Choosing a ratchet

The click of a ratchet wrench is the defining sound of a mechanic. Ratchets and sockets are extremely useful and versatile tools for the garage - in this article we explain how a ratchet works and what to look for when choosing one.

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A ratchet spanner is used to tighten and loosen nuts and bolts. The ratchet mechanism lets it exert undo the nut only in one direction - meaning that you can quickly undo or tighten nuts without having to constantly lift the ratchet off, as you would with a traditional spanner.

All ratchets accept sockets using a square drive and mostly there are three sizes of drive. Everywhere in the world these sizes are given in inches - even when the sockets are metric.

• 1/4 inch - Used for smaller sockets and precision work. Useful for dismantling individual components on the bench.
• 3/8 inch - The middle sized, and in my opinion, most useful size for general use on a car. A 3/8" drive can drive sockets of all sizes. It is big enough to apply quite a lot of force, but not too big to fit into tight spaces
• 1/2 inch - 1/2" sockets are generally used for nuts and bolts from around 10mm and up. A 1/2" drive socket can apply enough force to undo all nuts on a car.
• There are also 3/4" and 1" ratchets but these are used on trucks, tanks and industrial machinery.

Tooth count

Inside a ratchet there is a toothed wheel which lets it freely rotate as you tighten the nut. Each click you hear is a tooth passing the ratchet. The more teeth there are, the less movement is needed on the return stroke. A ratchet with 75 teeth will work considerably faster than a 32-tooth ratchet. Making high tooth-counts requires quality engineering and manufacturing, so as a general guide the better quality tools will have a higher tooth count.

Socket release

Sockets are held onto the ratchet using a little spring-loaded ball on the side of the square drive. After applying a lot of force, I've often found sockets get stuck on the drive and the only way to get them off is to hammer the ratchet on the floor or even grip it in a vice. Good quality ratchets include a button on the back which smoothly pushes off the socket when you are ready to release it.

Choosing yours

More than any other tool, a ratchet will last you a lifetime. Quality ratchets can be serviced inexpensively and so should never wear out. Sockets are interchangeable because they are all standard. Buy the best ratchet you can afford, even if you buy inexpensive sockets to start with. My go-to ratchet was made in the s and inherited from a family friend. I still use it every day.

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If you've ever wandered the aisles of your local Harbor Freight, you've probably noticed a number of brands there that can't be found in any other brick-and-mortar store. Harbor Freight partners with these exclusive brands to offer tools at a wide variety of price points. This is how it's able to offer cheap entry-level products, mid-tier tools, and high-end specialty equipment. These companies endeavor to match the quality of their products to those offered by brands sold in competing outlets like Lowes and Home Depot and then lower the price in Harbor Freight stores to entice budget-minded buyers. Pittsburgh makes most of the retailer's most affordable options, while ICON is on the opposite end of the spectrum.

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ICON makes tools that are a part of Harbor Freight's premium lineup of products, meaning they tend to be a bit more expensive than tools from the other brands on display. You might be a little hesitant to pull the trigger on a tool that can cost two or even three times as much as the other products on the shelves without knowing more about ICON's history and how it stacks up to other brands. Here's everything you need to know about Harbor Freight's ICON series tools.

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