For most DIYs, a ratchet and socket set was probably one of the first tools ever acquired. When I started doing a little historical research on ratchets, I was surprised to learn that the ratcheting socket wrench and interchangeable sockets were invented in 1863. It was weird thinking that what many consider a core tool in their rollaway being a ...

Ah, the Internet… We tool freaks love it because there’s no end to the nifty stuff you can find. I had a brake hose project to do and was looking around in the web for some offset flare nut wrenches. I already have some non-offset flare nut wrenches and I have some crow foot flare nut wrenches but, for this ...

by Hib Halverson At the SEMA Show in November of 2015, the GearWrench people released several new tools. An interesting item in that release was the “Multi-Function Ratchet Set” (PN 81020) consisting of a pair of unique “two-headed” ratchets, a four-inch extension, metric sockets and a plastic case full of hex bits. The Cadillac V-net decided to request a sample ...

Gear Wrench Electronic Torque Wrenches by Hib Halverson This is our first experience with “electronic torque wrenches”. Admittedly, that’s a bit odd considering the amount of coverage the V-Net’s product evaluation staff has given technology in tools such as scan testers, wideband oxygen sensors, tuning software and the like. Up to now, when we needed to torque wheel nuts, brake ...

Permatex Parts Cleaner and Degreaser by Hib Halverson As more and more states, counties and cities regulate solvents we DIYs use to clean parts, water-based or “aqueous” parts cleaners are getting to be mainstream. In recent years, the CAC’s production evaluation team has tested a few of them and so far, while we haven’t used one about which we could ...