What 3/8 ratchet should I get? It is time to retire my old 3/8 ratchet set to track only duty. I know what sockets I want but I am not sure about the driver. I am thinking about the Matco all metal ratchet but figured I'd asked before buying. Looking for a US made ratchet. I am not sure about a soft handle or a normal handle. I have heard good things about composites also. I haven't had much luck with my snap on PF720B that I use as a spare. So I don't think I want to spend any money on another snap on.
What 3/8 ratchet should I get?
- Thread starter DodgeZ
- Start date
DanCo
Well-known member
Snappy 3/8 & 1/4
Matco Dual 88's for 1/2
Matco Dual 88's for 1/2
NinetyTwoFifty
Banned
Gregg33
Well-known member
Gray
SMKS
Well-known member
How much do you want to spend?
idoitproject
Well-known member
CM raised panel. jk. If money isn't an issue, any Snap-on dual 80.
Matco was almost 100, which is pricey. I have busted two sets of snap on guts and it isn't my primary ratchet, not going to buy another snap on. Proto has a nice looking 3/8.
not sure where it is made though
http://www.stanleyproto.com/default...4;+Standard+Length+Black+Oxide+Finish+Ratchet
shampoop
Well-known member
Snapon dual 80 locking flex head. Just try it and you will fall in love.
GrantCee
Well-known member
NinetyTwoFifty
Banned
100% USA. Great ratchet.
Case IH
Well-known member
I gave an older made in USA Mac I like for 1/2
charle10
Well-known member
Keep your eyes open for a use Cornwell, you can usually find them cheap, and they are very nice (not super high tooth count though). You can't really go wrong with the other ones mentioned above. Another nice one that hasn't been mentioned would be an SK. Do you like round head or pear shaped ratchets?
DARKSCOPE001
Well-known member
What about armstrong? If you search on amazon they can be found for super cheep. Also those new C-man premiums are pretty nice. I took a look at one the other day and really had to keep myself from dropping the coin to buy it.
Thanks
Sean Scott
Thanks
Sean Scott
pear
Check out the Craftsman premiums too, I hear they are good.
In my shopping cart on Sears.com for $42.** + tax
Dang it was 59 bucks when I looked at them. They don't say how long they are. I did a search and didn't fine any reviews on it. Do they hold up good?
I've got the 3/8ths and it's great. I'm not a pro so I don't abuse my tools (ie, I use breaker bars and 1/2" ratchets when necessary) and I haven't had any problems with auto-reversing or skipping or anything. Some guys have complained about the drag, but I haven't had any problems with that either. The head is very thin.
Buy it online and do "ship to store". You can use coupon codes like TLSTHANKS for 10% off (until like 4/8/11)
Check out the Craftsman premiums too, I hear they are good.
In my shopping cart on Sears.com for $42.** + tax
How long is it? my go to ratchet is 8" with I like.
I found this review and pictures which is nice because it compares it to Matco I was looking at.
http://www.*@#$*@#$*@#$*@#$*@#$*@#$*@#$*@#$*@#$*@#$*@#$*@#$*@#$*@#$*@#$*@#$*@#$*@#$*@#$*@#$*@#$/index.php?topic=2155.0
Attachments
odd the link I posted doesn't work, must be some inter-forum fighting....
Here is what the guy said.
"My new 1/4 and 3/8 primium ratchets came in Tuesday. I took them to work and used them for a few days. I like them. The 3/8 handle fits my hand like a natural extension. I'm quite happy with it. Because I'm trully a sick puppy, i was wondering how the Craftsman 84 tooth ratchet compared to the Matco 88 tooth ratchet internally. Yes I played doctor Frankenstein, took the ratchets apart, interchanged pieces and put them back together to see if they worked. They do but, I wouldn't recommend it. If the pictures load, you'll notice that the ratchets share the same design and components for the most part from the 17 tooth pawl, to the spring loaded bullet shaped plunger, to the orangish colored o rings sealing it. There are some differences. The pawls are marked 84 3/8 or 88 3/8. The backs of the gear and inside the ratchet body are also different. If you can make it out in the picture, the inside of the Matco 88 ratchet body and the back side of the gear is smooth and flat. whereas, the inside of the Craftsman ratchet body has a raised circle that meshes into a cut out circle on the back of the craftsman 84 tooth gear. Because of this slight difference in gears and body, I wouldn't recommend upgrading your 84 tooth ratchet to an 88 tooth ratchet (even though some of you sicker people are thinking about it). lastly, the cover plates are different. Matco uses the Danaher standard thin steel plate with a snap ring, while the new Craftsman has upgraded to a thicker cover plate secured by two T6 screws. I think it's a great little ratchet and would like to see a flex head version within a year."
Here is what the guy said.
"My new 1/4 and 3/8 primium ratchets came in Tuesday. I took them to work and used them for a few days. I like them. The 3/8 handle fits my hand like a natural extension. I'm quite happy with it. Because I'm trully a sick puppy, i was wondering how the Craftsman 84 tooth ratchet compared to the Matco 88 tooth ratchet internally. Yes I played doctor Frankenstein, took the ratchets apart, interchanged pieces and put them back together to see if they worked. They do but, I wouldn't recommend it. If the pictures load, you'll notice that the ratchets share the same design and components for the most part from the 17 tooth pawl, to the spring loaded bullet shaped plunger, to the orangish colored o rings sealing it. There are some differences. The pawls are marked 84 3/8 or 88 3/8. The backs of the gear and inside the ratchet body are also different. If you can make it out in the picture, the inside of the Matco 88 ratchet body and the back side of the gear is smooth and flat. whereas, the inside of the Craftsman ratchet body has a raised circle that meshes into a cut out circle on the back of the craftsman 84 tooth gear. Because of this slight difference in gears and body, I wouldn't recommend upgrading your 84 tooth ratchet to an 88 tooth ratchet (even though some of you sicker people are thinking about it). lastly, the cover plates are different. Matco uses the Danaher standard thin steel plate with a snap ring, while the new Craftsman has upgraded to a thicker cover plate secured by two T6 screws. I think it's a great little ratchet and would like to see a flex head version within a year."
Mr.Nutcase
Well-known member
I would recommend Armstrong, How about trade the Snap On for a new one.
or * break it and have warrentied *
(I dont recommend this route)
or * break it and have warrentied *
(I dont recommend this route)
Last edited:
HandyManny
Well-known member
.
I recomendeted Proto.for my is Best all times.High recomendeted
Proto its Proto
I've had the same Proto 3/8 drive ratchet and used it since the early 1960's. Still going strong wthout ever having to use a rebuild kit. I really like Proto tools. However after many years I'm finding that other brand of standard ratchets offer more leverage due to a bit longer of handles. The Proto one is great, but really is kind of short. I still use it though. Snap-On Dual 80 is nice if you can afford it. I've also been using more often the standard 3/8 drive Duralast ratchet from Autozone, nice tool, very impressed.
Yeah you have to use coupons. It's $59 but then $10 off that with "Sears2011" code and couponcabin.com click thru, then 15% off with their usual sale which they've been running now for the past few days. $41.65 + tax.
The only reason I don't own them is because I really like the quick release buttons. Not sure why other companies don't offer them, must be a professional tech thing to not use them. For this reason I own the thin profile set that Sears offers. Got a good deal on that too, $53.11 + tax for the 3 piece set (1/4, 3/8, 1/2). So basically got all 3 for the price of one of the premiums, which was a bonus.
EvenTheLoosest
Member
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2010
- Messages
- 12
Get a Williams 3/8. Costs a tiny bit more than the Duralast and it's the real deal made by the real company in the USA.
its not us-made, but the gearwrench ratchets have served me pretty well and are cheap and tough. i've got both the all metal and comfort grip versions and like them a lot (especially for the price). i've recently added the 84T craftsmans to my box and am really liking them as well. i prefer the comfort handles in cool/cold weather, and the gearwrench handles are just like the SO (which i like). the 84T handles are different than most and i really like them. my thin profiles - which have been used hard - have been put in the track box and they aren't bad either although i've come to dislike the quick release (+1 on the 84T premiums).
i've got a wright with a similar handle style to the craftsman 84T, but with the big rotating 'switch' on the head instead of the little lever. i like the ratchet, but hate the switch.
ahm
i've got a wright with a similar handle style to the craftsman 84T, but with the big rotating 'switch' on the head instead of the little lever. i like the ratchet, but hate the switch.
ahm
amorrow
Well-known member
I just bought a Snap-On FHNF100 last week, and it's my new favorite ratchet. The round swivel-head design is nice for the hobbiest automotive work I do.
Nevermind...just saw you're not considering Snap-On for this purchase.
Nevermind...just saw you're not considering Snap-On for this purchase.
Last edited:
DARKSCOPE001
Well-known member
I still like armstrongs Like I said in a previous post you can get them around 50 dollars on amazon right now. Thats only a hair more than gear wrench. And If you break them I bet you wont have to hop on one foot while singing the National Anthem backwards on the 5th Tuesday of the year to get it warranted.
Also Im a big fan of craftsman (buy selectively tho) Because I like the fact that anything I buy can be taken three min down the road and waranteed. Currently I have the thin profile full polish. Served me very well. Im about to get some of the premiums and make the thin profiles my home ratchets.
Thanks
Sean Scott
Also Im a big fan of craftsman (buy selectively tho) Because I like the fact that anything I buy can be taken three min down the road and waranteed. Currently I have the thin profile full polish. Served me very well. Im about to get some of the premiums and make the thin profiles my home ratchets.
Thanks
Sean Scott
8 7/8". Excellent ratchet. Well worth it at full price, a steal with the sales and combo coupon deals they've been having. I own the entire set and duplicate 1/4 and 3/8". Been using them for about 7 months now.
spongerich
Well-known member
I've had about 50 different USA made ratchets and my hands down favorites are my F80's. I've been looking to swap one of them for an FH80 because the soft handles are nice when the weather is cold.
I enjoy using my vintage Plomb once in a while, but the SO is the one for getting real work done.
I enjoy using my vintage Plomb once in a while, but the SO is the one for getting real work done.
I bought one at lunch using the double coupon got it down 15 bucks to 50ish with tax.
Where can I trade my snap-ons in at? I'd like to get something else since I don't have any luck with them. Maybe I should call snap on and tell them my problems. Maybe I can trade them both in on something that won't break.
shanker
Well-known member
i would suggest buying a Gearwrench and throwing the Matco 88 guts in it...
My gearwrench with 88 guts is nice...however I pick up my proto big dawg 3/8 just about every time though
My gearwrench with 88 guts is nice...however I pick up my proto big dawg 3/8 just about every time though
treasureseeker
Well-known member
Snap on, Hazet or Facom
craftsman thin profile 3/8" ratchet http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944995000P?prdNo=12&blockNo=12&blockType=G12 or the craftsman premium grade 3/8" ratchet http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00902548000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1