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Sealed Head vs. Quick Release Ratchets...

L

L.Cheapo

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Oct 23, 2014
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5,887
I only used QR ratchets until I bought my first Snap On F836 30 years ago. I still use that very ratchet (and many newer versions), and havent used a QR ratchet since.
 
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O

Ohio Andy

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Jul 31, 2024
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Columbus, Ohio
L.Cheapo said:
I only used QR ratchets until I bought my first Snap On F836 30 years ago. I still use that very ratchet (and many newer versions), and havent used a QR ratchet since.
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I've never used a snap-on ratchet. Thought about ordering one and giving it a try but since I don't have a truck easily available it would be paying a lot of money without having ever tried one. someday maybe
 
J

joel63

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Oct 9, 2012
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Location
Central FL
Ohio Andy said:
I've never used a snap-on ratchet. Thought about ordering one and giving it a try but since I don't have a truck easily available it would be paying a lot of money without having ever tried one. someday maybe
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Put one on your tool bucket list.
:lol:
 
O

Ohio Andy

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joel63 said:
Put one on your tool bucket list.
:lol:
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I was recently told that it has a strenuous break-in period and comes super difficult to use. So i decided that I should at least try one in person before I buy one. Lots of people seem to love them. I have been enjoying my Protos.
 
1

1Bad55Chevy

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Feb 20, 2025
Messages
623
Ohio Andy said:
I was recently told that it has a strenuous break-in period and comes super difficult to use. So i decided that I should at least try one in person before I buy one. Lots of people seem to love them. I have been enjoying my Protos.
Click to expand...
My father use to work for TifCo in the 70s and sold Proto tools. Needless to say he had the whole catalog in our garage. I grew up using Proto pear head ratchets and honestly never cared for them. I always thought the head was to big and made it difficult to get into tight areas working on cars. I honestly would grab his Power Kraft ratchets before I would grab those Proto tools.

A buddy of mine currently works for Grainger and gave me some Armstrong ratchets and I really wasn't impressed.
 
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Ohio Andy

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1Bad55Chevy said:
My father use to work for TifCo in the 70s and sold Proto tools. Needless to say he had the whole catalog in our garage. I grew up using Proto pear head ratchets and honestly never cared for them. I always thought the head was to big and made it difficult to get into tight areas working on cars. I honestly would grab his Power Kraft ratchets before I would grab those Proto tools.

A buddy of mine currently works for Grainger and gave me some Armstrong ratchets and I really wasn't impressed.
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The current Proto ratchet heads are smaller than the older ones and have 90 teeth. Wright Tools has a 3/8 with a really tiny head.

3/8 version with 41 teeth.

is the same size as the 1/4 version.

Old Proto with 24 teeth

Newest Proto 90 teeth
 
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1Bad55Chevy

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Feb 20, 2025
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liliysdad said:
How currently? Armstrong hasn’t built a ratchet in quite a while…
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The 1/2" one is a 12-967A. Not sure the part number of the 3/8".

Edit: 3/8" is 11-967A

I thought Armstrong was gone now.

Idk if this is true or not but 20 years ago I worked at NAPA, the tool rep told me the NHT professional line of tools were made by Armstrong. He also told me the Craftsman Professional series tools were the same. Those were REALLY nice tools and I wish I had bought more then SAE tools at the time!
 
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1

1Bad55Chevy

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Ohio Andy said:
The current Proto ratchet heads are smaller than the older ones and have 90 teeth. Wright Tools has a 3/8 with a really tiny head.

3/8 version with 41 teeth.

is the same size as the 1/4 version.

Old Proto with 24 teeth

Newest Proto 90 teeth
Click to expand...

Damn! Those are nice!

Looking back on those old tools I remember them being short and I use to have use a screwdriver to pry off the sockets. The wrench sets were not polished and that was annoying to clean up. My dad use to fly off the handle if I left his stuff scattered or dirty.

I currently have his Proto master puller set and its a total bad ***!

On a side note... are the Blackhawk by Proto tools nice?
 
C

cbracer

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Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Messages
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Location
Costa Mesa, CA
Simple: I prefer the QR because I don't want to fight trying to pull the socket off. BUT, the QR is harder to operate on flex heads so I choose sealed on those. When you push the button you have to hold the head or it flops down and requires 2 hands.
 
Y

YesIHaveAHammer

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Joined
Jun 1, 2025
Messages
800
Steve_P said:
This may be true for 3/8 and 1/2 drive, but if you look at the Project Farm tests on 1/4 drive ratchets, every QR ratchet failed significantly lower than non QR; I don't remember the amount, but it was more like a 10-20% difference.
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The numbers are here (direct link to the results graph so you don't have to put yourself through the video; I didn't).


The median solid ones fail at 65 Nm (89 lb ft), the QR ones at 54 Nm (74 lb ft). So 8% weaker.

If a 70kg person stood on the end of my 1/4" ratchet (lever length 10cm), the torque generated would be 69 Nm.

With that context, it wouldn't matter to me in 1/4" drive.
 
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