Best Flex Head Ratchet Black Friday Deal

A Tool Gift for Yourself…or Anyone Else

Whether for yourself or someone special in your life, Black Friday is a great time to shop for tool deals and take some of the stress out of Christmas shopping. However, not all Black Friday Deals are good deals for consumers---especially when there is a wide range of similar models of a particular product to choose from that are unlikely to be equal in performance.

Therefore---at least when it comes to tools which often vary widely in price and performance---knowing which tool brand for whatever particular tool is the best choice, will help you determine whether that Black Friday Deal is really a good deal or not.

The Popular Flex Head Ratchet Gift Idea

One popular tool item that is guaranteed to make anyone with a toolbox and DIY attitude happy is to include a flex head ratchet amongst their straight or fixed-head ratchet/socket set.  Flex head style ratchets come in very handy for hard to reach areas like when changing spark plugs.

Related article: Changing Your Lexus Spark Plugs Can Save You $400

A flex head ratchet is a type of ratcheting wrench or socket wrench that features a head that can pivot or flex. The flex head design allows the ratchet head to bend or swivel at an angle, providing greater flexibility and improved access to fasteners in tight or awkward spaces. This feature makes it easier to reach nuts and bolts that may be challenging to access with a straight or fixed-head ratchet.

Related article: Some Cars Require Specialized Tools for DIY Projects

Important Points to a Flex Head Ratchet

However, not just any flex head ratchet will do. A good flex head ratchet has to possess a strong and durable locking mechanism that allows you to fix it at multiple angles where space constraints can be a challenge and at the same time be able to withstand applied torque forces.

Other points that are important include:

• The amount of “slop” within the ratchet pawl gear system.
• The amount of back-drag that decreases socket movement with each stroke.
• The handle and head design as measure of compactness for tight spaces.

The caveat here is that that when shopping for one you need to keep in mind that the specific design and features of flex head ratchets do markedly vary between different manufacturers and models.

Best Flex Head Ratchet Review

And that was the underlying message in a recent Project Farm YouTube channel episode where the host places several brands of flex head ratchets under a variety of tests to reveal which one (or ones) offer the best performance for the price without having to resort to the most expensive brand---which, by the way, is not a guarantee in many cases.

That said, here is the video that does the work for you and makes your tool shopping decision a breeze while saving you money.

Best Flex Head Ratchet? Let’s settle this!

For an additional articles about tool reviews, here are a few for your consideration:

• The Harbor Freight Tool You Can Do and Buy Better Elsewhere
• The Harbor Freight Tool Buyers are Reselling at a Profit
• The $10 Harbor Freight Tool That Can Save You From a $1,000 Scam

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on  “Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair” website, the Zen Mechanic blog and on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites  and Facebook for daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

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