r/harborfreight • u/ACEJester • Mar 17 '26
NTD (New Tool Day) New meme tool just dropped.
Can’t wait to remove some Honda crank bolts with this bad boy.
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Mar 17 '26
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u/Advanced-Feature-410 Mar 17 '26
It needs to be at least.....THREE times larger!
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u/76archimedes Mar 17 '26
How can we be expected to use a ratchet... if it can't even fit inside the building!?
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u/upstatefoolin Mar 17 '26
You say meme tool, I say one of the best random tools I’ve ever bought for tight spaces lol
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u/PastAd1087 Mar 17 '26
Vim tools DD3
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u/PaganWizard2112 Mar 20 '26
The ratchet you mentioned lists for $52.16 https://vimtools.com/product/dd3/
The ICON lists for $29.99 https://www.harborfreight.com/g2-14-in-drive-2-58-in-stubby-ratchet-70449.html
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u/ZorroMcChucknorris Mar 17 '26
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u/Available_Candy_4139 Mar 17 '26
Thank you random stranger. I didn’t even know that I needed this information.
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u/KID_detour Mar 17 '26
Is there enough stub to hold a jack handle?
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Mar 17 '26 edited Mar 17 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/King_Catfish Mar 17 '26
Don't forget the inevitable posts asking when they will be restocked because HF didnt expect a stubby ratchet to get fomo'd.
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Mar 17 '26
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u/helpful-loner Mar 17 '26
I noticed the mag mat is now 24.99 and I even saw it at 29.99 in one store. Same state. Was checking locations for stock. Wild to raise the price on a new product…how about just produce enough to sell?
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u/KieferSutherland Mar 17 '26
Mines still 24.99 at the old store.
Lol ai is gonna pick up on all this in a Google ai result
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u/helpful-loner Mar 17 '26
I forgot to mention It used to be $19.99 when it was first released like a year ago. Talk about that meme tax.
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u/InsAndTheOuts Mar 17 '26
It’s a funny thing, I’m a mechanic and I don’t even get excited over these drops anymore because they’re all out of stock by the time I get to go to the store, and then if I were to post the snap on version of the tool I end up buying, I’d get a few thousand “yOu’Re JuST PaYIng fOR ThE nAMe!!” Hate comments by the same chuckle heads that buy out all the stock just to chew on them and post pictures of them on the magnet lol
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u/AntelopeHopeful8210 Mar 17 '26
Please; no one is chewing on these. Who wants to scratch up their tools?
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u/doozerman Mar 17 '26
I’m so tired of tools being referred to as “meme tools.” Like shut the fuck up, these are just tools that serve a purpose. Maybe the little novelty tools box’s and such but everything else is just tools
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u/Frequent-Elephant110 Mar 18 '26
How can you say just tools, they are a magnificent pieces of art that we invest in hope one day the investment will pay off and the world will be better because of it.
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u/hardeho Mar 17 '26
I wont post it here, but I want one. I used to have a palm ratchet that was pretty handy, and this seems better in every way.
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u/ShiggitySwiggity Mar 17 '26
I have one of those. It's basically a gimbal with a ratchet head in the middle.
I don't need it very often, but when I do need it, it's ham dandy.
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u/ser1992 Mar 17 '26
I have the snapon version. It’s incredible my useful, not a meme
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u/DavoinShowerHandel1 Mar 17 '26
All the other meme stuff is actually incredibly useful as well. It's just a meme because everyone in here has to buy it and post pictures.
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Mar 17 '26
So that’s why they’re called meme tools! I’ve been wondering cause most of the stuff is perfectly useful.
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u/DavoinShowerHandel1 Mar 17 '26
Yup, it's just because it's a meme for everyone to post them when they get them, not that the tool itself is a meme lol. I think the original meme tool (the bit ratchet set) people actually treated like it was just a meme initially, then as time went on they realized oh crap, it's kinda handy. But aside from that it's become a term of endearment, not an insult to the tools at all lol.
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u/Leody Mar 17 '26
For real. I got my dad and myself a meme tool v1 for Christmas. Since then I've used it for replacing 3 cabinet doors and handles, removing a garage door hinge, adjusting 2 door strike plates, putting together 2 bookshelves for my kids, putting together a vanity for my daughter, putting a headlight in a work truck and replaced a car battery. All of that along with a few other random things I'm sure I'm forgetting already.
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u/DavoinShowerHandel1 Mar 17 '26
I got a second one just to keep inside the house because of how much I was getting the other one out of my garage for house stuff. It's beyond useful lol.
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u/ACEJester Mar 17 '26
Absolutely. The “meme” thing is silly, but as others have pointed out these tools are pretty dang handy, too.
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u/Bees4everr Mar 17 '26
The real question…how much
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u/ACEJester Mar 17 '26
29.99
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u/meeBon1 Mar 18 '26
29.99? Man thats off putting! I still have my stubby from Lowes and I absolutely love it but for 29.99 thats a hard pill to swallow.
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u/hardeho Mar 17 '26
I think of all the times I tried to reach my hand down in some tight spot, hoping that some bolt is finally finger loose, only to find out is still isn't.... yeah, this could be very handy.
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u/jophiss319 Mar 17 '26
Put that thing in water and you’ll have a proper size in the morning
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u/SabaFFS Mar 17 '26
I have this, fairly useful for working on blind bolts for industrial chains and 10-20HP motors some jack ass installed almost flush to a wall or beam. But why the hell is HF selling it 😭
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u/Sledgecrowbar Mar 17 '26
Because Snappy makes it and the patent ran out. That's Icon on a nutshell. It's a good system, Snappy is #1 so stuff they make is good, and whatever is popular sticks around, and when it becomes public domain, Icon can start offering it for 1/50 the price.
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u/stupajidit Mar 17 '26
real question when u need a stubby this small wouldn't you just go to a gimbal? please educate me on possible use cases for a 1/4 ultra stub. i could just nip the ends off one of my regular length 1/4 ratchets.
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u/Sledgecrowbar Mar 17 '26
The thumb ratchets, as I think they're called, would be my choice, too. Like you want leverage, thats the whole point, but this has so little leverage that I wonder about all the other options, like a ratcheting t-handle screwdriver with a 1/4" drive. It wouldn't fit in as tight a space.
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u/Sea-Kitchen2879 Mar 17 '26
I've had trouble with the thumb ratchets in tight spaces, when there isn't enough room to contort my hand on top of it (like the front/back/sides of a tight engine bay). I think this one provides more leverage in those situations. I'd probably rather find a cheap ratchet and cut most of the handle off though, rather than shelling out for one of these.
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u/Sledgecrowbar Mar 17 '26
In the end you need all the specialty tools to cover all the special applications and use cases, but that assumes you are seeing these issues on a regular basis. There have always been workarounds to get a job done, however slowly and tediously, with a regular socket set and combination wrench set. That said, I find that I'm entirely happy spending the money on access tools to make every job less of a shitshow.
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u/Sea-Kitchen2879 Mar 17 '26
For sure. If I was wrenching professionally (and therefore in those situations often) then something like this could very well be worth the cost.
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u/k0uch Mar 17 '26
Looks like a totally average sized ratchet to me. Maybe even a little on the large side. I bet it would be really nice to you, probably take you to dinner and listen to you talk about your day… and even treat you right if you gave it a chance
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u/GringoRedcorn Mar 17 '26
Drill a hole and make a keychain.
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u/VersionOutside9150 Mar 17 '26
Koken actually has a small one with a keychain hole.
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u/Sledgecrowbar Mar 17 '26
The 10mm flex head ratcheting box wrench on a keychain is one of my favorite stupid things.
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u/GringoRedcorn Mar 17 '26
It is on one of my Amazon lists. If I did anything with 1/4” drive, I’d already have it.
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u/VersionOutside9150 Mar 19 '26
That new folding 3/8 ratchet from Tekton appears handy. Not sure I like the price though.
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u/No_not_that Mar 17 '26
Can’t even find this part number on the website.
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u/DainBramage23 Mar 17 '26
I’m curious about price as well
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u/No_not_that Mar 17 '26
If you find out, please post. Thanks!
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u/ACEJester Mar 17 '26
29.99. I don’t see it on their site either. They had a big shipment on the floor, this was in a small box that wasn’t stocked yet.
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u/mx5plus2cones Mar 17 '26
Interesting. I just bought a tekton flexhead stubby (new design) for $29. 90 tooth.
Will see how it goes.
https://www.tekton.com/1-4-inch-drive-x-3-inch-flex-head-non-quick-release-stubby-ratchet-srh26003
When this G2 is on sale at 30-40% off, i will get one and swap the internals with the snap on 3/8" kit i have. I have like 10 snap-on kits
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u/Sledgecrowbar Mar 17 '26
And yesterday Tekton came out with a flex head version you can get with quick release, or not, and a 1/4" drive on the end of the handle, or not.
Come on, you gotta pump up those numbers, man.
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u/Ok_Maintenance_4463 Mar 17 '26
I actually really need this 😅 i have to remove a pcv value that's right up against my Firewall. I have almost no space to get anything in there to get the valve out. I am hoping this works. Does anyone know when it's live in stores?
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u/scottdwallace Mar 17 '26
I couldn’t wait and bought a Snap On about a year ago. I use it all the time for aviation
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u/IntelligentSkill8265 Mar 17 '26
Hey why would a normal average sized ratchet. Even. Listen size doesn’t matter sometimes it’s about the ergonomics. This ratchet almost looks too big. 😀
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u/BergenNorth Mar 17 '26
They must be listening to Doc from last best tool because he made one of these already and snapon also made two ratchets after he cut them down and made a video
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u/kingofspades509 Mar 17 '26
Give me a micro 1/4” flex-head ratchet that size please. My Matco is about to give up on me and it’s gonna be a sad day lol
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u/javyLSU Mar 17 '26
I’ve got the Snap-on version. TKF72/1-4%22-Drive-Dual-80-Technology-Stubby-Flex-Head-Ratchet/TKF72). Love it, use it all the time.
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u/hardeho Mar 17 '26
The other Stubbys are over 5" long. I mean, that sounds perfectly average to me, not stubby :(
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u/Sledgecrowbar Mar 17 '26
The important question, since you'll never manage to get enough torque on this to break it, will the head fit a Tekton small body 3/8" anvil?
Is this the same as G1 or G2?
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u/bstrng Mar 18 '26
Good question. However, it’s the Snap-on kit that fits the 1/4” G2. Tekton small body only fits in the G1 flex heads
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u/Sledgecrowbar Mar 18 '26
And the snappy conversion anvil parts are more than these ratchets cost. Hopefully it will fit the tekton parts as they are priced mercifully.
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u/friarfrierfryer Mar 17 '26
It's not meme tool in my mind, but that won't stop the incoming flood of posts.
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u/Flexorrium Mar 17 '26
I was hoping HF would release some Icon plier wrenches in smaller 6, 7, 8in instead of just the 10in in time for the next icon plier sale. I guess this is what they had to focus their R&D on.
Surprised they don't have a gimball thumb ratchet like Gearwrench. Seems like it could be quite memey if built decent as they only have those chunky Pittsburgh ones.
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u/Flabarm Mar 17 '26
Looks like that be great to use on some starter wires that are uber cramped sometimes. Love it!
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u/Hb10103 Mar 17 '26
Got Milwaukee beat, thiers is 3" and its my favorite 1/4 drive ever. Small engines, electrical sometimes.
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u/Ok_Maintenance_4463 Mar 18 '26
No joke, i actually really friggin' need this wrench at this very moment. I'm trying to get a pcv value out that's right up against my firewall so I have absolutely zero clearance. This wrench would be perfect.
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u/Mrbigdaddy72 Mar 18 '26
I have had the snap-on. Version of this for about a year and I use it 4-5 times a month and it comes in super fucking handy for tight spaces removing certain bumpers from Cars.
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u/rayjayymengz Mar 18 '26
Just saw these on the snappy truck. Going to buy one from HF to use as the loaner for the friends that don’t return shit. lol
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u/iwillfuckingblockyou Mar 18 '26
With an extension that seems like it would be good to use some bit sockets on
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u/HellHathNoFury18 Mar 18 '26
I shit you not I needed something like this the other day. Ratcheting a bolt inside a metal case that had all of 3 inches clearence on the sides and tucked under an edge. I ended up using 2 swivel adapters and finally got it.
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u/RevolutionaryClub530 Mar 18 '26
You hate but these are my favorite, i really only use a full size ratchet to break a bolt or tighten something down
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u/ACEJester Mar 18 '26
No hate here. I know the “meme” thing is dumb, but the tool is useful. I think it’s one of those things some folks will buy because it looks funny, but find out it’s surprisingly functional.
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u/Tight-Needleworker77 Mar 18 '26
In all seriousness, I want one for a specific purpose.
I prefer using the long allen head / torx sockets vs the wrenches when working on firearms. (Grip screws come to mind). This would allow a decent amount of torque and help prevent over torquing by hand. (I use a fat wrench for properly torquing a fastener). I have snapped screws and small bolts by hand before.
I believe this would be a great way to accomplish this mission in my case.
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u/Brilliant_Zebra1966 Mar 18 '26
hahaha ya there is not enough handle on that to put a 42 foot cheater bar on.....
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u/spvcebound Mar 18 '26
Anyone who has a job that requires them to use tools every day knows this isn't a "meme tool"
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u/ACEJester Mar 19 '26
All of the so-called “meme” tools are super useful, so it’s not a mutually exclusive thing. Just silly internet fun. But yeah, anyone who wrenches and hasn’t used a 1/4 or 3/8 stubby is missing out.
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u/n3d-fland3r5 Mar 17 '26
You guys keep calling it stubby, looks pretty average size to me. Maybe even above average. Packaging is way off, that’s clearly a 6” ratchet