A reasonably priced half inch ratchet?

Lawson has King Dick ratchets for not huge money. There's a reversible 72-tooth one for £23 (prob +VAT).

www.lawson-his.co.uk/scripts/products.php?cat=King%20Dick%201%2F2%22%20Drive%20Accessories

I don't know if the mechanisms are available though.

Halfords are variable branch to branch. Team Valley Gateshead are a superb branch to rival any parts factor. I mean that, the staff there insisted upon having parts catalogues installed online that othe branches don't have.

The Halfords pro range has a lifetime guarantee that Halfords stand by. I also have a trade card so 20% of all prices in the pro range.

I feel that is credible!

Not picking an argument speedy88, just suggesting that the pro stuff isn't such a bad deal, especially if you can find a good branch.

I also have the newer shape halfords advanced 1/2" jobby, (the one thats its own shape not a copy of the snap-on shape) had it about a year of constant abuse (scaffold poles, hammers, etc.) and still going strong, plus theres the added peice of mind that if I do smash it I can walk into branch and get a new ratchet mech for a fiver, seven days a week. no-one else can offer a repair/replace that quick, regardless of gaurentee. ratchet mechs arent covered on the warranty, but I think the only people who do are snap-on, then you have to wait up to a week for the van to come round to replace it anyway. id rahter pay £5 and have it fixed immediately.

its so good I went and got a 1/4" one too.

my snap-on, teng, gedore, king dick and elora ones all sit in the toolbox largely unused now, says it all really......

Another vote for Halfords Pro gear here, its worth noting that if you ever DO break one, Halfords are open 7 days a week so your not stuck waiting for a replacement if it snaps on a Sunday.

Franklin or Bergen, but then I like the feel of Halfords Pro range.

My dad has had his Franklin ones about 15 years and there still going strong.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Franklin-Tools-72-Teeth-Fine-Action-1-2-Ratchet-FT1272-/260946634107?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item3cc1a1a57b

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BERGEN-TOOLS-1-2-COMPOSITE-PRO-RATCHET-/150602208564?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item2310975534#ht_525wt_817

Gonna go with the flow here, i've had my halfords pro set for 7 odd years and i've abused the hell out ot daily without a hint of problems, i did break the 3/8th ratchet one sunday morning taking head bolts out with it but i had it repaired in 30 mins for 4.99, try that with any other ratched , i bet you cant

epic tools - curse word shop - horrendous employers to work for

I agree with the folks recommending Halfords pro...I myself have a few of their tools, mainly ratchet spanners, and I can't fault them (they get a lot of stick, I'm a mechanic by trade)

As I'm in the trade full time I mainly use Snap On, now I know Snap On stuff is horrendously expensive, but looking on eBay there are a few second hand ones like this... www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SNAP-ON-LONG-1-2-INCH-RACHET-/130655208964?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item1e6ba84604#ht_500wt_1287 that may be worth a cheeky bid...

You don't even need the receipt anymore, they had complaints about the fact that the writing wore off the receipts over time to the point where they were just a blank piece of paper, so they no longer need to see it to replace lifetime warranty items.

I'll give another vote for Halfords in terms of quality for the cost. I'm not sure of other options though, and I get where you're coming from about not wanting to give them the money.