Best 1/2 ratchet?

[bonneyman]

Hard to go wrong with S-K, but - if you like vintage stuff - the Herbrand pear-heads are as smooth as glass. Even considering they're like only 20 teeth on the gear - cleaned and properly lubed they are the smoothest 1/2"er I've used. Liked it so much I hunted for and found the 3/8"er to go along with it.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I have a several SK ratchets and like them all. I also bought the 4 pack flex head GW 120xp. I'm a big fan of both. I usually use my SK 3870 and 45170 the most. The stubby 3/8 120xp gets used often as well.

For a 1/2 drive, I would call it a tie. I use my SK 42470 with the DT upgrade in smaller spots and the flex 1/2 GW 120xp when I need more leverage since it's longer. It's hard to pick the best ratchet; it's easier to pick a best ratchet for a certain job.

 

[WittHay]

For a regular handle I would get a DeWalt from Canadian Tire or a 12" Kobalt flex. For 15" either a Proto 5450Xl or a Gray 8740L. In 17" flex I have had good luck with a GearWrench 84T. In 24"to 26" either a Snap-on or Mac Axis

You can get three different ratchets for the price of one Snap-on. Along with a good impact , torque wrench and a couple of breaker bars you should be good to go

 

[L.Cheapo]

I feel you pain! There are so many good deals south of the border, but shipping and import kills the value.

Considering the exchange rate, you guys north of the border pay less for new SO tools. I'd rather have your deal!

 

[patchap]

If your in southern Ontario, fastek in st.catherines has 15" Allen fine tooth ratchets for $20. I can't see how you could find a better deal.

 

[Yarpo]

Husky 72 tooth 1/2" is cheap and good. It's half the cost of a Gearwrench 120, and a tiny fraction of the Snap-On.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BTEXPNU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-1-2-in-Drive-Flex-Lock-Ratchet-H10012FLRATN/301119695

The GW is actually cheaper. The regular 1/2 ratchet is about 10 dollars cheaper however.

That said are these ratchets even similar? Different style ratchets completely (Locking/QR) Are we sure these are made in the same factories? Honest question not directed directly at you.

 

[johndeereman]

I have both Gearwrench and Carlyle both in comfort grip they all have been great.

 

[ineedtools]

If your in southern Ontario, fastek in st.catherines has 15" Allen fine tooth ratchets for $20. I can't see how you could find a better deal.

WOW that is a great deal!

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[patchap]

Yeah I bought a half dozen over a year ago and they still post it in Kijiji. I think they bought a couple thousand of them.

 

[shawndp]

Considering the exchange rate, you guys north of the border pay less for new SO tools. I'd rather have your deal!

It only looks attractive. There’s a whole other pricing for SO here for us - don’t believe the SO site. I got a quote for C$ 6,441 tax in for a Classic 76 - comes to about USD5000 at today’s rate. Not sure what it costs for you, but I assure you we aren’t known for sweet deals in much here.

 

[collector947]

Snap on is expensive I know I own them all but there is no other ratchet that Carry's a lifetime warranty where they rebuild it at a drop of a hat or give you a new one because they don't have the parts and they're there every week and if you use rachets like I do I've broken almost every rachet you can imagine the choice is easy for me

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[collector947]

The only one that might come second is Matco snap on is King I've spent 30 thousand with them but they have made me ten times that easily

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[MTNSleder]

The only one that might come second is Matco snap on is King I've spent 30 thousand with them but they have made me ten times that easily

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hail king snap on

 

[MTNSleder]

I went through all the post and the Sk and Proto seem to fairly popular in this thread, The SK i can see being a pain to warranty the proto seems pretty decent though for my location.

 

[Wamsutta]

How about a big Wright round head?

 

[Tennessee Cattleman]

Snap-on dual 80 is best I have used, ratchets are the only thing I make it point to buy Snap-on.

 

[The Fall]

I don't think you'll have to worry about warranty with SK roundheads unless you go to ridiculous lengths to break it. Proto is awesome. I have both. The long-handle Proto is about an inch longer than the long-handle SK. SK has a higher tooth count. Both are excellent, but I'd give it to the SK due to the ability to upgrade to dual pawl and a higher tooth count to start with. I have a Snap-on 1/2 flex I got with a student discount. It's nice. But I wouldn't have paid full price for it. Nevertheless, Tennessee is right -- Snap-on does shine in the ratchet department. I still mostly use SK roundheads.

 

[Wamsutta]

How about a big Proto with a fay-com round head?

 

[Wamsutta]

How about a big beefy MAC pear head?

 

[Wamsutta]

How about a big smooooth Cornwell?

 

[Wamsutta]

The SH80A.

 

[davethorik]

How about a big Wright round head?

The long handle 4425 is even more better.
I got this a number of years ago on ebay for silly cheap nos. Looks like a 97 date code. I haven't used it much lately but it is a serious piece of hardware.

 

[Parrothead]

Husky 72 tooth 1/2" is cheap and good. It's half the cost of a Gearwrench 120, and a tiny fraction of the Snap-On.

I was playing around with those in the store a couple days ago they seem OK. I'm not sure if they'd hold up to everyday wrenching tho.

Then stay away from the Gearwrench too. Same company, same basic design.

I’ve not used the Husky in a pro environment (purchased after the fact), but I have little doubt it would preform just fine.

*See Husky/Matco Silver Eagle sockets as an example of APEX using the same thing for different brands.

 

[Wamsutta]

This has got to be the ultimate 1/2 drive ratchet right here. Expensive as heck but you can always put it next to your pillow at night. It'll replace your teddy bear.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-On-SH...689535?hash=item3b0688a77f:g:kkQAAOSw~vNas~fn

 

[isuhunter]

I expected to see more Carlyle recommendations.

 

[Flatheadpopup]

The Proto 5450xl is really nice. If you get it on one of the 20% off deals at zoro the price isn't bad either.

 

[patchap]

Isuhunter the OP is in Canada, Napa doesn't sell Carlyle tools here. They sell ultrapro tools here, they're okay but nothing special.

 

[jshillin]

I don't bust out 1/2" ratchets very often. If I need something that big, I generally grab an impact or a breaker bar when it will work. If I do grab a 1/2" ratchet, I have an old coarse tooth, long handle Snap-On that I generally grab.

 

[Alaniho]

Another option for a very strong and chunky 1/2" is this Bahco;
This has the exact same internals as the Dual80 Snap-on but less expensive.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006MHEGCS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.bahco.com/en/p/reversible-ratchet-12/6e-5e-18-56-67-6f-50-f6-d3-4c-3b-f9-db-c3-99-55/

 

[anndel]

The SH80A.

+1 Love this ratchet

 

[MTNSleder]

Another option for a very strong and chunky 1/2" is this Bahco;
This has the exact same internals as the Dual80 Snap-on but less expensive.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006MHEGCS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.bahco.com/en/p/reversible-ratchet-12/6e-5e-18-56-67-6f-50-f6-d3-4c-3b-f9-db-c3-99-55/

Even looks like a snap on!

 

[MTNSleder]

Isuhunter the OP is in Canada, Napa doesn't sell Carlyle tools here. They sell ultrapro tools here, they're okay but nothing special.

I wish they'd start selling Carlyle tools here in Canada.

 

[davethorik]

I have the standard handle version of this ratchet, and it is really a joy to use.

I have the long handle SLL80A it is my first dual 80 and it is damn nice!

 

[matthew]

I'd make a couple of suggestions:
- for a 1/2" drive, buy a long-handled ratchet. I personally like the fixed handles over the flex ones, I have a 15" long one that's just feels right to me.
- the UltraPro stuff from NAPA in Canada is actually pretty good - I think the new 90 tooth ratchets they have may even be the same as Carlyle. Take a look at those. If you watch their sales you can probably find one for a good price.
- Princess Auto has a long 1/2" flex going on sale shortly - I just got the flier, I think it was Titan brand. They also have some fixed head ones available that I think you'd find a significant upgrade.
- watch Amazon - I've seen a few Williams items for reasonable prices.

My long 1/2" is only a 36 tooth, which I find adequate, as when I need to work in tighter spaces I usually use 3/8".

 

[davethorik]

I'd make a couple of suggestions:
- for a 1/2" drive, buy a long-handled ratchet. I personally like the fixed handles over the flex ones, I have a 15" long one that's just feels right to me.
- the UltraPro stuff from NAPA in Canada is actually pretty good - I think the new 90 tooth ratchets they have may even be the same as Carlyle. Take a look at those. If you watch their sales you can probably find one for a good price.
- Princess Auto has a long 1/2" flex going on sale shortly - I just got the flier, I think it was Titan brand. They also have some fixed head ones available that I think you'd find a significant upgrade.
- watch Amazon - I've seen a few Williams items for reasonable prices.

My long 1/2" is only a 36 tooth, which I find adequate, as when I need to work in tighter spaces I usually use 3/8".

I agree. After I got my first long 1/2, I pretty much stopped using my standard length 1/2 rats. Not as many mfrs offer extra long like the SLL80A, but plenty offer a long, basically pick what flavor you like and start wrenchin'