What's everyone's basic ratchet setup?

[biscuit141]

I know ratchets can be accumulated as in collections, but putting that aside and looking purely at the utility/functionality of the ratchets, what are the ones to get first, then once one has the basics, which are the seconds and thirds, etc. I realize that this is open for debate, so lets keep it friendly and just post up how everyone did it their own way.

Here is my ratchet drawer, I have a Craftsman in each drive size, but I know very little about them. If anyone could fill me in on any details I would appreciate it. They were one of my first purchases in the classifieds when I joined GJ and certainly not fine tooth, maybe 45 tooth, but seem pretty robust.

I also picked up a HF 3/8" swivel head fine-tooth stubby. I really like this ratchet, even though it's HF I find myself using it a lot. I have a tendency to over-tighten so I cheat with the stubby size.

I have a raised-panel craftsman 3/8" that came as part of a mechanics toolkit and thats where I keep it.

I feel like it's time for a 3/8" regular length fine-tooth ratchet, or a 3/8" flex head, or I'm open to other opinions as well. I hear a lot of things about the Armstrong 88 tooth. I would like it to be a ratchet that will last me a long time.

 

[fivespdcat]

I prefer flex ratchets. I can't say the last time I picked up a non flex except for my 1/4". I really like the Armstrong ones and my bent handle 3/8" craftsman. Of course I don't use tools all the time and don't abuse them.

 

[tonym]

I use the new t72 f80 and sa80a

3/8 and 1/2 were first ..I dont use 1/4 much so I bought it last..

 

[jusridin]

I tend to use my craftsman ratchets first, husky second, proto, s-k and so on

 

[greasemonkey44]

heh depends on what im up to
in 3/8 everything from an 18 " HF to a 11 indexable head armstrong to a 4 inch wright
personally i like that indexibile armstong best, just feels solid
the wright has almost no drag
and the HF is a beast
in 1/4 i just bought a t72 with a green hard handle, im loving it
before that i used a SK.....sturdy lil guy, utmost respect for sk ratchets
1/4 cman premium......smooth and super slim but what an auto reversing piece of dog turd
a cheapy pittsburgh was what i used before them
i dont really use 1/2 ratchets...i have an hf one, the extendable for rolling over engines or w/e
i did buy a 3/4 ratchet that extends to 40"......if it doesn't break them loose it will break them

 

[Drunken Yak inc]

Depends on the job, but my go to is usually Snap-on or Cornwell. Unless I need to add a cheater bar, then I go with craftsman. If it's a tight area I'll go with a Blackhawk with the handles that twist.

 

[Justin1776]

Snap on and Williams 36 tooth,I love them. Dual 80's on the list though

 

[Mr Ratchet]

I had that very CM set and replaced it with a SO set a few years ago. I got the CM's back in the early to mid 80's. The handles are fine and the thumb wheel on the back was nice to have at times.

My thought is to start with the standard 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" set of your choice. Second would be longer flex in each drive size. Then more specialized ratchets like stubby, pass through, 3/4" or bigger, and longer fixed, etc.

There is a "Show me your ratchet" thread that has a ton of pictures by members.

 

[pipsters]

I have a 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" Craftsman thin profile, an older 3/8" Craftsman flex, and a 1/4" air ratchet. I've honestly never needed anything else, and I've done a lot on my cars.

 

[SMKS]

Here's my ratchet drawer. There a few others in my trunk tool kit, and several in my "sell these some day" pile.

Quick count-
4 - Wright
2 - SK
2 - Armstrong Maxx
8 - Truecraft. There are high quality ratchets made in Japan. Really interesting. Here's a thread with more info for anyone interested. More info in this thread.
1 - Truper made in Taiwan ratchet. Made by Hi-Five tools. Very nice.
1 - HF swivel head. Good tool, especially for the money.
1 - KAL made in Japan XL 3/8" drive
1 - Plomb
4 or so others

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

Ive got a 3/8s long handle, hard handled S/O that is 20+ years old, and of all my rats, that has the most mileage on it, its also a flex head.

Past that point, Ive got so many ratchets, they are in a couple different drawers in differnt boxes, I forget what I have because I have too many.

The least used are my C-Man. I hate my Cman rats, they are all of the 80s and 90s models, nothing newer. Ive got Stan-ree, Kobalt, Williams, Pittsburgh Pro, Bonney, Master Mechanic, Snap On, SK, Allen, Thorsen, Husky, those are the names I can remember off hand without looking.

The most used after the S/Os are the Kobalts, and the Williams. I use the Pittsburgh Pros in the winter, when working in un-heated space (the composite rats).

I use my bosch 18v impactor allot too, take almost everything I can take apart with it. Its a screw impactor made for construction, but I have found it will break lug nuts loose, as well most fasteners on a car / light truck. Its light, powerful and fast, I love that thing !

 

[davesnothere]

The ones I use most are:
F80
FL80
FLF80
FHF936
F872MP
T72
S80
SHLF80A

 

[wreckercologist]

At work, I primarily use these on a regular basis:

TMRT8 (with the shorter shank from the TMR4)
TF72
TL72
TM737
FLF80
F80
FH747
SL715
SLF80

At home I use:

FLF80
SK/Wayne roto ratchet
Cornwell compact 3/8" flexhead
Cornwell 1/2" long flexhead
Williams 1/4" long flexhead

biscuit141, you have all the basics already. Only thing I would want to add to what you already have as far as ratchets goes would be a long 1/2", a long 3/8" flexhead or roto ratchet, and a 1/4" long flexhead......maybe a compact 3/8"............or a............

 

[GTO]

I have 17 Ratchets
10 are SO Dual 80's(SO FL80 used most freq)
2 Matco 88's
3 SK's
1 Craftsman Stubby
1 Titan

 

[geologist]

I've got a set of Craftsman thin-profile ratchets. They feel nice and don't reverse like some of the premium ratchets do (although I love the premium ratchets - just dont own them). I also have a full compliment of Craftsman RP ratchets, as well as a 1/2 drive SK ratchet and breaker. The SK is nice, except for a bit of damage to the knurling by the previous owner. I'd like to complete the set eventually.

 

[shoturtle]

When I got my master set back in the early 90's they came with the RP's in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 did not like them at all so they stayed in my box and never got uses. Still have them.

What I used are
wera zyklop 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2, these are the ratchets I go for first
proto 1/4 and 3/8 these replaced the rp when I got my master set. Lost the 1/2 somewhere during a move. Still used them time to time, great corse tooth ratchets
recently picked up some proxxon rotary ratchet in 1/4 and 3/8 like them in tight places on my motorcycle
I picked up a 1/4 dr proxxon kit to keep in my car for emergency.
when pep boys had their clearance on power built, I picked up a 1/4 long power built ratchet. It is pretty nice.

 

[Toolhorder]

Just starting working again at a dealer and in the last week I've used mostly these:

Craftsman 3/8" long handle flex head ratchet
Snap-on 3/8" long straight handle dual 80
Snap-on 1/2" 24" long flex head dual 80
Matco 1/4" long handle 88

That's my go to rats from the last week. The Matco 1/4" long 88 and the c-man 3/8 long flex head are probably my favorite rats right now.

 

[Hank McMauser]

Over the past 2 or 3 years I have bought,sold or given away probably 15-20 ratchets, I have finally decided that I like the fine tooth round head ratchets the best my #1 favorite being the sk tuff 1 series. It may get edged out of the #1 spot by this bonney I picked up recently at a yard sale. It was really cheap,less than $1 because it was nearly non functional,the selector lever was rusted in place.after a good soak in paint thinner followed by a scrub down with a toothbrush and re-oiling and it's one of the smoothest in my toolbox. I'd suggest hitting the yard sales/flea markets for used stuff and keep trying till you find one you like.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

Here's the link to the ratchet thread with all the ratchet pictures.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24832

 

[djkeev]

Here are the ratchets I keep handy to use. I've got many more squirreled away I've no interest in using. The yellow Dewalt is quickly becoming one of my most used nut / bolt drivers! Break it loose, zip it out quickly. Or start it in a few threads and zip it down. I use it way more than my air ratchets, no hose, quiet, etc.

My most used ratchet is the NAPA one I picked up many years ago, takes a beating and keeps on clicking!
The newer Craftsman Chinese 1/2 drive ratchet is a recent warranty swap, the jury is out on a verdict just yet.
There is a home brew 3/8" shorty in the photo as well.
The Blackhawk 34950R fine tooth handle action unit is rarely used but nice to have about once a year!
I'm not a fan of the padded handles.

Dave

 

[chappys4life]

I dont have a big ratchet collection as off now I have to snap on 3/8" & 1/4" soft handle 36 tooth as my go to ratchets then cm regular ratchets as backups.

I do plan on adding gearwrench flex soft handle in 1/4 & 3/8 soon and a flex non soft handle 1/2 from them.

I find myself using wrenches more than ratchets anyways so no big rush.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have a Craftsman 1/4 and a Tru-Test 3/8 (both are sets) from my dad that I reach for first. I've got a couple more Craftsman raised panel ratchets as well as a small Snap-on 1/4 too.

 

[House Sparrow]

1/4"- THLFD72 hard handle flex head or my old MV71 if I need short and non-flex.

3/8"- For many years it was the F832 bent handle flex head. I recently upgraded to the Dual 80 model of that same tool. For a short 3/8, it's usually the F80 or the Proto 5249.

1/2"- S-71, Proto 5449, SL80 or SHLF80A, depending on how pissed off I get and how much extra arm strength I desire.

3/4"- I don't use it every day, but the Proto 5649 works well when I need it.

I love my Dual 80s, but I also still like the old style ratchets like the Snap On 71s and Proto pearheads.

 

[bcradio]

I have

-Proto
-Cman
-Williams
-Bahco
-HF
-Kobalt
-Wright

FLF80 might be next on the list.

 

[Ken81590]

I find myself using these the most

I do use the impacts ALOT more than ratchets. But, I always used to go for the ATD 3/8 ratchet in the middle, until I got the SO FH80, now that's my go to for anything large, but for anything 4.5mm-14mm, I go with the 1/4" flex-head. I always find my self going for that first...

 

[Ken81590]

But for work, I always go for the SO 3/8" flex-head (the long handle, not the 3/8 in 1/4" body)

 

[ajchien]

Guess Ive got all sorts of ratchets. 1/2,3/8,1/4. Flex, quick release, different handle lengths. Fine tooth, coarse. Round, Pear head.

they all work. they're all a little different.

Over time, my preference to what to use has changed over time. Drive size and handle length mostly decides what I want to use.

 

[canuckian]

I have what some would consider a wide array of ratchets. Lost count of the actual number a while back to be honest. Sure, I could get by with maybe 1/4 of them but what would be the fun in that?
I guess my go to ratchets would be swivel head or roto ratchets mostly because of their versatility. Second would locking flex and third would be non flex pear head ratchets. The rest fall in somewhere in between those, depending what the task is.

 

[twincam00]

Personally I cant stand quick release ratchets, I only own 2 qr ratchets

I use Snap-on dual 80's and Matco 88's at work.

At home I usually use older snap-on's that I bought used but I also like using SK round heads and maybe a Duralast occasionally

 

[drew03cmc]

Mac 3/8dr comfort grip, Gearwrench 1/4dr, Proto 5450 long 1/2dr and Husky short 1/2dr.

 

[BigTJ]

Snap on
SHL80a
S936
FHL80
FLF936
F731
F80
THL72

CMan 1/2", 3/8", 1/4" and a Low Profile 1/4"

I use the F80 and the FHL80 the most.

 

[cderalow]

I'm trying to clean up my stuff from a mix of us & Taiwanese kobalts to snap on & Armstrong.

Need to work on 1/2" drive ratchets next.

Bought a pair of snappy 1/4" from here, an Armstrong 1/4", and an Armstrong 3/8".

 

[countryroad82]

I say if you are a wrenching beginner, buy a set of Craftsman RP ratchets, use them for a few years then upgrade to a nice fine tooth ratchet of your choice. That way you will know why guys that wrench for a living/ fun have absolutely no problem forking out $$ for nicer ratchets. I will say though the best bang for the buck before I started buying truck brand stuff was this http://performancetool.com/item.aspx?cid=286&iid=3444 I still to this day will instinctively at times grab mine. I like the extra small head and fine teeth, don't let the coo fool you I have yet to break it!!

 

[fourtythree]

Craftsman, Snap On, Duralast, HF, Titan etc.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I have long and standard ratchets for 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 drives. I also have a 3/8 stubby. All Snap On for my ratchets though I have few other snappy tools.

I have no need for flex heads even though they seem to be quite poplular for some reason.

 

[vga]

My go to ratchet is my matco 3/8 / 88 tooth, followed by the Matco 3/8 / 80 tooth L/ handle locking flex head ratchet. I have also started grabbing the Williams 3/8 B 52 L/ handle flex head as it feels very good in the hands when being used. I currently have about 19 of these things so I never tend to get bored or run out of options with ratchets.

 

[synergy321]

I find myself using these the most

I do use the impacts ALOT more than ratchets. But, I always used to go for the ATD 3/8 ratchet in the middle, until I got the SO FH80, now that's my go to for anything large, but for anything 4.5mm-14mm, I go with the 1/4" flex-head. I always find my self going for that first...

Is that 1/4" the THLF72? That's next on my wishlist

 

[Ken81590]

Is that 1/4" the THLF72? That's next on my wishlist

Yes it is! And I absolutely love it! You should DEFINATELY get one! I don't know how I ever worked without it before!! lol. I would recommend one to anyone.

 

[Monte]

1/4" + 3/8" ratchets



1/2" ratchet

 

[jeffmoss26]

What brand are the sockets with the labels inside??