Which ratchet ?

[gordon stephenson]

No teeth to wear or break, Amazed that I can't find anything at all about Quest tools on the internet,If anybody knows any different please let me know, Feels like this one will last forever, Nice small head too.

 

[mangocrazy]

Another vote for Bahco. Quality at a sensible price. I also really like King Dick (and not just for the name). Allegedly still made in the UK.

 

[anjum]

I've got quite a few ratchets including Britool, Facom, Halfords,
The Facom has 72 teeth which makes it better in restricted areas.

Still got a desire for one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FACOM-TOO...693636?hash=item2a4bfffb44:g:a38AAOSwZjJU2est
Why? Just because!
Did I mention I was a unrepentant toolaholic....

 

[Mee]

I like the Kamasa stuff, they also do Laser.

Guaranteed for life (why pay Snap On prices) and they do deliver, broke a spanner the first time I used it, contacted them, MD contacted me within 10 minutes and passed it onto another senior member of staff and gave me their direct contact details and took my details. Two days later a brand new replacement spanner arrived and with no quibbling, they didn't even want the old spanner back.

With service like that they really are guaranteed for life and they honour their warranties without quibbling.

 

[addjunkie]

I have a kamasa old socket set my dad bought me when I was 14, so i would stop using his stuff. The ratchet is still going, had scaff tubes on and all sorts of other abuse. I remember joking, life time garuntee, but no address to send it back to.

Personally speaking snapon stuff is nice....but the cost obscene. Having only ever broken 2 spanners in 35 years, the cheaper mid range stuff will do me. Ratchets only tend to fail if abused, and really breaker bars are for that.

 

[Migmac]

lots to think about/ look at.

 

[Kayos]

Go into Halfords and handle them, my 1/2 ratchet is 16 years old and generally gets used properly, or as a hammer and pry bar

The only ratchet I've had fail? My 1/4 Snap On, used for small stuff and never abused, the mechanism just fell to bits one day. Did manage to get it fixed after 2 attempts then sold it to a mate. Bought a Halfords one to replace it

 

[winchman]

No teeth to wear or break, Amazed that I can't find anything at all about Quest tools on the internet,If anybody knows any different please let me know, Feels like this one will last forever, Nice small head too.

Late 89 / early 90 I sold tools for a living and sold the Britool Hallmark version and the quest as a cheap alternative.
Quest tools were sold through what is now Northern Wholesale tools when it was a tiny operation wholesaling stuff in the very early 90s.
Britool also sold a professional range of them and about the mid 90s Tison tools ( Now gone) imported a magical little slimmer version which by the look of it Britool are now selling the same one with a longer different handle.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRITOOL-H...-4-3-8-1-2-Zero-Slack-HCRSET3RG-/151012237768
The slimmer head is the giveaway as the older late 80s one was more rounded.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Britool-Hallmark-MRC200-3-8-Drive-Slip-Clutch-Ratchet-/281986845186


Back to the OP I would suggest Halfords as whilst the snap on are excellent they are not worth the extra IMHO

 

[Shox Dr]

I've a ratchet from Signet, very nice. Their spanners also nice to use

 

[winchman]

I've a ratchet from Signet, very nice. Their spanners also nice to use

Not seen them for ages

 

[daleyd]

This is the 1/2 inch ratchet I have, excellent bit of kit but a bit expensive - not overly so for a proper quality bit of kit though.

Facom FCMS171 S.171 1/2-inch Lock On Ratchet Drive https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000GBKDF0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_xXXcybSJZ3BZ4

I've also got a Halfords pro 3/8 set which is decent enough for the money I paid for it, and a "new" britool 1/4 set which although not up to the original britool standards is actually not bad.

 

[Shox Dr]

Not seen them for ages

I bought the long handled 3/8" ratchet from a guy at the Landrover show at Driffield Show Ground about 10yrs ago. Never jumps, nice in the hand. Picked up a set of AF spanners a while back, just as nice. Plenty of gear on you know where, and reasonable prices.

 

[tazz]

i find that the halford 1s n machine mart 1s have beter workings than snap on ??????

 

[brightspark]

if snapon are so good why do u need the kits to repair them do u get them given free

 

[barracuda816]

Like everything they will break, i managed to break mine. I had an 8ft bar on the end of the 3/8 (couldnt get anything else in as the chassis rail was in the way) and yes the repair kit was free (well not really, its included in the massively inflated price). I have also got a halfords pro and that has taken some stick (not to the same extent though)

Just to be clear, i broke it when i abused it. I try not to abuse my tools but there are always times when its get the job done and maybe use the tool outside of its design of dont get the job done.

 

[GW8IZR]

if snapon are so good why do u need the kits to repair them do u get them given free

Yes the nice man in the van repaired mine for free..

When I bought my snap on stuff in the seventies / eighties it was a lot better than pretty much anything else - there was no Halfords pro stuff at the time, the stuff from halfords might have worked once or twice to get you home. Today there is not much difference. One attraction (for some) was the ability to buy what you needed on credit, having a few quid stopped out of your wages didn't seem too bad for a big roll cab even if you had most of your life to pay for it

 

[Aaron_]

IMO snap on is the best if you have a rounded nut or bolt your got more chance with a snap on tool tho some stuff very over priced and you don't always need expansive tools and your find most of there blue point stuff is just laser

Buy for the money the halford stuff is i nice little set I have one in Moto kit

 

[Richard.]

if snapon are so good why do u need the kits to repair them do u get them given free

We can all throw little (more likely exaggerated) sucsess stories in "I've done this with mine etc etc" but I haven't and I have no intentions of it either as I use them as intended.
Like I say I've got 4 all on original guts and all working well.
Never had a hammer near them nor a 6 ft bar.
1 dates back to the 70's and the newest is about 4 years old fl80 type. They get used heavily they get put under strain and despite the fact I've used a good few types over the years they are the best ones IMO. I like the fully sealed head and the fine smoothness they all have.
I like the fact that the oldest one which I use the most 3/8 non sealed one still has no peeling on the chrome. It's worn thin around the head and handle but it's all there.
I wouldn't Judge a ratchet on the abuse it can take.
Cos I don't abuse tools.

 

[zzr1200]

if snapon are so good why do u need the kits to repair them do u get them given free

I've never paid for a repair kit for a snap on ratchet, they have always been free.

In fact just had a 3/8 drive kit fitted to a 25 year old long handle flexhead unit very heavily used and a kit to a 20 year old 1/2" standard quick release unit the only thing wrong was the small external lever for direction change had been broken.

Many years ago Snap-on was one off the best manufacturers with the best back up service, now there other manufacturers that have upped their game/quality and caught up.

 

[Parm]

Depends what he's doing with them, I'm a home diyer and have all Halfords pro stuff. It gets used and abused as needed and never let me down