Favorite ratchet and why

[GTO]

SO FL80
Titan 1/4" Locking Flex (Long Handle)

 

[W650Mike]

B-52 It just feels good in the hands.

 

[Mastermind]

1/2-matco 88 tooth 24" locking flex for torque, grandpas cornwell for everything else.
3/8- SK bent handle flex head "spark plug" ratchet, good old 40170 for regular stuff.
1/4- been using my hard handle t72 flex lately, favorite probly an old blackhawk round head that was stolen...need to find another one.

 

[BigAl62]

OK, I know I'm going to get **** for this, but my favorite ratchet is a Craftsman polished 3/8". I bought it when they first came out (I don't remember when, but it's been at least 12 years or more). I've beaten the **** out of this thing and the only problem I ever had was I bent the reverser lever (MY fault, not theirs. I jammed it against an alternator bracket and pulled like hell before I realized it was jammed against something). Sears gave me a rebuild kit and all I replaced was the lever. This thing has NEVER failed me (too bad most of their stuff is now ****!). I have a drawer full of ratchets - Snap On, Mac, Matco, Cornwell, even a Vulcan one, but the ratchet I grab the most is the Craftsman.

 

[DieselDent]

This guy right here by far my favorite, I do have another that isnt hard handle and dont like it near as much.

(not my pic)

 

[litng1]

My 3/8 craftsman pro.Feels good in my hand love it!

 

[Brownsfan]

Cornwell JR72. Best ratchet that's every been made IMHO.

X2 I love that thing. My FHF80 Snap On is a close second

 

[Notwerk]

Williams B-52 without a doubt...smooth, beautiful and strong!

Agreed entirely. Best ratchet I've ever used for those exact reasons.

 

[DodgeMech]

I know it's a knock off of a knock off but I got the 72 tooth 1/4 inch and 3/8th inch Expert comfort grip ratchets from my Mac guy and so far they're serving me well...

 

[johnachak]

I was planning on ordering some Armstrong Maxx 88 tooth ratchets but no one seems to have them as a favorite so maybe I'll pass.

I did, i have the Armstrong 88 tooth Aerospace (maxx). I love it my other favorite is the Armstrong locking flex 66 tooth (Maxx) is my favorite when space is no object due to the added leverage.

 

[johnachak]

The Snapon F80. Just used it the other day to get into a tight spot in the engine compartment and the fine tooth design enables me to actually turn the nut with hardly any room to work. IMO, there's no reason to fool with any other ratchet when it comes to fixing stuff.

The Armstrong is even finer at 88 teeth has a thinner head and is ~1/2 the price of the SO

If you're a pro with a SO truck available, than by all means go that route

 

[Gabastone]

Matco BFR58FT: 3/8 stubby flex ratchet.

Love the action; love the size. It is small enough to fit anywhere my hand will, and the action is strong enough I can pull as hard as possible without breaking it. For engine repairs, it is tough to beat.

 

[OHMS LAW]

After using the cheap craftsman ratchet that came with the sets my whole life ,I upgraded the ratchets to f80 and its night and day difference. F80 all day everyday.

 

[DTB]

Mine would be the Snap On F80 for general all around use,though it's tied with my Matco 3/8 88 tooth locking flex.

 

[trexdoink]

I think this is repost.

Who gives a rats ***? Everything has been posted if you go back far enough. If nothing got reposted it would be a bulletin board.

Still love my craftsman Lifetime from the 80's for some jobs.

 

[gbh]

Not mine, but it caught my eye.

 

[mikeritter41]

Snap On FK835. I Have 2 Of Them. I Like Them Because They Get In Hard To Reach Places, Flexible, And Arent Too Long, Like The F835.

 

[mikeritter41]

 

[mikeritter41]

 

[Wisers]

Gray tools s57. Its my only gray tool i found it at flea market the handle fits my hand better then anything else ive tried. Going to need a rebuild kit soon as its starting to get worn out.

 

[sselander]

For 1/2 inch drive - top choice - Williams S-52 Superratchet

buttery smooth, and has a nice heft to it.

Don't have any Snap-On ratchets

For 3/8, I prefer the GearWrench or HF to the Craftsman one I have.
The CMan is very coarse and I hate it.

 

[kc-steve]

these are my favorite ratchets, they just feel right.

Yeah, I like those OLDER ones as well. Others here have said they like the Williams Superratchets too, but didn't actually say if they were the vintage models or the newer models. Personally though, I would say the Snap-On F80 tops my list and that is just my personal preference.

When you look at Amazon's listings you can get an idea of what the general population thinks about ratchet preference by looking at the sales ranking of each listing. Among USA made, I have found basic Craftsman ratchets rank highest, the S-K group coming in second, while others fall into lower ranks. It's more like ranking is based on which ratchet they've heard of. It is surprising to say the least.

We can't have too many of these threads! Preference changes over time.

Steve

 

[cburnscrx]

Okay, I guess I get to be the oddball here, though somebody else mentioned the brand...

Titan 1/2 72tooth offset ratchet.

I bought it as a cheapy to beat on, and beat on it I did. I wailed on it with a sledgehammer, jumped on it (250lb +) while trying to get off lug nuts, and even used it for a hammer. Through all this, it acts like new no worse for wear. I am sure there are better ratchets, but I can't think of what more I could ask this one to do.

*for the record, I don't usually abuse my ratchets this way, it was litterally supposed to be a throw away tool.

 

[kc-steve]

. . . Titan 1/2 72tooth offset ratchet. . . .

As a follow on to my post above yours, I think Titan was ranked very high on Amazon but didn't mention it because it is an import model.

Steve

 

[TheGrooveking]

My Snap On F730 that last week I turned in for warranty because it finally came to have chrome chipping/peeling off of it from the handle, head, shaft - everywhere. I rebuilt it a few times and even polished the front and back of the gear and inside the housing and with superfund it made the Dual80 ratchet feel like they are running sand in there gearboxes. I took photos of it and miss it, but it had become hazardous. Maybe I'll feel the same way about my new F80 in 30 years...one can hope.

TheGrooveking

 

[Chuck122]

SK 45170: not a fine tooth by any means but it has nice smooth feel to it and it just sounds really peculiar. I cannot imagine it ever breaking as it feels really tough. Also it actually has USA stamped on it.

 

[ddo]

Like the variety. Go between dual 80s, gearless, and zyklops fairly regularly depending on application. All about spicing up what is essentially a boring task

 

[jameswilson]

thank you all very much. actually i was looking for something like this for a long time.

 

[Tripn88]

Bringing it back from the dead. I cleaned my favorite 1/4 drive ratchet today. Pretty sure I found it at a pawn shop many years ago and just couldnt leave it. I havent found anything like it and I'm glad I grabbed it. Smooth as silk and has never let me down. It's the most handy damn ratchet that I use at work.

 

[Farleyfan]

Bringing it back from the dead. I cleaned my favorite 1/4 drive ratchet today. Pretty sure I found it at a pawn shop many years ago and just couldnt leave it. I havent found anything like it and I'm glad I grabbed it. Smooth as silk and has never let me down. It's the most handy damn ratchet that I use at work.

Very nice ratchet Tripn88, Ive been lookin for a 3/8 in that style at the flea market I go to but one hasn't turned up yet. Those are really smoothe and low backdrag ratchets.

 

[FSUwelder1212]

My favorite is my snap-on THLF72 that I swapped an FC80 kit into to make it 3/8 drive. It’s just so handy for everything that doesn’t require a ton of torque.

 

[lardy1]

For 1/2 inch drive - top choice - Williams S-52 Superratchet

buttery smooth, and has a nice heft to it.

Don't have any Snap-On ratchets

For 3/8, I prefer the GearWrench or HF to the Craftsman one I have.
The CMan is very coarse and I hate it.

I have two s-52's. They are indeed a smooth old ratchet. Even smoother is my old Husky (New Britain) 1/2" drive roundhead. It's as smooth as any of my modern ratchets. In 3/8" I have a Williams BB-56 roundhead that is the same way. Smooth as silk.

I have around 25 or 30 vintage ratchets that I try to use on occasion. I'm amazed at the differences.

 

[FerrariPower]

My all time favorite ratchet is the regular Snap-on S80. 10" Long 1/2" drive. Just feels right.

 

[rmsg0040]

SLF80, 1/2 snap on 24" long, gen 1.

Tough as nails, got it cheap. 4' cheater pipe on it with 2 guys and didn't break. Impressive.

Have a rebuild kit for it which I keep as a spare as they don't make the old style ratchet head anymore.

 

[FSUwelder1212]

The 3/8" version of what you're talking about it the FHCNF72. I really like mine too.

My all time favorite ratchet though is the regular Snap-on S80. 10" Long 1/2" drive. Just feels right.

The FHCNF72 is a round head, mine is a dual 80 (72 in this case) pear head. Snap on doesn’t make one, which is why I had to Frankenstein it together.

 

[BrandoJames]

Snap-on FF80A 3/8" Dual 80 Flex. Light, strong, & excellent in tight clearances.

 

[dnschmidt]

No doubt the Williams B-52 Superratchet. It's simply a thing of beauty and utility. I've got these in both normal and flex head and they are the bomb.

 

[Monte]

Snap-On FHLF80A. Flex head, small head, many teeth and right length...

 

[FerrariPower]

The FHCNF72 is a round head, mine is a dual 80 (72 in this case) pear head. Snap on doesn’t make one, which is why I had to Frankenstein it together.

Mixed up my part numbers. I have the FCF72, which is the same but with the chrome handle instead of a soft grip.

I know what you mean though --- I replaced a TLLF72 head with a 3/8" which makes one really cool and ultra small 3/8" ratchet.

 

[joel63]

The FHCNF72 is a round head, mine is a dual 80 (72 in this case) pear head. Snap on doesn’t make one, which is why I had to Frankenstein it together.

Can you tell me what is the difference between the FHCNF72 and a FHC737?

I bought it in 2006.
Thanks