Snap-on Ratchet Owners Question

[hguerrero]

Interested in the ratchets with the "soft rubber" grip/handle from Snap-on.
However, after reading several posts on here, I find many of you dislike the rubber grip.
Can someone shed some light on as to why these handles are not popular/liked?
Do they not last? Does SO not warranty these?
I don't wrench for a living, only as a hobby.
Before I spend my money on these ratchets I'd like to know what you think.

 

[Kirbot]

I don't have any from Snap on, but I do from other brands.

They are very comfortable, and great in cold weather, but they are much more difficult to clean.

 

[gluckmysock]

i have 2 3/8" ratchets with the "comfort" handle. They are comfortable. Fit your hand much better, but i have already had the handle "slip" off my fh80 ratchet. My snap on guy has agreed to replace the handle. They dont slip as easy when your hands are greasy, but seem to nick real easy, much easier than my f836 . I am ok with them but dont plan to buy any more. I will get just the regular handles, unless I get a super deal on the comfort grips, which BTW are more expensive.

 

[freeskier]

are the hard handled ratchets from snappy a good alternative?

 

[DanCo]

It's a matter of personal preference, I have 3 Snappy rats with the soft grips, a bunch of screwdrivers/picks. Used them while working on HD diesel trucks, they do require a cleaner of some sort. If I get back into working at a shop, I will consider some handles to add to my ratchet collection.

 

[rsanter]

I am old school and prefer the crome handles, but I have 2 ratchets and a breaker bar with the new soft grip and have taken a liking to them.
I never liked the old hard handles personally

bob

 

[jjjrmx5]

They are very comfortable, and great in cold weather, but they are much more difficult to clean.

Agreed 100% .

Cleaning them off often requires windex/simple green all the way up to adhesive remover.

If you wear mechanix gloves or eq, then std. chrome handles are quite adequate.

If you work on vehicles where you do not have a lift or are in cramped quarters in an engine bay, the soft grip handles can be marred or gouged due to thier soft plastic ends and grip if they hit or rub a sharp metal edge or grind against a concrete surface. The handles are replaceable, but not warrantied for wear and tear for many.

And for the ****-rententive types, i took 220 grit to the nub end of one of my 3/8's I lent out and got back concrete ground, and while suitable for me, it's not daisy fresh and new nor really fixable. Concrete:1, Comfort Grip: 0.

 

[Roots]

I'm another fan of the soft-grip Snap On's and Matco's.

Yes, you have to either be careful or spend extra effort to keep them pristine clean. However they're, incredibly comfortable, if they fit your hands well.

If you're wrenching for a hobby and looking at spending that sort of coin, I would certainly go for them.

 

[Dallus]

i have a FHL80 with the grip and I am liking it so far. The handle is beat to hell and cut up, but it doesn't bother me. It does need a little more persuasion when cleaning up, but I do it every two weeks or so with my trusty 3M brake cleaner.

The dual 80 is the best ratchet I've used, but that's not saying a whole lot. lol

And I think you can get different color handles. I may be wrong on that though, but I want green ones!!!

 

[treasureseeker]

On the 3/8 drive Snap on the chrome handle ones are too small for my hands which take a medium to large glove and they also feel slippery. I like the size of the 1/2 drive Snap on chrome handle ratchets but prefer the non slip of the comfort handle. I am not working as a mechanic currently but if I get back in it will be something in prototypes where you don’t get very dirty. The cleanup of the comfort handle would not be a problem there. I prefer the two component comfort handles on the German ratchets like Hazet. I find them comfortable and easy to clean up but not as smooth as a dual 80. I find the hard handles not very ergonomic but pleasing to the eye.

 

[mrholeshot]

I like the hard handle ratchets and the chrome but when Snap-On came out with the comfort grip and did away with the hard handle I went back to chrome. In certain chemicals the grips get sticky, won;t clean up easy and get nicked easy. The grips just arn't very durable.

 

[J.A.F.E.]

I like the chrome handles best. The old screwdriver handles next best and the current dual compound ones least. The dual compound looks great when new and clean but they are hard to keep clean and they cut up quite easily from nicks and scrapes.

 

[jaysonb]

For the average guy they will last along time They feel nice to use, they are alittle longer than the Chrome ones, and when the handle gets too beat up they are only like 5 or 6 bucks for new ones. I have 7 or 8, I like them.

 

[csargents1546]

I prefer the hard handles over the comfort grip, same as stated above, hard to keep clean, and too easily damaged.

 

[billymade]

I primarily have chrome handles; then I got a comfort grip FHLF936 (long 3/8" ratchet with a swivel head), I didn't know it if I would like it because of all the negative comments about them. I have grown to like it; the downside it that the rubber can get chewed up, my brother was tightening something near the pulleys on a running engine and cut into the grip... what do you expect, its rubber! I like them but do know that if it is your primary "go to" ratchet; you will probably be replacing the grips, down the road at some point and yeah, they are harder to clean as well. I guess there is a a "price to pay" for a comfy rubbery style grip; nothing lasts forever and these by their nature, are not as durable.
The Snap-On Instinct screwdriver are a similar story for me; everyone here seemed to hate them, I got a set and really like them... give them a shot and if you don't like them... someone will buy them from you!
Moral of the story: take everyone's opinion here with a grain of salt... try things for yourself; who knows... you may end of liking them!

This is the current model of the ratchet that I am referring to; it seems I use this ratchet for most of my wrenching...

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=21365&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

I think that the rubber grips really **** the big one, one of the issues I've had is that the rubber gets soft and falls apart around some of the solvents and fuel additives that we use. I'll stick with the old hard handles FWIW.

 

[outlander800]

Hey guys, I have a bunch of soft grip ratchets and instinct screwdrivers. I also have the older generation soft grip screwdrivers, and I use a product made by castle its a penetrating oil called Thrust to clean my soft grips. I take a rag and soak it down with the thrust and clean the grips, they come out looking perfect and it doesnt leave a thick oily film either. It will clean grease and dirt off no problem. Give it a try, it really works.

 

[Underdog]

For the average guy they will last along time They feel nice to use, they are alittle longer than the Chrome ones, and when the handle gets too beat up they are only like 5 or 6 bucks for new ones. I have 7 or 8, I like them.

+2...

 

[Fedwrench]

I love soft grip ratchet handles. No, they're not steel so, they nick easily, don't make great hammers, and are dirt magnets. To ease some of the complaints, all Snap on would have to do is retain the current comfort grip shape but, make it out of screwdriver handle material with a little graining to reduce it being slippery when coated in coolant or ATF. A simple fix to a lot of bitching. My ratchets get weekly baths in the cuda to clean them up after a dirty job.

 

[hammergodthor]

I like the soft grips well enough, I don't wear gloves much and the soft grip is easier to grip than highly polished chrome. I use GoJo wipes, and it cleans the soft grips decently enough.

 

[Aklass]

It's a tool its expected to get dirty, I do prefer clean tools though. For crawling under trucks, I use a duralast so I don't care too much if it gets scratched up by cement lol.

 

[str8axle55]

I have them all, I like the hard handles best. I have a 20 yr old one I use daily, my go to ratchet. I just got a dual 80 w/soft grip, it`s OK, would rather have a hard handle. The chrome is good in 1/2, but pretty small in 3/8. You could always swap the soft grip for the hard handle.

 

[shampoop]

love my soft grips! Other than 1/4" i would never buy a hard handle.

 

[tdls87]

I have them all, I like the hard handles best. I have a 20 yr old one I use daily, my go to ratchet. I just got a dual 80 w/soft grip, it`s OK, would rather have a hard handle. The chrome is good in 1/2, but pretty small in 3/8. You could always swap the soft grip for the hard handle.

How do get the soft grips off?? How about the hard handles?

 

[bursty]

i love mine

 

[canuckian]

i have the new comfort grips, old hard handles and chrome handles. If I'm going to be working around anything really dirty or greasy, I take the chrome handle or one of my older hard handled ratchets. If i'm working on something relatively clean I'll use whichever one I grab first that'll do the job.

The comfort handles do feel nice in the hand but as others have said, they're dirt and oil magnets and have to be cleaned regularly with some sort of cleaner or another which is why I don't use them on those types of jobs unless I have to. I had one that the handle got pretty cut up and sort of gummy and when I showed it to my truck guy, he handed me a new handle. I was willing to pay the minimal cost of the handle but I guess he just decided to warranty it.

 

[LawnDart79]

Personally, I prefer Snap-On's chrome handled ratchets, which is what all of my ratchets are.

However, I do have a huge Mac pry bar that has a soft grip handle and I hate it. The handle is like a sponge and soaks up all sorts of grease and chemicals. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't have purchased the tool with a soft grip handle.

Bottom line: it's all a matter of personal preference. Some guys like soft grips, some hate them.

 

[dirtrider]

I personally can't stand soft grips or hard screwdriver style grip ratchets. For all the reasons mentioned above soft grips are not economical long term and require extra care to keep up. And to me they don't provide a "feel" when using the ratchet that I like. When I buy hard hand tools I see it as an investment that should last many generations and that's also why I try to buy quality tools like Snapon, having to warranty tools is not high on my list and this is part of the reason I don't like soft grips or cheap tools.

 

[hguerrero]

thanks guys. opinions seem to be split right down the middle on this issue....
i have a few chrome handle SO ratchets, i'll have to give the soft handle ratchets a spin...

 

[scott37300]

thanks guys. opinions seem to be split right down the middle on this issue....
i have a few chrome handle SO ratchets, i'll have to give the soft handle ratchets a spin...

I asked this question about the soft comfort handles vs. hard handles on SO screwdrivers and it was the same story. It's a personal prefference. I got a couple soft grips but haven't had much time to use them but they feel pretty nice. I think I will use them for interior work like trim and what not and use my older screwdrivers for under car and engine work, or eventually upgrade to some hard handles.

I don't have any hard or soft handle ratchets but was thinking about getting a 1/4" soft grip for interior work.

 

[otis66]

I am old school and prefer the crome handles, but I have 2 ratchets and a breaker bar with the new soft grip and have taken a liking to them.
I never liked the old hard handles personally

bob

I like the chrome handles better too but the soft grips are nice to have on a cold winters day. I own both but pefer the chrome handles.

 

[mrholeshot]

The soft handle Snap-On ratchets are a true case of Snap-On blowing it out of their ***.

 

[chewy7]

The soft handle Snap-On ratchets are a true case of Snap-On blowing it out of their ***.

 

[Biomed]

I'd like to take the original posters question a bit further:

1. If you get comfort grip ratchets and find you do not like the grip can you just remove the grip? What's underneath - is it chrome or some kind of goofy adhesive?

2. I know SO sells replacement grips. If you really like comfort grips could they be added to standard chrome ratchets? In other words, will the comfort grips physically fit over standard SO chrome ratchets?

 

[DavidTK]

I like the soft grips. They do get dirty, but I just spray a little brake cleaner, wipe it down, and it's good to go. The only thing is you have to watch out not to gouge or nick the rubber. I haven't had any problems with it though.

 

[Diesel-Mech]

I'd like to take the original posters question a bit further:

1. If you get comfort grip ratchets and find you do not like the grip can you just remove the grip? What's underneath - is it chrome or some kind of goofy adhesive?

2. I know SO sells replacement grips. If you really like comfort grips could they be added to standard chrome ratchets? In other words, will the comfort grips physically fit over standard SO chrome ratchets?

If you remove the handle you will find a smaller diameter chromed shaft with several small protrusions that grip the comfort handle, this shaft is not suitable for use with out a handle on it. If you don't like the comfort handle you can replace it with one of the older hard handles.

You can not add a comfort handle to a regular ratchet with out doing some machine work.