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Thanks!

I've debated pulling the trigger on impact rated ones, but they are pretty spendy over here. Glad to know they have been good to you. Thanks for watching and commenting!

@@lonestarmopars there's two variants of the half inch metric inhex, I went for the ones you can put the pin and o-ring set up on. I have the half inch deep impacts too. Having owned plenty of impact sockets over the years, the finish lasts a lot longer with the koken, just like the hazet and stahlwilles.

Thanks for watching!

I didn't know Oschenkopf had gardening tools...just knew of their axes. It is really hard to find a quality trowel. You will get pulled in by a comfortable handle, or a thick beam only to find they are junk and bend. Fiskars has a big catalog, but it isn't widely stocked. Biggest reason for Berger is it was new to me and I thought my Mom would like it for her birthday since it was different from the norm (and hopefully better quality).

This one was kind of exploratory. Berger was a new line at KC Tool and my curiosity to try new things coupled with making a unique gift for my Mom's birthday kind of sealed the deal. It is really hard to find a quality trowel. Some look strong, some have a nice handle, but they all wind up being throw away tools that can handle much past hanging on pegs at the store.

Thanks!

Good to hear you are happy with the Axis line! I haven't handled either in bare metal, but the Proto looks better and I can't argue with the knurled bands.

Thanks! Hope you can find more videos to enjoy...I've got a pretty big library at this point.

Well, going by the part number you listed, you've got a 12.750" OAL 1/4" Drive Hard Handle clocking in at $186.50. A soft grip equivalent, THLLF72, would run $175...it is slightly shorter than their hard handle. The closest offering would be their long handle, coming in at 8.250" and hitting the wallet at $150.50. With what you listed, you are saving $36 by going Mac. You gain a thinner head in the Axis. You've got Snap-on's Dual 80, which is 72T in this case, vs a 90 Tooth offering from Mac. The Snap-on's head is inserted between the handle while the Mac's is inverted, which should be stronger. I would also think that the Mac mechanism is a little stronger. Personally, the 10" range is about as big as I would want to go with 1/4" ratchets. Outside of something really tight (space constraints, not torqued) that requires an insane reach, you are asking for trouble with that much leverage. That would kick out the footlong Snap-on ratchets. Moving to the 8.250" Snappy, the price is negligible. Just call both of them $150. The Mac should be thinner and stronger. 90T vs 72T. The swing-arc won't lie, but I'd venture to guess a lot of people might prefer the ultra smooth 72T. Snap-on will offer you more color options and a hard handle to boot. The Mac grip is going to be slimmer, but are you giving up comfort? This one will ultimately come down to your personal preference. I've barely used this one, it has smoothed out and that jumping on ratcheting is pretty much gone. I have not used a Snap-on 1/4" drive in this configuration. I really don't think you can go wrong with either of them. The Mac will be thinner and should be stronger. The Snap-on offers more handle options and color choices. Wish I could help more, but I don't have a direct comparison. I will say the Dual 80 72T stuff I've used has been like butter and I honestly have tended to be more impressed by it than an 80T offering. Best option is to get both in your hand and see what you prefer. The Snap-on will inherently be more popular and bring more for whoever steals it from you, but the Mac won't really disappoint outside of the limited color options. I think you will be happy either way...

Thanks! Yeah, the standard Dominator handle vs the revised Mac handle makes a pretty big difference. I much prefer Mac's iteration as well. Hmm, I can probably help out there. Depending on the brands you've got, the pro-grade ratchets tend to offer longer lengths. Don't have an absurdly long 9" flex in 1/4" drive? There you go! You have the reason, now you just need to get behind it, lol. The sad thing is the Axis line is rarely on sale...it happens, but not often. I'd just keep my eyes out for when that happens and then meter out a logical explanation for adding something, lol. Granted, you can also go Proto and possibly save a bit more with a discount from Zoro.

Very possible. That was a great pickup for $10! People kind of underestimate the composite ratchets for stuff like batteries. I'm in the same boat...was tightening down a valve cover bolt on a 440 and the head of my Craftsman hit the J-box....it sparked and started burning a wire to the battery. The ratchet still wears the battle scar and as a 14 year old at the time, it left quite the impression. Needless to say, I always disconnect the battery, lol.

Yep, got to that later in the video...that and the fact it doesn't look like the head goes 90 degrees up is 100% why I didn't go that route. I really wanted a 3/8" locking flex head in the Axis line, but that was a deal breaker. This, by default, kind of became my guinea pig to feel it out. If the heads locked at 90, I'd still be interested, but I definitely prefer one that can do either, or....A lot of times with a flex head I jump it around like a breaker bar to just run something in/out faster before I start ratcheting. That said, this one seems solid and I'm hoping it sort of wears a little to get rid of the harsh engagement...once it is spinning, it seems fine.

Thanks...I do wish Mac had other colors, but ignoring that preference they did a really nice job on the Axis line.

I might have just gotten the 3/8" flex head, lol. I noticed it seems a little smoother out of the box than the 1/4" does, however once the 1/4" is going, it seems better. I was hoping it would break in with some wear. It will be interesting to see if you have better luck with the Snap-on. Speaking of Matco, they had a good flyer deal, and then a 30% off on their 88 line. I had an absolute nightmare of a time all week trying to buy from them. It kept triggering fraud warnings on my charge card where I'd have to call and get it unfrozen. Finally, on Thursday night, I got a guy who just point blank told me they had Matco flagged and weren't accepting transactions from them. I told the dude I wished the 4 previous agents had done that. They sold out a bunch of what I was wanting, but I had (2) left...I guess it seals the deal that I won't be getting them. I wanted to give them a second chance, but it is hard to do when I can't buy from them. If you didn't know the issue, I have a 3/8" black chrome...looks great, but the switch was a huge issue. I use it unlocked most of the time and have only recently gotten it to where it functions. It is way slimmer than a Snap-on locking flex head, but just frustrated me too much to enjoy it. Sort of like paying extra for overdrive only to never have OD kick in. Hopefully yours won't be as bad...great looking ratchet tho.

@@lonestarmopars do you have any tool trucks around you? you could ask around at different shops usually techs have a really good relationship with there dealers and could get you a time/location they would be. on the other hand could you use your charge card to buy a prepaid or even use paypal? im not sure how paypal works idek if me being canadian can even use it lmao but i find matco exclusives like the ratchets (i have 1/4 already) power tools, definitely air tools, and the bluing on the higher end sockets (bluing like a barrel of a "pewpew") to be very worth it. another option is ebay. wouldnt be as good of a deal but seems like some dealers get some extra sales through it.

It is definitely a head above my other 1/4" ratchets, haha. I took it to work and have barely used it, but so far, so good...I'm hoping it kind of smoots out on startup...once it is turning it is really nice.

@@lonestarmopars the length is great. I'm sure it'll loosen up

I have it on a list to try some of the newer Craftsman stuff, but haven't gotten around to it...I want to see the gunmetal finish in person. I'm just rarely in stores that have them.

Just barely...it was kind of my reason for going with Mac. And to be honest, before Mac jumped the price up (see right after I ordered this and during the week before making the video), you could actually get the Mac 3/8" flex cheaper than the Proto! Granted, that is going MSRP on each, but I expected a much wider gap. The Protos are the better option for bare handle imo as they have the sweet knurling bands. I have never had an "official" Gearwrench ratchet, but have considered a 120XP locking for the simple fact I am interested in their switch. Titan is one of those cheap, but solid brands...I don't have much from them, but it has been good. Thanks for watching.

Can you confirm that their locking ratchet doesn't go a full 90 degrees? That is why I held off going that route...straight and 90 up are my most used positions...that slight "almost 90" as the last locking position would kill it for me. Glad to hear you have had good luck with the Axis line. I may have just gotten another last night, lol.

Very true. I do wish Koken had something a little longer in 1/4" drive. This is by far my longest 1/4" ratchet...it might honestly serve me better at home than work, but I'm kind of banking on the leverage bump over reach. Might change my mind if it helps on machine repairs.

They've got the Speedgrip that has some pretty cool touches. They are, sadly, kind of under the radar. That said, they are also sporting some traditional jaws just like classic tongue & groove pliers. And thus, I share your sentiment that I'd love to see a Channellock based pliers wrench. Those things are incredibly handy and there are still a lot of people unaware they exist. Icon sort of opened a few more eyes, but having an American made offering at a killer price point would be a big deal!

Yeah, there are a couple of oddities in there that are completely under the radar.

The baked enamel finish is killer! 80s packaging is pretty sweet, lol. Thanks and glad the vintage Gedores have been good for you!

If that is the case, it might be Wiss. I'm not sure who else is left that makes that stuff here. I believe I remember the rough black grips...I want to say they are close to the Stanley Fat Max I got. Glad to hear you've gotten such good life out of them! Any grip, or padding at all is a good thing. The ones at work are great, provided you are just palletizing something. When I cut down a full sheet, it was painful.

Yeah, it is amazing how quick bad information can spread. It doesn't help when people don't stop and do their own research before jumping on the bandwagon. The grips could be imported, but the packaging would lead me to believe it is all done here. I much prefer the classic Channellock blue, but the Code Blue grips have their place. Channellock's dipped handles are one of the few that I actually like. Every other brand I tend to prefer comfort grip, or the textured grips, even though they are harder to clean. In a dream world, the Code Blue handles would be tweaked, but I can live with it...I get you on the Superman/Spiderman vibes though. I'd venture to guess the inspiration was Red, White, and Blue, but the shading is kind of off to convey that. Yep, the Code Blue drivers are imported...they don't try to hide that fact, still have American made drivers, but the way the Code Blue overlaps is 100% where I believe the confusion sets in for most people. In college I would get out of class and run a lot of the pickups...displays vary widely, but like you said...it is pretty much the same few tools over and over with little deviation. It would be nice to see a small store, or even a national chain spice it up with a more elaborate and inclusive display, but that would cut down on the imported red and yellow stuff. That is a really cool idea...should be very useful to boot. The Channellock blue really pops off a black drawer liner.

@@lonestarmopars There are some places that carry more than most retailers, but not many. DoIt best stores and some Tractor supply locations carry a few more of the pliers plus the screwdrivers and pry bars which most places don't carry. There's also a well known place which I've seen a video tour of on UA-cam, it may be Monroe Hardware that I'm thinking of ( I know they're a great place either way ) Anyways the place is old very big and very well known, it's like a dream world and truly the greatest hardware store I've ever seen. At the time they had a large selection of S•K, a full range of WILDE, more Channellock than I'd ever seen in a hardware store before, a lot of knife displays, a full selection of hickory tool handles, you name it. They're the kind of place a guy could happily die in. If I didn't have a very strong desire to never intentionally go any place that I can't carry a pocket knife I'd be more of the traveling type, and would make it a mission to visit that place before the last of the great American hand tool manufacturers are gone.

I agree...that seems to be the going rate for tool truck's lower end lines. I really think they should be more in the $10-15 range. That would move more of them. As is, you are too close to the top of the line to really justify a full set with such a marginal jump.

Haha, that sounds like an epic store. There were flea market card people that wound up with a brick and mortar store for awhile when I was a kid, but it didn't last. Can't go wrong with tools, knives, and swords. That is a good buy on the Proto ratchets. People kind of sleep on Proto...it is great. American made, durable, and very reasonably priced. I think my old Stanleys (first real set) are a different variety than the 100s, but those do have a pretty big following. I really like that bolster better than the tall one...I also like that it is SAE vs Metric. Hopefully with the move in production they kept the same wings. I'm with you...I never knew Proto had the soft rubber grip, I was under the impression their entire line was the hard Duratek. I knew Mac had soft grip options, but I didn't know it crossed back with Proto.

@@lonestarmopars They're missing out too. The XL series ( they officially call them something else ) are pretty nice. They've got small low profile heads, fine teeth, light backdrag, and they're sealed. I bet the higher tooth count variants are awesome, but honestly the standard ones feel like a much higher tooth count than they are.

Can't argue with your preferences, but I kind of like the Mac Grip as well, although I have less seat time with it.

That makes sense...Mac usually has "R" at the end of American made items. I wasn't expecting that Proto to come in with a soft grip. Very nice drivers, but they've got a lot of nomenclature that overlaps.

@@lonestarmopars I got the Torx set and they came in with soft them ordered 19pc screwdriver set and they were just reg duratek, then I pieced together the SAE/metric nut driver set with one of them coming in with soft... Thank you for the video

Agreed...this will be a common theme in some of my videos, if the channel hits 10k and I can release them, lol.

Yeah it has gotten really confusing. I'm almost positive I could call Mac and get a different story from different employees. My Mac guy said the soft were really hard to get, but now it seems like the hard are hard to get. Their website, currently anyway, seems to have mainly soft grip, but they are calling them Mac Grip now. Way more complicated than it needs to be, lol. I never knew Proto had a soft grip back in the day. There is also a solid red plastic one that I remember...same style handle. There really needs to be a changelog on these, haha. Really nice drivers, but less than ideal listings.

I think we are in the minority, but I really like them as well.

Thanks...I will have to look for the dorky Mopar hat...I only know of him having chevys and circle track cop cars, lol. Finding Alpha Gloves was the best thing about the thumb injury.

@@lonestarmopars he did a cheap car shoot-out where he got a Chrysler 300c with a hemi

That angle plus the limited edition run really sealed it!

Thanks for watching!