Well guys I am obsessed with looking at ratchets and wanting to get a set of professional ratchets. I just can't settle on one type. I don't know if round head is the style to go or pear or even teardrop. Please help me settle on a particular brand. I am really eyeing the proto pear 45 tooth style. The handle look really slim line. Please post some pictures also.
Obsessed with Ratchets
- Thread starter Cervidae
- Start date
It really depends on a lot of personal factors, which only you can decide.
What kind of work are you going to do with it? DIYer around the house, or commercial work use?
Which kind of handle do you prefer? Round (S-K, Bonney), ergo (Matco, Wright), or square (old Craftsman)?
Do you like full polish or knurled handle style?
Do you need fine tooth action (which usually means a round head) or will a slightly rougher action suffice (pear heads, open heads)?
Do you need quick release or not?
I personally like the S-K roundheads the best overall. Round, knurled handle, 45 tooth fairly fine action, round head (fairly compact). Old Thorsens 77 series roundheads were tough, too.
6xxx Indestro pearheads were nice, and the older Craftsman LLTD (pear head) and RHFT (round head) were solid users.
What kind of work are you going to do with it? DIYer around the house, or commercial work use?
Which kind of handle do you prefer? Round (S-K, Bonney), ergo (Matco, Wright), or square (old Craftsman)?
Do you like full polish or knurled handle style?
Do you need fine tooth action (which usually means a round head) or will a slightly rougher action suffice (pear heads, open heads)?
Do you need quick release or not?
I personally like the S-K roundheads the best overall. Round, knurled handle, 45 tooth fairly fine action, round head (fairly compact). Old Thorsens 77 series roundheads were tough, too.
6xxx Indestro pearheads were nice, and the older Craftsman LLTD (pear head) and RHFT (round head) were solid users.
monkeyspanners
Well-known member
When i started out as an apprentice i just bought Britool, but as i gotten older i've decided there is something to be said for variety so now i have a mix of Britool with plain and rubber handles, Facom and a Koken swivel head one that can be used as a speed brace due to the shape of the handle. Oh and a cheap Draper 3/4" one.
oilfieldtrash4
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2012
- Messages
- 490
Kobalt fine tooth flex head 3/8 ratchet. There's a thread in hot deals section. $16 for a awesome ratchet. Can't beat that.
crewchief888
Well-known member
IMHO,
it's one of the best choices for a weekend warrior,
as well as duralast.
or you can always step up to truck brands @ $100 & up
woody 73
Well-known member
Funny but I go ape **** over SK hand tools but I do not like their knurled handles, although if your hands get oily you tend not to lose the ratchet.
In tight areas I like the high tooth count without the quick release, darn sockets come off if that button gets wacked.
In tight areas I like the high tooth count without the quick release, darn sockets come off if that button gets wacked.
Cornwell
Agreed!
I never really like Craftsman ratchets simply because of the handle designs. The tapered I-beam, rounded cornered square shape just never appealed to me. My buddy says he hates knurled handles because they're so hard to clean. Ergo shiney handles clean in a jiffy....but once they get greasy, you can't hold on to them.
Most old pear heads have low tooth count, so, they took more deg of turning to get a click. Fine toothers always seemed to want to wear such tiny teeth fast and start to slip. And I never really went for QR. Hence, why I like the S-K 45170. JMHO
Loscaldazar
Well-known member
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- Feb 23, 2013
- Messages
- 2,385
Gearwrench 120XP. They are amazing things!
DieselSaves
Well-known member
I'd shell out for the SnapOn f80. The old ones were stamped USA and it sounds like the newest ones will be again. Best ratchets I've used.
Chadwilliam1
Well-known member
Trial and error. Some people like round heads like SK others like the pear head. I like both, but I tend to pick up my armstrong aerospace ratchets.
Conductor562
Well-known member
I'm a Proto Junkie, so I may be a little biased, but the 45T rats are nice. I personally prefer the J4757F and J5257F "palm control" rats. They are round head, flex, ratchets with 72T and 13 tooth engagement. I'm not sure there's another rat out the with that much engagement really. Ratchets are like women, there are so many beauties out there it's hard to limit yourself to just one, but when you find it you'll know it's the one. I keep a set of 24T Proto pear heads for the real nasty stuff, but I try to use the 72T's whenever I can. 45T's are a nice compromise IMO.
Hyster Gareth
Well-known member
Depending on how much you want to spend you can't go wrong with JH Williams part of Snap On Industrial which are the old Snap On 936 albeit minor cosmetic differences!