How much is too much force on ratcheting combo wrenches? Obviously, doubling up, using a hammer or cheater is too much. But what about just using your hand strength or using the **** of your palm to pop free the fastener? Sometimes I'm almost too wary of using them fearing I'm going to break one and not be able to replace it (craftsman USA).
ratchet wrench abuse?
- Thread starter monster1
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General Geoff
Well-known member
If you're afraid to use it, the tool becomes useless.
They're short enough that you won't break them using only your hands.
They're short enough that you won't break them using only your hands.
genevabuck
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- Jul 9, 2012
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One or two hits, then a breaker bar.
Dennis93
Well-known member
I think it's funny you guys will baby your USA made stuff so you don't get Chinese replacements, but the stuff you do with a Chinese replacement and then complain you wouldn't do with the u.s. use it whatever way you want it. I use mine with an impact on the other side quite frequently. As long as you're not just abusing it for fun, use itnabuse it and use the warranty.
Dennis93
Well-known member
Why have a tool you're afraid of using. You wouldn't carry a gun if you're afraid of shooting it would you?
Buckgnarly
Well-known member
There is a difference between proper use and abuse. I do not break things free with ratchet wrenches, they are for speed, not strength.
I have no problem using all plain old human strength, but not cheaters.
I have no problem using all plain old human strength, but not cheaters.
OxJaw
Well-known member
I don't make a habit of it but have doubled up on my chinese gearwrench ratchet wrenches quite a few times, they held up fine. You're not going to break them giving them a smack with your palm. I wouldn't beat on them with a hammer though.
chevyguy377
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- Oct 6, 2012
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Some people on here boggle my mind.
Like buying a snap on toolbox for their home
Garage then don't use it because they are scared
To wear a drawer out or get a scratch
Like buying a snap on toolbox for their home
Garage then don't use it because they are scared
To wear a drawer out or get a scratch
mrjaw14
Well-known member
I'd like to see destruction testing to see just what they can take. I've wondered this as well with my gearwrenches
ChevyEFI
Well-known member
If you can't handle a few broken tools in a given time period, you may want to reconsider your business model.
1950mercury
Well-known member
ive broke a 1/2 one of those multiple time with my hands.....i thinks i will use a regular box wrench to break free tough stuff then switch to the ratcheting now that replacements are china
240sxguy
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I have pretty consistently abused my blackhawks with no problems.
ken w.
Well-known member
I don't put a cheater on my SO ratcheting wrenches.I wouldn't be afraid to smack any ratcheting wrench with my hand tho.If you brake or strip a ratchet wrench by just your hand , I'd never use that brand again.
tjmonsen5
Well-known member
Beat on them, they are tools and they have a warranty. They are supposed to save you time. Do you have time to use a breaker bar first every time then switch to the ratchet wrench? I haven't broken a ratcheting wrench yet, but I don't abuse them either. I guess there is a middle ground where they are used best.
:Well, there it is. Gearwrench is better than snap on!
Thanks for the video. I'd imagine that my craftsman should be comparable to the gw. Looks like you'd need to put a cheater on them to be able to bust em.
that's the point, they all take well over 100 foot pounds before they mechanically break. You can do that with some of the extra long double box versions but for a basic ratcheting combo its just too short.
Chris83
Well-known member
I have never had any of my ratcheting wrenches break and I double em up or use em to break loose bolts.
Sebastien
Well-known member
That's retarded, who would use a 13mm wrench to torque at 140lb... Conclusion, no way to break them by hand or hitting them.
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
It's all about using the proper tool for the job. Why use a breaker bar when you can use a ratchet?
It takes less time to go to the box and get a breaker bar or a standard box end wrench than it does to warranty a broken tool..........
Wakefield
Well-known member
They ought to make a ratcheting wrench with a strong nonratcheting 6 point box on the other end (for breaking loose first).
BDT/NWMN
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3xpendable
Well-known member
If I am faced with a nasty looking fastener I grab two wrenches. A standard combo and ratchet wrench. Use the box of standard to break it loose and ratty it off with the gw but that's just me. Other techs in the shop back up impacts all day with them
That's the whole reason why ratcheting box on one end and a non ratcheting box on the other end makes more sense.
If the standard for abuse is any different for a ratcheting wrench than a regular combo wrench, aren't they kind of a waste of toolbox space?
An old school master tech I know saw me using one and told me that they're a stupid gimmick. It made me think and I have to admit that the use I've gotten from them hasn't really proven him wrong. I've never gone under a car with regular wrenches and thought "Whoops, I should've grabbed the ratcheting set."
Anyway, what I'm saying is to use them exactly as you would a regular wrench. If they break, that brand *****; screw 'em. If they don't, then they're doing their job.
An old school master tech I know saw me using one and told me that they're a stupid gimmick. It made me think and I have to admit that the use I've gotten from them hasn't really proven him wrong. I've never gone under a car with regular wrenches and thought "Whoops, I should've grabbed the ratcheting set."
Anyway, what I'm saying is to use them exactly as you would a regular wrench. If they break, that brand *****; screw 'em. If they don't, then they're doing their job.
Anyone that says they are just a gimmick is a damn idiot. You can have a bolt out in less than half the time it takes using a standard wrench. Not to mention all those PIA places you only get 1/12th of a turn.
I've had a cornwell set for 6 years that has been doubled up and beaten with a 5lb deadblow hammer. Yet to have a failure.
He probably doesnt like cordless tools either
I use mine just like a normal wrench. and Have never broke one yet..
they make them with a 12 point non-ratcheting end and a ratcheting end at the other
Farmall450
Well-known member
Or stop using tools...
Farmall450
Well-known member
Not a bad idea.
I don't, and won't, get another wrench to break loose a fastener, unless my strength in conjunction with that tool's leverage is insufficient. If I use a breaker bar, it's not because "that's the tool for breaking loose", it's because "that's the tool with a long enough lever arm".
I don't beat my ratchet wrenches with a hammer, and I don't use them to back up an impact. Other than that, they get no special treatment.
I don't beat my ratchet wrenches with a hammer, and I don't use them to back up an impact. Other than that, they get no special treatment.
cburnscrx
Well-known member
superautobacs
Well-known member
I have no issues using ratcheting wrenches to break loose a fastener. They are not much different than a typical, multi-tooth pear head ratchet.
The Matco 88-tooth mechanism, Snap-on's Dual-80 mechanism...they are essentially the same way a modern-day ratcheting wrench works.
There are several manufacturers in Taiwan that are producing ratcheting wrenches, and they are not all equal.
KTC branded ratcheting wrenches have these figures:
8mm: 22ft-lb (30Nm)
10mm: 52ft-lb (71Nm)
12mm: 67ft-lb (91Nm)
14mm: 116ft-lb (158Nm)
17mm: 197ft-lb (267Nm)
19mm: 238ft-lb (323Nm)
For Kabo-made ratcheting wrenches:
Requirement as per ANSI on a 24mm ratcheting wrench is 376ftlb. Kabo withstood up to 488ftlb or 67kg
Kabo's 72-tooth, 16mm wrench beam started to bend at 253ft-lb. Attached picture is at 290ft-lb. The gears were still fine (gears would break at 144ft-lb for competition).
Here's an independant test (from 2007):
SEK offers these:
The Matco 88-tooth mechanism, Snap-on's Dual-80 mechanism...they are essentially the same way a modern-day ratcheting wrench works.
There are several manufacturers in Taiwan that are producing ratcheting wrenches, and they are not all equal.
KTC branded ratcheting wrenches have these figures:
8mm: 22ft-lb (30Nm)
10mm: 52ft-lb (71Nm)
12mm: 67ft-lb (91Nm)
14mm: 116ft-lb (158Nm)
17mm: 197ft-lb (267Nm)
19mm: 238ft-lb (323Nm)
For Kabo-made ratcheting wrenches:
Requirement as per ANSI on a 24mm ratcheting wrench is 376ftlb. Kabo withstood up to 488ftlb or 67kg
Kabo's 72-tooth, 16mm wrench beam started to bend at 253ft-lb. Attached picture is at 290ft-lb. The gears were still fine (gears would break at 144ft-lb for competition).
Here's an independant test (from 2007):
SEK offers these:
Attachments
I bought my Blackhawk ratchet wrenches 12-15? years ago when ratchet wrenches were HUGE. and this was a nice small size set.
I still use a proper boxed end wrench to brake a tuff nut or bolt free and than switch to the ratchet wrench or a socket/ratchet to speed up removing it once it's broke loose.
I still use a proper boxed end wrench to brake a tuff nut or bolt free and than switch to the ratchet wrench or a socket/ratchet to speed up removing it once it's broke loose.
Thanks for all the input. Just to clarify, I said I was a bit wary of using the wrenches to break loose fasteners. I didn't say I was afraid to use them. I'm 6'3", cornfed and I break **** all the time. My wife says I don't know the meaning of the word "finesse."
transittech
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- Feb 27, 2012
- Messages
- 299
If a manufacturer offers a wrench in a XL or XXL version, I wouldn't hesitate to use it to break a fastener loose. What's the point of a super long wrench if you can't lean on it? They obviously designed it for some serious torque.
I definitely wouldn't use a hammer though, unless it was your only option.
I definitely wouldn't use a hammer though, unless it was your only option.
Dang video taken down. Seems like it was mildly interesting.