How Many 3/8" Ratchets are Enough????

[caper]

Aw, come on, LB, Mopar, and myself can't be the only ones with up over a 100 3/8" ratchets now, can we?

I'm getting close..someday soon

 

[wrenchr]

I'm at around 80 ratchets right now.

 

[Borrego]

I do not turn ratchets or wrenches for a living. I am a home hobbyist.
I currently have in excess of 100 ratchets among 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 drive. As a younger man, I frequented swap meets and found ratchets rather inexpensive, usually around $5, almost always under $10. What began as simple expansion of growing tool set soon expanded into vintage Craftsman ratchets. Any good American made ratchet, if the price was right, was bought. Walden, Williams, Fleet, Pendens, etc.......I think I have 1 Snap On and 1 Mac, a few Protos and Plombs. And my acquiring has slowed considerably in the last few years.......Can't say I have added to the collection via Ebay, either.

 

[Autoguy]

I own 8 snap-on ratchets, 2 duro, one thorsen, one armstrong, one proto, two Koken, Three KD, one Williams and two Toptul. Total=22.

 

[Beerman]

I'll have to count-in 3/8 I probably own 50 or so. I inherited some boxes from an Uncle that died and I don't know that I ever bothered to count how many he had.



Beerman

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I do not turn ratchets or wrenches for a living. I am a home hobbyist.
I currently have in excess of 100 ratchets among 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 drive. As a younger man, I frequented swap meets and found ratchets rather inexpensive, usually around $5, almost always under $10. What began as simple expansion of growing tool set soon expanded into vintage Craftsman ratchets. Any good American made ratchet, if the price was right, was bought. Walden, Williams, Fleet, Pendens, etc.......I think I have 1 Snap On and 1 Mac, a few Protos and Plombs. And my acquiring has slowed considerably in the last few years.......Can't say I have added to the collection via Ebay, either.

We want pics!!

 

[Plombob]

If you have to ask, you don't have enough.

Buy three more immediately!

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

I think if i had this many i would say i had enough, though i know people will say other wise

 

[Borrego]

Honoring the request for photos, this is what I came up with in a jiffy. Not the greatest, but you get the idea.
Per the original post, I did a quick tally and have approximately 35 3/8 ratchets. Approximately 100 overall, including 1/4 and 1/2 sizes.
This drawer contains 39 ratchets in 1/4 and 3/8 sizes.
Also included for any ratchet junkies is an old Bonney, the only one of which i have ever seen. One of my more unique ratchets. 1/2 drive.

 

[81Seca]

1)Stubby or Palm Ratchet
2)Fixed Head
3)Swivel Head/Bent Swivel Head
4)Breaker Bar
5)Air Ratchet
1 quality ratchet of each style and you're set. Even when I was in the business, I rarely had more. I'll pick up an extra or 2 at the flea markets, but usually to re-sell them. To me, any more than that is like a woman with a shoe collection

 

[Rickster]

Yup!... round here thats what we call a "starter set".

I think if i had this many i would say i had enough, though i know people will say other wise

 

[Canadian Charlie]

Just bought 2 brand new Snap On ratchets off eBay for $100 for both

Ratchet, Sealed Head (High Strength), Standard F936


I will now have 4 of these ratchets and move my total up to 9

Add a Gray 3/8" ratchet on the way now the total is 10. I think 12 should be enough in this drive

 

[arkangel06]

I have 4 and im always looking for more.....

 

[GDA]

I have five SO in 3/8 and they have covered everything I've encountered from ****** swaps to complete suspension overhauls.

3/8 stubby flex
3/8 standard
3/8 long handle
3/8 long handle flex
3/8 standard length bent handle


Some of those above have more than enough IMO but I have a strong view toward having tools and using them and not much toward letting them sit idle in a drawer.

 

[caper]

Aw, come on, LG, Mopar, and myself can't be the only ones with up over a 100 3/8" ratchets now, can we?

You know I remember seeing your collection and moparhounds but I don't recall LG ever posting pics of his collection.How about it LG,care to show us?I'd love to see it.

 

[caper]

I had nothing to do at work today so I counted mine:
1/4"dr-22
3/8"dr-40(+5 in the mail)
1/2"dr-27
3/4"dr-2
1"dr-1
Is 93 ratchets enough?I don't think so!

There are also:
8-1/2dr breaker bars
1-1/2dr speeder
2-3/8dr breaker bars
2-3/8dr speeders
2-3/4dr breaker bars

 

[48548]

here is a quick guess for me, you can look at the pictures of my box under 48548 in photobucket if you want to see... Just a start, but I am working on getting more...

3/8-62
1/2-30
1/4-30
3/4-4+3 ratchet adapters
1"-3 plus 2 ratchet adapters

 

[johnny1290]

Wow, you guys make me seem like a real piker! I only have

1 F80
2 x 936
3 x crapsman

but I've really been wanting a FLH80 , and now a stubby 3/8 with flex head sound like a good idea too

I use my F80 all the time, but I'll grab a 936 if it's closer or something. The others are for the extra tool sets, like the home set, the car set, the junkyard set.

 

[stevejh82]

Aw, come on, LB, Mopar, and myself can't be the only ones with up over a 100 3/8" ratchets now, can we?

I think I could be in the club, probably in the 100 neighborhood on the 3/8" ratchets, probably 150-175 total. One of these days I'll get an accurate count, but all of the tools aren't actually in my garage yet. Btw, I have looked through some of the ratchet collections on here and they truly are amazing.

I second wanting to see LB's collection.

 

[lauver]

Canadian Charlie-- You're a "DIY user" and you asked how many ratchets you need. You've gotten many answers from various user types with differing opinions from 3 - 150. I'm guessing you could do anything you are likely to encounter with say 2 - 4 ratchets. Now, if you want to be a collector too...the sky and your disposable income are your only limits.

LG-- You forgot to mention to CC that you are a serious collector; so your ratchet count, though appropriate for your interests, really isn't realistic for him.

 

[xrayos]

so, does a DIY'er need a 1/4 ratchet? for weekend automotive work.

 

[48548]

I use a 1/4 and 3/8 more than a 1/2. The 1/4 for me works very very well on interior pieces and gages on vehicles. So I would say yes, over a 1/2.

 

[xrayos]

I just find that I can use the 3/8 for almost everything. Wonder if I'm missing anything by not going with the 1/4 for harder to reach areas. 1/2, nothing really except for lug nuts, but then I have the torque wrench / impact for that.

 

[BB26]

Maybe I am the only one, but I use 1/2'' drive quite a bit. 75% of my under vehicle work is done with 1/2'' hand ratchet and sockets. 15% Impact (stubborn fasteners) and maybe 10% 3/8'' drive. I prefer using hand tools over power tools though. 1/2'' drive requires much less effort than 3/8'' and under the vehicle you do not have to worry as much about the extra bulk. Under hood work is primarily done with 3/8'' and 1/4'' drive with extensions.

Back to the orginal question...I think two ratchets in each of the major drive sizes will do the job, particularly for a DIYer. One fixed head standard length and one long flex head. With that said, I have way more than I need...about 90 ratchets, with 35-40 in 3/8'' drive. Completely unnecessary. What can I say, I am just a tool junkie...

 

[HankMurphy]

The correct answer in this forum is: all of them!

I only have 6:
2 SK 45170
1 Proto
1 Craftsman
1 Snapon
1 no-name flex

For years I got by with just one SK and the Craftsman in my motorcycle tool kit. I have found that 3/8" is the perfect size. For those working more on autos, I can see that a 1/2" might be a better all-around size. I got by for years with a 1/2" Craftsman breaker bar.

At the moment, also have 2 1/4" drives (SK and Proto), and 2 1/2" drives (Proto and Craftsman).

Has anyone ever done a ratchet shootout?

Cheers,

 

[Icy Mike]

you only need two...three tops. one short handle flex, one long handle flex, and maybe a stubby. with that being said I have six 3/8s ratchets

i agree. i have 1 stubby, 1 regular, and 1 in my truck box. I figure I can only use one at a time anyway!

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

All drives are necessary..... 1/4, 3/8, 1/2

 

[Moose-LandTran]

All drives are necessary..... 1/4, 3/8, 1/2

And 3/4", of course..

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

And 3/4", of course..

And the 1''