Is a flex head ratchet useful?

[PoorOwner]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944835000P?vName=Tools&keyword=flex+ratchet

 

[bmwpower]

Heck yea! I have that one. It will get to places where others won't. And it's long enough to give you enough leverage once you get it into place. Everyone should have one like this.

 

[84TurboBuick]

I'd be lost sometimes without it. A must have if you ask me.

 

[bmwpower]

It really shines when you crank it back on itself and use it in a tight space. This allows you to ratchet it back and forth with minimal movement, like say on an exhaust manifold.

I have the stubby flex as well.

Get both.

 

[shopforeman]

I have often wondered if these were really useful or not. I have looked at flex ratchets before but I had not noticed the offset style prior to this post. It does look like it would be handy for exhaust manifolds. One of these is going on my wish list! Thanks for enlightening me.

 

[Deafautotech]

hell YES. i hat to use flex head ratchet almost all time ( i used snap on FLF80 which it had 80 teeth and only4.5 degree swing). sometime you would like long handle ratchet so you dont wear out the flex head ratchet really quick...

 

[eschoendorff]

hell YES. i hat to use flex head ratchet almost all time ( i used snap on FLF80 which it had 80 teeth and only4.5 degree swing). sometime you would like long handle ratchet so you dont wear out the flex head ratchet really quick...

Same here. I have that exact Craftsman ratchet and it is wonderful. Not crappy like their standard ratchets.

 

[Jononon]

Yes, definitely. I have a Facom J153A (3/8", flexible, palm control, no offset,) that gets used constantly, which was about $90.

If the quality of that one is decent, it's a bargain.

 

[wilbilt]

I have that ratchet without the offset flex. It is very useful.
I got tired of taking it back due to the pivot pin falling out, so I made some modifications.

No more problems.

 

[george4]

hell YES. i hat to use flex head ratchet almost all time ( i used snap on FLF80 which it had 80 teeth and only4.5 degree swing). sometime you would like long handle ratchet so you dont wear out the flex head ratchet really quick...

One of your posts a few months ago regarding that ratchet convinced me to get one, you were correct.

 

[Deafautotech]

One of your posts a few months ago regarding that ratchet convinced me to get one, you were correct.

thanks. my snap on got it before snap on starting to show on internet about it. my snap on got four FLF80 in big case of display about FLF80 and he show me one then i did tried to test it and it got impression so i bought it... he was sell it for 99.99 dollars but he discount for me to 95.99 dollars. oh well i am always need a little swings. so i got it and loved it.

 

[PoorOwner]

Does this ratchet ever go on sale at sears??


Sears seems to have 2 lines of ratchets, the flat handles one are crappy and the polished with round handle have fine teeth and is much better.

 

[SteveU]

I have the SK version of that ratchet, it is real smooth & is my favorite 3/8" ratchet.

 

[kythri]

Have the ratchet, love it.

As to the guys that aren't liking the raised-panel ratchets: You're aware that the raised panels and the full-polish (NOT THE THIN PROFILES OR FINE TOOTH) have the same guts, right?

Same mechanisms, same number of teeth, all that...

I can understand not liking the handle, but if the full-polish is a good ratchet, then the raised-panel counterpart can't exactly be a piece of garbage...

 

[kythri]

BTW: If you're looking for it cheaper than Sears, check out this guy's eBay auctions:

http://myworld.ebay.com/crabshooter/

If he doesn't have it listed, message him through eBay and see if he'll list it, or just sell it outright. I've bought a handful of ratchets from him, and they're all good stuff. One was a refurb (and listed as such), but, who cares? It looked brand new, and a refurb has the same warranty as a brand new one.

 

[Danglerb]

The Craftsman look like either 36 or 41 tooth, whats the cheapest good one with more like 80 teeth?

 

[kythri]

The so-called "fine tooth" round-headed Craftsman ratchets are 41 or 45 tooth, depending on the model.

There's also a round-headed non-raised panel ratchet that bears the Craftsman name, sold on the cheap, which is a 45 tooth job (the "new" style tri-wing).

The standard raised-panel and full-polish stuff is 36 tooth.

The newest Craftsman ratchets, the thin-profile "next generation" jobs are 60 tooth.

I think that's pretty much it, in the Craftsman line.