Ratcheting Wrenches: 0 Degree vs Slight Offset vs Flex and Reversible vs Not

[oldschoolcraft]

I did some annoying car repair work recent and am seeing the benefits of ratcheting wrenches and thinking of getting my first set. I'm a home gamer and I dont have room (in my new house) for multiple sets of wrenches. So I'm trying to figure out the pros and cons of each.

Looks like they come in three main flavors: zero degree flat no offset, standard slight offset, and flex head

And from there, they have reversible or non-reversible.

I think there's some restrictions on combinations of those, because I think the standard offset style has to be reversible since you can't just flip it around. But I think no offset and flex head can come in reversible or non-reversible.

I get the sense reversible are more convenient at the expense of it being a weaker mechanism and more prone to failure.

What are your thoughts on each the styles? And if you could ONLY have ONE, which would it be? Now suppose you could have TWO, which two do you get (maybe different than the answer from the single do-all one).

I had to change a water pump and it took me 30 minutes longer than it should have because I had to take extra stuff apart and go underneath to access the bolts with the tools I had. I'm a home gamer so I'm not looking for tools that might make me 10 seconds faster. I'm looking for ratcheting wrenches that might save me an hour of taking extra stuff apart because they can go places sockets can't.

 

[Hakeem]

I think flex-head ratcheting wrenches offer the most utility for someone looking for their first set. They’ll be able to fit in more places and access more fasteners than zero-offset or 15-deg offset. The downside is that they are typically non-reversible, you have to flip them over to change directions.

I prefer the non-reversible because my fat fingers tend to hit the selector switch accidentally but you can get into trouble by backing out a fastener against an obstruction to the point where you can’t remove the wrench.

You might want to consider getting a few different styles of wrenches in a common size, like 10mm or 12mm to see which one you like best

 

[bonneyman]

It'd be tough to recommend a one-size-fits-all usage ratcheting wrench. Especially on todays cars.

My original GW set was 0 offset, non-reversible combos. Worked fine for HVAC. Then snagged a few 15 deg offsets and a reversible or two. They got used alot. Some sizes (like 10 mm) I find that having as many options of wrench as possible really helps. You just never know when that one extra long or offset or flex head is gonna be what you need. But maybe it's just me.

If you're budget is limited - here I go contradicting my above advice - I'd get a set of standard length, reversible flex heads. Then see what feature helps you out the most. You can then preface your future buying off of that experience.

 

[Steve_P]

I also have a set of the original Gearwrench ratcheting wrenches, "standard" length (short) without the flex; I never use them anymore because I have added multiple flex head options as they became available. I think I only have one set that's reversible out of 4 ratcheting sets. Reversible is nice, and I have backed out a bolt before and got a non-reversible wrench stuck- but that was a long time ago, it only took a minute or three to recover, and I haven't done it again since I'm conscious about it now; so, I personally don't consider reversible that big of a deal, but to some here, like many other personal preferences, non-reversible is a deal breaker.

For one set, standard length, flex head.
For two sets, add an XL set, flex head, offset ring, reversible- like the Mountain set.

 

[KSJeff]

For one set I'd probably get locking flex heads. Gearwrench is probably around the quality that would be useful to you, but you could go cheaper or more expensive.

 

[Callelle]

If I had to pick one set, it would be 15* offsets and reversible like normal combination wrenches. After that I would get a set of extra long, double flex head reversible, aka the kabo wrenches. I won't get anything that doesn't have a reversing switch anymore, always find myself in a situation I can't back out of.

 

[Hakeem]

I never tried these but they are well liked on here and for the price, seems like it would be hard to go wrong

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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L3HJBK2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Wamsutta]

I've had a few situations where I could've used one, but I don't have any right now. If I was to get one, I'd probably get the zero offset non-reversible with the regular fixed box end on one end and ratcheting box end on the other end. I don't see a need for the open end if I'm going to be using a ratcheting wrench.

 

[VolvoRyan]

The Achilles heel of these is that the box end of ratcheting wrenches is really fat compared to a standard 12-pt wrench, and there's often not enough room around a fastener on car-stuff to get the ratcheting wrench on there. Though, these are lifesavers when they work.

I'm a fan of un-reversible flex heads.

-Ryan

 

[pbon]

I like flex heads.

 

[ohhimark]

I prefer the reversible, offset wrenches, probably because they're just a normal combo wrench that ratchets. If I was limited to just one set I'd go with the flex heads.

 

[bryant 24]

https://www.amazon.com/Kraftek-combination-ratcheting-wrench-1pc/dp/B0CP1LM7MG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Offset with reverse

 

[cherrybomb]

I would probably get a 10mm flex head to try out in a compromising situation.I would also think about ,if flex sockets or wobble extensions,or a flexible ratchet might also be an option.Being a home gamer ,you are wise to do the research and spend wisely

 

[AEAdam]

I did some annoying car repair work recent and am seeing the benefits of ratcheting wrenches and thinking of getting my first set. I'm a home gamer and I dont have room (in my new house) for multiple sets of wrenches. So I'm trying to figure out the pros and cons of each.

Looks like they come in three main flavors: zero degree flat no offset, standard slight offset, and flex head

And from there, they have reversible or non-reversible.

I think there's some restrictions on combinations of those, because I think the standard offset style has to be reversible since you can't just flip it around. But I think no offset and flex head can come in reversible or non-reversible.

I get the sense reversible are more convenient at the expense of it being a weaker mechanism and more prone to failure.

What are your thoughts on each the styles? And if you could ONLY have ONE, which would it be? Now suppose you could have TWO, which two do you get (maybe different than the answer from the single do-all one).

I had to change a water pump and it took me 30 minutes longer than it should have because I had to take extra stuff apart and go underneath to access the bolts with the tools I had. I'm a home gamer so I'm not looking for tools that might make me 10 seconds faster. I'm looking for ratcheting wrenches that might save me an hour of taking extra stuff apart because they can go places sockets can't.

Parts of this story don’t make sense to me. First, how is it possible you don’t have room in your house for a set of wrenches? Ok, nevermind that one.

If you were doing a water pump, you probably had to shift accessories like your alternator, or power steering pump, hopefully not your ac compressor. assuming transverse mounted engine. Exactly where do you think a ratchet wrench would have saved you time over sockets?

I did the water pump on my F150 recently and didn’t use any ratcheting wrenches. I use them more on household repairs than automotive.

Point is, before investing in a cheap set of ratchet wrenches, make sure you have the basics well covered. I’m not a pro mechanic, but I can’t think of a job (common job?) where ratchet wrenches are required (Where you can save 30 minutes if you had them).

 

[gsanvi]

I have two sets from Garant. I bought the flex head set first. Sometimes I was annoyed at the flappy flex head, so I bought a second set (on the left) of flat/no offset wrenches. The result is - I use the flex head ones 95% of the time.

 

[Keegster]

My dad got a GearWrench set from Sears at least 10 years ago that were flex head and had a twist in the handle. Way more comfortable for breaking stuff loose deep down in an engine bay.
I would recommend a flex head set for your first set.

 

[SkinnyG]

I have offset reversible, flex head non reversible, and flex head reversible sets. I reach for the flex head reversible set first 100% of the time.

 

[dscheidt]

Parts of this story don’t make sense to me. First, how is it possible you don’t have room in your house for a set of wrenches? Ok, nevermind that one.

If you were doing a water pump, you probably had to shift accessories like your alternator, or power steering pump, hopefully not your ac compressor. assuming transverse mounted engine. Exactly where do you think a ratchet wrench would have saved you time over sockets?

there are lots of places on lots of cars where it's possible to put a wrench on a fastener that you can't get a socket and ratchet on because there is not vertical clearance above the fastener to allow the ratchet to it. That's why there's lots of talk around here about low profile sockets, sockets taht can be driven by a wrench, etc.

Many of these, you can't get a ratcheting wrench on, because there isn't room for the head of the wrench. Some times there's no clearance for a normal box wrench, sometimes there is. but where you can use a ratcheting wrench, you can save time. sometimes a bunch of time, if the alternative is 'take more stuff apart' for access. And sometimes, it's not about saving time, it's about saving have to replace what you touch, because it's going to break if you try to remove it.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

Some times there's no clearance for a normal box wrench, sometimes there is. but where you can use a ratcheting wrench, you can save time. sometimes a bunch of time, if the alternative is 'take more stuff apart' for access. And sometimes, it's not about saving time, it's about saving have to replace what you touch, because it's going to break if you try to remove it.

yes that’s a scenario I ran into! So with that in mind, what I’m worried more about access alternatives, than I am worried about pure speed, what sets of ratcheting wrenches are “needed”.

I don’t “need” to turn a 60 minute job into a 57 minute job. A professional, yes, that might save him a full hour each week. For me, I want to avoid turning a 60 minute job into a 4 hour job of removing extra stuff that breaks and now I have to go source more parts in an Uber because im working on my only car. Or worse, into a 2 week job as I wait for parts to come in.

I’m not strictly married to the idea of only one set of ratcheting wrenches but i have such little space that 90% of my tools are in storage so if im getting 6 different versions of ratcheting wrenches to save a few minutes but it takes me an hour to get the tools out of storage, it didn’t save me any time.

BUT if the wrenches are going to save me from taking half the engine bay apart for access, then I want it on hand. With that in mind, what is recommended? Flex head makes a lot of sense to me. But also the zero degree for more torque sounds interesting. Since sometimes I’m working on fasteners that haven’t been turned in 20 years.

 

[carlaisle]

Reversible is of no practical value as long as the wrenches can be flipped over. I found the 0 degree offset ratcheting wrenches won't fit/swing in many places where they would be useful. The reversible fixed offset ones are generally better, but they offer no practical value over the flex heads. The flex heads are great, but their tendency to flex to some less than idea angle quickly becomes frustrating. This is why the locking flex head would be my choice. Keep in mind, ratcheting wrenches really are not meant for breaking fasteners loose. You should be using something better suited to such abuse for that task.

 

[Ohio Andy]

And sometimes, it's not about saving time, it's about saving have to replace what you touch, because it's going to break if you try to remove it.

Well said. And since things are easier to take apart than put back together

 

[seber]

I had a set of the original sheet metal style. Never found a way to use them. The zero offset made it impossible to work with. If I were to buy a set now I'd go with reversible offset. This is a tool where flex just seems like it would be a problem. Never tried it so take that for what it is worth.

 

[Mr_B]

flex head is going be most universal in a one set only scenario with good ability to reach difficult access fasteners .
Just buy a decent set with compact head/flex dimensions or they next to useless in lot of scenarios as too bulky to fit/move .
The Facom set is nice design/made example .