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Started By
Message
Ratchet buying time
Posted on 8/13/18 at 12:10 pm
Posted on 8/13/18 at 12:10 pm
I somehow lost my Craftsman Pro ratchet recently. Tore apart the whole house and shop looking for it, and came up with nothing. Last weekend, I broke both the pawl and gear on a regular Craftsman ratchet. These were both USA made, so I can't blame cheap quality. I've gotten 10+ years of use out of them.
I think I might go swap out the regular Craftsman, and just get a new junky China-made one for throwing around. I still have some cheap 3/8" ratchets strewn about my house and shop, but I need nice ones since I break cheap stuff very regularly.
If yall have any experience or suggestions, I'd definitely look at others. I need a 1/4" straight handle, and a 3/8" straight and locking flex handle. I use my ratchets multiple times each week for varying amounts of time. I know which ones I should be buying, but it makes my bank account sad.
Must haves:
Quick release
USA or German
Not Gearwrench
Not HF
Serviceable
Pear head
Lever switch
Regular lengths
Currently looking at Wera, Stahlwille, and Snap-on
I think I might go swap out the regular Craftsman, and just get a new junky China-made one for throwing around. I still have some cheap 3/8" ratchets strewn about my house and shop, but I need nice ones since I break cheap stuff very regularly.
If yall have any experience or suggestions, I'd definitely look at others. I need a 1/4" straight handle, and a 3/8" straight and locking flex handle. I use my ratchets multiple times each week for varying amounts of time. I know which ones I should be buying, but it makes my bank account sad.
Must haves:
Quick release
USA or German
Not Gearwrench
Not HF
Serviceable
Pear head
Lever switch
Regular lengths
Currently looking at Wera, Stahlwille, and Snap-on
8
Posted on 8/13/18 at 12:28 pm to Hammertime
Cornwell is my go to
Posted on 8/13/18 at 12:37 pm to Bigpoppat
No locking 3/8" flex head. Every 3/8" non-locking flex head I've used tries to move when you're cranking on something
Posted on 8/13/18 at 12:38 pm to Hammertime
Williams (they have both a USA and Taiwan line) checks all of your boxes except quick release. I don't find that I really miss that though. Models with all numbers are Taiwan, models with mixed letters and numbers are USA. They are a Snap On company.
LINK
ETA: You're probably not beating the Snap On Dual 80s though if you're willing to spend the coin.
LINK
ETA: You're probably not beating the Snap On Dual 80s though if you're willing to spend the coin.
This post was edited on 8/13/18 at 12:40 pm
Posted on 8/13/18 at 12:40 pm to Hammertime
Kobalt is a good alternative. I've replaced some of my ratchets with them and they work fine and are finished nicely to boot.
Posted on 8/13/18 at 12:47 pm to 3deadtrolls
I hate having to pry sockets off with a flathead because my hands are covered with grease. It's a two-handed operation without the QR, and if I'm laying under a car, I'd have to slide out to change sockets. It's completely inefficient
quote:I threw one away last year b/c I couldn't get the mechanism to stop binding up (I disassemble and oil/grease all ratchets once a year). I actually threw it across my shop first, but had to go get it because I needed the socket
Kobalt is a good alternative
This post was edited on 8/13/18 at 12:50 pm
Posted on 8/13/18 at 12:54 pm to Hammertime
what about some ericksons? you seem difficult to please though.
Posted on 8/13/18 at 1:02 pm to Hammertime
quote:
I threw one away last year b/c I couldn't get the mechanism to stop binding up (
I've never had an issue with mine, but then again I don't use them every day in a work situation. I do all the wrenching on my car, truck, motorcycle and other mechanical equipment, but that is not an everyday thing.
Posted on 8/13/18 at 1:04 pm to Chad504boy
Never heard of them. I just know what does and doesn't work for me. The options I'm seeing are somewhat limited, so I was hoping people had experience with anything similar. Dropping $200 on two ratchets is better than dropping $300 on two ratchets if they perform equally
Posted on 8/13/18 at 1:06 pm to Hammertime
i had ratchet straps in my head. 
i'm the dumbass. haha...
i'm the dumbass. haha... 
Posted on 8/13/18 at 1:08 pm to gumbo2176
quote:
Kobalt is a good alternative
X2
Posted on 8/13/18 at 1:12 pm to Hammertime
Have you tried they matco line? they discount their ratchets a lot more to their reps than snap on. maybe you could get someone to cut a discount.
For instance my rate is 25% off SO vs 43% on Matco.
That Snap On Dual 80 is sweet though
For instance my rate is 25% off SO vs 43% on Matco.
That Snap On Dual 80 is sweet though
Posted on 8/13/18 at 1:13 pm to gumbo2176
quote:
Kobalt
No, don't do it. Not if your looking for a quality item. I had 3 break on me in a single weekend. Their gears are fine but the 3/8 drive heads snap and twist clean off.
Posted on 8/13/18 at 1:14 pm to Hammertime
Posted on 8/13/18 at 1:28 pm to TheLSUriot
quote:
I had 3 break on me in a single weekend
Did Lowe's replace them without hassle?
Note: even if they did, I can image this being a royal PITA.
Posted on 8/13/18 at 1:36 pm to Wtodd
My broken tools get thrown somewhere violently. Oddly enough, a few have started working again after the flight and crash
Posted on 8/13/18 at 3:06 pm to Wtodd
quote:Not without a hassle. Took going to 2 different stores throughout the weekend and a lengthy phone convo with some idiot in customer HQ. They wanted a receipt each and every time. So much for lifetime warranty.
Did Lowe's replace them without hassle?
I also have 2 Sears Craftsmans with broken teeth. What are we supposed to do with those now? I don't want to deal with the BS.
Posted on 8/13/18 at 3:25 pm to TheLSUriot
This is more related to the 3/8" drive and less with the quality. Get you a real 1/2 or larger drive or go ask your husband to get his for you.
Posted on 8/13/18 at 3:48 pm to Stexas
Huh? I broke the teeth on a 3/8" USA Craftsman with the normal length handle. You shouldn't be able to do that. Most are rated for like 250 lbft. I broke mine wrenching upside down on a 14mm alternator bolt with my bare hands.
A 1/2" ratchet wouldn't have fit in where I had it. I was able to get a 3/8 impact from way underneath with a wobble socket. My 3/8 impact does like 450 lbft, so something having 3/8" anvil for that small doesn't matter
A 1/2" ratchet wouldn't have fit in where I had it. I was able to get a 3/8 impact from way underneath with a wobble socket. My 3/8 impact does like 450 lbft, so something having 3/8" anvil for that small doesn't matter
Posted on 8/13/18 at 4:32 pm to Hammertime
It's because of the knuckles on the monkey turning the wrench.
He said,
He said,
quote:
the 3/8 drive heads snap and twist clean off.
This post was edited on 8/13/18 at 4:36 pm
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