I used to work at Sears selling Craftsman tools. Part of my job was to rebuild those “50-year-old” ratchets, along with many of the following generation, so we could give a customer back a ratchet identical to the one they broke, rather than always having to give them a brand new one off the shelf. We still offered the brand new one as an option (free/under warranty), but 95% of our customers just wanted the same tool they had before to work again. For our most sentimental clientele, I would take the very ratchet they brought in and give it all new parts (gear/pawl/spring/bearing/lever) and fresh lube while they waited, so they could keep turning nuts and bolts with the same tool that they had trusted to use on countless jobs before.
I’ve been on the other side of that counter having brought in a sixty year old ratchet and walking out with a brand new rebuild kit to install myself back at the shop. It was a neat service.
@@nicogarbella I would call before going, but Lowes and/or Ace Hardware are two of the new craftsman dealers. They should be able to do a swap for you.
I think toughness and durability should have been measured by how many times it can be used as a hammer and how many times you can hammer on the handle to loosen a bolt.
I used to work at a mostly empty Sears where I would repair old Craftsman ratchets and breaker bars. I would routinely see ratchets with huge cheater bars welded onto them, ratchets whose owner was the grandson of the original buyer, and ratchets that had been used as shop hammers. Most of the time, I could get the ratchets back to working order with some grease and/or a repair kit. When the store finally closed down I made out like a bandit with dozens of repair kits for all kinds of years and models, along with other archeological items I found in the long-abandoned backrooms.
In 1947, my dad bought his Craftsman tool set from Sears to work in a Hudson car dealership in Detroit, the tool kit included 1/2 and 3/8 ratchets, sockets, breaker bars and extensions in a metal box all for $14.95. In 1975 most of the worn out sockets were replaced free of charge by Sears. My brother still has that tool set after my dad passed away in 2020.
The main issue is the move away from user repairability. Newer tools, like everything else these days, are often designed to prevent users from fixing them If that new craftsman needs to be lubricated you need to stop what you’re doing and get it serviced or replaced; which means potentially losing the tool while it’s repaired or replaced. The older sockets could be fixed and maintained right there in the shop
@@trendkilla254it depends on how the work environment realy. The sealed versions that can't be serviced won't ever need to be greased, but if you strip a tooth, you are shit out of luck and need to get a new one or warranty it. Honestly it's just preference. I keep all ratchets I buy and just grab the right size one for the job I'm doing
@@trendkilla254 I have been oiling mine with mineral oil/ motor oil. Works great. Not as good as grease im sure but it does make them work better in my application. I have the 50 year old craftsman and I cant bother with that snap ring.
@@warmwaffles Yeah but if you strip out a tooth on a 50 year old ratchet, how many mechanics are going to realistically have another gear to replace it?
When it comes to the tooth count talking about the old tools not working in tight spaces. They didn’t need to back then. 26 teeth was more than enough with the space engine bays used to have
@@StealthNinja4577 the packaging of ratchets changes depending on the tooth count. Even if it's the same style of mechanism (how many pawls), they can change the height of the hub depending on how much engagement they want vs. the number of teeth engaging. So you'd probably be getting lucky if you could swap the guts but I would expect it to be an exception.
@@someusername121 I don't think there's as much diversity. The head of the ratchet is roughly the same size through out the industry from what I can tell so you have to fit that form factor. This is why I'd like to see a cut away of the new one to see if the guts are truly different. There's also modifying the parts to fit better, if the new gear is a bit too tall you can always grind it down or vise versa add spacers.
Getting Jeremiah and Zach together on a show was the best thing donut could've done. Edit: didn't think this would blow up like that. Plus a like from Donut. Guess I've achieved my final form, I'm gonna stop trying now.
My dad had one of the 100 year old 1/2 ratchets. I still use it to this day. It's my no more playing around ratchet. It's outlasted some of my brand new ratchets. I even busted an almost brand new ratchet with an extremely rusted bolt. I grabbed my old craftsman and it had no issues
For me the 50 and 100 yo ones win with one feature: You can take them apart. Even if they break, you can fix them. You don't need to get a new one, and if you have a spare repair kit for them, you can fix them up right there in the shop and continue working. The ideal would be to have the new one but with the ability to take it apart and fix on the spot.
For me, the new one wins HANDS DOWN!!! The drive is literally half what the old ones are. And that may not make much sense to you but when you have your arm twisted up trying to remove the #8 bolt on an exhaust manifold you'd understand real quick. Also while yes I couldn't fix it myself I can take it to any Craftsman dealer and exchange it for a new model... for free no questions asked! Yes I'd love LOVE it if I could fix it myself but I'll trade that for a better working tool any day.
The older ones win for me too. What sucks tho is back when there were Sears stores everywhere you could just take these in and people could take these things apart and replace parts for you cause they all had lifetime guarantees. Now that most are gone you can’t do that anymore.
@@danielfrancis7798 They still have lifetime guarantees, and now you can take them to any Lowes, Home Depot, or Ace hardware and they all do exchanges. Way WAY more options than before and odds are one of those stores is closer to you than any Sears used to be. And that is because Sears doesn't own them anymore! It was sold to Black and Decker in 2017. And just a side note all those tools were made by different manufacturers. Sears never made the tools, they paid other companies to make them. The only factor the new one loses on was not being able to repair it, but I can go 8 minutes down the road to Ace Hardware and replace it in about the same amount of time. Honestly the much shorter drive is a way more important feature if you work in tight spaces such as on cars
As someone who worked on aircraft, as long as there isn't a significant performance difference, I would always take the lifetime warranty over self-repair. Parts go out of production over time. As cool as the old ones are, the new one performed as well/better and you have that warranty. No contest in my mind
@@frogswurld I was gonna chime in with this. 100% recommend project farm. This video was a joke compared to the systematic and scientific manner of abuse he tests the tools to..... absolute failure
The fact that the new one is not serviceable tells me that it is not built to last. And surely you can change the teeth on the older ones since they are serviceable. Really enjoy this series. Can't wait for more.
or maybe it's sealed to keep dust out, so it doesn't need to be serviced (by the user). and in terms of actual service by craftsman, giving out a new tool is way cheaper than maintaining a service department.
Think of it like old serviceable bicycle bearings vs sealed cartridges. Closer tolerances / better seals that prevent the entry of contaminants let the cartridges last a very long time. I've never had one fail. I have had quite a few instances of failed bearings when it was necessary to open the hub clean and re-pack them periodically. You often wouldn't know there was an issue until damage made it obvious.
@@EdgarHernandez-xj5mxTrue, but only if the company is still in business or if you have a dealer located nearby. Also if you’re working in an environment where the tool is exposed to a lot of fine grit and solvents I could see where serviceability could be a better option. Pros and cons. For me the biggest selling point of a “Lifetime” warranty is that the company has faith in their quality.
I know that having a high engagement ratchet is nice. But, when you're talking about 1/2 models, they do need to have high precision, as Aaron Sovey says, "toughness and durability should be measured by how many times it can be used as a hammer."
People like U.S.A. made tools not just because of a sense of patriotism, but because they know the worker who made it, earns living wages, and poored their heart and soul into the product
@@jackarnoldy8966 And still many usa made tools now that advertise it as a seal of quality end up being sub par quality, not because they are bad but because they are no better than others and still you pay a premium, making expectations waay higher than they should be
@@joey_f4ke238 Very VERY true, we here in the US do not have some magical way of making tools stronger and better, but too many people see that stamp and think "Well this must be the best one!" Honestly look at the price if an American tool costs LESS than a Chinese, Mexican, or German one then those guys probably put in the extra effort to make it worth that much... Or the seller is trying to rip you off, so still do your research.
I think what this proves overall is that you don't NEED to get brand new tools to get the job done. But it also shows that a quality tool stays quality
The difference comes into play when you use them everyday professionally. Trust me when I say this a craftsmen sockets dimensions are not as precise as a snap on or matco.
I have been buying old tools at auctions for pennies on the hundreds of dollars. No warranty on many, but still find craftsman, mac, and matco, some snap ons also. I bought a box of tools for $15, some wrenches, had a broken Mac flex head ratchet, they replaced it for free. So I got a $130 tool for $15 with a bunch of free wrenches. All kinds of good stuff at auctions
@Hardware John I can't remember the company but I had to get a 12 pt 30 mm heavy socket for axle nut at work. But with my Milwaukee 1/2 inch impact there hasn't been an axle nut that I can't take off. It is very well made and fits with very little slop. Came with the tool to pry out the safety bend.
I love the function and look of my Craftsman Ratchets. I have the “50 year old” versions. I’m really not a fan of the rounded version with rubber/plastic handles. I like being able to smack the square-ish handles with hammer sometimes, or lock a closed end wrench around the handle for more leverage.
I've used the "50yo" version as well. I really dislike the square-ish handle because it can be painful to use, although it's very easy to maintain your grip while you are really honking down on something. I don't get the same assurance with the ergonomic handles, and like you pointed out, you shouldn't smack em with a hammer!
@@Sweet68Camaro ive broke a crafstmen doing that once. It was my dad's wrench(was using his garage to help a friend do an engine swap). It broke when i was using a "small" 4ft" long breaker bar, or sometimes jack handle on it. Sears replaced it no questions asked. Also was surprised, and said so to my dad. see this was the same ratchet i had seen him use for 20+ years WITH breaker bars, including once when we were trying to get the flywheel off my engine block where i was standing ON the block to stop it moving as much and he was standing at the end of about a 6ft" breaker bar and bouncing up and down. The craftsmen socket did not break, the wrench did not, that bolt did though. End of the day after 20 years of pure grade A abuse, it broke. It was replaced the same day with a trip to the store with no questions asked. THAT is why i only buy crafstmen. Not ONLY can you put it through decades of normal use, you can put it through decades of "its not actually meant to do that, lets do it anyway" abuse and if/when it breaks just get a brand new one. Craftsmen is the goat of hand tools, period.
the fact that a 100 year old tool perform as well as a brand new one is in it own right amazing. i highly doubt todays new tool will perform as well in a hundred years from now
@@icesalami have used tools handed down to me by my father and my grandfather and modern day tools I got myself: there is a noticeable difference. The durability of a tool that is taken care of even if used from 40 plus years go is very much different from today when you start talking material, material composition, and material durability. Modern day metals used in tools are definitely cutting cost on production by adding chromium, vanadium, and a few other metals that decrease rust potential but limit the durability of the item, but in the past things like adding chromium or vanadium was frowned upon because it limited just that. Things are not build like they were in the past, sure materials have advanced but the actual materials used for large scale production will always cut costs due to sheer cost of newer modern day materials. Example of this is knives: try to find a die cut 1095 or 5160 spring steel pocket knife for less than 20 dollars, and then try to find one made out of 410 stainless surgical steel. You will not find one made of 1095 or 5160 under 20 dollars but you will find many made of the stainless steel that is cheaper to produce and is less durable.
@@CatTechSupport Clearly someone doesn’t understand material science. Also I can assure you that new craftsman ratchet is not made out of stainless steel.
You've also got to factor in the endurance. The new one performed the best, but the other two performed only slightly worse after decades and even a full century of use. I don't know how long the new one would last, but the 100 year old one looks like it could do another century no sweat
The basic technology hasn't changed for 100 years. The head on the new one is smaller and better to get into places. I wonder if the heads on ones 100 years from now will be smaller yet
@@Toro_Da_Corsa I agree with you but remember the head on the new one can't be disassembled like they did to the 100 year old one and these idiots didn't put it together correctly causing it to fail but once the tightened it properly it still put up the same damn numbers. They should have tested them to failure!
I think there's something to be said about the 100 year old one in the last test because you had an issue with it and were able to take it apart, check it out, put it back together, and test it again. If the same would've happened to the new one you wouldn't have that option. The big problem with the old ones is the fact that parts for repair will be more difficult to find, more expensive, and if they're reproduction they'll most likely be made to a lesser standard.
you say the reproduction will be of lower quality but there are many instances where that is just not true. in this instance if someone is selling a repair kit for a 100 year old ratchet, it's likely using new materials and new alloys, and if you pay attention to what alloys are being used and you will likely get the same quality or durability if not better because of the new materials. hell it's even possible to update and upgrade older ratchets with a 50 tooth gear and pawl set. those that propose the argument that "finding parts is hard" haven't actually spent the time to look into where or how you can get parts for the ratchet or get them made. at the end of the day the mechanics of a ratchet are pretty simple. if you know the dimensions and the specs of the internal components, you can find them or get them made. often in an afternoon from a skilled machinist.
@@TheObsesedAnimeFreaks I don't know hows their warranty but if you purposely break a new one doing over tightening test and if the brand just replace or fix for free it's all the same as long as they are in business then you can just keep sending them and get it fixed or a new one... Now having modern not very repairability stuff without lifetime warranties is a whole different problem.
did not like the last test, considering the first test was takeing them apart, and i seemed to work fine after re-tightening i would write it off as human error at the service part.
Personally id doubt that, Its likely just due to all the damaged teeth, that gear is pretty banged up, they just hit a few bad ones in a row, they finally snagged a good one and it worked great, id like to see what that ratchet could do with a rebuild kit thrown in though tbh
@@kiyosenl.3889 they even mentioned that they made sure the screws were tightened down as much as they could. To me that means that the first time they did it the screws weren’t properly tighten down. They probably didn’t tighten it as much because it’s such an old tool and didn’t want to strip a screw out. I seriously doubt that it went from barely being able to hold 80 pounds to being able to hold 450+ within the same ratchet
but human error should also be taken into account in these tests. the new tool was designed specifically to take human error out of the equation. if a tool was designed in a way that human error can affect its performance, i think that should count negatively.
The one problem and criteria that you did not take into account. The wear that the 50 and 100 year old tools have already endured.. If the new tool had undergone that much use, would it still have won?
@@scottb4029 For sure, How about that 100 yr old wrench? It failed, took it apart and reassembled it, then it still went the distance with torque. Try that when the new one fails. Thanks for the reply. Keep on wrenching!
the rebuilt the two older ratchets. For all intents and purposes its as close as you can get to a new tool. what you said isnt really my gripe with the scientific method of these tests though.
The middle set "50 year old", I got the entire set when was going out of design in the 90's right at perfect timing. Three sizes of wrenches and about every socket you can dream of, on clearance. No issues with them 30 years later except my spark plug socket the rubber insert died 2 months ago (was soo mad, but little chunk of rubber lasted lol). I've had different brand wrenches and sockets since then randomly added, but have many many of those sockets split with usage while not a single one of my Craftman sockets have died yet. My favorite tool purchase ever and was my first big purchase (heck was half off and still over hundred, back in the 90's). I'm sure they will go on to my son.
I have the same 50 year old ones too, my dad got them for me in 2004 or 2005, with the same 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2" drive ratchets. The only issue I've had was when I cracked a socket by improper use. Entirely my fault, and I tweaked the 1/4" ratchet a bit. Still works, but doesn't catch on every tooth perfectly anymore. Never got around to getting it fixed, and it still works, so I'm just gonna leave it alone. Pretty sure the whole set was around $220 at the time.
Is very similar to a material hardness testing though, when they test material in lab they do a similar dimple test, the bigger the dimple the softer the material.
i think that test was kinda dumb, the 50 and 100 year old socket wrench are a "living proof" of the durability, if they are that old and aint broken, they are durable as fuck and the usability test is also dumb, its a 50 and 100 year old tool, different time and technology, this could work on modern tools but older tools are obvious that they have different angles and range. i get that its just for entertaining but cmon.
"V-Series" is Stanley Black & Decker's (SBD-current owner of Craftsman) way of capitalizing on the USA made V coded tools Sears Craftsman made in the mid to late 1900s, which are plentiful and widely regarded as some of the best out there. I have a bunch of Made in the USA Craftsman tools and the newer ones (Sears or SBD) work but don't stack up in terms of fit and finish.
@@elultimo102 yup now most are just relabeled dewalts but can you complain that’s all anything is nowadays lol everything’s owned by one or two big sluggers
My craftsman power drills are pretty meh. But they were 100 bucks with two batteries for an impact and drill. I keep them around and take them to do dirty jobs. I keep my nicer power tools for nice jobs or home projects.
I use that 50 year old ratchet as my main 1/2 ratchet at work. Literally found it in a scrap metal bin, it was all jammed up and didn't ratchet at all. Took it apart, gave it some fresh grease, it's good as new. Serviceability is great. Free is great. I do still keep a cheap Chinese fine tooth ratchet for tight spots where that matters though.
My grandfather was an RAF engineer in ww2 and was given a plomb ratchet by a US engineer (I believe standard issue at the time) he used it throughout his career and I still use it now. 80 years strong.
I love the metal cases the old tools came in...my dad has a metal box set, was painted red, but paint has lots of battle damage scars.... My father in law worked on trucks and damn, the metal boxes he has....I dont know, I'm not even a mechanic, but I love those old metal boxes. They will outlast generation of families.
It looks like the 100yo version came with a breaker bar that was the same size as the ratchet. Makes me think they weren't really expecting you to put 400 ft lb of force on the ratchet itself, you'd use the small breaker until it was loosened.
After 100 years the teeth were a bit worn down. Once they adjusted it to the less worn teeth it performed pretty good. But yes I was taught to never use a ratchet to break a nut free. Surprisingly enough my newest breaker bar is rated to 400ftlbs and has a ratcheting head.
@@warrensteel9954 lmao I try my hardest to avoid using a socket wrench as a breaker bar but sometimes there's just places a socket wrench will fit and a breaker bar won't. For example a singular bolt on my alternator broke 4 socket wreches before it came lose all because all my breaker bars won't fit
Surprisingly enough, test to destruction trials show that the driving head actually fail by shearing before the ratcheting mechanism does. Regardless of that, I'll still always use a breaker bar instead of a ratchet with a cheater bar, which is generally what's needed to get to the torque required to break them.
So much space to work on things in the old timey cars. Brought a wistful tear to my eyes. Nowadays changing sparkplugs can be a 4 hour job just getting to them.
Craftsman was my Grandfather's brand (machinist and electrical engineer) because lifetime guarantee. Grew up with tools in the tin cases. A childhood dream, I suppose looking back. Got to put that lifetime guaranee to the test once back when Sears was still at think. Snapped a 7mm allen wrench. Walked into Sears (Winter Haven, FL), showed them the pieces and they handed me a new set (when they still had 7mm in them) no questions asked. Beautiful.
The destructive test on those beautiful old tools was painful to watch, but a good episode. I like the servicability of the older tools appeals to the desire in me to keep what works, and not just throw things away and get new ones, even if they are under warranty.
taking apart the ratchet is one of the coolest things i learned in my auto tech class, my teacher only taught like 3 people a year and i was one of the only girls he taught. so fun and useful for my hand-me-down tool set
@@YungSteambuns pride? prestige? does it truly matter any? people tend to include irrelevant or useless information when telling anecdotes, the human mind values some arbitrary details over others, but a lot are still ultimately arbitrary.
I had a couple of those 50 year old ratchets... I actually still do. The internal spring wears out after awhile causing it to slip at the worst time. Otherwise a very reliable ratchet. The new ones cannot hold up to shop environments. The rubber handle will soon wear out from oil contamination. you should also test handling (grip) comfort.
Awesome video. i collect vintage Craftsman ratchets and one thing I've noticed is that they don't like thick grease (like wheel bearing grease). My go to is multi-purpose super lube and it's gotta be put on light. Another thing I always do when I get a old ratchet is replace the pawl springs. They tend to weaken over time and don't get proper teeth engagement and can slip.
Also I've bought 2 new 3/8 Craftsman ratchets last year. they might be stronger in their design but they seem to wear faster, one of mine already sound pretty unhealthy and that's just under normal use without a cheater pipe.
I love the dynamic and how these guys just nerd out together and get lost in the engineering together. It’s similar to how Hammond and May would completely ignore Jeremy and dive into a project. Great show just for the dynamic!
@@StealthNinja4577 Those coatings are terrible. I found an original Motorola Droid the other day and the entire back was a melted, sticky mess where it had that rubberized coating on it.
Even Snap-on ratchet grips become junk quickly. The combination of hitting things/oil/dropping etc. means they don't last long. Snap-on will replace the grip though, so that has to be taken into account when considering value.
I have always loved craftsman warranty. I have had them replace many screwdrivers. You can't go wrong with that. I have a socket set about 30 years old, still working well . I have a really old one also about 70years old that still works but I don't use it that much, it doesn't ratchet as well as the newer ones. But cool video and I'm glad to hear that they are still building them as strong as they used to be.
As a QC mechanical engineer, this video makes my soul sing. Your shop-made benchmarks are right up my alley. Anything can be judged empirically, with proper benchmarking. Good on y'all!
Absolutely love when these two do videos together. They both have so much knowledge from different mechanical backgrounds, it's great to see them working in action together!
Donut media will and WILL always be stored in my heart, they are my homies even if I never met them or talked to them. Every video I smile who ever is on the show :) makes everything better ❤️
i always thought of this to be true because we all know companies need to make more money and to do that they have to find new ways to make stuff cheaper
I think the reliability factor is already taken by the older tools. The fact that you have 2 forged steel tools that can still hack 400+ ftlbs no problem is something I doubt the mild steel new boy could hack every day or even over time. Yes there is lifetime warranty but serviceability and just the feel of a tool you've used for a long time can't be beaten, especially for those folks who don't have a automotive tools shop down the road to pick up another one in.
You two fellas are fibbin, the Imperial DOES run!! For those of y'all that DON'T know, about a year or so ago, Kevin & Mook from JunkyardDigs came out from Iowa & helped Nolan not only diagnosed the engine, but DID actually get it running & runnin WELL!!
I received all of my grandfathers tools after he passed because I’m the only one still doing automotive in the family and almost every tool is the vintage craftsman stuff. I still have some new stuff I use but sometimes those craftsman wrenches or ratchets give me what I need. Love em to death and they’ve come through for me on some tough spots when my other tools couldn’t
as an old tool guy I'd ad a couple more categories- which "feels" better in your hand, and which one looks like it was made by hand with the love of a craftsman? I've got an antique Snap-On socket set that gives me a warm fuzzy every time I use it, new tools simply don't do that! Great show!
That lifetime warranty can't be overstated. My dad broke several multi hundred dollar wrenches while removing some large bolts off a ship, (Put a pipe on it and giver wah) he made so many trips to sears they basically had the replacement ready and waiting on him.
My craftsman ratchet, brand new, after 2 transmission jobs and a few oil changes, it seized up completely, my dad’s old craftsman set, at least 30 years or older, still working just fine.
Testing tools from different eras with all the same "mileage" would be optimal but finding "as-new-in-box" versions of the 50 year would be improbable and the 100 year verging on impossible. The older versions do suffer a bit with lower tooth-count but an unused example would give the best comparison. Great episode. One of the best to date!
1:45-As a mechanic named Brice i had to laugh at that one. And yes I’m the guy that won’t step foot inside the old snap-on rape wagon and use craftsman 90% of the time. Still work circles around those snap-on fan boys. Tools don’t make the mechanic and anyone who says they do probably doesn’t turn wrenches for a living.
I used to think like you but after spending more time fucking around with cheaper tools with them breaking or just not working great I've quickly learned snapon is usually worth it most of the time, especially for being a heavy duty mechanic my tools get extremely abused
I’m partial to the “50-year old” set. My dad has 2 sets of these guys, and he’s used them on I would guess at least a few thousand jobs, and I grew up using them my entire life. They are now part of my tools and I use them constantly. I won’t buy another set of ratchets ever until they finally let go. I hope they last me another 50 years as well. ☺️
I grew up never caring or appreciating older nouns. Now that I'm 55, I get it. Especially since I've been working factory, assembly, and welding and fabrication, I've come to realize the older tools are damn near indestructible. And last almost forever. Some new ones are pretty badass. But I'll take older quality over today's. I had to sub to ya'll. Thank you for the information and laughs!💯💪🇺🇸🙏💛
I would take a look at Project Farm's videos and how he does some of his testing and maybe apply that to this series. the 'Practicality' chapter felt... underwhelming.
I think Project Farm has spoiled us by how good his comparison tests are. The Donut versions are definitely trying to capitalize on the production value to make up on the substance shortcomings. Appreciate their efforts, but I'd rather watch them for high-low or other semi-technical content.
I started mechanicing professionally in 1961 at 14 years of age. My final retirement was in 2017 at 70. As mechanical necessity changed so did the tools. Look at older vehicles vs. newer ones and see how much room you had in 1950 vs. a new car. The need for tighter clicks on the ratchets was necessitated space to use the tool. In 1920 most nuts were still square, and hex bolts were relatively new. I can say Craftsman tools, and Kennedy tool boxes were the best value for your money. They both had quality and affordability. I worked Aircraft, and had no love for brands but those two brands held up the best, and I could afford to raise my family. LOL Some brands were technically better, but were not worth the extea price.
I've been on TH-cam nearly every day for the last 15 years watching videos such as this... How is it i'm just now coming across this channel with nearly 8 million subscribers ? This just goes to show how VAST TH-cam really is !
This is the 2nd video I've watched with these guys and I have to say their videos are fun and cool. I have to admit I was rooting for the 100 year old socket, but on the other hand, you would hope there would be some innovation and improvement over that time period. I think the evaluation was fair enough. Still, I have my 30+ year old Craftsman set which is working just fine.
I love y'all's channel, (I'm drunk) but honestly y'all have good content, and teaches young kids and adults alike that being a mechanic, ( at least a slight mechanic) is a good thing to know
I'd like to point out that only one of the 3 wrenches were new. I know it would be impossible to find brand new 50 and 100yr old socket wrenches, but I would say this isn't a true test by nature. The one has a better advantage because it has little to no wear.
My dad has had the same two 3/8 ratchets by Craftsman along with screwdrivers by Craftsman. He has had them for more than 20 years and they have never failed, broke, chipped, etc, not even one chip in a blade screwdriver or chipped or cracked handle. Safe craftsman sockets for 20+ years. All the Craftsman tools he bought around 1998-2000 are still around and work flawlessly today. Back when Craftsman had quality tools. I had bought him a Craftsman ratchet with a comfortable handle right before Sears went out of business and that thing didn't last very long. He even has Craftsman corded power tools that are 20+ years old and they all still work like new. Craftsman 1/2in drive pneumatic impact gun and that still kicks ass today NEVER SERVICED. And these tools have done a ton of work from engine rebuilds, work around the property, etc. Craftsman used to be quality tools. I used to be surprised when going into Sears and seeing Craftsman tools being repaired. Id be willing to bet these tools will last another 20+ years.
I have socket sets, pipe wrenches, adjustable spanners, pipe threaders. All my dads from the 1960's and all used to fit out power stations, so they're massive. Serious quality compared to the stuff from today
At one time in my life, I inherited one of those old 100 year old style rachets. I also have the 50 year old style, although it was bought in the 90's. The oldest one was in one of my large tool boxes that was stolen. It definitely worked as intended when I was using it. Although I did not really use it a lot once I bought the newer one. It was a bit bulky feeling by comparison. The square handle rachet feels comfortable in my hands and tends to give me more grip than the modern, round handles. The only bad thing is that my 1/4 in. is not working, and I can not find any US Made tools to swap it out with. I guess I should just buy a rebuild kit.
Yall need to review the "pass through" ratchets that came and went within basically a decade. I got a Craftsman Max Axess kit back when Sears was a thing. It was a first "real" socket set and after years of car work, I still whip it out on basically every job. I recently had to rebuild the wrench which was actually pretty easy; I needed to file the gearset and pawl... though after that, I still put big cheater bars and what not on it without worry, and it has a lot teeth (over 50, cant remember). And they really do get in places that normal sockets don't I think theres a Husky and like generic Amazon knockoffs out there. But yeah, Im not sure why they came and went so fast, I cannot find them anymore unless you want to cough up 250 bucks on ebay. I think i bought my kit at Sears new for like 59.99
A go-thru socket set is like 20 bucks at Harbor Freight and there are tons of them on Amazon at all different price points. They haven't gone anywhere.
@@drksoldier1 the thing is you can only find the cheap ones now , the harbor fraud version is a proprietary set. There's a Amazon crecent set that emulates the craftsman/gearwrench interface, but I wouldn't trust it for how I've abused mine. You used to go to Sears/Lowe's/Home Depot and find the "name brand" Husky, gearwrench, Kobalt, and of course craftsman. Now it's all the lowest quality versions which I guess is ok if you don't use it a lot, but I use mine like those extended snap-on low profile ratchets. Basically everywhere. Yeah the "name brand" is still chinesium, but the design of the max access ratchet has proved to be bullet proof over near decade I've had it.
@@frjhracing That's not ture at all. Everyone under the sun is making these at all quality levels depending on what brand you buy. They haven't gone anywhere and if you want quality you can get much better than Craftsman which to be honest was never much better than much of the stuff from HF anyway. Maybe try the set from Channel Lock or perhaps Gearwrench if the cheapo set from HF doesn't tickle your fancy? Both of those are probably superior to the Craftsman. Then there is also a real nice set from Williams/Blue point (Snap On) if you must have top quality.
@@drksoldier1 you say they exist, I agree. Now try and go find one and buy it. The closet set I could actually find (that wasn't only 3/8 set, I'm talking the whole 1/4" + 3/8" sets) is maybe gearwrench which seem to go out of stock regularly. And one I could reliability find is "gear ratchet" set. And then there's a Lowe's uurea set... which is still not the full SAE and Metric set my max access had and is 150. I'm sorry but I already went through this whole ordeal when I thought I ruined my ratchet with a cheater bar too big. I know what's out there and yes little bits and partial sets exist...but you're not finding the full shibang SAE, Metric, extensions, a driver attachment. And the same extending to 1/4 within the same ecosystem. And when you finally do, it's not "off the shelf" like they used to. The Kobalt sets are all out of stock, klutch (northern tool) doesn't have em, etc. I make regular stops at HF, I even have their credit card, their pass through ecosystem is basically nothing. I guess I'm glad I can spend all my money to get the snap on ecosystem which is all there. Prove it otherwise.
I have a couple of the "100" year old ratchets. I love them and still use them today. Some fresh oil and grease and maybe some wire wheeling when needed and it'll last forever.
It was also hitting a round handle and not a 'flat' surface, meaning there was less surface area hit due to the curvature. Also the new one is smooth while the older two have a sort of textured surface, so the damage would be more noticeable. Just my thoughts and another point of view. I do agree with much of the newer metals being harder. It's like the comparison of the metal thickness on 50-60s cars to modern. The newer are thinner, but also stronger with changes in the metallurgy through the years
I used to work at Sears selling Craftsman tools. Part of my job was to rebuild those “50-year-old” ratchets, along with many of the following generation, so we could give a customer back a ratchet identical to the one they broke, rather than always having to give them a brand new one off the shelf. We still offered the brand new one as an option (free/under warranty), but 95% of our customers just wanted the same tool they had before to work again. For our most sentimental clientele, I would take the very ratchet they brought in and give it all new parts (gear/pawl/spring/bearing/lever) and fresh lube while they waited, so they could keep turning nuts and bolts with the same tool that they had trusted to use on countless jobs before.
That's cool, it's a shame the company never adapted.
I’ve been on the other side of that counter having brought in a sixty year old ratchet and walking out with a brand new rebuild kit to install myself back at the shop. It was a neat service.
it aint much, but its honest work.
I have a ratchet that doesn’t work that I bought at Sears when I was 18. How would I go about replacing the tool?
@@nicogarbella I would call before going, but Lowes and/or Ace Hardware are two of the new craftsman dealers. They should be able to do a swap for you.
I think toughness and durability should have been measured by how many times it can be used as a hammer and how many times you can hammer on the handle to loosen a bolt.
Lol, yup
@X-O Kimberly nobody want a cold body
Sometimes thrown at a very annoying fly at the other end of the workshop container.
Hammer on handle to check, never use them as hammer unless they already don't work!!!
🤣for sure
I used to work at a mostly empty Sears where I would repair old Craftsman ratchets and breaker bars. I would routinely see ratchets with huge cheater bars welded onto them, ratchets whose owner was the grandson of the original buyer, and ratchets that had been used as shop hammers. Most of the time, I could get the ratchets back to working order with some grease and/or a repair kit. When the store finally closed down I made out like a bandit with dozens of repair kits for all kinds of years and models, along with other archeological items I found in the long-abandoned backrooms.
Lucky!
@BentoBuff for sure I have at least 3 that I'd like to rebuild
@BentoBuff it's almost like they did that in the video you're commenting on 😂
Some of the really old Craftsman tools can bring big money.
Selling any cool stuff? Got an eBay store?
In 1947, my dad bought his Craftsman tool set from Sears to work in a Hudson car dealership in Detroit, the tool kit included 1/2 and 3/8 ratchets, sockets, breaker bars and extensions in a metal box all for $14.95. In 1975 most of the worn out sockets were replaced free of charge by Sears. My brother still has that tool set after my dad passed away in 2020.
The main issue is the move away from user repairability.
Newer tools, like everything else these days, are often designed to prevent users from fixing them
If that new craftsman needs to be lubricated you need to stop what you’re doing and get it serviced or replaced; which means potentially losing the tool while it’s repaired or replaced.
The older sockets could be fixed and maintained right there in the shop
A lot of the new ratchets aren't even repairable or even greaseable which is stupid.
How often does a ratchet need to be re-greased?
@@trendkilla254it depends on how the work environment realy. The sealed versions that can't be serviced won't ever need to be greased, but if you strip a tooth, you are shit out of luck and need to get a new one or warranty it.
Honestly it's just preference. I keep all ratchets I buy and just grab the right size one for the job I'm doing
@@trendkilla254 I have been oiling mine with mineral oil/ motor oil. Works great. Not as good as grease im sure but it does make them work better in my application. I have the 50 year old craftsman and I cant bother with that snap ring.
@@warmwaffles Yeah but if you strip out a tooth on a 50 year old ratchet, how many mechanics are going to realistically have another gear to replace it?
When it comes to the tooth count talking about the old tools not working in tight spaces. They didn’t need to back then. 26 teeth was more than enough with the space engine bays used to have
I could be wrong but what's stopping you from opening up the old boy and popping in a higher toothed gear.
engine bays making big block engines look small. good times.
@@StealthNinja4577 nothing
@@StealthNinja4577 the packaging of ratchets changes depending on the tooth count. Even if it's the same style of mechanism (how many pawls), they can change the height of the hub depending on how much engagement they want vs. the number of teeth engaging. So you'd probably be getting lucky if you could swap the guts but I would expect it to be an exception.
@@someusername121 I don't think there's as much diversity. The head of the ratchet is roughly the same size through out the industry from what I can tell so you have to fit that form factor. This is why I'd like to see a cut away of the new one to see if the guts are truly different. There's also modifying the parts to fit better, if the new gear is a bit too tall you can always grind it down or vise versa add spacers.
Getting Jeremiah and Zach together on a show was the best thing donut could've done.
Edit: didn't think this would blow up like that. Plus a like from Donut. Guess I've achieved my final form, I'm gonna stop trying now.
Zero chemistry
@@MrMathoks are we watching the same video??
I thought they were the same person for the first year they were on the show
@@jessewilson6837 I still think they are 🤔
@@MrMathoks such a fool
was hoping they'd dunk the tools in some sand and dirt to see how the non serviceable one stacks up against the other two. 10/10 episode nevertheless
There is also not two groups of fans whining on for deccenia about how the one they prefer is better
My dad had one of the 100 year old 1/2 ratchets. I still use it to this day. It's my no more playing around ratchet. It's outlasted some of my brand new ratchets. I even busted an almost brand new ratchet with an extremely rusted bolt. I grabbed my old craftsman and it had no issues
yo my dad hass that same set too!
For me the 50 and 100 yo ones win with one feature: You can take them apart.
Even if they break, you can fix them. You don't need to get a new one, and if you have a spare repair kit for them, you can fix them up right there in the shop and continue working.
The ideal would be to have the new one but with the ability to take it apart and fix on the spot.
For me, the new one wins HANDS DOWN!!! The drive is literally half what the old ones are. And that may not make much sense to you but when you have your arm twisted up trying to remove the #8 bolt on an exhaust manifold you'd understand real quick.
Also while yes I couldn't fix it myself I can take it to any Craftsman dealer and exchange it for a new model... for free no questions asked! Yes I'd love LOVE it if I could fix it myself but I'll trade that for a better working tool any day.
The older ones win for me too. What sucks tho is back when there were Sears stores everywhere you could just take these in and people could take these things apart and replace parts for you cause they all had lifetime guarantees. Now that most are gone you can’t do that anymore.
@@danielfrancis7798 They still have lifetime guarantees, and now you can take them to any Lowes, Home Depot, or Ace hardware and they all do exchanges. Way WAY more options than before and odds are one of those stores is closer to you than any Sears used to be. And that is because Sears doesn't own them anymore! It was sold to Black and Decker in 2017. And just a side note all those tools were made by different manufacturers. Sears never made the tools, they paid other companies to make them.
The only factor the new one loses on was not being able to repair it, but I can go 8 minutes down the road to Ace Hardware and replace it in about the same amount of time. Honestly the much shorter drive is a way more important feature if you work in tight spaces such as on cars
As someone who worked on aircraft, as long as there isn't a significant performance difference, I would always take the lifetime warranty over self-repair. Parts go out of production over time. As cool as the old ones are, the new one performed as well/better and you have that warranty. No contest in my mind
problem is you can fix them if you can get parts which I don't think you can as they give you a new tool to replace the old.
Only Donut can make me watch a comparison between socket wrenches and be entertained by it
Check out Project Farm.
I love donut but they will never compare to Project Farm
You know you’re watching the right thing when you go to comment it and everyone else already has. Project farm is the gold standard
@@frogswurld I was gonna chime in with this. 100% recommend project farm. This video was a joke compared to the systematic and scientific manner of abuse he tests the tools to..... absolute failure
The fact that the new one is not serviceable tells me that it is not built to last. And surely you can change the teeth on the older ones since they are serviceable. Really enjoy this series. Can't wait for more.
Well they have lifetime warranties so if it does break you can get a new one.
or maybe it's sealed to keep dust out, so it doesn't need to be serviced (by the user).
and in terms of actual service by craftsman, giving out a new tool is way cheaper than maintaining a service department.
Think of it like old serviceable bicycle bearings vs sealed cartridges. Closer tolerances / better seals that prevent the entry of contaminants let the cartridges last a very long time. I've never had one fail. I have had quite a few instances of failed bearings when it was necessary to open the hub clean and re-pack them periodically. You often wouldn't know there was an issue until damage made it obvious.
@@EdgarHernandez-xj5mxTrue, but only if the company is still in business or if you have a dealer located nearby. Also if you’re working in an environment where the tool is exposed to a lot of fine grit and solvents I could see where serviceability could be a better option. Pros and cons. For me the biggest selling point of a “Lifetime” warranty is that the company has faith in their quality.
These guys are just brilliant together I love em
Donut’s sound design team is so amazing. Keep it up guys!
I know that having a high engagement ratchet is nice. But, when you're talking about 1/2 models, they do need to have high precision, as Aaron Sovey says, "toughness and durability should be measured by how many times it can be used as a hammer."
Huge props to stating something that is absolutely true but few seem to understand:
Good things can be made anywhere, bad things can be made anywhere.
People like U.S.A. made tools not just because of a sense of patriotism, but because they know the worker who made it, earns living wages, and poored their heart and soul into the product
@@jackarnoldy8966 And still many usa made tools now that advertise it as a seal of quality end up being sub par quality, not because they are bad but because they are no better than others and still you pay a premium, making expectations waay higher than they should be
@@joey_f4ke238 Very VERY true, we here in the US do not have some magical way of making tools stronger and better, but too many people see that stamp and think "Well this must be the best one!"
Honestly look at the price if an American tool costs LESS than a Chinese, Mexican, or German one then those guys probably put in the extra effort to make it worth that much... Or the seller is trying to rip you off, so still do your research.
It's more or less that we want our economy in America, not China.
@@jackarnoldy8966 there's no guarantee someone in the US is actually making a living wage.
The only question left is, will the new one last 100 years and still work nearly the same as it did while new like the other two
No
Guess we will have to wait 100 years to find out lol
No way
Find out next time on Dragon Ball Super
No not even close
I think what this proves overall is that you don't NEED to get brand new tools to get the job done. But it also shows that a quality tool stays quality
The difference comes into play when you use them everyday professionally. Trust me when I say this a craftsmen sockets dimensions are not as precise as a snap on or matco.
I have been buying old tools at auctions for pennies on the hundreds of dollars. No warranty on many, but still find craftsman, mac, and matco, some snap ons also.
I bought a box of tools for $15, some wrenches, had a broken Mac flex head ratchet, they replaced it for free. So I got a $130 tool for $15 with a bunch of free wrenches.
All kinds of good stuff at auctions
You still need high end tools. They said craftsman best tooth is 50. Snap on, Mac, Milwaukee, and dewalt are 90 teeth. Way more useful.
@Hardware John I can't remember the company but I had to get a 12 pt 30 mm heavy socket for axle nut at work. But with my Milwaukee 1/2 inch impact there hasn't been an axle nut that I can't take off. It is very well made and fits with very little slop. Came with the tool to pry out the safety bend.
I love the function and look of my Craftsman Ratchets. I have the “50 year old” versions.
I’m really not a fan of the rounded version with rubber/plastic handles. I like being able to smack the square-ish handles with hammer sometimes, or lock a closed end wrench around the handle for more leverage.
I agree. I've got the same ones as well
I've used the "50yo" version as well. I really dislike the square-ish handle because it can be painful to use, although it's very easy to maintain your grip while you are really honking down on something. I don't get the same assurance with the ergonomic handles, and like you pointed out, you shouldn't smack em with a hammer!
@@WhatnotSoforth I smack them to brake a bolt loose. Like one or two times. Besides it’s a Craftsman, I trust them.
@@Sweet68Camaro ive broke a crafstmen doing that once. It was my dad's wrench(was using his garage to help a friend do an engine swap). It broke when i was using a "small" 4ft" long breaker bar, or sometimes jack handle on it. Sears replaced it no questions asked. Also was surprised, and said so to my dad. see this was the same ratchet i had seen him use for 20+ years WITH breaker bars, including once when we were trying to get the flywheel off my engine block where i was standing ON the block to stop it moving as much and he was standing at the end of about a 6ft" breaker bar and bouncing up and down. The craftsmen socket did not break, the wrench did not, that bolt did though.
End of the day after 20 years of pure grade A abuse, it broke. It was replaced the same day with a trip to the store with no questions asked. THAT is why i only buy crafstmen. Not ONLY can you put it through decades of normal use, you can put it through decades of "its not actually meant to do that, lets do it anyway" abuse and if/when it breaks just get a brand new one. Craftsmen is the goat of hand tools, period.
My pet peeve with the rubber handles is coolant getting on the rubber
the fact that a 100 year old tool perform as well as a brand new one is in it own right amazing. i highly doubt todays new tool will perform as well in a hundred years from now
Probably will. The mechanics haven't changed much in 100 years
but it didn't lol, they had less teeth. image trying to take out transmission bolts with that old junk
@@icesalami have used tools handed down to me by my father and my grandfather and modern day tools I got myself: there is a noticeable difference.
The durability of a tool that is taken care of even if used from 40 plus years go is very much different from today when you start talking material, material composition, and material durability. Modern day metals used in tools are definitely cutting cost on production by adding chromium, vanadium, and a few other metals that decrease rust potential but limit the durability of the item, but in the past things like adding chromium or vanadium was frowned upon because it limited just that.
Things are not build like they were in the past, sure materials have advanced but the actual materials used for large scale production will always cut costs due to sheer cost of newer modern day materials. Example of this is knives: try to find a die cut 1095 or 5160 spring steel pocket knife for less than 20 dollars, and then try to find one made out of 410 stainless surgical steel. You will not find one made of 1095 or 5160 under 20 dollars but you will find many made of the stainless steel that is cheaper to produce and is less durable.
@@CatTechSupport Clearly someone doesn’t understand material science. Also I can assure you that new craftsman ratchet is not made out of stainless steel.
@@Sir_TachyonI don't think you understood his comment
You've also got to factor in the endurance. The new one performed the best, but the other two performed only slightly worse after decades and even a full century of use. I don't know how long the new one would last, but the 100 year old one looks like it could do another century no sweat
The basic technology hasn't changed for 100 years. The head on the new one is smaller and better to get into places. I wonder if the heads on ones 100 years from now will be smaller yet
@@Toro_Da_Corsa 100 years from now they won't have gears, it'll be Bluetooth 😝
@@Toro_Da_Corsa I agree with you but remember the head on the new one can't be disassembled like they did to the 100 year old one and these idiots didn't put it together correctly causing it to fail but once the tightened it properly it still put up the same damn numbers. They should have tested them to failure!
with the lifetime warranty though you could be swapping that wrench out once every 5 or 6 years.
@@mrfixitusa6165 nah but unironically they will probably be using ratchet bearings or some kind of weird clutch.
I think there's something to be said about the 100 year old one in the last test because you had an issue with it and were able to take it apart, check it out, put it back together, and test it again. If the same would've happened to the new one you wouldn't have that option.
The big problem with the old ones is the fact that parts for repair will be more difficult to find, more expensive, and if they're reproduction they'll most likely be made to a lesser standard.
Huh what are you talking about I've taken my craftsman rachets apart an fix them
A whole lotta nonsense
you say the reproduction will be of lower quality but there are many instances where that is just not true. in this instance if someone is selling a repair kit for a 100 year old ratchet, it's likely using new materials and new alloys, and if you pay attention to what alloys are being used and you will likely get the same quality or durability if not better because of the new materials. hell it's even possible to update and upgrade older ratchets with a 50 tooth gear and pawl set. those that propose the argument that "finding parts is hard" haven't actually spent the time to look into where or how you can get parts for the ratchet or get them made. at the end of the day the mechanics of a ratchet are pretty simple. if you know the dimensions and the specs of the internal components, you can find them or get them made. often in an afternoon from a skilled machinist.
@@TheObsesedAnimeFreaks I don't know hows their warranty but if you purposely break a new one doing over tightening test and if the brand just replace or fix for free it's all the same as long as they are in business then you can just keep sending them and get it fixed or a new one...
Now having modern not very repairability stuff without lifetime warranties is a whole different problem.
Probably the point is “Buy this brand! It’s even better today”!
We do not get confused any more Right?
did not like the last test, considering the first test was takeing them apart, and i seemed to work fine after re-tightening i would write it off as human error at the service part.
Personally id doubt that, Its likely just due to all the damaged teeth, that gear is pretty banged up, they just hit a few bad ones in a row, they finally snagged a good one and it worked great, id like to see what that ratchet could do with a rebuild kit thrown in though tbh
@@onyxphantom6762 agreed possible the grease they used could have prevented the pawl from engaging properly as well
@@kiyosenl.3889 they even mentioned that they made sure the screws were tightened down as much as they could. To me that means that the first time they did it the screws weren’t properly tighten down. They probably didn’t tighten it as much because it’s such an old tool and didn’t want to strip a screw out. I seriously doubt that it went from barely being able to hold 80 pounds to being able to hold 450+ within the same ratchet
@@bigboreracing356 I donno man, I've got a wrench made in Japan that's around 150 years old and I wouldn't give it up for anything.
but human error should also be taken into account in these tests. the new tool was designed specifically to take human error out of the equation. if a tool was designed in a way that human error can affect its performance, i think that should count negatively.
The one problem and criteria that you did not take into account. The wear that the 50 and 100 year old tools have already endured.. If the new tool had undergone that much use, would it still have won?
I think this is fine as its realistic. You wont be finding unused 100 yr old tools so this is a practical test.
From experience, that new Crapsman set won't endure as much use as the old ones. Not even close.
@@WilliamHearnTOEFL_Tutor that was kinda what I was inferring😊
@@scottb4029 For sure, How about that 100 yr old wrench? It failed, took it apart and reassembled it, then it still went the distance with torque. Try that when the new one fails. Thanks for the reply. Keep on wrenching!
the rebuilt the two older ratchets. For all intents and purposes its as close as you can get to a new tool. what you said isnt really my gripe with the scientific method of these tests though.
The middle set "50 year old", I got the entire set when was going out of design in the 90's right at perfect timing. Three sizes of wrenches and about every socket you can dream of, on clearance. No issues with them 30 years later except my spark plug socket the rubber insert died 2 months ago (was soo mad, but little chunk of rubber lasted lol). I've had different brand wrenches and sockets since then randomly added, but have many many of those sockets split with usage while not a single one of my Craftman sockets have died yet. My favorite tool purchase ever and was my first big purchase (heck was half off and still over hundred, back in the 90's). I'm sure they will go on to my son.
I have the same 50 year old ones too, my dad got them for me in 2004 or 2005, with the same 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2" drive ratchets. The only issue I've had was when I cracked a socket by improper use. Entirely my fault, and I tweaked the 1/4" ratchet a bit. Still works, but doesn't catch on every tooth perfectly anymore. Never got around to getting it fixed, and it still works, so I'm just gonna leave it alone. Pretty sure the whole set was around $220 at the time.
Gotta remember there's 50 and 100 years of use one the old tools. Be cool to see the new tool tested after a 100 years of simulated use
Fireman's Axe Drop test? I feel we coulda done something a little more practical for the durability test
Entertaining non the less
Drop a lift arm on it
Agreed: Simply dropping the ratchets from various heights would be a better and much more realistic test.
Is very similar to a material hardness testing though, when they test material in lab they do a similar dimple test, the bigger the dimple the softer the material.
i think that test was kinda dumb, the 50 and 100 year old socket wrench are a "living proof" of the durability, if they are that old and aint broken, they are durable as fuck and the usability test is also dumb, its a 50 and 100 year old tool, different time and technology, this could work on modern tools but older tools are obvious that they have different angles and range.
i get that its just for entertaining but cmon.
"V-Series" is Stanley Black & Decker's (SBD-current owner of Craftsman) way of capitalizing on the USA made V coded tools Sears Craftsman made in the mid to late 1900s, which are plentiful and widely regarded as some of the best out there.
I have a bunch of Made in the USA Craftsman tools and the newer ones (Sears or SBD) work but don't stack up in terms of fit and finish.
Eh
My new vseries craftsman curbstomp anything I’ve ever gotten power tool wise. Craftsman was never strong in power tools now there pretty good
@@mercury0214 I found at least some of their corded power-tools to be relabeled Skil.
@@elultimo102 yup now most are just relabeled dewalts but can you complain that’s all anything is nowadays lol everything’s owned by one or two big sluggers
My craftsman power drills are pretty meh. But they were 100 bucks with two batteries for an impact and drill.
I keep them around and take them to do dirty jobs. I keep my nicer power tools for nice jobs or home projects.
I use that 50 year old ratchet as my main 1/2 ratchet at work. Literally found it in a scrap metal bin, it was all jammed up and didn't ratchet at all. Took it apart, gave it some fresh grease, it's good as new. Serviceability is great. Free is great.
I do still keep a cheap Chinese fine tooth ratchet for tight spots where that matters though.
My grandfather was an RAF engineer in ww2 and was given a plomb ratchet by a US engineer (I believe standard issue at the time) he used it throughout his career and I still use it now. 80 years strong.
I love the metal cases the old tools came in...my dad has a metal box set, was painted red, but paint has lots of battle damage scars....
My father in law worked on trucks and damn, the metal boxes he has....I dont know, I'm not even a mechanic, but I love those old metal boxes. They will outlast generation of families.
Donut releases a new video
Everyone: This is now my favorite Donut show.
It looks like the 100yo version came with a breaker bar that was the same size as the ratchet. Makes me think they weren't really expecting you to put 400 ft lb of force on the ratchet itself, you'd use the small breaker until it was loosened.
After 100 years the teeth were a bit worn down. Once they adjusted it to the less worn teeth it performed pretty good. But yes I was taught to never use a ratchet to break a nut free. Surprisingly enough my newest breaker bar is rated to 400ftlbs and has a ratcheting head.
@@warrensteel9954 lmao I try my hardest to avoid using a socket wrench as a breaker bar but sometimes there's just places a socket wrench will fit and a breaker bar won't. For example a singular bolt on my alternator broke 4 socket wreches before it came lose all because all my breaker bars won't fit
@@UndefinedStasis okay, maybe I'll rephrase that. Never use a ratchet you care about to break a nut free.
Surprisingly enough, test to destruction trials show that the driving head actually fail by shearing before the ratcheting mechanism does. Regardless of that, I'll still always use a breaker bar instead of a ratchet with a cheater bar, which is generally what's needed to get to the torque required to break them.
Using it in a way it wasn't designed for, where it would see much more load than usual, well why would that be in a torture test?
So much space to work on things in the old timey cars. Brought a wistful tear to my eyes. Nowadays changing sparkplugs can be a 4 hour job just getting to them.
Craftsman was my Grandfather's brand (machinist and electrical engineer) because lifetime guarantee. Grew up with tools in the tin cases. A childhood dream, I suppose looking back. Got to put that lifetime guaranee to the test once back when Sears was still at think. Snapped a 7mm allen wrench. Walked into Sears (Winter Haven, FL), showed them the pieces and they handed me a new set (when they still had 7mm in them) no questions asked. Beautiful.
The destructive test on those beautiful old tools was painful to watch, but a good episode. I like the servicability of the older tools appeals to the desire in me to keep what works, and not just throw things away and get new ones, even if they are under warranty.
A few months back, I found a handful of old Snap-on sockets, wrenches and breaker bars from my Grandpa's shop. Man they are great!
taking apart the ratchet is one of the coolest things i learned in my auto tech class, my teacher only taught like 3 people a year and i was one of the only girls he taught. so fun and useful for my hand-me-down tool set
If only more girls/women took interest in wrenching when i was growing up lol
Why was that piece of information (one of the only girls he taught) at all important to what you where talking about?
Honestly curious
@@YungSteambuns pride? prestige? does it truly matter any? people tend to include irrelevant or useless information when telling anecdotes, the human mind values some arbitrary details over others, but a lot are still ultimately arbitrary.
Man there’s just something about turning a ratchet in your hand that is just so satisfying. Listening to it is just. Aaaahhh yessss
I had a couple of those 50 year old ratchets... I actually still do. The internal spring
wears out after awhile causing it to slip at the worst time. Otherwise a very reliable ratchet. The new ones cannot hold up to shop environments. The rubber handle will soon wear out from oil contamination. you should also test handling (grip) comfort.
Awesome video. i collect vintage Craftsman ratchets and one thing I've noticed is that they don't like thick grease (like wheel bearing grease). My go to is multi-purpose super lube and it's gotta be put on light. Another thing I always do when I get a old ratchet is replace the pawl springs. They tend to weaken over time and don't get proper teeth engagement and can slip.
Also I've bought 2 new 3/8 Craftsman ratchets last year. they might be stronger in their design but they seem to wear faster, one of mine already sound pretty unhealthy and that's just under normal use without a cheater pipe.
I love the dynamic and how these guys just nerd out together and get lost in the engineering together. It’s similar to how Hammond and May would completely ignore Jeremy and dive into a project. Great show just for the dynamic!
I wonder how that rubber coating on the new ratchet holds up after 50 years
Wonder if it's actual rubber or a plastic and rubberized coating. I've seen the latter turn into a sticky mess in 5-10 years
Ever used a 50yr old condom? That will give you an idea.
@@StealthNinja4577 Those coatings are terrible. I found an original Motorola Droid the other day and the entire back was a melted, sticky mess where it had that rubberized coating on it.
@@oldscratch3535 yea a thin coating on an old device was completely eaten through so some alcohol freed it and wiped it off
Even Snap-on ratchet grips become junk quickly. The combination of hitting things/oil/dropping etc. means they don't last long. Snap-on will replace the grip though, so that has to be taken into account when considering value.
I have always loved craftsman warranty. I have had them replace many screwdrivers. You can't go wrong with that. I have a socket set about 30 years old, still working well . I have a really old one also about 70years old that still works but I don't use it that much, it doesn't ratchet as well as the newer ones. But cool video and I'm glad to hear that they are still building them as strong as they used to be.
As a QC mechanical engineer, this video makes my soul sing. Your shop-made benchmarks are right up my alley.
Anything can be judged empirically, with proper benchmarking. Good on y'all!
Absolutely love when these two do videos together. They both have so much knowledge from different mechanical backgrounds, it's great to see them working in action together!
Donut media will and WILL always be stored in my heart, they are my homies even if I never met them or talked to them. Every video I smile who ever is on the show :) makes everything better ❤️
I'd love to have that 100 y/o wrench in my collection.
My experience says that older stuff is usually better built, serviceable & reliable.
i always thought of this to be true because we all know companies need to make more money and to do that they have to find new ways to make stuff cheaper
You have the best 2 guys doing a video together Im so happy to see that
I think the reliability factor is already taken by the older tools. The fact that you have 2 forged steel tools that can still hack 400+ ftlbs no problem is something I doubt the mild steel new boy could hack every day or even over time. Yes there is lifetime warranty but serviceability and just the feel of a tool you've used for a long time can't be beaten, especially for those folks who don't have a automotive tools shop down the road to pick up another one in.
Original title: 100 Year-Old Socket Wrench TORTURE TEST
Alright
i like how this comment was just bombarded by sex scam bots
@@hyakkimarufluff534 Looks like it's most/all comments...
The 50 and 100 are probably made by New Britain or Snap On. Really top quality. My Dad built P38s during the war, they used Craftsman tools.
You two fellas are fibbin, the Imperial DOES run!! For those of y'all that DON'T know, about a year or so ago, Kevin & Mook from JunkyardDigs came out from Iowa & helped Nolan not only diagnosed the engine, but DID actually get it running & runnin WELL!!
I received all of my grandfathers tools after he passed because I’m the only one still doing automotive in the family and almost every tool is the vintage craftsman stuff. I still have some new stuff I use but sometimes those craftsman wrenches or ratchets give me what I need. Love em to death and they’ve come through for me on some tough spots when my other tools couldn’t
The editors of these videos are doing a fantastic job. All of the team do a great job and that's why I love this channel
Donut's editors are in another level
as an old tool guy I'd ad a couple more categories- which "feels" better in your hand, and which one looks like it was made by hand with the love of a craftsman? I've got an antique Snap-On socket set that gives me a warm fuzzy every time I use it, new tools simply don't do that! Great show!
I feel I use my old school ratchets about 10% of the time now that battery powered tool have gotten pretty good
Same, been wrenching for a while now (20+ years hobby) and the electric dac-dacs make life a whole lot easier.
That lifetime warranty can't be overstated. My dad broke several multi hundred dollar wrenches while removing some large bolts off a ship, (Put a pipe on it and giver wah) he made so many trips to sears they basically had the replacement ready and waiting on him.
My craftsman ratchet, brand new, after 2 transmission jobs and a few oil changes, it seized up completely, my dad’s old craftsman set, at least 30 years or older, still working just fine.
Testing tools from different eras with all the same "mileage" would be optimal but finding "as-new-in-box" versions of the 50 year would be improbable and the 100 year verging on impossible.
The older versions do suffer a bit with lower tooth-count but an unused example would give the best comparison.
Great episode. One of the best to date!
1:45-As a mechanic named Brice i had to laugh at that one. And yes I’m the guy that won’t step foot inside the old snap-on rape wagon and use craftsman 90% of the time.
Still work circles around those snap-on fan boys.
Tools don’t make the mechanic and anyone who says they do probably doesn’t turn wrenches for a living.
I feel like most of us have a healthy mix of tools. It's all about getting the job done, not breaking the bank to do it.
I used to think like you but after spending more time fucking around with cheaper tools with them breaking or just not working great I've quickly learned snapon is usually worth it most of the time, especially for being a heavy duty mechanic my tools get extremely abused
I’m partial to the “50-year old” set. My dad has 2 sets of these guys, and he’s used them on I would guess at least a few thousand jobs, and I grew up using them my entire life. They are now part of my tools and I use them constantly. I won’t buy another set of ratchets ever until they finally let go. I hope they last me another 50 years as well. ☺️
I grew up never caring or appreciating older nouns. Now that I'm 55, I get it. Especially since I've been working factory, assembly, and welding and fabrication, I've come to realize the older tools are damn near indestructible. And last almost forever. Some new ones are pretty badass. But I'll take older quality over today's. I had to sub to ya'll. Thank you for the information and laughs!💯💪🇺🇸🙏💛
1:22 Rikishi has really slimmed down since giving up wrestling.
Great show guys... It's like an irreverent 'Project Farm'😂
I would take a look at Project Farm's videos and how he does some of his testing and maybe apply that to this series. the 'Practicality' chapter felt... underwhelming.
project farm and/or torque test channel. i love donut but their tool tests are garbage
Project farm took the wrenches till they snapped, or in old craftman usa's case, the welded bolt snapped.
Plus project farm would incorporate a weird mannequin somehow.
I think Project Farm has spoiled us by how good his comparison tests are. The Donut versions are definitely trying to capitalize on the production value to make up on the substance shortcomings. Appreciate their efforts, but I'd rather watch them for high-low or other semi-technical content.
Really love this tool comparison series. Keep these coming!!!
I started mechanicing professionally in 1961 at 14 years of age. My final retirement was in 2017 at 70. As mechanical necessity changed so did the tools. Look at older vehicles vs. newer ones and see how much room you had in 1950 vs. a new car. The need for tighter clicks on the ratchets was necessitated space to use the tool. In 1920 most nuts were still square, and hex bolts were relatively new. I can say Craftsman tools, and Kennedy tool boxes were the best value for your money. They both had quality and affordability. I worked Aircraft, and had no love for brands but those two brands held up the best, and I could afford to raise my family. LOL Some brands were technically better, but were not worth the extea price.
I've been on TH-cam nearly every day for the last 15 years watching videos such as this... How is it i'm just now coming across this channel with nearly 8 million subscribers ?
This just goes to show how VAST TH-cam really is !
Hidden health benefit of waking up early: Catching Donut videos as soon as they post 😎
I like seeing the thumbnail before they change it
I wanna see this same test across price points. Like Pittsberg, vs Craftsman/Kolbalt vs Snap-on
Lookup the channel Project Farm. He does all sorts of cross brand testing.
Kobalt sucks across the board.
@@Khan.WrathOf ive never had issue with any of their tools.
This is the 2nd video I've watched with these guys and I have to say their videos are fun and cool. I have to admit I was rooting for the 100 year old socket, but on the other hand, you would hope there would be some innovation and improvement over that time period. I think the evaluation was fair enough. Still, I have my 30+ year old Craftsman set which is working just fine.
These two are the best duo ever
3:52 Holy fuck, i've been looking for that everywhere
DUDE.... HOW MUCH FOR THE BANANA ????
LOL
I can't even stand to sit through the torture tests I'm not even gunna lie, don't wanna see that beautiful old craftsman get destroyed lmao
Donuts content is as creative as it can get 😂
Only donut can make socket wrenches interesting … as always the production wuality is amazing … lot to learn for us creators 💯🔥
I love y'all's channel, (I'm drunk) but honestly y'all have good content, and teaches young kids and adults alike that being a mechanic, ( at least a slight mechanic) is a good thing to know
Love watching these 2 nerds together
Would love to see a head to head of the wrenches you can buy today. Like your screwdriver test. Snap-on in the crosshairs.
I'd like to point out that only one of the 3 wrenches were new. I know it would be impossible to find brand new 50 and 100yr old socket wrenches, but I would say this isn't a true test by nature. The one has a better advantage because it has little to no wear.
Yeah, but that was the point of the video. To confirm that you don't need to buy new tools if you have quality old ones.
I find it comforting that you guys said, “quality can be made anywhere.”
It caught me off guard actually. But it’s why I support you all.
My dad has had the same two 3/8 ratchets by Craftsman along with screwdrivers by Craftsman. He has had them for more than 20 years and they have never failed, broke, chipped, etc, not even one chip in a blade screwdriver or chipped or cracked handle. Safe craftsman sockets for 20+ years. All the Craftsman tools he bought around 1998-2000 are still around and work flawlessly today. Back when Craftsman had quality tools. I had bought him a Craftsman ratchet with a comfortable handle right before Sears went out of business and that thing didn't last very long. He even has Craftsman corded power tools that are 20+ years old and they all still work like new. Craftsman 1/2in drive pneumatic impact gun and that still kicks ass today NEVER SERVICED. And these tools have done a ton of work from engine rebuilds, work around the property, etc. Craftsman used to be quality tools. I used to be surprised when going into Sears and seeing Craftsman tools being repaired. Id be willing to bet these tools will last another 20+ years.
I have socket sets, pipe wrenches, adjustable spanners, pipe threaders. All my dads from the 1960's and all used to fit out power stations, so they're massive. Serious quality compared to the stuff from today
I thought Linus was the only one who used the “banana for scale”
At one time in my life, I inherited one of those old 100 year old style rachets. I also have the 50 year old style, although it was bought in the 90's. The oldest one was in one of my large tool boxes that was stolen. It definitely worked as intended when I was using it. Although I did not really use it a lot once I bought the newer one. It was a bit bulky feeling by comparison. The square handle rachet feels comfortable in my hands and tends to give me more grip than the modern, round handles. The only bad thing is that my 1/4 in. is not working, and I can not find any US Made tools to swap it out with. I guess I should just buy a rebuild kit.
Yall need to review the "pass through" ratchets that came and went within basically a decade. I got a Craftsman Max Axess kit back when Sears was a thing. It was a first "real" socket set and after years of car work, I still whip it out on basically every job. I recently had to rebuild the wrench which was actually pretty easy; I needed to file the gearset and pawl... though after that, I still put big cheater bars and what not on it without worry, and it has a lot teeth (over 50, cant remember). And they really do get in places that normal sockets don't
I think theres a Husky and like generic Amazon knockoffs out there. But yeah, Im not sure why they came and went so fast, I cannot find them anymore unless you want to cough up 250 bucks on ebay. I think i bought my kit at Sears new for like 59.99
A go-thru socket set is like 20 bucks at Harbor Freight and there are tons of them on Amazon at all different price points. They haven't gone anywhere.
@@drksoldier1 the thing is you can only find the cheap ones now , the harbor fraud version is a proprietary set. There's a Amazon crecent set that emulates the craftsman/gearwrench interface, but I wouldn't trust it for how I've abused mine. You used to go to Sears/Lowe's/Home Depot and find the "name brand" Husky, gearwrench, Kobalt, and of course craftsman. Now it's all the lowest quality versions which I guess is ok if you don't use it a lot, but I use mine like those extended snap-on low profile ratchets. Basically everywhere. Yeah the "name brand" is still chinesium, but the design of the max access ratchet has proved to be bullet proof over near decade I've had it.
@@frjhracing That's not ture at all. Everyone under the sun is making these at all quality levels depending on what brand you buy. They haven't gone anywhere and if you want quality you can get much better than Craftsman which to be honest was never much better than much of the stuff from HF anyway. Maybe try the set from Channel Lock or perhaps Gearwrench if the cheapo set from HF doesn't tickle your fancy? Both of those are probably superior to the Craftsman. Then there is also a real nice set from Williams/Blue point (Snap On) if you must have top quality.
@@drksoldier1 you say they exist, I agree. Now try and go find one and buy it. The closet set I could actually find (that wasn't only 3/8 set, I'm talking the whole 1/4" + 3/8" sets) is maybe gearwrench which seem to go out of stock regularly. And one I could reliability find is "gear ratchet" set. And then there's a Lowe's uurea set... which is still not the full SAE and Metric set my max access had and is 150. I'm sorry but I already went through this whole ordeal when I thought I ruined my ratchet with a cheater bar too big. I know what's out there and yes little bits and partial sets exist...but you're not finding the full shibang SAE, Metric, extensions, a driver attachment. And the same extending to 1/4 within the same ecosystem. And when you finally do, it's not "off the shelf" like they used to. The Kobalt sets are all out of stock, klutch (northern tool) doesn't have em, etc. I make regular stops at HF, I even have their credit card, their pass through ecosystem is basically nothing. I guess I'm glad I can spend all my money to get the snap on ecosystem which is all there.
Prove it otherwise.
@@frjhracing Just ordered the full set by Gearwrench from NAPA. It will be at the store tomorrow. 🤷🏼♂️
Honestly one of the best shows you have ever done
I have a couple of the "100" year old ratchets. I love them and still use them today. Some fresh oil and grease and maybe some wire wheeling when needed and it'll last forever.
Durability test would've been way better with a test of the head of the ratchet, for all the times I have to use it as a hammer
I wonder if The newest ratchet may have handled the denting that way due to being harder but also might be more brittle.
Rubber handle probably absorbed some of the impact as well.
It was also hitting a round handle and not a 'flat' surface, meaning there was less surface area hit due to the curvature. Also the new one is smooth while the older two have a sort of textured surface, so the damage would be more noticeable. Just my thoughts and another point of view.
I do agree with much of the newer metals being harder. It's like the comparison of the metal thickness on 50-60s cars to modern. The newer are thinner, but also stronger with changes in the metallurgy through the years
1:38 they made him Canadian lol
I seriously don't believe I spent 18 minutes watching this (Sober) and actually enjoyed it. Good job.
I work as a tool tech at a car factory and they are right. Reliability and ease of use are top priorities in the industry.
Suck one Zach and Jeremiah, looks like my new fancy tools take the cake! Love the channel guys.
I think what we’ve learned here is craftsman has, and still, makes excellent tools 😂
Last test, you ranked them backwards. Best would be the one that it took the most torque, not the least
The banana for scale really helped put things in to perspective for me. Thank you.
Wow! I Didn't know 1933 was 100 years ago!
You learn more each day