Rabid Badger
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- Apr 2, 2018
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I don't think I could bring myself to use a ratchet from HF.
To each their own. It sits in the drawer alongside my 40970, they seem to get along fine.
Favorite 1/4" ratchet.
- Thread starter Ton ton
- Start date
To each their own. It sits in the drawer alongside my 40970, they seem to get along fine.
I am reprogramming my mind - figure it's worth it...
619DioFan
Well-known member
I have the 1/4 inch drive roto/swivel head ratchet from HF. this is my go to most of the time. liked it so much I went back the next day and got the 3/8 drive as well , really like that one as well.
I will probable be buying more from them, not that I need more ratchets, I have a tool problem and no 12 step is going to help.
javyLSU
Well-known member
BrandoJames
Well-known member
Go with the Tekton 1/4" swivel head ratchet, 72 Tooth and only $20 bucks. I put this little ratchet through the wringer while rebuilding my storm cellar door. I needed something small for locking down the steel cabling that secures my storm cellar door's counterweight. The Tekton also performed well removing small rusted nuts, as I had to arm-strong those nuts off with just Kroil, Tekton ratchet and my old man's Craftsman USA sockets. I highly recommend Tekton hand tools for DIY use.
www.tekton.com
TEKTON 1/4 Inch Drive x 5 Inch Swivel-Head Quick-Release Ratchet | 1490
Round head swivels 270° to any drive angle. Lock-on, quick-release drive tang prevents dropped sockets. 1490.
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I like mine also. It has very low backdrag.
AntonLargiader
Well-known member
For a few years I've been using a SO round-head, probably the TN72. Before that I had a different round-head that I really, really loved (VERY light back action) but it was discontinued and the rebuilds weren't working on it any more. The TN72 is nice.
Last week I got a TNF72, the round-head swivel. I've heard a lot of people sing the praises of swivels, so I decided to try one. The ratchet mechanism, while supposedly the same as the TN72, is not quite as smooth yet but the backward resistance seems like it's actually the same so it'll probably break in a bit.
For some reason I just have never been attracted to the soft-grip ratchets.
Last week I got a TNF72, the round-head swivel. I've heard a lot of people sing the praises of swivels, so I decided to try one. The ratchet mechanism, while supposedly the same as the TN72, is not quite as smooth yet but the backward resistance seems like it's actually the same so it'll probably break in a bit.
For some reason I just have never been attracted to the soft-grip ratchets.
ex-x-fire
Well-known member
Cordless is my choice.
milwaukeephil
Well-known member
I keep this little Tekton 3" stubby with a 10mm deep socket locked onto it front and center and ready to grab on the hutch.
I have other ones for other sizes, but this one is always locked and loaded. My other favorite 1/4" is my Gearwrench 120xp flex head.
milwaukeephil
Well-known member
After you attach a pic, you'll see a huge blinking vertical line to the right of the pic while you're composing. That's your cursor. Just hit enter and start typing.
Jazz1
Well-known member
joshmodelskidoo
Well-known member
Sk for my 1/4in.
My only 1/4” rotos are Wera Zyklop and Würth (I think VIM sells the same tool as Würth). They’re both flawed in different ways. Wera has a great, low backdrag feel, but the head is limited as to angle. Würth has better angle adjustment but high backdrag. Wera gets some use because of where I keep it. Würth I played with when I bought it but don’t often pick it up.
As for 1/4” ratchets generally, my favorite is a flex head Koken-made Wiha flex head with their Softfinish handle. Koken head and great German screwdriver handle! Nepros is also nice; their stubby that fits on a breaker bar is a great indexing flex head. (Mine’s on a Stahlwille breaker bar.) Koken Zeal flex head has a great mechanism, but the handle is IMO not the best.
My most used is actually a USAG locking flex head bit ratchet that came with a square adapter. Slight variations of this tool are also sold as Facom, KS Tool, Tone, Würth, and probably 20 others. It makes up for lack of that Koken perfection of feel by having a much more compact head.
Highest hype to perceived quality ratio: Snapon dual80-really-72. Worst of all their unit to unit consistency is dime store quality. I assume people who like them and think they need all those teeth haven’t tried a really good high count 1/4 drive tool, such as Stahlwille or Nepros. I assume Hazet HP is similar to Wille and Nepros, though I’ve not tried one.
As for 1/4” ratchets generally, my favorite is a flex head Koken-made Wiha flex head with their Softfinish handle. Koken head and great German screwdriver handle! Nepros is also nice; their stubby that fits on a breaker bar is a great indexing flex head. (Mine’s on a Stahlwille breaker bar.) Koken Zeal flex head has a great mechanism, but the handle is IMO not the best.
My most used is actually a USAG locking flex head bit ratchet that came with a square adapter. Slight variations of this tool are also sold as Facom, KS Tool, Tone, Würth, and probably 20 others. It makes up for lack of that Koken perfection of feel by having a much more compact head.
Highest hype to perceived quality ratio: Snapon dual80-really-72. Worst of all their unit to unit consistency is dime store quality. I assume people who like them and think they need all those teeth haven’t tried a really good high count 1/4 drive tool, such as Stahlwille or Nepros. I assume Hazet HP is similar to Wille and Nepros, though I’ve not tried one.
mrborohachi
Well-known member
Look at VIM's 1/4" dr locking roto ratchet. I personally only own the 3/8's version but love it (also GJ'er Mohawk Dave's favorite non long handle).
Proto by FACOM stubby is my favorite regular 1/4" normal handle.
Proto by FACOM stubby is my favorite regular 1/4" normal handle.
Proto - 1/4" Drive Round Head ratchet 4-1/2" (J4752F) - Wrenches - Amazon.com
Proto - 1/4" Drive Round Head ratchet 4-1/2" (J4752F) - Wrenches - Amazon.com
www.amazon.com
gatewaysysop
Well-known member
I have to second this one. The 24-tooth Proto are quite possibly the smoothest ratchet I've ever used.
Another nice option for 1/4" is the Craftsman RHFT (or Easco equivalent, if you want knurling). Compact size, quick release, high effective tooth count (82) from dual-pawl action and they're supremely reliable.
consti2tion
Well-known member
I was going to suggest the 1/4" RHFT Craftsman as well, it's my go to 1/4" rat. I do love my little SK as well though.
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Mine is 50 years old.... freaking love it. Even when I was ten years old... I recognized quality.And now I have to go get an SK… Assholes.
They still have the Crescent branded 1/4+3/8 drive set on their ebay site. For me it would run about $32 after shipping. These are my go to ratchets.
tez929rr
Well-known member
I love my HF composite 1/4 inch. It’s always the first one I use. $8.59. I think I have four or five of them.
If the selector on those were the right way around, they'd be pretty nice.
tez929rr
Well-known member
I would never have thought of that. I guess that’s one way to tell the amateurs from the pros.
BikeRider
Well-known member
I like my new HF Timken clone. I'm pretty sure both are made by the same outfit. Obviously not the highest end 1/4" and I sense that it can't handle too much torque. But it just feels and ratchets nice and is probably what I'm going to use for most low-torque applications. I'll probably use it a lot when working on my road bike, to avoid scuffing the finish.
MrPink
Well-known member
I have a 1/4 snap on 72t that I use all the time as well as its 3/8" counter part. I need to get the 1/2" still but they are my go to.
BikeRider
Well-known member
I'd ask this, which size ratchet wrench do you use most often, the 1/2", 3/8" or 1/4"? The 1/2" was my go to for several years but mostly because it was nicer than my 3/8" and 1/4" and I didn't have 3/8" sockets larger than 17mm (since rectified). Then I got a nicer 3/8" and socket sets with larger sockets, and that was my go-to, mostly because it was easier to handle than the 1/2". Now I got a nice 1/4" and I look for excuses to use it.
But honestly, whatever's nearest at hand and does the job is what I use most. I just make sure to use them properly, no breaking of high-torque fasteners and let the torque wrench do the final tightening. That said, I'm looking forward to getting one of those 3/8" impact wrenches with an auto-tightening setting that tightens fasteners to around 20ft-lb, saving you the pain of manually tightening fasteners and the risk of overtightening with a standard impact wrench.
But honestly, whatever's nearest at hand and does the job is what I use most. I just make sure to use them properly, no breaking of high-torque fasteners and let the torque wrench do the final tightening. That said, I'm looking forward to getting one of those 3/8" impact wrenches with an auto-tightening setting that tightens fasteners to around 20ft-lb, saving you the pain of manually tightening fasteners and the risk of overtightening with a standard impact wrench.
Jeepster04
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- Jun 25, 2013
- Messages
- 3,097
Some sort of craftsman ratchet.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I don't know what he meant by that but, I think the Dual 80 series ratchets are best in 3/8 drive. I bought several of the T72 series 1/4 drive ratchets when they first came out and wasn't happy with any of them. To me, they seem to bind as you use them. Cleaning and thin oil didn't help. I broke the direction switch just changing direction with my thumb on the standard length version. Perhaps they've gotten better over time, don't know. Snap on makes some excellent tools but, I don't care for their 1/4 drive dual 80 ratchets. but, that's just me. I much prefer Matco, Gearwench, or Tekton 90 tooth in 1/4inch drive.
Interesting. I've not heard of that before. I've currently got two 1/4" Snap On dual 80 ratchets, the THLF72G and THL72G. I'm not sure exactly when the ones I have were made, maybe there is something different about them, I don't know. They don't see a ton of use as 3/8" is more often than not what I reach for.
I've also never broken a selector on a Snap On ratchet. I've had my three 3/8" dual 80's for years and they have seen some hard use with no issues.
bwringer
Well-known member
I've done an awful lot of wrenching, and I have never, ever, not once, noticed or cared which way the flippy flipper flips on a ratchet.
If it's not turning the way I want, I move it to the other position. It's perhaps a 1/10 second automated process that happens while my hand is moving to the fastener.
I guess this just shows that for every detail that doesn't matter to me, there's someone out there who cares deeply.
Vive la différence, I guess.
If it's not turning the way I want, I move it to the other position. It's perhaps a 1/10 second automated process that happens while my hand is moving to the fastener.
I guess this just shows that for every detail that doesn't matter to me, there's someone out there who cares deeply.
Vive la différence, I guess.
Before I used a ratchet with the selector the wrong way around, I don't think I'd paid much attention to it, except to note that didn't like round head ratchets that don't make it visually obvious which why they're set. But I check the lever with my thumb as I move the ratchet to the work, and when it's backwards, it bugs me. It actually took me a few minutes to figure out what was going on, because it wasn't anything I'd thought about. If all ratchets were that way, it wouldn't bother me too much, but they're not.
tez929rr
Well-known member
I’m on my way to to my shop to check all my 1/4 inch drive ratchets because now it bugs me that I have no idea. If I add in bit drivers and some little ratchets in motorcycle tool kits I probably have at least 20 different ones.
tez929rr
Well-known member
You’re right - every other ratchet I checked goes the other way, including the mini WERA one and the mini ones in my Cruz tools kits.
Guess I got lucky, I really like my S-o TR72, never had a problem with it (knocking on wood 
) and it is my go-to standard 1/4" ratchet for about 8 years. I like my long locking flex 1/4" Carlyle too. I have a 90t Tekton 1/4" flex too, it's fine.
Honestly, shite ratchets are the exception these days. Even my HF composite 1/4" that cost less than a $10spot is fine.
) and it is my go-to standard 1/4" ratchet for about 8 years. I like my long locking flex 1/4" Carlyle too. I have a 90t Tekton 1/4" flex too, it's fine.Honestly, shite ratchets are the exception these days. Even my HF composite 1/4" that cost less than a $10spot is fine.
measuredtwice
Well-known member
I think the dual 80 mechanism is the best that I've seen. Taking a look at the patent will give you an even greater appreciation for the cleverness of the design.
I have a variety of ratchets from many different brands that I enjoy using. I recently bought a 1/4 Proto 90. I already had the 3/8. Someone previously posted problems with theirs but mine is great. Every company makes mistakes but often you only read about things on the internet when something goes wrong (or praise when it's a promoted product from a social media influencer). I'm enjoying mine.
If there's room, a swivel Thnfd72 is handy since it can be used like a ratcheting nut driver.
If you bought 4 or 5 of them at $8.59, then you could have saved $20-25 with the $5 off ratchet coupon that never expires.
I have a variety of ratchets from many different brands that I enjoy using. I recently bought a 1/4 Proto 90. I already had the 3/8. Someone previously posted problems with theirs but mine is great. Every company makes mistakes but often you only read about things on the internet when something goes wrong (or praise when it's a promoted product from a social media influencer). I'm enjoying mine.
If there's room, a swivel Thnfd72 is handy since it can be used like a ratcheting nut driver.
If you bought 4 or 5 of them at $8.59, then you could have saved $20-25 with the $5 off ratchet coupon that never expires.
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javyLSU
Well-known member
I don’t necessarily care which way the selector switch flips, but I do care when one brand of ratchet flips the opposite direction of literally every other ratchet I own or have ever used. Gets REALLY annoying when you’re using two ratchets on one task…
IndyGarage
Well-known member
I don't really care for the fixed head Zyklop, but I love the rotating head one, especially in 1/4 inch. I use one nearly every day.