Spec me a 1/2" ratchet

[JAHetfield]

Currently on my second one of these, Teng 1200 FRP



Fantastic ratchet, can stick a pipe on the end of it and it takes all the abuse I can give it, plus repair kits are readily available if I do burst it.

Particularly love the feel of the rubber grip, especially when I'm standing outside in -15c in the winter and don't have to worry about the ratchet sticking to my hand lol.

The only issue I have with it is that I'm always doing messy jobs and have oil all over me, it tends to cause the rubber grip to seperate from the handle.

So what's out there? Don't mind spending a few quid as my tools are my livelyhood.

[SkinnyBoy]

Snap on with a soft handle. If you need a longer one I'd be using a long handle one rather than sticking a pipe on it. Had my Snap On ones for years and have never missed a beat.

[JAHetfield]

IMO, Snap On stuff is over rated. The Snap On man used to visit me once a month, before I knew it, I was handing over £200 a month. It's good enough stuff and it's handy to get the broken tools replaced for free but I work in a scrappy and the Snap On guarantee doesn't cover stolen tools.

[maniac0796]

JAHetfield said:

IMO, Snap On stuff is over rated. The Snap On man used to visit me once a month, before I knew it, I was handing over £200 a month. It's good enough stuff and it's handy to get the broken tools replaced for free but I work in a scrappy and the Snap On guarantee doesn't cover stolen tools.

What a stupid comment. Snap on stuff is expensive, and some stuff does break (but you get it replaced for free) but I find it's worth it for the fact that the sockets and spanners etc fit perfectly. Cheap sets distort and you end up rounding stuff off, but snap on stuff fits and wears a lot better.

And find me a warranty that replaces stolen goods.

As for the OP, I'd suggest a long handled soft grip snap on ratchet.

[SkinnyBoy]

IMHO Snap On is only overrated by tight arses lol

When you use your tools day in and day out they are your livelihood so why scrimp? Their warranty is second to none, they hold their value if you come to sell them and they do the job without fuss. I would never buy anything less.

[v46m4n]

Snap on are not the only tool company with lifetime warranty, Mac, cornwell, to name a few. They are good tools but the warranty is only as good as the dealer, if he doesn't want to change it he will always find a way out

[spike50]

for a 3/8 i would go for a facom , 1/2 britool is as good as anything and has a lifetime waranty,
i may be a bit biased as i use to sell mac stuff and still would buy it over snapon , snapon is really good but a bit overpriced imho ,but then it is down to the dealer and the service you get off them

[Evoluzione]

Snap-on have had to react to the recession and a lot of their stuff is cheap Chinese rubbish, not all though and I do like their ratchets, I've had two for years with no issues. If you are daft enough to put a pole on a ratchet and break it then you are going to get what's coming to you regular as clockwork. For those stubborn jobs get the correct tool, maybe a thick bar and 3/4 drive sockets, then put a scaffold pole on it, you won't break that.

Warranties on crap tools are as useless as the tools themselves - what's the point of a warranty on something which breaks regularly and leaves you in the sh it? What's the point when it wears out (thinking screwdrivers here) and you can't claim?

Alternatively, what about an impact wrench??!!

Edited by Evoluzione on Thursday 31st May 08:37

[Willhook]

In all fairness Halfrauds Advanced/Professional stuff isn't bad atall but every rachet I've bought has come dry as a bone inside and always strip de-burr and grease the inside well. The ratchet that came in my Argoose tool kit when I was 13 can withstand 18 stone of me bounding on the end of it when unbolting a ferguson plough