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Shopping for a 1/2” ratchet

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d.mcfarland

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Jun 18, 2012
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Western PA
Duralast. No joke. Probably ~$25

Not quick release like you asked though.

Link: https://www.autozone.com/ratchets-s...et/duralast-18-in-flex-head-ratchet/15934_0_0

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paulsomlo

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Jul 16, 2013
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Northern Colorado
If you stick to your original parameters; 15-17" length, 72+ tooth, QR, pear head, non-flex, chrome handle, your choices are fairly limited - either the Snap-on, or the KTC Nepros at $131 from Franks Tools https://www.frankstools.com/ktcne1lohara.html. If you're willing to budge a bit on tooth count, the aforementioned Carlyle R12LQR or Proto 5450XLQR would work.

Four choices - let us know how this ends.
 
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AreYaSerious

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Jul 24, 2018
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382
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Indiana
If you must go quick release, then Carlyle, Gearwrench (I prefer Gearwrench)

If you don't have to have quick release then SK by far. I bought the LP90 ratchets, and I love them. (1 thing I would change is give them knurling on the bottom instead of being smooth) They are modern design with SK's toughness. I have the xp120 ratchets (flex head and the ones that came with my sockets) I like them, but they don't hold a candle to the SK LP90 ratchets. I probably will stop using the XP120's when the LP90 flexheads are available.
 
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Olafur

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Iceland
Buy a flex head - it adds usability for ~16" long ratchet.
My 17" flex is by far my most used 1/2 drive. Dropping down to 10-11" you are in 3/8" drive territory.
 
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DGersic

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Mar 12, 2017
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Location
DeKalb, IL
paulsomlo said:
If you stick to your original parameters; 15-17" length, 72+ tooth, QR, pear head, non-flex, chrome handle, your choices are fairly limited - either the Snap-on, or the KTC Nepros at $131 from Franks Tools https://www.frankstools.com/ktcne1lohara.html. If you're willing to budge a bit on tooth count, the aforementioned Carlyle R12LQR or Proto 5450XLQR would work.



Four choices - let us know how this ends.
Click to expand...


Still thinking, but the Carlyle is looking like the best answer for me. I’ll give up on tooth count first. Length, QR, pear head, non flex, chrome handle are non negotiable.

It’s winter, so garage time is pretty limited right now. I’ll probably wait a month or so, see if an SRL80A pops up at a reasonable price, or Tekton releases a candidate to add to the list or something like that.




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d.mcfarland

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DGersic said:
Are Thorsen still in business? I thought they went under. I have an old Thorsen breaker bar that I broke and would kinda like to repair if parts are available.
Click to expand...

Unless you have sentimental value attached to a breaker bar, almost every modern day ratchet will be able to handle the torque you can put on a breaker bar. They are (in my opinion) an almost obsolete tool.
 
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KillNThrill24

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Dec 28, 2018
Messages
174
Location
Wadsworth, Ohio
We use Proto at work and have had good success with them. Also have some Proto tools at home that I like. My favorite are my snap on ratchets that I got used from my dad tho. Look around on ebay, they're constantly popping up there
 
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Olafur

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Jun 2, 2011
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Iceland
DGersic said:
Still thinking, but the Carlyle is looking like the best answer for me. I’ll give up on tooth count first. Length, QR, pear head, non flex, chrome handle are non negotiable.
Click to expand...
Hi DGersic;
While I certainly don't know your situation I think I get where you are coming from in not liking flex head ratchets. For a long time I didn't care much for them. Those I encountered in my early wrenching days, decades ago, were certainly troublesome and frequently the sloppy joint bothered me a lot. In some circumstances I blamed it for sending my knuckles hurling into obstacles and such. And they somehow never felt right.

My experience with Snap On flex heads has totally changed this view. I have 17" dual 80 flex head and if the joint is getting too loose it's just a matter of adding torque to the bolt in joint to stiffen it up. It feels really solid and the joint is hardly felt in straight use. I repair transmissions and engines from Semi trucks and such and absolutely love this tool. Both because how stiff and sturdy it is - I have no worries applying extreme torque on it - and also the flex joint. Simply because I run into so many circumstances when straight ratchet in this length doesn't fit and the flex makes all the difference.

I my world 1/2" drive 16-17" long ratchets have limited usability compared to their flex counterparts. Given you find a good flex head where the joint is "done right". I think there are many brands out there worth looking at. Not only Snap On.
 
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Gurp

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Jun 12, 2014
Messages
366
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So.Ohio
I always just use 2. A 18 proto not sire the tooth count but its low. Huge swing arc. I use it to break stuff loose then swap it out for a smaller 60 tooth ampro. It was the cheap option for me. Picked up the proto for 20 bucks used and the ampro came in a tool box from a yardsale 5 years ago.
 
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Mgdoug3

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Joined
Mar 2, 2018
Messages
1,391
Location
KY
I picked up the Carlyle R12LQR at Napa for a guy who told me he was looking for a long ratchet. As I said earlier, I already have one so I knew it would be a decent ratchet to replace his Craftsman that's broke. A rebuild kit for this ratchet should be easy to obtain unlike Craftsman now. Napa is a 30 minute drive vs 1.5 hours to Sears which probably won't have the item in stock or perhaps out of business. With a farm account, the R12LQR was $41.07 after tax.
 
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DGersic

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Mar 12, 2017
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DeKalb, IL
d.mcfarland said:
Unless you have sentimental value attached to a breaker bar, almost every modern day ratchet will be able to handle the torque you can put on a breaker bar. They are (in my opinion) an almost obsolete tool.
Click to expand...


I’ve had it a long time. I have other, better tools, but I’ve had this one for a long time.



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D

DGersic

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Joined
Mar 12, 2017
Messages
6,468
Location
DeKalb, IL
Olafur said:
Hi DGersic;

While I certainly don't know your situation I think I get where you are coming from in not liking flex head ratchets. For a long time I didn't care much for them. Those I encountered in my early wrenching days, decades ago, were certainly troublesome and frequently the sloppy joint bothered me a lot. In some circumstances I blamed it for sending my knuckles hurling into obstacles and such. And they somehow never felt right.



My experience with Snap On flex heads has totally changed this view. I have 17" dual 80 flex head and if the joint is getting too loose it's just a matter of adding torque to the bolt in joint to stiffen it up. It feels really solid and the joint is hardly felt in straight use. I repair transmissions and engines from Semi trucks and such and absolutely love this tool. Both because how stiff and sturdy it is - I have no worries applying extreme torque on it - and also the flex joint. Simply because I run into so many circumstances when straight ratchet in this length doesn't fit and the flex makes all the difference.



I my world 1/2" drive 16-17" long ratchets have limited usability compared to their flex counterparts. Given you find a good flex head where the joint is "done right". I think there are many brands out there worth looking at. Not only Snap On.
Click to expand...


I know a lot of guys love flex heads. I’m just not one of them. Maybe I’ll add one some day and learn to love it, but I doubt it.




Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app
 
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