The Harbor Freight Tool You Can Do and Buy Better Elsewhere

When it comes to tools, DIY mechanics want to save money but do not want a tool that is so cheaply built that it will not perform as well as it should. Here’s one recent tool review that shows you can do better on both counts by skipping on this one Harbor Freight Icon tool for a change and going somewhere else.

1/4-Inch Small Ratchet Review

While price is sometimes an indication of quality---but not always as shown in this review---paying 4-5 times more for a name brand tool is crazy money spent when there are alternative choices that perform if not equally well…are close enough for most mechanics and their needs at a much lower price.

However, when there is a wide range of brand name tools that are becoming more familiar to consumers who work with tools, it’s sometimes difficult to know which particular tool with what brand is the one to choose. Especially for many of us who go the safe route and choose those tools that are mid-range in price thinking that we do not have the time to research the best bang for the buck and will just take our chances with a middle-of-the-road price tag.

But that is a mistake in thinking and that’s where this article comes in.

The ¼-inch Ratchet Review

The message in a recent Project Farm YouTube channel episode, is that it pays to avoid being a favorite-brand shopper when you have someone who will take the time and energy to help you decide what brands not only work best over a range of tasks, but especially so per each tool and the job it does and the price difference with each.

Case in point, a recent quarter-inch ratchet tool review by the Project Farm host as he pits several brands against one another to find out which brand offers the most in performance for the least of cost.

Quarter-inch ratchets come in handy not so much because they are designed to handle small bolts and nuts, but the fact that they enable you to reach into tight spaces with reasonable repetitive movement to install and remove fasteners. And what I mean by reasonable is whether the ratchet has enough action in it to handle only a few degrees of movement in a tight space.

And that’s where this review comes in handiest. It shows that some of the cheapest ratchets will not get the job done where it’s needed the most.

The value of this video is that it not only reveals which ¼-inch ratchets you may want to avoid, but those within the same price range (significantly below the price of the most expensive brands) that are a better choice and investment---even if you typically prefer the Harbor Freight Icon brand that often holds its own against many name brand tools.

Related article: Mechanic Responds to Harbor Freight Tool Shaming

And finally…

For additional articles related to Harbor Freight tools, here are a few for your consideration:

• The Harbor Freight Gift Every Car Owner Needs
• Best Floor Jack Comparison Tests Reveal Which Harbor Freight Jack to Buy and Which to Probably Avoid
• The Best Harbor Freight Tool Brand That Wins in Price and Performance for This Job

Timothy Boyer is a Torque News automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for daily new and used vehicle news.

Image Source: Author