Best ratchet 3/8 ?
- Thread starter mofo62
- Start date
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
No. One man's best is another man's worst.
Farmer Joe
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2011
- Messages
- 247
Not really...it's ok. Matco 88
purplezr2
Well-known member
Ratchets are like women, everyone has different tastes, I personally like bout the Dual 80's and the matco units.
Why is there no "USA" on the head? I thought Snap-On always put that on their tools that were made here? What's the point of buying Snap-On if you are paying a massive premium for domestic tools if they aren't even made here?
fivespdcat
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2011
- Messages
- 1,520
Best one for me??? Armstrong Maxx flex head. Does wonders removing spark plugs along with the Snap On magnet sockets...
canuckian
Well-known member
F80 is likely the most popular of the tool truck ratchets but whether it's the best in the world is really up to the person paying for it to decide.
davesnothere
Well-known member
I use my FL80 over my F80 whenever I have room.
Regardless, I do say snap-on makes the best.
Regardless, I do say snap-on makes the best.
IBJanky
Well-known member
Harbor Freight Pittsburgh Pro ratchet for sure 
myke
myke
treasureseeker
Well-known member
Bench Top ratchets
plinker
Well-known member
"Best" is subjective to the users frame of reference.
Therefore the "best" ratchet for you is the one you like.
I prefer S-K myself.
Therefore the "best" ratchet for you is the one you like.
I prefer S-K myself.
SMKS
Well-known member
You'll get as many, many answers.
This is my favorite right now. Wright 3490. Only $25 + shipping from Harry Epstein. It's a good length, very nice fully polished finish and 82 clicks per revolution.
I also like the old standard SK ratchet. Simple with a tough mechanism.
This is my favorite right now. Wright 3490. Only $25 + shipping from Harry Epstein. It's a good length, very nice fully polished finish and 82 clicks per revolution.
I also like the old standard SK ratchet. Simple with a tough mechanism.
vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I think the longest unchanged ratchet that I have never heard anybody say anything bad about and many many people love is the SK professional ratchet. The design has got to be 60 years old and other that the square drive being black now vs chrome plated along time ago they just work great. I think it's the 45170 part number off the top of my head.
AZ_Catskinner
Well-known member
The baddest *** ratchet of all time:
Sorry, couldn't resist! I definitely agree on the SK 45170 as probably the all around best, especially for kicking around unchanged for so long. I also give the Craftsman RHFT credit for being an incredibly good ratchet at a very low price. Whoever discontinued it was an IDIOT!!
Sorry, couldn't resist! I definitely agree on the SK 45170 as probably the all around best, especially for kicking around unchanged for so long. I also give the Craftsman RHFT credit for being an incredibly good ratchet at a very low price. Whoever discontinued it was an IDIOT!!
poprockcrusher
Banned
The most expensive is the BEST ...
Harbor Freight Pittsburgh Pro ratchet for sure
myke
A friend of mine married a woman from mainland China...
BigAl62
Well-known member
The baddest *** ratchet of all time:
Sorry, couldn't resist! I definitely agree on the SK 45170 as probably the all around best, especially for kicking around unchanged for so long. I also give the Craftsman RHFT credit for being an incredibly good ratchet at a very low price. Whoever discontinued it was an IDIOT!!
Hey, I have no problem with the ratchet you're showing, I have the one that came in my first tool set 30 years ago and it still works just fine (and yes, I am a professional mechanic and I used it for almost 20 years before bringing it home. I replaced it with a full polished Craftsman ratchet!).
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Silly posters,
Everyone knows that the best ratchet in the world, is the one you have in your hand when you need it most regardless of whose name is on it.
Everyone knows that the best ratchet in the world, is the one you have in your hand when you need it most regardless of whose name is on it.
AZ_Catskinner
Well-known member
I really have no problem with them - I just decided to capitalize on all the hate for them on this board and stir the pot a little. I do admit that the current crop of them ***** alongside the older ones, but I still use them too.
FergusonTO35
Well-known member
My faves are the Snap-On 36 tooth and Cornwell 30 tooth. Probably the worst ratchets I've ever used are the Mac pear heads. The screws that hold them together invariably break or won't stay tight, even with Loctite.
greasemonkey44
Well-known member
^^funny 
im favoring an 88th matco with the long handle
my normal length one is a grey pneumatic that came with a set
my mini one is a wright; love the no drag on this thing. pure bliss
im favoring an 88th matco with the long handle
my normal length one is a grey pneumatic that came with a set
my mini one is a wright; love the no drag on this thing. pure bliss
shampoop
Well-known member
Really depends on what kind of stuff you work on. Guys that work on mostly older classic cars will be much more likely to recommend super tough smooth low tooth count non flex ratchets with very large heads because they're perfect for their uses. Whereas people who mainly work on newer non classic vehicles like myself would probably recommend something more along the line of the snap on dual 80 locking flex head. The head is very small, so it can fit into the tight spots required on modern vehicles, has the extra length so you have enough leverage to not bust your knuckles or elbows, and can flex the head into whatever position works.
treasureseeker
Well-known member
I have mostly dual 80's but perfer my Hazet, Facom and Stahlwille
Knuckle Buster
Well-known member
Lets not toss Proto out the window. They may not have a million teeth, but are like the Energizer Bunny... they keep going and going without sucking the bank dry. 
binkcat16
Well-known member
snap on rats no doubt are the best
The baddest *** ratchet of all time:
Sorry, couldn't resist! I definitely agree on the SK 45170 as probably the all around best, especially for kicking around unchanged for so long. I also give the Craftsman RHFT credit for being an incredibly good ratchet at a very low price. Whoever discontinued it was an IDIOT!!
Man, I was pissed off when I found out my dumb-assed brother warrantied a set of the old mans cman ratchets for the new stuff.
Yeah, I'm still pissed off about that.
fatfillup
Well-known member
This thread has remained amazingly civil!!!
I like SO and SK rotoheads myself, but as others have said, depends on what you are working on. Many fine ratchets have been mentioned, I'd like at least one of each.
I like SO and SK rotoheads myself, but as others have said, depends on what you are working on. Many fine ratchets have been mentioned, I'd like at least one of each.
kindyr
Well-known member
I love my Williams B-52 Superratchet, but I'm not a professional mechanic. But I have to agree with the poster who said the best ratchet is the one that gets the job at hand as quickly and efficiantly as possible.
FergusonTO35
Well-known member
On the topic of ratchets: do you huys prefer the quick release or non-quick release style ratchets? I prefer the non-quick release. The QR button sticking up makes the ratchet head thicker and they seem to release the socket at the worst possible time.
countryroad82
Well-known member
Anything that has 50+ tooth count and can stand up and live after a 3' cheater bar has been subjected to it!! It doesn't matter if it is an offshore or truck brand, as long as that bas^ard works!!
The baddest *** ratchet of all time:
There's probably more Craftsman RP ratchets (just like the one in the picture) out there in the world than any other. Mine looks exactly like this. It's the only 3/8" drive ratchet I own. I've had it for 25+ years. Never had a problem with it.
Jim C.
Last edited:
kythri
Well-known member
I can't say I really have a preference anymore, but I will say that, when operating in tight areas, equally annoying to a non-recessed QR is a non-recessed selector lever.
