Flex or fix head

[bryant 24]

Which ratchets handles did you grab first?For 1/4,3/8,1/2 drive

 

[mogandave]

Fixed

 

[LWB]

1/4 Flex
3/8 Flex

1/2 Fixed (Use impact most often)

 

[kbuhagiar]

3/8" fixed 90% of the time. 1/4" pretty much the rest of the time. In my early years I was more gonzo, but now the smaller tool the better. Finesse the fasteners.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

My first grab is my long 3/8 flex head hard handle. I love that ratchet. Only time I don’t use it is if I can’t like in a confined spot or somewhere it’s appropriate to use something else. Fixed head has its place too.

 

[bryant 24]

My first grab is my long 3/8 flex head hard handle. I love that ratchet. Only time I don’t use it is if I can’t like in a confined spot or somewhere it’s appropriate to use something else. Fixed head has its place too.

May i know your main work? And the length of your 3/8 flex,brand name?Thank you

 

[bcradio]

Fixed
Flex is used as needed

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

May i know your main work? And the length of your 3/8 flex,brand name?Thank you

Auto Mechanic. I believe it’s 13 inches long. Snap-on is the brand name. I like the hard handle like I have. I can’t remember the model number.

 

[JradM]

Fixed for all three. Flex when I need it.

 

[Pinemarten]

Fixed, flex as required.

 

[ItsNemo]

Have both, usually grab long handled flex first, not so much for access but for the ability to spin in faster by flexing straight once the bolt is broken free.

 

[619DioFan]

Normaly grab fixed first, after that I like the swivel head ratchets . I use longer flex head if the swivel head dosent get it.

 

[toolmutt]

Growing up, I only had fixed so that's what I used. My only exposure to flex back then was a super cheap piece of garbage that was floppier than a spaghetti noodle. I threw it away. I've only recently begun to learn the nuances of using a good flex head ratchet. Old dog, new trick thing.

 

[assassin10000]

Locking flex for all (matco 1/4, 3/8 & 1/2). Occasionally I'll use a roto head bit ratchet (titan) or an older kobalt 1/4 in the toolbag.

 

[seber]

11" flex. The fixed head is in the back of the drawer somewhere. Haven't used it in decades. If I need a standard length, that is also flex. I just don't see any purpose for fixed head ratchets when flex heads are available.

 

[bryant 24]

11" flex. The fixed head is in the back of the drawer somewhere. Haven't used it in decades. If I need a standard length, that is also flex. I just don't see any purpose for fixed head ratchets when flex heads are available.

May i know your work

 

[steve855]

Have both, usually grab long handled flex first, not so much for access but for the ability to spin in faster by flexing straight once the bolt is broken free.

same here.

 

[jsaw]

Locking flex head, 1/4, 3/8 & 1/2

 

[F-22]

Fixed standard handle, but I mainly work on motorcycles.

 

[seber]

May i know your work

Retired. Now I fix the garden tractor, cars, ATVs. And I buy and rebuild small equipment to keep busy. I also buy and sell tools for extra income.

 

[f121]

1/4” flex
3/8” depends on the situation

 

[Walkers]

Flex or swivel head, I couldn't tell you when I last used my fixed head ratchets.

 

[KnurledNut]

May i know your main work? And the length of your 3/8 flex,brand name?Thank you

May i know your work

You sure ask direct questions for someone so cryptic about your own identity.
Whats the deal with all the ratchet threads and sporadic replies with questions?
Do you work for a chinese wrench manufacturer?
I remember the obscure thread about colored ratcheting wrenches here:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/sae-metric-wrench-what-color-do-you-prefer.518098/
Not being a ****, just genuinely curious what the motive here is.

 

[Gordon84]

I'm in the minority. I rarely use flex head rats. But when I do use them, I only use flex heads with a locking button. I hate floppy flex heads.

 

[M635_Guy]

It depends, but for 1/4" it's most-often a roto head (so flex?) and with 3/8" it's usually fixed. It's why my top looks like this:

1/2" probably leans roto, but I don't use 1/2" hand ratchets very much.

For flex specifically, there are three flex-heads in the above pic, and they're all relatively new to me:

• The 1/4" SK hasn't been used much at all.
• The blue handle is the Matco locking flex which is fantastic other than a balking locking mechanism. At some point I might warranty it out, because I like the ratchet itself a whole lot.
• The (red handle) Icon was purchased based on how useful I was finding the Matco, and figured I'd try a non-locking flex. It hasn't seen a lot of action yet as I'm between projects.

I'm kind of a ratchet-*****...

 

[M635_Guy]

You sure ask direct questions for someone so cryptic about your own identity.
Whats the deal with all the ratchet threads and sporadic replies with questions?
Do you work for a chinese wrench manufacturer?
I remember the obscure thread about colored ratcheting wrenches here:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/sae-metric-wrench-what-color-do-you-prefer.518098/
Not being a ****, just genuinely curious what the motive here is.

I think what you're asking is "May i know your work?"

 

[sparky 1971]

You sure ask direct questions for someone so cryptic about your own identity.
Whats the deal with all the ratchet threads and sporadic replies with questions?
Do you work for a chinese wrench manufacturer?
I remember the obscure thread about colored ratcheting wrenches here:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/sae-metric-wrench-what-color-do-you-prefer.518098/
Not being a ****, just genuinely curious what the motive here is.

His "about" is enough for me.

bryant 24

www.garagejournal.com

 

[merkyworks]

@KnurledNut i‘ve been wondering the same with user bryant 24.
@sparky 1971 found the reason for bryant 24 line of questions.

Personally don’t have a problem with a company asking survey type questions, but definitely don’t like said company masking themselves as an individual user.

 

[BarryWells]

I'm in the minority. I rarely use flex head rats. But when I do use them, I only use flex heads with a locking button. I hate floppy flex heads.

Me too. That's why my go to's are Wright. Best danged detents in the busyness

 

[M635_Guy]

His "about" is enough for me.

bryant 24

www.garagejournal.com

helpful

@KnurledNut i‘ve been wondering the same with user bryant 24.
@sparky 1971 found the reason for bryant 24 line of questions.

Personally don’t have a problem with a company asking survey type questions, but definitely don’t like said company masking themselves as an individual user.

Meh - I don't think there's deceit here. It's actually fairly obvious what's going on, and I agree with you that a company asking questions isn't a bad thing.

 

[merkyworks]

Meh - I don't think there's deceit here.

Perhaps, but then why not make the username the company name. Making the username seems like a personal account seems somewhat deceitful to me. It would be like Snap On or Gearwrench having an account named “John 123” and ask nothing but question, seems wrong.

 

[M635_Guy]

Perhaps, but then why not make the username the company name. Making the username seems like a personal account seems somewhat deceitful to me. It would be like Snap On or Gearwrench having an account named “John 123” and ask nothing but question, seems wrong.

Any number of reasons - the first of which is it's probably not an 'official' account, but just a guy doing his job and asking some questions. I agree Bob_from_CompanyX would be better, but not a big deal for me in this case.

 

[merkyworks]

Any number of reasons - the first of which is it's probably not an 'official' account, but just a guy doing his job and asking some questions. I agree Bob_from_CompanyX would be better, but not a big deal for me in this case.

It can be nuanced I’ll agree on that. I have a certain opinion in general that won’t be change.

 

[turnthewrench 2.0]

Next thing you know, HF introduces the Bryant line of tools. Halfway in price between Quinn and Icon...