Can a roto head ratchet replace a flex head?

[mikey03]

I picked up a 1/4 drive snap on roto head ratchet for a good price this weekend and never owned one before. It’s the TNF72.

I had on my wish list to try to find a deal on a TF72 their flex 6” 1/4 drive but now I’m wondering if this roto can do everything a flex can do for the most part? Maybe it’s not as strong of a design but it’s 1/4 drive so prob good enough? Maybe also it’s a little wider head and might not fit as tight a spot?

I know the joke this is GJ we know two of every tool but seriously can the roto pretty much take the spot of a flex for the same handle length or not really?

 

[F-22]

Sure, they're practically the same tool for 99% of jobs.

 

[lund]

Roto heads sacrifice slightly with clearance but have advantages too. You can flip the handle up to quickly spin off fasteners. The axis also allows you to put downward pressure. Over the years I find myself using them much more than flex heads. Ironic since I thought they were silly at first.

I also have a snap on roto head with a 3/8 anvil in a 1/4 body. That gets in very tight locations. I find it super useful on modern cars with so much packed and tricky access. I also use a stubby 1/2 roto a lot to quickly take off suspension type fastners after they are broken off with a long handle wrench. That works very well without going all the way to bulkier (but faster) battery impacts (I am not a pro so I do not need max speed).

If you are like me, roto ratchets will grow on you the more you use them.

 

[shoggoth80]

I'm a big fan of rotohead ratchets. I've got 1/4 and 3/8. If I'm breaking out a 1/2, I've also got the clearance to use it. Lol.
I would say yes, they perform a similar function, I can manipulate a roto a bit smoother over or around obstructions than a typical flex head... So they get the nod from me.

 

[Rabid Badger]

My rotos are my go-to ratchets for 90% of the work I do. My only flex head is my long-handle 1/2 inch.

 

[AEAdam]

I have no rotos. If I had yours, I’d be very tempted to put a 3/8” conversion kit in it. I’d like to do that with one that has a handle, preferable hard handle.

 

[mikey03]

I have no rotos. If I had yours, I’d be very tempted to put a 3/8” conversion kit in it. I’d like to do that with one that has a handle, preferable hard handle.

I also have a snap on roto head with a 3/8 anvil in a 1/4 body.

I knew you could swap a 3/8 into a 1/4 pear head 80 tooth but didn’t know you could do that with the roto, so you guys have the part numbers to do that? With the pear you need a rebuild kit for the 3/8 and a face plate that fits the 3/8 anvil and I saw a YouTube video on that for the reg pear head but not the roto

 

[General Geoff]

I know the joke this is GJ we know two of every tool but seriously can the roto pretty much take the spot of a flex for the same handle length or not really?

Often, but not always, depending on the circumstance.

I have and use both!

 

[bonneyman]

Easy way out of any dilemma - buy both!

 

[mikey03]

Well I already got some flex 1/4 ratchets in different lengths but not the 6 inch range the roto is at. I got the long one about 10 inches and I got the tiny one about 2 inches

I’m trying to limit myself so I can avoid going into debt I just buy tools in cash when I find a good deal. So if I get the 6 inch flex 1/4 that’s something else I can’t buy if that makes sense.

 

[BlackVersa2]

I happened onto a Snap-on THNF72 roto for cheap. Love that lil thing!! It's now my go-to 1/4 ratchet.
Also have an old SK 3/8 I like, I don't use it as much as the 1/4. But it's solid.

 

[lund]

I knew you could swap a 3/8 into a 1/4 pear head 80 tooth but didn’t know you could do that with the roto, so you guys have the part numbers to do that? With the pear you need a rebuild kit for the 3/8 and a face plate that fits the 3/8 anvil and I saw a YouTube video on that for the reg pear head but not the roto

I bought my version on ebay some time back at a pretty reasonable price. It is a snap on 1/4 roto body with a 3/8 anvil. I *think* snap on sells this configuration as ready made (or did some time back). Check their web site. I recall finding their part number and searching for it on ebay till I found one cheap (it seemed new condition when I got it ... maybe someone bought and did not like it). But I think the 3/8 rebuild kit for a roto also fits the 1/4 roto body -- so you can also just put a 3/8 rebuild kit in. The snap on rotos seem to be only sold as soft handle though (last time I looked years ago at least). Many people replace the handle though with a hard handle. You can find guidance online on how to best swap handles if that is important to you. I agree that the soft handles are not the best ... grime tends to stick to them more and I do not see the need for a soft grip on any relatively low torque ratchet. Keeping things easy to wipe down is more important generally in mechanic applications.

 

[teufel666]

the rebuild kit for 3/8 in 1/4 body round heads is RKRFHCNF72. They're currently 11 bucks but there is shipping to contend with.

 

[dnschmidt]

Don't know what I have specifically against the roto heads, must be something, but I find myself using flex heads all the time and roto heads quite rarely.

 

[tamaraw]

I find roto-heads more useful in shorter lengths and smaller drive sizes.

The pivot is on the drive axis, so it is easier to keep sockets engaged straight and you can also run them vertically like a screwdriver. Changing the angle of the handle can be done when the head is at any orientation and it feels natural in your hand.

Flex heads tend to have an advantage where vertical clearance is an issue because the pivot is set back a ways from the drive axis. Or for work on equipment where you need to reach around a flange. When you need it, you need it, but not necessary for most applications.

 

[joel63]

I find roto-heads more useful in shorter lengths and smaller drive sizes.

The pivot is on the drive axis, so it is easier to keep sockets engaged straight and you can also run them vertically like a screwdriver. Changing the angle of the handle can be done when the head is at any orientation and it feels natural in your hand.

Flex heads tend to have an advantage where vertical clearance is an issue because the pivot is set back a ways from the drive axis. Or for work on equipment where you need to reach around a flange. When you need it, you need it, but not necessary for most applications.

Very well explained.
I have and use both.
In many cases it comes down to personal preference.
I like the greater number of teeth.

 

[lund]

Don't know what I have specifically against the roto heads, must be something, but I find myself using flex heads all the time and roto heads quite rarely.

Reverse for me. I find the rotos allow one to swing around obstructions while maintaining downward pressure on the socket to avoid slipping off. The main downside is the head is a bit larger in radial profile. But I generally use smaller drive sizes (1/4 where some might use 3/8) and a 1/4 body roto is smaller than a 3/8 flex. I never had any issues with strength but I go up to larger sizes if applying a lot of torque.

One issue is that most rotos are not quick release -- so you sometimes struggle more to get tight fitting sockets off when oily. I generally prefer quick release but the other upsides outweigh this for me. But we all have our preferences. There is probably no absolute best way to go about things and there are many reasonably ok paths to getting things done.

 

[VolvoRyan]

Rotos can't do the "reach around" quite as well as a flex head, IMO.

But, your preference and what you work on dictates your choice.

-Ryan

 

[M635_Guy]

I love my 1/4" rotos. They are great to spin fasteners once they're loosened in a way I like vs. the way a flex does, and I think they're more 'secure' (?) on the head of whatever I'm trying to turn. But for spots where I'm having to go under a cowling or similar, a flex is better. I rarely ever use my 1/4" flex over my 1/4" rotos. For 3/8", if I'm not using a regular ratchet, I tend to use the flex 80% of the time and the rotos only 20%. I don't have a 1/2" flex, and only have a rarely-used 1/2" (Pittsburgh Pro) roto (though that one I'm always grateful for when I need it - great with my spring compressor for example).

 

[ecotec]

If there was one style of ratchet that I would always recommend buying in soft handle, it would be roto-ratchets.

I bought a 1/4” metal handle roto-ratchet years ago, and wish that I had bought it in soft handle. I put shrink tube on it, but a soft handle would be better. My 3/8” roto ratchet has a soft handle, and is perfect.

 

[KnurledNut]

I use my flex head as a speeder quite a bit. Can't really do that with a roto.