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Nepros vs Snapon Ratchet Question

Naltastrife

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Dec 14, 2018
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23
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Florida
I'm looking to upgrade into a nice set of ratchets for daily use and started pricing out what are considered top tier ratchets. Looking at both the dual 80 and nepros line of flex head long handles Ive hit a snag in deciding which I'd rather have.

COO has no impact in my decision. I'll be buying either cash upfront so financing has no influence either. We have a Snapon truck that rolls in once a week but I have never personally seen him in the last year, he pulls up in his truck, techs are in and out, but he has never come out of the truck to greet me or anyone in the 10 months Ive been with the shop, so I have a minor negative stigma though I know his demeanor does not reflect Snapons quality.

Bottom line, on a daily basis, with no truck service, would you choose Nepros 90t or a Snapon Dual80 and why?
 
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Professional Tool User

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I haven't played around with the Nepros before, but all I can say about the Snap on ratcheting mechanism is that it is smooth, the direction lever feels it won't go into neutral unlike the Pittsburgh Pro ones from Harbor Freight where it can go into neutral if you go hard on it, but it's nothing special when it comes to strength. My co-worker has a 24" Snap on Dual 80 flex head ratchet and he has broken it on at least one occasion when trying to get a seized bolt turning.
 

General Geoff

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Nepros will probably take longer to warranty if there's ever an issue. The Japanese companies are also a bit more scrutinizing as to whether a tool failure was actually caused by a manufacturing defect, or abuse. So if your ratchet has marks from a cheater pipe on it when you send it in for replacement after it breaks, KTC will probably deny coverage and charge you for a new handle and/or rebuild kit.

On the other hand, if it's a big shop with several techs working at a given time, Nepros ratchets will stand out and be easier to find/reclaim if they grow legs.
 

Danglerb

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I like my snapon ratchets, but there are plenty of good old and new ratchets that I tend to grab first. I guess I could do everything with a 3/8, but I like a smaller ratchet when it works and a BIGGER one when I need more force, and that gets pricey fast if you stick to new tool truck brands.

I hate to admit how often the ratchet of choice is a $12 HF roto head 1/4 drive, plus working smarter means using a power tool anytime I can.
 

Skin

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I have both, like both, and use both. Big question is do you want quick release since I didn't see you specify that about the dual 80 as all Nepros are QR ratchets. Also do you mind comfort grip? If you're comparing a QR dual 80 comfort grip vs a Nepros you can toss a coin and be happy. If its a metal handle then I think Nepros has the edge. The only downside to Nepros is you wont want to abuse it (no pipe, no standing on it) as they don't offer free rebuild kits and they're costly at $30 ea. That said you absolutely will not break it by using it as intended.

If you think there is even a chance you're going to want to abuse it just stick with Snap-On. Break the flex joint on SO, get a new ratchet. Do it to a Nepros and you may of just binned a $170 ratchet. Both companies do have lifetime warranties but SO is a known quantity.
 
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Jaysreal

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Bottom line, on a daily basis, with no truck service, would you choose Nepros 90t or a Snapon Dual80 and why?
For daily use, either will work fine. I have 4 Snap on ratchets: TLLF72, F80, FLL80, and a fhf80. This is gonna be an unpopular opinion but personally, I find their socket retention is WAY too tight, which annoys the hell out of me. So I find myself reaching for my Proto J5250htc more than the Snappys.

When it comes to Nepros, I have the nbr290f. I can tell you that the head is a little sleeker than Snap-on's equivalent (at least on the 1/4") which does help in some situations, but the Nepros are also more slippery in the hand.

Snap-on's biggest advantage to me is that they probably have the biggest selection of ratchets in the world. From locking flex, comfort grip, and quick release, to bent handle, speeder, zero degree and extra long versions, you name it they got it.

The only reason I don't have more Nepros ratchets is due to price, considering the nbr290f cost me $114 and the TLLF72 was $118.

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visionguru

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Chicago
....
Bottom line, on a daily basis, with no truck service, would you choose Nepros 90t or a Snapon Dual80 and why?

If I were a pro like you, this should not even be a question. Why? Snap On is popular and proven, while Nepros is not.
 

ChrisLS8

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If I were a pro like you, this should not even be a question. Why? Snap On is popular and proven, while Nepros is not.

Lololol yeah maybe here they aren't popular but they are just as good if not higher quality than SO and they have been a staple manufacturer in Japan for a while
 

itylerstewart

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I have a 90 tooth Nepros long ratchet and it's pretty nice. Unfortunately if I need a ratchet that long, I usually just grab a 25" or my Cornwell SR-70. I grab my snappys anywhere in between. They're both great
 
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Naltastrife

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Dec 14, 2018
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Thanks for the input, I think since most everyone here has a snapon ratchet and is willing to loan them to me Ill buy one Nepros ratchet and use both back to back and see which I prefer.
 

ChrisLS8

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I've been using Nepros ratchets for over 10 years and never had a problem with any of them. They are certainly as good or better than any of my Snapon ratchets.

He's a troll who has no actual experience with Nepros. He's busy sucking off Snap On
 

BDT/NWMN

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I will appoint You as the test pilot for the Nepros ratchet;
while I stay with Snap-on. Our Snap-on Dealer is nicer.
 
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Snaparxon

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For daily use, either will work fine. I have 4 Snap on ratchets: TLLF72, F80, FLL80, and a fhf80. This is gonna be an unpopular opinion but personally, I find their socket retention is WAY too tight, which annoys the hell out of me.

You can fix that by taking a pin punch slightly smaller than the ball and punching the ball into the drive end there by compressing the spring. Worked on mine. You can compress the spring to much and have barely any re-tension if you hit it to hard.
 

Xcursion88

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Apr 18, 2013
Messages
785
I'm looking to upgrade into a nice set of ratchets for daily use and started pricing out what are considered top tier ratchets. Looking at both the dual 80 and nepros line of flex head long handles Ive hit a snag in deciding which I'd rather have.

COO has no impact in my decision. I'll be buying either cash upfront so financing has no influence either. We have a Snapon truck that rolls in once a week but I have never personally seen him in the last year, he pulls up in his truck, techs are in and out, but he has never come out of the truck to greet me or anyone in the 10 months Ive been with the shop, so I have a minor negative stigma though I know his demeanor does not reflect Snapons quality.

Bottom line, on a daily basis, with no truck service, would you choose Nepros 90t or a Snapon Dual80 and why?

Maybe...just maybe.. COO should be a factor!

Support your country and it's workers.

If it meant an inferior product that's understandable...but as evident by your on the fence, post, you've narrowed it down to at least one very good product in SO.

Not all SO is made in USA but those ratchets sure are.

They are tough, and work great. I use SK sockets wjth SO ratchets. Best of both worlds.

Why on the sk sockets...??

It's because the undercuts and numbering are deeper providing a better grip when oily getting off the ratchet.

Good luck.
 
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Naltastrife

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Dec 14, 2018
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Florida
Maybe...just maybe.. COO should be a factor!

Support your country and it's workers.

I get and often practice your point here, my wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, punches and some sockets are USA, I shop local, support farmers in the area and shoot american made firearms.

All that said, its a big world and it'd be foolish to limit yourself to only buy USA made when you can experience something made with the same quality or perhaps better qualities from abroad.

By the way, have you established any relationship with your Snap On guy? Or just don't like him because he doesn't come in the shop?

It may be stubborn of me, but yes most of the disdain is simply from him staying in his truck and never taking to time to greet people. We have Cornwell, Matco, just lost Mac, Snapon and an SK/Gearwrench truck. All the other drivers go out of their way to check on everyone personally, yet the best name in tools is represented by a truck that parks outside for 5 minutes.
 

Bigblue&Goldie

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No experience with Nepros, but in my mind ratchets are wear items that will eventually need a rebuild, but will last a lifetime with parts support. SnapOn rebuild kits are cheap and readily available, so that would sway me towards them. Nepros may be nicer (?), but I won't own one as I don't want to have to hunt for parts down the road.
 

Jaysreal

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Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Nepros may be nicer (?), but I won't own one as I don't want to have to hunt for parts down the road.
https://www.nepros.net/?cat=8&grp=29
Umm... Directly on the OFFICIAL Nepros website, repair kits are available in literally three clicks. This same official website will ship them directly to your door.
5208d69b77cb6f1150652200c910d878.jpg

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Bigblue&Goldie

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https://www.nepros.net/?cat=8&grp=29
Umm... Directly on the OFFICIAL Nepros website, repair kits are available in literally three clicks. This same official website will ship them directly to your door.
5208d69b77cb6f1150652200c910d878.jpg

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$31.20+$9.90 shipping from Japan? I'll stick with the SnapOn shipped from the USA for $10.50. Not very often when you can say SnapOn is 25% of the cost of the competition.
 

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Jaysreal

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$31.20+shipping from Japan? I'll stick with the SnapOn shipped from the USA for $10.50.
Yep about $43 total from Nepros. But to be fair Snap on doesn't include the plate, so you gotta tack another 8 bucks on top of your 10.50.

I mean you no ill-will, all I'm saying is that "the hunt for repair parts down the road" is pretty much non-existent when it comes to the Nepros ratchets.

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Mr Ratchet

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Mar 3, 2011
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Michigan
I like my SO ratchets but, when it comes to flex head, I'll take Matco's locking 88's. I know it's not on you list but, might be worth considering.

Not sure how good Nepros support is. They look like quality units. SO speaks for it's self in both regards. Nepro would also add a level of uniqueness to the box if that matter to you.
 
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Naltastrife

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Florida
How big is your shop/how many techs does your shop have?

Do your other truck dealers come inside the shop?

Its a family owned independent shop, we have 7 mechanics, and 6 tire techs.

Cornwell and Matco walk the whole shop including finding every tire tech every week.SK/Gearwrench mostly just checks on the mechanics, but makes the whole shop rounds about monthly.

Our Snapon Rep pulls up out back and waits. Yes, someone generally calls out if they see him, but we have had him just drive away if its busy and no one popped out to the truck.

I don't wish the guy any ill will, but he's not getting my business that way.
 

Xcursion88

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Wow. That is one hell of an independent shop. The only shop around these parts with that many employees is a dealership.

Anyway... I don't blame you and I think your driver is doing a disservice to himself, especially if he treats all shops on his routes that way, but I think you are a bit hung up on a relatively minor detail.

You admitted to having made no attempt to establish a business relationship with the guy so you don't know him and he doesn't know you. But to each their own I guess. I am sure your paycheck appreciates your unwillingness to step on the truck.

Your shop gets a devoted sk, Matco, cornwell rep
..evrn a gearwrrench person???
And nary a snap on presence????

Come on.

Matco makes nothing thenselves but boxes. cornwell not much more. Gearwrrench is asian...

SK is 100% USA and SO is about 85% USA and they don't come in?

Crazy my brotha
 

Mr_B

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Reading
snaon does ratchets well and warranty/parts useful so good buy really.
Other ratchets I really like are Koken and Facom .
 
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