The Flex Head Ratchet Thread - Locking vs Not - Discussion

[CGarage]

Ok, perhaps I got carried away with my Gearwrench bashing.

The fact is. My first introduction to gearwrench was a cheap metric 3/8 short and long socket set. That I won't be afraid to lose bits from.

The regular ratchet was 84 tooth chrome hard handle.

I was so impressed by the quality of the socket and the ratchet and extensions. I bought a soft grip 3/8 84 tooth when I saw it being discounted at Masters (an Australian collaboration with Lowe's that is now defunct).

I then bought the 120xp regular set. I think they are awesome. In fact...one reason I won't buy a regular 1/4 snap on...is because I believe the 120xp 1/4 is a better tool.

I guess that's why I took the chance on the flexheads with Gearwrench.

I think the problem here is me. I am wishing for a professional feature and hoping to not pay professional prices via professional distribution mechanisms.

What I wish for is not economically feasible in Australia for a brick and mortar store. I can see that now.

The bigger picture is that the gearwrench 120xp flex set is ideal for people to enjoy working on their own cars. They will perform amazingly well and give pride of ownership to people who take pride in their hobby.

People should not buy smooth flexheads if they are scraping their knuckles with it and diminishing their enjoyment of their tools.

Professionals have a different requirement. Pleasure is not one of them. Efficiency, speed and fatigue reduction is the name of their game. Leave the smooth flexes for the professionals.

I shall say no more on this issue.

Smooth flex head ratchets meaning those where there is no locking of the head whatsoever- be it a ball detent or a lever lock?

If you believe the 120XP fixed head ratchet is so decent, I will have to buy one in 1/4”.

 

[Iridium rand]

Wera’s Zyklop is a great and often overlooked option too, only locking roto head that I know of and is my go-to currently. The locking feature turns out is actually much more useful on rotos than on a flex head, prevents the head from turning when you’re using it vertically like a screwdriver, especially when you need to apply some downward pressure on the fastener. Also nice that you can release the socket by pushing the lever up when in the fully vertical position instead of having to rotate the head back to horizontal to access the button

 

[CGarage]

The head on the Wera is GIANT.

 

[corn chip]

i could see myself buying this snapon locking head but non lockers i despise them things

 

[spanimal]

Smooth flex head ratchets meaning those where there is no locking of the head whatsoever- be it a ball detent or a lever lock?

If you believe the 120XP fixed head ratchet is so decent, I will have to buy one in 1/4”.

Exactly. No locking mechanism and no detent in the flex.

I think fine tooth ratchets are over rated in general, but if you wanna go fine, you might as well go all the way. The 120xp is superfine and the innovation should not be abandoned. The back drag and head size is completely acceptable. I don't think there are any real compromises to this action.

There are other posts in this thread explaining how a smooth flex head can significantly increase available swing arc when turning a bolt. Which is why knowing how use a smooth flex head improves efficiency. That massive increase in available swing arc pretty much negates the need for fine teeth on a smooth flex head.

Fine teeth is more usable on fixed head ratchets.

The fatigue reduction of a smooth flex is enormous. The longer handles require far less force to accomplish higher torque.

The next example is for a car that is on a hoist in the air. When doing suspension work. A tech can crack a bolt with his arms above his head, then move the handle down so that the torquing arm is below his shoulders and continue to wind a bolt in a position that exponentially lowers fatigue and increased speed.

But yeah, it's cheap enough to get a small 120xp 1/4 inch fixed ratchet. It's currently the best regular small 1/4 inch I have ever owned, for me anyway. I loved my little Hazet...but I think I like this one more.

At this stage...I have no qualms of escalating a well made Taiwanese tool into the upper echelons of industrial quality tools.

Oh yes....my 1/4 Snap-on roto ratchet would be the best 1/4 ratchet in the world....if it could lock into the screwdriver position. I looked at the Wera but it seems too plasticky to handle true abuse.

 

[ngng]

Wera’s Zyklop is a great and often overlooked option too, only locking roto head that I know of and is my go-to currently. The locking feature turns out is actually much more useful on rotos than on a flex head, prevents the head from turning when you’re using it vertically like a screwdriver, especially when you need to apply some downward pressure on the fastener. Also nice that you can release the socket by pushing the lever up when in the fully vertical position instead of having to rotate the head back to horizontal to access the button

I almost got this but decided on the Stahlwille instead. One of my most used tools.

 

[65k10]

I have all three of these. The 1/4 is perfect length at times, the length is in between the snap on regular flex and and their extra long flex. I wish Snap On would do one in this length. The 3/8 is perfect. The half is a bit short for a 1/2 flex. At 14 inches it's shorter than the usual 17 inches, and 17 inches is about right for a 1/2 flex. I use the Koken flex 24 tooth 1/2 inch at 17 inches instead of the Williams (the sound of a koken 24 tooth ratchet is the best ratchet sound in the world. I can't stand the sound of fine tooth zip tie sounding ratchets my Snap On dual 80 included). The Williams fit and finish is miles above the likes of gearwrench ratchets.

The funny thing is Williams could have a 17 inch long 1/2 flex in their line since they already make it for Caterpillar. The Cat 263-3341 uses the same style handle as the Williams and aside from the Cat logo on the head, looks like a longer S-52ehfa.

 

[CGarage]

At this stage...I have no qualms of escalating a well made Taiwanese tool into the upper echelons of industrial quality tools.

Firstly, excellent post. I never considered that the speed of the tool would come into play so much but, when efficiency means money, the smooth flex makes all the sense in the world. Nothing to fiddle with and extra speed- which adds up.

You are down in Australia. You understand Asia. Taiwan is an Asian tiger economy.

95% of the folks in the US buying tools do not understand that the US has had its “industrial revolution” and that the future of manufacturing is in Asia.

Taiwan seems to be leading the way in all of the tool innovations of today. Also, tool manufacturing companies are moving factory production there to take advantage of the size of the market potential looking to the future.....already a population of over 1.5 Billion people in the primary Asian markets and growing.

 

[ngng]

Firstly, excellent post. I never considered that the speed of the tool would come into play so much but, when efficiency means money, the smooth flex makes all the sense in the world. Nothing to fiddle with and extra speed- which adds up.

You are down in Australia. You understand Asia. Taiwan is an Asian tiger economy.

95% of the folks in the US buying tools do not understand that the US has had its “industrial revolution” and that the future of manufacturing is in Asia.

Taiwan seems to be leading the way in all of the tool innovations of today. Also, tool manufacturing companies are moving factory production there to take advantage of the size of the market potential looking to the future.....already a population of over 1.5 Billion people in the primary Asian markets and growing.

The entire "buy American made" makes me chuckle. I understand the sentiment, but but it's not the end all be all. I've bought many American made products with terrible QC. I've also had this conversation with numerous people while they were looking up SnapOn tools on their Chinese made iPhone

 

[spanimal]

Google chip shortages and do some research. When you realise Taiwan is world leader in industrial semiconductor manufacturing and their chips are in US advanced Space and military projects...in fact the US depends on them.

Yeah nah. I don't think they can **** up a spanner.

I will support Democratic society whenever possible. My tools are all German, European, Australian, US, Japan and Taiwan made. I don't think I have a China made tool. Although I may be wrong. Oh yeah I do. My Milwaukee's.

 

[Mr_B]

With Xi's vision for Taiwan I don't think I want be investing or relying too much on Taiwan especially for military or any critical supplies .
While Taiwan doesn't exactly **** up a spanner the global future confliction around Taiwan sovereignty will be a huge spanner in the works pro rata the amount of eggs you put into the Taiwan egg basket ...

 

[ngng]

You could say, relying on the idea of a global economy has thrown...a spanner in things...