Ratchet Recommendations. New or Old?
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Dakotadadv8
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Interesting facts. What about the rest of the tool such as the metal, ergonomics, etc. the logo
?alinc100
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Since the header/OP says a bit a bout older ratchet I thought I'd throw the Craftsman RHFT into the ring. The other suggestions Capri, Bahco ,Snap On all great too . 
This exactly what pushed me to buy my first FH80 the other day - I want to see/feel what all the fuss is about!
tiredoldironworker
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Proto and Klein 1/2 inch spud ratchets are my go-to as an ironworker. Tooth count is low but very little backdrag. Then again we hardly use any bolts smaller than 5/8.
That’s fair. I didn’t look into their ethics.
These are the same as the Eascos I was looking at. The price for these was a little high compared to new…at least on eBay. Can’t find any local.Since the header/OP says a bit a bout older ratchet I thought I'd throw the Craftsman RHFT into the ring. The other suggestions Capri, Bahco ,Snap On all great too .
I use F80s at work. I think they’re decent. For me I don’t think it’s worth the cost.This exactly what pushed me to buy my first FH80 the other day - I want to see/feel what all the fuss is about!
At full Snappy retail? Totally agree. I also doubt it will be as life-changing an experience
as one would be lead to believe, but I'm at a good point to allow myself to indulge a bit.
If it makes routine maintenance or a new project that much more tolerable/enjoyable,
I'm all for it - and I'm certain if I decide I don't like it that much, somebody else will..!
I'm a fan of the S-K stuff. The old roundheads were just fine for me over 40 years of wrenching. Snagged a pair of LP90's while Epstein had them. They are butter smooth.
On the other hand I have several older Craftsman rats that I've rebuilt as kits became available, and I have a pair of the older Pittsburg composite ratchets that are surprisingly nice.
My recommendation is buy what you like, what you feel can get the job done, and what you can afford. I've used tons of older ratchets that I've found at pawn shops and thrift stores, and most if not all would have worked for the stuff that I did in my career. No need to break the bank. FWIW
On the other hand I have several older Craftsman rats that I've rebuilt as kits became available, and I have a pair of the older Pittsburg composite ratchets that are surprisingly nice.
My recommendation is buy what you like, what you feel can get the job done, and what you can afford. I've used tons of older ratchets that I've found at pawn shops and thrift stores, and most if not all would have worked for the stuff that I did in my career. No need to break the bank. FWIW
Dakotadadv8
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Becareful you will start to add on flex, long flex, locking flex, round head, etc., stay away from the Snap on website wishlist too addictiveThis exactly what pushed me to buy my first FH80 the other day - I want to see/feel what all the fuss is about!
.Dakotadadv8
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Off topic life changing tool picked up the Kreg accu cut circular saw guide IMHO wow from Lowes. I used it with the Makita corded circular saw with a nice blade 7 1/4 inch nice straight cuts. Along with a nice contractor tablesaw you can build anything.
I agree about the enjoyable part! I’ve slowly been replacing things and the joy of using good tools makes me wonder why I was letting myself struggle with worn tools for so long lol.
I’ll have to check that out. I have a long rigid angle iron piece I heave and clamp on my plywood to make straight cuts. It works! But it’s cumbersome. My first indulgence that sparred a tool overhaul was a dewalt 12” double bevel compound miter saw. I love that thing. I build very basic things but that saw has taken the quality of my work to another level.
Same! (I just can't leave well enough alone though...)
This ^^Since the header/OP says a bit a bout older ratchet I thought I'd throw the Craftsman RHFT into the ring. The other suggestions Capri, Bahco ,Snap On all great too .
If someone is considering older, used, you can’t go wrong with RHFT.
I did probably a 1000 alignments with this long handled 1/2” drive with zero problems.
Fedwrench
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Yeah, those old school round head fine tooth quick release ratchets were probably the best ratchet ever to wear the Craftsman Brand. However, the Ebay crazies made them pretty much out of reach due to unrealistic pricing.This ^^
If someone is considering older, used, you can’t go wrong with RHFT.
I did probably a 1000 alignments with this long handled 1/2” drive with zero problems.
However, once in a while you can stumble upon an Easco/KD version with a nice, knurled handle at a decent price.
Yeah, those old school round head fine tooth quick release ratchets were probably the best ratchet ever to wear the Craftsman Brand. However, the Ebay crazies made them pretty much out of reach due to unrealistic pricing.
However, once in a while you can stumble upon an Easco/KD version with a nice, knurled handle at a decent price.
Absolutely…I buy every one I can to flip on eBay. They bring crazy money for what amounts to an “ok” ratchet.
https://www.amazon.com/GearWrench-81223-Roto-Ratchet-Cushion/dp/B001M0O1BG/?tag=atomicindus08-20
The Crescent branded versions of these GW roto ratchets used to be $25. Even at $50 I feel good about recommending them. These are my go to ratchets. My second most used 3/8th is a Stanley extending flex head. My second most used 1/4 is a 3", cheap micro ratchet that's great when you don't need much torque.
The Crescent branded versions of these GW roto ratchets used to be $25. Even at $50 I feel good about recommending them. These are my go to ratchets. My second most used 3/8th is a Stanley extending flex head. My second most used 1/4 is a 3", cheap micro ratchet that's great when you don't need much torque.
I agree. Those are some of the best ratchets ever made. Fine tooth, quick release, thumb wheel. I'd be perfectly happy having them as my only ratchets. They're getting hard to find and usually not cheap. I'm also fond of the classic SK round heads and they're usually cheap at garage sales.Since the header/OP says a bit a bout older ratchet I thought I'd throw the Craftsman RHFT into the ring. The other suggestions Capri, Bahco ,Snap On all great too .
WWheeler
Well-known member
Yeah, those old school round head fine tooth quick release ratchets were probably the best ratchet ever to wear the Craftsman Brand. However, the Ebay crazies made them pretty much out of reach due to unrealistic pricing.
However, once in a while you can stumble upon an Easco/KD version with a nice, knurled handle at a decent price.
Really, only the Craftsman RHFT flex heads tend to be outrageously priced (or the RHFT torque wrenches, if you can find one). The regular RHFT ratchets in 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" dr can be found for a reasonable price and are still pretty decent ratchets even by today's standards. I LUV them and have quite a few, but all that said they wouldn't be my recommendation over just about every brand's high tooth count ratchets that can be had these days.
If you've got the coin, Snap-on and Matco ratchets really are the bee's ****, but I also have some very affordable ratchets I use regularly also that are great from brands like Duralast, Capri Tools, Astro Tools, SATA/GearWrench/Crescent, etc.
BUTif we are talking old vs new, I'd feel remiss in not mentioning cordless ratchets. They are my go-tos more often than any hand ratchets any more. If I can't get at it with a cordless, then that's when I grab a regular ratchet. Cordless really does save a lot of time. And as far as they go, I've got several Milwaukee and Dewalt, but there are many others out today that can do the same. Harbor Freight even has a few different models that are worth getting.
Is there anything a roundhead does better than a snap on pear head? I’ve been lucky at pawn shops the last year and picking up snap on 80s at good prices. My uncle has some SK round heads from the 80s and they are cool and all and he even put some high tooth count rebuild kit in one.
But the roundhead seems bulky. I do like the knurled grips though. Is there any situations where if you had both a snap on pearl and a round head of the same size you’d actually benefit from using the round head?
Or is it just to save money and it’s cool because it’s old.
But the roundhead seems bulky. I do like the knurled grips though. Is there any situations where if you had both a snap on pearl and a round head of the same size you’d actually benefit from using the round head?
Or is it just to save money and it’s cool because it’s old.