What do you recommend for a new ratchet

[tkruger]

I have a set of the typical 20 year old Craftsman 120 piece mechanics set ratchets. The earlier push button ones with the 10+ degree arc. Attempting to work in tight spaces I am becoming more and more annoyed with the swing required to use these. What is the best bang for the buck home mechanic ratchets out there? I want a 72 tooth or greater to work in tight spots. I prefer the metal handed tools over most of the comfort grips, only one I ever liked was on a 1.5 inch adjustable Gear Wrench that I have. Also I am becoming more and more disgusted with Sears do to poor local service.

Brands I saw in my price range but want first had info on if you have it:
Tekon (most interested in as the price at Runnings is same as HF and their selection is large)
Pittsburgh Professional (I have their ratcheting wrenches and they have held up well, not the standard ones)
Husky
Kobalt

Am I missing something? I was looking for 3/8 and 1/2 and maybe a 1/4.

 

[Longroof79]

I've always like SK tools, but they've become harder to find and pricey. My SK 3/8 ratchet has served me well for the past nearly 50 yrs. I have split a few sockets over time, but unlike Sears Craftsman, there was nowhere I could return them to.
Husky and Kobalt tools are all Chinese made....as well as Sears.

 

[tkruger]

I wanted USA made but in my price range they are no-longer there. I cannot afford the Snap On caliber tools.

 

[Longroof79]

I wanted USA made but in my price range they are no-longer there. I cannot afford the Snap On caliber tools.

Yeah, I agree with you. Anything in an affordable range seems to be Chinese made.
When my brother used to live abroad, he sent me a Faacom catalog. Looked like nice tools, but I think they were also pricey.

 

[TURNA]

I want USA but I don't think they exist anymore unless of coarse you are so rich you don't even need to work.

I would buy who ever has the best exchange policy and for me that is Harbor Freight.

No questions asked "Hey it broke, OK here is a new one"......and done.

No I have to call the manager, No do you have a receipt bullcrap.

The wrenches and ratchets/sockets are made in Taiwan

The same place as Blue Point, Tekton, Gearwrench etc are.

What is really become a bunch of nonsence is now a lot of these "foreign" brands are charging Made in USA prices.

Harbor Freight cheap price, quality product, no questions asked exchanges.

Hard to beat.

 

[Opie Knievel]

Bang for the buck, in my experience, I'll show you the BEST 3/8" and 1/2" ratchets I've ever owned.

First the 3/8". Go to Walmart and get the Stanley 3/8" drive, extendable ratchet. This is one tough little ratchet. I have worked it like a 1/2" drive ratchet and have yet to break it. It's about $20. As far as warranty, I have no idea how you would get it replaced if it ever did break but for $20, I'd just go buy a new one. Oh, the head flexes too. It's kinda long though, so if you want a ratchet for tight spaces it might not be the right one for you.

1/2"- Pittsburgh from Harbor Freight. They have an extendable 1/2" ratchet that has been pretty tough. It's also right around $20. I've noticed a couple of issues with it but to me they're not deal breakers. First, the plastic covered handle is longer than the actual metal body of the ratchet which caused the end of the handle to break off flush with the end of the metal body. No big deal to me. Second, my particular ratchet no longer extends because the release that lets it slide is jammed. I need to take it back and get a replacement but I keep forgetting to. The head of this ratchet seems very strong though. I used it like a breaker bar for a long time until it got stuck in the shortest position that it adjusts to.

I work in a salvage yard and I don't like spending a lot of money on tools that may get lost or rained on. We don't stop working if it starts raining and I couldn't stand the thought of using a $200 Snap On in the pouring rain. I've become pretty spoiled though. I bought some Milwaukee M18 FUEL cordless tools to use when it's dry. A 1/2 impact, 3/8 impact, drill, grinder and Sawzall. But, before I had all of those fancy cordless tools, those 2 ratchets got me through.

As far as 1/4" ratchets, right now I'm using a Gear Wrench brand from Advance Auto Parts. It's held up pretty well so far but I don't use it much and I try not to use the 1/4" on things that require a lot of torque.

In my opinion I don't see the point of buying super expensive hand tools when an inexpensive model will do the job just as well, especially when they have a good warranty.

That's my 2 cents on the subject. I'm sure you'll get plenty of recommendations from others.

 

[oldsmobile joe]

i get some on my snap-on stuff from craigslist and pawn shops. last year i pick up a set of 3/8 drive snap-on shallow sockets, 5/16- 7/8 for $60 at a swap meet. sweet deal.
joe

 

[Ribbedroof]

Turna, I wish it was that easy at the HF in OKC....you would not believe the BS I went through over a $3 wonderbar knockoff....hell, it even still had the "lifetime warranty" sticker on it. Since I didn't have a receipt (who keeps them for "lifetime warranty" stuff?), it had to go through a manager...who told me that without a receipt he was "going to go ahead and replace it THIS time".If I had remembered it was $3, I probably wouldn't have bothered, in all honesty, but was going anyway and thought what the hell.

Yeah, they ask for your info every time. but none of what you buy is kept on file, they just want to wh*re your info out.

I still buy some stuff there, love my 1/2 "professional" breaker bar, but now i have a drawer full of receipts for tools under $20

I also endorse the earthquake 3/8 impact, kicks *ss so far, and $360 less than snap on (who I am becoming less enamored of all the time)

 

[Wraith]

On some tools I've made it, buy once, cry once. Bought one long, medium, and short Snap-on ratchets back in 00' and never worried again about getting Craftsman bloody knuckles again.

 

[Turbo Zach]

I have to agree with Opie. I am a Heavy Equipment Mechanic. I have a lot of brands. I found the Stanley tools are the best bang for the buck. I put mine through the test every day. Stanley makes Mac tools and just bought Craftsman. I have old Craftsmans that are ok but new stuff sucks. I don't like returning tools all the time to get fixed. For cordless, Milwaukee Fuel is the way to go. My Milwaukee cordless will eat my Snap On.