Swivel/Roto vs Flexhead

[zorrox]

Sorry if this topic has been beaten to death, but i'm looking to expand my meager ratchet setup (regular husky 1/4,3/8,1/2 ratchets) and i'm wondering your guy's thoughts. Swivel head seams a little more versatile as you can use it as a nut driver, but that of course comes with some extra bulk and maybe a little less strength than a flex.

My main question is how often do you pro wrenchers find yourself in a spot where you need a flexible head but the swivel is too bulky even with universal sockets and extensions?

I also already have tekton extra long ratcheting box end wrench set (8-19mm), 1/2 breaker bar, and a Milwaukee mid-torque nut smacker, so i'm thinking with a 1/4, and 3/8 swivel I will be able to cover just about anything a DIYer would ever run into. I'm trying to avoid buying anything redundant, as I'm fairly young and could use the extra funds for so many other things I need.

Thoughts? Thanks!

 

[bonneyman]

Personally, I've not used a swivel head ratchet. Occasionally I'll need a flex-head. So - if it were me - I'd buy a good flex-head for now, and save my coinage for a swivel head down the road if you discover you can actually use it enough to justify the cost. JMHO.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Go with a quality flex head 1/4" and 3/8" within your budget and you may find you only reach for those regardless of the necessity for the flex. You can always add rotating head ratchets later.

I understand your budget and I applaud you for budgeting yourself appropriately. If I was looking for the lowest cost flex head ratchet that still had some quality and warranty behind it I would buy the Pittsburgh Pro's over at HF. The ratcheting mechanism is smoother than other ratchets at the same price point. If you want to spend a little more maybe Gearwrench or Carlyle or Williams.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[Mr_B]

Both are useful, I would probably recommend roto first as seem more daily useful to me, everyone differs though ...
Don't buy ones with quick release unless really want that feature as lot of taiwan models with QR roto are not stripable so can't lube/clean them well .
Carlyle do nice roto ratchets, HF pitts pro about best low cost, they 100% same source as tekton ones but way cheaper and green inlay soft grip rather than red, Pitts Pro also easy walk in warranty.
Gearwrench do a 2pc set but if got budget the Carlyle best for realistic cost to quality .

Slim flexi heads are nice too, again carlyle do some real nice ones and HF have cheapest but half decent pitts pro ones.
Maybe go HF and hand pick nice one of each with a coupon and see what you like more before making final choice/purchase ...

 

[bwringer]

I mostly work on motorcycles, so maybe they're smaller fasteners than average, but my most-used ratchets are a couple of HF 1/4" swivels -- one has a 10mm and the other has an 8mm I leave attached.

I find that the 3/8" drive swivels are used much less.

Buy one or two HF swivels and see how you like them. They're very nice quality and don't cost much at all.

 

[jsmeece]

Just a home user here, I have several HF ratchets, several Gearwrench rotos and non locking flex head ratchets, and the locking flex head Carlyle ratchets. Rarely do I use the GW roto head ratchets, just not that much space in modern car engine bays nowadays and the roto ratchets can be hard to use or control in very tight spots. Roto head ratchets are nice to have in specific instances, but a locking flex head or even a non-locking flex head, to me, is more versatile. Most of the time I reach for my locking flex head Carlyle ratchets, only one bad thing about the Carlyle locking flex head ratchets, there is no way to turn the locking mechanism off and use it like a non-locking flex head. When I need a non-locking flex head, I reach for my Gearwrench or my Armstrongs.

If you just want to add one ratchet, i would go with locking flex head model that you can use in non locking mode. Sadly Carlyle does not make one, Gearwrench OK, but I think other brands have better quality. I cannot say anything about Williams ratchets, since I do not own one. If Armstrong was still in business, that would be my first choice for a new locking flex head.

Other GJ member may have more information on other brands, some GJ members give good advice, others not so much, listen to the consensus of the group and then decide for yourself which brand best fits your need within your budget. Look for sales also, even buy used if you have to, I have bought several used ratchets (Protos, Armstrongs, and RHFT Craftsmans) for less than $10 each within the last year.

 

[bimmer630]

Why doesnt SK make a roto anymore?

 

[ocloc24]

Buy a swivel in 1/4", and a flex head 3/8". The 1/4" is the one you're most likely to use as a Nut driver, and then you can try both styles. I find that I never really use my 3/8 swivel but my 1/4" is one of my fav ratchets

 

[potato]

http://www.cripedistributing.com/ha...cent-crw17-2-pc-1-4-3-8-roto-ratchet-set.html these are same as fgearwrench with a different handle.if you go for flex check out the powerbuilt pro tech ratchets.

 

[signcrafter]

My go to ratchets are a roto head 1/4" and a flex head bent handle 3/8". Those are what I grab most of the time even though I have probably 2 dozen other ones of different lengths and styles. I really like the roto for the 1/4" because I can get into tight spots and use it to break bolts and then tip the handle up to use it as a nut driver. And for 3/8" the flex bent handle it just seems to be the most versatile ratchet for that size. So they ended up being my go to.

 

[HanShotFirst]

I have managed to make it all these years without a roto, but I couldn't live without the flex head. Although, the more and more I work on motorcycles, I know at some point I'll be buying a 1/4" roto.

 

[jd_1138]

I bought the 1/4 roto ratchet from HF. It's great. You can really get in awkward spots and spin fasteners off. It's only ten bucks I think. They're worth having. I keep it in my portable box in the car along with a regular 3/8 ratchet.

 

[ssdave]

I own both flex heads and roto jin 1/4". I never use the roto; I've found nothing that it does better than the flex. If I want a nut driver, I use a ratcheting screwdriver with a 1/4" drive shaft and a socket. Or a nut driver. I don't like the clumsiness and the weight and size of the roto, and the pivot point makes it feel funny in use to me compared to the flex's I have.

All this is somewhat subjective, it depends on if you like the feel of them, and if the extra size of the head affects your use. I prefer the smaller size of the flex, and hate the feel of the roto. But, I've ran into people that feel the exact opposite. I guess that's why they make both.

 

[Finky198]

I have managed to make it all these years without a roto, but I couldn't live without the flex head. Although, the more and more I work on motorcycles, I know at some point I'll be buying a 1/4" roto.

This is were I’m at ^^, but I’m finding that trend is everywhere not just motorcycles... and I think it’s happening faster then ever before.

I foresee in the next 10+ years more and more tools will be need to accomplish the same things as earlieryear past designs as things get more advanced and shrunken down. Stuff changes the industry changed big time with the likes of quality discount impact sockets being so readily avail a lot of people don use 1/2 chrome. As time goes by we well see other trends. 1/4 and 3/8 drive ratchets are now stronger then ever.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

I don't care much for the roto style. They a feel odd to me too and I don't like how big the head is. I like locking flex the best and usually grab that style before a standard fixed head. I also like the lock style that can stay unlocked if you want to.

 

[bustedcrawler]

I got a HF Pittsburgh Pro 1/4 flex... much better than I was expecting given prior experiences with Pittsburgh ratchets.

I mainly use 3/8 and 1/2 drive, so I figured I'd gamble with the 1/4 as the other 1/4 fixed heads had such sloppy drives i dreaded using them.

 

[zorrox]

I appreciate the responses guys. I like the idea of getting a 1/4 swivel and a 3/8 flex. Think I'm gonna go that route as it seems like they are perhaps each better suited to those sizes and I will get an opportunity to try them both

 

[Mr_B]

^ not bad idea and can add to it as want .
with flexi the locking type which also has lock off position is indeed most useful but they not cheap .
I find I use 3/8 roto all the time, being bit longer than average 3/8 it crosses into 1/2 type usage too and damn useful tilting handle as needed while still directly pushing on fastener.
I had a cheaper taiwan roto to start with but went with 100 tooth roto in 1/4 and 3/8 when had promotion.

 

[ptgarcia]

I was gifted all three drive sizes of the Tekton swivel-head ratchets by my wife at Christmas and I really like them. I haven't used them for auto mechanics, but I have used them for odd jobs in the garage and I find them useful. I haven't used them to work on my motorcycle yet but I can see the 1/4" drive being handy for that.

 

[finn]

I have a Snapon roto and several of their swivel head ratchets.

I was prepared to hate the roto, bit after using it for a while, I actually find that, for many jobs, I actually prefer it.

Part of the reason may be because the Locks on my Snapon locking ratchets are sticky, and the pivots on the non lockers are a little floppy, while the roto is new.

Maybe time for a few warranty returns??