Dissatisfied With Crapman; Who Makes A Nice Ratchet?
- Thread starter CSA
- Start date
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fj40charles
SILVER Star
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
I bought the 1/2 inch version of this: http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...tical=TOOL&subcat=Ratchets&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes
recently and it's a big step up from their recent offerings.
recently and it's a big step up from their recent offerings.
SK makes the finest ones I've used. Any one of their fine tooth ratchets is a good choice.
Tuff 1 or the palm control fine tooth ratchets
http://www.skhandtool.com/productcatalog.cfm?tok=1
I had had good luck with the Craftsman fine tooth ratchets but they are catalog order only. If you're going to order online do SK for a few $$ more to get a better ratchet.
Mac, Matco & Snap-on are all good products but I have broken all of them. The only ones I have yet to break are SK.
Tuff 1 or the palm control fine tooth ratchets
http://www.skhandtool.com/productcatalog.cfm?tok=1
I had had good luck with the Craftsman fine tooth ratchets but they are catalog order only. If you're going to order online do SK for a few $$ more to get a better ratchet.
Mac, Matco & Snap-on are all good products but I have broken all of them. The only ones I have yet to break are SK.
Armstrong has very nice tools, high quality but a little harder to find on the shelf.
Snap on feels nice in your hand. It makes a difference if you wrench all day, every day. All of my snap on ratchets have broken and sit in the bottom of my tool box waiting for the day when the Snap on truck pulls up to my house to fix them.
When he does, you can be assured he will only fix them and not replace them. Maybe that's why they keep breaking.
Craftsman Pro series is supposed to be better. I'm checking some out for the shop next week. At least when they break I know where to go get them replaced at.
Snap On equipment and their service sucks ass. I have $8000 worth of tire equipment that is fawking junk. They just slapped a Snap On badge on some POS and doubled the price.
When he does, you can be assured he will only fix them and not replace them. Maybe that's why they keep breaking.
Craftsman Pro series is supposed to be better. I'm checking some out for the shop next week. At least when they break I know where to go get them replaced at.
Snap On equipment and their service sucks ass. I have $8000 worth of tire equipment that is fawking junk. They just slapped a Snap On badge on some POS and doubled the price.
Snap-on. The only one I have not broken the ring/tooth gear on. Craftsman: Good thing they have a no questions asked warranty...especially on their ratchets 
...can't even remember how many I have broken. SK: Broke those too...only harder to get warrantied. Just in case you are wondering: I use the breaker bar first...then the ratchet 
.
...can't even remember how many I have broken. SK: Broke those too...only harder to get warrantied. Just in case you are wondering: I use the breaker bar first...then the ratchet .
i really like my finespline home depot ones. nice grip and works great.
Shane
Shane
IIRC Lowes stuff is mfg by Snap-On.
I have an old Snap-On 3/8" ratchet that I have found to be unbreakable. I have had the best luck with Snap-On ratchets I pack them with grease and it gives them a smoother feel than oil.
Mac has some very fine-toothed ratchets they do not last though.
I gave up on craftsman ratchets when I was a teenager. I broke a 1/2" craftsman ratchet with a cheater pipe, put same pipe on above mentioned old Snap-On 3/8" and finished the job.
Mac has some very fine-toothed ratchets they do not last though.
I gave up on craftsman ratchets when I was a teenager. I broke a 1/2" craftsman ratchet with a cheater pipe, put same pipe on above mentioned old Snap-On 3/8" and finished the job.
fj40charles
SILVER Star
It was manufactured by Williams (a division of snap on) when the Kobalt line of tools first came out. Now they're made by Danaher tool company that makes Matco, craftsman, allen, KD, napa, and other brands.
I have a couple of old craftsman ratchets from the 1980's. They were made by Stanley and they are very well made.
Best way to keep from breaking a ratchet (regardless of brand) is to use a breakover to loosen a nut/bolt.
C6H12O6
SILVER Star
I've got a 10+ year old Cornwell 3/8" that I love. Nice blue plastic handle that fits my hand well and it ratchets much more smoothly than my Craftsman ratchets. One day, it was just in my box, I swear. It belonged to my next door neighbor (pro car mechanic) who's kid kept pilfering my tool box with my brother to fix their bikes. I just never made the effort to return it after so many of my tools went missing, including my old ratchet.
I rarely even use the Craftsman, except as a second to avoid switching sockets.
I rarely even use the Craftsman, except as a second to avoid switching sockets.
