Tool Review: RadioShack 6400187 23-Piece Mini Tool Ratchet Set

Key Features:
 +   Good bit/socket selection
 +   Good grip
 -   Can't turn ratchet position to off


RadioShack sells some neat tools, but they are often over-priced.  The RadioShack 23-Piece Mini Tool Ratchet Set (model #6400187) is no exception.

This set includes a small ratcheting offset driver, a set of bits, and a set of sockets.  There's also a 2" bit extender.  It's a good variety to keep around the house or in a tool bag.

There are 12 bits of several different types: three slotted bits, three Phillips bits, three star bits, and three hex bits.  The nine sockets are all SAE sizes, ranging in size from 5/32" to 1/2".  The bits are a little more rounded than you'd like to see, but function well enough.  The sockets are good and fit nicely onto the driver.

The driver itself has a good rubber and plastic handle that provides a decent grip.  It ratchets easily, and the ratchet direction can be changed with a slide switch.  There is a small plastic thumbwheel that can help in tight places where you can't swing the driver around.

Switching from the bit driver to the socket wrench is simple, and you can have both a socket and a bit attached at the same time if you want.  To use the socket wrench, you just remove the black plastic thumbwheel.

The 2" extension bar is just barely magnetic.  I don't know if it's supposed to be, because the packaging doesn't say, but it looks like every other magnetic extension bar I've seen.  If it does have a magnet, the magnet is horrible, or way too small, because it only just barely picks up very small screws.

The case that the set comes in is good, and can be used to store the tool and sockets in.  It is easy to open and easy to access the bits and sockets.  It has a hole at the top so you can hang it from a hook or peg.

This tool had a list price of $13.39 when I saw it.  However it must not have been selling well, because it was on clearance for just $1.47.  For $1.47, I'd snatch it up every time -- the bits and sockets alone are worth that price.  However, I wouldn't pay any more than $4.00 or so for this tool set.  It's a decent extra set to keep in case of emergency, but it's not worth anywhere near $13.39.  RadioShack.com was selling it for $10.97 (not sold on the site anymore) and Amazon.com has it for $9.97, both of which are overpriced for what you get, but are still better than the in-store list price.

RadioShack tool reviews

Tool Sets:
- RadioShack 6400187 23-Piece Mini Tool Ratchet Set

Tool Review: Pittsburgh Pro 94011 3-Piece Thumbwheel Ratchet Set

Key Features:
 +   Fits into tight places
 +   Cheaper than many other thumbwheel ratchets
 -   Wobbles easily when using it downward because of its weight


Thumbwheel ratchets are neat little tools, but they only have limited applications.  You wouldn't want to use one regularly, but when you need one, you'll be glad you have it.  When working on office equipment, cars, or even around the house, there are times when you need something small like a thumbwheel ratchet.  I bought the Pittsburgh Pro 3-piece thumbwheel ratchet set (part #94011) because it was the cheapest one I could find, and it was a good investment.

This set comes with three thumbwheel ratchets, each with a different drive size: 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2".  The ratchets are well-made and standard sockets fit well on them.  They have a thumb lever for changing the ratchet direction similar to other ratchet wrenches.

The ratchets are steel, with chrome plating.  They are heavy, and when you use them vertically facing down, they wobble very easily if you don't have a good grip.  The sides of the thumbwheel ratchets are textured and provide good (not great) grip.  The ratchets are about 1-1/2" in diameter and about 1" in height.

For the price, this set of ratchets can't be beat.  Harbor Freight sells this set of three for $5.99, and Amazon lists it at $5.49.  Other thumbwheel ratchet sets on Amazon sell for much more -- some over $20.00.

Tool review: Snap-On SSDMR4B Ratcheting Hard Handle Screwdriver

Key Features:
 +   Good contoured grip
 +   Strong magnet
 +   Large internal storage area for bits
 -    #2 Phillips bit is too thin

 -    bit holder is shallow


The great search for the perfect everyday-carry screwdriver has been going on for a while now.  The Craftsman Auto-Loading Screwdriver is a solid driver, with good multibit selection and a decent magnet.  The Kobalt Double Drive Screwdriver isn't bad, but too bulky for what it offers.  The Stanley FatMax Ratcheting Screwdriver is the closest I'd found, but it's lack of a magnet for screw attraction detracts from its good features.

A couple of days ago, I got a Snap-On SSDMR4B Ratcheting Hard Handle Screwdriver through my employer.  It didn't take long to realize that this was the nicest screwdriver I'd ever used.  I even had a dream about this screwdriver.

For a repairman, technician, or someone else who uses a screwdriver every day, this Snap-On driver is everything you need.  It's the most complete screwdriver I've found, and the quality is excellent.  It has a $64.95 price tag on the Snap-On website, which is a lot of money for a screwdriver, but if you can find one cheaper, it's worth considering.

The driver has a good ratcheting action, with a 3-position ratchet switch that you can adjust without having to move the screwdriver.  The ratchet motion is very smooth, with many fine teeth -- much smoother than two decent Stanley ratchet drivers I've used.  For a ratcheting screwdriver, it's not very heavy.  The ratchet itself is very quiet.

There is a magnet behind the bit to attract screws, and it's as strong a magnet as I've seen on any screwdriver.  I have yet to drop a screw using this driver.  The driver comes with five bits: three Phillips bits (#1, #2, and #3) and two slotted bits (3/16" and 9/32").  The four bits not in use can be stored in the driver's handle, and there's enough extra room in the handle for several more bits.

The bits themselves are good quality.  The #2 bit (and possibly others, but that's the one I've used the most) is slightly thinner than other #2 bits, so it tends to slip occasionally when turning a screw.  If you notice this problem too, just use a wider bit.  (DeWalt bits tend to be wider and work very well.)

The only other shortcoming this driver has is that the bit holder itself is slightly shallower than the bit holders on other drivers.  The difference is only a millimeter or two, but it's enough so that occasionally when you have to use a lot of torque, the bit pops out of the holder and stays with the screw when you pull the driver back.  It can be a nuisance, but you can avoid it by loosening the fastener by just a hair before pulling the driver away.  Another way to avoid this problem is to use shorter bits with this driver, or bits that have a ball-and-spring mechanism to help them stay in place.  (Or bits that fit both of those characteristics, like the bits that come with a CRKT Get-A-Way Driver.)

The handle provides excellent grip.  It is contoured very well for your fingers, and it makes it hard to want to put this driver down.  The shaft also has a textured area for additional grip.  From the tip to the end of the handle, it measures 8-3/4".

The Snap-On SSDMR4B Ratcheting Hard Handle Screwdriver is by far the best screwdriver I've used.  It is the driver I'll be carrying every day from now on.  It's more expensive than many power tools, but if you can get your hands on one, you won't want to put it down.

Snap-On tool reviews

Screwdrivers:
- Snap-On SDDP122 Phillips Screwdriver
- Snap-On SSDMR4B Ratcheting Hard Handle Screwdriver

Pittsburgh tool reviews

Tape Measures:
- Pittsburgh 69031 25' x 1" QuikFind Tape Measure

Pliers:
- Pittsburgh 40696 5-3/4" Needle Nose Pliers

Ratchets:
- Pittsburgh Pro 94011 3-Piece Thumbwheel Ratchet Set

Screwdrivers:
- Pittsburgh 69470 4-in-1 Screwdriver

Tool Review: Husky 179 681 19-Piece 1/4" Mini Socket Set

Husky makes many different tools and tool sets.  One of them is the 19-piece 1/4" mini socket set (model# 179 681), which I saw sitting on a shelf in Home Depot and bought because it was only five bucks or so and the only socket set I had at the time was a free one I got when I opened my checking account.

This Husky set comes with everything you need for a basic starter socket set.  It has a stubby ratchet (with a comfortable rubber grip), eight different-sized metric sockets, nine different driver bits, and a bit holder that fits onto the ratchet.  And it all comes conveniently stored in a small plastic case with a spot for everything, which makes the set easy to transport.  The only problem with the case is that it does not latch; a sliding plastic tab opens and locks the case.  The tab is sufficient if the case remains stationary, but if you put it in your trunk or somewhere else where it will move around, the case could work its way open.  Everything inside the case is reasonably secured, however, so even if the case opens inadvertently nothing should spill out (unless you hit a big bump or the case drops on a hard floor).  There is a little bit of room in between the wrench, bits, and sockets so that you can fit an extension bar or two.

The sockets range from 4mm to 12mm, and each one has its size imprinted on the side.  The screwdriver bits include three Phillips bits, three slotted (flathead) bits, and three hex bits.  Unlike with other socket sets, none of these sockets lock onto the ratchet's 1/4" head, but they all fit snugly enough that you don't have to worry about them falling off by accident.  As is typical with Husky products, this set comes with a lifetime warranty.

Being a mini socket set, it may not provide enough torque or force for large jobs, but it works great for most tasks around the house.  The ratchet turns smoothly, and its rubber grip makes it easy to hold on to.  The only limitation I've come across so far with this set is that the sockets are too small to fit the bolts on my lawnmower wheels, but for everything that it fits it works great.

Unfortunately, you can't find this particular set on the Home Depot website anymore, but you may still be able to find it on a store shelf for a few bucks.  Amazon.com had it for sale, but it's listed as unavailable right now.  I give this socket set 3 out of 5 stars.  If you can find it for $5 or so, it's a good deal.

(Originally published on Helium.com, Sept 2010)

Tool Review: Stanley 66-358 Stubby Ratcheting Multibit Screwdriver

Key Features:
 +   Magnetized to hold screws
 +   Good bit storage in handle

 -    Ratchet dial is counter-intuitive


Screwdrivers come in all shapes and sizes.  It used to be that you would have a whole set of screwdrivers, all different sizes and bit types, but now many tools combine multiple screwdriver heads into the same tool.  One multibit screwdriver takes up a lot less space, and if it's a decent one, it will serve you well and last a long time.  The Stanley stubby ratcheting multibit screwdriver (model# 66-358) is one of the good ones.

This Stanley stubby screwdriver is larger than many other stubbies.  It measures in at about 4.5" with a bit (4" without one).  It's still small enough for many tight jobs, but it's also a decent size to use as a main screwdriver whenever you need to reach for one.  It's a little heavier than non-ratcheting stubbies, but the ratchet function is worth the extra weight.  It has a solid rubber grip that's comfortable to hold and a plastic body, and the tip is magnetized to help hold onto screws.  The magnet works well, but after several years my driver has started to lose its magnetism.

The screwdriver comes with six bits: a 1-point Phillips bit, two 2-point Phillips bits (which is good because that's the bit that most people will probably use most often), a 1/8" slotted bit, a 3/16" slotted bit, and a 1/4" slotted bit.  It's a ratcheting driver, and you can engage this capability easily by twisting the top part of the screwdriver.  It has three positions -- one for tightening screws, one for loosening screws, and a middle "locked" position for when you don't want the ratchet to kick in.  With the six available bits plus the ratcheting action, this driver is good to have for many jobs.

One extremely nice feature of this particular screwdriver is the way the bits are stored.  Many multibit screwdrivers have a cavity in the bottom where you can stick the bits you're not using, but then you have to poke through them when you need to find a different bit.  With this screwdriver, the bits fit perfectly into grooves set into the cap, so when you unscrew the cap you'll have all of the extra bits sitting neatly, head up, so you can see exactly what you have and find what you need quickly and without hassle.

Stanley has built a solid reputation when it comes to tools, and this multibit screwdriver lives up to that reputation.  The Stanley stubby ratcheting multibit screwdriver can be purchased in-store from Home Depot for about five or six bucks, or it can be found online at Amazon.com for $5.33 (eligible for free shipping).

(Originally posted on Helium.com, February 2012)

(UPDATE: As of 4/11/15, the price on Amazon is $4.24)

Husky tool reviews

Drivers:
- Husky 74460 2-Piece Micro Screwdriver Set
- Husky 74500 7-Piece Nut Driver Set
- Husky HD-74502 8-in-1 Torx Screwdriver Set

Pliers:
- Husky 1066 2-Piece Pistol Grip Pliers Set
- Husky WS-24-10 10" Self-Adjusting Groove Joint Pliers

Socket Sets:
- Husky 179 681 19-Piece 1/4" Mini Socket Set

Great Neck tool reviews

Screwdrivers:
- Great Neck Essentials 21011 8-in-1 Precision Screwdriver
- Great Neck FC006 22 Piece Drivemaster Screwdriver Set
- Great Neck NRGN2 2-Piece Stubby Screwdriver Set

Socket Sets:
- Great Neck PSO40H 40-piece ratchet and socket set

Tool Review: Great Neck PSO40H 40-piece ratchet and socket set

Key Features:
 +   Good variety of sockets
 +   Two drive sizes
 -    Spin disc is not very functional


If you walk into a Home Depot, AutoZone, or other hardware store or auto parts store, you can often find a ratchet and socket set for under $10.  If you walk into a Big Lots, the set you'll probably see is the Great Neck PSO40H 40-piece ratchet and socket set, listed for $5.

This set includes one ratchet with 3/8" drive, an adapter for 1/4" drive, a 3" extension bar, and a whole bunch of sockets, for both 3/8" drive and 1/4" drive.  One kind of neat tool that it also comes with is a plastic spin disc -- a small plastic circle with a 3/8" square cut out so you can use it to turn bolts and screws in tight places.  The spin disc is cool in theory, but is very cheaply-made, doesn't fit the sockets well, doesn't give much grip, and won't hold up to high-torque use.  This spin disc is a very cheap alternative to a thumbwheel ratchet.

The ratchet itself is usable but not especially well-made.  It's good to have as an extra ratchet.  There is some grip on the handle, more than you might expect.  It functions as it should, is reversible, and works for both loosening and tightening.  It holds up under a decent amount of force.  It does not look like it was machined very carefully -- the bottom is uneven and something inside wobbles.

The sockets are about what you would expect, nothing spectacular but not too bad either.  There is a good variety, with both SAE and metric sockets included in the set.  Most of the sockets are 1/4" drive sockets.

The set comes in a plastic carrying case that is more useful than cases some other socket sets come in.  Everything fits well in its place, and the case has a handle for easy carrying.

The PSO40H ratchet and socket set is not a high-quality tool set, but for $5 it's not a bad buy.  You get the 3/8" to 1/4" drive adapter, which is always nice to have, and the 3" extension bar, which could come in handy a lot.  Those two pieces alone, purchased separately, would probably cost close to $5 by themselves.

As a bargain, this set is worth around $5.  But if you're shopping for a primary ratchet and socket set, or one that you'll use often, I would spend a little more money and get a nicer set.

This set is currently listed at $9.97 on Amazon.com-- slightly over-priced compared to other sets you could get at that price.  I would not recommend spending more than $5 or $6 on this socket set.  But if you do decide to buy it on Amazon, it is eligible for free shipping.

Tool Review: Black & Decker RRW100 Ratcheting ReadyWrench

There's something reassuring about holding a dogbone wrench in your hand.  The Black & Decker RRW100 Ratcheting ReadyWrench is a solidly-made dogbone wrench that also features ratcheting capability.  It is a great wrench to have in your tool bag, car, or garage, and I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

The RRW100 is the most useful wrench I've ever owned.  It looks like a dogbone-style wrench, with several sockets on each end, but unlike a typical dogbone wrench it ratchets.  There's no switch to flip or anything to adjust to enable ratcheting -- if you hold the wrench one way, it ratchets for loosening, and if you hold it the other way, it ratchets for tightening.  It's simple to use.

There are 16 different size bolts or fasteners this wrench can handle, including both SAE and metric sizes.  Each socket is marked with its size, and switching to a different sized socket is as simple as turning the socket.

This is a sturdy, solid wrench that has held up great so far and looks like it will continue to do so for a long time.  The paint on the wrench is another story, however.  The black paint on the wrench's body started flaking as soon as I took it out of the package, and the orange plastic around the wrench ends are already chipping off.  But neither of those things affects how the wrench works.

The way the sockets are positioned, you can twist the wrench slightly when using to get a little bit of extra leverage, something you can't do with a standard socket wrench.  If anything serious ever happens to the wrench, just contact Black & Decker, because it comes with a lifetime warranty.

The Black & Decker RRW100 Ratcheting ReadyWrench is a great addition to any toolbox.  It's versatile, sturdy, and easy to use, and for around $20 or so, it's a really good deal.  If you do a lot of work on your car or around the house, you won't regret buying this wrench.

The RRW100 is sold in many hardware stores for varying prices. Sellers on Amazon.com currently list it for $18.49 and up.  Under $20 is a steal for this wrench.

(Originally posted on Bubblews.com, April 2014)


UPDATE:  As of 9/28/14, Amazon.com currently lists the RRW100 for $12.99 (eligible for free shipping).  If you were considering buying this wrench, or if you need a holiday/birthday present for anyone who likes tools, this is a GREAT deal.  I don't know how long this price will last, but it is by far the lowest I've ever seen this wrench sold for.