That $90 ratchet set from Harbor Freight finally gave out on me

Last month I was underneath a 2005 Cummins in my buddy's shop outside Omaha, going at a stubborn bolt, and the 3/8 drive just snapped clean in half. I've had that set for maybe 3 years and it held up fine for light stuff but that was the second time a bolt almost stripped on me. My buddy handed me his Matco that he paid like $300 for and it grabbed way better. Anyone else regret cheaping out on tools and wish they just saved for the good stuff from the start?

4 comments

4 Comments

kelly38511d ago

That $90 ratchet set got you THREE YEARS before it broke? That's like 3 cents a day. I've spent more on a single dinner that gave me heartburn for one night. Maybe your buddy's Matco is nicer but if a $90 set lasted you three years and only broke on a tough truck bolt, I'd say you got your money's worth.

piperbailey11d agoTop Commenter

Yeah @kelly385 you're not wrong, my $80 set lasted me four years till i dropped it off a ladder, still worked fine after.

emma_flores9d ago

The other day I tried to tighten a bolt on my lawn mower with a Harbor Freight wrench and it slipped so bad I nearly punched myself in the face. My neighbor walked over with his Snap-On stuff and it was like night and day, I felt like an idiot standing there with my bargain bin tools. Honestly though, that $90 set lasting three years on a Cummins is honestly impressive, I've had $50 sets break on a Honda Civic before. But yeah, I definitely regret cheaping out sometimes when I'm crawling under my truck and praying a socket doesn't shatter on me. My pride takes a hit every time my buddy hands me his fancy ratchet and it bites way better than mine. Lesson learned, you pay for what you get, even if it hurts the wallet at first.

angela5879d ago

Totally agree with what @emma_flores said about pride taking a hit when a buddy's tool works better. I remember reading somewhere that the metal composition in cheaper ratchets is softer, which is why they strip out easier on high torque stuff like that Cummins bolt. My neighbor used to be a diesel mechanic and he told me he saw a Harbor Freight socket shatter once and almost took out a guy's eye. For light work around the house they're fine, but for anything heavy like what you were doing, three years is honestly a solid run.