Ratchets - Quick release or not

[Kedukettu]

When you get used to QR, you start to press the regular ones too

 

[bpjr]

Im 70 yrs old and probably wrenched 60 yrs as a DIY guy without a QR. Bought one about 10 yrs ago. Now I prefer QR, especially when working over grass, boat dock or in some deep crevice where a socket might drop and be difficult to retrieve. Never had a QR accidently let go but some have different ways to do the release. I have three and one is a push button and the others a push bar across the back of the head that also changes the direction by turning. I like the push button better because it seems to be a tad easier to use and not associated with the direction lever. Anymore I reach for the QR first.

 

[Mikeske]

Working in aviation fields as I have no quick release and I do have only one style of ratchet with the quick release and that is the first tools I ever got and that was a old Craftsman set. I hated those quick releases as I was always hitting the release button and later when I could afford better tools I went with non quick release. I want those sockets and extension to stay put on the ratchet, sure if they get oily or greasy they can and will be a bear to pull off but I rather have that then try to fish out a socket of extension from a area that is not easily reachable on a aircraft.

At home now that I am retired and I am still the same no quick releases

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I say it's a matter of preference (I like standard ratchets). No matter what you do, stick with one or the other across all your ratchets or you will quickly become frustrated.

 

[Legion Prime]

I HATE "quick" release ratchets. What part of having to press a button to get a socket off makes it "quicker" than just pulling on the socket? Also dropping a socket/extension because something pushed the button is a best inconvenient, at worst destructive. The very few ratchets I have with "Quick" releases are not available without and are a neverending nuisance when I use them.

 

[J.C.]

Between having arthritis in my hands and oil making sockets slippery QR ratchets are the only type I use. Like most things, though, it will come down to personal preference and experience as to which you prefer.

 

[Mr_B]

reality is no one choice the best, best option comes down to working scenario and users needs .
I own both and use both daily, in mobile tools in the truck I use for trailer recovery, driveway repairs and down the pull a part yard I carry mainly non QR and only QR is 2 roto heads . My thoughts are decent tight ball retention works good enough most of the time and my main importance on a ratchet is slender profile followed by sensible backdrag on a 60 to 100tooth setup, I can get over not having QR but getting over a bulky head ratchet or high back drag is bigger deal in productivity and tool versatility .

 

[Flyordie]

I have both but prefer non-QR. I do have a set of Armstrong locking extensions though for sparkplug changes and such. Got tired of the sparkplug socket coming off after putting a plug back in.

 

[scubadoober]

Non-QR can be troublesome in a flex-head with a stiff detent.

 

[Max]

Personally I use QR only. I also use locking extensions. YMMV, and it’s a personal preference thing.

- Max

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Old style sockets have bands cut into the sides, they were not there for looks. When they did it right, the companies would relieve a band and knurl the bottom. The ball springs should be strong enough that even with long extensions and big sockets, they stayed on. Working over the river or deep waste conveyors , taught me that.

At home on , my 3/8" ratchet was early pear head Craftsman QR. I've never had a problem with it.

 

[AreYaSerious]

I prefer Non quick release, but I have both.

 

[gatlibs]

Personally I use QR only. I also use locking extensions. YMMV, and it’s a personal preference thing.

- Max

Old style sockets have bands cut into the sides, they were not there for looks. When they did it right, the companies would relieve a band and knurl the bottom. The ball springs should be strong enough that even with long extensions and big sockets, they stayed on. Working over the river or deep waste conveyors , taught me that.

At home on , my 3/8" ratchet was early pear head Craftsman QR. I've never had a problem with it.

I find quick release to be quite useful with locking extensions. I prefer quick release, but have half and half. Turning the ratchet downwards and hitting the button is the easiest way to release a socket. It is a one handed operation.

 

[DGersic]

I hate non QR ratchets. I had some, they’re gone now. One too many times where greasy hands can’t grip the socket to pull it off, so I have to go grab a screwdriver or pliers. No thanks. QR, push button, socket drops off, done.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Those locking extensions sound like a good deal. I was using a Craftsman extension in a sawmill, changing a billow block bearing and the socket fell off, my only 1 1/8". I was a contracted temporary millwright, we packed all our tools, in my case, in a 9x9x20, a pretty standard toolbox. So it was down 6 flights of stairs, lock out the waste conveyor , find and remove the access panel. I did find it. And bought a Gray extension on the way home. 30 years ago and I still remember.

 

[_brian_]

The problem with QR ratchets is the second you put an extension on it it voids the idea of the QR in the first place, unless you use a locking extension in conjunction with it.

I would say sockets coming off of extensions by accident (particularly long ones) is a bigger concern.

I do not agree with the first part. I do see what you are saying, but with an extension, the socket is always larger than the extension, since the extension end needs to fit into the socket. Because of this, it is easy to get grip on the socket to pull it off as you can pull it from the lip, ridge or whatever you call it. With a ratchet, you can only grip the sides of the socket which are usually smooth.

 

[Mecha]

40 year old with arthritis at 37. Grew up with Craftsman QR and Thorsen, SK, & Husky(Bonney) Non-QR. I like both for all the reasons listed above. Prefer QR most of the time though, don't like prying off sockets.

 

[jgromada]

I haven't had problems with my ratchets with QR & i really haven't had an issue with non-QR ratchets getting sockets off. so 50-50 on that topic

I truly wish there were a QR mechanism for my DeWalt impact. It is forever getting the impact sockets stuck on there, so i need an additional tool to remove the socket. My only pet peeve on the DeWalt.

 

[mfewtrail]

I pretty much only use QR ratchets. Accidentally releasing a socket for me is extremely rare and I can only think of a few times I've managed that out of thousands of jobs. On the other hand, there have been plenty of times using a non-qr where it's damn near impossible to pull the socket off by hand.

 

[Minnesota Steve]

Socket design plays a lot into how well the QR mechanism works.

If there's no detents cut, the QR mechanism won't work very well. It'll always be in quick release mode, as the ball can't return to the locked state. So the sockets will fall off very easily. My Craftsman set from the 1990s, the 1/4" sockets none of them have detents cut. I don't know why as it came with a QR ratchet, but it only works well using the included extension.

Some sockets, particularly I've seen this on impacts. Instead of cutting detents, they'll drill a hole on one side. If you align the ratchet ball with the hole the socket stays on more securely(even absent QR), but if you don't align it it'll come off easily. So sometimes you want that, sometimes you don't and you have a choice in how you align.

Anyway something to pay attention to in this discussion.

 

[plinker]

I do not agree with the first part. I do see what you are saying, but with an extension, the socket is always larger than the extension, since the extension end needs to fit into the socket. Because of this, it is easy to get grip on the socket to pull it off as you can pull it from the lip, ridge or whatever you call it. With a ratchet, you can only grip the sides of the socket which are usually smooth.

I'm referencing the socket falling off the extension because of tight spaces (hits air box and falls off) and getting lost in the engine bay or the socket staying stuck to whatever you are trying to loosen/tighten. Been there done that.

Removing a socket with oil or grease on it is a different concern.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Socket design plays a lot into how well the QR mechanism works.

If there's no detents cut, the QR mechanism won't work very well. It'll always be in quick release mode, as the ball can't return to the locked state. So the sockets will fall off very easily. My Craftsman set from the 1990s, the 1/4" sockets none of them have detents cut. I don't know why as it came with a QR ratchet, but it only works well using the included extension.

Some sockets, particularly I've seen this on impacts. Instead of cutting detents, they'll drill a hole on one side. If you align the ratchet ball with the hole the socket stays on more securely(even absent QR), but if you don't align it it'll come off easily. So sometimes you want that, sometimes you don't and you have a choice in how you align.

Anyway something to pay attention to in this discussion.

A lot of old sockets didn't have the dimples, or with Proto Challenger sockets just on the * side. I made a jig and drilled holes like impact sockets on an old set I salvaged. I didn't get to use them as they got stolen. S-K added dimples in 1958 BTW.

 

[_brian_]

I'm referencing the socket falling off the extension because of tight spaces (hits air box and falls off) and getting lost in the engine bay or the socket staying stuck to whatever you are trying to loosen/tighten. Been there done that.

Removing a socket with oil or grease on it is a different concern.

Ahh, I misunderstood. Thanks for clarifying.