Low profile ratchet and socket set in 1/4" recommendations

[s45]

Hey guys, I'm looking for a low profile socket and ratchet set in 1/4. I'm in Canada and there aren't many options. I know in the States you guys have the Power Torque ratchet and socket set but I can't really find anything like that over here. There's this made in Taiwan set on Amazon.ca but I don't know the brand. I've heard there's a Snap On set as well but it's really expensive and I'm not looking to spend that much money (under $100 CAD if possible).

Do you guys have any recommendations? I've read the Koken Z-Series sockets are really good but those don't seem to be available in Canada either and also are kinda expensive. Wouldn't actually mind shelling out for a set like that but we don't have them here.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[mreisner]

Astro Nano sockets and ratchet. Jersey discount Tool company has them and he does ship to Canada but not for free like here. I have the half 3/8 and now the quarter set from them and I'm very happy with them.

 

[Fedwrench]

Do you have Vim Tools in Canada? the have a 1/4 drive dual drive socket set that has an 11 mm hex base that allows you to a ratcheting wrench for a much lower profile.

DDM400 - VIM Tools

DUAL DRIVE Metric Shallow Chrome Sockets Set, 1/4" dr. 9pc.

vimtools.com

FRW11 - VIM Tools

11 X 11MM DD FLEX RATCHETING WRENCH

vimtools.com

Astro tools impact version:

13-Piece 1/4" Drive Low Profile Nano Impact Sockets - Metric | Astro Pneumatic Tools

• At less than 3/4” long (18.5mm), sockets are 20% shorter than shallow impact sockets • All sockets feature a 11mm outside hex for increased access when us ...

www.astrotools.com

 

[mreisner]

I just looked and Amazon.ca does have them also

 

[s45]

Astro Nano sockets and ratchet. Jersey discount Tool company has them and he does ship to Canada but not for free like here. I have the half 3/8 and now the quarter set from them and I'm very happy with them.

They look ok but seem bulkier than the chrome Power Torque set. I need like the smallest most low profile tools I can get. Access is a big thing for me. Do they have a solid ratchet option? I'm not a fan of flex head ratchets. Seems like you can use any 11 mm ratcheting wrench but the sockets will not clip in place.

Do you have Vim Tools in Canada? the have a 1/4 drive dual drive socket set that has an 11 mm hex base that allows you to a ratcheting wrench for a much lower profile.

DDM400 - VIM Tools

DUAL DRIVE Metric Shallow Chrome Sockets Set, 1/4" dr. 9pc.

vimtools.com

FRW11 - VIM Tools

11 X 11MM DD FLEX RATCHETING WRENCH

vimtools.com

Astro tools impact version:

13-Piece 1/4" Drive Low Profile Nano Impact Sockets - Metric | Astro Pneumatic Tools

• At less than 3/4” long (18.5mm), sockets are 20% shorter than shallow impact sockets • All sockets feature a 11mm outside hex for increased access when us ...

www.astrotools.com

I don't think we do. They ship to Canada but I imagine that would be expensive, also I don't like that ratchet handle.

 

[s45]

Astro Nano sockets and ratchet. Jersey discount Tool company has them and he does ship to Canada but not for free like here. I have the half 3/8 and now the quarter set from them and I'm very happy with them.

So I watched a couple of videos on them and they seem pretty good actually. Checked Amazon.ca and they are sold out but I placed an order anyways. Hopefully they will be back in stock soon and I don't have to wait too long to get them. Thanks for your help.

 

[Steel_Rain]

So I watched a couple of videos on them and they seem pretty good actually. Checked Amazon.ca and they are sold out but I placed an order anyways. Hopefully they will be back in stock soon and I don't have to wait too long to get them. Thanks for your help.

You won't regret that purchase. I'm happy with my 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" nano sockets sets from Astro along with the nano socket ratchets. I'm waiting for Astro to release the 22mm nano Socket ratchet for the 1/2" drive stuff later this year.

 

[mreisner]

So I watched a couple of videos on them and they seem pretty good actually. Checked Amazon.ca and they are sold out but I placed an order anyways. Hopefully they will be back in stock soon and I don't have to wait too long to get them. Thanks for your help.

I have been very happy with all the ones I have also. The ratchet is nice too other than it does not reverse, but VIM has one that does. Even though they do not lock the Astro wrench has a nice firm flex head. I have had the larger size sockets for a year and a half and am pleased with how well they hold up and grip fasteners. I have everything in my box from Harbor Freight to Mac to Koken to Snap on and Wright and would rank the Astros right up near the top.

 

[mreisner]

Vim Tools FRW11 Dual Drive 11mm Reversible Flex Ratchet plus 12 Point Box End Wrench

Vim Tools FRW11 11 X 11MM DD FLEX RATCHETING WRENCH Designed for use with Vim Tools Dual Drive Sockets. Socket retention clip on each end to lock socket in place Vim Tools FRW11 11mm indexing flex head ratcheting wrench plus fixed box end wrench both include retention clip.

crawfordtool.com

 

[Steel_Rain]

Vim Tools FRW11 Dual Drive 11mm Reversible Flex Ratchet plus 12 Point Box End Wrench

Vim Tools FRW11 11 X 11MM DD FLEX RATCHETING WRENCH Designed for use with Vim Tools Dual Drive Sockets. Socket retention clip on each end to lock socket in place Vim Tools FRW11 11mm indexing flex head ratcheting wrench plus fixed box end wrench both include retention clip.

crawfordtool.com

Nice find with the VIM, didn't know that existed.

Agreed on the strength the Astro nano socket ratchets offer. I know they don't reverse in place, but that hasn't been a problem for my applications.

 

[mikey03]

Prob 2x to 3x your budget but this snap on one is on my wish list 112RTSMA

14 and 15 mm sold separately

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

honestly I’d prob just buy the ratchet and 8 10 12 13 14 and since snap on doesn’t offer package discounts it not really more expensive to just buy separately

$21 per socket and $63 for the ratchet So around $170 if you just buy the ones I mention which isn’t too bad tbh

 

[s45]

You won't regret that purchase. I'm happy with my 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" nano sockets sets from Astro along with the nano socket ratchets. I'm waiting for Astro to release the 22mm nano Socket ratchet for the 1/2" drive stuff later this year.

Yah I saw a couple of videos on them and I was impressed, they seem pretty versatile. I hope I don't have to wait forever to get them though. If I like the 1/4" set I'll probably buy the sets in 3/8" and 1/2" as well.

I have been very happy with all the ones I have also. The ratchet is nice too other than it does not reverse, but VIM has one that does. Even though they do not lock the Astro wrench has a nice firm flex head. I have had the larger size sockets for a year and a half and am pleased with how well they hold up and grip fasteners. I have everything in my box from Harbor Freight to Mac to Koken to Snap on and Wright and would rank the Astros right up near the top.

Awesome. they don't seem to have the Astro #78345 wrench for these on Amazon but I rather stay away from non locking flex head wrenches anyways. Actually I don't even know if I would like a locking flex head wrench because I've never used one but flex heads piss me off. I understand it makes the tool more useful and quality varies but I don't like that they inevitably start flopping around. I'm going to try and find an 11mm locking flex head ratcheting wrench for these sockets and make that anvil tool to hold them in place.

Prob 2x to 3x your budget but this snap on one is on my wish list 112RTSMA

14 and 15 mm sold separately

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

honestly I’d prob just buy the ratchet and 8 10 12 13 14 and since snap on doesn’t offer package discounts it not really more expensive to just buy separately

$21 per socket and $63 for the ratchet So around $170 if you just buy the ones I mention which isn’t too bad tbh

It's a nice set but way too expensive. This USAG U06100001 - 610 seems similar and is way cheaper. Only thing I don't like about this set is that the wrench is pretty short. The SO wrench seems pretty short too.

 

[Boogerman]

Prob 2x to 3x your budget but this snap on one is on my wish list 112RTSMA

14 and 15 mm sold separately

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

honestly I’d prob just buy the ratchet and 8 10 12 13 14 and since snap on doesn’t offer package discounts it not really more expensive to just buy separately

$21 per socket and $63 for the ratchet So around $170 if you just buy the ones I mention which isn’t too bad tbh

I have both the 1/4 and 3/8 drive sets from SO, and I have not found them to be very useful, regardless of how much cool factor they have. Now that reversible ratcheting wrenches have such thin clearance heads, these are much less useful.

Unless you have a specific need for the low profile, I wouldn't recommend purchasing it, in any brand. Like most specialty, critical task tools though, I would recommend the Snap-on if you do need it, because if it is the only thing that will work, you want to make sure it reliably will if you need it.

I bet I've used my two sets a total of maybe 5 times. That's not much use for a $500 investment. There's a lot of times I'd gladly pay $10 or $20 to remove a fastener, there's not that many times that I'd be glad to spend $100.

 

[bonneyman]

Do you have Vim Tools in Canada? the have a 1/4 drive dual drive socket set that has an 11 mm hex base that allows you to a ratcheting wrench for a much lower profile.

The shallow socket in a ratcheting box wrench with adapter is the narrowest combo I have.