A recent tool test comparing multiple brands of ratchets, from the cheapest to the most expensive, shows why DIY mechanics should avoid becoming too brand focused.
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When you've worked on cars or trucks long enough, or it is time to retire from your car projects and begin to clear out your garage with a yard sale, you will eventually realize that you've spent a lot more than you should have on tools over the years.
Related article: The Common Car Tool You Should Never Buy Cheap
As I reported earlier, back in the day, many of us became overly brand focused with tool makers like Craftsman Tools. And for good reason.
The Tool Brand American Hotrod Racing Grew Up With
Craftsman tools were already there when the first generation of DIY mechanics after WWII began to take notice of the fact that "hopping up" your ride was not just an enjoyable pastime to take out to the abandoned airstrip on weekends but a practical necessity where non-mechanics could learn about cars and engines in their spare time.
Timing was everything, and Craftsman fulfilled the need for tools for the everyday man because its tool quality matched its shine and it offered a broad range of tools, which was something other toolmakers could not compete with. If you could not find it at Craftsman, the odds are it was a specialty tool you would have to get from the car manufacturer.
Tool Brand Is Not Everything Today
However, no one tool company makes the best of everything, and even the best tool makers slip up from time to time when it comes to quality. I like to post tool reviews for DIY mechanics whenever a new review reveals a lower-price deal for a better tool product. This is an example of why being too loyal to any particular brand is an economic mistake today.
Related article: What Happened to Craftsman Tools for DIY Mechanics
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For example, a recent Project Farm YouTube channel episode reveals that a surprisingly inexpensive ½-inch drive ratchet beats several more expensive and traditionally higher-end brands like Snap-on.
Follow along with the host as he pits an extensive list of automotive tool brands against each other, including GearWrench, Snap-on, SK, Neiko, ICON, DeWalt, Wera, ARES, Stahlwille, Klein Tools, Craftsman, SATA, Williams, Mac Tools, Duratech, Pittsburgh, and Workpro.
If you do not have time to watch the entire video, a summary is provided immediately below it.
$19 Ratchet Proves Premium Ratchets Are a Waste of Money!
Ratchet Review Summary
When price overrules performance, but you still want a ratchet that performs remarkably well, the $19 Neiko ½-inch drive ratchet is the one to go for. This is especially true when you consider Snap-on, Mac Tools, Stahlwille, and Craftsman, which come at a price tag of $202, $185, $119, and $43, respectively, with final finish scores well below those of the significantly less expensive Neiko brand ¼-inch ratchet.
For additional tool related articles, be sure to check out these selected three:
- Best Budget Tool Set That Beats Harbor Freight
- The Craftsman Wrench Set That You Should Buy Today
- My Harbor Freight Brand Pittsburgh Tool Beats Snap-On!
Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and works on restoring older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. He also reports on modern cars (including EVs) with a focus on DIY mechanics, buying and using tools, and other related topical automotive repair news. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWritesfor daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks as well on Facebook and his automotive blog "Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair."
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