Why are the rats always missing?

[skipskip]

It seems like when I go to sales or auctions I find wrenches and sockets and screwdrivers ans pliers and toolboxes and putty knives.

BUT

Often the ratchets are missing.

I get that ratchets and sockets are cool, but why just take the rat?

why not take the sockets too?

or do they break and get tossed out?

or do trolls take them at night?

[john k]

It seems some people have no idea that a set should maybe stay together.   The ratchet gets carried off, left in the truck, broken, used with a different set.   Or the nephew figures he can use it with his metric set. 

[EVILDR235]

I have noticed that if the set does have a ratchet, it is a different brand that the rest of the tools.In my case, fellow employees kept stealing my S&K 3/8 ratchets. I would find my tools in other peoples tool carts and they would say they just borrowed the tool and forgot to return it. They would have 5 or 6 other rats, so why would they use mine ? I am now retired, so I don't have to deal with that crap anymore.

EvilDr235

PS, got a real computer now, just need to learn how to use it.

[mrchuck]

Many times at garage sales, I find that the sockets are Asian made, but the ratchet is an American made one.
I will buy the ratchet ONLY. Maybe I was just there before you.
I have a 4 drawer file cabinet full of Asian tools I do not want. China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea.

[EVILDR235]

Don't for tools made in India and on Pluto.

EvilDr235

[oldgoaly]

Ken has them in this thread...http://www.papawswrench.com/vboard/index.php?topic=9881.0;topicseen   only kidding!
 you would be surprised how much stuff is stolen at auctions. Most auctioneers don't worry about it as they are not the property owners. That don't stop a few regular auction goers from tripping a guy up then helping him up and finding stolen stuff <grin>

[swervncarz]

Many times at garage sales, I find that the sockets are Asian made, but the ratchet is an American made one.
I will buy the ratchet ONLY. Maybe I was just there before you.
I have a 4 drawer file cabinet full of Asian tools I do not want. China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea.

I find the same thing. A lot of times they are mixed in with a bunch of misc sockets. if I see some good sockets I'll make an offer on the bunch & sort them at home (a full set is a rare find though), but if it's mostly foreign crap, I just take the rats

[B17E1943]

I really don't know.

What I DO know is I find WAY more 1/2 ratchets than 3/8, and hardly any 1/4. I have a CRAPLOAD of 1/2 inchers, and I can't stop buying them when they're so cheap. I wish 1/4 inchers were that plentiful, since they're my favorites.

[Ken W.]

I went to 3 estate sales today and most of the ratchets were separated from the sockets.The ratchets were cheap compared to the sockets. So I bought them. I found a couple of ratchets in bins under the tables as well. So,if you get there after me,no ratchets.

[international3414]

because i bought them all??

[mvwcnews]

because i bought them all??

The "pull its tail to make it spin" Speedee-Ratch from Beall Tool ( http://www.datamp.org/patents/advance.php?pn=2292391&id=35234&set=2 ) is a fun one (2nd from the right in your picture).

[johnsironsanctuary]

Thanks, Stan, for the info on that one. I recognize the New Britain Craftsman at the bottom, but need more on the rest. Those are all interesting rats.

[Bill Houghton]

You've surely heard that rats desert a sinking ship; maybe the same applies to yard sales.

[international3414]

top is a model spw-50 airdraulics from new canaan,conn.,trutorq tools(i really do not understand this tool?, i did Google awhile ago,but I'm blank now)
green tape is female drive # 3202 chicago pressed flange 1/2 w/drive plug,pat 1902878
others are plumb and snapon #71 pat. 1854513

[dimwittedmoose51]

When I accumulate Asian tools(except Truecrafts), I sell them for a dollar a handful and the gimmick seems to be catching on.  Goobers try to pile as many in their fist as possible thinking they are beating me out of all that extra profit....lol, when in fact, they are saving me a trip to the scrap yard.  They're not even worth tossing in the 25 or 50 cent bins.  At least I sort them by drive size...lol

One of our predominant auction companiess has taken major steps to prevent theft and it really works.  Once and auction lot or flat is won, your bid number is placed on it and put on a long string of tables behind the auctioneers stand.  When you are ready to checkout, they bring it all up and you pay and that's that.  The gals handing out the bid #'s don't have to fool with the cash transactions and they love that.  Not sure if this works for outdoor auctions or on the trailer flats where their selling"choice of", but the inside ones it's great, and I don't have to walk around with my Falcon lure bag full of heavy metal waiting on the next lot I win.

YMMV

DM&FS