Best Ratchet (1/4 In)? Snap On, Icon, Proto, GearWrench, Prototype

I don't think there's a channel on YouTube that comes close to your level of testing. Outstanding as always! Thank you

I've always preferred the reverse switch to be stiff, nothing agravates me more than trying to maneuver a ratchet into position inside a tight spot where i cant reach only to have something bump the lever into the wrong setting, I've had to go as far as wrapping the handle in electrical tape to make it stop.

I generally agree with most testing methodologies, but the ratchet switch being too loose is just as much of a problem as it being much too tight.

I appreciate how thorough your tests are. I need a new 1/4" wrench and stopped myself from just impulsively buying the husky when I walk by. Now I know that it's actually a quality product for the price. Thanks for putting an end to this ongoing battle in my head every time I go to home depot LOL

The TRO and 3d printed contenders were an extremely entertaining addition. It's always very interesting to see how the top performers don't necessarily come from a particular company, country, or at the highest price.

Todd, you are almost single-handedly changing tne tool world You are the exact definition of positive social influencer! Great work as always.

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 🛠️ This video compares 1/4 inch ratchets' performance, including Arc swing, Back Drag, and failure load, among various brands. 01:52 🧰 Ratchets with efficient gear sets result in better working Arc swings within tight spaces. Crescent and Gearwrench 90 stand out in this aspect. 03:03 ⚙️ Back Drag matters for ease of use. Milwaukee, Crescent, and Gearwrench 90 perform well, while Harbor Freight Icon struggles. 04:13 🔄 Smooth directional lever switches enhance usability. Asada, Crescent, and Gearwrench 120 excel in effortless direction change. 06:08 💰 High-priced ratchets, like Nepros and Proto, offer excellent directional lever usability, but the latter is more affordable. 07:32 🧪 Prototype Tro ratchet performs impressively with 3D printed titanium and carbon fiber components, offering both light weight and strength. 08:16 ⛏️ Ratchets' torque resistance varies, with solid drive ratchets (Gearwrench 90, Mac Tools, Proto) demonstrating high torque tolerance. 09:55 📏 Compact ratchet head profiles are crucial for tight spaces. Gearwrench 90, Crescent, and Gearwrench 120 excel in this regard. 11:49 💪 Ratchets with solid drives (Gearwrench 90, Mac Tools, Proto) showcase high torque resistance, while quick-release drives perform differently. 13:27 🛡️ Torque testing reveals Gearwrench 90 as a strong performer, followed by Mac Tools and Proto. 14:36 📜 Each ratchet's strengths and weaknesses are summarized, taking into account factors like price, performance, and buil

If project farm ever stops im going to riot! Best review content bar none!

I've worked as a professional mechanic. When starting to look at this video I was thinking that some of these ratchets won't be very strong, and there is some difference in the failure loads, but not a lot and even the lowest one at 66 ft-lb would be stronger than what a person should need from a 1/4" drive ratched with a short handle. If you need more torque then get a larger ratchet. I think the most important test for these small ratchets is the back drag test. You will frequently be using a small ratchet on small fasteners that don't offer a lot of resistance. Second most important is how well they work in a tight space because you are likely to be using a ratchet like this in a tight space.

The fact you've made all your jigs and tests so far without having a 3D printer in your arsenal is "VERY IMPRESSIVE"! Excited to see what kind of things you come up with in the future utilizing it!

As always a fantastic review. So cool to let me know a $30 ratchet is great for 99% of the things I’d ever expect it to do. That’s one reason I enjoy your non biased approach to testing! Thanks!

Pro Tip: You can reduce your ratchet's back drag by applying a SMALL amount of lube to the internals. If your ratchet is old, you can disassemble it, clean it, and LIGHTLY lubricate the internals and it will significantly reduce your back drag. I like a drop or two of ATF. It has a lot of detergent in it and keeps things clean when you go to clean and lube the ratchet in the future. I do this twice a year.

Seeing prototypes in the lineup is kind of exciting! I appreciate that you protect the integrity of the test by buying the item, and remind us that this thing is still being developed.

That's cool that you've become prominent enough that some companies are starting to pay serious attention to you. That's exactly what we need! Very Impressive!

I love showing your videos to die hard Snap On guys -- I've got over 25 years experience as an auto/marine mechanic and I never sold myself out to those tool trucks. I've always been a Craftsman/Husky and then added Pittsburgh to my sets and do the same jobs people say 10x the amount for tools. Being in the marine industry, if I drop a 10.00 ratchet off the back of a boat in the water, oh well.. It wasn't a 100+ dollar ratchet.

As an aircraft mechanic, the TRO ratchet shows great promise as a prototype. I think the gears need to be improved upon, namely the arc swing as I need to get into some pretty tight spaces sometimes. If that can be improved upon, I'd strongly consider buying one for my tool box. As a flight mechanic, the weight is also important to me because I need to take my tools on commercial flights and I struggle with leaving tools behind at home because my tool box weighs too much. Like I said, it shows promise, but can be improved upon.

I would love to see prototype tools get compared to actual production tools. It is neat to see the journey that manufacturers take to releasing a tool.

The close ups of the ratchet mechanisms and failure points are not only a joy to us gearheads, but a goldmine to manufacturers. The effort to disassemble, video, and assess the internals is not lost on me, and it is high time we had a behind-the-scenes video. Please understand that we love what you do, with passion. A behind-the-scenes with you at a video editor, you setting up tests, you shopping for test equipment (the proto torque tester was not cheap), a simple and cheerful interview about how you came up with sending oil samples to a lab, your favorite WHATEVER. For sure you have an envious karma surplus, it is past due you acted a little selfish.

I have a Snap-on TLLF72 that I purchased a couple of years ago when they first came out: $99. By far the most I've ever spent on a ratchet, let alone a 1/4" drive ratchet. But, it's by far the most used ratchet I own. I use it for pretty much everything short of lug nuts! Expensive? Yup. But worth every penny.

Great video, as always! Love seeing more and more Proto in there, I've always been a fan!