What's your go to ratchet and why?

[Renegade1LI]

Lately it’s been the Milwaukee 1/4” cordless, great fit body work and it’s a handy size.

 

[jessesandy]

Another vote for the HF composite 3/8". After 15 years the quick release is getting sloppy, time to bust out another $9.99.

 

[Ralf11]

This one
SK 45183 Flex Head Ratchet– 3/8-Inch Drive 11-Inch
It just calls to me when I need a ratchet.

Does it call out "Dual 80 Dual80 Dual80-la-doo?"

 

[Gurp]

Another vote for the HF composite 3/8". After 15 years the quick release is getting sloppy, time to bust out another $9.99.

This is why this is my go to. comfort cost and reliable

 

[fury9]

Mine is a composite HF 3/8s.
The handle the comfortable and the composite doesn't get as cold during those outside winter jobs.
Best 10 buck tool I've ever bought.

That’s mine too, broke the selector handle got a new one no questions asked, can’t beat it

 

[fury9]

Does it call out "Dual 80 Dual80 Dual80-la-doo?"

 

[Highland]

For decades it was a Snap On round/flex head (FHNF100?) with a chrome handle. Eventually, it needed a kit put in it and when I went on the truck the driver just handed me a new ratchet! The replacement was never quite as smooth as the original.

A few years ago I bought a orange hard handle version of the same ratchet and it is probably my current favorite.

My LEAST favorite, other than some Crapsmans that have been relegated to the junk bucket, is a MAC flex head with a red plastic handle. Love the handle, but the ratchet always reminds me of something on a boat trailer. Loud with a bunch of drag. And as long as I have a bunch of Snap Ons I'm not motivated much to take it apart and see if I can smooth it out.

 

[PoorUB]

Which ever one is closest. I really don't have a preference, but I suppose my one Snap-On is the slight favorite, but I usually just grab which ever one out of the drawer. Once in a while I grab the cheap Industro ratchet because it is a fine tooth.

 

[Doylee4693]

For a while it was my capri 1/4”, 3/8“, and 1/2”.. now its pittsburgh pro composite 1/4”, 3/8” flexhead pittsburgh pro 3/8”, and capri 1/2”. Since my polebarn is about 40 yards from my house I also have an in house kit, mostly for use on my pellet stove.. 3/8” and 1/4” husky kits.. they actually feel good too, was suprised!

 

[RustyBuckets]

In 3/8 I think my favorite is SK , but lately I've been using a Craftsman with the built-in thumb wheel.

 

[Ronson25]

My most used when i can fit it in is a extra longhandle flex snappy

 

[uncwstudent]

Mind is the 3/8" SK LP90. I absolutely love it. It's smooth, built well, and the shiny chrome makes it easy to find. As far as flex heads, I'm a big fan of the Carlyle locking flex head ratchets.

 

[Legion Prime]

When I was younger and working on cars it was my SnapOn 3/8" spark plug ratchet. That flex head and long handle meant I could get a socket on damn near anything and get enough force on it to break it loose. I used it on perhaps a bit too heavily though as I needed the SnapOn guy to rebuild it within a year but once I got it back from him it went right back into work just the same as before. These days though I more typically will reach for my lowpro Tekton 1/4" for the smaller tasks I'm usually working on now.

 

[FMB4]

For me it's probably the made in Japan 3/8" drive stubby ratchet that I've had since the mid '80s. I almost always 1st loosen vehicle fasteners with a long box wrench followed up with the stubby. I then reverse the above on re-installation.

 

[jones988]

Mind is the 3/8" SK LP90. I absolutely love it. It's smooth, built well, and the shiny chrome makes it easy to find. As far as flex heads, I'm a big fan of the Carlyle locking flex head ratchets.

My Carlyle locking flex head 3/8" is definitely my go-to ratchet. I love it!

 

[TJMtl]

The last few years, I have found myself gravitating to the shorter Snap-on 1/4". but I think the Nepros 3/8 head 1/4 flex body will dethrone it.

Use it mainly on odd and end projects on my Jeep.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Snap-on, Capri and Matco. Reach for all of them on a daily basis. Got several of each. All of them are very smooth. I’m thinking of adding a Snap-on flex head 3/8 regular head maybe next week. My dealer has pink ones lol. That’s really the only ratchet I need to complete my collection is a regular sized 3/8 flex. My favorite thing about Snap-on besides the quality is the handle choices and color choices. I like the Capri for the smoothness you feel when ratcheting. And Matco I like the locking flex heads and the other two non locking that I have. But if I had to pick one brand I guess it would have to be Snap-on.

 

[Mikeske]

For me it is what my grubby hands can latch on out of the toolbox. I have Bonney, Snap-on, Icon and Pittsburgh Pro, Craftsman, Tecton as long as it does the job. My all time favorite is the flex head 3/8ths long handle Bonney as I really can get a good pull on the bolt nut with that. Most times now I just use a Makita impact driver for removing and installation as it takes a lot less arm strength as I got older and now that I retired why expend lots of my energy when the driver can 85-90% of the stuff loose and it is quick.

 

[f121]

In 3/8" its the F80R. Really get on with the feel of the f80, but it felt like the lack of quick release slowed me a bit when working on dirty stuff, particularly outside in the wet.

1/2" it's a $20 "US Pro" long Swan neck soft grip. I find if I'm using 1/2" I want a bit of leverage beyond the standard 1/2" ratchet size and the Swan neck kicks your knuckles an inch or so back from the face of the socket.

 

[DemoFly]

FLF80. I think I'm on my 6th or 7th reversing switch.

 

[demarpaint]

I still seem to grab my 3/8" drive US made Craftsman flex-head ratchet the most lately.

 

[bigjeff94]

I'm usually working away from the shop so the SK ratchets that are in my blowmolded set are my most used. However, my two favorite ratchets are a 36 tooth armstrong long 1/2" drive that was given to me when I started working as a millwright and a craftsman 1/2" RHFT.

 

[Matt XYZ]

My 3/8" go to's are the SK round head and a Snap On dual 80. 1/2" is a flea market Stahwille with low tooth count.

 

[javyLSU]

FHX80A, pictured here with a freshly replaced soft grip. I’m on my second handle, rebuild kit, and flex locking mechanism on this ratchet, so you could say it’s my go-to… Why? It's smooth, long but not too long, reaches most anywhere I need it to, and stays there until I say so.

 

[chappys4life]

Gearwrench. As a home user got frustrated that snap on will not help me with my ratchets. So all my snap on ratchets as they break get ditched and I use the gearwrench more and more.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

I don't really care about looking for ratchets anymore at yard sales or online since importing a Koken 3753N years ago, it is no coincidence. It is the peak of the low tooth count designs being a improved proto design with the best knurling and very tight tolerances on the drive surfaces between their products. The only other tool I have is the Koken spinner and there is virtually no play between it,the anvil and the mechanism. Where as at least the 5249 I have, with the mech and anvil, you'd basically have a wobble extension free of charge, then again it isn't exactly a new example. I would consider buying one of the 72T models if they were knurled.

 

[garfunkle24]

FLF80, also gone through a few reversing switches. Next would be SF80.

 

[FrogBlastTheVentCore]

Snap-on 3/8 soft handle locking flex.

 

[Mgdoug3]

Either my modified 3/8 SK LP90 flex or Snap-on 3/8 flex with soft grip. I usually reach for the SK because of the smaller head and being chrome, easier to clean. I'll grab the Snap-on when I need a little extra reach. Both ratchets have very little back drag. I wish the Snap-on was a hard handle.

I have what Snap-on calls a stubby 3/8 flex with hard grip and I use it often as well. The back drag is slightly more but still not bad. All 3 of my 3/8 Dual 80s have different back drag which surprised me. None are terrible but the soft grip one is by far the lowest and smoothest.

Side note, the soft handle was my first Dual 80. At first I wasn't impressed since the back drag seemed high. After about a month it broke in and as smooth as any ratchet I have owned. I then bought two more. The soft grip was my main ratchet until I bought the SK.

 

[ThePostman]

Proto precision 90s in 3/8ths and 1/4, flex head long handle. So smooth, and knurled handles that Mac doesn't sell, and cheaper. 1/2", an icon 18" flex head that I put a pipe on and try to kill. I know I could have killed it already, but then again, maybe those 20 year old lower control arm eccentrics might break too, after being heated, and then I'm up the creek on an alignment. I still want it to break though, excuse to buy something else, and gift the warranty replacement.

 

[ThePostman]

Sk stubby 1/4" flex LP90 for the honorable mention. Highly impressed with that little thing in a pro environment.

 

[Magnum440d100]

Right now, my snap-ons.

But when I am home with my big box, I grab what fits in the space I’m working in. Could be Craftsman, husky, Stanley, snap-on, Pittsburgh, etc.


Now. That being said, if I had to pick ONE ratchet to keep until I die, it would be the snap on. Mainly because of the low arc swing, especially when it comes to some of the tight places I work in.

(Disclaimer. I know there are other brands of ratchets out there that I have not tried yet. My go to ratchet choice could and may change, depending on other ratchets I have not had the pleasure to use yet).

 

[Snapped-off]

My custom snap-on. All I did was swap the head for a quick release head because they don't offer it.

 

[Schurkey]

For ~30 years, my favorite ratchet was a Snappy long-handle 3/8 that I made the Snap-On dealer install a quick-release repair kit in when I bought the ratchet.

A few years ago I bought a used Snappy FHNF100--long handle roto-ratchet. Absolutely love everything about it EXCEPT that it doesn't have a quick-release.

 

[ZRX61]

1/4in: Craftsman, Sunex or GW, but usually Craftsman. I have a Kobalt that's a total POS, feels like it's full of rocks.

3/8: Mac... because I only own 1 3/8 ratchet.

 

[jonshonda]

Milwaukee M12 non fuel. So much time saved!

 

[autobon7]

1/4" I grab my Facom flex head. So smooth and head is nice and firm not floppy after all these years.
3/8" is a toss up. Like my bent neck Armstrong as well as the 90 tooth pear head Proto
1/2" is easy....Proto J5450. Nuff said

Honorable mention goes to 2 Weras.....really like the 1/4" long handle and 3/8" pistol grip

 

[joel63]

My custom snap-on. All I did was swap the head for a quick release head because they don't offer it.

Good idea you have there. I might try it myself.

 

[DAustin]

I guess it would be an old made in USA Craftsman 1/4" drive. I keep one of those grey 1/4" drive sets under the drivers seat and I'm always using it on something.

 

[onarant]

SK 45183 flex head, or SK 45170.