Talk me out of a £192 1/2” ratchet

[thebraketester]

Following on from the great success of my £170 toaster thread, here we are again.



https://shop.snapon.com/product/Dual-80-Technology...

So, that ratchet…. Blisteringly overpriced? Yep. Will last a lifetime? Yep. Buy once cry once?

I have some really nice vintage forged Craftsman ratchets, yet they have recently annoyed me and prompted a search for the holy grail of ratchets. Is this the pinnacle?

For the same price I could get almost a full set of 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 in various head types (fixed and flexi) from the Halfords advance range.

TBT.

[Jaguar steve]

I'll talk you into it.

I still regularly use and occasionally abuse a Snap on 3/8 drive ratchet and a set of metric sockets I bought for quite a chunk of a week's wages when I was a spotty apprentice in the very early '80s.

[Krikkit]

Imho snap on gear isn't worth the outlay unless you're a professional who needs the same day or next day backup from the man with the van.

Buy Beta, Britool, Werac etc etc if you want a snazzy ratchet that'll last forever.

[Magnum 475]

Jaguar steve said:

I'll talk you into it.

I still regularly use and occasionally abuse a Snap on 3/8 drive ratchet and a set of metric sockets I bought for quite a chunk of a week's wages when I was a spotty apprentice in the very early '80s.

Ditto, albeit mine was bought in 92 when I was 21 and in my first job out of Uni.

Buy cheap, pay twice (or more) is a motto I’ve had most of my life.

[Little Pete]

I’ve used Snap-on for the best part of 35 years and I’m still using some of the tools I first bought, my ratchets included. For me it’s not about the warranty, unless you really abuse them they don’t break.
I would say that unless you’re working on big stuff or all your sockets are this size, 1/2” drive is too big. I only use 1/4” and 3/8” drive. I can’t remember the last time I used my big ratchet.

[Slow]

I just use halfords advanced, has the same warranty. If you can survive it maybe breaking more often then it is what I would go for. I often use cheater bars on the ratchet to undo things it should not be used for.

8 years later still going strong

[vikingaero]

Another £30-£50 and you could have a whole Halford Advanced 200pc socket set when it's on offer

[rigga]

Still have all my snap on kit, but not been used in anger for over 20 years now, as last role tools were supplied. Now retired, and a hobby tinkerer, I also never use 1/2 in stuff really, all 3/8.

For the price, and really how much it'll be used, I wouldn't bother.

[sociopath]

Jaguar steve said:

I'll talk you into it.

I still regularly use and occasionally abuse a Snap on 3/8 drive ratchet and a set of metric sockets I bought for quite a chunk of a week's wages when I was a spotty apprentice in the very early '80s.

To counterbalance I still have a full Stanley ratchet set I got in the 80s for about £20 :-)

[Pica-Pica]

Little Pete said:

I’ve used Snap-on for the best part of 35 years and I’m still using some of the tools I first bought, my ratchets included. For me it’s not about the warranty, unless you really abuse them they don’t break.
I would say that unless you’re working on big stuff or all your sockets are this size, 1/2” drive is too big. I only use 1/4” and 3/8” drive. I can’t remember the last time I used my big ratchet.

To contrast, I threw away all my 3/8” square drive stuff, and only use 1/4” and 1/2” ratchets and sockets. I am not sure what the 1/2” make is without going outside and looking, but it was probably a Halfords make, it’s the only one I have ever had, so at least 40 years old. I am not sure what can go wrong with a ratchet handle.

[Cold]

Looks all a bit too manual labour. Let the train battery take the strain.



https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-dcf899hn-xj-18v-...

[Krikkit]

Pica-Pica said:

To contrast, I threw away all my 3/8” square drive stuff, and only use 1/4” and 1/2” ratchets and sockets.

I used 1/2" for years, convinced that 3/8" wasn't up to the job, but tbh it's nearly perfect. Fits in so many places a 1/2" won't.

Pica-Pica said:

I am not sure what can go wrong with a ratchet handle.

Usually too much torque applied (instead of getting a breaker bar) strips the ratchet teeth

[DamnKraut]

That's easy. More expensive <> better...

https://youtu.be/shvXALVEzpw

[Baldchap]

Krikkit said:

Usually too much torque applied (instead of getting a breaker bar) strips the ratchet teeth

Yes. A scaffold pole on the end with one or more people stood on it will usually kill a Snap-On ratchet.

[DaveCWK]

Krikkit said:

Usually too much torque applied (instead of getting a breaker bar) strips the ratchet teeth

Yup. i've done that with the 1/2" Halfords professional ratchet trying to undo a suspension hub bolt.
They replaced it no problem, so on that basis I'd get the Halfords kit and put the saving towards an impact driver/other power tools.

[Arnold Cunningham]

My ratchets are now all snap on, even though many of my sockets are still Halfords pro. Are they worth it? Maybe. Do I like them? Yeah. If I lose one, would I replace it with the same? Yeah

[Slow]

Cold said:

Looks all a bit too manual labour. Let the train battery take the strain.



https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-dcf899hn-xj-18v-...

I am milwaukee but I agree.

This one for getting anything real undone on the 1/2 sockets. The thing will take off hub nuts, heavy duty JCB parts etc.

https://uk.milwaukeetool.eu/en-gb/one-key-fuel-824...

Then for smaller or just nipping stuff up the impact driver from the drill combo sets with an adapter.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/milwaukee-m18-cblpp2a-4...

[The Moose]

Baldchap said:

Krikkit said:

Usually too much torque applied (instead of getting a breaker bar) strips the ratchet teeth

Yes. A scaffold pole on the end with one or more people stood on it will usually kill a Snap-On ratchet.

"Honestly guv, I was just loosening off a spark plug"

[LennyM1984]

Cold said:

Looks all a bit too manual labour. Let the train battery take the strain.



https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-dcf899hn-xj-18v-...

I bought one of these a few weeks ago and it really is the best bit of kit I have ever owned. It'll undo seized axle nuts (factory torque spec of 450nm) in seconds and without even breaking a sweat.

[eliot]

Flex head ratchets are far more versatile for getting at things at funny angles - especially a 3/8 flex head.