Ratcheting wrench question

[nafets47]

I mostly run into SAE bolts in my line of country and I have been using Wera Joker non-reversable ratcheting wrenches for some years (about 6).

Recently I decided I was going to do a whole upgrade cycle on my portable tool kit, buying the best that is available while trying to keep it miUSA. I didn't do this with pliers because Knipex is just too good at pliers. But I did do this with sockets (SO), ratchets (SO), and bit set (I completely changed out the entire Wurth universal 105 bit set to 100% miUSA Zephyr, SO and Apex bits).

Now that I have gone through my entire bag, I am sitting there looking at my Wera Jokers and thinking to myself are Snap On ratcheting wrenches really that much of an upgrade?

The tooth count is on par, both are a premium product, and both have unique open end. I do not do cars or trucks, I do MEP at a very large facility, which also includes a full size kitchen, and all of the cleaning equipment in the place. So, I basically work on fasteners that are in good shape, rough shape, seized, un-seized, etc.

What I have does get me by, and I have a shop that is kitted out with everything I "need", but like I said I have been doing a whole upgrade. So I am looking for input on whether or not Snap On ratcheting wrenches are really an upgrade worth the cost compared to Wera Jokers. And yes I know I asked "worth" and what I mean by that is will Snap On ratcheting wrenches assist me in my day to day more than what I currently have.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

The upgrade for me would be from your flat/straight ones to offset ones, for clearance. These will be reversible by necessity.

 

[Hakeem]

The Snapon ratchet wrenches are very, very nice. The ratchet end is slim and the mechanism has a best-in-class backdrag. They’re not as strong as others. The Flank Drive Plus open end provides top gripping ability.

Worth it? That’s subjective, but I’d say “no”. Other ratchet wrenches will do the same job, they just won’t feel as luxurious.

 

[Qualitytools]

I would try the reversible Ratchets with the offset for hand clearance made by FACOM. they have a comfortable grip.

They are also the same as the Craftsmen V series wrenches and the ones with the MAC brand. It appears that they came out of the same factory but with the different names. I have the FACOM 440 reversible set and I Love it.

 

[nafets47]

Thanks for the input.

I think I will hold off on this one until further down the road, or after I start having issues with the ratchet mechanism on my current set. Or better yet just change them out as they wear out with Flank Drive Plus.

 

[CGarage]

I would look at the Proto set as well.

The issue is you want to keep this as miUSA as possible.

The top ratcheting box end mechanisms are all coming out of Taiwan.

The Proto set is Taiwanese made but great quality, as is the Facom. I own both sets.

I would also look at the newly made in China SK ratcheting wrenches.

Watch the ProjectFarm video on his ratcheting wrench test.

 

[KnurledNut]

These Proto's are USA made:
https://www.grainger.com/product/PROTO-Combination-Wrench-Set-Alloy-61UL75

But if I was looking to upgrade, I would seriously consider the Williams Supercombos. The wrenches are forged in the USA, have a modified open end, and assembled with a Taiwan mechanism that I feel is one of the best on the market for ease of use, low backdrag, strength and reliability. I also really like the rounded thick beam. This mechanism is used in the Bluepoint and CAT ratcheting wrenches too. The flex head reversible combination wrench version is one of the few available on the market in that profile.

https://www.williams-industrial.com...tion-wrenches--7-piece-set-pb_ws-1170rcu.html


I always hoped Ideal would release a flex head version of the USA-made X-frames. They never did, but under the new ownership by the conglomerate Greatstar, a chinese flex head version recently surfaced.

https://palmac.net/products/sk-tools-7-piece-flex-head-x-frame-r-sae-ratcheting-wrench-set-sk-80090


There are SO many ratcheting wrench options on the market it can be mind boggling trying to make a decision. For instance, just in the three examples above, we have spline, 12 point and 6 point configurations all with different open end designs!

I find the biggest advantage of the latest Snap-on reversible ratcheting wrench design to be the thin wall of the box end which is a common access problem when using these types of wrenches.

 

[nafets47]

I have in my shop Milwaukee non-ratcheting and ratcheting wrenches. They are great.

 

[nafets47]

Now that I think about it, are the CAT ratcheting wrenches SO? I thought that I read somewhere on here they were and then I thought maybe I read they were not.

Not trying to get into another thread of CAT SO tools, but just curious.

 

[KnurledNut]

Now that I think about it, are the CAT ratcheting wrenches SO? I thought that I read somewhere on here they were and then I thought maybe I read they were not.

Same as Bluepoint and Williams which are Snap-on owned.


Snap-on did use this mechanism as one time but not currently.

 

[CGarage]

I own the Williams as well. They are excellent.

You can’t go wrong if you stick with one of those 4 brands (Williams, Proto, SK, Facom). I think there are some other, smaller brands offering the same ratcheting box mechanism from the Taiwanese OEM.

Snap-On are also nice, but you will pay for it.