Who Makes The Best Ratchet
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ต.ค. 2015
- Today we look at who makes the best mechanic's ratchet. Ratchets may also be called Socket Wrenches. We look at different sized ratchets, different brands like Craftsman, Snap on, Matco, Kobalt, and even a few specialty ratchets
Join me today as be break down:
~ The 3 common drives for ratchets
~ What tooth count is, and why it's important
~ Different handle ends
~ What is the best ratchet for Pros
~ What is the best ratchet for home use
~ When any ratchet will do
~ and more
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Starting my own tool brand, Snap Off. They break on the first try. NO WARRANTY.
already done, a UK brand called Silverline pretty much does the same thing, also supplies saw blades with no teeth, a wood saw blade with teeth set to one side only, so would only cut down an angle!, pliers made of mild steel and softer than the copper wire they needed to cut, and a small multitool with pliers that first time snapped off and gave me the worst blood blister ever.
A lot of the silverline tools are absolute crap but the spanners they make are decent. I bought a set a few years ago and I have used them almost everyday without any issues. They have a lifetime warranty too but knowing silverline I doubt I will get a replacement if one of the spanners breaks.
I have some Silverline spanners (probably 20 years old now) that are superb. Not looked at the modern stuff though.
buy gearwrench, same quality, lower profile head,, the 72 teeth , i been using the same ratchet 5 years and not a single issue,, also lifetime warranty, costs less,and best of all, NO hassle warranty
Now that is an EPIC screen name LOL!
snap on keeping mechanics broke for 96 years.
steven phillips - lol
steven phillips a person that's a good mechanic can't go broke.
averaging 60-80 flat rate hours a week, I can buy a tool a week off the snap on truck and still do just fine.. Plus by toolbox looks fly as fuck. oh and i never step foot in a store looking for tools. plus super flexible payments. along with the fact that they come to my work, so my GF has no idea how much i spend on my tools!
Boyd Crowder The fact you need to finance them means you can’t afford it.
wobinga7 not the case
One of the things I learned the hard way is that out of all your tools you don't want to cheap out on your ratchets. Especially since when one breaks your already using a heck of alot of pressure on it and can lead to some real damage when all that tension is let loose (not including the explosion that comes from a busted ratchet mechanism).
Glad I bought all my Craftsman before they started making it all in CHINA,,,,
The old school Craftsman American made panel wrenches are indestructible... I mean literally I grab them up every time I see them at garage sales, they're never in a complete set but never takes too long to make a complete set as these things always seem to be at garage sales that have some tools... trust me when I say those things blow away anything coming from China by a freaking long shot, It's a shame they're not made here anymore.
Guess what? When they break, your replacement will be the “cheap” one
Pony Chaser I agree. I have Snap On, Matco and Mac. Back when I was an apprentice, I started with the cheap shit and worked my way up. Like all techs we all sold our souls away to the tool guy. I was fortunate to do it while I was living at home with mom back in the day😆. Now I owe $0 for years and I don’t need nothing from the tool guy. Sunex make great sockets and impact flex sockets for the buck BTW👍
Pony Chaser I used to have old craftsman ratchets that were handed down by my pops until they broke. That’s how I found out. I remember long time ago when I was a young apprentice a snap on dealer came up to me and said “You live at home kid rent free? I said “Yes”....then he said “buy your tools now while you have cash before the right piece of pussy takes it from you!” Those were wise words that I will never forget. 25 years later I have Snap-on, Matco, Mac and haven’t had a bill from those guys in YEARS😬👍.
@Homer Simpson Lots of companies are offering lifetime warantys now. Sears stores are closing up all over. I have scars on my knuckles from being split open after a craftsman socket cracked on me. Old sears was great, new sears falls well below harbor freight.
I'm a retired import mechanic and fire truck builder. I have Snap on , Craftsman , Mac , Matco , S.K. , J.C. Penny , and Pow'r Kraft (Montgomery Ward) . Kinda tells you how old I am. When I arrived at the firetruck factory my U.S. made tools began walking away. I bought Indian and Chinese made tools to replace them. Mostly from AutoZone and my local flea market. And you know what? They worked pretty well and nobody wanted to steal them! now, whenever I need a replacement tool it's off to Harbor Freight. I wouldn't want to make my living with them , but for what I need them for they work just fine. I've learned in 40 year of repairing and building vehicles , just because the tool is a Craftsman doesn't mean the guy using it is!
Great insight! I love it. I also remember Montgomery Ward!!!!!! HAHAH The big thing that stood out to me is "I've learned in 40 year of repairing and building vehicles , just because the tool is a Craftsman doesn't mean the guy using it is!" I LOVE that comment.
What? No Super-Ratchet?
HumbleMechanic working in the repair shop of a road building company 1967-1970, I got to use a lot of people's tools. Photo made the most comfortable wrench because it was thicker. I had to fold a shop towel several times when using the narrower shafted Snap-On.
I remember Penncraft? I guess was Penneys?
j.c.penny has tools?
best rachets are the old ones you find at garage sales. i have this old 3/8 proto and the fucking things gets beat to shit. still works great
I agree, just about any ratchet pre 1980 that is mad in the US.
Japan makes the best ratchets these days. The KTC Nepros ratchets and the Koken stuff are built to absolutely insane quality standards and have basically zero back drag. It feels significantly more refined than Snap-On despite costing a tad less.
Sidchrome 1/2" & 3/8" ratchets are fantastic, particularly the ones made in Australia up to the 1980's. Other than those, Snap On.
I’ve been using the same Duralast set for the last 8 years. It’s honestly a decent product, and exactly like he said in the video, it’s what feels good in your hand that matters. Making sure you have the lifetime warranty seals the deal and it all depends on your level of usage. As a “weekend warrior” my duralast base set has never failed me, although as expected, as a mechanic progresses, so does his tool set.
Good vid 👍
Duralast is the same as the old snap ons tried and tested
my ex's mom made the best ratchet
gay ratchet
is she single???
Jef Rey it probably doesn’t matter tbh
You win best comment man
Jef Rey not anymore
I grew up as a shade tree mechanic.....then while in high school I worked as an auto mechanic and started collecting my own (good) tools. My father who was a millwright said buy quality tools and they will last a lifetime and you will not bust your knuckles on a cheap tool that breaks. Then he purchased me my Snap-on torque wrench for Christmas. Well, as a average teen I knew better and wanted to buy less expensive tools since I could get my toolbox filled fast. You can guess where this is going! One day I was working on an engine block and the the wrench stripped due to the torque applied and I smacked my knuckles on the manifold. Instantly I remembered what my father said as I was trying to mend my knuckles.....
From that day to this I have always purchased the best I could afford and now I have my dads set. BTW I am still using the torque wrench my father purchased for me over 50 years ago.
Have you ever calibrated your torque wrenches?
@@Salpeteroxid i hope he has 😄
I learned why they call breaker bars “pull handles” when i pushed and the bolt broke loose and slammed my fingernails into the sharp edge of an oil pan and kept me awake all night with pain. Took months for the nails to grow back.
Really? ive sheared 3 Snap-on ratchets, they where each $180 never once sheared a $20 craftsman ratchet. Got a torque wrench from snap-on too, yellow handle, swivle head, like $400, went out of calibration after using it to torque some f150 tires to 150 ftlbs -.- never bought snap-on since, id much rather replace a $20 tool than $200-$400 tool. All of the tools i got from snap-on where "lifetime warranty" but every single time i tried to honor that warranty snap-on seemed to come up with some kind of excuse on why they cant
@@jockellis So u broke a nail and cried. CRYBABY!! 😂😂🤣🤣
I have 1980's PROTO ratchets my grandpa used at the mine. They are AWESOME. That and my collection of older PROTO closed ends, open ends and adjustable.
That is AWESOME! I really wish I had some of my grandfathers tools. I am sure he didn't have anything that nice, but the sentimental value is more important to me LOL
After many years of use I found the Matco ratchets to be my favorites. They are smooth strong and compact. I especially like their AFR68LFG it's a 1/4 inch ratchet with a plastic grip handle and a flex head that locks at any angle.. Some guys will disagree, that's fine but they are my pick.
The higher the tooth count, the smaller, and weaker each individual tooth is. So there is that trade off for getting a short throw.
Yep. That's why my 1/2 drive needs to be rebuilt so often.
HumbleMechanic
because you're too lazy to get a breaker bar when you're loosening stuck hardware? Gotcha
actually not at all. The job I mainly use that for is rear brake caliper carrier bolts. It's almost impossible to get the amount of movement needed with a breaker bar.
That 1/2in Snap On works amazing. Being lazy has zero to do with it.
+HumbleMechanic amen brother
+Paul Frederick Not really, higher tooth count have weaker teeth, but there is also a higher number of them engaged at the same time.
I have a small set of Snap on sockets for, which I use for really tough jobs. But for everything else I use Halfords and Draper Professional! I've owned some of them for 10 years and they all work perfectly!
I'm a DYI mechanic/handyman/fixer-upper and Stanley serves me quite well. Though I am looking at Craftsman and Gearwrench since they are decently priced with high rachet tooth count.
I'm no mechanic, but most of my tools I have are from Harbor Freight. I am working on making my transition over to Tekton since many of their wrench sets don't skip sizes. As for power tool, I went with Makita since they are the only major tool company that has a Coffee Maker.
@Psycho Creep Which is a true fact, but how many are cordless/battery powered?
Bosch make coffee machines under the name tassimo
Nepros all the way.
90. tooth count ratchet crafted to perfection.
A work of art.
I second this. I think the quality is better than Snap-On at the same price.
YES! Absolutely beautiful.
Never heard of them but I did a search and they are beautiful. 🤔May have to purchase a set. Thanks!
For the last 20 years, every job I have had, requires me to keep and use my own tools. I used to buy only Craftsman but switched to Kobalt(Sears just kept giving me sass when I would warranty a tool), The "no questions asked" warranty is amazing (I have had to use it a few times) I also have their 18v cordless drill and it is still going strong after 6 years of regular use. Snap-on does make the best tools but I can't justify spending that much more on a tool that doesn't offer a huge amount of benefit. There are a few exceptions to that, of course.
Sears defiantly was a shit company to get warranty stuff done
My favorite absolute go to ratchet is my Matco 12 inch locking flex head 3/8" drive. I've been using it, putting it through the ringer for a while, and it still works like the day I got it off the truck.
If you can find them, Proto ratchets are great. I lucked out and found a 3/8" Proto for $6 at a flea market.
NICE! I have heard great things about them.
Proto wrenches had more rounded handles which made higher torque pulls more comfortable. I worked in the maintenance Dept. of a highway construction company summers during college. Before my post sophomore summer when I spent every cent I earned with the Snap On truck I would borrow the various brands other mechanics had.
The teeth on my 50-year old Snap On ratchet look like new.
Proto was the be-all end-all of ratchets when I was a kid. I say if you can find some Protos made prior to 1993 or so, you're going to get every bit of the quality of a Snap On, and then some.
I was lucky and we had a family member work for proto and those where the only tools I ever used.
I know I'm late on this, but Proto still makes ratchets...
I bought my classic S-K 3/8” ratchet ca 1960 at a 2nd hand store. Still have it. Still works well. Probably my best tool value.
SK Wayne. (Yes, I am that old.).
I am addicted to you videos! Thanks.
Lol my dad still has a bunch of those sockets and ratchets, the ones that come in the green metal cases
Great video brother! Long before I could afford snap on I bought a duralast 3/8 flexhead. It was used for everything from a bottle jack handle to a hammer. I still have it and still works perfectly.
Im a fleet mechanic and i use 2 Pittsburgh (harbor freight) ratchets everyday. 3/8 and 1/2 flex head fine tooth. They take a beating and keep working for me. If they ever break, i dont care too much since they only cost me $25 each. Rmember it aint a fashion show. If it gets the job done its fine by me!
Yes....a tool is just an extension of the person using it, a tool doesn't know what brand he is
I am a bus fleet mechanic and I will not risk my hands with Harbor Freight tools that go out of shape from daily use. And I hate rounded heads of bolts caused by worn out tools. That is just my opinion from working 40 years in the industry.
Sirpatrick9 exactly man, im not gonna bust my hand up because I had to save 20 bucks... I’ll just buy a nicer tool and keep it for life
For years, my favorite ratchet has been a full polish 11” 3/8 drive Craftsman despite the low tooth count. Lately been looking to replace it and think I settled on a 90t Gearwrench.
Go for Stahlwille with the drive locks. At least you can pull sockets out from deep recesses with your extension
Agree with you on comfort grip. I use my 3/8 drive 1/4 body ratchet a lot.
I'm a big craftsman fan. But I know a lot of people don't like them like they used to. Surprising to get such a strong reccomendation! I'm happy with my new (1 year old) craftsman ratchets and sockets!
Grey Pneumatic and SK for me! I like to pick up used Matcos when they're available.
I'm really liking the Tekton brand of ratchets right now. Love the handles on them.
Love my 3/8s flex head
1st, Love your videos...great job. A friend of mines dad gave him an old (mabe 50's or 60's era) 1/2" ratchet and this thing reaks quality. Might be the heaviest duty ratchet I've ever seen and I'm 61 yrs old.(My dad was a certified master mechanic)
I have a 100 peice set from Stanley. Used it for scrapping so got some good use out of it I think I have had it for about 10 years . It was affordable . I have since built a nice craftsman collection
As a Dutchie, I'm really used to European toolbrands. For me, Gedore and Facom produce the best ratchets and sockets. I own a few Snap-on tools, unfortunatly none of them is a ratchet, so I can not review them. But, for those looking for other brands besides Snap-On: Gedore and Facom produce really great and professional tools (they are pricey, tho!).
I actually like the Home Depot "Husky" brand ratchets. They have 72 tooth count which is quite good, comfortable Snap-On type grip, and they are pretty low profile, about 20% thinner than the Kolbalt. And they are only like $20 with a lifetime warranty. Way better than the Craftsman or Kobalt.
+Mod MINI i love husky. only problem i have had is their 1/4 inch drive doesn't hold the sockets well after a while. i'm gonna have to find a replacement for it.
Nathan Taylor never had that issue with my husky ratchets but I constantly have that happen with my kobalt ratchets
Mod MINI can't go wrong with husky ratchet I just love it, been using it for 3 years it hasn't giving me any problem
I love tool videos. Wish there was more out there for millwrights. Most of these are small tools which we definitely do use for bench work but for my bigger tools there isn’t a lot that I’ve seen
I have Matco ratchets and I love them. I have tried, SK Craftsman, Snap On, Mac. And the Matco were always my go to.
I have a few Williams brand ratchet, torque ratchets and breaker bars. They are over 50yrs old and still going strong. Also have Indestro and S. K. brand.
WOW, 50 years old. That is awesome.
Bastage Smith Williams is a snapon brand
can't beat super ratchet and their adjustable wrenches called superadjustable. my favorite adjustable wrench brand is DIAMOND HORSESHOE DIAMALLOY. go here for the real facts on older tool brands alloy-artifacts.org/
gearwrench is pretty good too
agreed man
+sizeOVERstrength Hit or miss
GR flex head ratcheting wrench are the best I use them a lot! lol
+Javier Cuevas my 10mm 12mm and 14mm are starting to break down internally but they are all great tools
+sizeOVERstrength I have their long handle combo ratchet and box end 8mm-19mm. Those things can take some torque.
Started using Milwaukee ratchets. They are amazing. Even the blow-mold case it comes in is great. You can just take out the tray and put it in your cart.
I’ve used them a little bit. They are solid
I like having many different styles of ratchets, never know what you're going to run into and it's always nice to have options.
I will say tho that the best tools are often from the good'old manufacturers, who have built a reputation on reliability, performance and comfort!
So far for I've loved the gearwrench 120xp over my snap on ratchet I had before. Better feel and just as reliable so far.
NICE! I need to get one and test it out. :)
I’m a weekend warrior and have both GW and Snap Off. The tooth count feels a heck of a lot better on the 120xp, but I find the flexing head mechanism feels a lot smoother. I don’t like the detents on the GW
Great review. Ty. I reach for Proto just about every time.
Craftsman for me, love my kit, has a more comfortable grip than the older ones like you have here, 96 tooth, etc. Great ratchets
Gearwrench and kobalt are my favorite ratchets for the money. I am a fairly heavy duty weekend warrior, but I have never been let down. I used to like craftsman, but in the past ten years their affordable tools have become cheap Chinese junk, and the modern fine tooth options from kobalt and Gearwrench are much nicer for about the same price
Many ratchets with great grips are no longer made, so I'd buy any old US made ratchet you can find on eBay for cheap to see what you like.
My favorite 1/4" ratchet is an indestro and they haven't been around for probably 30 years by now, there's just something about the decent diameter knurled round grip and oval cross section of the neck that my hand likes.
"there's just something about the decent diameter knurled round grip and oval cross section of the neck that my hand likes." That's what she said...
I find very good old tools at garage sales, etc. newer tools are junk and expensive.
@@billh.1940
Well the cheap imports yes.
My favorite 1/4 ratchet was an Indestro from my grandfather ( I've since retired it to the collection for an NOS duro Chrome version of the same ratchet ) but now my absolute favorite is the WRIGHT 2426 because I feel their contour grip is king.
In fact I recently got a 1977 dated WRIGHT 2400, and the new ( I've had it 2 years at this point) 2426 is so much nicer made.
The functional quality is the same and the mechanisms are interchangeable, but their current contour grip ratchets are finished so much better and they do have much less back drag.
They're also don't cost much more new than you'll generally pay for a good condition example of a vintage American made ratchet.
They're also just overall very nice.
I've been getting some great deals on vintage NOS ratchets for my 1/4 collection though at $25 or less, but still there are some great quality new American made tools these days that don't necessarily break the bank.
Yes you can always find great quality vintage tools dirt cheap and I love vintage American made tools ( sometimes vintage is the only quality option period), but I also love supporting our surviving American tool manufacturers so our industry of quality tool production can grow and make a comeback.
Pliers sure many were finished better but in functional quality Channellock can't beat and I don't have to worry about teeth being worn out, reliable and functionally every bit as good as ever.
Excellent advice, Charles 👍👍👍. As a shade tree guy who only has infrequent auto projects, HF works for me. Also, surprising how much I can do with that 1/4 drive wrench. Right tool for the job of course, but small tools can often getter’ done.
I am a DIYer and have been using hand me downs from my Dad and recently purchased a few sets from Tekton. I love the warranty and they are local in Michigan. I will admit that I have used some Snap On tools and they are very nice
Bahco tools are the best! or at least they were when they were still swedish made and before they got bought up by snap-on and the manufacturing moved to some foreign country with cheaper labor costs...
Try german rachets. Stahlwille, Gedore, Hazet, or as i call it "the holy trinity". Not cheap but quality should be au pair to snap on. Wera has some nice tools as well.
+Tomyp89 COOL! I will check them out.
stahlville the best facom uuuhm
Tomyp89 good quality but still the old low tooth count, they need to bring new high tooth count out.
My favorite used to be matco (all of my ratchets are matco) but now I love to gearwrench 120XP ratchets I have a 3/8 and 1/4 drive and love them
Very well explained. Thanks
Best ratchet is the one you have within reach
My dad is all about harbor freight tools because they're cheap and good enough. Which I ended up thinking till I became a mechanic. I now understand the reason for buying quality tools if you use them everyday.
Since I'm not a professional and on a budget, I got a Craftsman set for home and a Harbor Freight Pittsburgh set for my truck. I just used the Pittsburgh 1/4 and 3/8 ratchets a couple weeks ago for some light repairs and they did fine. They're 72 tooth and that came in handy for small spaces. For occasional use at a very low price, no complaints.
I also love my PROTO and S&K tools. Lots of Proto's, and they have never done me wrong, except a few worn out sockets after heavy use
There a few companies who make good Tools.
Out of germany for example:
Hazet, Gedore, Stahlwille, Atorn, Matador and Wera.
From france there is Facom and from Italy Usag and Beta.
Hey, what about Sonic?
Stanley Black & Decker own Facom MAC Proto Gearwrench Sidchrome among others. I don’t think Facom are made in France anymore
Japan.. KTC, nepros, hozan
Love beta tools.
Gedore and Hazet are my favorite!
Love the Founders sticker in the back!! Great stuff!!
Thanks! My wife worked in the beer biz for years. She had the sticker(and beer) hook up
My favorite rachet is an old easco that i have had for about 30 years. nice fine teeth in the rachet and a smooth, comfortable handle.
I grew up on SK - I miss them - They used to be in just about every parts house, that was very convenient.
They still make them, the shop I work at is also an SK dealer.
They are still around and managed to keep their largest customers (usmilitary) Theve made some serious investments since buying from facom and their new products are very strong and durable. Look for them on amazon.
SK hand tools and Hein Werner jack!!!
SK is my go-to brand
YES! My Pops recently passed away....and I inherited his tools. (ALOT of tools). I found myself using the SK over the snap ons and other stuff. PROTO isn't bad either
I just bought a Stahlwille 3/8 inch ratchet. I think it's better than Snap On. Wera is another phenomenal German ratchet company.
Mojave888 the 3/8 fine tooth quick release is dope.
my favorite would have to be the old mac tools, my grandfather had some and now i do, and they are very reliable and well made
I have that same exact matco ratchet in 88 tooth best one in my tool box considering I have snap on. great videos keep them coming.
Stahlwille, Gedore, Hazet. In that order.
.....and Facom,occasionally...😊
Why not Snap-On?
@@Mr.Beastforpresident Snap on is almost unknown in Europe. Stahlwille, Gedore, Hazet, Wera etc are European brands
Hazet
Unior. A Slovenian brand. Not very well known and underrated.
S-k tools . But they are expensive. I usually run Craftsmen. And I have a three-quarter inch break over bar why waste a good ratchet
I still have my bent handle flex head Snap-on like yours, I bought new in 1988, It's been rebuilt twice and is still a go to tool.
I have a Harbor Freight 72 tooth flex head ratchet, 3/8, and I love that thing more than I would have ever imagined. It has taken the rank as my number 1 used ratchet, beating out my Snap On even. The worst part about it is that I have to tighten up the hinge about once a year. Aside from that, I love, love, LOVE this thing. It's the cheapest I own, too. It's awesome.
Totally agree about Snap-on ratchets. Alot of their other tools are simply way overpriced and not a great value, but Snap-on ratchets specifically blow everything else out of the water.
You dont use them enough. They strip out all the time.
The Snap On wrenches I use are in a tuning shop that get used almost everyday.
+Bones12x2 I ended my association with Snap-On when my not inexpensive Snap-On torque wrench stripped and they would not warranty the thing
+iceandhotwax Really? At our shop we have 30-40 year old Snap-On ratchets, torque wrenches, and all types of tools from extension to hold down pin tools and they have never broken nor stripped and they are used constantly being thrown around dunked in coolant, oil, solvents you name it. We use the ratchets as breaker bars, put cheater bars on them and never have they been rebuilt or replaced. We have newer ones too and they are perfectly reliable also their warranty is amazing too the school I went to would have them warranty tools that were obviously abused by students they even give us loaners until they fixed up our tool or replaced instantly. Hell they even replace impact driver bits on the spot and those are expected to break fairly fast and even then they still last way longer than the competition.
+Jane Smith I've not heard of an issue with them stripping. Especially because they use dual pawls which means they are actually stronger/more durable because more teen on the gear are being engaged.
You should do an update on this, since there has been a lot of advances recently and better technology with ratchets
My favorite ratchet is a 3/8 drive, long handalled Master Mechanic. The head can be swung left or right and locked in place It does have a handle grip shaped very much like a snap - on . I buy snap on tools I know will get a lot of use, but buy mostly Craftsman for infrequent and light duty
I just got you for the first time, good content so far you got cool stuff I subscribed
I always had older craftsman, husky and SKY. I like the SK.
I agree about the SK ratchets, I have one that is probably 30 years old and it is my go to ratchet. Its a 3/8 and it has never broke unlike my craftsman. Stanley ratchets are pretty decent as well, for the price anyway.
I like Craftsman, Husky, and Mastercraft. The best pro brands I like are Wera and SK.
Ultra Pro from NAPA is also a good brand.
brett knoss dewalt?
Fine for diyers and many pros, very good electric, so is Millwaki Festool is great, but pricey, Bosch is often a good buy.
Knowledge is the first tool you should acquire, otherwise you will face failure even if you own tools from Mars!
Abdulaziz M. GH. Murad so like a chocolate ratchet? Count me in
SK (Sherman-Klove Co.) been turning wrenches for over 40 years. Still my favorite sockets and ratchets.
I like their new mech that drops in old ratchet
I am with you, Snap On for most things.. having said that, my Three favorite ratchets are a 1/4" drive 90 tooth Kobalt, a 3/8" drive Snap On, flex head wooden comfort handle. (I hope it never breaks, the replacement is plastic and yes I bought it in the mid sixties.) and The square handled 1/2" drive Craftsman. I find it does not dig into my hand like the thinner rounded handled ratchets under pressure. My next group of heavily used ratchets, short and long handled Snap On 1/4" drive. Straight long Handled Snap On 3/8" Short handled Proto 3/8" drive, 1/2" drive long handled comfort Grip Mac Tool 1/2" drive. All my specialty ratchets off-set handled and flex head are Snap On.
Glad to hear you didn't bash harbor freight. Thanks. :)
+Love2boat92 I have plenty of +10yr old HF tools I use daily. Some of the stuff they sell is junk, but plenty is great.
HumbleMechanic Yeah there's been a few things I've bought there that were junk but a good 95% of the things I've bought have been great.
+Love2boat92
I agree with you. You have to pick it up in the store and feel it personally and can usually tell if it's crap or not and surprisingly a lot of the hand tools are very well made.
jeff darnell Yeah I do that too. You need to know what you're buying by feel and weight. Their hand tools are AMAZING!!
Hazet made in germany is the best ;)
I recently bought a pittsburgh pro 3/8" drive long handle flex head ratchet from harbor freight. Its basically a knock off snap on ratchet but i must say it has been impressive. I actually use it the most out of all my ratchets and it has held up great
NICE! The 2 that I have used from Pittsburgh were junk. One broke on the first use, the other never worked just right.
Old Craftsman ( USA ) was a great line of tools . My neighbor bought a Craftsman ratchet in 1947 and it finally failed in 1998 . Got a brand new one on the spot .
1947. That’s awesome
My favorite is Tekton I’m just a diy guy who wrenches in his Xterra. I have craftsman and my dads old mac but still love the Tekton brand
Jason Roueche their ratchets are awesome for how cheap they are
Tekton is awesome bang for your buck. I wish I woulda found out about them sooner. Would have saved myself a bunch of money from snapon, and a bunch of wasted time/frustration dealing with Chinese Craftsman breaking. But I’m very thankful for the Tekton tools I did buy
Thanks for the ratchet lesson. I learned something new
you never see the industrial tools included in these.. SK, Proto, Armstrong all great tools that have stood up to crazy abuse from me.
NICE
I have an sk 45170 3/8 ratchet that’s been my main ratchet for 15+ years, you can buy em used on eBay for under $20, less than most “name brand” and much easier to take apart and clean and grease, best ratchet I’ve ever used, not only cause it’s tight and little resistance, but I can also pop it apart with no tools, spray some brake cleaner and grease it up and It’s protected. I’ve had periods of time where I’ve neglected it in a watery tool chest and it still shows no rust, so imo sk are well worth the money and probably the best price to performance/quality tools you can get.
Love my Snappy ratchets for the higher tooth count, much less swing to reset, However, I have had quite a few failures when you really put the giddy-up on them. Too much pressure & you shear off those tiny little teeth. On the other hand, the lower tooth count units typically have large teeth. I've got an ancient Proto 1/2" that has 15 teeth..... I sawn the handle off & use it with a 6' cheater pipe....... 140 Ft/Lbs + 180 degrees is that spec.....
+J. Helvie I have had my 1/2 drive ratchet rebuilt a bunch of times. It is frustrating, but it is such an awesome tool
Watchin this video i was thinkin man, f*ck snap on crapchets! Ive had mine rebuilt i dont know how many times, usually its always my swivel heads. But when they bust i can always rely on my 20 yr old craftmans. Lol
I've been using a set of Powerbuilt spin disc ratchets for years. Maybe someday I will get some ratchets that have a high tooth count and will know the difference but the powerbuilts have never let me down and I love the knurled disc when I need it.
Learned a bit here 88 teeth thing but the smoothness of action is what I tuned in for
I work on farm equipment and I prefer MAC, Fluke, Starrett, Mastercraft and Westward.
If Snap-On tools were any more overpriced they would be painted green, the Snap-On dealer also takes forever to order tools.
Mastercraft and Westward sockets and wrenches are good for cutting custom tools without ruining more expensive MAC tools, AGCO Massey Ferguson equipment tends to need a lot of special tools.
Clayton Beitz upvoted for the starrett mention
I Agree I use the crap outa my 3/8 flex head ratchet from snap on. I think Gearwrench has some pretty good ratchets too though. Have you ever tried any of them?
+Gear head Garage I have a set of GearWrench wrenches. But I have never used their ratchets. Most everyone that uses them, seems to like them.
+Gear head Garage gearwrench, matco and armstrong ratchets are all made in the same factory, and also all made by danaher tools. great ratchets. i have a 3/8 armstrong ratchet that i use everyday over my snap on. just a comfort thing for me. i think the armstrong has a nicer handle
+Gear head Garage GearWrench makes a 120 Tooth ratchet, it's called the 120XP. Has 3 degree swing arc. It utilizes a two pawl design so it has the strength of a 60 Tooth but swing arc of a 120. By far my favorite ratchet.
James Ertzman if you have ever opened up the 120xp one the pawls are half the size of a regular pawl i have the 120xp 3/8 and 1/2, but the pawls are so small i reallly wouldnt trust them to handle that much torque ive opened up my dual80 snap on ratchet and the pawl are pretty beefy. at the end of the day i think the snap on is stronger and more durable however ive never really put my gearwrench to the test.
+Gear head Garage ive heard that gear wrench ratchets are identical to snap on
I just got two snap on ratchet and they are awesome ratchets. They have 80 tooth and very smooth to use. Way better that my other cheaper ratchets.
My favorite ratchet has become the Stanley flex head extendable handle one. Got it at walmart for $20. The flex head locks in position and when you need a little more torque just extend the handle out. I use these for about 90% of what I do. My favorite 1/4 ratchet is an old proto I picked up from a yard sale for about $1 about 20 years ago. Fine tooth and very very slim head.
I don't like the awivel head ratchets that you can't tension the swivel on. The Snap On 3/8' long handled swivel head (fine tooth) ratchet is the best ratchet I have ever owned.
What about facom? I prefer facom over snap-on
Fap-On is my tool
I love my old Bonney t-207k. It is one of the first "fine-tooth" ratchets ever made. Instead of fine teeth, it has two seperate ratchet pawls that are offset by one-half of a tooth.
Same! My favorite ratchet by a good margin is my Snap-on ones. I have a Craftsmen ones from when they where still made Merican' and there good but clunky, drag back a lot having to hold on the socket with your hand for it to "ratchet" but little slop. But for wrenches I picked up a large set of Ace Professional, amazingly good for the price then swivel ratcheting wrenches I have a set of Gearwrench when they first came out and made in Merica 15+ years ago. I use those most of all and every year I think its amazing that they haven't broken or even worn down.
Gabriel Soria American starts with an A just like the Alphabet, stuff a first grader has already learned.
Personally I try to stick to facom tools. Not once have they failed me yet. Maybe I don't work hard enough lol
my son is a Mechanic that works at a GM dealer the Snap on salesman pushes his product on them! The thing I have seen with his snap on tools is they can find excuses to not warranty there tools!
Mylan Miller yes your tight there, I have worked at a ford dealership for 30 years.
I see the snap on rep pressuring the younger guys to buy,
And from my experience getting tools exchanged is a pain .
Any excuse not to exchange.
I buy good quality mid range tools now,
If used correctly they achieve the same results!
And your tool kit is more personal to you when you choose other brands
Ive encountered the hard to exchange Snap-on thing myself. They start splitting hairs on how it was broken and how the tool was abused, mis-used etc etc -- for the money they cost I expect a no hassle warranty and wont put myself in that position any more - I can get plenty of really decent tools from Taiwan and other sources now, some Taiwan ratchets ive had for years are really good quality for pennies on the dollar compared to SnapOn. and I carry backups in any case so its never been an issue. Even Harbor Freights Pro series are pretty nice, are they good as Snap-on, no - but they don't quibble on the warranty and the ratchets are dirt cheap on sale with coupon. Unless theres a speciality tool or extra heavy duty application then yes you will have to go with the best, but we all know even the best tools will break eventually. Often it comes down to a balance of what you can afford vs. what you need and want. Don't get me wrong I love Snapon and have some SO tools, but I just don't think any ratchet smaller than 3/4" drive is worth $125.00, especially if they don't honor the warranty on their hi-falutin tools.
I have never had a problem getting my Snap-on tools warranted never I've been a mechanic for 20 years the key is finding a good Snap-on tool man they are not to many good ones
Not all SnapOn reps are created equal you may have a decent rep! The guys in our area are and always have been imposable to get proper warranty from!
Mylan Miller trying to get a lugnut loose on my first. At, I broke a M19, 2/8" SnapOn socket because I was standing on an 8' cheater pipe. The dealer looked at it and said: "Must have been heat treated improperly. But next time, try a half inch impact socket." It worked perfectly and I still have it 48 years later. Wish I still had the car which has become a $150,000 classic.
After years of general abuse of my 3/8 flex head ratchet without breaking, I actively started trying to break it to see how strong they are. A 1/2 17mm deep impact socket fits perfectly over the handle. With a long extension you can put out some serious force.
It’s still perfect.
I’ve also run my impact gun on 120psi of nitrogen and it took it no worries.
I don't really play favorites as long as it works. I have the harbor freight copies of the snap on long handle flex heads like you have with the soft grip in both 3/8 and 1/2, and the only gripe I had was the flex joint loosened to the pint of being floppy, but was easily fixed. I have Craftsman, Stanley, I've got some old Benchtop Pro ratchets and sockets that Kmart used to sell that I've had for 15 years that never gave me any trouble, Recently have bought some of the Tekton stuff from Amazon, and my most recent thing is these super long ratchets made my performance tool, but like you said those ratchets, the Tekton, and the harbor freight ones are backwards. Also the long ratchets are 36 tooth, but I noticed they were identical in construction to the other 2, except the Tekton and hf had 72 tooth count. They were cheap enough so I bought an entire set of just standard length and took the 72 tooth guts out and stuck them in the long ones, stuck the 36 tooth gears and pawls in the standards and keep them as back ups. I will say that I don't have a preference to pear head with a switch or the old style round head. But if I buy a round head it has to have the wheel on the outside to spin it with your thumb. Also one thing I always do if I buy a new ratchet is to immediately take it apart and put a light coat of grease on all the teeth and around the casing. Just regular old moly grease or axle grease. Whatever I have on hand. Makes a world of difference.
yea i have benchtop tool too never gave me a problem I'm still using bench top which i purchase way back bought 248 pieces benchtop mechanic tool box at kmart still great wow they never break ive bought two of them one is still brand new never opned one is open ive abuse tool never died on me bench top quality performance was nice i still have em today don't know why kmart stopped selling them is its because it is high quality? ive own expensive high end tool snap on and gear wrench and Pittsburgh pro they're all are pieces of master...
+I vote for truth democrats tab Kmart stopped selling them for 2 reasons. One was that Sears took them over and they began to sell Craftsman and a couple years prior to that Craftsman had moved production to china. If you notice the Benchtop tools are made in Taiwan. So they couldn't sell a technically better made no name tool and they couldn't offer a competitor to the almighty Craftsman brand, which in the early days of china production were absolute trash. Getting better these days though.
Jacksonkellyfreak true but i own mostly snap on tools i love em I've own harbor freight Pittsburgh pro they good pretty strong cant beat the price....
+I vote for truth democrats tab Once I'm out of school (airframe and powerplant) I'll have the pro stuff. Snap On, Mac, Matco, whatever comes to the airport because obviously my ability to do my job, and thus support myself and my family will depend upon me having the best tools available to me. But in my garage? Whatever stands up to reasonable use and occasional light abuse is fine by me. But I still ain't buying complete garbage like the uber cheap shit at harbor.
Jacksonkellyfreak right agreed i have snap on tools the reason why i bought some tools at varity store is because friends of mine wanting borrow my tools the only TOOLS i wouldnt allowed them to borrow my snap on lol.. they're my precious....this is why i let em borrow my trash tools
Excellent article - I would just add that "simpler" handle designs (round, with very little characters/lines) are easier to wipe or to clean. Thank you for the information, Ciao, L
+lancelot1953 that is a great point!
Dude, that 3/8 flex ratchet from Craftsman is exactly what I've been using for 40 years. That wrench is awesome. I left it under the hood of a car one time and didn't find out for 2 weeks. Man I cried! I found it when he came back for service. Joy for joy. By the way a little bit of oil and she was running like new. Spark plug removal before power tools was exactly why I bought it.
I have went back to using that one over the similar SO one.