The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Flex Ratchet

I bought 3 of these last November at a going out of business sale down on the Austrian border. 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 drive.

http://www-de.wera.de/product_detai...lop_speed_knarren_1_2_8000_c&lang=de

I have used the 1/4 and 3/8 a lot. They are the handiest ratchet I have ever used. I had been hunting high and low for the 1/2 and my wife found it. Still in a checked bag in bubble wrap. We are leaving for Germany again next Tuesday and my wife always puts the suitcases in the sun a couple of days before she packs. I would love to find another going out of business sale. I was like a kid in a candy store. The Wera ratchets are for sale here now, but they are expensive.

Unless you are partial to the brand in your post, you can get "Flex Head" ratchets at Lowes for a lot less money and with a lifetime warranty.
Flex Head Ratchets
Harold

Unless you are partial to the brands in either of your posts, you can also get "Flex Head" ratchets at Harbor Freight for even less money and with a lifetime warranty.

If I did not go for cheapest (with warranty), I'd go for the German (and would most likely not have no worry about the German warranty).

I have had a Snap on that I similar to the Lowes model for 50 years. It flexes, but it doesn't stay in any one position and it flexes at about an inch radius from the drive. It appears that the Harbor Freight model flexes at the center of the drive, but I'm not sure it locks into a fixed position. The Wera model locks into whatever position you put it.

I too have the snap-on one and you're right, it flexes. Not quite what I thought it would be... handy but not for high torque.

The Wera ratchets get very good reviews, I wouldn't mind trying one.

Grigg

I have a flex-head ratchet with 1/2" and 3/8" drive. Very short, padded handle. I have used it once on the Malibu tail light bucket.

I don't know if they still have them, but a few years ago (back when they still had a printed tool catalog), Sears sold Wera tools through the catalog. They might still carry them online.

Maybe I don't wrench enough, like every day as some guys do, but
every time I've tried using one of those I just want to pitch
it across the driveway. Dang thing flops around every which
way. When I'm torqueing down a bolt I want a good solid wrench,
I even avoid a universal whenever I can.
If I were in the mood for a new tool, I think that Tite-Reach
dealie would be money better spent.

DG

The round floppy head ratchets are nice because you can swing it out and use it like a nut driver.

The ones crenwelge posted about have a locking feature, here's the english version of the page he linked
http://www-de.wera.de/zyklop.html?&no_cache=1&L=1

This is the one I have that's sort of similar, I hate the split beam, makes it feel weak as it flexes (not a problem with the Wera)
http://store.snapon.com/Round-Head-...ivel-Head-Soft-Grip-12-1-2--P648544.aspx

In any case I don't think this round head sort of ratchet is a one and only tool, they have good uses but you'll probably want other ratchets in your kit.

Grigg

My first Diesel truck was a 64 cabover International. You could raise the cab and get to everything. About 25 years ago, drivers started demanding long hoods. We called them large cars and the motor was about 6" in front of the fire wall. The last 15 years I have had to go to set back front axles for aerodynamics and weight distribution on the steering axle. About 1/3 of the motor is in a dog house inside of the cab and things have become a real challenge to get to. Of course, an impact is our first choice, a regular ratchet our second choice, but for the tough challenges, a flex ratchet gives one a real advantage. It saves a lot of knuckles as well as bolt heads getting rounded. I haven't used my old Snap On flex since I got the Wera. All it does is flop around and round of bolt heads. I am in Germany at the moment. The hotel is about 1/4 mile from a Würth store. I haven't went in because I am afraid of what I'll spend.

I have a 3/8" drive Sidewinder Ratchet, got it for cheap at an auction unused.....

John

Sometimes, you need to wrench around corners.