A behind-the-scenes look at Matco Tools ratchet manufacturing process. To see all Matco ratchets: www.matcotools.com/catalog/ha... #howitsmade #ratchet #ratchettools #ratchethandles #ratchetbars #matcotools
Yes, there are some good tool manufacturers in America but there's some good ones in Germany too. I've got three 30 year old Gedore ratchets, strong as an ox, still going strong.
@@dstblj5222 doesnt vontier or vontior own matco and manufacture their tools? Well the ones that arent rebranded which is most of them. Pretty much just thier hand tools and air tools
It would be cool if a distributor would service my location more regularly than once every couple years. Or at least sell and ship directly. Serviceability and warranty were major factors influencing purchase.
Give the guy that puts the screw in for the swivel part a tub of locktite. Screws on those ratchets are always walking out. A little QC goes a long way.
Not any ones I’ve got and got a few and that’s why I rather my Mac axis flexhead locking or locking Snapon. At least I know they’re made in USA which is what I pay for.
Plant looks ancient compared to the Snap On one. I did find the spin weld real interesting never seen a company do that on a ratchet before. I wonder what that helps with.
they dont have dropforcing technolofy in their factory so they are welding the turned shaft to the cnc machining the head , i\this is inferior in every way and is in the long run much more costly.. they should spend a little money for some closed forming dies and forge the tools the proper way like the german tools are done. they would save alot within just one year
I have a matco 3/8 ratchet ( BR11F ) that I have been using for just over 30 years now. Flex head, not locking. It has been a great ratchet. The head has some wobble in it now, but continues to function fairly well. I would love to get the pin fixed, maby warranty it if possible. Can't find a place to send it. Any info would be great thank you.
I love matco ratchets....but I'm not thrilled with the comfort grips I have the way they deteriorate I wish I hadve gotten the regular hard handles.....
Bought a 1/4 inch drive composite ratchet by performance tool in 2006,it still works and matco and snap on have both broke multiple times. 10 bucks vs 80 . Other than the flipper being opposite of USA made ratchets I love it!
All the years of a heavy equipment mechanic I never had a problem with my Matco dealer it's the dealers that do the warranty work handle might be welded but I never broke a handle I might have blew the guts out of the head and that was on my half inch long handle ratchet they always warranty that no problem
Spin welding is in Alot of tools snapon longer than 10 in are spin welded actually makes for less twisting on the bar makes it stronger that I'm told but the twisting part is true science
@@doctordiesel5467 i would imagine its because when its spun it compresses the metal. Kinda like forge welded and pressed, but spinning may make it tighter
I wonder why they like doing that friction welding over just making it out of one piece of steel. I think Snap-On makes theirs out of one piece of steel but I know Matco and Mac Tools make them in two different pieces and then friction (spin-weld) the two pieces together.
I would imagine its because when its heated an spun it makes the metal more compressed, like forge welding and pressed. I actually seen that snap on ratchets over 10" were also spun
So is the Armstrong plant still making these? I thought you're parent company apex tool group closed them down? Let us know and how old is this fottage.
Vontier owns matco. They may manufacture their hand tools, but im not sure. Pretty much all, if not all of their tools are rebranded. They do make their own toolboxes
Hola soy de México aquí le llamamos matraca tengo una 3/8 flexible ya se va en banda me gustaría saber cómo le hago para hacer válida su garantía aquí en México. yo la compré estando en Estados Unidos
Title is a little misleading. This is not a Matco facility, it is AJ Manufacturing www.ajmanufacturing.com . Matco Tools is a branding company not a manufacturer. Matco makes nothing other than toolboxes and margins. Matco Tools tell me I'm wrong LOL.
@@SteelTeam4X I can guarantee you are incorrect. Matco waited 2 years for APEX/Armstrong to produce ratchets after their split. Apex failed to ship any significant quantity for those two years at which time the contract went to the current producer AJ manufacturing.
They had a bad run of 3/8. I got one too but my dealer swapped it out for one with a 40 anniversary head and I'm good to go. I've stood on my 15" and no issues
@@sunship2 not true friction welded joints resist bending and twisting more than a single shank that's why most long extensions are friction welded to resist twisting under heavy torsional strain look at older one piece extension have some you can watch them flex and twist which reduced applied torque friction welded do not twist like that at all
Apex was alright. AJ manufacturing makes them now and they suuuck. My "Matco" ratchet last 6 days before the teeth gave out. haven't had a snapon fail in over ten years and I'm pretty rough with my tools. When you rely on your tools to make money you don't really have time to mess with cheap tools.
its the usa.. the parts may well be mexican or chinese and then the assembly finishing and treatment is american done.. the fact thatt he head is one piece and the shaft is one peice and then as they dont have dropforging techlonogy in their factory they have to spend much effort welding the two parts togeather leads me to think that their factory is limited in what it does and probably many components are imported
@behexen250 the head is forged then machined the handle is from an already cold formed bar and friction welded joint is more resistant to twisting and bending and its strong as the grain structure of the metals flow even and consistent together than heat treated at the joint its stronger than the rest of the tool stock snapon proto cornwell all do this spin welding extensions are done in this matter to resist torsional twisting
These are not the same as gearwrench if anyone is truly wanting to know. Gearwrench is no doubt a great ratchet, but the matco one in my opinion is far superior, especially when comparing the comfort grip. Also, if you have a tool truck can't beat the warrenty process.
I've noticed on my new matco ratchet USA and the part number are no longer engraved on the ratchet, they are now laser etched with an American flag picture are the ratchets still made in the same USA factory??
I doubt it. Matco doesnt manufacture their tools, they're all rebranded. Except their tool boxes. Unless vontier, who owns matco, manufactures their handtools but that im not sure.
Armstrong used to make Matco ratchets and used to stamp. The new ones that are laser etched are made by AJ Manufacturing. Which is better between the two? I've no idea...
Matco tools are excellent when I was a mechanic 15 years ago even though they are made by other companies (except for tool boxes) my matco ratchets were made by Armstrong and New Britain, my matco sockets were made by sk every bit equal to snap on in durability at much less cost ( I own many snap on tools as well) the only problem I ever had was my matco dealer was an unreliable dick , my snap on dealer was much better to deal with
Vi que tienen operarios .soy oficial multiple.deje. la fabrica por que nunca valoro mi esfuerzo. Y capacidad .por el contrario trato de hacerme centir reemplazable e insignificante.pase 16 horas fuera. De mi casa.para que los dueños se hicieran ricos.solo 10 minutos para desayuno y 20 para almorzar.si tenia almuerzo.delen a sus obreros participacion en ganancia.y no los tengan vajo presión.se hace miserable asi el trabajo.bueno muy buenas herramientas.exito.
@@upnorth5465 not the 120xp, but the locking flex head 84 tooth gearwrench looks identical to the 128 88 tooth matco. I ordered 1 last week to compare.
@@buildingwithtrees2258 that could be, I wouldn't know I don't own any 84 tooth gearwrench. Still a difference as these are made in the USA and gearwrench is Taiwan and China manufactured.
I wondered the same thing. I think the raw materials and rough machining comes from Asia. Then they get sent over to the US where they are assembled. It seems to be how a lot of tools are made.
You've obviously never used a Snap-On ratchet. They hold up to daily abuse better. I own and prefer Snap-On for their quality. I also own a Matco 32" long 1/2" drive flex ratchet that I haven't broke (yet). It is the go to before I have to use my 36" Snap-On breaker bar.
Matco rebrands most of their tools but their ratchets are USA made and the best in the business as far as I'm concerned. My snap on and gearwrench 120xp ratchets sit and collect dust now that I have multiple of these locking flex heads in every drive size.
@@RenegadesGarage who cares if they are rebranded. One company cannot possibly be the best at making everything. That's why my torque wrenches are snap on, my electric tools are Milwaukee (except my 2 snap on electric ratchets) and my air tools and hand ratchets are Matco. Doesn't matter who makes them. I'm not a brand snob, I buy based off of quality, durability and performance. Cost is the least of my concern.
www.ajmanufacturing.com/ Ok show these old eyes where the ratchets are. Don't believe everything you read on garage journal. Half those guys are idiots with zero-to-no experience, such as yourself.
@@phillipbainbridge9107 phil just stop. Do some Investigating you will find out matco does not manufacture tools . Aj makes them exclusively for matco you can't buy them from them directly .
Sounds like a dealer issue my guy will come ask if anything is broken or I’ll text him and tell him and the new one is ordered and delivered on next visit
Made by AJ tools for Matco. Its kinda pathetic that a Tool truck company does not make a single tool. I feel bad for Matco putting this video out , nothing to be proud about here.
They're employing americans and promoting small business ownership. You cant do a tool company 100% based off one country with a line of tools like they offer. They do the same things everyone else does, look at Jh williams ratchets look just like snap on, same with the screwdrivers. Snap on cant even do 100% american or Europe the pwz pliers are made in china by bahco I have a set.
The point here is that they are selling at the same price point as Snap-on. Snap-on ratchets are not friction welded they're forged. And while it really doesn't matter because the ratcheting mechanism will give before the handle it bothers me that they are making them more cheaply and selling them at the same price.
They used to be part of Danaher... They USED to make all their own tools till the parent company.. Danaher spun off its tool manufacturing division to Bain Capital who promptly shut it down and shipped production overseas. Mitt Romney sold the USA out.
MATCO is a brand. Currently, Danaher has no tool manufacturing capacity on its own. When Danaher owned Apex Tool Group, the tools were made in house. So by the connection of the parent company, MATCO did make some of their tools in house. So let me ask you this- Which major hand tool companies these days make their own tools? (Ratchets and sockets etc)
Ratchets are made by Armstrong . Yet another rebranded tool . We call Matco (Rebrandco) at my shop. We search Amazon before we step on the matco truck and usually find the same product for a fraction of the price . One day mobile tool trucks will be no more .... That day will be sooner than later
Yeah, Matco is Rebrandco. The Cornwell truck carry's about 35% Cornwell tools and 65% other brands. Mac is almost the same. Snap on will eventually be the only one standing. If that's the case, if you think Snap on is expensive now..........
Might as well buy a cheap ratchet that can beat by a cheap Chinese craftsman. Just like the air tools of mine that are less than two years old and local distributor refused to warranty.
Good tools for automotive. But are OVERPRICE. Not as SNAP OFF THE BIG RIP OFF IN TOOLS. But overpriced. I go with INDUSTRIAL brands. PROTO(industrial quality good price), WILLIAMS(snap off a real price) Automotive i go GEARWRENCH (good quality) and NEPROS (TOP NOTCH , FERRARI OF TOOLS) NEVER, NEVER BUY SNAP OFF THE BIG SCAM IN TOOL INDUSTRY.
I find snapon to be fine tools and Alot of matcos and cornwell and.mac too wright is good stuff too ratchets good from wright but to bulky for auto repair nowadays
Its a shame mechanics have to pay the amount of money they do to have quality tools to do their jobs. Especially when everything but ratchets and toolboxes are rebranded by you guys. For the price you all attempt to charge i might as well go with snap on.
