Spannersphere
Well-known member
What's the best fine tooth ratchet??
Fine tooth ratchets
- Thread starter Spannersphere
- Start date
Fast LT1
Well-known member
Snap on
scarney1988
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 13, 2013
- Messages
- 508
If you have to ask, you cannot afford it.
trout
Well-known member
this
88 tooth armstrong or matco
i have a snap-on dual 80. it just doesn't feel right, nothing wrong with it nit i use my armstrongs much more. they have a thinner head and just have a better feel. i also have a gearwrench with an 88 tooth matco kit and it is a keeper. i think the dual 80's are over rated.
not picking any fights, but when someone asks a question and you don't back it up with reasons why you like or dislike it, it just sounds like drinking the kool-aid.
i have a snap-on dual 80. it just doesn't feel right, nothing wrong with it nit i use my armstrongs much more. they have a thinner head and just have a better feel. i also have a gearwrench with an 88 tooth matco kit and it is a keeper. i think the dual 80's are over rated.
not picking any fights, but when someone asks a question and you don't back it up with reasons why you like or dislike it, it just sounds like drinking the kool-aid.
Last edited:
allinon72
Well-known member
That's a loaded question, and by page 5 just about every brand will have been mentioned due to personal preference and you'll be back to square one.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The one that you own.
In the 60 tooth and over category, I have Matco, Cornwell, Snap on, Gearwrench, Armstrong, Facom, SK, Carlyle, Bahco, and Craftsman.
Of those, the two I use most are a stubby 1/4 drive comfort grip ratchet and a 9.5 inch long 3/8 comfort grip ratchet both Carlyle with 90 teeth.
One man's best my be another man's worst. Favorite tools are almost always a matter of personal preference. All name brand tools are good, it's just that some are better than others. You don't know for sure until you use them for yourself.
Last edited:
Pumpman1968
Well-known member
Ya know, I used a buddies Carlyle 3/8" roto ratchet yesterday and I was pretty impressed. Smooth action, long handle and felt pretty good in my hand.
Cornwell JR72.
Chadwilliam1
Well-known member
My favorite is SK 45175 but everybody has a favorite and some people dont even like fine tooth.
foreverfalcon40
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2013
- Messages
- 856
More details please.
I am in the market for a 3/8 flexhead. What is the tooth count and overall length.
I have the SO Dual 80's in all types of sizes and drives, they have never let me down and I never got frustrated over them.
Hopefully someone can chime in on the Gearwrench 120xp. I own a 3/8 stubby flex and I have still yet to use it
Dave455
Well-known member
Personally, I reckon the Snap On Dual 80 is the best all rounder, but everything is relative! I used to love my old Britool, but if I go back to it after the Dual 80 it feels rough! There are other nice tools out there though.
I've tried the Stahlwille and Ko Ken fine tooth and they both feel really nice! Suspect Hazet and Nepros are good too, but the tool I always reach for first is the Snap On! It not only works well but is enjoyable to use! I'd try a Matco if they had a truck closer than about 400 miles away!
I've tried the Stahlwille and Ko Ken fine tooth and they both feel really nice! Suspect Hazet and Nepros are good too, but the tool I always reach for first is the Snap On! It not only works well but is enjoyable to use! I'd try a Matco if they had a truck closer than about 400 miles away!
Brownsfan
Well-known member
Snap on dual80 or any Cornwell with 72t. Those are my favorite.
SMKS
Well-known member
Perform a search and read about them to decide for yourself.
There's really no "best." There are quite a few good ones, depending on what you personally like.
More details please.
I am in the market for a 3/8 flexhead. What is the tooth count and overall length.
I have the SO Dual 80's in all types of sizes and drives, they have never let me down and I never got frustrated over them.
Hopefully someone can chime in on the Gearwrench 120xp. I own a 3/8 stubby flex and I have still yet to use it
i have standard and locking flex armstrong ratchets in 1/4 and 3/8 drive. they are all 88 tooth.
order the armstrong versions (exactly the same as the matco other than the handle shape) from epstein hardware. they have international shipping .
not exactly, i have several and love them. like the dual 80's some of them have cover screw issues. i have never hurt the internals but when the screw breaks they are difficult to source and rebuild are no longer supported by proto.
SMKS
Well-known member
Unless something has changed, the locking flex ratchets are not shipped with 88 teeth. It's possible they've changed it so they're all 88 teeth, but I haven't seen anyone say that before or provide any info about it. I guess in theory I may have missed it.
Armstrong only made the switch to 88 teeth on the ratchets they upgraded to be part of their "Aerospace" line. That only included the 1/4" and 3/8" non-flex Maxx ratchets. All the locking flex ratchets and the 1/2" ratchets were left with the normal 60 tooth mechanism.
I personally have owned both Maxx 3/8" locking flex and 3/8" non-flex. The non-flex ratchet was stamped with the "AS" stamp and had 88 teeth. The locking flex did not have the "AS" stamp and had the normal 60 tooth mechanism.
Here's a document from Armstrong about the Aerospace line. When you go to the ratchet page you'll see only the 1/4" and 3/8" ratchets were included in the upgrade.
http://store.harryepstein.com/dailydispatch/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/aerospace.pdf
Last edited:
dimwittedmoose51
Well-known member
In 1/4", my little 4" SK(40970) works wonders(paid .50 for it at a pawn shop in NW Arkansas), but the older 1/4" MAC M3R flex head has less resistance and would be the one I'd keep if I was forced down to just one. I also have a really old Armstrong , but keep in in the collector's pile since replacement parts are likely non existent.
In 3/8", I really like the SK 45170 and my old Pear head Proto 5249 and my P&C flexhead(3257-2). The Plomb is like butter too, but it sits in its collector's drawer.
In 1/2" I had a nice KD that ended up missing that heart shaped spring for the pawls and after dancing through several hoops(KD couldn't get me a spring or a rebuild kit that fit it, they sent me a brand new $63(Amazon price) Armstrong(apparently KD owns Armstrong now) 12-915. The head looks a lot like a FACOM but the handle is uniquely Armstrong. Ratchet is like butter and the tool weighs like a pound and a half!!
As far as 3/4" goes, fine tooth would be an oxymoron. I would say that my Indestro, V-Series C-man, the Bonney, and the SK are all about the same, but the Bonney is missing a drive gear tooth, so it hangs on the wall and looks like the antique it is.
DM&FS
In 3/8", I really like the SK 45170 and my old Pear head Proto 5249 and my P&C flexhead(3257-2). The Plomb is like butter too, but it sits in its collector's drawer.
In 1/2" I had a nice KD that ended up missing that heart shaped spring for the pawls and after dancing through several hoops(KD couldn't get me a spring or a rebuild kit that fit it, they sent me a brand new $63(Amazon price) Armstrong(apparently KD owns Armstrong now) 12-915. The head looks a lot like a FACOM but the handle is uniquely Armstrong. Ratchet is like butter and the tool weighs like a pound and a half!!
As far as 3/4" goes, fine tooth would be an oxymoron. I would say that my Indestro, V-Series C-man, the Bonney, and the SK are all about the same, but the Bonney is missing a drive gear tooth, so it hangs on the wall and looks like the antique it is.
DM&FS
MattPersman
Well-known member
Yep the snap on 100 tooth are nice. Dual 80 snap ons no issues even matco 88s are good less resale in the future typically for matco stuff though
HubbaBubba
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 20, 2011
- Messages
- 256
J.H. Williams B-52!
Are the b52 really a finetooth ratchet? 36 tooth i only find it has?? Correct me, i have wrong for sure!
SMKS
Well-known member
You're thinking of the B-52EFA, which is the pear head ratchet based on the old 36-tooth Snap-on mechanism. I'm personally not a fan of these. Too much drag.
http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...ols-3-8-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Ratchet-Drive-Tools
The previous members was speaking of the B-52A, which is a 72-tooth round head ratchet. I like these a lot.
http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...ols-3-8-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Ratchet-Drive-Tools
kippieland
Well-known member
I think I love all fine tooth ratchets....
d.mcfarland
Well-known member
Are you looking to buy, or just start another debate thread??
If you want to pony up, get the Snap-On or Cornwell.
If you want to pony up, get the Snap-On or Cornwell.
STGFordCrazy04
Well-known member
I like my Snap On dual80s.
JJThrasher
Well-known member
Matco or SO.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
tweedlestan
Well-known member
Armstrong, SK, Matco, Snap on, Wright, Craftsman Premium, Carlyle, Husky, Stanley, Proto, Hazet, Facom, Mac, Williams, Gedore, Kobalt, Gearwrench, Cornwell, and Stahlwille.
In no particular order.
Last edited:
Please quantify "best".
The question, as asked, is vague. Vague questions will elicit vague responses.
Best value? Best durability? Best strength? Best price? Best ergonomic qualities? Best fanboy following? Best flavor of GJ trollbait?
thesilverone
Well-known member
made in india 4,000 tooth count
My roto head 100 tooth snap on is very strong. I use it as a breaker bar and every thing. I've pulled on it so hard thinking it would break or bend and it had done neither yet. It's almost a year old but it still feels smooth.
Snap on is all I really have experience with so that's all I'll say. My dad's old Mac ratchets from the 80s wouldnt be good to compare.
I think all the top brands will have good ratchets so what ever truck comes by the shop you work at is probably your best bet considering it's the easiest to replace if something goes wrong.
Snap on is all I really have experience with so that's all I'll say. My dad's old Mac ratchets from the 80s wouldnt be good to compare.
I think all the top brands will have good ratchets so what ever truck comes by the shop you work at is probably your best bet considering it's the easiest to replace if something goes wrong.
Last edited:
^^^ This is the the best fine tooth ratchet ^^^
My personal favourites are the FACOM pear head 72 teeth ratchets
1/4" RL.161
3/8" JL.161
1/2" SL.161
They're absolutely gorgeous to use, very strong, very smooth, very comfortable... Very nice.
I prefer them to the Snap On dual 80's due to the recessed direction lever that means you
can palm the head of the ratchet without any chance of changing direction by accident,
and the handle I also prefer. In England they are also less expensive.
But lets be honest... any one of those listed above will serve you well... Just pick a price
that you're willing to pay, decide if you want a comfort grip handle or steel and then
whatever your left with after that, choose the one you like of the most or the brand you
like the most.... Job done.
TwoInch
Well-known member
You're thinking of the B-52EFA, which is the pear head ratchet based on the old 36-tooth Snap-on mechanism. I'm personally not a fan of these. Too much drag.
http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...ols-3-8-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Ratchet-Drive-Tools
The previous members was speaking of the B-52A, which is a 72-tooth round head ratchet. I like these a lot.
http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...ols-3-8-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Ratchet-Drive-Tools
when guys on this forum speak of B-52 and S-52 ratchets, they practically always are referring to the old JH williams designs, not the designs available now. they look similar, but the mechanisms are totally different, and in most opinion, much better.
the original B52 and S52 are effectively 82 teeth ratchets, using 41 teeth in the ratchet head, and two pawls that are out of synch. one pawl is engaged at any given time, doubling the effective tooth count.
B-52a and S-52a ratchets are not nearly as popular and not nearly as highly regarded.
genevabuck
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2012
- Messages
- 227
I love MAC Tools, but their fine tooth ratchets ****.
4x4gearhead
Well-known member
I like my dual 80's. I also have a really nice gear wrench, 81211 (3/8) that would be an affordable option. I also have a few of the old williams fine tooth 52's which arent very easy to find.
SMKS
Well-known member
First, I am aware of the difference in the mechanisms.
You could be right that member HubbaBubba was referring to the old design. But the member I was responding to was clearly looking at the modern designs they currently sell, since he was confused about the 36 tooth design they now sell.
And I don't agree that the new design is not as highly regarded. Fewer people may own them since they haven't been produced for many decades like the old design. I don't think I've seen posts where people say the old design is "much better"?
I personally have owned both the old and new design. While the old design is an interesting old design, I've run across several examples where they didn't click with 81 teeth anymore. For whatever reason in these old examples the pawls were moving at the same time or one side wasn't engaging properly. And, I'm not referring to the single-pawl 1/4" drive models.
The new design may have 10 fewer teeth, but that's a pretty small difference when you actually think about it. If anything, I would guess the new design is stronger, since it has one large pawl that looks like it would engage more teeth.
Both are good ratchets, but to say the new design is worse doesn't really ring true to me. I like them both, but I've been pretty impressed with my B-53A 3/8" drive ratchet.
Last edited: