese gear mechanism manufacturer, so we had to cancel and refund the orders. Good news is, we actually improved the strength AND back drag and actually beat them on this test! We're looking at further improvements based on this test.
Thanks for the feedback!
I love showing your videos to die hard Snap On guys -- I've got over 25 years experience as an auto/marine mechanic and I never sold myself out to those tool trucks. I've always been a Craftsman/Husky and then added Pittsburgh to my sets and do the same jobs people say 10x the amount for tools. Being in the marine industry, if I drop a 10.00 ratchet off the back of a boat in the water, oh well.. It wasn't a 100+ dollar ratchet.
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
One problem. I inherited my uncles wrenches all snap on over 30 yrs old. anything breaks which they havent i can still replace for free even if i find a broken snap on wrench on the ground i can get a new one.
Thanks for all the work you put into the testing and reviews! You are the gold standard for product reviews for myself, and I'm sure many others. 10/10.
Wow, thank you!!
I’m a mechanic and I love the tool testing videos. Please continue to test snap-on and mac tools. Along with Milwaukee and gearwrench. Amazing videos! Keep it up please.
Thanks, will do! Thanks for the suggestion.
Gearwrench really is an amazing value when you look at this and the 3/8 version. I may mention this to my mechanic. 90 ft-lbs on a quarter inch drive is insane. Think of how many rust-welded bolts/nuts in tight spaces you can free up with that strength and a little pb blaster.
The real stuff is Gedore and Hazet from Germany, but you gotta have the wallet for that.
Snap-on digital torque wreng is 2000€, a digital torque wreng from Hazet is 3000€.
25€ a socket from Hazet.
I'm actually surprised at how well the Mac ratchet held up in this video. I've broken dozens of them over the last 20 years, and it's always a case of the drive teeth stripping and always under far less force than applied in this video. The Icon ratchet I bought to replace my Mac ratchet has taken considerably more abuse without failure, as have my Snap-On ratchets....
@@aaronthomas6155 Use only fixed (combination) wrenches or a "breaker bar" to "unlock" nuts and not the ratchet, use the ratchet only to remove the nut and it will never fail.
I love how transparent all the tools you test become. Like if anyone wants to build the best toolkit for their money, they find your channel and they get quality tools based on your tests and not brand recognition. Literally, If Im thinking of adding a type of tool to my garage I look up PF and see if yall made a video on the options.
Thanks for sharng.
As a professional GM master tech i have both snap on blue point and Milwaukee 1/4 inch ratchets and the Milwaukee is my favorite to use for tight spaces. And i have a swivel head snap on 1/4 with a six inch long handle ratchet that i use for places i need extra reach or leverage. Great review as always!
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
Gm Master tech? What does that mean? Do you know how to check voltage drop in all the connections?
I love your videos, I've been a mechanic for more than 40 years. Your accuracy is unmatched
Thanks so much!
Yours breaks safely, mine leaves me flying into the workbench 😆😆
I would love to see more prototypes put to the test!
Thank you for the video idea!
I have an old Husky ratchet, from when they were made in USA, I've had it over 30 years, it still works perfectly
Nice!
I've got that exact model (I think) of Snap On and have often wondered what its failure load would be. Now I know! On a handle that long I can't see myself breaking it in a hurry. I bought it on the strength of seeing a friend remove a cylinder head using a Snap On quarter-inch ratchet, which I still think is an impressive feat for anything that small.
Thanks for sharing.
If you can find a Snap-On truck on your travels, it's worth getting a repair kit. (although prices can be a shock)
Finding a garage or shop that has a tool truck every week then knowing when it will arrive can be handy.
I had a cheater pipe on a 12mm ratcheting wrench and the wrech bent but the ratcheting feature worked fine still. I love snap on ratchets and wrenches
Doing the prototype vs mainline video would be awesome! It'll be nice to see what these companies are trying to do in terms of reinventing or modernizing tools with what is essentially a timeless design.
I've recommended tools youve reviewed to guys at my job, and regularly share what new reviews you have. So thank you Todd, for being your thorough self.
You are welcome! Thanks for the suggestion.
It's amazing that over 3k comments and you've responded to almost every. Just an incredibly amazing guy and channel and it's definitely caused me to switch brands. One from Levis to cheaper Wranglers but changed my oil to the more expensive Amsoil.
Still hoping for a video about which coolers are the best. Keep up the amazing work, sir!
Thanks, will do! Thanks for the suggestion.
Something to keep in mind with the direction switch is it’s not always good for it to be easy to switch when new as they will loosen up with use. The easy ones can end up switching direction while in the middle of working and is very annoying especially in tight areas.
Thanks for the feedback.
Totally agree. I was thinking easy switching is actually a con, not a pro.
That's my opinion as well. The harder the better.
you got that right.................
Yep. Lighter is worse IMO.
i'm just a shade tree mechanic and i still have the s-k socket sets in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 that i bought as a teen in 1965. i have added various other brand pieces over the years but never put the wear and tare a pro would put on tools but i like what i have. i enjoy watching your reviews and demos.
Thanks!
60 years is no joke.....I would say you did fine choosing those ratchets and sockets.
like i say i just used them on my own projects but they're good quality and i always take good care of my tools.@@sasquatchrosefarts
Yet another fantastic product testing video PF! Nice to see the reasonably priced Husky ratchet perform so well! 👍👍Have a Happy & Safe 4th of July! 💥💥💥💥
Thanks so much! Happy and safe 4th of July too!
I like how light that prototype ratchet is and how little force it takes to change direction, but I wonder if it's too light. Sometimes working on things an easy changing ratchet can be an issue when you're trying to loosen/tighten something and it accidentally switches direction while ratcheting. That gets annoying quick when you have to keep switching it back to the direction you're trying to use it in.
Thanks for the feedback.
It's still hard to beat the classic round head SK in my opinion. Too bad they're not an American company anymore. Great work as always.
Fact
Are SK still made in the US? I know you're right, corporate was bought out, but what about manufacturing?
@@KreemieNewgatt Should be illegal for American companies to sell to other countries. I'm for capitalism, but this is too much of a cost.
I love SK and they are still USA made. They recently underwent a tool shortage because of them moving their manufacturing plant, but didn't leave the US. They now make tools in Williamsport, PA. Yes, Chinese ownership, but led by their USA division.
Slip n Kill
I have a 60 year old Snap-On ratchet (3/8") - I've broken dozens of sockets over the last half century with that ratchet (and a 3-ft cheater bar). Best tool I've ever owned.
There might be a lot of ways to look at a ratchet - but not all of them should be weighted equally - strength is more important than any measurement (with price being #2).
Thanks for sharing.
This was the best representation of top brands that I’ve seen you do yet. This channel just keeps getting better with time. I wish you had picked a Koken Zeal but that’s a minor issue, it’s actually good that people see that their normal range of ratchets use antiquated designs.
I guess I should add they they are known for their low back drag but your video proved that pretty well.
Thanks!
it may be an _antiquated design_ but it still works for it's intended purpose. i'll take a low backdrag ratchet any day before a high tooth count with way more backdrag for most use, modern cars stupidly cramped and mechanics adverse motor bays is not one of those though... 😸😮
You know you've made it when the manufacturer will make further improvements based on your review. 👍👍
Thanks for the feedback.
I like Husky tools. They feel really sturdy and well built to me. I don't do anything heavy duty or use tools every day, but I haven't been let down by one. One of the best store brands imo.
Husky tools are a great DIY and light duty tool. In the professional field they will not last. I collect ratchets as a hobby, so I have pretty much every ratchet he's tested so far. I work on heavy machinery and I'm hard on my tools. The Husky didn't last more than a week. On the other hand, my Matco's, Snap On's, Macs, and Kokens I've never once had to warranty them.
Why use carbon fibre?
Thanks for sharing!
@@Deontjie Because it looks badass and its extremely light weight. That's my guess. It'll be the next ratchet to go into my collection mainly for the coolness factor.
@@reconbbs360Surely heavy machinery is a different level all together. For the average user, automotive/carpentry, Husky have proved durable for me. I’ve used Husky to remove truck lug nuts on a few occasions requiring a breaker bar. That’s well above the average expectation of a ratchet and I’m yet to break one.
I can only imagine what you’re using them for.
I absolutely love your program. Relevant, right to the point!! Congratulations!! Finally a no bullshit channel
I have that Proto 1/4" ratchet as well as the 3/8". They are both awesome to use, smooth, reliable, comfortable in hand (subjective, but important), and worth every penny. Awesome testing, as always!
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
Yeah, but the Amazon link is $150, not $108.
Glad to see that quality 1/4" ratchets can take far more torque than I would ever apply. ~70-90 ft/lbs is a lot considering that I'm normally measuring in in/lbs when torquing fasteners with a 1/4" drive socket.
I've broken a lot of 1/4 inch ratchets being in the rust belt. Sometimes that's all that fits
@@cheesecurd100s I had to by a Spud Ratchet Wrench because I kept snapping ratchets with breaker bars. Do tool manufacturers ever hear of something called "rust?"
@@blacksheep25251 if you want a production 1/4" ratchet to support more than ~120 ft/lbs torque, you want a tool steel ratchet or similar, not just a high-carbon steel
there are techniques to loosen the rust, but that's it, it's really complicated to assess how much force you'll require against a set amount of rust due to it being of chemical origin
Thanks for the feedback.
@@gregoryartaviasalazar426 Force and heat have been the answer, but my mechanical education has been RUclips, swear words, and force and heat.
Never go wrong with ratchet reviews 👍
Glad you like them!
I dream of finding smart, right-to-the-point well-reasoned videos like this one with useful data for making useful specific comparisons. Thank you sir, nicely done!
Thanks and you are welcome!
Great review as always. I am a Koken fan. I hate backdrag and the Kokens performs well in that regard. I think the 36t was included, i would like to see how the newer 72t design performs.
I'm a big fan as well. Koken has a few tiers in their tool line. I live in Japan and the one shown here looks, like what they sell at a hardware store in Japan that serves low-demand customers, people looking for quick and cheap. Those are still produced and are not great.
@@coboldelphi agreed, how do you compare that to a 90 and 120 tooth designs. The bottom line Koken had 3 A+ and a complete fail. Seems wrong to me.
It was really cool getting to see a prototype tested. I would love to see more prototype tests in the future.
Was thinking the same! Would love to see a prototype vid
Thanks!
That TRO does have some really great features, especially back drag. That's a big one for me as I like to mod and service my car and there are lots of tight spaces in an engine bay. It's definitely expensive, but it does have that cool factor going for it, especially if you get it with a Titanium Nitride finish like they offer on the website. Hopefully they improve the Bs to As based on your testing! Love your channel and all the effort you put into it!!
Thanks and you are welcome!
I work in aviation and grabbed that Husky 144 ratchet set as soon as I could. No buyer’s remorse, those ratchets have been A LIFE SAVER. Excellent performance for everything I’ve used them for (1/4”, 3/8”, and 1/2”).
Thanks for the feedback.
I’ve been having a Husky mechanic tool set for probably around 20 years, it was a 387 piece for $387. The only problem I had was not loosing pieces. 😂
Great video as always!!
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
Why is "not loosing pieces" a problem?.... i would be happy not loosing any pieces from my socket set..... (if you want to feel happy and loose a few pieces, then by all means its my pleasure to give you my address and im happy to pay any shipping costs to help you with your problem)... 😂😂😂
@@mohammedisaa9952I think that's what they meant, that they lost too many of the pieces. As in, they could not keep all the pieces together.
That was an amazing performance by Husky. I think of Husky as a perfectly serviceable brand but not as the brand that a specialized professional might need. It looked to me like Husky was the winner of this contest. Proto did a little better mostly on the torque to failure test, but I can't imagine ever putting more than 50 ft. pounds on a 1/4 inch ratchet. So, IMO, Husky won or tied on everything that mattered and it was among the cheapest tested.
I'm always impressed with how good Husky tools are. They actually make the best socket adapters and impact 1/4" hex to socket adapters as well.
I found that out by burning through and breaking 4 Milwaukee hex to socket adapters on one job. Then I just went and got a couple husky adapters and they worked the rest of the job, and I'm still using them 1 year later.
I really appreciate the way you don’t insult the manufactures . Instead you encourage better production . Your transparency and facts make your judgement trustworthy. Keep up the good work 👍
Thanks, will do!
Regarding Koken, I'd like to see the Z series put up to the test. They're 72 tooth. I have a few of them and they're my go to ratchets. Koken is known for their low back drag designs. This is more important to me than fine tooth count.
Thank you for the video idea!
Thank you!
No carbon fiber bling for me….All my tools need to serve double duty as hammers😎
You are welcome! Thanks for the feedback.
FLIPPING FUNNY i was saying the same thing Super Thumbs up on that ... Hammers to Cheater bars ... Really Carbon Fiber WTF one time used as a Hammer or Cheater bar or drop it on the ground and that Jenkey Style Ratchet is TRASH or a hot exhaust melting the carbon fiber handle AKA Flaming style Ratchet NO THANKS
\
Great video. I'd buy the TRO, Koken, or Husky depending on what I wanted it for. My favorite ratchet of all time though is a US made Craftsman low-profile(purchased ~2005). They sell used for around $100!
Thanks!
This guy is hands down one of the best channels on RUclips! Love the work and hear that goose in to these. Keep up the great work!
Thanks, will do!
Great video always love the dedication you have to making the most detailed test you can possibly think of have you done a best right angle attachment for a impact driver would be a cool video i think
Is this the type of tool? If not, please let me know, and I'll see what I can do. ruclips.net/video/-g6OYTXWjpg/видео.html
@@ProjectFarmyup you already have it covered thanks 🙏🙏🙏
Love the new additions to the line up like the TRO and the 3d printed one can't wait to see the videos with the 3d printer! Awesome video as always 👌🏼
Thanks and you are welcome!
I really like these shootouts. I'm a mechanic and it's amazing how brand loyal some people are without really knowing if their choice is any good over all or not. I have stuck with Craftsman most of my life due to lifetime warranty and quality vs. price, but you didn't have one in this matchup. Odd...
Thanks for the feedback.
Given how ubiquitous and that it's one of the higher quality, widely available, reasonably priced brands of wrenches, not including one is indeed is really unfortunate. If there was any baseline for comparison to the rest of the market, I would think Craftsman would be it.
@@Dylanearcraftsman is a junk brand now that they have been sold off. They are now constantly bouncing around their designs from China, Taiwan and USA. By the time this comment is here the ratchets would have changed design or factories. 😂
Another excellent tutorial on ratchet wrenches. Again many thanks for taking the time to make it easy for the consumer to make your their mind. 😊😊😊
Thanks and you are welcome!
First ratchet I've ever baught was a Husky at KMart. Still going strong 44 years later.
Thanks for sharing!
I have a Snap-on TLLF72 that I purchased a couple of years ago when they first came out: $99. By far the most I've ever spent on a ratchet, let alone a 1/4" drive ratchet.
But, it's by far the most used ratchet I own. I use it for pretty much everything short of lug nuts!
Expensive? Yup. But worth every penny.
Until it breaks
I had mine fail a couple of times when I was using it daily in shop environment even though I never fitted larger than 10mm (3/8") socket on it
Always switched to 3/8" drive for 11 to 17mm, 1/2" up to 36mm and breaker bar after that (or even breaker bar when loosening anything over 26mm - roughly 1")
The back drag on my snap on ratchets became a lot less once i broke them in. Brand new they were a little sticky, but after a week or two i couldnt even feel them ratcheting because the clicks were so light 🤯
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks You for these reviews. The consumer needs to have 1 for 1 unbiased comparisons of the products they buy. The depth of detail you provide in these is perfect. Keep up the great work!
Thanks and you are welcome!
You should test pipe wrenches. either steel or aluminum ones. keep up the great work!
Great suggestion!
I know for a fact that RIDGID makes pipe wrenches.
@@ProjectFarm I agree with @jackbachman1385. Pipe wrenches are (to me at leas) one of those tools that I inherited from dad, and never think about until I need it. Then I go for that rusty old thing and it might work.
Later on I purchased an Irwin quick-release style pipe wrench to replace the rust wrench. Big mistake. That Irwin barely grabs anything and when it does it slips. I’ve since gone back to dear old dads wrench. So seeing a review of different pipe wrenches would be great.
Yeah that would be cool
Aluminum are light but junk
Continuously impressed by your ability to come up with tests to replicate what we care about in the real world !
Also great print, cf is not the easiest to work with
Thanks so much!
Most other review videos on youtube are so slow that I have to fast forward to get to the interesting bits. This channel I have to rewind to make sure I’ve taken in all the info. There is so much work put into these comparisons!!
Thanks!
One of the most common ratchets out there is a Craftsman. I was surprised to not see it in the lineup. I suppose the video would be forever long if you tested all the brands that are out there. Thanks for the results.
You are welcome! Good Point!
That’s why I’m watching my craftsman 1/4 in is worn out after 30 years it has started skipping teeth, the rest of set is still good
That back drag thing is actually pretty important in a lot of scenarios. I do wonder if some of the versions that performed poorly in that test, might break in after a bit of use and end up having less back drag than when they were brand new. I was very surprised that the icon did not perform better. That line of Harbor Freight tools is generally pretty good quality. I guess some of the Icon tools are better than others.
One thing we've seen in this video is we clearly do not have to spend $150 to $200 to get a good 1/4 inch ratchet. Really you don't even have to spend $100.
I already had a Kolbalt ratchet that came with a large kit, but I was searching the clearance rack at Lowe's and found a swivel head Kobalt for about $10 and bought it just because it was marked down ridiculously cheap. I don't know how they would perform these tests since they weren't included, but I've been using these tools for a few years and they perform fine.
Thanks for the feedback.
I do exactly the same when I see 1/4" drive ratchets as you know they will break eventually and generally when 1/4" drive is all you can use.
Although I also have Snap-On and Facom I don't carry them around to relatives when 'fixing stuff'
@@1crazypj I have a stubby Husky brand ratchet and it is two sided. It has 1/4 in on one side and 3/8 drive on the other side. That little thing is pretty awesome and I've had it for probably 10 years or so. It came with a small set that I got off the clearance rack at Home Depot. I don't know why more people are not making them like that. You to lose a little bit of clearance but it's good for most things.
Can never have enough ratchet wrench reviews :) It's by far the most used tool in my garage.
Thanks for the feedback.
I love when you say, " We're gonna test that!"
That TRO Titanium Protoype is absolute ridiculous @ $240. I want one!! 😁 Must of hurt to test it to failure.
Think the RUclips money is good enough to get a few replacements 😅
@@saiiiiiii1He gives most of his tested products away to locals after testing
Thanks for the feedback.
Mac ratchets are rebranded Proto, which is why they finished next to each other in the tests. Having a small versatile 1/4" ratchet is essential, thanks for the tests!
And both are owned by Stanley😔😔😔
Way too expensive for the average mechanic.
You are welcome!
@@jameslowe3792 Not Really Snap on is way more expensive not sure when Todd bought that Snappy Ratchet that 1/4 drive is around $150.00 a good long lasting Ratchet stick to a Proto ... I could be Wrong but Proto has been around longer than Snap on BTW i am a fan of Snap on Tools But the Price you just got to walk away they are way too expensive
Love the testing here. Super useful for real life use! I would be very interested in seeing your results in testing different mosquito traps, maybe a couple of categories consisting of small units and then larger ones such as those that use propane. Thanks!
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
That's a good idea, we are in Florida with a small lake opposite which has 'dead' area's where mosquitos can (and probably do?) breed.
City put aerators in a few years ago but I don't think any fish have returned?
Maybe the frog population helps keep amount of larvae down?
Great video, as always! Love seeing more and more Proto in there, I've always been a fan!
"The Crescent is made in China." That was depressing.
The funny thing about the 30 degree arc test is that a ratchet that gets 5 degrees will actually score better than a ratchet that can get 4.5 degrees, but I can’t think of a better real world test. You do awesome work! I love your videos!
Thanks and you are welcome!
Awesome job as usual. I have a few of these and I love the Wera over the others. It feels much better in my hand and has a smoother mechanism than my Snap On. Maybe you can also talk about the subjective side in your tests. You just talk about the numbers but often it comes down to what feels better.
Thanks! Thanks for the constructive feedback.
Have to agree. I went through many tool brands and love Wera the most. Hand tools Wera, power tools DeWalt.
Looks also are a thing, like that golden ratchet...... really liked that, and maybe in a set, gold plated sockets..... completly useless but look lovely....
I've been tempted by Wera ever since 'Chickanic' promoted them on one of her videos 😎
You are an absolutely indispensable resource my man! Thanks for providing solid consumer info.
Thanks and you are welcome!
I would love to see more Kobalt hand tools in the mix. I’ve had my Kobalt ratchet set for years and despite them getting rained on and set in water for longer then I care to admit they have done every task I’ve asked of them including using breaker bar torque.
Thank you for the video idea!
Hey I have a request if you haven't already.. would you mind reviewing multimeters? I bought one from harbor freight for $20 and it seems okay but I'd like to see it compared to others. Thank you so much! I really enjoy watching your videos! I hope you have a great day and a safe 4th of july! :)
Thank you for the video idea! Happy 4th!
If you do test multimeters please include at least one from Klein tools. I recently got a Klein tools MM325 and while it’s been great for me so far I would love to see how it stacks up
@@ProjectFarm you're welcome! Haha I think you would do a great job comparing these.. I found the package mine was in. It's called a cen-tech 11 function digital multimeter with audible continuity. The item number is 61593. Thanks a lot!
I enjoy watching how each ratchet is put to the test. How about breaker bars?
Thank you for the video idea!
Just the amount of testing that's done, squeezed into a short video, really mind blowing. Thank you! It's the Husky 144 for me.
You are welcome!
Great video. Thank you. Yes to more ratchet videos please.
You can always count on Harbor Freight tools being at the bottom of the barrel.
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
Disappointing to see the Icon fall short here. In some of the other videos, some of the more premium Harbor Freight options have been really good beating out some of the other cheaper options on the list. One of the ones that stand out to me, are definitely the Doyle water pump pliers that rivaled the Knipex ones.
I'm glad to see the pawls and main gears in most of the wrenches are holding up quite well, unlike many older imported wrenches that go bad with ordinary use.
One issue I have with many wrenches is bumping the reversal switch, so a bit stiffer one might be good rather than a negative, as well as recessing it some.
A unique ratchet is Harbor Freight's Ratcheting Breaker Bar (3/8" and 1/2"). It has big clunky pawls inside. But, hopefully is also durable. It would be worth adding to the tests.
I'm with you. Over the decades I've accidentally reversed my ratchets an ungodly number of times. But I've only experienced the inability to NOT reverse them when they were broken.
I know u usually do tools, but an electric toothbrush comparison would be kinda neat
That would be about 2 minutes and is subject to personal preference.
Thank you for the video idea!
@@JSFGuy Not really...
@@KenzertYT how complex is a power toothbrush then? Why would he test a personal item?
If project farm ever stops im going to riot! Best review content bar none!
Thanks!