Ian Vincent Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 I'm deliberating about whether or not to buy a few ratchet spanners - not a full set, just the three main sizes that I seem to need, 7/16", 1/2" and 9/16". Does anyone out there have a view on whether or not they are a good idea and if so, from where? Rgds Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 Hi Ian, I keep being tempted to get some ratchet spanners. They certainly look handy. Having had a look at ebay there is a vast range of prices £10 for 5 spanners up to £150 for 8 (Facom). I would suggest don't buy the cheap ones. Annoyingly Halfords do not have imperial sizes. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steves_TR6 Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 I have a ‘cheap’ set and a few ‘nice’ Wera Joker combination spanners. the Wera ones are lovely steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Geko Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 (edited) I have exactly that same combination in Snap-on as an addition to my regular spanner and ratchet sets. Extremely useful, bit of feel-the-torque thing too. Snap-on may be over the top price wise, so is Facom. My other sets are Genius brand - bullet-proof, half the price of Snap-on/Facom and (my) life time guaranteed. You may find them online by the piece or set i.e. http://www.toolninjas.com/product-p/gw-7708s.htm Edited June 13, 2019 by Geko addition Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 I have a metric Gedore set, and hardly use them, also because the are flat. I would recommend the ones that are slightly bent/angled (not flat) or if you prefer, the ones with a “knee” joint in them. Think it boils down to personal preference. Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
len1 Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 i have a few ratchet spanners, but find the walls of them a bit thick and cant use them in tight spaces, they are not cheapos . maybe the more expensive ones are better. when you can use them they are great Len Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richard71 Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 Laser Tools are decent brand name these days https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LASER-TOOLS-RATCHET-COMBINATION-RATCHETING-SPANNER-SET-SET-AF-IMPERIAL-1-4-3-4/162172240054?epid=2282418325&hash=item25c23800b6:g:Y5sAAOSwawpXtHXf very reasonable price. Shop around for a better price. I have "Britool Expert" Imperial Ratchet Spanners, can't seem to find them online right now. Richard. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AndyR100 Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 I am a big fan of ratchet spanners, I brought most of mine while in the United States where AF is the norm - Sears Craftsman range used to be tremendous value when the exchange rate was more favourable, they are are still ok if you catch one of the numerous sales - quality is very high. the downside is that many Sears stores have closed as part of their restructuring i have only brought a metric set over here though - Halfords (with trade card) is good quality and value. ...... Andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 On Sidescreen cars fitting and removing wings is simplified with my Snap-On 3/8-7/16 ratchet ring I also use 1/2-9/16 for things like suspension. The only other one I own is 1/4-5/6 which seldom gets used. I bought them in the '70's when it was 3 dollars to the pound and I mended aeroplanes as a living. And they were expensive then. ..... The other godsend is a 1/4 drive socket. Once loosened Cheers Peter W Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ianc Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 At the recent Chiltern Hills Rally (near Aylesbury), I acquired in the auto jumble a set of about five or six new (in a sealed pack) Imperial ratchet spanners for £15. They are flat and I don't envisage needing to use them very often, but there's certainly a job when one of them should save me time, and that's the removal/replacement of the oil filter can, which is very difficult to access on my car because of all the other things which get in the way! Using a flat, open-ended spanner and flipping it back & forth to get a twelfth of a turn has always been a pain. Ian Cornish Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PodOne Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 Would not be without them have straight, flexible heads and stubby ones. Halfords where possible but would not recommend cheap as they are generally larger increments and harder to use in tight spots where fine is better. For the odd tight spot I grind a decent ring spanner down. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
barkerwilliams Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 I too like ratchet spanners but I find the cheaper spanners have few large ratchet teeth and in a limited space they are difficult to use effectively. I like Wera ratchets which have fine ratchet teeth and can operate with limited access. Alan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hawk Posted June 14, 2019 Report Share Posted June 14, 2019 10 hours ago, barkerwilliams said: I too like ratchet spanners but I find the cheaper spanners have few large ratchet teeth and in a limited space they are difficult to use effectively. I like Wera ratchets which have fine ratchet teeth and can operate with limited access. Alan +1 - the ability to use ratchet spanners in a confined space really is dependent upon number of teeth on ratchet Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted June 14, 2019 Report Share Posted June 14, 2019 Do the gearless ratchets have a fine action (no teeth) Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mike ellis Posted June 14, 2019 Report Share Posted June 14, 2019 I have a set of six Halfords AF ratchet spanners bought in one of their sales a few years ago. Good quality and very handy in many situations. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TorontoTim Posted June 14, 2019 Report Share Posted June 14, 2019 I can't help with brands in the UK, but I highly recommend them. Mine have flexible/angle-able heads and there are some jobs that are HUGELY easier with them. I have 7/16, 1/2 and 9/16. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stillp Posted June 14, 2019 Report Share Posted June 14, 2019 I have some cheap ones, in metric and imperial, and yes, they are very useful. Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tim D. Posted June 14, 2019 Report Share Posted June 14, 2019 Also picked mine up in the states. Found the ones that have a lever to reverse the direction are less robust than the simpler ones where you reverse the spanner to reverse the direction. However in my opinion both are invaluable Tim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andy Moltu Posted June 16, 2019 Report Share Posted June 16, 2019 The rarer option are “open” ratchet spanners which are even harder to come by but are very useful in difficult access situation. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Oddball Posted June 16, 2019 Report Share Posted June 16, 2019 3 hours ago, Andy Moltu said: The rarer option are “open” ratchet spanners which are even harder to come by but are very useful in difficult access situation. That’s a new one on me, never come across them, sound useful though Cameron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andy Moltu Posted June 16, 2019 Report Share Posted June 16, 2019 Screwfix sell a limited number of sizes but mine came from the restoration show but available on line Places like this not cheap but quality. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
foster461 Posted June 18, 2019 Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 I have several sets in the garage tool boxes and in the TRs. Some with levers, some that you have to turn over. I dont know how we survived before these were available. My only problem is a couple that got too close to the 80 grit aluminum oxide in the blast cabinet and now they stick occasionally. Stan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boxofbits Posted June 18, 2019 Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 I still have a 1/2” 9/16” Snap On ratchet spanner from around 1973 which is still working. But do beware of a worn ratchet as ones knuckles can receive a serious pasting if it decides to suddenly slip (so I found out). Kevin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Vincent Posted June 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 Thks all, the consensus seems to be that they are a good idea. I have seen some middle of the road (in terms of quality) Elora ones on eBay that I will probably go with. The first set of spanner’s I bought were made by Elora (back in 1967) and they are still in my toolbox and being used. Rgds Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted June 18, 2019 Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 (edited) On 6/16/2019 at 11:06 AM, Andy Moltu said: The rarer option are “open” ratchet spanners which are even harder to come by but are very useful in difficult access situation. +1 i have a seldom used Snap-On set of 4 ratchet open Enders from 3/8 AF. They have limited use except in narrow spaces on stiff or nyloc nuts. , the need to 'ratchet' every 60 degrees due to the odd leg design encumbers the swing. Too often it would be easier to use an open ender and keep turning it over after each 'turn'. As ever the right tool will be best for the right job.... cheers Peter W Edited June 18, 2019 by BlueTR3A-5EKT Spelling Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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