Delboy's Garage, 'Gedore Red' vs 'Gedore Blue' ! 

So use the red gedore until you can buy the blue ratchet

Dell, I really enjoy viewing your videos for two reasons. 1) they are about motorcycles, 2) you are a master communicator. Please keep them coming. Be always well.

36 years after starting my apprenticeship I still buy at least 1 tool a week . Today I ordered a stainless steel spade . Not much use on the bandit but I've got a load of sleepers to set and the fence bloke knicked my old one ! 👍🏻☮❤

I bought a tiny Gedore red ratchet bitset from Lidl when they had them in. Been a lifesaver at work and does everything a treat. Even tightened Bosch ebike motor mounts with it using a pipe as extension. No damage yet.

I bought this GEDORE RED Qty (172) Tool Set and I love it my friend. The tools and case are great quality. I love it!!! Next I will try to buy some GEDORE Blue Tools soon. Thank you so very much for helping me out and letting me know about this Awesome tool set. You are Awesome to my friend. GOD be with you always and bless you always. 😆😆😆😆😆

The red set sure would look good in my garage! 😃 145 usd from Amazon, now you've got me thinking!

Great review! I have the Red kit and as a 'Brand conscious amateur' I am very happy and satisfied with that kit.

I have a 40 year old 1/2 drive Gedore,built like a tank,It has a function I have never seen on any other brand,,Put the selector lever in the middle and it becomes a breaker bar,rock solid,the amount of times I was under a truck trying to undo a siezed nut I would put a cheater pipe over the handle and it would do the job,,Gedore the very best tools you can buy along with Swedish brand Bahco.

I have the red kit and its awesome! There is only one weird thing about this set: the 16 mm and 21 mm sparkplug sockets are 1/2 and the 18 mm is 3/8. I needed the 16 mm 3/8 for my torgue wrech so I bought that one extra. But you get a lot of bang for your buck for this set!

Buy the Red and replace the bits that wear out with the Blue version. That is basically what I tell the guys starting out in my trade. Buy a complete kit and replace it with better quality as needed.

i still have my Halfords 1/2" drive socket set that I bought about 43 years ago. They have had some brutal use. I'm hoping that something will break so I can see if they will honour the "Lifetime guarantee". To be fair I have bought a few new ratchet drives since then, and I mostly use 3/8" these days.

Proxxon also do good rachet sets btw. I think the advantage of some cheaper tool kits is that things like driver bit attachments are something you think to replace, often people will wear ph2 or hex driver bits until theyre round instead of buying a new bit. Having a more affordable kit means people are willing to replace consumable parts more regularly.

Back in the day when I was on construction sites installing electrical services, I had the cheapest crappiest tools for the job you could find. First reason, it was all I could afford :-) Apprentices didn't get paid much. Second was, if it was stolen, lost or a one way boomerang loan to someone it wasn't a huge expense to replace. What I did find most valuable though, is you didn't thrash your cheap bit of kit, because it would break. As such I guess you could say that with crappy gear, you (well I did) got a 'feel' for the load being exerted. That means a lot when tightening things up, or getting something sticky un done. Certainly helped me look beyond the tool, and more to the task at hand. Cheers Pete'.

Excellent review, it s not easy to get the notion of quality across in a review like that where ppl can t experience it themselves but you did it! I think Gedore did a gj with their brand differentiation, introducing the red line giving amateurs an "easier to swallow" entry point into the brand... Wera or others neglect the market for ppl looking for a good yet still affordable entry into the world of DIY. I think many ppl turn their backs on DIY coz either the entry level point seems too high money-wise or it simply hasnt been fun doing your first steps when the tools at hand are a nuisance to get anything done with- cheap nasty stuff can quickly harm the enjoyment of doing one s first steps. So with the more affordable line up that still keeps essential qualities or offers a good package (like a more complete set for ppl starting out), you create future customers for the more premium stuff (even newbies can quickly tell the difference between decent and lovely) instead of ppl that turn their backs to all of it or go like "oh it s all crap either way". I m at a point where I m just getting started, having found the courage to do little jobs at the car and I already want the blue line or look at other premium manufacturers but I m fully aware, it s too early to justify going big whilst I even lack most basics...and it d simply be too expensive at this stage. So I found the Gedore Red kit...a brand I didn t even know about before and already loving their approach. Think I might end up with the very Gedore Red kit that brought me here and if my next car related DIY makes me as happy as the last ones, bah I guess the way you suggested was looking at a ratchet of their blue line...or sth else where I see benefits for the upcoming tasks. No matter what, thank you for this comparison!

Thanks Del, watch the video a couple of times, read through the comments, bought the red socket set! Cheers😉👍🏻

Outstanding video - because You go into the really relevant details AND You got all your facts 100% right - rare these days on YT / the internet. May I add that the shape of the GEDORE ratchet's head is also much slimmer (pear-shaped) than the cheaper version and the overall ratchet weight is low for the larger than normal size.

I've got a Gedore socket set that was my dads. Must be around 50-60 years old and still working great.

Never heard of Gedore, thanks. I bought my 3/8 drive Kamasa set for £15.00 Around early 70's. Still great today.

Del, you are spot on regarding stating that the 3/8 is the most popular drive for use on motorcycles. I have been doing my own maintenance since I started biking in 1974 (Yamaha FS1E) and very rarely I have needed a 1/2 drive ratchet. I do appreciate quality tools and because I work for Rolls-Royce I can purchase Snap-on stuff at a discounted rate. I opted for the 3/8 FOD version of the ratchet as I use this at work. The FOD stands for Foreign Object Damage, this means the if the gear mechanism in the ratchet head fails then the ratchet retains all the pieces. This type costs more to manufacture, but the cost of a full jet engine strip to retrieve parts of a failed ratchet far out way the additional cost. I have used Bergen tools and find them very good for the price, although I was disappointed that you cannot buy a repair kit if the ratchet mechanism fails. I also own a Rolex Datejust watch as well as Snap-on tools, does this make me a watch and tool snob??

Alot of us in the uk have the Halfords comprehensive set. With a lifetime guarantee you cant go far wrong. Ive had em for years and theyve been absolutely spot on. Im not a mechanic but for the diy occasional use theyre fantastic. Think i paid £150 for a 300 piece set.

I have the red kit, as its all in one place, I actually got rid of my origonal Gedore sockets I have had since I was a chimp at the bus depot. We were supplied all Gedore on day one, and a few got lost over the years and I couln't make a full kit so I got rid, tidied the box up with the red kit, only issue I can see is that you might need the multi point option the odd time

Hey thanks for the review, 12:10 ratchet comparison - I can assure you the mechanism in both the Gedore and G.RED is the same I have checked it myself by disassembling both. The PAWL, spring sizes and weights are same, however I have observed 8-10gms more weight in the gear of BLUE v/s RED. Furthermore the clicking sound changes as per lubrication - the RED can make the same sound if well lubricated. I have noticed that the Gedore blue Ratchets always come well lubricated with dielectric grease - whereas the RED is not at all lubricated. You can check it yourself. hope it helps. Also the RED ratchet is not hollow. its the lack of lubrication which makes you feel that way :)

Thanks for the vid. I’ve been seeing Gedore Red here in the states and didn’t know what to think. For the price I think I’ll give them a go.

Thanks for the video. I think the cheaper kits have their place, and I will likely buy the red kit to stow in my car for longer trips. I may replace one or two key components with a proper Gedore or Hazet part, but most things in this kit will not be used often.

still love the sound of an old school 1980s snap on ratchet. I've never found that sound since.

Grandpa left me Gedore and a few other tools from Remscheid. He bought it 65 years ago. Still working. Still use it. The Germans know to make great tools.

So... It sounds to me like the Red line is kinda the "pro-sumer" grade. Kind of a "both and neither" Good enough that pros could use it, but cheap enough that DIYers could afford it. Another excellent vid, brother. Hope Penny and yourself are doing well, as always. Shiny side up!

Bought a 1/2 inch drive RAC set from Argos bout 20 yrs ago. That ratchet is a monster n I recently counted the teeth coz I was tempted to "upgrade" to Halfords Advanced. 72 teeth. Man Ive swung on that thing over the years, not every day but DIY n its never missed a beat. Only thing that broke in the whole set was a ratchet screw driver pretty early on thena 17 mm socket cracked on a new to me Vectras wheel nut in 2016. Gedore ? Ya can have it mate.

Buy the red and what you break replace with the blue.

I guess that buying a "brand name" should give you some confidence in the quality but it just goes to show that even quality manufacturers cut corners when out sourcing their build. I would probably buy the red as a starter kit for a youngster learning to use tools but upgrade to the blue for more professional or prolonged use. Thanks for the insight.

Very good explanation, agree the Gedore blue hatchet has that satisfying handfeel. Despite having less teeth.

German company but we produce most of the range in South Africa , mostly the Blue Range.

It should come with 3x10mm sockets cause we all loose the 10mm into the 3rd dimension at some point,I've been umming and ahhhing about getting a set since you shown the red a few years back

Woulda loved to seen the inside finish on the sockets or mechanism inside those ratchets, just to see the differences in manufacturing/mechanism design and materials to get a more in depth idea of the differences instead of the externals and feel. Got a full facom socket set(1/4 and 1/2), and compared the insides to some cheapo's and even after 10 years of active use the facom insides are looking nicer than any cheap "mickymouse" (loved that one btw!) ones ive opend up! Tools are an investment for life, buy once cry once :)

I dare say that products made in Taiwan are many times way better than many expensive brands. Im a professional and i work with FORCE brand at least for a decade and i never have a problem. By the way thank you very much for the video i already order the red one👍.

Great comparison review Del! I bought the same red set on your recommendation and am happy with it. I would like better but can't afford or justify the expense however, for my home garage and bike servicing, the red set is plenty good enough for what I do. Thanks for the heads up on this set, you're spot on with what you say 👍

Would have been interesting to see the internal mechanisms of the ratchets. I noticed that they have different patterns on where the assembly screws are mounted. I strongly suspect that the ratchet design is more different than just the tooth count. Thanks for the vid.

Just setting a scene - sat outside in 30 degree heat looking out over my lovely garden - BBQ turning a nice shade of grey almost ready for the beef brochettes - cold one on the go with another to follow. What could make my evening complete i say? It's Tuesday and another Del video! (the Mrs. groans LOL) Looking forward to this although slightly disapointed no work on the bikes, BUT there's always Friday to look forward to.

When I start buying/collecting tools in the mid 70's, Gedore tools were my like of tools and the best tools till today according to my opinion, just superior craftsmen ship. There were no Gedore Red tools in that days, only the blue. + - 50 years later, I am still using that same tools, still mint condition and still buying them. They are just manufactures to perfection. I will not buy any other tool than Gedore (Blue), absolutely the best. Look after your tools (Gedore) and they will last forever just as Gedore promise a lifetime guarantee / warranty.

72 or more teeth ratchets are plenty strong, even on cheaper models. The square itself will be the failure point 9/10. Especially on the quick release models you have there, where the square is drilled to house the pin and ball.

Finally somebody did it. Thank you very much!!

You really are an excellent communicator. A very interesting and informative video.

Gday mate years ago in 1976 i bought a cheap socket set to work on my honda 550 supersport from a company called kingchrome at a dirt cheap price , basically a new player /rival for the well established sidchrome brand ,i don't have all the sockets now but still have a fair amount of them and they have seen me through 30 odd years of car and bike mechanical work , now kingchrome tools are some of the most expensive in australia as well as sidchrome which was always known as the profesionals tool .

I know exactly what you mean about the ratchet, I love the sound and feel of a good quality one so would have to be the blue one that I couldn't afford! Used to always get Britool stuff but they have gone now but if you're looking for affordable quality I have found Bahco to be worth a look. Treated my son to one of their socket sets and was quite impressed

Alright Del, before I was made redundant from Speedy Hire some years ago I had built up a fair size Teng set from thr tool suppliers... As soon as they started shutting down depots I brought in all my cheep shite from home and swapped it with the Teng tools. Sockets, spanners, allen key sets , screw drivers, the absolute works 😂 and the best thing was the manager said to me on my last day "don't forget to take your tools home with you Gaz... 😂 😂

Halford Advance has always treated me well in the trade inviroment apart of the plastic case

Great review..you pay for quality like most of the time.. Thanks.

If you are a professional spanner Turner, the red kit is ideal for those out and about kind of jobs. I'd rather pick up that case and go, than decant my snap on tools into a tote box and probably lose half of them in the process.

That was an excellent video Del particularly when you showed us the difference between 36(?), 60 & 72 ratchet drivers. Really good way of showing what is REALLY important and what's not quite so important.

So for the price of the red set you can buy 1 (One) snap-on 3/8 ratchet, 80 teeth. But believe me, if you ever worked with that, you never want another ratchet in your life...

Lovely video and found a new channel to scavenge to find some info for my motorcycle maintenance! During my latest endeavours with my motorcycle I found my tools to be lacking, e.g. needed 12 and 14 socket for a bigger rachet, and wanted to buy a new socket set to be able to tackle everything. The Red set covers all that, but the Blue seems better suitable for a lifetime investment if I look at the benefits you pointed out and align this to my preferences. Do you have any recommendations on sets of the Blue coming closest to the versatility of the Red?

I just moved here to Europe from the usa. I broke more snaps on tools then cheap ones. No wonder the tool man will give you two for one on a trade in on old snap on tools. Meaning 70s 80s early 90s tools. 🤣🤣 I went with sonic. Now looking for a cheap kit to keep in the vehicle. Thanks for the great video.

I remember you doing a review years ago saying no matter what socket you use you will always use your ratchet handle. I went out and bought a decent ratchet handle on that piece of wisedom and have never looked back.

Nowadays there a ratchets with 6 pawls, turning 30 big teeth into 90 steps. (2 pawls opposite of each other per step for extra durability.)

Like for the watch reference :)

I just bought a Gedore Red Torque wrench, 60-300nm, to do my cars wheels and my bikes axles and I am very impressed. It is a very nicely made and very solid piece of kit, I paid 88 euros on amazon. It comes with a complete test calibration sheet. I have a smaller Kraftwerk 10-60nm torque wrench and it's nowhere near as nicely made but the same price.

Could you open up the ratchet for us to compare the internal mechanism instead of us just listening you feeling it

Very interesting - thanks Del I appreciate hearing your views on the difference, a great way to spend 17 minutes!

Hi Del & Penny, in this 'puter driven world of lists for everything, do any of the tool makers or dealers compile 'kits' of hand tools specific to known makes & model of bike? eg. 'Fed up fiddling with metric multis & bought a new Sportster, what will I need? Ans. Imperial equiv. sockets & spanners X,Y & Z, & a six foot cracking bar (joking: 5' is fine). Easier to top up your own 'kit' too, if you already know what you'll need to reach some (parentless part), let alone undo it. Comprehensive kits are lovely to look at & comforting to have around, but how many will remain unused on YOUR bike? (Before anyone asks - No, I don't want to sit down & 'work it all out' either, but someone 'useful' might!) Have fun : ) x

I find it odd that the more expensive set has a ratchet with less teeth than the cheaper line. You say the pricier ratchet feels better and I can hear the sound difference but its still odd the more expensive ratchet has less teeth because that seems to be a big deal with every company anymore.

thanks Del. question: Can we change the headlight of a 2008 Bonneville to LED?

Great explanation of the visceral difference between the ratchets. Very worthwhile video in these days of more for less is better. Yes a cheap tool may do the job once but sometimes not even that and I am talking from experience... buy sensibly, buy once (normal wear and tear excluded, exclusions apply, the value of your investment may go up or down....)

Never been a huge fan of the "chain store" type kits. However, mate of mine recommended the Halfords Advanced with its lifetime warranty 🤔. Anyway, got the big kit on offer and greatly reduced. About 2 years later, one of the ratchets went tits up, time to test the warranty! Went into Halford, no receipt (easy get out for them), went to one of the staff and explained that the item was broken. She took it off me, and with a "just wait here sir" she disappeared. Expecting the usual excuses...... So wrong! Out she came brand new ratchet, "here's your new ratchet sir, anything else?" I was stunned. Well done Halfords! Best ratchet I ever had (before it was stolen 😡) was a gear less Britool, it would engage after the slightest movement. Sorry for the ramble. RSMB. Be safe you two.

Well I wasn't expecting that ! What an interesting video '🙂 Two things for me the number of teeth a rachet has , and yes I too have had that where you need more teeth as your in a confined space and 3/8 is the better size when working on a bike. Definitely going to alter my tool kit now. I know you wasn't dissing Snap On and they're tools I have always desired but it is interesting to listen to you comparison with you old SO to these cheaper ones. Whilst I have your attention searched through and couldn't find you have done anything on replacing brake fluid on an ABS equipped bike any chance of doing one. I asked as I want to do it on my BMW GS & none of the videos explain it as well as you do on your tutorials. Stay safe

Even snapon, matco, mac, and cornwell have an economy base line of tools made overseas that still have lifetime warranty and arent bad products, i use namebrand daily and their cheaper line at home but still use snapon ratchets and quality screwdrivers and extentions. Good screwdrivers are as needed as good ratchet.

You had me at made in "Germany" ..Obviously going to be quality ..Everybody knows if you want to have something solid ...always ask a German

Class review Del really injoyed that just goes to show when u were saying where thay were made the difference in the handels. Keep up the good work 👍🏻

Hello, although I listened carefully to your video, I couldn't understand it because I don't speak English 😃 I have a question, which one should I buy to maintain my own motorbike? Is it red? Is it blue?

I bought this Red kit not long after I watched your video back then for some ridiculous price of around 105 euros. All I can say, for the money, you can't go wrong with the Red one. I've done all my bike services with it, never skipped a beat. I don't use it often which I believe is the key, but when I need it it always delivers. I even lend some sockets to my neighbor who has a tire repair shop, he was completely satisfied with them. Cheers!

Great video Del. The red set would be a great value good quality tool box to have in a home garage. And quality lasts so probably a once in a lifetime buy.

One differents between the 2 is that the blue version sockets can also be used for impact tools. So i think the red one is more comprehensive, the blue one is more efficient.

Great video there with very nice and detailed explanation. Do you know if those sets come both with a lifetime warranty?

Thanks for that.. you defo got my attention ..defo red for me.. one Bike, a shed and more of a selection that is good enough quality for what I realistically need.. 👍 enjoyed your vid.. thanks for sharing...

That recovery rate makes a big difference in tight spaces.

The only thing in that blue made in Germany is the ratchet's everything else is made in Taiwan!

If you're not impressed with the red I'll have them thank you

Gedore Red: "we pass on our slavings to you"

Great review and comparison, loved that. I do remember years ago when you referred to tools as house of straw and house of bricks for getting started and I loved that analogy, thought it was going to come up again today. Keep up the great work Del and Penny. All the best guys. 😊

Hmmm, sort of fed up with advertising!

Great review del 👍. Can't wait till the next video. Keep safe and ride safe. to the both of you.

Perhaps "Triumph Red" should be a thing from this year on!

GREAT! now i want another socket set! haha

And then you have the Hazet hiper 1/2" ratchet which is rated for 1000Nm

You learn something new every day. Thanks 👍🏻

Another great, concise explanation. Thank you.

Nice review for a great tools factory Gedore of Wuppertal,Germany.

I personally bought the set because i wanted the deep sockets for work as it's what I needed for a good price and if I want to use a heavier ratchet I'd use my old trusty Bahco ratchet. Edit: I really don't care about price but in my view it's a good box to have extra just in case I can't take my large toolcart with me

I bet Gedore Red are made by Teng tools of Taiwan. many makes and brands are outsourced to them

Very good review Del. I'm happy you advertise only quality tools, not like other RU-vidrs that would advertise whatever scrap just to get paid for it. Gedore is a pretty renowned tool manufacturer here in Germany.

That's what I like about you Del - if you review a product and it's shite - you tell us. It would be the blue for me - and I'm no professional!

Great review Del. Many years ago I bought a good quality Craftsman set from Sears, similar to the red kit. The plastic case had plastic-hinged latches instead of the metal type like the Gedores, and broke in the first couple of years. I checked with Sears, and the case wasn’t covered like the tools. Anyway, now you have me going out to the garage at the end of the video to check my socket wrenches’ recovery.

Is this gedore box better than tools from hazet? Nice video

Hi there Delll boy , what about a comparison between Wurth and Gedore socket set?! What would be your opinion which one of those two would be better? Many thanks!

I have the gedore red I've had it for a few weeks I keep it in my lorry as I spend alot of time away up to 6 weeks it comes in very useful if I have a minor breakdown it means I can fix it myself to get going again I'd 100% recomend the red to anyone I also have the gedore red 16 piece 1/4 I keep under the seat on my bike

Are there many imperial sizes for Harleys. If not which set would you recommend. For price conscious amateur

The red tool kit would be cheaper to replace when it got stolen from your van, which is much more likely to happen than it breaking due to quality issues.

Good price

I have a 3/8" 72 teeth Snap-on ratchet that I bought as 'worn out'(?) USAF salvage in 1965. It has been widely used and abused and could do with a refurb. It is as smooth as a baby's wotsit although a PITA as the lever is missing! The beauty of it is that you can ratchet a loose nut or bolt as the return is so easy. The 3/8" Britool ratchet is by contrast very clunky and impossible to use on a loose nut or bolt as they just move back and forth with the ratchet action - there are times when you can get a socket on the nut/bolt but can't put any resistance on the turning to get the ratchet action. My go to tools now are Britool (cheaper than sister company Facom but equal quality). I seen no point in paying for new Snap-on kit as I won't live that long and TBH they aren't that much better. My only Gedore tool is an adjustable spanner that is the go-to of the range of adjustables that I have. I have always considered Gedore as good quality, reliable but without finesse.

Like the way you did that review, Del, and the 'watch' analogy was spot on! Really fortunate to have a decent assortment of tools (regardless of brand), a number inherited from my pilot/mechanic, dad! Nothing like quality, if you can justify the price! Cheers!

you said the blue had a recovery rate of 5 degrees. It is really 6... but thats fine haha