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Help me pick a new 1/2 flex head ratchet

dchawk81

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Jul 31, 2014
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14,378
My memory was correct then. I knew it was more than the 36 tooth Craftsman but not a high tooth ratchet by today's standards. If I walked into Napa and saw that ratchet on the shelf for that price, I probably wouldn't leave the store without it.
I have future uses in mind but no real need for it right now. But I played with it and you can definitely feel and hear each clack of the pawl.

It should do fine for its purpose.
 
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boom_bap

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Feb 29, 2020
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Idaho
so i have all 3 flex capri ratchets and liek them a lot-except the 1/2 I warrantied cause the selector was all floppy. they sent another and same thing. i bought them about 2-3 years ago now. is your 1/2 flex capri selector floppy and loose?
Not that I remember, I’ll check it and report back.

For those looking for a cheap 25 flexhead, you can take a Matco replacement head kit and mate it with a HF breaker bar. You need to drill out the hole but total cost around $40
 
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JWC86

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Sep 4, 2021
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270
Thank you everyone for contributing to this thread.
I decided not to compromise and just order a new Snap-On SRLF80A. Thats the " Extra Long Handle Flex Head with Quick Release, chrome handle".

The QR versions don't show up on ebay often and I'm fairly picky about condition so this seemed like the best route.

I also have a 3/8 flex head on order with him and a TR72 to replace my T72 since I'm a ***** for QR. Will be like Christmas day when I see my Snap-On guy next time.
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Lucid Moments

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Gainesville, Ga
Thank you everyone for contributing to this thread.
I decided not to compromise and just order a new Snap-On SRLF80A. Thats the " Extra Long Handle Flex Head with Quick Release, chrome handle".

The QR versions don't show up on ebay often and I'm fairly picky about condition so this seemed like the best route.

I also have a 3/8 flex head on order with him and a TR72 to replace my T72 since I'm a ***** for QR. Will be like Christmas day when I see my Snap-On guy next time.
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And the month after is going to be like January when you are paying the Christmas credit card bills.🤪

Don't get me wrong, I might do the same thing, but damn those things are pricey.
 
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JWC86

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Sep 4, 2021
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270
And the month after is going to be like January when you are paying the Christmas credit card bills.🤪

Don't get me wrong, I might do the same thing, but damn those things are pricey.
LOL, they are pricey for sure but I've learned with tools I never regret the money spent on quality tools and I know from experience Snap-On ratchets are quality.

I'm also in the process of going through all my ratchets and decided to sell the ones I don't like since I never use them anyways. I'm selling 3 snap-on ratchets, 4 gearwrench and 3 tekton ratchets for sure. So that helps take the sting out of buying a few new ones that are exactly what I want.
 

rmsg0040

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Feb 15, 2012
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Location
Toronto
I only have (1) 1/2" ratchet in my collection, 24" long flex head, SLF80. It is the old design with the screws on the plate cover, new style has screws through the ratchet head where it says Snap On. I bought it back in the day for $85 used off kijiji and I also got a repair kit I bought off the truck.

It rarely gets used unless something is super tight with limited access. Other than that my Milwaukee impacts, 3/8" drive ratchets, long double box flex ratcheting wrenches and long double box wrenches do most of the work.
 
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JWC86

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Sep 4, 2021
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Snap-on is $255.00 directly from Snap-on. That's really not too bad. Glad you bit the bullet for the quality. You will love the long Snap-on.
Ya I figured I might as well just get the extra long version. I already have a non flex head SK 1/2” in a standard length. As I get older I find the extra leverage of the longer ratchets more useful.
 

Retired dozer fixer

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Aug 6, 2022
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331
Location
Leesburg Indiana
I normally use my a breaker bar, impact wrench, or combo wrench to loosen the fastener. I am in the rust belt may also use PB Blaster / Liquid Wrench. I have not even tried to use my Snap on 1/2 drive ratchet to loosen a fastener not sure if it is a good idea, the breaker bar, PB Blaster, impact wrench are first choice in rust region.
X2. Maybe I’m just old school because during my working career that’s just how I did things. Everything I worked on was big and heavy. Used 1/2” & 3/4” tools like most of you guys use 1/4”-3/8” drives. Always wished someone had made a 3/4” flex-head ratchet
 

Drunkonunleaded

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Apr 14, 2019
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339
Location
Detroit Rock City
I have the Napa carlyle locking flex 1/2" and its been great. I got it on an incredible sale several years ago when they'd go on sale half off, back when retail was still a bargain. (I think it was about $60 at the time reg $120. I'm guessing its 3x that now. I think they're close enough in price you'd be just as well off getting the snapon honestly unless you find one used or another sale, which at this point seems unlikely.

Carlyle just released a new 25" locking flex head. It's also on sale right now for only $88. Not a bad deal at all. This would be my recommendation.


I have a Kobalt 24" flex head (non-locking). For the price, it isn't bad either. It does, however, have notches.
 
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IndyGarage

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Apr 29, 2010
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Indy
I broke my Gearwrench 90T 1/2" locking flexhead last week while busting brake caliper bracket bolts on a F350. The locking mech now wont lock the head and it just flops around everywhere.

Honestly I don't care for the GW flex heads at all, when I get it back or a new one from warranty I will be selling all my GW ratchets, I could write all day about how much I dislike them but thats a topic for another thread.
Interesting. I bought the GW 90 tooth flex heads as well as a long 120 tooth non flex head early this year and have been using them for everything - including brake calipers on an F350 and an F550. I really like them and haven't broken anything.

Maybe it's just personal preference but my non-locking flex head ratchets drove me nuts - They always slipped when I didn't want them to. What didn't you like about the GW, other than apparently breaking the lock mechanism?
 
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JWC86

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Sep 4, 2021
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You'll love those pliers, work great for pulling relays out of fuse boxes.
I’ve used them a couple times already, they are indeed great. I’ve had the larger version(the “47”s) for about a year and they have become my most used pliers. These are the smaller “46” version.
 

cgrutt

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Mar 4, 2016
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8,302
Snap-On man let me know some of my order was in which included the 1/2" Extra Long Handle Flex Head with quick release.

Should be the last 1/2" ratchet I need to buy.

snap on.jpg
Nice good luck with them. Question about the 3/8 they look about same aside from the comfort grip vs chrome handle when would you use one over the other? I've been buying some used Snap-on ratchets and trying to figure out which ones to buy next to round out the herd lol.
 

nicks78camaro

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Dec 15, 2011
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Pittsburgh, PA
Capri is a cheap decent option. I know that's not what you were looking for but others quoted GW and I believe Capri is better for less money.
 
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JWC86

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Interesting. I bought the GW 90 tooth flex heads as well as a long 120 tooth non flex head early this year and have been using them for everything - including brake calipers on an F350 and an F550. I really like them and haven't broken anything.

Maybe it's just personal preference but my non-locking flex head ratchets drove me nuts - They always slipped when I didn't want them to. What didn't you like about the GW, other than apparently breaking the lock mechanism?
A lot of it is just personal preference but most of it is the fact that I'm the opposite, I don't like having the head locked and when unlocked it just flops around with zero resistance. It doesn't have QD and I hate how chewed up comfort grips get. I dislike how wide the head is and the locking mech is chunky also.
 
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JWC86

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Nice good luck with them. Question about the 3/8 they look about same aside from the comfort grip vs chrome handle when would you use one over the other? I've been buying some used Snap-on ratchets and trying to figure out which ones to buy next to round out the herd lol.
They are indeed the same other than the handle. Different use cases for the different handles. Like I mentioned earlier I don't like the soft comfort grips, I prefer the hard handles, however they don't offer hard handles with QR so I buy the comfort grip and swap on a hard handle.

The one with the soon to be hard handle will be for my home box and the standard chrome handle will be for my mobile kit. While I do prefer the hard handle for my home use I find the chrome handle to be a better fit for my go bag, I'm often working on rough concrete and the hard handles will get chewed up being dragged over it, a cheater bar fits better over it better, etc. Just seems to be what I prefer for the application.
 

spooled180

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Nov 4, 2013
Messages
12
Saw you got the Snappy. I was a bit late on this, J5457F Proto I have the 3/8 and plan on grabbing this in 1/2 also. Love the design and comfort, at least using my 3/8 don't see the 1/2 being any different..
 

Mgdoug3

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Mar 2, 2018
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Location
KY
I much prefer the hard handles too. The hard handles are much easier to clean than the comfort grip and fit my hands better than the small chrome handles. My first Snap-on ratchet I bought was a comfort grip and while it's still holding up, it's the only comfort grip I own.
 

Steve_P

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Sep 15, 2010
Messages
5,185
Saw you got the Snappy. I was a bit late on this, J5457F Proto I have the 3/8 and plan on grabbing this in 1/2 also. Love the design and comfort, at least using my 3/8 don't see the 1/2 being any different..

I looked at the Proto 90t early in the year when I was ready to upgrade my ratchet selection. The Proto overall selection was underwhelming, availability was limited since it's an industrial brand, and I was absolutely shocked at the prices- almost equal to Snap On; at least when I looked. In addition, since then, they haven't tested very well on the PF comparisons.

Not sure why an individual would buy Proto vs Gearwrench, unless you wanted USA; and if so, I'd personally go with SO unless you get a screaming deal. Obviously, we differ in opinion on this.... I can't figure out how Proto comes up with their pricing on these, but I guess they figure that the vast majority of their customers are industrial users, and that they don't care about the price since they're not personally paying for it. I guess it works for Proto; but not for me.
 

RickyPetite

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Oct 12, 2019
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Buck's County, PA
My old Craftsman USA 1/2 flex head is one of my favorites. Old-school USA, built like a tank. Quick release, serviceable head. Maybe you can find one on Ebay.
 

spooled180

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Joined
Nov 4, 2013
Messages
12
I looked at the Proto 90t early in the year when I was ready to upgrade my ratchet selection. The Proto overall selection was underwhelming, availability was limited since it's an industrial brand, and I was absolutely shocked at the prices- almost equal to Snap On; at least when I looked. In addition, since then, they haven't tested very well on the PF comparisons.

Not sure why an individual would buy Proto vs Gearwrench, unless you wanted USA; and if so, I'd personally go with SO unless you get a screaming deal. Obviously, we differ in opinion on this.... I can't figure out how Proto comes up with their pricing on these, but I guess they figure that the vast majority of their customers are industrial users, and that they don't care about the price since they're not personally paying for it. I guess it works for Proto; but not for me.

Steve, I see what and agree with what you said. I am not familiar with the 90t since I seen and heard enough too sway me away. Though the one I listed is a rebranded Facom and can be had around $70ish. Don't think that is close to snap-on prices. I have the 3/8" and it has held up and been great too me. I do plan on giving the 1/2" a shot unless I run into something nicer at a great price..
 
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