Harbor Freight selling 24k Gold Plated Rachet

HF is really moving up market.

https://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-drive-professional-ratchet-genuine-24-karat-gold-plated-56907.html

I hate myself for being tempted.

Thats a very brassy 24k

Plating is advertised as being easy to wipe down. Would it be easier to clean than regular chrome?

Old copies of Machinery's Handbook had gold edged pages for the same reason.

Here's a $2,000 ratchet from Kyoto Tool. I imagine they were gifts to the Toyota team mechanics after the Le Mans win.

I would only use it while working on a camry with gold badges

I've got a gold plated Mac ratchet. I don't know much about it but my grandfather got it in an auction crate and gave it to me. I believe it might be an anniversary edition? Works great :)

I'm tempted too. Bring some class to the garage!

24K so it's super soft.

Plated so it will wear off quickly.

Just a shiny thing for the magpies out there.

grover said:

I've got a gold plated Mac ratchet. I don't know much about it but my grandfather got it in an auction crate and gave it to me. I believe it might be an anniversary edition? Works great :)

Mac, Snap-On and other tool companies sold gold plated tools that were used for award purposes - mechanic of the year, retirement gifts, that sort of thing.

I know it probably isn't meant to be used, but I could see it in highly corrosive environments. I'd probably rather use a composite ratchet, but I wonder if there are real world situations where gold plating would be preferable. Outer Space? Underwater wrenching?

Too bad that this one is probably too soft if it's 24ct. 

10kt would probably be better really

Why am I reminded of the old saying "like putting lipstick on a pig?"

I really expected it to be an 'April 1st special', but it looks legit.

That's a nice hammer.

I deserve this after keeping so many old Euro cars alive.

One of the things I like about Harbor Freight is that I think they get the joke.

stuart in mn said:

grover said:

I've got a gold plated Mac ratchet. I don't know much about it but my grandfather got it in an auction crate and gave it to me. I believe it might be an anniversary edition? Works great :)

Mac, Snap-On and other tool companies sold gold plated tools that were used for award purposes - mechanic of the year, retirement gifts, that sort of thing.

I was thinking this seemed like it ought to be used as a trophy, possibly for LeMons.

You'd have to wear white gloves if you used the ratchet!

"Pardon me, do you have any Grey Pupon?"

At only $60 and from the Icon line, you could spend more on a ratchet and it wouldn't be gold. 

Does seem like a nice gift and does seem like HF gets the joke that tool-truck tools must be gold plated for the prices they charge 

In reply to Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) :

I like that they play along, more businesses should. 

I will totally get one just to work on clapped out old dodges at the track. 

In reply to mtn :

I totally misread that as "underwear wrenching" at first glance. 

I have a bunch of my Dad's old Chrysler gold tool award tools

If I was running an automotive club/organization, I'd be looking to see if I could get a volume discount on these... You know, like some type of motorsports magazine that runs a budget-limited performance car building 'challenge'.

When they say "easily wipes clean" do they really mean "easily wipes off"?

Does the lifetime warranty cover the gold plating?

Free advertising....... Brilliant move!

I don't know why it is a thing, but I'm glad it exists.