ratchet type spanner - who does good ones?

[vrooom]

I'm looking to buy one of those, who does good one?

I know nothing about those, should I avoid those and stick with my traditional spanners?

those type

[Super Slo Mo]

I have a couple of Halfords Professional Advance ones, they seem to be ok and well made, but I don't know if you can apply as much torque as with a conventional spanner.

They've not failed yet though.

[Mighty Flex]

Super Slo Mo said:

I have a couple of Halfords Professional Advance ones, they seem to be ok and well made, but I don't know if you can apply as much torque as with a conventional spanner.

They've not failed yet though.

+1. good value. Ratchet function is not technically covered by the lifetime warranty, though they are often generous in replacing things they don't even need to from this range.

I don't really see why you would need to put silly torque through one - use a normal spanner for the very first part of loosening something, if it's requiring lots of force and you will be fine.

They are great for getting at stuff with restricted room for movement - no real disadvantages over a normal spanner as far as I can tell.

[robseagul]

I work with the spanners everyday and would go for rachet and open end combo.i had a set of the doubles and gave them away..r

[dmitsi]

I have Halfords pro, no issues in 7 years of professional abuse. Don't think they're covered under lifetime, but as someone said, they can be generous. Also don't use them for tightening up properly, they just make undoing/doing up a lot quicker and very useful in tight spaces. I have solid ones and swivel head ones, both useful, but use the solid ones most of the time.

[marksx]

I have the Halfords pro ratchet spanners, even with me treating them really, really badly they still work perfectly. They are probably the msot used items in my tool box.

[voicey]

Halfords Pro with the flexible head - one of the best tools in my box.

[gsd2000]

halfords pro flex head here

[gsd2000]

i think i got mine on offer aswell

[robseagul]

If budgets an issue how about just buying a 10, 13,17,19 mm combos type..?

[one eyed mick]

There are limitation to their usebut are very handy in certain situations but beware of cheap chinese /indian crap, also you must keep them clan an well lubed

[ch427]

I use halfords pro and they are good as said. My dad bought a set of bergen spanners recently and they felt quite nice, wouldnt usually touch them but are about £40 a set on ebay and didnt feel cheap at all

[samdale]

Depends on budget I guess.

At work I've got a set of these Which are brilliant.

A colleague had some cheapo double ended RS ones which were cack.

Got a set of these on the way too.

P.s. If you're buying tools with your own money don't get them from RS, horrendously overpriced.

ETA: So to answer your question. Facom "does good ones". The "cack" RS ones I mentioned look suspiciously like the pic you posted.

Have a look for something that's 72 teeth.

Edited by samdale on Saturday 2nd February 22:07

[busta]

I have a Bacho set where 3 spanners covers 8-19mm. The quality is very good. They have taken a fair bit of stick.

One thing to be aware of is if they are flip-to-reverse type they will either be flat (hard to use on bolts on a flat surface) or have a pivoting head, which personally I find irritating. Ones with a reversible ratchet get around this.

ETA link to the Bacho set: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001DZRLXA/ref=asc_df_B...

Edited by busta on Saturday 2nd February 22:14

[Robb F]

Mac tools, ratchet flex head with open ends. The best out there imo.

[samdale]

doogz said:

Robb F said:

Mac tools, ratchet flex head with open ends. The best out there imo.

Got a link? I've never seen an open ended ratchet spanner before, and I can't find them on the Mac website?

I'm assuming he means a combination spanner. i.e. open one end, ratchet ring flex head at the other end.

I have used an "openable" ratchet spanner before though, something like this:



It work a bit like a spring loaded pair of slip joint pliers would. As you tighten, it grips tighter and releases when you undo.

Also just Googled and found this

[Robb F]

Yeah sorry, they're ring rachet with flex head at one end, and open the other.

[Conian]

I can only add to the support of Halfords Pro
Awesome kit

[G600]

Conian said:

I can only add to the support of Halfords Pro
Awesome kit

Unfortunately they don't do the imperial ones any more I've been looking for a set for ages.

[samdale]

My imperial set are gearwrench, pretty decent actually but I do prefer the feel of my metric facom ones.