How strong are ratcheting wrenches?

[cherrybomb]

I don't like to abuse my ratchet wrenches,so I apply penetrant,wait,breaker bar,then ratchet wrench.Best way,don't have to inconvenience of no wrench,and trying the warrenty.

 

[mrjaw14]

This question comes up often. The short answer is it depends on the brand. As for the SK you have are we talking the super strong X Frame combination wrenches or the old school laminated coarse toothed short ratcheting wrenches?

I feel that MATCO solvEd this delima a long time ago when they came out with the pro swing ratcheting wrench. It has a fixed 12 point boxed end wrench for breaking fasteners loose or for final tightening and a 72 tooth (90 tooth later) for speeding fasteners off and on.

Who's the OEM for the matco ones?

 

[neonlazer]

Who's the OEM for the matco ones?

Armstrong for at least Proswing. I love mine, but it ***** they are probably being discontinued.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Tonyuk]

Never had an issue with my Facoms, i bought a set of flexi head spanners from Aldi for about £10 a few years ago, they've had a fair bit of abuse and haven't stripped out yet.

 

[pbon]

I have never worried about the wrench but it makes sense a ratcheting box is not a strong as a fixed box. I have gear wrench flex heads, which common sense says should be weaker than a fixed head, and have abused them enough to make the flex floppy on the sizes I most commonmy use. I should send a few back but the warranty cost is near that of a new wrench as I recall - postage plus $10?

 

[Matthew3901]

So on the back of the gear wrench package it says not to use on sized or rusted fasteners... I am guessing it will void the warranty?
I wonder what the max torque is for them?