Sealey 12V Ratchet Wrench – Product Review
February 26, 2022
We live in a fascinating age, one in which technology is available at every turn and where once simple things are now far more clever than they have any right to be. Some of it is nonsense, of course. We were sent, I kid you not, a Bluetooth tyre inflator. This is technology for the sake of technology. I still had to plug it in, bend down and clamp it to the valve and then turn it on. In fact, thinking about it, I’m not sure what the Bluetooth element brought to the party. But I digress. Happily, the product I have here – the Sealey CP1202KIT 12V Ratchet Wrench – does not have Bluetooth. What it does have, however, is an incredible amount of functionality.
Get your Sealey 21v Ratchet Wrench here
The ratchet is something that has, by and large, remained largely unchanged for decades. As such, you can be forgiven for thinking an electric one seems a bit pointless. It’s not though, I can assure you. This isn’t a sponsored post, Sealey didn’t send this to me in the hopes of a positive review. I bought this of my own volition with my own money, and it is some of the best money I have ever spent. Have I retired all of my traditional ratchets? No, of course not. But this 12V unit is now a welcome companion to them. And it’s one you need, too. Trust me.
The Product
As mentioned above, this is the Sealey CP1202KIT 12 Ratchet Wrench. That is not a sexy name. It is, however, a sexy bit of kit. While the ratchet for the home mechanic has indeed remained largely unchanged, commercial settings have played host to air-driven ratchets of a similar design to this. Why? Because there is no ‘swing’ needed. You simply need to get the unit on the nut or bolt, then pull the trigger. No back and forth, no smashing your knuckles on chassis rails. Just ease of use. And that’s what this Sealey item brings, but without the need for an air compressor and affixed air line that you’ll probably trip over. Powered by a 12V lithium-ion battery, it’s got 45Nm of torque, so can handle a lot of fixings. The kit comes with two batteries, a charger and even a nifty carry bag. The battery is a shared design, too. So you can bolster your kit with a drill, a 3/8 impact gun, a grinder, a polisher and even a Dremel-style multi-tool. Talk about versatility. And the best bit? This CP1202KIT is yours for around £100. That is a bargain in anyone’s book.
The Test
The test is different here, in that I have owned this for months so have had it in regular use. I have used it when changing the rear suspension on my 800, I have used it while changing the timing belt and water pump on my ZX and I have used it for all manner of jobs in between. I have beaten on it, I have dropped it more times than I care to remember, and I even left it outside overnight once. Whoops. But hey, it still works a treat. The 45Nm is more than enough, and while it’s not really capable of cracking tight bolts, it should be noted that it ‘locks’ so you can use it like a spanner to get things going, then use the volts to finish the job. In tight spaces, this ratchet is a godsend. The first time I took the shocks out of my 800, I bashed my knuckles on all manner of metal while trying to swing a traditional spanner or ratchet. No such fuss with this. It’s a brilliant addition to your tool set, truly.
The Verdict – 5 out of 5
Well made, incredible value, unendingly versatile. This is the kind of thing we should all have in our tool box. Sure, you’ll probably still use your traditional ratchets for some jobs. But when space is tight, or when you just want to get jobs done quickly, this is the tool you need. It’s been reliable, I have given it a damn good kicking and it still work exactly as it did when I first unboxed it. It’s a bit dirtier now, but that’s about it. Plus, the added bonus of Sealey having other tools that use the same battery is brilliant. Yes, I also own the drill and the impact gun, because why not?
