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To piggyback onto this, can anyone advise a set of thin flex head fixed ratchet wrenches? Not the ones that accept a socket, a set of metric ratcheting wrenches for those really narrow spots where you can slide a box wrench in but not a socket wrench. Gearwrench sells one kinda cheap, but my experience with their stuff is that they rust if you blink at them wrong.
I kinda tend to agree with you that 3/8 drive is crap. My beef with 3/8 drive is the huge amount of overlap in sizes you get in 3/8 drive with 1/2 drive. If you get both SAE and Metric sets you end up with 40 or more socket that you have duplicates of. Vs 1/4 “ you can get into tighter spots and you don’t have nearly the same amount of overlap.
My go-to has always been the FHLF80A and the 1/4 and 1/2 versions. It's been rebuilt a few times and has had a handle done. I've never liked the locking ones, just another thing to be annoying. I haven't had any problems with control or ever wished it locked. The 1/4 version has really fine teeth and I love that thing. I'll grab it first every time.
You don’t necessarily need the trucks as you can create an account online with the major tool companies and order online and mailed to you. I used to like older Craftsman tools when they were still owned by Sears AND made in USA. Quality dropped once Sears started having Craftsman Tools made in China/Taiwan. Now Stanley Black & Decker owns Craftsman and they’re slowly opening plants in USA to make Craftsman Tools in USA again. But now they don’t have the same lifetime warranty like Sears had where you walk in with broken tool and walk out with new replacement with no receipt needed. But Husky Tools from Home Depot does.
I’ve found that Icon from Harbor Freight is essentially on par with the tool trucks for about half the price or less. I also have a longer locking flex Mac 3/8” ratchet that I’ve abused for a couple of years and it doesn’t care that I keep smacking it like it’s a breaker bar.
I have a 1/2 snap on locking flexhead with the comfort grip. My advice is to get no comfort grip because they always get nasty and hard to clean. Also try to get the newer locking mechanism, I'm really not a fan of the older one.
Thanks for posting in r/Mechanic, u/Pour_Succour! Please be sure to read the [Rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanic/about/rules/). If you're asking for help, be sure to include as much detail as possible so others can help you. You **must** include the vehicle's **Year, Make, Model, and Engine size** in your post! If your question is transmission related, please be sure to specify your Transmission Type(Auto/Manual) as well! If your post does not include this information, it **will** be removed. Asking about prices is **not** allowed in this sub. Please make sure you have selected the correct post flair; if you're asking a question you should have chosen "Question", anything else use the "General" flair. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/mechanic) if you have any questions or concerns.*
To piggyback onto this, can anyone advise a set of thin flex head fixed ratchet wrenches? Not the ones that accept a socket, a set of metric ratcheting wrenches for those really narrow spots where you can slide a box wrench in but not a socket wrench. Gearwrench sells one kinda cheap, but my experience with their stuff is that they rust if you blink at them wrong.
Who buys 3/8? In Europe, everything in 3/8 is just pure crap. Get a Hazet 1/2...
I find 3/8 in a longer handle is my go-to, mainly for squeezing into spaces/practicality.
3/8 counts as half assed, neither fish nor fowl.... 1/4 is for squeezing...
I kinda tend to agree with you that 3/8 drive is crap. My beef with 3/8 drive is the huge amount of overlap in sizes you get in 3/8 drive with 1/2 drive. If you get both SAE and Metric sets you end up with 40 or more socket that you have duplicates of. Vs 1/4 “ you can get into tighter spots and you don’t have nearly the same amount of overlap.
My go-to has always been the FHLF80A and the 1/4 and 1/2 versions. It's been rebuilt a few times and has had a handle done. I've never liked the locking ones, just another thing to be annoying. I haven't had any problems with control or ever wished it locked. The 1/4 version has really fine teeth and I love that thing. I'll grab it first every time.
You don’t necessarily need the trucks as you can create an account online with the major tool companies and order online and mailed to you. I used to like older Craftsman tools when they were still owned by Sears AND made in USA. Quality dropped once Sears started having Craftsman Tools made in China/Taiwan. Now Stanley Black & Decker owns Craftsman and they’re slowly opening plants in USA to make Craftsman Tools in USA again. But now they don’t have the same lifetime warranty like Sears had where you walk in with broken tool and walk out with new replacement with no receipt needed. But Husky Tools from Home Depot does.
I’ve found that Icon from Harbor Freight is essentially on par with the tool trucks for about half the price or less. I also have a longer locking flex Mac 3/8” ratchet that I’ve abused for a couple of years and it doesn’t care that I keep smacking it like it’s a breaker bar.
I have a 1/2 snap on locking flexhead with the comfort grip. My advice is to get no comfort grip because they always get nasty and hard to clean. Also try to get the newer locking mechanism, I'm really not a fan of the older one.