New ratchets
- Thread starter emery432
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jtrux
Active member
Of those 2 I only have experience with SO and they have been excellent. The 80 tooth series has been around a while and is proven. I actually just ordered a new one yesterday. The 3/8 long handled, locking flex head version. I also have the regular long handled 80 tooth and it has been awesome for the last 15 years or so I've had it. Can't recommend them enough.
the ratchets from snap on are worth it, the id suggest fixed and flex of all sizes. as for other stuff besides wrenches from either i wouldnt buy most of their stuff as its costly. companies like grey pneumatic, astro, sunex, gear wrench or even home depot husky brand will hold up fine. although i will say if you want snap on quality wrenches or screw drivers go for williams as they are actually snap on older designs or their industrial brand for most items.
garfunkle24
Well-known member
Do you have better service from Snap-on or Matco? Any ratchet used professionally will need a kit putting in now and then and you don't wanna wait forever for that to happen.
jtrux
Active member
It will break. Kit refers to rebuild kit.
then you want to look at the brands i mentioned
mreisner
Well-known member
Snap-on ratchets are great, only exception I would say is for a 3/8 locking ratchet Matco 88 has in my opinion a better locking mechanism and is thinner. The Olsa ratchets are great also. Lifetime warranty, made in the US and very smooth and low Back Drag.
richfinn
Well-known member
Are you planning on going down the tool truck route or just looking for other/more affordable alternatives?
My advice is watch the pennies whilst your still at school
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
If you're in an accredited automotive program and your school is enrolled in the tool truck brand student discount program, you can get tool truck tools at roughly half off list price. These aren't regular tool truck peeps, They're votech/school reps.
Read the fine print, there are restrictions on what you can or can't buy through the program.
Tekton has a student discount program too. Just don't buy stuff you don't really need starting out, like a huge box and avoid going into debt. Good luck
Search student discount and see what pops up in the Journal.
Read the fine print, there are restrictions on what you can or can't buy through the program.
Tekton has a student discount program too. Just don't buy stuff you don't really need starting out, like a huge box and avoid going into debt. Good luck
Search student discount and see what pops up in the Journal.
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My advice to everyone: Snap On dual 80 was arguably revolutionary. It was a fine toothed ratchet, but as strong as a breaker bar. Back drag was low due to the fine teeth. Dual 80 quickly became a favorite among pros and wanna bes like me. Tho others have copied the design or concept, Snap Zons dual 80 remains an industry leader.
But less often discussed, the chief advantages of the dual 80 design, strength and high tooth count, provide increased utility especially for longer ratchets. Std length or short ratchets don’t benefit as much from high tooth count (for swing room, tho hi tooth count can reduce back drag).
My advice: if you are looking for premium grade ratchets, choose the long (flex) models where you will get real performance benefits you can actually use. For std length ratchets, I’d advise choosing lowest back drag, light weight handles and shapes that you like or fit your hand. Fine toothed round heads can be good choices.
Few more tips: I think of my ratchets as removal ratchets (long, strong, eg SHLF80A, FHLF80) , re-installation (short low back drag, e.g. FK80, T72 with 3/8“ anvil, an old, worn out F80), precision ratchets (long fixed head for front engine jobs, timing belts, eg FLL80, TLL72)
If you take my advice, you will end up with expensive long ratchets, and cheaper short ratchets with few std sizes in between. I advise against spending big money on std length ratchets
But less often discussed, the chief advantages of the dual 80 design, strength and high tooth count, provide increased utility especially for longer ratchets. Std length or short ratchets don’t benefit as much from high tooth count (for swing room, tho hi tooth count can reduce back drag).
My advice: if you are looking for premium grade ratchets, choose the long (flex) models where you will get real performance benefits you can actually use. For std length ratchets, I’d advise choosing lowest back drag, light weight handles and shapes that you like or fit your hand. Fine toothed round heads can be good choices.
Few more tips: I think of my ratchets as removal ratchets (long, strong, eg SHLF80A, FHLF80) , re-installation (short low back drag, e.g. FK80, T72 with 3/8“ anvil, an old, worn out F80), precision ratchets (long fixed head for front engine jobs, timing belts, eg FLL80, TLL72)
If you take my advice, you will end up with expensive long ratchets, and cheaper short ratchets with few std sizes in between. I advise against spending big money on std length ratchets
By the way, you don't specifically need the super expensive ratchets, even professionally. They are nice but by no means are they essential to do the work, you can accomplish a lot with very cheap ones nowadays...
Ultimately that's what most of the world does. Tool truck brands do not exist outside of the US and some select few other countries. And they work on cars there just as well...
My point is, if you're not that well off at this point (just ending school), it is a very bad idea to invest into a bunch of fancy tools when there are so many super cheap alternatives that perform just about as good.
Ultimately that's what most of the world does. Tool truck brands do not exist outside of the US and some select few other countries. And they work on cars there just as well...
My point is, if you're not that well off at this point (just ending school), it is a very bad idea to invest into a bunch of fancy tools when there are so many super cheap alternatives that perform just about as good.
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Snap on got the student excellence program and they offer 50 percent off a limited number of ratchets. I’d just buy one of each they let you in the 80 tooth kind. If you hate them then you can resell them for a slight profit even after eBay fees tbh
skip the 100 tooth they aren’t as good I hear. Dual 80 is the best honestly
skip the 100 tooth they aren’t as good I hear. Dual 80 is the best honestly
Theronswanson
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 13, 2023
- Messages
- 537
Snap-on is by far my favorite ratchet. That being said however, Matco makes a great ratchet as well. In my experience you're more than likely to run into a Snap-on truck, than a Matco truck. I would go with Snap-on based off that.
shoggoth80
Well-known member
Ratchets are a pretty personal thing. You don't have to go tool truck to get a good one. But all the truck brands do have good models.
That said you can find decent budget oriented models for any major type of ratchet. I am partial to Snap On ratchets, but they aren't the only brand in the box. I like longer handles as a main go to. So most the time I run Snap On roto head ratchets in 1/4 and 3/8. You can find similar ones from Icon, Tekton, Gearwrench that also carry lifetime warranty. Matco 88 locking flex head? Gearwrench. Long handled 1/4? Tekton, Capri, and probably a good number of others. Longer handled flex head? Icon, Pittsburgh, Capri, Tekton etc etc. Budget friendly indexable? Pittsburgh.
You could build out a very usable ratchet drawer for not a ton of money if you choose alternate routes. If you buy truck ratchets from the get go, they'll be good, but you will have a fairly large amount of money in them, even with student discount, at a time when buying carefully probably matters.
If you're getting ready to graduate tech school, and you're gearing up for Independent work/independent shop... You need variety of tools... Not necessarily the best out the gate. Some of that "not the best" will serve for a surprisingly long time. If you're gonna be busting out oil changes, tires, and light bulbs... You need a different focus, and fewer tools than say if you were doing all that plus brake jobs etc.
That said you can find decent budget oriented models for any major type of ratchet. I am partial to Snap On ratchets, but they aren't the only brand in the box. I like longer handles as a main go to. So most the time I run Snap On roto head ratchets in 1/4 and 3/8. You can find similar ones from Icon, Tekton, Gearwrench that also carry lifetime warranty. Matco 88 locking flex head? Gearwrench. Long handled 1/4? Tekton, Capri, and probably a good number of others. Longer handled flex head? Icon, Pittsburgh, Capri, Tekton etc etc. Budget friendly indexable? Pittsburgh.
You could build out a very usable ratchet drawer for not a ton of money if you choose alternate routes. If you buy truck ratchets from the get go, they'll be good, but you will have a fairly large amount of money in them, even with student discount, at a time when buying carefully probably matters.
If you're getting ready to graduate tech school, and you're gearing up for Independent work/independent shop... You need variety of tools... Not necessarily the best out the gate. Some of that "not the best" will serve for a surprisingly long time. If you're gonna be busting out oil changes, tires, and light bulbs... You need a different focus, and fewer tools than say if you were doing all that plus brake jobs etc.
I myself prefer snap on ratchets but own most brands.CHI_Tool&Die
Well-known member
I don’t like writing long answers but in this case I’m going to. Tool truck tools are all about the service. It’s why you pay a boatload for them. When it breaks you need a driver that will take care of it. I don’t know how your tech school does it, but all our local ones have a hybrid program where you are simultaneously working as an apprentice and attending classes on the same day. If I were you, I’d casually ask around the places you may work to see what trucks are around. Not having a driver from a brand happens way more than people realize. Drivers retire, quit, ghost, and haggle with warranties a ton and that will screw you over. If you can nail down which drivers are actually doing their jobs then that will make your life and choices easier.
As an example, our Snappy and MAC drivers work under a big umbrella. So one guy owns each district and then has multiple drivers running the routes. The positive is that the Snappy and MAC guys are super predictable; they are always on time in the same spots consistently. The only negative is that neither will take trades or work deals, what you see is what you get. The Matco driver is his own boss. His route is two or three times the size of Snappy or MAC. He doesn’t get insane inventory cause it’s just him which means you’ll have to wait for the items instead of getting them right away. He’s also incredibly inconsistent. He might stop by every week at the same time or he might not show up for months on end. That means warranties pile-up and then he gets flakey about it since he has so many at once. But he also likes to work deals out to move inventory and he hasn’t been a problem with trade-ins for upgrades. That’s what I mean about asking around cause it will help determine who you want to give your dollars too. I’ve been buying a ton of Snap-on tools lately, not because I think they are the best, but because the Snappy guy is so on-top of everything and the buying experience is just easygoing.
All that said, I’m weird. I work on small cars and scooters for fun. And my professional job puts a premium on fastener accessibility. IMHO, I’d take Matco over Snappy any day. The ratchets are smoother, thinner, longer, I prefer the comfort grip handles, and the locking flex mechanism is superior. That means that I can get more places with better access via my Matco ratchets. Plus they are manufactured right down the street from my work. I don’t personally care about ratchet strength because if I’m running into issues out comes the air, beaker bar, or the ugga dugga. Like I said earlier, I have Snappy only because it’s so difficult doing business with the Matco man when he is never around.
Don’t be afraid of the 100 tooth ratchets. The first batch had issues but the newer ones I have seem to be much better. Plus the slimmer head and longer handles are absolutely worth it. You don’t realize how much of a porker the Dual 80s or MAC Axis ratchets are until you use a 100 tooth.
As an example, our Snappy and MAC drivers work under a big umbrella. So one guy owns each district and then has multiple drivers running the routes. The positive is that the Snappy and MAC guys are super predictable; they are always on time in the same spots consistently. The only negative is that neither will take trades or work deals, what you see is what you get. The Matco driver is his own boss. His route is two or three times the size of Snappy or MAC. He doesn’t get insane inventory cause it’s just him which means you’ll have to wait for the items instead of getting them right away. He’s also incredibly inconsistent. He might stop by every week at the same time or he might not show up for months on end. That means warranties pile-up and then he gets flakey about it since he has so many at once. But he also likes to work deals out to move inventory and he hasn’t been a problem with trade-ins for upgrades. That’s what I mean about asking around cause it will help determine who you want to give your dollars too. I’ve been buying a ton of Snap-on tools lately, not because I think they are the best, but because the Snappy guy is so on-top of everything and the buying experience is just easygoing.
All that said, I’m weird. I work on small cars and scooters for fun. And my professional job puts a premium on fastener accessibility. IMHO, I’d take Matco over Snappy any day. The ratchets are smoother, thinner, longer, I prefer the comfort grip handles, and the locking flex mechanism is superior. That means that I can get more places with better access via my Matco ratchets. Plus they are manufactured right down the street from my work. I don’t personally care about ratchet strength because if I’m running into issues out comes the air, beaker bar, or the ugga dugga. Like I said earlier, I have Snappy only because it’s so difficult doing business with the Matco man when he is never around.
Don’t be afraid of the 100 tooth ratchets. The first batch had issues but the newer ones I have seem to be much better. Plus the slimmer head and longer handles are absolutely worth it. You don’t realize how much of a porker the Dual 80s or MAC Axis ratchets are until you use a 100 tooth.
richfinn
Well-known member
Does your School have a required tools list for the program?
What kind of Technician do you plan on becoming (Cars/Motorcycle/Trucks)?
I think the general consensus is that both Snap-On and Matco make good ratchets (especially at a 50% discount) but as your career progresses Snap-On warranty is likely to be easier as they have so many more drivers and routes.
For example Matco doesn't really exist where I live in the UK but I can go meet a Snap-On Truck pretty easily.
There are other non tool truck brands like Ko-ken (Japanese) Facom (Europe) that make really nice ratchets at good price points.
This is discussed often so I recommend a search. Most will say it's personal preference between the two, and if you're a pro, the warranty is important and Snap-On probably has a slight edge in that regard but if you see Matco trucks on the road in the area you'll probably work, I wouldn't worry too much. I'm not a pro but our area has a Matco guy that's easy enough to get in touch with and figure out where he'll be if I need anything.
I'll respectfully disagree with anybody telling you to buy budget ratchets as a pro, especially with a hefty student discount. Cut corners elsewhere. If you're an automotive tech, Get a good 3/8 standard length, 3/8 long, 3/8 long flex, and an 18" flex 1/2 off the truck. Don't waste your money on a standard length 1/2" ratchet because you won't use it. If you're looking to cut cost, pick up the 1/4 drive stuff and the oddballs (stubby flex, standard 1/2 drive, etc) from GearWrench.
Food for thought: If you can get both with a significant discount, buy one or two from each brand, use both, and ebay the one's you don't like as much to help offset the cost.
I'll respectfully disagree with anybody telling you to buy budget ratchets as a pro, especially with a hefty student discount. Cut corners elsewhere. If you're an automotive tech, Get a good 3/8 standard length, 3/8 long, 3/8 long flex, and an 18" flex 1/2 off the truck. Don't waste your money on a standard length 1/2" ratchet because you won't use it. If you're looking to cut cost, pick up the 1/4 drive stuff and the oddballs (stubby flex, standard 1/2 drive, etc) from GearWrench.
Food for thought: If you can get both with a significant discount, buy one or two from each brand, use both, and ebay the one's you don't like as much to help offset the cost.
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At 50% off, some of the SO stuff approaches being a good deal. That's a grumpy way to say it, and people around here are mad when I say stuff like that, but it's just true. Too many techs get caught loading up on (unecessary) tool debt when they first start. There's so many excellent tools out there that aren't going to require the investment that SO will, even at 50% off.
That said, I'm a big fan of the Dual 80 SO ratchets. They feel good, they work well and they're tough. My Icon ratchets are very close though - I wouldn't overlook Icon in general - for example their dual-box flex head ratcheting wrenches are awesome, vastly less-expensive than the SO and easy to warranty if you need to compared to the same ones with the Mountain branding. I'd keep the Snap On/Matco investment to anything specialty that you definitely need that you won't find from anywhere other than SO or another truck-tool and maybe a couple daily drivers. The best-feeling mechanism I have is the Ko-ken 3/8" flex. I can't really vouch for how tough it is, but it's a terrific ratchet. The Matco 88 locking flex is a nice one too, though the locking switch on mine is a PITA - I should warranty it at some point. I wouldn't bother with the new 100-tooth SO (or any 100-tooth for that matter). If the discount applies to the LN-46ACF and LN47-ACF, I'd absolutely recommend those.
Resist the urge to buy a tool-truck box. Stay off the truck as much as possible and avoid payments. My $0.02.
That said, I'm a big fan of the Dual 80 SO ratchets. They feel good, they work well and they're tough. My Icon ratchets are very close though - I wouldn't overlook Icon in general - for example their dual-box flex head ratcheting wrenches are awesome, vastly less-expensive than the SO and easy to warranty if you need to compared to the same ones with the Mountain branding. I'd keep the Snap On/Matco investment to anything specialty that you definitely need that you won't find from anywhere other than SO or another truck-tool and maybe a couple daily drivers. The best-feeling mechanism I have is the Ko-ken 3/8" flex. I can't really vouch for how tough it is, but it's a terrific ratchet. The Matco 88 locking flex is a nice one too, though the locking switch on mine is a PITA - I should warranty it at some point. I wouldn't bother with the new 100-tooth SO (or any 100-tooth for that matter). If the discount applies to the LN-46ACF and LN47-ACF, I'd absolutely recommend those.
Resist the urge to buy a tool-truck box. Stay off the truck as much as possible and avoid payments. My $0.02.
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VolvoRyan
Well-known member
Random thoughts.
Dual-80 rebuild kits are silly cheap. Worth having one in each drive size. If one breaks, you can be back online in minutes. Warranty the guts next time the truck is around. That said, I haven't been able to lunch the 24" long Dual-80 1/2".... and I've wailed on it.
Matco ratchets are nice, and their thinner head does make a difference for getting into places.
The 50% edu price is fantastic. Just be careful not to over extend your credit if your eyes are bigger than your wallet. It's easy to fall into this trap when you start seeing the "discount window" closing.
-Ryan
Dual-80 rebuild kits are silly cheap. Worth having one in each drive size. If one breaks, you can be back online in minutes. Warranty the guts next time the truck is around. That said, I haven't been able to lunch the 24" long Dual-80 1/2".... and I've wailed on it.
Matco ratchets are nice, and their thinner head does make a difference for getting into places.
The 50% edu price is fantastic. Just be careful not to over extend your credit if your eyes are bigger than your wallet. It's easy to fall into this trap when you start seeing the "discount window" closing.
-Ryan
seber
Well-known member
I am a Snap-on ratchet fan. But the one that has saved me a lot of headaches is the dual 80 flex 1/4" drive. When the space gets tight, nothing else works as well.
Wrench97
Well-known member
For ratchets especially with trade school discount Snap On, the newer locking 80 tooth flex head is better then the older version I have both but when grabbing a flex head I usually grab the Matco 88 first.
The Matco 88's are a good line but in my experience they need rebuilt more often then the Snap On 80's.
My tools are used and to some on here I'm sure they'll call them abused but it's a tool I use them to get the job done and usually follow the buy once cry once theory.
While you have the discount buy the Ratchets, in 1/4, 3/8, & 1/2, Snap On they also excel in 1/4" chrome sockets get yourself an organiser that makes everything missing clear to you so when you finish a job and one socket, one wrench, or one of any tool is missing is quickly visible to you before the job leaves the bay.
The Matco 88's are a good line but in my experience they need rebuilt more often then the Snap On 80's.
My tools are used and to some on here I'm sure they'll call them abused but it's a tool I use them to get the job done and usually follow the buy once cry once theory.
While you have the discount buy the Ratchets, in 1/4, 3/8, & 1/2, Snap On they also excel in 1/4" chrome sockets get yourself an organiser that makes everything missing clear to you so when you finish a job and one socket, one wrench, or one of any tool is missing is quickly visible to you before the job leaves the bay.
If your trade school provides tools see which ratchets you use most often. I'd wait to buy high dollar ratchets and buy cheaper ratchets till you figure out what you like once you start turning wrenches for a living. You'll find you really don't need or use that many ratchets. Till you figure out what you are doing for a living I'd wait to really stock up, someone at the lube bay in a Honda dealer is going to be using different tools than an entry level mechanic at a construction company. Yes you can get a good deal now though what's the point of a ratchet you got a good deal on if you never use it. Take 3/8" ratchets for a example figure out if you want fixed or flex head, if flex head locking or non flex head, quick release or non quick release, what grip you like, and what length you like best and buy 1 tool truck ratchet. You could easily buy a dozen 3/8" ratchets off the truck before you found "the one". Looking at Icon you could spend $200-$300 and have a ton of options from 1/4"-1/2" for the price of 2 tool truck ratchets even at student discount.
At work I have somewhere between 15-20 ratchets. I have 4-5 common 1/4-1/2" ratchets + a 3/4" ratchet/ breaker bar combo I use, the rest just take up space in my box and emptied my wallet. All but 1 or 2 are snapons. That's a lot of money in ratchets I don't usually use sitting in my box. I went with snapon because the only tool truck for 500 miles is snapon and I like their ratchets. You'll also find ratchets end up on sale pretty often on the truck getting them a close to student discount prices.
At work I have somewhere between 15-20 ratchets. I have 4-5 common 1/4-1/2" ratchets + a 3/4" ratchet/ breaker bar combo I use, the rest just take up space in my box and emptied my wallet. All but 1 or 2 are snapons. That's a lot of money in ratchets I don't usually use sitting in my box. I went with snapon because the only tool truck for 500 miles is snapon and I like their ratchets. You'll also find ratchets end up on sale pretty often on the truck getting them a close to student discount prices.
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rooster59
Well-known member
Good through 10/27/24
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Get any of the Dual 80 ratchets. Don't get the 100 tooth.
Ohio Andy
Well-known member
Years ago, I picked up my car from the dealer and there was a ratchet sitting on the front seat. At the time, I had no ideas that ratchets could be more expensive we're less expensive than the ones I owned.
I also didn't understand at the time that the mechanics might be buying their own tools. So, I drove back to the dealer and brought in the ratchet.
Someone made the comment that a very specific mechanic would be very very happy that I brought that ratchet back because it was really expensive. That was kind of an eye-opener for me.
If the guy had an organization system that showed him exactly what was missing, and, if he had used it or checked it, he probably would have known.
I loaned a portable socket set to a friend years ago. Everything was in its place when he borrowed it. When it came back, things are just a jumble and it took me a long time to reorganize them. Guess who doesn't get to borrow my tools anymore.
I had a similar experience, except it was a screwdriver. I too called the shop and brought it back a day later.
it was a HH Snap On and that piqued my curiosity about a brand I knew nothing about. While returning the screwdriver, I asked the shop owner to pick up a set for me in any color but black. I had a black car and that’s probably why the mechanic left his black handled screwdriver.
When choosing new, especially expensive tools, choosing a color distinct from other people’s colors, maybe something rare or even undesirable, can be a smart move to help you find your tools and retain them.
I have 2 automotive tool boxes. One that’s mine, one I built for my kids or friends to use, and the tools are color coded. All my tools are yellow ever since that day the mechanic left his screwdriver. The other box’s tools are all green.
Top right are the screwdrivers the shop owner bought for me 30years ago. The plastic tray is new, but the screwdrivers are not. They are a complete set possibly because they are easy to find. Hard to lose a yellow screwdriver!
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