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What Is The Best 3/8ths Ratchet?

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Bobcat753

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I'm looking for a quality,very nice 3/8ths ratchet.
I'm not a Brand Nazi and price is no question.
I just want to know which 3/8ths ratchet is THE BEST one out there.
Kind of like one that Linus from Charlie Brown would bring every where.
Don't want this to be a ******* match on whose brand is better.
And yes I will be getting probably 2 of what ever one it is, one for work and one for home.:willy_nil
Pics are also helpful.:beer:
 
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Davefr

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That's easy. It's the Cornwell JR72. (ie the planet's best 3/8" ratchet)

They're extremely hard to find since there are so few Cornwell dealers.

jr72_rotated__77126.png
 
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southalabama

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"Best" is subject to an opinion. Those states above are fine but the best?

The best is one I can find in my garage a mess.
 
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AndrewV

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Depends on your situation. Length may be the factor. Limited space(fine tooth). List goes on.
 
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burke753

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In my opinion from what I've used. The Matco 88 tooth locking flex head is the best. It's strong, durable, and what makes it stand out to me is the head is thinner than the Snap On. And that's the selling feature to me. Plus the Armstrong is identical except the handle for half the price. So I have one of each.


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Askme42

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southalabama said:
"Best" is subject to an opinion. Those states above are fine but the best?

The best is one I can find in my garage a mess.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Very subjective. Depending on hand size and shape one ratchet could feel great to person 1 and terrible to person 2.

I love my armstrong locking flex with 88 tooth upgrade. Just need to put a hard handle on it but some other could hate that ratchet.
 
OP
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Bobcat753

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Size I'd be looking for a length around 10-12 inches. Flex head would be nice but not necessary. I work on anything from weed wackers to excavators. I guess I should talk with the snappy industrial guy when school starts up again. Get a discount on something that will last.
 
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franzdom

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That sounds like a really good plan, their comfort grip ones are nice.
 
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92integra

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snap on long flex head comfort grip is my #1...... better than cornwell in every way :beer:
 
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shampoop

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SW Washington
I hate standard length ratchets, I basically only ever use long and stubby.

My 2 favorites are my snap on locking flex for most automotive work, $150 It's strengths are it's locking flex design for fitting into tight spaces, high tooth count ratchet head is super strong, sealed head so dirt doesn't get in and grease doesn't get out much less maintenance. Lifetime 100% warranty.

Cons: the price and the soft grip doesn't just clean off with the wipe of a rag requires chemicals.

FHX80.jpg

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=646285&PartNo=FHX80&group_id=682403

And for very greasy things, oil changes, construction work (because of the price in case it gets lost), I prefer my proto long handle pear head. $30-$55 It's strengths are it has a very low drag ratcheting system, very smooth, nice knurled grip that provides grip even when greasy/oily, easy fast cleaning with the wipe of a rag, very thin head, and cheap.

Cons: non sealed head dirt can get in grease can get out, low tooth count ratchet head which is probably average/standard strength, no warranty.
J5250.png
 
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JDon99

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Desoto, MO
I'd go with an Armstrong 11-994 or a Matco BFR128LFT. Same ratchet different handle and the best locking mech imo. You can buy two Armstrongs for the price of one Matco, but I do like the Matco's handle slightly over the Armstrong.

The Matco is an 88 tooth while the Armstrong is a 60.
 
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rtole

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Jan 25, 2014
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I vote dual 80 locking flex head.......chrome handle. I had some comfort grips........bent them both in the area they turn down to put the grip on. I was just hanging on mine today getting a tight caliper bracket off. Yes my 300 lbs **** literaly hanging and bouncing on a 3/8 ths ratchet. I think the older snap on ratchets were tougher.......but the dual 80 is SO smooth. I also have gearwrench 120s that I like......but if I could only have one......snap on dual 80 wins for me. Mine is about 3 years old, it has had 2 kits in it. It would skip one tooth.........but never more than that so no busted knuckles. Never sheared off a drive head. Just one tooth and the ratchet has never been out of service. It always stayed usable till the snap on man came.
 
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Mohawk Dave

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1950mercury said:
Craftman raised panel. Comfortable handle, never auto reverses, super strong, low tooth count and made in china!!!
Click to expand...

While this is a strong contender, I'll take one of these any day over my Dual 80s...
 

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SMKS

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I love me some Armstrong locking flex. You're getting most of a Matco locking flex for way, way less money.

It's my most expensive ratchet by far and one of my most used ratchets. Is it the "best" ratchet? Well that depends what you're looking for.

What's the best sandwich? What's the best beer? What's the best (insert anything else)?

It all depends what you like and how much you want to spend.

I also really like the old SK roundheads, Wright roundheads and some weird Japanese ratchets I have.
 
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BK13

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Great, there's at least six new ratchets I need to try... why did I open this thread?

For the record, the next planned (as opposed to spontaneous, "I gotta have this new cool shiny thing") is an SO FBF80 bent flex.
 
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nicksnothereman

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In the Mojave
Bobcat753 said:
I'm looking for a quality,very nice 3/8ths ratchet.
I'm not a Brand Nazi and price is no question.
I just want to know which 3/8ths ratchet is THE BEST one out there.
Kind of like one that Linus from Charlie Brown would bring every where.
Don't want this to be a ******* match on whose brand is better.
And yes I will be getting probably 2 of what ever one it is, one for work and one for home.:willy_nil
Pics are also helpful.:beer:
Click to expand...

Doesn't exist.:lol:

There are so many good ones there's no best. It all depends on what you use regularly. You'll get 90 snap ons, 10 gearwrench, 5 sk, 3 proto, and 1 ezred/kobalt/harbor freight. All...very good some are just better than they should be.

I'd get a something flex 12" if I only wanted one 3/8" ratchet. Again, lots of options.

Snap on makes extremely nice tools just too expensive to me so if you want that get that. But there are lot's of off brands that are cheaper and probably equal (from what I've heard); maybe try facom or nepros if you want to be different. Both have excellent word of mouth but harder to warranty.
 
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byoungblood

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No longer in production, but a well broken in Williams B-52 is like butter. SO Dual 80 is nice too, but I find myself using the Williams more often.
 
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Adam.C

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couple Snap On advantages:
1) 100% US made
2) Easy to source replacement parts for at least 20 years
3) Low back drag
4) tight drive side fit
5) fine tooth count

My personal preference
I grew up using craftsman professional (tear drop shaped turned chrome models). The drive was sloppy, but locking so sockets were VERY easy to remove. This is not always the case with my Snap Ons.

I liked the detents in the flex head. Don't know why. The friction flex is really better. Maybe this one is just nostalgia.

The sloppy head had a sort of built in wobble that made it easy to find the bolt head. With a more rigid drive, you have to get it right.

So I guess my point is, on paper, we could compare brands and features. But I think it's all what you get used to. My advice is to buy Snap On for the reasons above. And if you get a discount, it's a no brainer. Asking here won't much help because all of us get used to certain ratchets- 3/8" is the most intimate in our tool boxes. So you might as well ask whose wife is prettiest. (easy answer - mine is).
 
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bobcatdan

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No right answer. Buy a couple different brands that are easy to get warranted in case one breaks. Use them and develop your own opinion on which one is your favorite. The key word is favorite, once you react a curtain quality point, there really is no best.
 
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jimgood

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Marshall, VA
Are the ball locks that hold the sockets in place different in some ratchets? I have had a set of Craftsman ratchets for 30 odd years and bought some Kobalt sockets that fall off because the ball locks are in the wrong place.

Might want to think about that before you run out and buy the "best" ratchet.
 
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cgv69

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Boone Co., KY
I have the Matco BFR128LFT and Snap On F80. The Matco is a great ratchet and with it's extra length and locking flex head, there is almost nothing it can't do. That said, I do think SO's dual 80 head is smoother then the Matco 88 (I may just need to lube the Matco?) so when I don't need the length or flex head of the Matco, I do reach for the F80 first.
 
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Adam.C

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jimgood said:
Are the ball locks that hold the sockets in place different in some ratchets? I have had a set of Craftsman ratchets for 30 odd years and bought some Kobalt sockets that fall off because the ball locks are in the wrong place.

Might want to think about that before you run out and buy the "best" ratchet.
Click to expand...

Absolutely spot on! That's what intially got me moving to all Snap On sockets. I tried to replace my old worn out craftsman ratchets with Snap On, only to find the sockets didn't stay on. IIRC, this was a bigger deal with 1/4" drive than other sizes. But 1/4" is my favorite.
 
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