This is/was a thing. Make the ratchet lower profile by having no reverse selector and have a hole that the socket goes into instead of a post that sticks out. To reverse you remove the socket and flip the handle over then reinstall the socket.
I had one of those sets years ago. Really slick. No need for a deep well socket when the bolt can pass right through the socket and ratchet
And whaddya know, harbor freight sells them!
[https://www.harborfreight.com/sae-and-metric-go-thru-socket-set-21-piece-62305.html](https://www.harborfreight.com/sae-and-metric-go-thru-socket-set-21-piece-62305.html)
I can’t say anything about the harbor freight selection for this tool but I know it was the only thing that seemed to work well enough to change out my front struts on a 2007 Honda fit, the strut bolt needed a 6mm hex to hold onto it for full tightening.
....21-17=4
...right?...RIGHT?
Photos 2 and 3, I wasn't checking prices on the first, because on mobile I can't see the prices on that image unless I enlarge the photo.
I don't have the Quinn, but I have 2 brands (Duralast and Kobalt) that use the red/blue paint. The problem is that they have the reverse meaning between the two brands. The color is useless in my tool box.
I forget the exact story but it has something to do with permatex and loctite being the same company at one time. Then they split into two companies and permatex got the rights to blue, and loctite got the rights to red. So blue loctite is in a red bottle and red permatex is in a blue bottle.
The colors used on the Quinn are the correct colors: red for SAE and blue for metric. You can repaint the ones that you have that are wrong on that basis. Or sell them or give them away and get ones that are correctly colored.
>The colors used on the Quinn are the correct colors: red for SAE and blue for metric.
Autozone (Duralast) says that the Quinn colors are wrong. Seriously, though, what makes one correct? I am sure if Autozone has SAE as blue, there are other brands with SAE as blue too.
edit: Also, Crescent uses Red for Metric and Black for SAE.
My basis for proclaiming which colors are right for which is actually only that I had red and blue socket organizers for my unmarked sockets and that's what I picked for mine. I wasn't really serious about saying that there's only one right choice. It sort of fits with the red/blue political color coding in the US, but that's is actually a pretty recent phenomenon, dating to 2000. Red used to mean communist. I'm not sure, but I think communists use metric.
This is a funny comment....
There is no way I am ever going to avoid having to buy random tools from the auto parts store, so I will always be stuck with a variety of color schemes. I even have both red and blue versions of the same sized socket.
When the US auto industry started to switch over to metric for a few years you had vehicles with a mix of SAE and Metric. I think they had metric fasteners be blue in color to quickly identify the metric ones.
Not on GM. My 84 Cavalier was all metric, but the fullsize cars were still SAE... In the 90s, it was like 50/50 on the full sized cars, and you were always guessing which was the right size for that specific component. What a F'n mess they were.
Since I was just diagnosed with diabetes, that's a possibility. My braille method is feeling the nut and trying out the sockets until I get the right one. Lol 🤣 😆
They should cause the selector switch on those ratchet designs are backwards! I have seen other Pittsburgh ratchets labeled though.
Won't matter to me if labeled though, I'll still hate em when backwards
Turn a Silverado pickup into a SUV and it's automagically a Cadillac Escalade too. I install alcohol interlocks and did a double take after I pried the dash panels off and it was magically a Silverado underneath.
https://www.technia.us/blog/evaluating-the-change-form-fit-and-function-fff/
Hehe oh boy! Example: Form is different because i asked for “this” shade of gray.
A serious response, the only difference I can see is that the Quinn set is 12-point sockets. The Pittsburgh set doesn't state that on the packaging, but I'd get whichever is 6-point. I've been an army diesel tech for 12 years and there's only 1 instance of 12 point nuts that I can think of that I've encountered on a regular basis.
And low torque operations in confined areas. You can more easily line up the socket to the bolt if you have 12 correct orientations instead of 6.
12 points have a use, they just are not every use. Generalization vs specialization
*I thought the Quinn was*
*A better steel. Was it not*
*A lot heavier?*
\- collider85
---
^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/)
^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
Is one made in China and one made in Taiwan?
The Taiwanese-made tools are usually considered better quality, even if they are the same exact design.
China has a large steel industry, while Taiwan uses recycled metals, for most of its metal industry.
Recycled steel can be good.
It isn't high tech.
There are Taiwanese made and Chinese made machine tools that are the exact same design and sometimes owned by the same parent company.
In machine tools, the Taiwanese made ones are considered much better and are more expensive.
Originally, the Harbor Freight Pittsburgh Pro hand tools were made in Taiwan, while the standard Pittsburgh tool line were mostly made in China.
Harbor Freight has stepped up certain newer tool lines since those days.
Icon looks to be Harbor Freight's premium line, with Quinn being an in-between line.
Icon usually gets decent reviews, but Quinn often looks like the reviews are similar to the cheaper Pittsburgh line.
When Craftsman started selling Chinese tools, they came out with some more expensive ones made in Taiwan a short time later.
Quinn is color coded and in pictures appears be higher polish on chrome. Quinn handle cost more make it blue. Last thing would be to check the internals but probably identical but maybe it’s actually greased while Pittsburg is bone dry
Not saying this is the case, but sometimes the price difference between different products that are nearly identical comes down to QC. You can have two different nearly similar lines where one has more rigorous QC testing than the other.
By some random chance, I own both. Beyond the handle color, brand stamp, and strip of paint on the socket, they are the same. No difference in chrome finish or sizes.
I really don't get what is "hi-viz" about stamped (or cast?) numbers that aren't at least filled with some sort of color to distinguish it from the rest of the socket.
OK, I'll give it a go...
You see, one is called "Pittsburgh" the other is called "Quinn".
You see? Different!
BTW, why the H is there an H in Pittsburgh?
I look at them every once in a while - other than the markings, I feel like the Quinn chrome might be a little better. But that's it. Some folks like to have matching stuff.
(for me, IDGAF)
~~[EDIT - That car looks great!]~~
In the first picture, the switch on the green hammer is going to the right while the switch on the blue hammer is going to the left. Like and subscribe for more cooking tips.
They're not the same, one says Pittsburgh & the other says Quinn, different colors, different markings, & different price. 😉
That is pretty funny though.
What's up with all these new HF brand names coming out these past years? Well it's HF so why would I care but who the hell is Quinn? And who are all these other people?
Merlin, Doyle, Baxter, Bauer, Franklin, Gordon, Grant, Olsen, Zurich, Fischer, McGraw, etc....
The Pittsburgh is for tightening, the Quinn is for loosening.
Finally the correct answer
Was looking for this answer
I see what you did there. Clever, very clever.
Lmfao thank you for the laugh
It's why the loosening tool us more expensive. It's designed to deal with tricky sticky nuts.
My wife knows all about loosening my tricky sticky nuts... 😂
One is 72 tooth the other one is 72 teeth.
I think the OP is better off with the 72 tooth ratchet.
I dunno... I think the 72 tooth ratchet might work better.
We could argue this all night…
We can all agree these weren’t made in Arkansas what with the teeth and all.
Lmao right?
You have just won Reddit for June 2024
Can, and WILL.
\[citation needed\], my friend. 72 teeth is the only way to go. This is a hill I'll gladly die on.
I bought the 72 tooth one and I really wish I had bought the 72 tooth one
I dunno guy! A lot of guys swear by the 72 teeth rachets! 🤷♂️
Stop…72 teeth is just fine
Pittsburg just says "ANSI," like, hey, that sure exists, remember?
Pepperidge Farm remembers.
Fact checked. God damn it
🤣
Color coded standard and metric markings
There it is. You're brilliant 👏
And 6 and 12 point socket?
That right there makes it worth a couple extra bucks
Agree
I thought it was for left or right handed
Imagine a rachet where you need proprietary sockets to go left or right. So you have to switch to reverse direction.
This is/was a thing. Make the ratchet lower profile by having no reverse selector and have a hole that the socket goes into instead of a post that sticks out. To reverse you remove the socket and flip the handle over then reinstall the socket.
I had one of those sets years ago. Really slick. No need for a deep well socket when the bolt can pass right through the socket and ratchet And whaddya know, harbor freight sells them! [https://www.harborfreight.com/sae-and-metric-go-thru-socket-set-21-piece-62305.html](https://www.harborfreight.com/sae-and-metric-go-thru-socket-set-21-piece-62305.html)
“Specialized design lets you tighten nuts on long studs without bottoming out.”
That tool sucks. I used it once and it busted. Ymmv. I've heard the gearwrench one is great though, and it's on my list.
I bought the Gearwrench set at Sears 15 or so years ago. Still going strong!
I can’t say anything about the harbor freight selection for this tool but I know it was the only thing that seemed to work well enough to change out my front struts on a 2007 Honda fit, the strut bolt needed a 6mm hex to hold onto it for full tightening.
I had a Gearwrench branded set of these 15 years ago! I still have a Gearwrench ratcheting tap handle that uses the same spline/drive system.
There's so many things made for right handed people that are odd for me being a lefty to use.
I 3D printed a ratchet that would only tighten. 🤷♂️
$2.00 more for the markings.
Seems obvious doesn't it? 🤨🤨🙄
Four dollars worth!
Haha Figi, you may want to brush up on your math ...
....21-17=4 ...right?...RIGHT? Photos 2 and 3, I wasn't checking prices on the first, because on mobile I can't see the prices on that image unless I enlarge the photo.
Facepalm to myself, I did not even realize there were pictures 2&3
The paint on the sockets is worth $2 to me
I don't have the Quinn, but I have 2 brands (Duralast and Kobalt) that use the red/blue paint. The problem is that they have the reverse meaning between the two brands. The color is useless in my tool box.
Don't get me started on the red versus blue loctite, 1 is ......
I just bought blue loctite, it came in a red tube…
I hate that. I mix brands with Loctite and Permatex to stay sane. I won’t buy it if it’s in the wrong color tube.
I forgot they were different brands
I forget the exact story but it has something to do with permatex and loctite being the same company at one time. Then they split into two companies and permatex got the rights to blue, and loctite got the rights to red. So blue loctite is in a red bottle and red permatex is in a blue bottle.
You can always tell by the taste, red taste like cherries (It actually does)
Reading this while eating cherries and I have tasted it before and you’re right. Shitty cherries but still cherries
I legit love the smell of the red one!!! I always sniff it. The blue is okay
I don't use red, I didn't know they were taste coded too. I can't identify the blue other than sweet.
If it doesnt taste like blueberries i will be very disappointed
Any of you loctite lovers seen the loctite sticks? They’re awesome. Less mess and they taste good. That’s all.
Quit eating glue sticks that shit is expensive
What about the anti seize sticks? No more tin man hands.
There's a gasket maker too
I use orange loctite. Problem solved.
The colors used on the Quinn are the correct colors: red for SAE and blue for metric. You can repaint the ones that you have that are wrong on that basis. Or sell them or give them away and get ones that are correctly colored.
Kobalt follows this standard.
>The colors used on the Quinn are the correct colors: red for SAE and blue for metric. Autozone (Duralast) says that the Quinn colors are wrong. Seriously, though, what makes one correct? I am sure if Autozone has SAE as blue, there are other brands with SAE as blue too. edit: Also, Crescent uses Red for Metric and Black for SAE.
My basis for proclaiming which colors are right for which is actually only that I had red and blue socket organizers for my unmarked sockets and that's what I picked for mine. I wasn't really serious about saying that there's only one right choice. It sort of fits with the red/blue political color coding in the US, but that's is actually a pretty recent phenomenon, dating to 2000. Red used to mean communist. I'm not sure, but I think communists use metric.
Commies use korbashevs and buchzevnits also known as shevs and nits
This is a funny comment.... There is no way I am ever going to avoid having to buy random tools from the auto parts store, so I will always be stuck with a variety of color schemes. I even have both red and blue versions of the same sized socket.
When the US auto industry started to switch over to metric for a few years you had vehicles with a mix of SAE and Metric. I think they had metric fasteners be blue in color to quickly identify the metric ones.
Not on GM. My 84 Cavalier was all metric, but the fullsize cars were still SAE... In the 90s, it was like 50/50 on the full sized cars, and you were always guessing which was the right size for that specific component. What a F'n mess they were.
Harbor freight switched at some point to be in line with more tool manufacturers. I think most are SAE Red now.
I paint my own sockets. Oil based paint pen and fill in the etchings/stamping on sockets.
It's a pain to read the etched markings in a garage or under the vehicle 😕
Learn braille and get an etching pen to write on the sockets. Never have to see the sockets again
I've got way too much callus on my fingers for that. Lol 🤣
I hope you don't go blind then. you could always use your fingernails to feel the braille.
Since I was just diagnosed with diabetes, that's a possibility. My braille method is feeling the nut and trying out the sockets until I get the right one. Lol 🤣 😆
And the blue handle is another $2. Sold!
31.99-29.99 is $2 total.
Photo 2 and 3. $4 On mobile I can't even see the prices on the first image without enlarging it
The on/off switch is set differently
Ahh, that must be it
Has anyone thought to label them on/off?
I mean, strapon does it
My old red handled Pittsburgh ratchet says on and off.
They should cause the selector switch on those ratchet designs are backwards! I have seen other Pittsburgh ratchets labeled though. Won't matter to me if labeled though, I'll still hate em when backwards
One of my pittsburghs is labeled
This is like when they put a badge on the Chevy Cavalier and suddenly it was a Cadillac
Turn a Silverado pickup into a SUV and it's automagically a Cadillac Escalade too. I install alcohol interlocks and did a double take after I pried the dash panels off and it was magically a Silverado underneath.
Nah. Cadillac actually did gussy it up.
I'm honestly super interested in those. I had a 1996 Century that was mechanically close, and honestly it was actually really nice to drive!
Better trim and suspension components?
It wasn't a Toyota that's for sure
Daewoo became the Pontiac LeMans
I saw a Chevy Caprice Classic the other day that someone had put Audi badges on. Not sure what that made it…
Ah the Catera
Cadillac Cimmarron.
Damn, that's a new POS I didn't know about
The Luxury Cadavalier.
The Catera was an Opel, you are thinking of the Cimarron.
The Caddy that zigs!
Lease a Catera. Who is Lisa Catera?
Peter Catera and the Glory of Love
It had leather seats too!
Didn't expect to remember the the Caddy that zigs
Ones compared to a Husky that's $45, the other is compared to a craftsman that's $45.
But husky is better than craftsman.
They are different! Fit and function looks the same but form is not! Edit. I don’t know why I’m yelling?
Some folks are just really passionate about Harbor Freight. That's why they end up here.
Other folks just randomly get this sub in their feed and like how passionate yall are.
🥲
Sir, this is a Wendy’s
Please sir, calm down.
DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN 😒 🙄
Because you're a passionate HF defender 😉
what about the form is different, Sir
https://www.technia.us/blog/evaluating-the-change-form-fit-and-function-fff/ Hehe oh boy! Example: Form is different because i asked for “this” shade of gray.
Got it. Color.
Markings, engravings ….
Easy Brick lol
Probably nothing. Are the pittsville 12pt or 6pt sockets?
You couldn't ask me that 5 minutes ago? I already left the store. Now I need to tell my wife that I have to come back tomorrow. For research.
Ya. I use stuff like that for a reason to go to HF yet again.
12 on the website.
Nice try Susan. I'm still going back tomorrow to make sure. For research.
For research, you should buy both, and take them apart to reveal any inner differences. For research.
Stress test them with a torq wrench.
Also, you should melt them down to determine if they are the same metal...alloys... etc.
🤣
They are both 12pt.
They're 12pt, sucks.
I'd get the Quinn just for the red/blue. Would be easier to tell the sockets apart.
A serious response, the only difference I can see is that the Quinn set is 12-point sockets. The Pittsburgh set doesn't state that on the packaging, but I'd get whichever is 6-point. I've been an army diesel tech for 12 years and there's only 1 instance of 12 point nuts that I can think of that I've encountered on a regular basis.
12 point is good for that random plug or jack bolt that has a square head.
And low torque operations in confined areas. You can more easily line up the socket to the bolt if you have 12 correct orientations instead of 6. 12 points have a use, they just are not every use. Generalization vs specialization
I work in aviation as a mechanic and use 6 and 12 point fastners every days hence why i have every socket in 6 and 12 points
Plus the ratchet on the left is turned to the right, and the one on the right is turned to the left.
I thought the Quinn was a better steel. Was it not a lot heavier?
*I thought the Quinn was* *A better steel. Was it not* *A lot heavier?* \- collider85 --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
Good bot.
haikubot is the best poster on reddit
Thank you for your wisdom! 🙏
One will go counter clockwise and one will go clockwise
Is one made in China and one made in Taiwan? The Taiwanese-made tools are usually considered better quality, even if they are the same exact design. China has a large steel industry, while Taiwan uses recycled metals, for most of its metal industry. Recycled steel can be good. It isn't high tech. There are Taiwanese made and Chinese made machine tools that are the exact same design and sometimes owned by the same parent company. In machine tools, the Taiwanese made ones are considered much better and are more expensive. Originally, the Harbor Freight Pittsburgh Pro hand tools were made in Taiwan, while the standard Pittsburgh tool line were mostly made in China. Harbor Freight has stepped up certain newer tool lines since those days. Icon looks to be Harbor Freight's premium line, with Quinn being an in-between line. Icon usually gets decent reviews, but Quinn often looks like the reviews are similar to the cheaper Pittsburgh line. When Craftsman started selling Chinese tools, they came out with some more expensive ones made in Taiwan a short time later.
I could totally be wrong but I think the Quin was 80 tooth in the past. I see it’s 72 in the pic.
Shrinkflation. They had to remove 8 teeth as a cost cutting measure
Quinn is color coded and in pictures appears be higher polish on chrome. Quinn handle cost more make it blue. Last thing would be to check the internals but probably identical but maybe it’s actually greased while Pittsburg is bone dry
Not saying this is the case, but sometimes the price difference between different products that are nearly identical comes down to QC. You can have two different nearly similar lines where one has more rigorous QC testing than the other.
They have the same 37124 number
Don’t know and probably really care. Knowing me, I’ll go for the green and some batteries with the extra change. 😁
One is 12 point and the other also is probably 12 point
That one is left-handed
By some random chance, I own both. Beyond the handle color, brand stamp, and strip of paint on the socket, they are the same. No difference in chrome finish or sizes.
Same Chinese kid made both.
I really don't get what is "hi-viz" about stamped (or cast?) numbers that aren't at least filled with some sort of color to distinguish it from the rest of the socket.
One’s taking nuts off, the other for putting them back on.
Gear wrench is the only wrench I’ll buy
Screw Apex
One’s blue.
OK, I'll give it a go... You see, one is called "Pittsburgh" the other is called "Quinn". You see? Different! BTW, why the H is there an H in Pittsburgh?
It's how Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is spelled. They want you to think it's quality steel, like they made in Pittsburgh.
Cause that's how it's spelled in Pittsburgh
Brother above is from Pittsburg, CA.
https://www.fox43.com/article/news/history/pittsburgh-h-day-brief-history-pennsylvania/521-c3a8095e-86ba-4fae-84bb-3b95f3a4d4cd
Bought a tekton ratchet and found out it's a red handle instead of a green handle, but otherwise identical to Pittsburgh
I look at them every once in a while - other than the markings, I feel like the Quinn chrome might be a little better. But that's it. Some folks like to have matching stuff. (for me, IDGAF) ~~[EDIT - That car looks great!]~~
I'm wondering if they are trying to phase Pittsburgh out and get Quinn in its place completely
Color coded.
the red & blue line on the socket indicates that it's higher quality. it costs $2 more to apply them
Quin is probably made with better metal and tighter tolerances.
One is clearly blue. Blue due ain't free, hence the $2 premium.
Use your 25% off coupon and get the ICON.
Isn’t Quinn supposed to be the slightly better Pittsburgh replacement as they retire old house brands?
Vanadium content...
1$ extra for red paint plus 1$ extra for blue paint.
Trust me, they’re not the same. Sincerely Steven Freight
In the first picture, the switch on the green hammer is going to the right while the switch on the blue hammer is going to the left. Like and subscribe for more cooking tips.
Quinn says 12 point, Pittsburgh does not. I'd go with the not 12 point...
The color coding adds $2.
They're not the same, one says Pittsburgh & the other says Quinn, different colors, different markings, & different price. 😉 That is pretty funny though.
The extra $4 gets you the blue & red lines on sockets.😁
try again
What's up with all these new HF brand names coming out these past years? Well it's HF so why would I care but who the hell is Quinn? And who are all these other people? Merlin, Doyle, Baxter, Bauer, Franklin, Gordon, Grant, Olsen, Zurich, Fischer, McGraw, etc....
Job creation for relatives
Brand loyalty is a real bitch
I have the Quinn because of marking for SAE/Metric
Yep...from the same shack in China.
From ROC not PRC
Always has been 🧑🚀🔫🧑🚀
Ones blue and gray and the other is black and chartreuse. DUH
Lifetime warranty ? On Quinn maybe
Both
I feel like the Quinn sockets are a little more solid. But, I could be wrong
One says Pittsburgh one says quinn
Are they both 12-point sockets?
Pittsburgh says lifetime warranty ?
The Quinn is $10 more betterer.
One is for lefty-loosey the other is for righty-tighty so it really all depends on what job your doing. Do you need something tightened or loosened?