Flex head EDC ratchet wrenches let you work in confined and restricted space that you can’t get to with a fixed head EDC ratchet wrench. However, when you’re looking for a flex head EDC ratchet wrench, there are several important features that you need to look for. This includes a secure lock for the flex-head, and a precision, high tooth-count ratchet that enables you to still get fasteners moving even when you have very little room to work in.
When do you need a flex head EDC ratchet wrench?
Flex head EDC ratchet wrenches are something you don’t realise you need until you are stuck with a problem fastener you can’t reach without one. The scale of many EDC projects means that we frequently find fasteners that are recessed, positioned close to struts and components, or even at the bottom of tubes used as structural supports. You need a flex head EDC ratchet wrench to get into anywhere you can’t fit the handle of a fixed head EDC ratchet wrench.
How useful are flex head ratchet wrenches for Leatherman tools?
When you are using a Leatherman or other multitool with a flat bit holder that accepts an EDC ratchet wrench, the whole tool becomes the handle, which can severely restrict your access to any fasteners that are not sitting proud of a flat surface. When you have a flex head EDC ratchet wrench for Leatherman, you suddenly open up access to fasteners that have been placed in recesses, at angles or behind obstructions.
What are some typical use cases for a flex head ratchet wrench?
When you have a fastener that is behind a fixed object with limited clearance, the flex head EDC ratchet wrench enables you to reach around the obstacle to get a grip on the fastener. You can work around obstructions and nearby structures that make it impossible to reach a fastener with a fixed head ratchet wrench, and work on fasteners that are in shallow depressions.
- Fasteners behind fixed objects with limited clearance
- Recessed fasteners in shallow depressions
- Fasteners at the bottom of pipes & tubes
- Fasteners which are obstructed by nearby components or structures
What features should you look for in flex head EDC ratchet wrenches?
The features of flex head EDC ratchet wrenches that are important to get the best results are all related to the quality of engineering and manufacturing of the ratchet and flex head mechanism. This is a ratchet wrench that you will be using on fasteners that are in restricted or awkward locations where you may not have much room to turn the ratchet head. For this reason, a high tooth count ratchet is an advantage, as you don’t have to turn it as far as a low tooth count ratchet to engage the next ‘click’ and enable you to keep working.
- High tooth count, precision ratchet
- Lockable flex head angle
- Manufactured from high quality materials
The flex head angle should be lockable, if you can’t lock the flex head into position then when you are using the flex head ratchet wrench it will tend to move at the hinge under pressure rather than turning the fastener. Always look to check that a flex head EDC ratchet wrench has a positive, reliable, locking system for this reason.
Of course, build quality is extremely important for flex head ratchet wrenches. The reason that many ratchet wrenches do not have fine tooth ratchets is because they need to be made of higher quality materials to avoid breaking ratchet teeth when they are being used at high torque levels. A precision EDC ratchet wrench with a high tooth count ratchet needs to be well engineered and expertly manufactured.
Why are 711L flex head EDC ratchet wrenches the best choice?
At 711L EDC, we practice what we preach, and this is evident in our engineering and design choices, and the quality of our EDC gear. 711L flex head EDC ratchet wrenches have the fine toothed, high precision ratchet you need, and a flex head with its own ratcheting positive lock to ensure your efforts go to undoing the fastener and not rounding it off!
711L EDC ratchet wrenches are manufactured from high quality alloys to give you a lifetime of service, and come in several different types and configurations to match any EDC project need. Our flex head ratchet wrench with T-handle gives you additional torque and an extension tool when you need it, and of course our flex head ratchet wrenches are available for Leatherman alongside our standard EDC ratchet designs. Check out the entire 711L EDC ratchet wrench collection on Amazon!
