I can't argue with your selection. Ratchets are like screw drivers, it's something you have to hold in your hand and try it out to know if it's for you.
Lat time I saw that many mid level ratchets - I was at divorce court on a day with a full docket. This information is great - again I say it - I wish there were this many good to decent options back in the day (1980s-90s). Perfect video - you did all the homework and we are just copying it!
Boy i hear ya,whe i was young guy,early 80s,you etheir bought craftsman,SK,WILLIAMS,or wright!! unless you were a profesdional and bought off the tool truck!!!
The low end 1 is the 1 you loan your neighbor or your brother-in-law so when they brake it or just don't bring it back, it's no big loss. 😅 Thank you for the video, another great one.
Excellent video Jeff. I really appreciate all of your hard work that went into this video series. I can't disagree with any of your choices, as they are fantastic. This shows everyone that there are plenty of great options out there in a wide variety of price ranges. We are indeed living in an era of a luxury of abundance when it comes to tool options. Thanks again.
Thanks mike for joining in!! that was a fun series to do!!! yea todays world has so many options!! you dont have to break the bank to get decent tools!! thanks again!!!
Its one of my new favorites! i probably would of bought this eventualy because i like there ratchet wrenches i bought!! they might be sending me there brand new line up of pinless swivel sockets!!!they asked me about them 4 days ago,but i just today sent them a e-mail and told them i was interested,dont think there on you tube yet!!
I was doing a job with a 16-year-old trainee this morning, and I let him pick a ratchet to work with out of my box. He chose that Carlyle, and after he used it for a while, he asked how much it cost. He was pretty sad when I told him I got it for less than £40 and it was double that now!
Yea like everthing else tools has just been crazy how much they have shot up!! the carliyle is a very nice ratchet!! thanks for sharing that with us!! stay tuned!!!
I have that Pittsburgh Pro double flex, it is one of those impulse buys that people think its a waste, it works awesome when you need it, especially transmission and transfercase work, I definitely don't regret getting it.
I just got my first small plastic tool box 2 years ago. Been growing my tool collection and looking at getting a big husky or us general box this year.
Thanks for the great summary. I’m looking to get a longer handled one that is a reasonable price so I think the die hard might fill the bill . Thanks for making me aware of it !😊
Good to hear that you’re going to thin out the ratchet drawer. Get it down to a manageable number. If you have too many choices, when you open the drawer, you don’t know which one to grab. Thanks.
Cool selection Jeff and thanks for sharing your thoughts on those. I really like how you get performance out of this category of ratchets without breaking the bank.
Yea i have the 1/4 drive old design!! im talking about the new CP90 tooth flex-head cmfort grip!! im hearing there coming out soon,i cant wait to get them!! thanks my friend for the feedback,much appreciated!!!
Great recap, Jeff! There’s some sweethearts in this bunch! I like the Gearwrench (latest, smallest version) , the Carlyle and the Milwaukee, despite its size.
I agree and sometimes when he test ratchets he’ll test a few odd ones that I’d argue most folks don’t care about. I’d like him to compare all similar style ones in one video from our common brands here in the US Pittsburgh, ICON, Craftsman, Mac, Matco, Snapon, gearwrench, Milwaukee, Dewalt, Cornwell, maybe Koken, etc.
I wish I could have every one of those ratchets maybe someday but for now if I could just pick three I would definitely take the Die Hard the Pittsburgh Flex all that things seems pretty darn cool and the Carlisle and I've already got the text and foldable I love it that's one of my favorite ratchets so thank you for another good episode and you have a great night
Very nice selection of flexheads. Thinking of the olsa as my next purchase. I have a carlyle like that and thats probaly my go to. Keep the good videos coming
Another great video. It seemed the bent hand ratchet was that standard for changing sparkplugs back when we had sparkplug wires; I can't remember why. I have a snap-on that I used to use like a speed wrench years ago before we had electric tools.
I'm gonna pick up one of those little Tekton ratchets with the folding handle. It'd be great for atv work and I need a stubby anyway. That Stanley would be great for me if they had it in a non quick-release. I also wish Harbor Freight would start putting the lock on the flex-head Icon ratchets like Carlyle has. Their made by the same manufacturer (Kabo) in Taiwan. It's a dead-on copy except for the locking feature.
Jeff I think you are spot on with the order of your selection you would use depending on the length you needed. I haven't got to use the new style GW locking flex 120xp in 3/8 yet but I own the 1/4in one and if the 3/8 is any thing like the 1/4 then it is a nice ratchet. The Olsa ratchet if it is like my Sk Lp90 I would really like that ratchet to. But after watching your videos I can definitely see how some one can end up with so many ratchets in their arsenal there are just too many nice ones out there to own! Once again my friend great series loved the content.
Thanks my friend for joining in!! there are so many mid level quality tools its crazy!!! that new style gearwrench is sweet!! you already own the 1/4 so you know!! stay tuned my friend!!
Hi JOHN,almost sounded like i knew what i was talking about,lol!! all kidding aside ive been buying tools for 44 years,ive seen some great,some good,and some horrible ones!! the hidden gems are the ones i like to find!!!!
Great wrap up on the 3/8 flex head ratchet series Jeff! You certainly can't go wrong with Gearwrench ratchets. I'd love to try a Koken. Out of all the ratchets in the series I think the Die Hard is the best overall value at $35. The ratchet mechanism is pretty smooth and I like the feel of the comfort grip handle.
This series had some good ones!! there are so many quality mid level tools its crazy!! koken is getting popular!! eveybody loves gearwrench as well!! thanks mlieser,as always!!!
Great video!!! I love Carlyle, I have quite a few, I wait for the really deep discounts on Napa monthly deals, & when they have the 20%-25% off code if you spend $125 or more, a lot more affordable that way, but nice collection!!!
Damn nice ratchets Jeff you're right that Stanley extendable is a decent ratchet I have that same one and its never failed great content as always my friend
Honestly I thought you already had the Tekton “small body” ratchet and sure enough you do. good to note their brand new line of extended reach ratchets happens to have a 9inch 1/4drive ratchet. And it has a comfort grip option. (Good for modifying into a 9” small body)
That tone and carlyle are basically identical. Im thinking they are coming out of the same Taiwanese factory, if not off of the same line. It sucks that carlyle tools are so pricey because they have some high-end, non usa tools. For the price of a lot of that carlyle stuff, you're venturing into usa made tool territory though. My favorites are definitely the olsa and the new gearwrench 120xp at the end. I have both of those ratchets and i absolutely love them!!
Yea there pretty close,i like the carliyle locking head and the.grip!! the olsa is a fantastic ratchet,real smooth and very little backdrag!!thanks victor as always!!
I recently got the big brother to your Koken 3/8" flexhead. I got the 280, which is the long handle approximately 13". I absolutely love it, I have been looking for a few other Koken Z series to add to my collection. Short flex 3/8"n 1/4", n long 1/4" flexheads are my wish list
Those koken are real nice,no doubt!! is there any brand other then koken that i havent shown you like!! im thinking of buying a vim long 1/4 flex-head!!
I must own 15 or 16 ratchets and I found Cornwell tools has the best. Tool truck like SnapOn and Mac. They all do the same thing but some feel better in the hand
The 3/8 drive carliyle i showed is pricy,but its a good all around 3/8 ratchet!! sometimes napa has them on sale!! lot of guys love it!! 2nd would be a 1/4 or 3/8 Gearwrench XP120!! both excellent choices!!!
That V series craftsman I been having for at least 10 years, and nubby one, I used them for that 3.1 gmc motor , Milwaukee has smaller versions of there’s also, Carlye just to dam high for nothing
Great video Jeff. I'd be interested in knowing if any of them come with a warranty. It would suck to spend $60+ on a ratchet and have it break and then have to shell out another $60 to replace it.
Tekton,take a picture of the broken ratchet they will send a new one,thats the best!! olsa you have to send them the boken tool,they look at it!! koken i hear can be tough,it goes by what factory it was made!! and its a ard process,gearwrench im not sure! carliyle from napa im hearing is good, send it in,they give you a new one if its defective!! craftsman bring back to lowes,im hearing its hit and miss,genius i dont know!! die hard advanced auto,im nof sure!! milwaukee i would think is good but cant be sure!! warranty a funny thing,there are many stipulation on certain things!! the powerbuilt i heard sucks,pittsburg pro,harbor freight is great!! but all that being said TEKTON,andHarbor freight are fantastic!!!
FYI; I have seen the bowtie under your display for quite a while and today focused in on the other righting to see Fender Gripper. What do you think of them I am now ready to replace my Craftsman fender cover and that looks like a nice inexpensive one! Thanks for the re review of your collection.
Capri do make flex heads but not with soft grip handle, they are on Amazon 1/4 drive CP12100FX £25 3/8 drive CP12300FX £39 1/2 drive CP12500FX £47 All 3 CP12000FX £124
Jeff. I would to know the overall length of the DieHard ? and I can not find it online. And What sis you do with the broken ratchet ? Last item I would like to see your breaker bars.
13 inches in the 3/8 ratchet!! you have to go on advance auto.com,i tried a direct link,it would work!! i think its on sale rite now,$30 i do a video of my breaker bars!! im getting a breaker bar on amazon for the broken ratchet!! those die hard ratchets are nice!! the 3 piece set is under$90 rite now,at least in my area!!
Yup!! thats one reason i never bought off tool trucks,when i was young!! i bought tools as i needed from sears store in the early 80s!! craftsman was 90% of my tools!! i have accumilated many tools in 44 years!! tools save you money if you do your own work!! thanks for joining in!!
It does have play in the flex-head when its locked in!! that being said it has never let go or caused a issue!! the tightest locking one i got is that carliyle!! the milwaukee is close second!!
Hi my friend thanks for voicing your opinion,the price is not as high as most high end so i included them in the mid range!! are they as good as high end,yes i think so!!
I wouldn't put the olsa in the same category the gw120 is #1 I would tie that with a gw 90 3/8 in a 1/4 body then icon capri gw90 and the 72 tooth are about the same quality just different shapes and sizes I go for the tone carlyle style the round heads are also in that mix but with nos and lightly used usa round heads everywhere leave them at Amazon the tekton has its own place because it's the only one of its type their 3/8 in a 1/4 body is ok but isnt very strong my theory on japanese ratchets is they are made in Taiwan finished in japan they are nice but I'll buy american unless they have something I can't get usa made the rest the manufacturer can keep
None if them are pure junk, none are a magic wand. The smartest thing I've ever heard in a review is "if it doesn't feel good in your hand, you're not going to grab it". Sure there are exceptions when you need short, long, smallest head, whatever, but I would say that 95% of the time, you just grab your favorite. Does it matter that it will break at 240ft lb when the one next to it will go to 250tt lb? Hell no and you should be using a 1/2" instead of a 3/8" anyway. Before I get preached at, no that's not always possible and yes, I have used a cheater pipe,
Another classic! I was impressed with the craftsman 1/4 round head… I prefer my Snapon when it doesn’t skip teeth (or something) and just spins.. doesn’t happen all the time.. I got an upgrade to make have the 3/8 drive and hopefully replacing all the internals will fix it… could have warrantied it but he would just give me a rebuild kit for some reason and would only let me take an orange handle as a replacement. I dont usually care what color things are but orange is my dads color and I don’t want him saying “is that mine?” Every time I bring a tool over
Something about ratchets,we all have are favorites no doubt!! i have some snap on,but just a few!!! its funny you mentioned orange,i love the color,my chevelle is orange,with white racing stripes!! thanks my friend for joining in!!!
