Best fixed and flex head ratchets?
- Thread starter Itsreal93
- Start date
Asking that in here is like taking your **** out in the henhouse. The truthful answer is that there really is no "best". There is, however, no lack of o[pinion on which is best.
Tons of great options out there at every price point. Good luck in your quest.
Tons of great options out there at every price point. Good luck in your quest.
He's right. Other factors include budget, the type of work you do, whether it's professional vs. DIY, etc.
It's hard to go wrong these days IMHO.
joshmodelskidoo
Well-known member
Carlyle from napa
Tekton has one stop shopping.
www.tekton.com
They also have quick release and build your own set options.
1/4, 3/8, 1/2 Inch Drive Ratchet and Breaker Bar Set | TEKTON
Includes: 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 inch drive ratchets, 3/8 and 1/2 inch drive breaker bars. 10 ratchets and 2 breaker bars. SDR99001.
They also have quick release and build your own set options.
mrjaw14
Well-known member
SK's prices are getting up there. For that class of money, and the uncertainty around SK's future, I'm Snap-On all day long. If that's too much, I'd consider gearwrench, carlyle, tekton, or whatever varient of taiwan sourced ratchets that uses similar mechanisms.
kelpaso1
MEMBER EMERITUS
I have had SO for the last 35 years and the heads have not loosened up and flop around like most other cheaper ratchets. Buy once, cry once.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
search the posts for different brand ratchets to get a feel for people's preferences but, be warned, things have gotten very tribal over brands and where a ratchet is made over the last few years.
There are more excellent ratchets available today than at any other time in history
There are more excellent ratchets available today than at any other time in history
Finance Guy
Well-known member
But which are your favorites for fixed and flex head? Proto's Precision 90's?
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Proto's Precision 90 series are sweet if you don't need a thin headed ratchet. I think proto's all metal handle with the two knurled bands is better than the MAC all metal handle. I also think PROTO price fixes their 90 tooth ratchets because, they often cost more than their MAC relatives.
In no particular order I like: Tekton 90 tooth series, MATCO comfort grip 88 tooth series, Gearwrench 84 or 90 tooth versions, Carlyle 90 tooth without quick release (these are disappearing), Gearwrench compact head 90 tooth fixed 8.4 inches long, Ko-Ken 72 tooth flex and fixed, again if you don't have space issues. That's enough to get you started.
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Capri and Snap-on are my favorite for ratchets. For fixed heads I don’t mind the Craftsman Gunmetal either.
RAS61
Well-known member
I'm a big fan of Proto ratchets, new or old, but I think the Armstrong Maxx 88 is my favorite
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d.mcfarland
Well-known member
Discontinued with the shutting down of Armstrong. You can however get close to the same thing through MATCO.
seber
Well-known member
I think we have reached a point where other than a few Chinese offerings, they are all really good. From thirty dollars up you are mostly paying for a name or COO. There are some minor differences but so subtle most people would never notice.
FuzzyTiger
Well-known member
For 1/4: Mac (with soft grip) locking flex or Nepros
For 3/8: Nepros compact head
For 1/2: Snap On
Nepros is the best. No doubt about that in my mind. But they don't have a locking flex head design and they don't offer soft grip. They are also too nice to abuse the way a 1/2 ratchet will be abused.
For 3/8: Nepros compact head
For 1/2: Snap On
Nepros is the best. No doubt about that in my mind. But they don't have a locking flex head design and they don't offer soft grip. They are also too nice to abuse the way a 1/2 ratchet will be abused.
Taiwan. Often near Japan quality products. I have the Gearwrench 81230P 120xp 4-piece set in 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 flex head. Excellent quality, 120 clicks (3 degree). Most of my tools are German and American (Stahlwille, WERA, Wiha, Knipex, Snap-On) and I'd put this Gearwrench set up there with the best of them.
They also make a fixed head set with the same ratchet/pawl setup. Oh another tip - you can buy the fix head set real cheap branded, SATA - same physical tool as the Gearwrench. Make sure they are 120xp and not the 84-tooth versions.
They also make a fixed head set with the same ratchet/pawl setup. Oh another tip - you can buy the fix head set real cheap branded, SATA - same physical tool as the Gearwrench. Make sure they are 120xp and not the 84-tooth versions.
Too many to list. It all depends on your budget
A lot of people like Nepros (too expensive) and Koken - I never used their ratchets, but will try in the future...
1/4 drive - Snap On (have several, old plastic handle feels nice in hand); for less money - SK (no issues). I do not have flex in 1/4 which is fancy brand name, thus hard to comment on flex (have a cheap one, no name)
3/8 drive - Snap On (have both fixed and flex), SK, Bonney
1/2 drive - not much experience, but SK is nice
I have some older Craftsman, but do not have enough experience to say good or bad...
...Again, we are all going to recommend mostly what we have and prefer... If the budget is tight, look for used SK Some cheaper tools are also sometimes very good - I still have 1/4" drive Duralast I bought decades ago and it still works good
For a flex I think somebody should put an opinion on flex bent handle (like Snap On F732, F852) - I never used one but can see how it can come handy in certain situations - I will probably get one if I get a good deal on CL or estate sale on one - probably worth a try...
A lot of people like Nepros (too expensive) and Koken - I never used their ratchets, but will try in the future...
1/4 drive - Snap On (have several, old plastic handle feels nice in hand); for less money - SK (no issues). I do not have flex in 1/4 which is fancy brand name, thus hard to comment on flex (have a cheap one, no name)
3/8 drive - Snap On (have both fixed and flex), SK, Bonney
1/2 drive - not much experience, but SK is nice
I have some older Craftsman, but do not have enough experience to say good or bad...
...Again, we are all going to recommend mostly what we have and prefer... If the budget is tight, look for used SK Some cheaper tools are also sometimes very good - I still have 1/4" drive Duralast I bought decades ago and it still works good
For a flex I think somebody should put an opinion on flex bent handle (like Snap On F732, F852) - I never used one but can see how it can come handy in certain situations - I will probably get one if I get a good deal on CL or estate sale on one - probably worth a try...
kelpaso1
MEMBER EMERITUS
I have two F732 and they are the ONLY ratchets I use daily. They also double as a speed handle very well. I hate the kind like the F852 with the plastic handle on them.
VolvoRyan
Well-known member
I love SK. Lots of round heads and LP90's. I would not buy SK until things settle down with their new situation, unless you are buying from a third party with the items *in stock*.
-Ryan
dnschmidt
Well-known member
I just bought the recently re-introduced ICON 3/8" long handled flex head and I like it a lot. I don't like detents in my flex heads and I'm not a fan of locking flex heads either so this ratchet checks all of my boxes.
Al Borland
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2016
- Messages
- 1,598
Define "Best"
Value $? Strongest? Shiniest? Best surrogate hammer
?
Value $? Strongest? Shiniest? Best surrogate hammer
?Thank you for input kelpaso1! Hopefully a good deal comes through soon
Itsreal93, look for used SK to try: I see them periodically and sometimes get as part of deals when buying tools. I sold at least 3 that I remember for $6-7/piece (3/8 drive) and probably something similar for 1/2 drive ones (I got them pretty cheap to and serviced them to make sure they work) They are easy to service, clean and some super lube makes them work like new.
If SK do not work well for you, you did not spent too much money and can upgrade to SO/Koken/Nepros or any other brand
If SK do not work well for you, you did not spent too much money and can upgrade to SO/Koken/Nepros or any other brand
Mr Ratchet
Well-known member
For flex I pick the Matco as the best in the locking version. For fixed still the Matco or Snap on. For less money the Gear wrench 84T in both types is hard to beat.
Kscardsfan
Well-known member
In my ratchet drawers I’ve got Snap On, Icon, made in USA Craftsman of about a 70 year time span, SK, and Proto and probably some others I’m forgetting. In this day and age its really hard to buy a bad ratchet if you do a little homework on them up front. Even the so called “cheap” Icon from Harbor Freight/Carlyle from Napa are light years better than anything that was available 20 years ago, maybe even 10 years ago.
The best ratchet is 30% of the 50 ratchets for each forum member who bothers to reply!
Hence my tekton listing.... it'd cost a pretty penny to replicate what I've got...if you wanna throw down for Mac Axis, Snap On Dual 80, and Matco 88 units, be prepared for the sticker shock.
RAS61
Well-known member
If you're cheap like me and want a great flex head ratchet on a budget you could follow this old thread of how to mate a Matco flex head to a Capri breaker bar handle - it came out great!
www.garagejournal.com
"Build" a Matco swivel ratchet for $33
start here for $25: Edit, new listing again (3/1/18 5:45pm), $29 now: https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-MATCO-BRTBSLS-RATCHET-REPAIR-KIT-FOR-3-8-LOCKING-FLEX-FLIP-LEVER-COMPLETE/263526402120? add one of these for $7.31 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00V3X3NJS/?tag=atomicindus08-20 add a...
www.garagejournal.com
Grant Gunderson
Well-known member
I've owned a lot of different ratchets over the years, from Craftsman, to Wera to Snapon and Nepros. These days, I have eliminated all of them except for the Nepros and Snapon. The Snapon Dual 80's are probably the defacto standard to beat. You get what you pay for and the warranty and service is top notch. That being said, I always reach for my Nepros ratchets first. Especially their 90 tooth compact heads. They have the best finish, and feel on the market IMOP and are probably the most compact as well. Once again they are not cheap, but you get what you pay for.
chappys4life
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2008
- Messages
- 421
Honestly my favorite are the gearwrench 90T flex heads. I go to them almost exclusively. In the same drawer are snap on dual 80 flex, icon flex and non flex, and some old round head craftsmans. I think the gearwrench feel the best and as a home use find the snap on to be a pain, have a 1/4 dual 80 that just *****. Been trying to get it rebuilt as a 3/8" but cannot get a local SO guy to call me.
pizza
Well-known member
snap on, nepros, koken (in no particular order)
This is a old post I know but can you share how the Capri flex joints hold up over time? I’m thinking about picking up a 1/2”.