Best Ratchets for the Money Today

[pacstud]

To answer the original question, application is everything, as is the reality of your situation.

What are you using it for? What is your budget? How important are certain characteristics?

I would never buy a 350 dually because I don't need it and would never use it as intended. Objectively speaking, it is superior to my truck in every way, but I would be stupid to get it.

Additionally, if I get a "mid" tool that serves my purpose, and saves me money, that money then can go elsewhere. Opp cost and all that.

 

[Nessism1]

A nice Dad memory.

Surprising that there's no 13mm in the set. In my experience 14mm is an oddball.

Scott

Thanks, Scott.

Japanese motorcycles don't use 13mm. Nor do any of the older Japanese cars I've owned. Those vehicles have been the core of my wrenching through the years. It's funny to me, how the US companies, coming late to metric, use lots of 13 & 15mm. Not sure what's up with that.

 

[Nessism1]

Serious question. Back in the 70s and 80s many good ol' Americans scoffed at Japanese tools as inferior or otherwise cheaply made. Were they really that bad, or was this just affirmation that American tools must be better because they are produced here?

By the '80's, the Japanese were making quality stuff. '70's, more hit or miss.

 

[slo town]

One of my many quirks. I have a thing for torque wrenches.

Scott

 

[Hohn]

Thanks, Scott.

Japanese motorcycles don't use 13mm. Nor do any of the older Japanese cars I've owned. Those vehicles have been the core of my wrenching through the years. It's funny to me, how the US companies, coming late to metric, use lots of 13 & 15mm. Not sure what's up with that.

This is a handy reference. The ANSI standard uses 13mm and 15mm for flanged head screws. Note that flange heads generally have smaller hexes than regular hex heads.

 

[D60]

Compared to USA made tools the Japanese stuff of the 50's-70's was not the same quality. Many American made tools were some of the best tools in the world, lots of great brands, very high quality steel, good workmanship. Today all that is mostly gone along with most of the great brands Every kid be it a smart or a moron expect a degree and a corner office and would never even consider being a mechanic, machinist, tool and die maker, plumber, electrician or other slave worker pee on.

Which is why I'm doubly pissed SK effed up the LP90. Take a well-known, perfected design like a ratcheting pawl (as opposed to, say, a one-man space craft or the brain chip implants Elon is working on), brag about building it in the US, and then have it work poorly -- so poorly most techs won't tolerate it.

The great irony is that mine are likely melted down and now part of an Asian COO tool. I literally threw them in the scrap bin because I scrap all metal.

 

[Trav]

Here is another irony Infar (makers of Icon, Carlyle, Blue Point, etc) are now making some ratchets for SK They have been the tool supplier for Hyundai since 2008.
Redai Precision Tools Co is making Tesla Model 3 hand tools which is a surprise I would have thought the supposed all American company would buy Snap on.
Infar Hyundai Mention of Tesla

 

[D60]

Here is another irony Infar (makers of Icon, Carlyle, Blue Point, etc) are now making some ratchets for SK They have been the tool supplier for Hyundai since 2008.
Redai Precision Tools Co is making Tesla Model 3 hand tools which is a surprise I would have thought the supposed all American company would buy Snap on.
Infar Hyundai Mention of Tesla

The SK reversible ratcheting wrenches of ~20 years ago were Kabo and were excellent.

See, SK can put out decent stuff if they just dial up Taiwan

 

[Professor Gascan]

I have 18 ratchets ranging in size from 3 to 18 inches, flexed and fixed, all except 3 were made in Taiwan and none of them cost me more than 30 bucks.

The brands vary from Apex tools ratchets like Husky and GW, auto parts store brands like Power Torque and Diehard, HF Pittsburgh, Powerbuilt, Tone and SK11. None have them have ever let me down and a few have been pushed pretty hard.

Luckily, we live in a time where there are enough good designs and quality manufacturers that you can buy some pretty nice and very useful ratchets for not much dough. Unless you're buying your tools from the dollar store or the cheapest thing you can find on amazon, you'd be hard pressed to find a truly bad ratchet.

 

[Trav]

The SK reversible ratcheting wrenches of ~20 years ago were Kabo and were excellent.

See, SK can put out decent stuff if they just dial up Taiwan

That really is a shame! Some of the very first tools I bought along with Craftsman were from Krauter and NOS SK Wayne.

 

[D1dad]

I've got the SK Made in China ratchets and like them. They're built well and are smooth, with no issues to report. Inexpensive too @ Home Depot.

I bought one of their pick sets and impact sets for 3/8, just to have it. I had a relative retire from SK back in the 80s and I ended up with just about every hand tool they ever made. I wasn’t a fan of adding “made in china” SK to my vintage USA collection.

 

[Nessism1]

I have 18 ratchets ranging in size from 3 to 18 inches, flexed and fixed, all except 3 were made in Taiwan and none of them cost me more than 30 bucks.

The brands vary from Apex tools ratchets like Husky and GW, auto parts store brands like Power Torque and Diehard, HF Pittsburgh, Powerbuilt, Tone and SK11. None have them have ever let me down and a few have been pushed pretty hard.

Luckily, we live in a time where there are enough good designs and quality manufacturers that you can buy some pretty nice and very useful ratchets for not much dough. Unless you're buying your tools from the dollar store or the cheapest thing you can find on amazon, you'd be hard pressed to find a truly bad ratchet.

I've got a good pile myself, many old, but my newer stuff, like Koken and Olsa, have such a beautiful finish, and refined mechanism, that they bring pleasure during use.

Someone earlier in the thread posted a photo of a Harbor Freight rotating head ratchet, and I have one of those, but I hate it because the backdrag is crazy high. Sure, it works, and I've used it, but no pleasure. Old Craftsman. Works fine, but a real clunker compared against the "good" stuff. In fact, they are more work. So, to someone like me, using a quality, modern tool, is worth spending some money on. I respect that you are different, but just say'n.

 

[D60]

I've got a good pile myself, many old, but my newer stuff, like Koken and Olsa, have such a beautiful finish, and refined mechanism, that they bring pleasure during use.

Someone earlier in the thread posted a photo of a Harbor Freight rotating head ratchet, and I have one of those, but I hate it because the backdrag is crazy high. Sure, it works, and I've used it, but no pleasure. Old Craftsman. Works fine, but a real clunker compared against the "good" stuff. In fact, they are more work. So, to someone like me, using a quality, modern tool, is worth spending some money on. I respect that you are different, but just say'n.

Agreed, some of the import roto heads are rough.

I dislike rotos except in 1/4" drive it's my go-to in a Carlyle 100T. Smooth, relatively compact and just the right length for most 1/4" drive work.

But for some reason in 3/8" and up I just don't like them -- too wide and awkward

 

[Olds394]

I like the Icon G2 ratchets, they are well made and good quality, I am also a big fan of Williams round head ratchets, made in USA, these have one of the nicest knurling jobs on the handle I have ever seen. It provides good grip but feels silk smooth, well balanced and has a nice 72 tooth mechanism. The 1/2 long has been a favorite of mine for years, these are good value for the money.

I cant say I am a fan of anything Gearwrench, I have broken more of those than any other brand. At least with the Icon the lifetime warranty is a walk in and walk out with a new one deal.

Williams long More Williams

Not much slop in these Williams. Some high tooth designs are so loose the higher tooth counts don’t help much.

 

[Trav]

Agreed, some of the import roto heads are rough.

I dislike rotos except in 1/4" drive it's my go-to in a Carlyle 100T. Smooth, relatively compact and just the right length for most 1/4" drive work.

But for some reason in 3/8" and up I just don't like them -- too wide and awkward

If you don't have one of these you may want to add one to your collection, I have had it 5 years and it has been a great little ratchet.
Titan

Not much slop in these Williams. Some high tooth designs are so loose the higher tooth counts don’t help much.

These are the modern version of the pre Snap on owned original J.H. Williams Superratchet which were a real gem of a tool and still are. You are correct there is very little slop in these, it is a iconic design. The long 1/2 drive is my personal favorite and go to, it just "feels" right.

 

[DWS507]

I feel confident in my Proto ratchets,a huge upgrade of the back in the day Craftsman

 

[Lenny5160]

If you don't have one of these you may want to add one to your collection, I have had it 5 years and it has been a great little ratchet.
Titan

Agree. I love that little Titan when the socket is smaller than 10mm.

 

[D1dad]

This post just made me go out and look in a 5 gallon bucket of mostly SK sockets and ratchets, to take inventory. My daily stuff is in my toolbox so these are extras I haven’t needed. Vintage for sure, minus the craftsmen all the way to the right. But still USA. In today’s world these are nothing anyone would wanna use.

 

[D60]

If you don't have one of these you may want to add one to your collection, I have had it 5 years and it has been a great little ratchet.
Titan


These are the modern version of the pre Snap on owned original J.H. Williams Superratchet which were a real gem of a tool and still are. You are correct there is very little slop in these, it is a iconic design. The long 1/2 drive is my personal favorite and go to, it just "feels" right.

I DO have one! Used it yesterday to replace a stupid side post GM batt. Mine is blue so that adds 5hp!!

But, it's too short to break stubborn M6 or up. The Carlyle roto head is longer. The Titan is great for under dash because it's more compact and the lighter aluminum hurts less when you drop it on your face. I don't need any more TBIs.....

 

[JWC86]

OP asked about best ratchet for the money which implies value. While I’m a big Snappy dual 80 fan I couldn’t make the argument they are good value.

I would look at Harbour Freight and Tekton. Capri and Williams also. Lots of people like Gearwrench but I’ve got a terrible track record with them breaking.