Date:         Wed, 27 Dec 2000 13:49:39 -0700
Reply-To:     gary2a@TELUSPLANET.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         gary2a@TELUSPLANET.NET
Subject:      re. What is the ultimate ratchet?
Comments: To: vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

David Marshall wrote:
People have told me that Hazet of
Germany makes some really nice tools.  There is a store here in town that
has some and I am not impressed.  By not impressed I mean they do not fit my
hand like a glove and become the ultimate tool
--------------------------------

Personally I don't like the Hazet stuff.  Of the tools I've used, I like
snap on and Gray among others.  I have a few Gray ratchets that I use all
the time.  The 1/4" ratchet is very small. Hand tools that are reasonably
priced and have a  "lifetime" warranty seem to be very large, heavy and
overbuilt.  The ratcheting mechanism is usually too course, to few clicks.
Maybe they make that stuff extra strong to cut down on warranty claims.
Snap on,  Mac, Proto  etc. ratchets and wrenches seem to have smaller heads
and weigh less.  Better for tight places.  Snap On sockets have thinner
walls than craftsmen and Husky etc. sockets.  Again, better for tight
places.
One advantage of department store Lifetime warranty tools is that it is very
easy to exchange them when they break.
The "Tool Truck" stuff can be an ordeal to exchange, at least for me.
Gray tools seem to be a good compromise between price and quality, Snap On
is too expensive for me but Craftsmen, Husky, CDN tire etc. are not really
good enough.

Just my opinion

Gary Lee
Calgary, AB