ratchets

[bayoutoolguy]

i need a little help in deciding which ratchets to buy. im looking for a good 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 drive ratchet. i have a few. i have a snap on dual 80 quick release comfort handle 3/8 i bought a few months ago. great ratchet, smooth too. im sorta picky when it comes to buying ratchets, ive given away many ratchets cause i thought they were broken when they probably werent. i can never find one that is as smooth in reverse as it is in forward gear, and vice versa. this would probably just apply to 36 tooth ratchets, as all the fine tooth ratchets i have are smooth. i also have a duralast 3/8, like the one everyone loves, pretty rought ratcheting but its help up good. so not to go on and on, what would be my best choices out of snap on, duralast, stanley, and the new Kobalt 72 tooth ratchets, for a good, all around everyday use ratchet? id also like to get a mac and a matco if i can ever find a truck. so whats a good ratchet at a good price that can take a good bit of abuse(i always try to use the right tool for the job whenever possible though). thanks for any info

 

[guitardedhero]

Maybe subpar for what you are looking for but the 3 pc. craftsman thin profile polished ratchet set is on sale online for $84.99 and then you can add the $5 coupon code SEARS2011 I have these ratchets and am super pleased with them. They are 60 tooth.

 

[ibedayank]

i need a little help in deciding which ratchets to buy. im looking for a good 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 drive ratchet. i have a few. i have a snap on dual 80 quick release comfort handle 3/8 i bought a few months ago. great ratchet, smooth too. im sorta picky when it comes to buying ratchets, ive given away many ratchets cause i thought they were broken when they probably werent. i can never find one that is as smooth in reverse as it is in forward gear, and vice versa. this would probably just apply to 36 tooth ratchets, as all the fine tooth ratchets i have are smooth. i also have a duralast 3/8, like the one everyone loves, pretty rought ratcheting but its help up good. so not to go on and on, what would be my best choices out of snap on, duralast, stanley, and the new Kobalt 72 tooth ratchets, for a good, all around everyday use ratchet? id also like to get a mac and a matco if i can ever find a truck. so whats a good ratchet at a good price that can take a good bit of abuse(i always try to use the right tool for the job whenever possible though). thanks for any info

how deep is your wallet?

so many designs now available gonna have to help us out here...

 

[bayoutoolguy]

id like to spend no more than 300 bucks, mostly looking for a good 3/8 drive and 1/2 drive. any old 1/4 will work fine for me so thats no worry. most of my sockets and everything else is craftsman, i love them use them alot. but i cant stand to use a sloppy ratchet. willing to spend a little extra to get a good quality ratchet that will last

 

[Bikes&Bowties]

Matco. You can't go wrong

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

Matco

Gearwrench
Armstrong Maxx ratchets

 

[bayoutoolguy]

matco prices dont seem too bad. are they only avaialble online? ive never seen a truck in my area. and are they pretty durable, like can you put alot of force on them? like i said above, i always use the right tool for the job, but i like to know my tools can take the abuse if need be. are macs any good?

 

[Ritter4.0]

If you haven't already, clip about one coil off the spring for the ball detent in the Duralast. It becomes sooo much smoother. Or you can steal a "lighter" spring out of a clicky pen. Brand new, Duralast ratchets are too stiff for anything remotely finger tight.

I want to try out a Matco 88 1/4" locking flex though. I just need to get over the price.

 

[ibedayank]

you want flex...offset flex....extendable extra long....short soft handle ...hard handle


ease of warranty or having to send it in?
USA or import
satin finish or SUPER shiny crhrome if soft handle what color is the handle to be????
come on dude help us out here.....
saying you want a ratchet ....is like saying you want to buy JUST a house...gonna have to get spaciffic here for us to help you. what stores are near you if you want walk in warranty

 

[ibedayank]

If you haven't already, clip about one coil off the spring for the ball detent in the Duralast. It becomes sooo much smoother. Or you can steal a "lighter" spring out of a clicky pen. Brand new, Duralast ratchets are too stiff for anything remotely finger tight.

I want to try out a Matco 88 1/4" locking flex though. I just need to get over the price.

that works for craftsman raised panel ratchets to..aka the cheap ones

 

[Danglerb]

Harbor Freight composites and swivels.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

get some more dual80's. unless you want a locking flex head, then buy matco.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

Snap-on long handle flex head.

 

[yio110]

Matco are great and recently at work inside the wheel well of a plane i found a 1/4 SK ratchet and its GREATT BETTER THEN ANT SNAP ON I HAVE. I HAVE LIKE 7 1/4 INCH ratchets and this is the best

 

[bayoutoolguy]

id like to get a hard handle flex head, and a hard handle fixed head. id rather a us built one, handle color doesnt matter to me. closest stores to me are sears, lowes and home depot. to make it simple i just want a tough quality ratchet. sorry, this is my first post on here. but yeah if i can find a nice flex head, long handle hard grip 3/8 drive, thats what im looking for. and also a 1/2 drive. i know dual 80s are fine tooth, they can take alot of force with the dual pawls, right?

 

[Singlecut]

Ratchets are like guitars to me. You start off with a crappy one and as you
get better in your skill you want an upgrade in quality. Now some guys will
drag their first throughout their entire career, some guys need a handful,
some guys want a whole room full. For me, and with my ratchets, I
bought a really good quality set... some Snap On and some
Williams ratchets. And they are perfect. They can do
everything. But I just have a plain ole' affinity for ratchets... I
always seem to window shop on eBay for more and more. I tend to binge
on a certain "flavor" of ratchets for a while. Sometimes I'll get an itch for
RHFT's, like Sk's, sometimes I jones for some pear head Snappy goodies,
but all in all the craving goes away after a week or two. Then I go back to
using my old trusty ratchets. I love how worn in they are, I love
how my hands have learned their shape and I love the
sentimental memories that grow with them as I go on.


So anyway, sorry for the long post and all, what I'm basically saying is wait
it out for a bit more. What I've found is that you really only need a plain-
jane 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 ratchet with some extensions and wobbles. Flex
heads, indexible heads, bent handles, swivel rotator ratchet... those are all
for those special occasions. I used to be all about 'needing' that special
ratchets so you can cram your hand and socket in that tight spot. But
then I've watched some guys, and what I've noticed is that most people
just use 10-15" long extensions. Give yourself that distance, keep your
back upright, & let that extension reach into the crammed space - not your
hand.

And then you have to be honest with yourself.. Am I always reaching
behind obstacles and finding fasteners in bizaare places? Can I get at it
with a gearwrench or extension ? If you are a tech (especially German cars
), or if you really do, then YES, indulge, get yourself something
you will use. If not, then save it for a rainy day.


-Jon

 

[ibedayank]

i find i always reach for my long handled flex ratchets first..... unless i don't have the space to swing them...and hell i have 1 benchtop 3/8s flex and a craftsman long 1/2 RP flex
the benchtop is over 15 years old...still works like new

 

[JSBriggs]

Wright 3430 the coolest little 3/8" on the planet.

-Jeff

 

[bayoutoolguy]

yeah thats how i am. when i first started working on diesel trucks 5 years ago , i just used craftsman ratchets, until i realized they had alot better tools in terms of quality, even if i had to pay alot more. i hate my cman ratchets, i gave away every one of them. ill be visiting the snap on dealer this week. is it possible i can trade in my FHR80 3/8 drive for credit on a new one? i bought it new in june, but i just rather a hard handle. im also going to try to buy some matco and macs on ebay. is it safe to buy on ebay, like when they say they are selling a new ratchet, is it really brand new? im the same way im always looking on ebay for ratchets lol,but never bought one

 

[shanker]

I was just looking at the ratchet drawer in my toolbox today and realized I had too many.....but I dont have any I want to part with

 

[bayoutoolguy]

shanker, i know exactly what you mean lol

 

[back2class]

My favorite 1/4 ratchet of all time is the classic SK. Don't care much for the same model in 3/8 thiugh and plain don't like it in 1/2. I've had maybe 50 different 1/4 ratchets come through my box and this model is a clear winner. The old Craftsman RHFT and New Craftsman thin profile are also very nice. I;ve had plenty of Snap-On Mac, Matco and Cornwell ones. None were anything special....the treee mentioned were tops to me and suprisingly two are Craftsman.
My favorite 3/8 ratchets are this model SK. Followed by this Williams unit picutured below. Favorite flex head is the locking dual 80.

For 1/2 I have not found any one is better than another...be it Proto, Snap-on or plain old Stanley.

I buy and sell many tools. I have owned about 20 or more snap-on ratchets and the only one that impresed me was the locking flex head. I kept the ones I liked best and it just so happens that none except the snap-on are expensive. I have others in the box..some nice ones from Mac and cornwell and some cheap Stanleys, but the ones mentioned are top quaity and I would take any day over any other ratchet.....as I have owed them all.







http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72319

 

[SMKS]

To the OP -
Does the ratchet have to be available locally? If so, you'll have far fewer choices and often the best bargains are online (unless you have good swap meets/pawn shops in your area).


I like the SKs that some others mentioned. I also buy and sell a lot of tools, so I've owned most of the US brands.

I would say one of the best bargains has got to be the dual-pawl Wright ratchets.

Harry Epstein has 3490s on closeout for $25 + shipping. I have this ratchet and it is very, very nice. It's a good length and has around 80 clicks per revolution.

As far as flex heads, you can't beat the HF round-head ratchets. I like this design better than the traditional flex heads. I think this design is easier to use. It's made in Taiwan, not China, and you should be able to get it locally (assuming you have HF in your area).

 

[bayoutoolguy]

no it doesnt have to be avaialble locally. i have a snap on truck in my area, just trying to find a matco and mac truck now. ill look into those SK and Wright ratchets, ill probably have to order online

 

[back2class]

As far as flex heads, you can't beat the HF round-head ratchets. I like this design better than the traditional flex heads. I think this design is easier to use. It's made in Taiwan, not China, and you should be able to get it locally (assuming you have HF in your area).

I have that, and while the head is very well made (yes, as nice as $75 ratchets) The handle is ****. First time I used I had the handle straight and was using it like a screwdriver to tighten a bolt. The plastic handle started spinning loose from the shaft. Very poor design there and no real meat to hold it to the plastic handle.

 

[SMKS]

I have that, and while the head is very well made (yes, as nice as $75 ratchets) The handle is ****. First time I used I had the handle straight and was using it like a screwdriver to tighten a bolt. The plastic handle started spinning loose from the shaft. Very poor design there and no real meat to hold it to the plastic handle.

Hmmm....I haven't had that problem.

 

[pdxgearhead]

My favorite 3/8" ratchet is the SK Tuff1. 72 teeth, 5 degree arc, tough as nails. In fact, if my memory serves me, they were the only company that had 72tooth ratchets in 3/8" and 1/2" in the mid-late 90's when I bought mine. But I could be wrong.

 

[SMKS]

My favorite 3/8" ratchet is the SK Tuff1. 72 teeth, 5 degree arc, tough as nails. In fact, if my memory serves me, they were the only company that had 72tooth ratchets in 3/8" and 1/2" in the mid-late 90's when I bought mine. But I could be wrong.

The new SK isn't offering these any more and have told members here that they won't be offering rebuild kits after the old stock runs out.

 

[bayoutoolguy]

looks like ill have a hard time deciding, with all the good ratchets mentioned. so is the best place to look on ebay? so snap on, matco, mac, SK, and those proto red handle ratchets are all ones to keep an eye out for?

 

[woody 73]

All good ratchets (see above) but if you want a great ratchet try Cornwell.

 

[AL`]

My favorite 3/8" ratchet is the SK Tuff1. 72 teeth, 5 degree arc, tough as nails. In fact, if my memory serves me, they were the only company that had 72tooth ratchets in 3/8" and 1/2" in the mid-late 90's when I bought mine. But I could be wrong.

I believe the JH Williams B-52 Roundhead Ratchets are 3/8" drive, double pawl, 72 tooth. The S-52 is 1/2" drive and the same otherwise. I have an old S-52 and while I'm not sure it's a 72 tooth, it turns very smoothly and takes little movement to make a click.

JH Williams B-52 Round Head Ratchet

JH Williams S-52 Round Head Ratchet (scroll down a little to find it).

 

[RangerDaleXp]

Harbor Freight composites and swivels.

Every time I go there, I look at those composite ratchets and keep talking myself out of them. How good are they? I think of them being a piece of plastic and that they will break in my hand because of them being composite...

 

[bayoutoolguy]

ive heard cornwells are great ratchets, but cant find a truck in my area. whats the best way to buy them, directly from cornwell online?

 

[back2class]

Hmmm....I haven't had that problem.

Check this thread then. I posted pics of this POOR design. Too bad, great ratchet otherwise....stick a Snap-On label on it and people would be paying $100 and think it's the cats PJ's.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109224&showall=1

 

[WR250F]

Every time I go there, I look at those composite ratchets and keep talking myself out of them. How good are they? I think of them being a piece of plastic and that they will break in my hand because of them being composite...

I thought the exact same thing, until I used one a friend of mine has.

They aren't a 200lb/ft rated ratchet, but I don't do any 200 lb/ft stuff with a 1/2" ratchet

For everything else I've used the 1/2 and 3/8 version on, I have to say I like them a lot. Great feel, nearly indestructible and the ratchet is incredibly smooth

 

[RangerDaleXp]

I thought the exact same thing, until I used one a friend of mine has.

They aren't a 200lb/ft rated ratchet, but I don't do any 200 lb/ft stuff with a 1/2" ratchet

For everything else I've used the 1/2 and 3/8 version on, I have to say I like them a lot. Great feel, nearly indestructible and the ratchet is incredibly smooth

They on sale now, and I will be there tomorrow or wednesday and may pick up the 1/4 or 3/8 version. Not sure if I should get the 1/2 version as well.....

 

[bayoutoolguy]

ill have to look into those HF ratchets. well good and bad news. i got in touch with a matco dealer who will meet me tomorrow, no problems, no questions asked. so i can look at the 88 tooth ratchets, . tried to locate a mac truck, but when asked if i own a business and i said i do independent work...sorry sir, we cant help you. damn. oh well but anyway thnaks for all the great advice you guys really know yall stuff

 

[RangerDaleXp]

ill have to look into those HF ratchets. well good and bad news. i got in touch with a matco dealer who will meet me tomorrow, no problems, no questions asked. so i can look at the 88 tooth ratchets, . tried to locate a mac truck, but when asked if i own a business and i said i do independent work...sorry sir, we cant help you. damn. oh well but anyway thnaks for all the great advice you guys really know yall stuff

Back in the 80s and early 90s when I was more in the business. I used to buy all the time from the trucks. When you get out of it, it is almost like losing the warranty as well. You have bought all these SO and Matco tools in the past and when one fails, you need to chase a truck down and hope he will help you out. This has happened a few times with me since getting out of the business full time. I hope it goes better for you tomorrow then it has for me a few times already

 

[bayoutoolguy]

thanks man, yeah hopefully it goes good cause the snap on dealer i deal with is great, i hope the matco guy is the same. just got promoted today at work to do all the warranty work on all the Stihl equipment (large hardware store) so i know i wont need any extremely tough tools, but even then i still want to have some nice quality tools.

 

[WR250F]

They on sale now, and I will be there tomorrow or wednesday and may pick up the 1/4 or 3/8 version. Not sure if I should get the 1/2 version as well.....

I bought the 3/8" first and used it for a bit, then went back and picked up the 1/2". I don't use 1/4" drive too often, but the first time I did, I went back and bought the 1/4" too.

The ratchets were cheap enough, the gas and time for three trips was unnecessary. I should have picked up all three and saved the money spent on gas for something else.

My nephews call them Glock ratchets