36 or 80 tooth 1/2 ratchet?

[astrodoggie3000]

My question is this... how strong is an 80 tooth 1/2 drive ratchet, or would 36 be a better stronger choice?

 

[Black89LX]

80 tooth is plenty strong. dual pawl design helps

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

80 tooth is plenty strong. dual pawl design helps

 

[jethro29]

go with the eighty,you won't regret it.

 

[Hammer1963]

I suppose it all depends on how you look at it and what type of work you plan on using them for. I personally do not use my 1/2" ratchets for breaker bars, so I prefer the fine tooth. My preference is the Matco 88 series. I use them is some fairly tight quarters in the collision business on Bumpers and Suspension parts primarily, so the ability to have a ratchet with a smaller arch is really helpful. I'm really not sure a course tooth ratchet is any stronger. I'm basing that on Fine thread vs Course thread with a Fine thread being stronger in a pull situation. I'm not sure this helps, but it's just an opinion.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

both are good, but the 80 is a little more tight space friendly.

 

[astrodoggie3000]

Thanks fro the quick replies. I'm thinking of trying the Bahco ratchet which uses the same parts as the Snap-on 1/2. I just wanted to buy the stronger of the designs.

 

[Fedwrench]

A long, long, time ago ratchet designs usually had two pawl teeth engaging the gear. In those days, fewer teeth meant a stronger ratchet because fewer teeth meant thicker and stronger teeth. However, todays fine tooth ratchets are designed differently. Instead of the old two tooth engagement, most designs use a floating pawl which means 7-9 teeth engage the gear for a much stronger design.
It's up to you as to whether you like the 4 degree or so movement before engagement the next tooth of the 80 tooth ratchet, or the 10 or so degree movement of the 36 tooth ratchet. Usually when using 1/2 drive, you have more room for handle swing.
The picture below is of a Proto premium pearhead 45 tooth ratchet.
I personally think that ratchet tooth counts over 60 are overkill but, that's just me. Think about it, 20 more teeth spread over a gear about the size of a quarter. :

 

[Monte]

"Facom style"
72 teeth ratchet and single pawl with 17 teeth engaging at the same time...

 

[blue302stang]

I have one of the SLF80's and absolutely love it, but i also find myself going to my old an trust dig dawg ratchets. I know they are a 45 tooth count, but i find both of them to be more than strong enough for anything i do.

 

[canuckian]

I'd go with the 80 tooth. Strong enough to handle anything I've thrown at it. I'm getting a Matco 88 tooth soon hopefully and I'd expect that will be much the same, only with a thinner head. For the tough stuff get a nice long breaker bar and you won't have to worry as much about strength.

 

[astrodoggie3000]

I thought about the Facom but the handle seems like it would be a grease trap. How well does it hold up to abrasion? Wish i could pick up some of these ratchets in a store or something.

 

[GoBlue]

Most of mine are 36 and i have not had any problems from them what so ever either with strength or swing arch.

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

I have a S80 and a GS936
The S80 is lighter than the GS936
Go with dual 80

 

[NinetyTwoFifty]

I thought about the Facom but the handle seems like it would be a grease trap. How well does it hold up to abrasion? Wish i could pick up some of these ratchets in a store or something.

Proto makes them using the Facom mechanism but with a knurled chrome handle. I like those ratchets very much.

The part number is J5452F.

 

[astrodoggie3000]

This is the Ratchet i'm considering...

http://www.mltoolsequipment.com/product_p/8150 1-fslash-2.htm

This is the runner-up...

http://www.mltoolsequipment.com/product_p/s-52eha.htm

 

[Fedwrench]

I have the 3/8 drive versions of both ratchets (i don't use 1/2 that much in a hand ratchet). Either ratchet will serve you well.
On a side note, I like a longer handled 1/2 drive ratchet for more torque.
You also may want to check www.toolsdelivered.com once their site comes back up for williams tools. They're pretty reasonable and ship fast if the tool is in stock.

 

[NinetyTwoFifty]

Between the two I would go with the Bahco. The Williams is nothing special.

 

[shampoop]

I LOVE my long handle Dual 80 snap on ratchet. 1/2" only ever gets used on big tough stuff so standard handle just won't cut it, and the fine teeth are very smooth and effortless.

 

[browntown]

I guess application comes to play. On the rare occasion that I'm using a 1/2" ratchet, I should probably be using a breaker bar. But I'm a home user and if I run into a big suspension bolt that I don't want to use an impact for, I rely on my long handle 36tooth snap on 1/2 ratchet.

I don't live in the rust belt though, so for the vast majority of auto bolts, once loosened they can be spun off with a thumb wheel.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

I prefer the coarser tooth ratchets in ½" drive normally, just as a comfort thing. I know that my old SK has been to hell and back without issue, so it gets the frontline duty when I need a halfer.

 

[blarf]

I thought about the Facom but the handle seems like it would be a grease trap. How well does it hold up to abrasion? Wish i could pick up some of these ratchets in a store or something.

In that case, also consider the S-K Tuff 1 ratchets. They've been discontinued, but rebuild kits are still available from S-K. I've got a 1/2" version and love it. Looks like mytoolstore.com still has some of the long handled flex variants in stock.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I'm going to bump this and see if more opinions have come in because of new members / new tools.

Thanks guys!!

 

[sonvolt]

I have a Proto 45 tooth ratchet as well as the Craftsman premium 84 tooth ratchet and I use both based upon what application is needed. I do like the the 45 tooth Proto for anything heavy duty.

 

[rtole]

I have older snap on and new dual 80 ratchets. The older ones are stronger. I know the newer ones are rated for more torque.......I have found the older ones take more. I have an old long handle fixed head 720.........it has been used with cheaters......jumped on......almost indestructable. I like the dual 80s for normal use, but I have broke the dual 80s more in the last few years than I have ever broke the older ones.

 

[bareass172]

I have an old 720 rebuilt with 730 internals and find it's got so much backdrag that it's a pain. I also have an old (1946) SO 1/2" long handle that has such a terrible swing arc it's hard to use. Both are incredibly stout, sure, but they're awful daily use ratchets. I have a bunch of dual 80's in all sizes and types and they work much better in both swing and drag areas. I don't personally think the dual 80's are as life changing as many proclaim, but I do choose my higher tooth count rats over others almost all the time. I also have Gearwrench 84's, a mix of Cman's (new and old), and an old KD that is lower tooth but super smooth. I grab the lower count when I am working way out in the open, the lower tooth for everything else.