I think you should rank the "flex head" ratchets separately from the solid non-flex head ratchets. It skews a manufacturer when you put a solid head up against a flex head. I think they should be nearly as good, don't get me wrong, but obviously the non-flex heads are going to sheer the anvil, while the flex heads are probably going to break the flex joint. (although this isn't, or hasn't been, universally true).
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In my opinion I believe that flex heads shouldn't be compared with non flex heads and I believe that quick release ratchets shouldn't be compared to non quick release ratchets because the anvil isn't as strong, so when a flex head/quick release ratchet puts up less numbers than the milwaukee, I believe it comes down to a matter of design, not quality. Regardless, great video once again and I look forward to more.
I don’t disagree, but that Kobalt quick release flex sneaking in right behind the fixed head nonquick release was pretty interesting. It’s a big brand list that we’ll just keep growing.
Wright tool is my favorite tool company and all of my weight stuff has taken everything I've thrown at it, now I don't use cheaters, but I was surprised to see that failure. I would love to see a fixed head tested on the load cell as I believe the mechanism would give that Milwaukee a run for it's money
Depends a bit, some of these tools can stand up to a stress test pretty well however the quality of materials used as well as how the average stress in distributed means over time forces such as metal fatigue can cause failure when using the tool dispite it being torqued at the same amount you have done before
Bit of an apples to oranges comparison on some things, seems like the swivel heads will fail in their swivel mechanism but you are also testing tools from other brands that dont have that mechanism, it shows the difference in strength between the particular ratchets but doesn't surmise the strength of the brand at least for swivel ones that failed in their swivel first
@@thomassenemounnarath3278 generally speaking Taiwan makes some of the best electronics. Not sure I would even want a USA made electronic…it would be made with Taiwan/Chinese parts anyway.
I just bought the long handle Carlyle ratchet a few days ago and noticed that it is pretty slim compared to other 3/8 ratchets but I've heard good things about them and I like that they have rebuild kits.
I hope you love your Carlyle ratchet as much as I love mine. That thinner profile is one of their advantages IMO, it can allow them fit into places others can't. If the Carlyles have normal use, they will last you forever. I would prefer to never use any of my ratchets with a cheater, especially a 3/8". That is what breaker bars are for!
I disagree. He already showed that the original tester was accurate to a calibrated torque tester, I assume this new one has been checked or comes with a NIST or Canadian equivalent certification for calibration (I did not watch his video on the socket itself). Any differences in strength on a test with the new tester vs. the old would very likely be due to individual ratchet manufacturing tolerances and not due to tester accuracy. IOW, if both the SO and Tekton ratchets were to be re-tested on the new tester and were +/- 5 ft-lbs of the original result, the new result would just re-enforce that both ratchets break at about 290 ft-lbs and that they are still "tied" as far as strength. In reality, to make it a "fair competition" as van1196 says, you really can't be comparing flex head ratchets vs. standard length/non flex-head ratchets, especially house brands which may have different manufacturers making non-flex and flex head ratchets. I'm not saying you can't mix the tests in a video, but the spreadsheet showing the results would have to be divided between non-flex head and flex head, standard length handle, extended length handle, etc. to really make the comparisons valid. Also, you would need to break a LOT of ratchets for each type and each manufacturer before you can draw a conclusion as to which is really the strongest ratchet. This is not a knock on Chris from Clientgraphics' videos or his testing, the videos *are* useful, I am only pointing out the limits of what conclusions can be drawn. If anything it would be nice for others to repeat his tests, the more who do, the more data can be gleaned.
A lot of people mention the difference in design of the ratchets and I agree it is unfair to compare various designs in the same stress tests. Another issue was when he was testing the flex head ratchets he didn’t slide the cheater bar all the way up to the head of the ratchet and left the flex head joint uncovered which caused the flex head joint to fail a few times before the ratchet mechanism or the anvil themselves failed. However I will say I own a few of these ratchets and it’s nice to see the specialty ratchets tested as when I watch tool reviews most people are only comparing the basic ratchets.
Oh yeah! Time to break some tools. I don't know what Client Graphics has to do with this channel. Should be called ToolApocalypse, because only the truly faithful tools will survive what happens here.
I'd suggest perhaps improving your cheater bar setup. Make it so it's a fixed distance from center of anvil head on all ratchets so all the necks get the same workout.
Right On, Thanks Chris! Carlyle is still my go to ratchet. Hands down, I have taken all other ratchets to the house box. Nothing but Carlyle in the shop boxes and service truck. Thanks Again for the test to failure.
I have 2 of the all metal handle 3/8 ones and love them. I also have a 1/4 comforter grip that I really like for small jobs. There good tools I have a soft spot for them!
Bobby Garrett the 1/4” Carlyle has been garbage as far as QC . Three technicians in our shop purchased the 1/4 inch ratchets and all three of them had the heads lock up. Would not turn in either direction. NAPA quickly replaced them with three more that locked up as well. Manager at the NAPA said the 1/4 version was having major issues. I got a credit on my second one and used it to purchase some triple square sockets.
@@prevost8686 That's good to know. I had not heard that. My Carlyle 1/4 Is the comfort grip short one. I don't use it to often but it hasn't failed me yet luckily. What model did you have fail non comfort or comfort grip? I ask because the 2 are different slightly.
I use the Milwaukee rachet almost every day. I have noticed it’s prone to hanging up, like the detent springs aren’t strong enough. The chrome is pretty tore up, and it switches directions by accident easily. Still a good ratchet, but I still turn to my snap on for ease of use and overall build quality. For those that read this, I still highly recommend the Milwaukee ratchet, mostly because of cost/efficiency, I’d easily buy 5 more in different sizes. But for my go-to every job rachet snap on is super hard to beat. Matco is junk because they don’t make tools, they just rebrand them. Master force hammers are the worst I’ve ever used. Their sockets are decent though for the price, never dared waste my time with their ratchets. Anything Napa will be good. No complaints. Not a snap on fan boy, but they do hold the crown for ratchets if you’re willing to pay nearly $200 for a single ratchet. I sold a lot of my snap on sockets for Milwaukee ones because I could get a whole toolbox full of stuff for the price of two sets of snap on sockets that usually get lost or stolen long before broke. Haven’t broke a Milwaukee chromie on an impact yet either. Lol
Great video which showed that most brands are suitable for normal use. I was interested to see that the torque measurement showed negative numbers when you spun the handle backwards. Another nice test would be to see how smooth the ratcheting action is i.e. how low that reverse number is on the various wrenches. Equally as interesting would be a test showing just how much angular deflection is required to engage a new tooth. Let's see how much difference that tooth count really makes.
The graph/price and conclusion - High Quality! This seems to be a high quality channel like Project Farm. Keep up the good work and please keep up with those graphs/charts/conclusions at the end of the vid: they do help! Thank you.
I totally agree with you !!! I cringe when I hear each one pop. Especially since I can't afford most of them. I wonder what the total cost is for the group of ratchets tested is?? More than my annual tool budge I'm sure🤩😁😄🤩but cool data gained. I love this channel !! Chris and his wife do great videos to help people find rest tool deals.
Very happy to see those results. Just picked up a Milwaukee 56pc deep/shallow set. Saw it online at HD for $99 and couldn't get out the door fast enough.
MY TRUE STORY-About Kobalt. ....13 Years ago I bought my first ever cordless impact wrench (Electricians didn't carry those back then -nowadays all of us have them, funny how times change) . . . I bought a set of Kobalt impact sockets to get me through until I could afford to buy a better industrial grade set from SK, Proto or Williams at a later time. . . . . Well, that was 13 years ago, and I never upgraded because I never needed to. I am still using those Kobalt impact sockets today 13 years later and they're still going.
I have it from good authority that some early Kobalt was made by the Williams Brand owned by SnapOn much the same way that CAT for Caterpillar Tractors branded tools are made under the Williams name. Maybe you got a Williams set.
Sockets lasting an electrician 13 years...not very surprising sorry. Unless it's visibility thinner and dirt cheap, average sockets are pretty comparable to each other just like these wrenches
I have that Pittsburgh pro 3/8” swivel. It’s a great tool for the money. It’s made in Taiwan where so many good tools can be made. With a coupon it’s less than $14!
It's actually a Tekton clone. Likely made in the same factory. www.tekton.com/swivel-head-ratchets Also there's a weird $5 off any Pittsburgh pro ratchet online that usually works on these as well.
So I been thinking about this the ones with premature failure were mostly flex heads aka my beloved Mac axis, so I think the tekton and snapon flex heads should be tested to level the playing field. Just sayin.
Never been a big fan of kobalt but they are certainly better than craftsman. Lowe's is pushing craftsman hard. Good job Milwaukee!!! Big disappointment in Mac. Pittsburgh even beat the pricey Mac.
I just bought the MAC you tested today brand new for 90$ plus 10$ for shipping. I believe it's a 149$ ratchet on MAC tools site. I couldn't pass it up being brand new for that price. Great addition to my MAC collection!Haha
Very happy with my GearWrench xp120s. I own a slue of them, never had an issue with any. And those 120 tooth pawls really give you room to actually remove a fastener in tight spaces.
I know this is old…but watching some newer videos on torque test channel…I’m super impressed with Kobalt. Started to switch over from red to blue to most of my stuff.
Great test! In episode 3 I would love to see the NAPA Carlyle slim teardrop 60 tooth ratchet. This is the full chrome polished, non comfort grip handle.
To reduce and possibly prevent ratchet damage. I purchased 3 very tough Icon breaker bars. I also purchased the Icon wobble extension set. My newer Kobalt 90 Tooth ratchets should last a long time.
I've got the Milwaukee in 3/8 and 1/4 and they've been great. The end of the handle is bulky and heavy in my opinion. I wonder how the non flex head versions of Mac and wright would have done. Hope you show one with those.
I have 2 napa carlyle sets, a 1/4 and a 3/8 short and deep sockets, metric and standard no skips. They are great sets. I dont remember what i was taking off but i put a pipe on the 3/8 ratchet, bent it, and finally broke the bolt loose. Next day took it in to napa and they said go grab another one. Carlyle is definitely the way to go.
Very nicely done Chris 👍👍 I was happy to see Kobalt perform so we'll. I bought a set from Jeff aka DaBear at Den of Tools last year. Again some expensive ratchets not testing out very well. For the money I would say Pittsburgh and Kobalt did themselves proud !!! Have you tested the regular Pittsburgh, the non pro?? Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and videos Rodney
I bought a 24" or 25" PowerBuilt Flex... on Amazon for a good price.... I use that thing if I need to put a little extra cheese on it....if I'm not able to get an impact wrench in there..... it works good
I’m gonna continue using the Pittsburg pro line up for ratchets, there’ extremely cheap plus durable and if you break / lose one it’s almost always between 8$-22$ to replace it.
Usually, under normal conditions without a pipe extension, these tools last. For a worker to break it by hand, he must have the strength of a king kong!
Great videos. I watched this and the first one. My go-to ratchets are the Kobalt and the Pittsburgh Swivel. I've been impressed using them, but really impressed on how they tested. I don't ever put high torque on the Pittsburgh, but the swivel is handy.
I know it's expensive, but running more then one of each would make the test results more accurate, plus re-do the tekton and snap-on with the same test device
You went the extra mile to break the Tekton, break the Carlyle! Also, I'd be interested to see how the QR Tekton would do to compare it against the non-QR Tekton you tested.
This film was fun to watch! I'm sure you'll get some gripers about your method, types of ratchets used, and etc. But that's because they weren't listening to what you were saying.
Thanks buddy! I appreciate you watching and commenting. I’m trying to keep it simple for testing and these are all my tools and not some manufacturer hand out. The brands and types are what they are. I should setup a PO Box for anyone that complains and wants to donate a ratchet!
No Husky? I'm not loyal to them it's just they are very common. It would be nice to see how they rank especially for the price. Im a huge Milwaukee fan so that was great to see. Either way great work!
@@TSGear yeah, I have seen a few of his videos, but never saw anything about previous ratchet breakpoints shown except this one. Was nice to see the whole list.
Late to the party. The Milwaukee hand tools have impressed me, actually all Milwaukee tools is top shelf products. The testing of flex against a non flex is not exactly fair. The Wright tools and Mac ratchet failed at the pin, not the gears. I would like to see either all flex or all fixed head designs. My favorite feeling, working with ratchet is the Matco locking flex head.
MCEngineeringInc Matco wasn’t in the budget for this one and I saved the Cornwell I have for Part 3. If I do a Matco truck video you will know I have a ratchet for sure😁
I am considering the 15" wright 1/2 currently. I love my tekton but I want a Longer handle fixed head ratchet that is Stout for suspension work. If I could find a old duralast low count Long handle 1/2" I'd be happy with that to but not many on ebay.
Would like to see Matco in this please!! Milwaukee has done a great job with these new hand tools. Even their wrenches are superior to others. I had just watched a test video on wrenches. Milwaukee wrench slipped at 260 ft lbs.There stuff is quality and a great meet in the middle between too cheap and over priced tools.
Try SK's new LP90 ratchets. Would love to see how they compare. Wondering if your old SK was low from being older and used more. I've got a set of SK round head ratchets and a 1/4" drive lp90 and they've been the best ratchets I've owned!
The winner is clearly that Harbor Freight for the average DIYer. Heck I bought the swivel a couple years ago and still haven't used it. Probably cause I own a toyota lol. Runners up probably the Kobalt, Husky and Duralast
Dont be too disappointed with MAC. I have all three sizes of MAC Axis locking flex rachets, 1/4" - 3/8" - 1/2" with long handles and they are stout as fuck. Use them on heavy duty industrial equipment, hydraulic stuff, etc. They are not a daily driver type of wrench due to the price, but for the situation where nothing else will fit, they can make or break getting a job done. I use HF Icon, Husky, and Pittsburgh Pro for my daily rachets.
As I have said in other posts, give Wera a try. Would love to see how German Steel stacks up. I have several Wera ratchets and universal joints. Couldn't afford their sockets. Too rich for me. Besides I would only loose them. lol
Chris I've never been a fan of these test. Real world no one would be cranking this much torque on a bolt. This is why there are torque specs, electric impacts and breaker bars for. At least not me just my input.
Bonbon Flippers Would that have been Wright 3425? I have that ratchet too, but the neck is so slim near the ratchet it most likely would have bent like the Carlyle did.
@@ClientGraphics no you should do all fixed head ratchets vs fixed head ratchets!LOL pretty simple. Then flex head ratchets vs flex head ratchets! It's common scence.. not being a smartass just being honest and real. Ugh
@@ClientGraphics there is that one that's thin at the neck but also a 7inch one that is thicker. I have both but I'd be happy to see either for testing.
I have some of those powerbuilt flex heads the head on them look identical to the carlyle flex heads I have a 3/8 thts 17in long i love tht puppy just wish it had a comfort grip but I well lol was cheap
You should really do the Proto 3/8 J5249 is a low tooth count ratchet. But its one of my favorites I have the 1/2 as well they are my old work ones now my garage users. I have beat the tar out of mine and they don't skip a beat. You should really do a test on these! Best part there $35 ish and American made!
Can you test the Steelman Pro Cobra 160 tooth ratchet. The ratchet is incredibly strong and I believe that Realtoolreviews was able to apply around 400ft-lbs on tbe 1/2" without breaking it. The number is very rough as he basically ran the bolt down with the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2763 Impact wrench. I'd also like to point out that the Cobra is a true 160 tooth ratchet with all 160 teeth machined into the head. In addition, the ratchet is a dual pawled design that engages 32 teeth at any given time. Realtoolreviews shows this close up in his review.
Hope you enjoyed the video and have the opportunity to continue using your Kobalt ratchet for many years! It should do well for you if you keep it under 250 ft-lbs 😂
I really wish Tekton offered the super long handle ratchets in flex head. I want that 18 inch 3/8 90 toother, but a flex or pivoting head would make it a lot more useful.
I'm surprised at the low performance of the MAC Axis locking flex head ratchet. I'm wondering if the locking flex head joint is its achilles heel since the ratcheting head seemed ok. Perhaps in your next test you could try a long handle fixed head Proto precision ninety series to confirm. Thanks for sharing & testing
I've got the vr1890lfpa and I love that ratchet. I put a four foot bar on it just to get the crank bolt from my 06 g35 and it didn't break a sweat. I notice the 1/2 is much more built in comparison to the Matco and Snap On in 1/2 drive.
@@BrentVdz907 Yeah 200 ft lb is a lot for a 3/8 especially flex head I think lug nuts are 120 ft lb I'd never use a 3/8 on a lug nut. Thing about it is if you're going to use the ratchet every day the Mac is probably the best option.
LOL! "OH! We tore the guts out of that one!" Chris HAS to be THE most macabre creator of the UA-cam tool community. Great video Chris. I'm really liking the graphs. Milwaukee stuns!
I’d be curious to see the 36tooth 3/8 snap on in comparison with their ‘dual 80’. (If someone already commented this or this was already done, I apologize)
Why ? Because a flex head ratchet broke by being misused with a long cheater bar on it ? I'm willing to bet that being used by a pro everyday for years the American made MAC keeps going long after the pawls on the disposable Harbor freight ratchet wear out.
Tyler Snyder It’s not the best just because it’s off of a truck. I have a couple of Pittsburg pro ratchets and when I need a ratchet they’re the first ones I pick up and they’ve been put through it and still work just fine. If you buy everything off of the truck you’ll spend your whole paycheck. Also if they do break I can get them warrantied that day on my way home instead of having to wait a week. They’re way cheaper also, it’s the way to go.
@@huntguy3831 I do not buy my tools off a truck, but when I can help it I do buy American made hand tools as much as possible. I will never buy an import for a similar price to an American option just because it has flashier more modern features ( lots of this kind of stuff out there these days ) I'm willing to get used vintage American tools too if I can't afford something brand new. There are loads of brands or manufacturers who fell by the wayside who made great tools you can get a good deal on because they're not a household name these days. I don't need the most modern design or highest tooth count. I'm fine with a good ol' MDF / Easco rhft or old Williams and Wright round heads. They're strong durable tools when used as intended and can often be had for less than a in imported HF jobbie, they'll last longer too. I don't know how many old American ratchets I've seen that were just wrecked on the outside but still perfectly smooth after a little clean and re-lube. Btw it does help to know who manufacturers what for which other brands, there are a number of tools from the various truck brands that can be had for much less from the OEM. Vaughan, Wilde, Channellock, Malco, and Trusty Cook to name a few all supply various tools to countless other brands including the trucks who charge a premium for their name.
I think you should rank the "flex head" ratchets separately from the solid non-flex head ratchets. It skews a manufacturer when you put a solid head up against a flex head. I think they should be nearly as good, don't get me wrong, but obviously the non-flex heads are going to sheer the anvil, while the flex heads are probably going to break the flex joint. (although this isn't, or hasn't been, universally true).
Yes please do this!
I been saying this all along. Totally agree.
Tooth count and swivel head should be tested apples to apples.
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In my opinion I believe that flex heads shouldn't be compared with non flex heads and I believe that quick release ratchets shouldn't be compared to non quick release ratchets because the anvil isn't as strong, so when a flex head/quick release ratchet puts up less numbers than the milwaukee, I believe it comes down to a matter of design, not quality. Regardless, great video once again and I look forward to more.
I don’t disagree, but that Kobalt quick release flex sneaking in right behind the fixed head nonquick release was pretty interesting. It’s a big brand list that we’ll just keep growing.
Agreed
I'm at that same thought
I couldn’t agree more.
He's also tested used snap-on and compared it to new product.
Wright tool is my favorite tool company and all of my weight stuff has taken everything I've thrown at it, now I don't use cheaters, but I was surprised to see that failure. I would love to see a fixed head tested on the load cell as I believe the mechanism would give that Milwaukee a run for it's money
What this shows is most if not all of these tools if used normal would not fail. Great vid
Pretty much, the rest is just bragging rights and entertainment.
Idk I'm on like my 7th or 8th Carlyle lmao but they just keep warrantying it so 🤷♂️
Depends a bit, some of these tools can stand up to a stress test pretty well however the quality of materials used as well as how the average stress in distributed means over time forces such as metal fatigue can cause failure when using the tool dispite it being torqued at the same amount you have done before
Bit of an apples to oranges comparison on some things, seems like the swivel heads will fail in their swivel mechanism but you are also testing tools from other brands that dont have that mechanism, it shows the difference in strength between the particular ratchets but doesn't surmise the strength of the brand at least for swivel ones that failed in their swivel first
Hell yeah. as soon as I can get my hands on one of those Milwaukee rachets . I'm gonna put it strait to work.
It should be a work horse👍
Milwaukee has it going for them!!! Hand tools and electric tools are beyond impressive
Every electric ratchet is made in China
@@thomassenemounnarath3278 Taiwan. I know some people think it's still China but their manufacturing is way better in Taiwan.
@@thomassenemounnarath3278 and?
@@thomassenemounnarath3278 generally speaking Taiwan makes some of the best electronics. Not sure I would even want a USA made electronic…it would be made with Taiwan/Chinese parts anyway.
@@thomassenemounnarath3278 I don’t want to shock you but very few things are made in the U.S. now.
I just bought the long handle Carlyle ratchet a few days ago and noticed that it is pretty slim compared to other 3/8 ratchets but I've heard good things about them and I like that they have rebuild kits.
I hope you love your Carlyle ratchet as much as I love mine. That thinner profile is one of their advantages IMO, it can allow them fit into places others can't. If the Carlyles have normal use, they will last you forever. I would prefer to never use any of my ratchets with a cheater, especially a 3/8". That is what breaker bars are for!
Those Pittsburgh pro swivel head ratchets are one of my favorite harbor freight items. Can't beat the price on them with a coupon.
Time to retest the snapon and tekton ratchets on your new tourqe meter!
I agree 100%. Have to test everything with the same torque meter to make it a fare competition.
I agree that both of those ratchets should be retested.
That's the only way It would be fair
I disagree. He already showed that the original tester was accurate to a calibrated torque tester, I assume this new one has been checked or comes with a NIST or Canadian equivalent certification for calibration (I did not watch his video on the socket itself). Any differences in strength on a test with the new tester vs. the old would very likely be due to individual ratchet manufacturing tolerances and not due to tester accuracy. IOW, if both the SO and Tekton ratchets were to be re-tested on the new tester and were +/- 5 ft-lbs of the original result, the new result would just re-enforce that both ratchets break at about 290 ft-lbs and that they are still "tied" as far as strength. In reality, to make it a "fair competition" as van1196 says, you really can't be comparing flex head ratchets vs. standard length/non flex-head ratchets, especially house brands which may have different manufacturers making non-flex and flex head ratchets. I'm not saying you can't mix the tests in a video, but the spreadsheet showing the results would have to be divided between non-flex head and flex head, standard length handle, extended length handle, etc. to really make the comparisons valid. Also, you would need to break a LOT of ratchets for each type and each manufacturer before you can draw a conclusion as to which is really the strongest ratchet. This is not a knock on Chris from Clientgraphics' videos or his testing, the videos *are* useful, I am only pointing out the limits of what conclusions can be drawn. If anything it would be nice for others to repeat his tests, the more who do, the more data can be gleaned.
@@paulprobusjr.7597 nice novel bro...
Way to go Milwaukee! Very impressed. Pretty impressed with Kobalt as well. Already been a fan of kobalt tools.
A lot of people mention the difference in design of the ratchets and I agree it is unfair to compare various designs in the same stress tests. Another issue was when he was testing the flex head ratchets he didn’t slide the cheater bar all the way up to the head of the ratchet and left the flex head joint uncovered which caused the flex head joint to fail a few times before the ratchet mechanism or the anvil themselves failed. However I will say I own a few of these ratchets and it’s nice to see the specialty ratchets tested as when I watch tool reviews most people are only comparing the basic ratchets.
Oh yeah! Time to break some tools. I don't know what Client Graphics has to do with this channel. Should be called ToolApocalypse, because only the truly faithful tools will survive what happens here.
Funny 🤣 Great name suggestion. I’ve thought about rebranding but have just kept it the same since it’s oddly unique and continues to grow as is.
I work for a plumbing supply distributor and Milwaukee is our #1 selling tool brand by far!!
I'd suggest perhaps improving your cheater bar setup. Make it so it's a fixed distance from center of anvil head on all ratchets so all the necks get the same workout.
Right On, Thanks Chris! Carlyle is still my go to ratchet. Hands down, I have taken all other ratchets to the house box. Nothing but Carlyle in the shop boxes and service truck. Thanks Again for the test to failure.
Yea them carlyle ratchets look nice I want to pick one up but they are a little pricey but not bad as tool truck price lol all their tools look decent
I have 2 of the all metal handle 3/8 ones and love them. I also have a 1/4 comforter grip that I really like for small jobs. There good tools I have a soft spot for them!
Bobby Garrett the 1/4” Carlyle has been garbage as far as QC . Three technicians in our shop purchased the 1/4 inch ratchets and all three of them had the heads lock up. Would not turn in either direction. NAPA quickly replaced them with three more that locked up as well. Manager at the NAPA said the 1/4 version was having major issues. I got a credit on my second one and used it to purchase some triple square sockets.
@@prevost8686 That's good to know. I had not heard that. My Carlyle 1/4 Is the comfort grip short one. I don't use it to often but it hasn't failed me yet luckily. What model did you have fail non comfort or comfort grip? I ask because the 2 are different slightly.
Iowafoxoutdoors _ non-comfort grip.
I use my milwaukee on a daily grind for over a year now still a solid tool and very comfy for a hard handle
Never had a problem with my Pittsburgh!! And if anything does break they have a life time warranty
I'm always more interested in the back drag and swing arc for a 3/8"
But it is AMAZING to see you test these for their strength.
How makes the smoothest ratchet
ua-cam.com/video/mzvZXeOse2I/v-deo.html
And then the very least back drag Koken tools ua-cam.com/video/DQZYbre3fws/v-deo.html
I use the Milwaukee rachet almost every day. I have noticed it’s prone to hanging up, like the detent springs aren’t strong enough. The chrome is pretty tore up, and it switches directions by accident easily.
Still a good ratchet, but I still turn to my snap on for ease of use and overall build quality.
For those that read this, I still highly recommend the Milwaukee ratchet, mostly because of cost/efficiency, I’d easily buy 5 more in different sizes. But for my go-to every job rachet snap on is super hard to beat.
Matco is junk because they don’t make tools, they just rebrand them.
Master force hammers are the worst I’ve ever used. Their sockets are decent though for the price, never dared waste my time with their ratchets.
Anything Napa will be good. No complaints.
Not a snap on fan boy, but they do hold the crown for ratchets if you’re willing to pay nearly $200 for a single ratchet. I sold a lot of my snap on sockets for Milwaukee ones because I could get a whole toolbox full of stuff for the price of two sets of snap on sockets that usually get lost or stolen long before broke.
Haven’t broke a Milwaukee chromie on an impact yet either. Lol
Great video which showed that most brands are suitable for normal use. I was interested to see that the torque measurement showed negative numbers when you spun the handle backwards. Another nice test would be to see how smooth the ratcheting action is i.e. how low that reverse number is on the various wrenches. Equally as interesting would be a test showing just how much angular deflection is required to engage a new tooth. Let's see how much difference that tooth count really makes.
The graph/price and conclusion - High Quality! This seems to be a high quality channel like Project Farm. Keep up the good work and please keep up with those graphs/charts/conclusions at the end of the vid: they do help! Thank you.
I love the video, but breaking those beautiful ratchets is really hurting my soul.
A little piece of me died inside as well. Probably why it took so long to do this video🤣
I totally agree with you !!! I cringe when I hear each one pop. Especially since I can't afford most of them. I wonder what the total cost is for the group of ratchets tested is?? More than my annual tool budge I'm sure🤩😁😄🤩but cool data gained. I love this channel !! Chris and his wife do great videos to help people find rest tool deals.
I just broke my old made in USA Craftsman ratchet. Yes I had a cheater bar to remove ball joint.
Great video I will checkout a few of the top ones.
Just picked up my Milwaukee this morning:)
It’s is a pretty sweet ratchet❤️
Milwaukee stuff is just a class above the rest. Their sockets are lovely and the ratchets are very nice too.
Really relieved to see this extremely comprehensive video! Especially since I just dropped some big coin on the 106 piece 1/4”- 3/8” set, today!
Very happy to see those results. Just picked up a Milwaukee 56pc deep/shallow set. Saw it online at HD for $99 and couldn't get out the door fast enough.
MY TRUE STORY-About Kobalt. ....13 Years ago I bought my first ever cordless impact wrench (Electricians didn't carry those back then -nowadays all of us have them, funny how times change) . . . I bought a set of Kobalt impact sockets to get me through until I could afford to buy a better industrial grade set from SK, Proto or Williams at a later time. . . . . Well, that was 13 years ago, and I never upgraded because I never needed to. I am still using those Kobalt impact sockets today 13 years later and they're still going.
Somethings last forever, some that you never expected. I’ve been surprised by Kobalt.
I have it from good authority that some early Kobalt was made by the Williams Brand owned by SnapOn much the same way that CAT for Caterpillar Tractors branded tools are made under the Williams name. Maybe you got a Williams set.
Sockets lasting an electrician 13 years...not very surprising sorry. Unless it's visibility thinner and dirt cheap, average sockets are pretty comparable to each other just like these wrenches
I have that Pittsburgh pro 3/8” swivel. It’s a great tool for the money. It’s made in Taiwan where so many good tools can be made. With a coupon it’s less than $14!
It's actually a Tekton clone. Likely made in the same factory. www.tekton.com/swivel-head-ratchets
Also there's a weird $5 off any Pittsburgh pro ratchet online that usually works on these as well.
I've got the same one in 1/4" it's great.
Love my Milwaukee hand tools and power tools!! Good video!
So I been thinking about this the ones with premature failure were mostly flex heads aka my beloved Mac axis, so I think the tekton and snapon flex heads should be tested to level the playing field. Just sayin.
Never been a big fan of kobalt but they are certainly better than craftsman. Lowe's is pushing craftsman hard. Good job Milwaukee!!! Big disappointment in Mac. Pittsburgh even beat the pricey Mac.
Yeah in pure strength, but not slop.. Mac has very little slop
Craftsman is slipping big time. They don't make them like they use to.
@@timtags Truth! Until craftsman comes back to USA 🇺🇸 made i wont buy any
Not all craftsman is made 9ver seas...
@@gabehorn5079 Not all but most of it is
I just bought the MAC you tested today brand new for 90$ plus 10$ for shipping. I believe it's a 149$ ratchet on MAC tools site. I couldn't pass it up being brand new for that price. Great addition to my MAC collection!Haha
I would love to see this same video in 1/2 and 1/4 drive
Very happy with my GearWrench xp120s. I own a slue of them, never had an issue with any. And those 120 tooth pawls really give you room to actually remove a fastener in tight spaces.
That Napa didn't fail. It's still usable.
Yes, I agree. Choke up on that pipe so it goes before the bend and then put it to actual failure.
I know this is old…but watching some newer videos on torque test channel…I’m super impressed with Kobalt. Started to switch over from red to blue to most of my stuff.
Great test! In episode 3 I would love to see the NAPA Carlyle slim teardrop 60 tooth ratchet. This is the full chrome polished, non comfort grip handle.
To reduce and possibly prevent ratchet damage.
I purchased 3 very tough Icon breaker bars.
I also purchased the Icon wobble extension set.
My newer Kobalt 90 Tooth ratchets should last a long time.
I've got the Milwaukee in 3/8 and 1/4 and they've been great. The end of the handle is bulky and heavy in my opinion. I wonder how the non flex head versions of Mac and wright would have done. Hope you show one with those.
I have 2 napa carlyle sets, a 1/4 and a 3/8 short and deep sockets, metric and standard no skips. They are great sets. I dont remember what i was taking off but i put a pipe on the 3/8 ratchet, bent it, and finally broke the bolt loose. Next day took it in to napa and they said go grab another one. Carlyle is definitely the way to go.
Very nicely done Chris 👍👍 I was happy to see Kobalt perform so we'll. I bought a set from Jeff aka DaBear at Den of Tools last year. Again some expensive ratchets not testing out very well. For the money I would say Pittsburgh and Kobalt did themselves proud !!! Have you tested the regular Pittsburgh, the non pro?? Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and videos Rodney
I bought a 24" or 25" PowerBuilt Flex... on Amazon for a good price.... I use that thing if I need to put a little extra cheese on it....if I'm not able to get an impact wrench in there..... it works good
I saw the longer ones on Amazon. Somehow eBay ended up being cheaper✌️
I’m gonna continue using the Pittsburg pro line up for ratchets, there’ extremely cheap plus durable and if you break / lose one it’s almost always between 8$-22$ to replace it.
very surprised to see those big names near the bottom
impressed with the kobalt flex head, Pitsburg Roto head, and powerbuilt flex head more than anything. Verry entertaining nonetheless.
Usually, under normal conditions without a pipe extension, these tools last. For a worker to break it by hand, he must have the strength of a king kong!
Great videos. I watched this and the first one. My go-to ratchets are the Kobalt and the Pittsburgh Swivel. I've been impressed using them, but really impressed on how they tested. I don't ever put high torque on the Pittsburgh, but the swivel is handy.
I know it's expensive, but running more then one of each would make the test results more accurate, plus re-do the tekton and snap-on with the same test device
You went the extra mile to break the Tekton, break the Carlyle! Also, I'd be interested to see how the QR Tekton would do to compare it against the non-QR Tekton you tested.
Yes, I agree. Put that Carlyle to the max. I am sure I am not the only one rooting for this fine ratchet.
That HF swivel head is the best bang for your buck ratchet you can buy
I know that it would hurt your Wallet, and your Soul/Mind/Body, but I'd love to see a 50yo Ratchet Test...
Because, you can!
This film was fun to watch! I'm sure you'll get some gripers about your method, types of ratchets used, and etc. But that's because they weren't listening to what you were saying.
Thanks buddy! I appreciate you watching and commenting. I’m trying to keep it simple for testing and these are all my tools and not some manufacturer hand out. The brands and types are what they are. I should setup a PO Box for anyone that complains and wants to donate a ratchet!
No Husky? I'm not loyal to them it's just they are very common. It would be nice to see how they rank especially for the price. Im a huge Milwaukee fan so that was great to see. Either way great work!
From what I've seen husky fixed head ratchets are about 12-15 ftp less then snapper and texton
15:48 he shows a list of historical testing he's done. 259 lbs for the 100 tooth he tested. 4th on the list for cheapest ft lbs.
@@nachocheez9 right on. I totally missed that. I thought he had done other ratchets in the past. He is very thorough!!
@@TSGear yeah, I have seen a few of his videos, but never saw anything about previous ratchet breakpoints shown except this one. Was nice to see the whole list.
I love my Milwaukee ratchets. That being said, koken hand tools are the best I’ve ever used by a mile.
It amazes me how well some of the inexpensive ratchets perform. By price alone, one should be winning be leaps and bounds, but doesn’t.
Late to the party. The Milwaukee hand tools have impressed me, actually all Milwaukee tools is top shelf products.
The testing of flex against a non flex is not exactly fair. The Wright tools and Mac ratchet failed at the pin, not the gears. I would like to see either all flex or all fixed head designs.
My favorite feeling, working with ratchet is the Matco locking flex head.
I am amazingly happy with where Kobalt stands very proud to be a support of Kobalt tools thanks for the vide
Great video! Impressive results!👍🏻👍🏻
I would like to see a Matco
MCEngineeringInc Matco wasn’t in the budget for this one and I saved the Cornwell I have for Part 3. If I do a Matco truck video you will know I have a ratchet for sure😁
your videos on these are really awesome, thanks for making them!
I am considering the 15" wright 1/2 currently. I love my tekton but I want a Longer handle fixed head ratchet that is Stout for suspension work. If I could find a old duralast low count Long handle 1/2" I'd be happy with that to but not many on ebay.
Love your channel
Thanks, appreciate it!
Would like to see Matco in this please!! Milwaukee has done a great job with these new hand tools. Even their wrenches are superior to others. I had just watched a test video on wrenches. Milwaukee wrench slipped at 260 ft lbs.There stuff is quality and a great meet in the middle between too cheap and over priced tools.
Try SK's new LP90 ratchets. Would love to see how they compare. Wondering if your old SK was low from being older and used more. I've got a set of SK round head ratchets and a 1/4" drive lp90 and they've been the best ratchets I've owned!
The winner is clearly that Harbor Freight for the average DIYer. Heck I bought the swivel a couple years ago and still haven't used it. Probably cause I own a toyota lol. Runners up probably the Kobalt, Husky and Duralast
"What did you spend your check on this week billy?" "A bunch of wrenches, then I broke them all"
Would like to see the Stalhwille ratchet along with a Williams ratchet.
OLD SCHOOL WILLIAMS SUPER RATCHET !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dont be too disappointed with MAC. I have all three sizes of MAC Axis locking flex rachets, 1/4" - 3/8" - 1/2" with long handles and they are stout as fuck. Use them on heavy duty industrial equipment, hydraulic stuff, etc. They are not a daily driver type of wrench due to the price, but for the situation where nothing else will fit, they can make or break getting a job done. I use HF Icon, Husky, and Pittsburgh Pro for my daily rachets.
As I have said in other posts, give Wera a try. Would love to see how German Steel stacks up. I have several Wera ratchets and universal joints. Couldn't afford their sockets. Too rich for me. Besides I would only loose them. lol
Really expensive test. Many thanks !!!
Expensive yes and very Fun also. Have another one coming up soon.
ROFL! "That's what we have health insurance for!" Thanks for a great test video!
Chris
I've never been a fan of these test. Real world no one would be cranking this much torque on a bolt. This is why there are torque specs, electric impacts and breaker bars for. At least not me just my input.
I bet your tools are like Sid’s toys from Toy Story when you’re not in the room.
Wish all ratchets tested were fixed head ratchets. Was looking forward to the Wright ratchet till I saw it was a flex head
I agree pretty stupid not to have all them the Same style dugh!?
I agree as well, I love my wright ratchets and I'm disappointed he didn't get the 10inch straight ratchet for testing
Bonbon Flippers Would that have been Wright 3425? I have that ratchet too, but the neck is so slim near the ratchet it most likely would have bent like the Carlyle did.
@@ClientGraphics no you should do all fixed head ratchets vs fixed head ratchets!LOL pretty simple. Then flex head ratchets vs flex head ratchets! It's common scence.. not being a smartass just being honest and real. Ugh
@@ClientGraphics there is that one that's thin at the neck but also a 7inch one that is thicker. I have both but I'd be happy to see either for testing.
I think the flex head isn't fair but good video
I like the Milwaukee ratchet but i don't like the play in the anvil and their sockets on it, but it is a smooth and beautiful tool
I like how you put a bigger pin in it though! Come on boy!
I’d like to see if the carlyle bends without the comfort grip
Why wouldn't it?!
If husky was on the graph I really would have liked to see the Craftsman brand in there too
The regular Mac axis flex is much stronger but if you’re doing non flex against flex then of course the non flex will be stronger. Great video
Tekton is the clear winner. $25 and maybe the best (quickest/easiest) warranty of them all. First test it went almost 600 ft./lb.
I have some of those powerbuilt flex heads the head on them look identical to the carlyle flex heads I have a 3/8 thts 17in long i love tht puppy just wish it had a comfort grip but I well lol was cheap
You should really do the Proto 3/8 J5249 is a low tooth count ratchet. But its one of my favorites I have the 1/2 as well they are my old work ones now my garage users. I have beat the tar out of mine and they don't skip a beat. You should really do a test on these! Best part there $35 ish and American made!
Can you test the Steelman Pro Cobra 160 tooth ratchet. The ratchet is incredibly strong and I believe that Realtoolreviews was able to apply around 400ft-lbs on tbe 1/2" without breaking it. The number is very rough as he basically ran the bolt down with the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2763 Impact wrench. I'd also like to point out that the Cobra is a true 160 tooth ratchet with all 160 teeth machined into the head. In addition, the ratchet is a dual pawled design that engages 32 teeth at any given time. Realtoolreviews shows this close up in his review.
I have that Kobalt ratchet and while using it today I was curious if you’d ever do a video on it!
Hope you enjoyed the video and have the opportunity to continue using your Kobalt ratchet for many years!
It should do well for you if you keep it under 250 ft-lbs 😂
I really wish Tekton offered the super long handle ratchets in flex head. I want that 18 inch 3/8 90 toother, but a flex or pivoting head would make it a lot more useful.
That would be a big long flex ratchet 😁
@@ClientGraphics Indeed, but I want one for some reason. :P
Put the snap on and Tekton on that new torque meter and see if they go higher
Would like to see a Matco thrown in for the test.
Nicely done my Brother, you surprised me with the results, all I can say is Wow.
Thanks George for watching and commenting.
I'd be more interested seeing you fix them.
I'm surprised at the low performance of the MAC Axis locking flex head ratchet. I'm wondering if the locking flex head joint is its achilles heel since the ratcheting head seemed ok. Perhaps in your next test you could try a long handle fixed head Proto precision ninety series to confirm. Thanks for sharing & testing
I've got the vr1890lfpa and I love that ratchet. I put a four foot bar on it just to get the crank bolt from my 06 g35 and it didn't break a sweat. I notice the 1/2 is much more built in comparison to the Matco and Snap On in 1/2 drive.
The mac is fine this is an improper use of tools and would be embarrassing to take in for warranty. Just use what u like and can afford.
@@BrentVdz907 Yeah 200 ft lb is a lot for a 3/8 especially flex head I think lug nuts are 120 ft lb I'd never use a 3/8 on a lug nut. Thing about it is if you're going to use the ratchet every day the Mac is probably the best option.
I have the Milwaukee set and it’s amazing
It's very exciting to watch. Please test the Craftsman V Series ratchets.
You need to get a DeWalt ratchet in there...
It's literally the same as black and Decker, or Stanley. Lol
@@Shadowlizard48 you obviously haven't seen the past comparisons with the Dewalt hand tools.... they dominate....
I did a Dewalt tool set from Costco review the 3/8” drive ratchet was tested in that video ua-cam.com/video/jAjI9F0bvQY/v-deo.html
LOL! "OH! We tore the guts out of that one!" Chris HAS to be THE most macabre creator of the UA-cam tool community. Great video Chris. I'm really liking the graphs. Milwaukee stuns!
I’d be curious to see the 36tooth 3/8 snap on in comparison with their ‘dual 80’. (If someone already commented this or this was already done, I apologize)
When proto ratchet 90 tooth, test?
Same thing as the Mac ratchet
Ordered a Milwaukee 1/2" extended and im glad that the 3/8 can handle 300Ft lbs, god forbid if i ever see 200Ft lbs
MAC should be ashamed! Harbor freight! You go boy
Why ?
Because a flex head ratchet broke by being misused with a long cheater bar on it ?
I'm willing to bet that being used by a pro everyday for years the American made MAC keeps going long after the pawls on the disposable Harbor freight ratchet wear out.
Tyler Snyder It’s not the best just because it’s off of a truck. I have a couple of Pittsburg pro ratchets and when I need a ratchet they’re the first ones I pick up and they’ve been put through it and still work just fine. If you buy everything off of the truck you’ll spend your whole paycheck. Also if they do break I can get them warrantied that day on my way home instead of having to wait a week. They’re way cheaper also, it’s the way to go.
@@huntguy3831 I do not buy my tools off a truck, but when I can help it I do buy American made hand tools as much as possible.
I will never buy an import for a similar price to an American option just because it has flashier more modern features ( lots of this kind of stuff out there these days )
I'm willing to get used vintage American tools too if I can't afford something brand new.
There are loads of brands or manufacturers who fell by the wayside who made great tools you can get a good deal on because they're not a household name these days.
I don't need the most modern design or highest tooth count.
I'm fine with a good ol' MDF / Easco rhft or old Williams and Wright round heads.
They're strong durable tools when used as intended and can often be had for less than a in imported HF jobbie, they'll last longer too.
I don't know how many old American ratchets I've seen that were just wrecked on the outside but still perfectly smooth after a little clean and re-lube.
Btw it does help to know who manufacturers what for which other brands, there are a number of tools from the various truck brands that can be had for much less from the OEM.
Vaughan, Wilde, Channellock, Malco, and Trusty Cook to name a few all supply various tools to countless other brands including the trucks who charge a premium for their name.
The HF 1/2 flex head went to 500 ft lbs that's a lot for a flex head even for a 1/2 inch.
Tyler Snyder so butthurt
you should try out the crescent 3/8 long handle flex head ratchet, I have one and love it
You should re run the tekton and snapon on the same torque readout device, to make sure everything in your test doesn’t have limiting variables