Advice on Ratchets

[7avalon7]

Look at it this way, you buy a new Snap on ratchet for $100 bucks, use it daily and take care of it. In 10 to 20 years you can still get 50% to 100% or more of your money back when you sell it.. Buy any store brand or industrial brand and in most cases that ratchet is worth far less the second it is paid for and used.

Well... imho thats a wrong math...

If you buy a $100 ratchet, and in 10 years, you still get 50% when you sell it, which is $50.
If you buy a $20 ratchet, and invest $80 now, in 10 years, you easily own more than $100 even if that cheap ratchet worth $0. Ever heard of compound interest?

I have to agree with @bczygan. HF made a pretty good ratchet + easy local warranty. I also understand that is not what OP has in mind.

 

[Wamsutta]

The Bahco 1/2" ratchet with the Dual-80 SO guts is a great buy. Usually way less than 50% of the SO cost. But then your buying quality without the name tag. For many the brand name is at least as important.

They could leave the brand name completely off the ratchet and it wouldn't bother me at all; as long as I know it's made in Elizabethton Tennessee, the Snap-on factory.

 

[seanb02]

Honestly, I don't care what name is on the ratchet. If it feels good in the hand and performs to my expectations. Warranty is very important, with a quality ratchet hopefully I'll never have to use the warranty, but let's face it things that are used regularly will wear out eventually. If it lasts 30 years then warranty is of less concern at that point because I have gotten my moneys worth out of it long before that point.

However, in this market where there are a lot of new products available, and others dying off, lifetime warranty now on something may not mean anything 5 or 10 years down the line if the company dies off. Gearwrench comes to mind in this potential scenario, and so does Carlyle for that matter. I've got a lot of money into SK stuff post Ideal taking them out of bankruptcy, while they don't have a great marketing setup, they offer excellent products with relatively easy warranties and I'm not too worried about them long term.

I'm not a hobbyist mechanic, if I was then my priorities would be entirely different. My tools get used, and even dare I say very occasionally abused. This is the nature of farm work where half of the repairs done are in a field somewhere. I take good care of my tools so that they will take care of me, however I am certainly not a tool polisher though I do wipe the grimy stuff down before it goes back in the truck. The weather changes are also quite rough on tools that spend their days in the service body of a truck, much more so than in a toolbox in a shop. Stuff gets dropped in the mud or sand at times, not on purpose, just the nature of the work.

While I do have a few Harbor Freight items, realistically speaking HF offerings are not going to hold up long term to real work. Not only that, but they just don't fit as well on fasteners, and when we are talking about a 50+ year old rusty piece of farm equipment that fit can be the difference between getting something apart with a breaker bar versus pulling out the cutting torch.

I know that is going beyond my original ratchet discussion, but maybe it gives you folks a better idea of what I have to deal with in terms of my turning wrenches.

 

[seanb02]

For those that have mentioned HF, has anybody on here actually used them daily in a real work environment for 5+ years with success? I'm going to figure on highly doubtful. I started out with USA Craftsman, didn't take me long of warrantying stuff to realize that it wasn't going to work. I've tried a few things from Husky in hand tools, after a few months realized they weren't going to work long term.

In the spirit of honesty, my HF Pittsburg Taiwan 1/2" Deep impacts are still in the game. I bought those close to 10 years ago for home use before I even started turning wrenches professionally. That is just about all that has pulled through from the cheaper tools I purchased years ago for weekend use on my own stuff and working on friends stuff from time to time.

 

[Wamsutta]

Are looking at comfort handles or all steel?

 

[d.mcfarland]

Also due to the nature of my work, I don't want any kind of comfort grips. Really like the look of the Wrights posted above, may have to get some a bit further down the line just to have. But for now I'm more focused on pear head fine tooth.

^^^^^^

Are looking at comfort handles or all steel?

 

[davo727]

Anyone know if the Snap on comfort grip will withstand Skydrol hydraulic fluid (aircraft) ? Im betting not.

I use plastic handle snap ons at work and the skydrol doesnt hurt them.

 

[seanb02]

Are looking at comfort handles or all steel?

I like the comfort grip stuff. However in a farm environment, and in accidental contact with all kinds of different chemicals, I'm strictly looking for the standard type of handle without the grips.

 

[Specs]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=384960

I just made one cause I dont have a FLL80. There are enough ideas in there to make a full range of ratchets with an easy to warranty head.

Also, roll up a fatigue mat square (the kind that do the lego thing) and drop that under where you’re working to stop tools going into mud and soften drops.

Oh yeah snap on and harbor freight... if i dont mention them, my post is invalid

 

[WittHay]

Don't rule out GearWrench completely. I have 3 flex-head 84T in 1/4 drive, 3/8 drive and 1/2 drive. Worked on a piece of equipment today with 10 4 hole flange bearings for 1 1/2" shafts. Replacing some of the bearings, zipped them off with a hi-torque impact will tighten them up with a GearWrench 1/2 flex rarchet tommorrow

The most useful 3/8 ratchet I own is a Snap-on FL80 perfect length for smaller rusty fasteners. The Proto 45 tooth 5450XL is a good 15" 1/2 ratchet. I own Snap-on, Mac, GearWrench and Proto pearhead ratchets all of them are metal handles

 

[Wamsutta]

I like the comfort grip stuff. However in a farm environment, and in accidental contact with all kinds of different chemicals, I'm strictly looking for the standard type of handle without the grips.

The steel handle of a Williams B-52EHLA with an F80 head would be sweet.

.

 

[davethorik]

I believe the op stated no comfort grip. I recommended Snap-on dual 80 used because he seemed concerned with quality. To be fair, i prefer their metal grips over comfort grip, Snap-on are not my ideal, even tho the action is very nice. I much prefer Cornwell metal handles but I like their ratchets in old school 30t.

My SLL80A has an oversized handle diameter, but yet the metal grip is the same size as smaller ratchets. Therefore it's dinky and awkward to use 1 handed. I wish it was along the lines of the SN36 breaker bar and had a larger grip. In every other regard it is a badass ratchet, and I smile every time I pick it up.

The Proto premium pear heads are very good ratchets as well, however there are no 45t proto premium flex heads. Their handle is reminiscent of an old Herbrand pear head, smooth with 2 narrow bands of knurling at top and bottom of handle, the Proto having a more convex handle. I have extra long in both 3/8 and 1/2, and they are great tools. The 3/8 has an intuitive feel, the 1/2 is beyond uber beefy...and both have a crisp, clean action with 45 teeth. Action is also sealed against fluid intrusion with 2 o-rings with a strong single pawl design with multiple tooth contact.

Wright as mentioned also qualifies as a truck brand tool just for overall features and finish. The Matco/Wright contour grip ratchets are great but I prefer the old school knurling as well as the Tootsie Roll on my Wrights. The action is amazing, especially dropping a brand new twin pawl rebuild kit in a 3/8 ratchet that originally had a single pawl and is moderately worn. The knurling is traditional, and is not excessively aggressive like I've found SK to be, with handle being considerably larger.

 

[Wamsutta]

I believe the op stated no comfort grip. I recommended Snap-on dual 80 used because he seemed concerned with quality. To be fair, i prefer their metal grips over comfort grip, Snap-on are not my ideal, even tho the action is very nice. I much prefer Cornwell metal handles but I like their ratchets in old school 30t.

If it were possible, how would you like a Williams handle with an F80 head?

.

 

[Tonyuk]

Wera make some great all steel ratchets that are pretty smooth;

Bit shorter than the Williams but not by much really, although theres no flex head option for the Wera's;

 

[Wamsutta]

You've got a good looking left hand Tony.

 

[davethorik]

Why do you like the Cornwell handle better? The reason I like it is because it has a smooth comfortable feel without the turned grooves that cut into my hand like the Snap-ons do.

The closest approximation I can come to for Cornwell metal handles, otherwise in the tool world, would have to be the ribbed rubber grips Nupla offers on their hammers, that get gradually larger by end of handle.

You swing your arm, working it loose, but the grip just shakes your hand back, and swinging your arm with elbow as pivot, as hard as you fight to hold on it holds back equally. They just stay there. Cornwell ratchets are the same- however they are round not oval in cross section, so they can rotate away from you in spirited use.

As a test I swung my 27-3/8 Cornwell SRF76L flex one handed in my right (dominant) hand as hard as I could, as I was unable to break the detented flex head from 180°. The Cornwell has both a larger handle diameter as well as grip diamater, they are proportionate, while the 23-1/8" fixed head Snap-on SLL80A has a larger diameter handle but same sized grip as standard 1/2 ratchet. The Cornwell wants to work with you but the Snap-on wants to take the day off.

 

[davethorik]

7

If it were possible, how would you like a Williams handle with an F80 head?

.

I guess I'll reply to them all lol. I have handled the Williams in 1/4 flex head flavor. I have not tried it in 3/8 or 1/2. I think I would like it more than Snap-on handle, although the Williams flex in 1/2 is around 14"ish and shorter than a standard 1/2 flex from just about everyone including Snap-on, it was a contender when I was looking but I always go longer if possible. I ended up with Cornwell SRF76A, at 17-3/8". The 36t mechanism in Snap-on/Williams is smooth though- I have an older 24t SL710 Snap-on and recently upgraded it to 32t, and it has always been smooth. I thought Snap-on ratchets were smoothest of all til I tried Cornwell.

 

[Musicinabottle]

Wera make some great all steel ratchets that are pretty smooth;

Bit shorter than the Williams but not by much really, although theres no flex head option for the Wera's;

Is that David Prewitt's hand?

 

[CR888]

Wera make some great all steel ratchets that are pretty smooth;

Bit shorter than the Williams but not by much really, although theres no flex head option for the Wera's;

Don't you love it when someone quotes a half page post full of pics to write a few words under it. In all seriousness every YouTube torture test I've seen on ratchets has had a Snap On ratchet break well before a Gearwrench (if it breaks at all). So I'm looking for a perfectly chromed Taiwan ratchet that I can put a Snap On emblem on to tick all the important boxes. With proven Taiwan quality, perfect harbour freight chrome finish & a SO badge, no one will tease me at work anymore and I'll actually get to spend my lunch money on lunch.

 

[Specs]

So I'm looking for a perfectly chromed Taiwan ratchet that I can put a Snap On emblem on to tick all the important boxes. With proven Taiwan quality, perfect harbour freight chrome finish & a SO badge, no one will tease me at work anymore and I'll actually get to spend my lunch money on lunch.

.... And comes with a chance at one of five golden sockets....

The S&K 90 tooth shows promise and OP not betraying the brand

 

[AmishFury]

I like the comfort grip stuff. However in a farm environment, and in accidental contact with all kinds of different chemicals, I'm strictly looking for the standard type of handle without the grips.

in that case for 3/8" i personally don't care for the metal handle snap-on... the handle part is too small for my liking... YMMV but i like the matco and mac axis metal handles better (even though the ones i personally own are grip handle versions)

now you could get snap-on with the hard screwdriver type handle

 

[Citation]

Get two sets of Husky ratchets. They have good warranty support and work well. If one gives you **** you can replace it when using the other one and still be out less money vs some of the other options.

 

[Mr_B]

carlyle is a superb choice and likely easier/faster warranty than snapon, if you run an account with your local Napa they'll even collect/deliver your warranty items .
Snapon do some superb ratchets no doubts on that.
gearwrench 84T is very underrated and main let down is warranty with them, nice designed tool and potentially silly cheap .

 

[seanb02]

carlyle is a superb choice and likely easier/faster warranty than snapon, if you run an account with your local Napa they'll even collect/deliver your warranty items .
Snapon do some superb ratchets no doubts on that.
gearwrench 84T is very underrated and main let down is warranty with them, nice designed tool and potentially silly cheap .

I do run an account with the local Napa. And do quite frequent business with them as well. I'll have to check my most recent sales flyer and see if there are any deals in there on ratchets. Maybe I'll shoot the regional sales rep a text and see what he can find for me.

 

[seanb02]

Definitely lot of options being tossed in the mix. Anybody heard any sort of ETA on any more of the latest SK offerings? I am starting to like my LP90 again now that I think I got it working properly. Didn't think they would take this long release any of the others.

 

[JuliusPepperwood]

Search eBay for good deals on snap on ratchets in 3/8 and 1/2 drive. With 1/4 drive ratchets it doesn’t act actually matter hop you go with. My 1/4 are harbor freight and duralast. Although if u have a use for the snap on extra long 1/4 go for it.

Williams is also owned by snap on and their ratchets look the same.

 

[Snaparxon]

Well... imho thats a wrong math...

If you buy a $100 ratchet, and in 10 years, you still get 50% when you sell it, which is $50.
If you buy a $20 ratchet, and invest $80 now, in 10 years, you easily own more than $100 even if that cheap ratchet worth $0. Ever heard of compound interest?

I have to agree with @bczygan. HF made a pretty good ratchet + easy local warranty. I also understand that is not what OP has in mind.

How many $20 ratchets are you going to buy in 10 years? How many band-aids?

 

[paulsomlo]

I see that Bahco makes a 72t w/QR (https://www.bahco.com/en/p/reversible-ratchet-38-72-teeth-5-action-angle/ef-e6-f3-a4-8b-b5-fd-b9-e7-ec-4d-94-6c-df-9c-0f/), as well as a 60t w/QR (https://www.bahco.com/en/p/reversible-ratchet-38/e7-5e-cc-50-e0-9b-3a-1a-b9-b3-84-fa-57-e9-bc-34/). Does anybody have experience with either of these? Nothing against 80t, but I like quick release. Also, where can you buy Bahco here in the states? Searching turns up scant results.

 

[cesski]

I see that Bahco makes a 72t w/QR (https://www.bahco.com/en/p/reversible-ratchet-38-72-teeth-5-action-angle/ef-e6-f3-a4-8b-b5-fd-b9-e7-ec-4d-94-6c-df-9c-0f/), as well as a 60t w/QR (https://www.bahco.com/en/p/reversible-ratchet-38/e7-5e-cc-50-e0-9b-3a-1a-b9-b3-84-fa-57-e9-bc-34/). Does anybody have experience with either of these? Nothing against 80t, but I like quick release. Also, where can you buy Bahco here in the states? Searching turns up scant results.

I have the 1/4" version non-QR comfort grip Bahco, and I love it! Bought mine off of eBay/Amazon.

 

[sberry]

I was I a HF store yesterday. If I was starting over would really have to consider starting there. 30 years ago my opinion would have been very different.
I bought a master set from Sears 40 years ago and it was a disappointment from the older stuff I had but it was 10% the cost of snap then. The stuff that broke did it right out of the box, replacements lasted fine.

 

[sberry]

This is about the best ratchet I ever owned and probably over paid when I bought it over the counter but it lived in the tool pool where it saw more use than a single operator could likely give it. Never a loose screw. Fine action.
The one in the middle.

 

[greg86z28]

Snap on. Look on eBay or locally at a car part swap or something of the sort. I got brand new looking (might even have never been used) F80 for $45. It's the only way to go. Sockets could be something cheaper like used USA craftsman or new SK.

Greg

 

[seber]

Don't you love it when someone quotes a half page post full of pics to write a few words under it. In all seriousness every YouTube torture test I've seen on ratchets has had a Snap On ratchet break well before a Gearwrench (if it breaks at all). So I'm looking for a perfectly chromed Taiwan ratchet that I can put a Snap On emblem on to tick all the important boxes. With proven Taiwan quality, perfect harbour freight chrome finish & a SO badge, no one will tease me at work anymore and I'll actually get to spend my lunch money on lunch.

Other than Crapsman I have never even heard of a ratchet broken that didn't have a cheater on it. They wear out not break. If you are pulling a cheater out of your box then there is no excuse for not grabbing a breaker bar at the same time. Those torture tests have no value in the real world.

 

[Tonyuk]

How many $20 ratchets are you going to buy in 10 years? How many band-aids?

I have a great long-ish 3/8 flex head, from place called Halfords over here, it was part of their pro range (now called advance) and im sure it cost a bit under £20.

Im on my 3rd one from them, other two replaced under a lifetime warranty. Thankfully i haven't hurt anything when they others broke. It's a weakness of a flex head design, i've seen a few other brands like snap-on and matco fail at the hinge in the same way.

Dont count out lower priced tools, although the expensive ratchets are nice.

 

[CR888]

Other than Crapsman I have never even heard of a ratchet broken that didn't have a cheater on it. They wear out not break. If you are pulling a cheater out of your box then there is no excuse for not grabbing a breaker bar at the same time. Those torture tests have no value in the real world.

Yes sir all very true. I think ratchets have come a long way since times past. The weak failure prone point seems to be the driver square which is kinda good. Fine tooth pawls that grip a significant portion of the mechanism are stronger, smoother and better to use than ever before. I bought a brand new XL 1/2" Gearwrench flex head ratchet at auction for under $30. I happily remove lugs and other higher torque fasteners with it without hesitation. Yesterday I used it to remove a 1-1/16" hot water service anode bolt (& if you ever done them you'll know how tight they can be) and used a 4 ft cheater. I have a 24" breaker bar, but just like putting this 120xp to the test. Should the $26 tool fail I'll chuck a new rebuilt kit in and put it back to use. I think the 84t & 120xp ratchets are rated at 180% of required torque capability which should mean in 1/2" drive they can handle around 200ftlbs. And from experience that don't surprise me.

 

[kb1982]

If you would like to try out the 45 tooth Proto pearhead for cheap, check out this link. They are great ratchets really and for less than 20 bucks shipped can't be beat.
https://www.cleanitsupply.com/p-555...tKV87moUgeXvgUpZgA4VD-xcK4rXtb9kaAmjyEALw_wcB

Sent from my Z962BL using Tapatalk

 

[jsmeece]

If you would like to try out the 45 tooth Proto pearhead for cheap, check out this link. They are great ratchets really and for less than 20 bucks shipped can't be beat.
https://www.cleanitsupply.com/p-555...tKV87moUgeXvgUpZgA4VD-xcK4rXtb9kaAmjyEALw_wcB

Sent from my Z962BL using Tapatalk

24 tooth not 45.

 

[sk farmer]

24 tooth not 45.

if you really get the ratchet in the picture it is a 45 tooth model. i would be inclined to say the picture is correct and the info was not updated as the seller knows nothing about tools.

 

[jsmeece]

if you really get the ratchet in the picture it is a 45 tooth model. i would be inclined to say the picture is correct and the info was not updated as the seller knows nothing about tools.

Specs say 7 inch length, 45 tooth ratchet is 8 inch. You will likely get the 24 tooth ratchet.

Either the picture is wrong for the specs given or the specs are wrong for the picture, take your chances. Ask them before purchasing.

 

[Specs]

This thread was sooo long ago, i’d really hate to think SK Farmer didnt buy that rathet yet... btw Advance auto is doin 50% off gearwrench mechanic sets... so for $50, you get a 72t with sockets for free...