Ratchet head flex/straight/indexable

[Neodogg]

Just ouf of curiosity, whats the style you use most often and should someone have all 3 styles in all sizes?

 

[packofqtips]

i use my flex head the most, then my indexable. and i dont even have a straight 3/8 or 1/2 anymore

 

[Buckgnarly]

Straight for normal use, locking flex for angled spots/needs.

REALLY don't like cranking on a flex that is not locking for sake of busted knuckle.

 

[back2class]

I guess I reach for a MAC round long flex head in 3/8 the most. I never used to grab the flex heads I had (pear heads) because they were kind of kluncky. No ratchet is ideal for all situations and I guess standard length plain jane is the best do anything. But unless I am working in confined areas....small round flex head is my go to. Not to be confused with "swivel" ratchets. Those are just too massive in the head area to be a favorite of mine. I think a regular length 1/2 ratchet and a nice long breaker bar more than serve most people well. I rarely use my long or flex head 1/2 ratchets. 90% of the time I use the breaker bar or impact on 1/2 stuff. 1/4" I pretty much jut use a smaller plain SK and once in a rare while a 1/4" breaker bar in tight spots.

 

[SMKS]

REALLY don't like cranking on a flex that is not locking for sake of busted knuckle.

+1

This is why I like my Armstrong locking flex ratchet so much. It takes the place of an XL non-flex ratchet and a flex ratchet.

 

[Ascinder]

I hate to say it, but I beat the snot out of this cheesy stanley 3/8 ratchet I bought years ago before I knew any better. It has a flex head which never gets used, but the thing that is absolutely awesome is the built in "breaker" extension handle which locks in at several detents along the length. The only real downside is the extension handle is able to twist freely which makes it annoying to position one handed. Other than that, that extension system should be standard on every ratchet made.

 

[cgv69]

Standard straight ratchet most of the time. Locking flex head when needed. Ext. length breaking bar (w/ or w/o cheat) when really needed.

 

[jethro29]

the flex is always my go ratchet,whter it's 1/4, 3/8 or half,second would be straight,last and very rarely is the indexable.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Yes....more than 3 styles, though......you forgot the "jump sizes" like 3/8" drive in a 1/4" handle....














I mean that I use all of them fairly frequently and try to get the best use out of them as appropriate for the given situation....If I had to pick one as the absolute most used, it would be 3/8" long handled flex head.

 

[jtfc]

I use long handle flex heads almost exclusively now. All my ratchets are snapon and the cool thing I noticed is you can tighten the torx so that the head is either loose or tight. I have it tightened down so that the ratchet head is way tight. It works for me. On the occasion that im using what feels like a 1/2 mile of extensions I use regular non flex. Can't really explain why just what I do

 

[shoturtle]

Wera zyklop is my most used ratchet now. Like the locking head.

 

[vga]

I have regular 3/8, 1/2, 1/4 SO, Matco, Williams, flex head 3/8, 1/2, 1/4 SO, Matco, Willians , and locking flex head 3/8 Matco . I use them all depending on the requiments for the job.If I had to chose a go to ratchet it would have to be the Matco 80 tooth 3/8 long handle( non flexing).