Ratchet preferance fixed or flex head

[mrwhite29]

flex for everything

 

[NC-Shaun]

20 Plus years wrenching never used or owned a flex head ratchet. I may try some in the future if I have room in my toolbox once I have all of the necessary tools in place.

 

[abk241]

I could not get by without my old (almost 40 now) S-K swivel head ratchet.

 

[toolmutt]

The first flex I ever had was back in college. It was a cheap, no name with a floppy joint that couldn't be tightened. Hated it! I eventually just threw it in the trash. I guess that's why, over the years, I never had a desire to "learn" how to use one. Now I have a locking Armstrong Maxx that I use when necessary and really like it.

 

[kbradley4333]

my go too ratchet is a stanley extendable locking flex head and i but the locking mechanism *****, and i keep it fully extended anyway, im definetly upgrading to a snap on fl80 and fll80

 

[RedRabbit]

My grandpa taught me how to work on cars and all his ratchets were fixed and so I learned how to do everything with a fixed head, now I use some flex but very rarely, I don't like flex due to the movement while applying torque.

 

[durallymax]

My grandpa taught me how to work on cars and all his ratchets were fixed and so I learned how to do everything with a fixed head, now I use some flex but very rarely, I don't like flex due to the movement while applying torque.

Grandpas cars were also easier to work on with fewer uses for a flex head.

 

[RedRabbit]

Grandpas cars were also easier to work on with fewer uses for a flex head.

I mainly worked on more modern cars, like his 2008 Jag XJ8 or my grandmothers A4, I did a lot of German cars like BMW and some american like stangs. Sometimes i wanted a flex but I mainly stuck to fixed. But yeah, older cars are a bit easier to work on.

 

[rkelley]

Go to is snapon 80 tooth flex heads love them. But I have a gearwrench 120xp and plan to upgrade to the full gearwrench setup of ratchets

 

[paulsomlo]

Flex head - 3/8" CM RP, although I think the handle length is one of the reasons I grab it first. The things that I don't like, are the detents for the flex, and the tooth count.

While we're on the subject - I've been looking for a 3/8" fine tooth, locking flex head, with quick release, but it doesn't seem to exist. If the Armstrong 11-994 had a quick release, it would be perfect. The Snap On FRLF80 is the closest thing, but the head doesn't lock. I did find this: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/k-tool-international-3-8-drive-pro-series-flex-head-ratchet-kti22093/25960283-p?cm_mmc=ACQ-_-Google-_-GPLA-_-25960283&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=25960283&ci_gpa=pla_with_promotion&ci_kw=&iv_=__iv_p_1_g_12425515822_x_pla_with_promotion_y_6201684_f_online_o_25960283_z_US_i_en_j_73681271662_s__n_g_t__d_c_v__vi__&gclid=Cj0KEQiAypGjBRCPme6jmqu3gZsBEiQA8NAiIFTfHpvtdq8v2qGX_8q_pADEnWw-nQf_5ju4SxS74IQaAuzX8P8HAQ#utm_source=acq&utm_medium=google&utm_campaign=gpla&utm_content=25960283 It's says fine tooth, but it doesn't say how fine, and without being able to get my hands on one, it's not certain how the lock works. I have a sneaking suspicion that it's a spring loaded ball detent that you have to hold to unlock, and what I want is a friction flex until it's locked. Does what I'm after exist?

 

[Ratchet Guy]

I used my offset box wrench to break a fastener on a tight spot, then use a roto head or a flex ratcheting box wrench to make it loosen it faster. If i were to buy my tools again, it would be probably just get a offset box wrench, then a racheting flex head box wrench and 1 set of socket with a flex head. i loved ratchet but I always find reaching for the offset box just to make sure I dont round off the fastener head.