Ratcheting Wrench questions

[Jsf721]

I’m looking to build another set of tools for my home garage. Moved most of home stuff to work as I recently added a small equipment repair department We are developing. Mostly janitorial equipment repair. As long as I’m buying new tools. I’d like to ask for some specific advice to avoid a mistaken purchase :

1. I see 2 designs of ratcheting wrench. The kind where you flip the wrench over to loosen and tighten a bolt. And the kind that has a lever like a ratchet to switch between tightening and loosening. Is this preference are there advantages to either for certain situations I don’t realize ?

2. If I buy the flex head versions of the wrench’s can I skip the straight? Or is there a need to own both?

3. I guess the obvious answer is fit and clearance but I’ve never owned a stubby wrench set and I’ve made it so far. I don’t wrench for a living either but I’m using tools more now then ever as I grow this department. (Just me working on stuff after work and another current employee working it about 50 percent of the day. It’s a growing segment and I’m hoping to build it into a serious segment of the current business ). Do I need these, or just nice to have.

Thanks in advance for the replys and education.

 

[Mr_B]

Nice to have ...
I use the offset reversible with switch mainly .
flexi nice to have too but need buy thin ringed as otherwise to bulky be fully useful.
I really like the facom ones .

 

[crewchief888]

i have DBE ratcheting wrenches in std & mm, and ratcheting combos.

SO, matco, GW, blackhawk


for me, it's not a tool that i use every day, they do come in handy for certain things.

the one that i do use daily is a non flex tekton combo... i wish i still had the GW flex combo i lost...

 

[e92htx]

I’ve owned offset and nonoffset ratcheting wrenches, and reversible and nonreversible.

I’ve bust knuckles from nonoffset.

I’ve bottomed out nonreversible ratcheting wrenches by not paying attention and it was a pain to get it off the bolt head. Had to knock it off with a hammer.

Flex heads seem to be the fad nowadays.

I was in the oil and gas heavy equipment assembly business.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I don't like the reverse levers, they hit stuff, but if you are fool enough to trap yourself, you may wish you had one. Any wrench can be a stubby in 3 seconds with a cutting tool.
I need them sometimes.
flex have their place, Otherwise I dont prefer them, maybe because mine are gearwrench and get floppy.

 

[Tallpilot]

The one place where you will almost always ruin a ratcheting wrench is putting it on the other side of an impact. If you don't plan on using an impact then you may get by with only ratcheting if a good enough brand.

I would get reversible ratcheting because of the offset for your knuckles then if you want another set for special situation an extra long double box end with a fixed ring end and a flex head ratcheting ring end.

 

[Professional Tool User]

With ratcheting wrenches, get the offset ones with a switch unless a flex head one with a switch is available. Do not waste your money on the straight ones or a flex head one with no switch. You can back yourself into a lot of trouble.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Get them all! If you work on enough stuff, you will find a situation for each style as the best choice.

 

[Tonyuk]

I have both the reversible offset type and the fixed end where you flip the spanner.

I use the reversible type much more, but they tend to be more expensive.

I like Facom, they make the best ratchet spanners i've ever used. Whatever you buy make sure they have a lifetime warranty that covers the moving parts, i've replaced a couple of the smaller sizes when they've stripped.

Also be careful of the fixed type, you can back yourself into a corner with them if your not careful.

 

[Alpine4x4]

I have the Blue Point offset ones with a switch and the Gear Wrench non offset non switch set. Grab the BP set more often, but the GW set has come in handy at times.

 

[Ji m]

Whats the best flavor ice cream?

You really need to get some wrenches yourself and see what you like.

I like the flex heads, but the others have uses too.
Sometimes the angle of the switch type is perfect,
and sometimes a straight is best.

And yeah, don't trap yourself with a non-reversing type.

Ratchet wrenches are nice to have, but far down the list of necessities for most jobs.
Even the cheap Harbor Freight swivels are decent (and cheap),
get a pack of those for $20 with a coupon and see what you think.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I don't see a problem getting trapped with non-reversables. I see it just like using a standard box wrench. If you get trapped with that, how do you get out?

 

[gears]

I use my cornwell double flex spline drive wrenches almost exclusively (brake jobs, motorcycle teardown, Engine builds, all my tractor work). They are amazingly versatile. I agree that I wouldn't use them on the other end of impact work though.

 

[dclassical]

I use the SK flex with reversible lever. I love them. I say flex but they have discrete positions where the head can be in. I hope this makes sense (I don't have the model number handy).

 

[TexasT]

I don't see a problem getting trapped with non-reversables. I see it just like using a standard box wrench. If you get trapped with that, how do you get out?

Not the same thing with a regular wrench. Until you run into getting one stuck you don't know. It can be a problem.

I have several brands and like the matco ones I have with the switch best. I also have a couple with the flex head and some that aren't with the switch. All work but the matco just work better for me as that is what I have. Real handy for when the socket/ratchet is too tall.

 

[Tallpilot]

Whats the best flavor ice cream?

Does anybody even discuss that?? Everybody already knows the best flavor and anyone who doesn't is an idiot.

 

[Tonyuk]

I don't see a problem getting trapped with non-reversables. I see it just like using a standard box wrench. If you get trapped with that, how do you get out?

The issue is usually with flange head bolts, and the fact that you can run them out quickly with a ratcheting spanner. I've seen it happen before, tech ran the fastener out and caught the spanner on the fastener and the turbo i think, had to spend ages cutting the bolt in half with a bit of hacksaw blade.

 

[Rickster]

Offset with reversable lever is what I use. Got rid of my flat non- reversables. Have a few flex heads, but don't use them much.

 

[Bluejoe]

I looked into more brands of the ratcheting wrenches. I checked into the Falcom and USAG brands. The USAG looks to be a nice set. They have a some type of ring inside the box end. Maybe for holding on fasteners. I wouldn’t mind getting SAE and METRIC sets. Has anyone ordered them. It appears there’s only one dealer that ship orders to US.

 

[Tonyuk]

I looked into more brands of the ratcheting wrenches. I checked into the Falcom and USAG brands. The USAG looks to be a nice set. They have a some type of ring inside the box end. Maybe for holding on fasteners. I wouldn’t mind getting SAE and METRIC sets. Has anyone ordered them. It appears there’s only one dealer that ship orders to US.

There the same company I'm sure, the new type with the ring also has the anti slip open end, a proto design I think.

I have the older type without the ring, I would only buy the newer type if the ring could be removed, it's often handy to flip the spanner the other way so the rest of the length is facing a different direction than usual, helps to get into tighter spaces.

 

[Mr_B]

Facom has the same ring in box end, it stops wrench going past the fastener head or holds the nut from falling through. ring can be adjusted so acts as normal box end .
Facom about best I ever used and sensible money .

Edit:
Tony beat me to it, they are likely same manufacturer, look very similar, never seen usag in the hand though .

 

[rustbucket5]

i have offset with reverse lever and straight with no lever. i prefer the offset with a lever, i find wayyy more uses, most of the time i find with the straight ones that something always impedes them

 

[Spacey_G]

I don't see a problem getting trapped with non-reversables. I see it just like using a standard box wrench. If you get trapped with that, how do you get out?

A regular box end wrench turns the fastener in both directions. A non-reversible ratcheting wrench only turns the fastener in one direction. Imagine backing a bolt out until the head is up against an obstruction. You need to run the bolt back in to get the wrench off, but with a non-reversible ratcheting wrench, you need to get the wrench off and flip it around to run the bolt back in.

How do you get the wrench off if you need to take the wrench off in order to do so? It's a classic catch-22.

 

[lewey]

If you use them very often the offset with lever are the way to go imo. The flex head are annoying when they’re loose and flop around

 

[Here2Learn]

I have used both for just a little bit for odd projects. I like the one with the lever better. It gets old putting the "flip over" kind on a nut or bolt and then realizing I guessed wrong and have to take it off and flip it to the correct side instead of just flipping a lever.

 

[OutsideMachinist]

If you only can have one set then offset reversible is your best bet.

 

[Ji m]

Does anybody even discuss that?? Everybody already knows the best flavor and anyone who doesn't is an idiot.

But here you are discussing ice cream,
& didn't say what the best flavor was.

Are you one of those people who don't know the answer?




....and it's Vanilla,
except on days when its Chocolate,
or Coffee, or something new I just tried for the first time.


Swivel ratchet wrenches are the best,
except when an angled reversing one works better.

Or when a straight job with no flex is needed.

Get-em-all

 

[Ji m]

I have used both for just a little bit for odd projects. I like the one with the lever better. It gets old putting the "flip over" kind on a nut or bolt and then realizing I guessed wrong and have to take it off and flip it to the correct side instead of just flipping a lever.

When I'm using the flip over ones I give it a test spin before putting it on the nut/bolt.

If I'm working and doing hundreds of bolts and can't tell which side is which by looking at it,

I'll hit one side of the wrench with a marker, drop of paint, or piece of tape so I don't keep putting the wrench on wrong.

Sometimes the straights are better, sometimes the angles are more comfortable,
and sometimes the flex ones help because you can reposition the wrench as you go through the motions.

I agree that the levers are a safe bet,
but are usually more of an investment too.

 

[Tonyuk]

Just noticed Wera have brought out a reversible version of their Joker spanners;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01KVLLJ70/?tag=atomicindustr-21

Bit expensive for a set of 11 though, but they'll undoubtedly be good quality. The flat set of 4 i bought last year have been great and have an arrow on them to show which way it'll ratchet.

 

[SRSemenza]

Both types have a place. Just like any other type of wrench. I use the flip type in a couple spots that an offset or ratchet with socket won't fit. Then again there are spots where an offset will be better. I don't see it so much as a choice between the two as it is a choice of the right tool to get at what you are trying to get at.


Seth

 

[Tallpilot]

But here you are discussing ice cream,
& didn't say what the best flavor was.

Are you one of those people who don't know the answer?




....and it's Vanilla,
except on days when its Chocolate,
or Coffee, or something new I just tried for the first time.


Swivel ratchet wrenches are the best,
except when an angled reversing one works better.

Or when a straight job with no flex is needed.

Get-em-all

Exactly

 

[mr.lemons]

I have used both for just a little bit for odd projects. I like the one with the lever better. It gets old putting the "flip over" kind on a nut or bolt and then realizing I guessed wrong and have to take it off and flip it to the correct side instead of just flipping a lever.

Had to make mine fool proof. The little direction arrow was not enough for this fool. Find the ones with the switch even more confusing as they can be flipped and switched

 

[Ji m]

Had to make mine fool proof. The little direction arrow was not enough for this fool. Find the ones with the switch even more confusing as they can be flipped and switched

they should come like this!