Best 3/8 drive ratchets (short & long)?

[Hacksaw]

Okay, I need some input here before I spend any more money needlessly!

Years ago I bought a stubby little 3/8 drive ratchet from a long defunct parts store. A no-name tool...just a small, chrome ratchet maybe six inches long with a nice, round design...comfortable and easy to fit into tight spots. A godsend for doing spark plugs on Ford vans with the 460 (7.5 litre) engine!

Anyhow, after nearly 20 years, I finally broke it...along with the standard size Craftsman 3/8 drive ratchet that had served me so well since the early 80s! I saw the new Craftsman ratchets and don't like them at all.

I bought a long handled 3/8 ratchet from the Matco tool guy, and it is a terd! It can't handle hardly any torque without slipping or locking up! Beyond maybe snugging valve cover bolts, it's completely useless!

(By contrast, it took a length of pipe maybe three feet long with me hanging on it to finally hurt my long-time stand-by ratchets! )

Now, normally I really like Matco tools and prefer them over most all others, but I'm sure not a fan of their ratchets! What do you guys recommend in the way of a standard length and a 'shorty" 3/8 ratchet?

What are you currently using and love to death?!

Thanks in advance!

 

[oldgoat]

Most of my 3/8 ratchets are Craftsman that are probably 20+ years old. The Craftsman ratchets they have in the store now seem to be very coarse, but the professional series seem to be a good feel to them. Your Craftsman ratchet they should repair or replace though.

 

[Hacksaw]

Your Craftsman ratchet they should repair or replace though.

They tried to give me one of the new ones, and I didn't like the feel of it at all. I'll spend the good dollar to get a good tool, I just don't want to take stabs in the dark.

I have a 1/4 drive Snap-On ratchet and it works great, but the Snap-On guy doesn't keep shorty 3/8 ratchets on his truck and doesn't seem to want to order one.

My first choice would be something available through a retail outlet or mail order, but if the unanimous recommendation ends up being Snap-On, I can find a vendor to sell me one.

Although, honestly...I just wish I could find another stubby little 3/8 like the one I had! It worked flawlessly for almost 20 years and only set me back $3.99! It was a surprise bargain!

(Anyone here qualified to FIX such a ratchet for me???)

 

[Fast Orange]

SK is the way to go-they've got the best and strongest mechanism of any I've had. Of the 10-12 ratchets I have,I prefer the SKs over the Snap-Ons,Macs and Craftsmans that I have. I have yet to break a SK,but I have done in the others. For the money,they're the best out there. The best pricing I've found is at www.thetoolwarehouse.net . There are appearance issues with the knurling on the handles of the last SK I bought (1/4" drive purchased about 3 months ago),but the strength and mechanical performance is great.

George

 

[Uncle Buck]

Get a gut kit from sears for your old Cman ratchet that you admittedly liked, and while you are there, buy their shorty 3/8. If they don't have one order one out of the sears tool catalog. I have Snap-On short, compact, bent, long, etc... but I still look to sears more often than not. My 2 bits.

 

[Hacksaw]

SK is the way to go-they've got the best and strongest mechanism of any I've had.

George

Thanks, George...I think my little 3/8 ratchet just may be an old SK, actually! It took ALOT of grunt to finally break it! I will definitely look into SK and pick up a stubby 3/8 from them if I can locate one!

 

[Fast Orange]

FWIW- Tool Warehouse is showing 2 stubby 3/8 SK professional ratchets-both are under $25-one is a "slim design" at 4-3/4" long,looks like a 1/4" drive body with 3/8" guts-the other looks like a shortened 3/8" at 4-1/2" long.
Also-all of my SKs are "professional"-I haven't tried the "Tuff ones" or the palm control ratchets.

George

 

[kartracer55]

This topic comes down to nothing more than personal preference and experience.

I recently bought a proto Bigdawg ratchet and its an awesome ratchet for the money. Its got a fine tooth feel to it and its got a fine swing arc (something line 7*?) and It has about 10teeth engaged at once, so its strong as hell. Goes for about 45$ from MSC.

Snap on makes a great ratchet as well, but I have found that many times for low drag nuts and bolts, the pawl spring is TOO strong so Ive had to resort to taking them out by hand. (I also managed to break one).

I have SK ratchets, and I like them alot, but as George stated, the a few of the newer ones I have seen have had a few appearance issues with the knurling, but otherwise an awesome tool.

The sears Professional ratchets are fun to play with in the stores, however I havnt used them so I cant really comment.

Wright tools ratchets are supposed to be very nice as well, great reputation, but I cant get my hands on one. Armstrong is anothe rbrand to look at, I am actually considering buying one in 1/2 soon.

Jim

 

[Coach James]

I have a SK 3/8" 18 degree offset palm control. After I got used to it, I really like it. I also like the Proto 3/8" I got off Ebay. Brand new for $20. Only bad thing is that it's not quick release.

My Craftsman are all the standard tear drop and are ok, especially for the price but they're not my favorites.

I've got several old Blackhawks, New Britains and an old Husky that I really like as well.

I have a Cornwell stubby 3/8" I found out in the road several years ago. The plastic grip on the handle is scratched but the ratchet works great. Really smooth.
Coach

 

[Luckydevil]

I remember reading a thread on here a while back and a few guys had said that the Facom Palm Control ratchets were the cream of the crop.

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/skfj161l.html

One of these bad boys will be my next tool purchase...

 

[Klutterking]

I've had goodluck buying new & used rachets on Ebay. The best one was the 1/2 drive long handle MAC rachet for $22. Never used.

The 3/8 SK long bent handle flex head rachet is my favorite to use. I bought 2 others off eBay to put in my other toolboxes as well.

Check your local pawn shop for tool deals as well.

Billy

 

[Hacksaw]

Check your local pawn shop for tool deals as well.

Billy

Good idea! I always forget about those, and there's several of them around here! I've picked up some smokin' baragins there in the past!

Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I have only needed a long one twice, so I have borrowed a long Matco, and a long Craftsman. Normally the reason I would need a long one, is just for more leverage, so I switch to a breaker bar, or the next bigger ratchet (ie 3/8 to 1/2).
The short one on the other hand, I bought one model, and got another model as a christmas gift. I bought the 3/8" stubby Snap~on, don't like that one very well (FK936) as the design was changed from the old ball end style. The one I received as a gift, I highly reccommend (FC936) 3/8" ratchet in a 1/4" body. Works well in tight spaces, and on vans, I seem to use it, with the extra long Mac spark plug socket. (I chose the Mac over the Snap~on as you can use a gearwrench on the end of it).
As for the Craftsman Ratchets, I plan on returning all the standard ones for a gift card, to get other tools. I use either the catalog only, round head fine tooth ones, or the sealed head, low profile ones. NO COMPARISON.
I have Snap~on, Craftsman, SK, Husky (way way way, pre home depot days), 1 Husky (home depot, same as Mac, Proto, Blackhawk, Stanley), 1 Benchtop, and I think a couple more.

 

[eschoendorff]

Another vote for SK. As far as ratchets, I have SK, Craftsman, Proto, Husky, Facom (nice!), Allen, Kobalt, MAC, Snap On, Williams and Armstrong and I love them all. As far as SK, I have a palm control 3/8 and I just picked up a professional series SK 3/8 at a pawnshop today for $10. I opened it up to clean it and was VERY impressed at the mechanism. Very efficient, very strong. I would buy an SK ratchet if I were in the market for yet another ratchet.

 

[Hacksaw]

Here's a picture of the rascal in question. It's small, but unbelievably comfortable! It also fits right where you need it to...ideal for spark plug changes on LOTS of different vehicles!

MIGHT be an OLD S-K?

Would love to get my lil buddy here repaired, but replacement seems more likely!

 

[Uncle Buck]

I bet not on SK, I think if it were, you would find their brand on it somewhere. Why a thumbs down on the same thing in Craftsman? Do you just not like the feel of any of their newer ratchets?

 

[Katbird]

hacksaw I bought a set like that 25 years ago at a local flea market. I got 3 ratchets in one pak including a 1/4" and 3/8" and 1/2" all for 6 bucks back then and they were a no name with no writing at all on them, even the pak was plain with just clear plastic. I still have the 1/2" and 3/8" but never use them. I can look at them and be reminded how times were hard back then.

 

[bmwpower]

Here's a picture of the rascal in question. It's small, but unbelievably comfortable! It also fits right where you need it to...ideal for spark plug changes on LOTS of different vehicles!

MIGHT be an OLD S-K?

Would love to get my lil buddy here repaired, but replacement seems more likely!

I'm almost 100% positive that is a Craftsman ratchet. My father has the same one. It was my ratchet of choice until I moved out and got my own stuff.

 

[Hacksaw]

they were a no name with no writing at all on them, even the pak was plain with just clear plastic. I still have the 1/2" and 3/8" but never use them. I can look at them and be reminded how times were hard back then.

That sounds like this one! It came in a no-name blister pack with a blue cardboard backing that just said "3/8" Drive Ratchet"!

You wanna sell your 3/8 that you never use???

 

[kartracer55]

its definetly asian, but aside from the blister pack, check out hwo the guts are held in place... Cheap asian ratchets notoriously use those 1 1/2 twist rings to hold it together. They are a ***** to take out and put in, and they areprobably cheaper for the machine to assemble with rather than screws or a traditional snap ring.

Check astro pnuematic. Its all taiwanese stuff, but they have ratchets that have the little "ball" on the end of the handle just like that.

Jim

 

[wrenchr]

Snap-on is hands down my favorite. I have broke them but I have broke just about every good ratchet out there. Cant wait to get my hands on the new snap on flex head FLF80. Matco is a overly polished version of Cman, And I have owned both. Still do, just your preference.
Great neck and duralast have some pretty good nock offs of snap on and you can get these @ auto zone, cheap and life time warranty.

 

[Coach James]

A couple months ago, I bought a Wright 3/8 ratchet. It's 7 inches long and is A+ good. Comfortable to use and smooth.

Great Neck does have a lifetime warrenty, but you have to send the ratchet and sales slip back to the company for replacement/repair. And the Duralast ratchets are crazy expensive at our AutoZone.

Coach

 

[Deafautotech]

Snap-on is hands down my favorite. I have broke them but I have broke just about every good ratchet out there. Cant wait to get my hands on the new snap on flex head FLF80. Matco is a overly polished version of Cman, And I have owned both. Still do, just your preference.
Great neck and duralast have some pretty good nock offs of snap on and you can get these @ auto zone, cheap and life time warranty.

I just bought FLF80 from my snap on guy when he show me and i just used it to break loose on bolt that feel like 100 ft lbs but it break loose and ratchet are very smmoth than FLF936! i already paid it and my snap on sold me for 95 dollars instead 100 dollars. i had used it to break loose some bolts to see if it will break or not. but it still work good and great ratchet that i bought it. it will break loose at 250 ft lbs....

 

[wrenchr]

My Wife ordered me the FLF80 for my B-Day. Cant wait to put it thru it's pace's!!
Auto zone has been having sale's on their tools, They had their ratchet set's over half off of sticker. I think this is a good alternative to the more exspensive brands. I myself use Snap on Mac and Matco and some Cornwell.
I'm new to this site, Hello everyone!!

 

[Uncle Buck]

My Wife ordered me the FLF80 for my B-Day. Cant wait to put it thru it's pace's!!
Auto zone has been having sale's on their tools, They had their ratchet set's over half off of sticker. I think this is a good alternative to the more exspensive brands. I myself use Snap on Mac and Matco and some Cornwell.
I'm new to this site, Hello everyone!!

Hello and a hearty welcome to you! Come on in and enjoy the company neighbor!

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

SK is the way to go-they've got the best and strongest mechanism of any I've had. Of the 10-12 ratchets I have,I prefer the SKs over the Snap-Ons,Macs and Craftsmans that I have. I have yet to break a SK,but I have done in the others. For the money,they're the best out there. The best pricing I've found is at www.thetoolwarehouse.net . There are appearance issues with the knurling on the handles of the last SK I bought (1/4" drive purchased about 3 months ago),but the strength and mechanical performance is great.

George

don't get any anti freeze in them

 

[Rickster]

I always reach for my SK Roto ratchet first. 3/8 drive. I've been trying to buy the Snapon version off eBay but the darn used price always manages to get within pennies of the new price.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I always reach for my SK Roto ratchet first. 3/8 drive. I've been trying to buy the Snapon version off eBay but the darn used price always manages to get within pennies of the new price.

I know the SO ratchets are nice, but why replace your perfectly good SK when I am sure it performs just fine?

I got an idea, why not sell me the SK to help fund that SO you want?

 

[Coach James]

don't get any anti freeze in them

Why not?


Coach

 

[kidney]

Why not?


Coach

Yeah? Last thing you would want is a frozen ratchet.

 

[Spookrider]

SK Fine tooth or Reg. Ratchet is Prime Choice in tool I own a SK set and I love it. Also my second best is a Snap-On bent handle/flex head ratchet.

 

[MAD]

I always reach for my SK Roto ratchet first. 3/8 drive. I've been trying to buy the Snapon version off eBay but the darn used price always manages to get within pennies of the new price.

I know the SO ratchets are nice, but why replace your perfectly good SK when I am sure it performs just fine?

I got an idea, why not sell me the SK to help fund that SO you want?

I love my SK roto head ratchet too. Personally I don't think the Snap-on could be any better. (although I have never owned a Snap-on round head ratchet) Ebay is full of people bidding up Snap-on stuff to stupid prices. My SK roto head ratchet from ebay was $23 including the shipping.

 

[wrenchr]

That is the nice thing about SK, If you are purchasing them second hand that is. They are very comparable to The big three in craftman's ship.
I'm not a big fan of knurled handle's on my ratchet's though.

 

[JB740i]

I love my SK roto head ratchet too. Personally I don't think the Snap-on could be any better. (although I have never owned a Snap-on round head ratchet) Ebay is full of people bidding up Snap-on stuff to stupid prices. My SK roto head ratchet from ebay was $23 including the shipping.

I wonder if it's just so they don't have to find the truck. And maybe they don't know about purchasing off the website?

 

[MAD]

I wonder if it's just so they don't have to find the truck. And maybe they don't know about purchasing off the website?

I don't know. I have bought from three different Snap-on dealers. One good one, One bad one, and one ok one. All three of them were willing to give a discount for paying cash. It seems to me that the finance charge for the $$$/week for the rest of your life payment plan is built into the list price. I see no reason to pay anything close to list price for used Snap-on unless it is a rare item.

 

[bmwpower]

Comon' people. Where's the mention of the Big Dawg by Proto? I love this thing. For $20, it can't be beat. Very powerful.

 

[Rickster]

Why am I looking into the Snapon roto-head ratchet? I have found myself gravitating towards the comfort grips. I'm looking for the older Snapon hard plastic grip though. Although I have to admit like bmwpower stated above the Proto has a nice hefty sized feel to it and you sure as hell can't beat the price for that high a level of quality.

 

[ImportTuner]

don't get any anti freeze in them

Why ? ... when is anti freeze bad on tools ?

 

[wrenchr]

Why am I looking into the Snapon roto-head ratchet? I have found myself gravitating towards the comfort grips. I'm looking for the older Snapon hard plastic grip though. Although I have to admit like bmwpower stated above the Proto has a nice hefty sized feel to it and you sure as hell can't beat the price for that high a level of quality.

I paid close to a $100.00 for a FL836 Neon green plastic grip handle on Ebay.
It was New old stock. These fetch big buck's because they dont make them any more.

 

[RAYJAY]

FACOM is no longer sk tools ..... Stanley bought them out for the us sales and Stanley is only stocking the 700 series in facom at time,

Jeff