The Ratchet Handle

[RWebb]

You wouldn't think there has been a lot of technological change but apparently there have been significant advancements in the last 25 years. My "new" Snap-off F831 has been exceeded in a number of ways. More teeth, more teeth engaging at one time (7), and the flex handle now locks.

OTOH, I expect this 1942 1/2" drive handle to feel primitive and it does:

[Pazuzu]

Don't forget to turn your ratchet off at night when you leave the shop or it'll be dead come morning.

[A930Rocket]

How can you tell the year from some tools? I have some Snapon tools from my grandfather that are a minimum of 60 years old.

[smadsen]

That old ratchet has "patina."

I still used 60 y/o ratchet set & open end wrenches my grandfather gave me. Who would have thought the Craftsman lifetime guarantee would time out before me?

[john walker's workshop]

Google snapon tool codes for the date.

[masraum]

Cool.

[sc_rufctr]

Since buying my Milwaukee ratchet I don't use mine as much anymore.

I use a breaker bar and then the Milwaukee on the bigger stuff.

[Baz]

[GH85Carrera]

I bought a set of sockets, the ratchet and two extensions back in 1970. It is the ratchet on the left. The chrome is worn off completely where it has been set down on concrete a few 10s of thousands of times. And yes, I still have the 10mm socket for that set!

The ratchet on the right is a new one I had to buy to do the pulley seal fix for my 85 911. Golly I hated to have to buy new tools. I bought it from Home Depot as they sell individual sockets and ratchets. It fit right on the nut and made quick work of it.

The thickness from the back of the ratchet to the top of the socket was the issue.



It was needed to get a socket and ratchet on this nut.

The new ratchet does have more teeth and a smoother feel.

[masraum]

Some of the modern stuff is good, but I still really like to have my old stuff, especially the stuff that was gifted to me by my parents and the stuff that was my dad's.

I found a Snap On ratchet in the parking lot of the auto-parts store that I worked in years ago after the place closed. One of the teeth were broken inside and it wasn't working. I waited a few days until I saw the truck at one of the shops across the street and ran it over. The guy replaced the guts for me. I've got a Snap On ratchet. I don't think I've ever used it because I have my and my fathers old Craftsman stuff (from the mid 80s for mine, and presumably from the mid 60s for my dad's).

[dad911]

My go-to these days is a cheap set from harbor freight, with a hole through the ratchet and sockets. I also keep a set of 'clone' gear wrenches nearby.

[red-beard]

A ratchet set of mine was stolen and I needed a set. I ended up at an ACE hardware and they only had S&K tools. I paid an enormous (at the time) amount of money for the Metric Set with deep sockets. I think that was 30 years ago and I still have the set. I need to get some 3/8" socket holders, as the plastic tray disintegrated long ago.

[Mike Andrew]

Still using an SK combo wrench set from 1970 and it's in perfect shape. Also bought an SK socket/ratchet set at the same time which my little bro has and it's still going strong. Used both in my machine shop job daily and paid a pretty penny for them at the time ,even with the shop's discount and payroll deduction payment arrangement.
Also still have my Kennedy 7 drawer box with all my SAE and bicycle tools in it.
Good tools are worth every penny you pay for them.
Now if I could find my 10 mm socket.......

[porsche tech]

Mishmash of Mac, Snap-on, SK, etc. Even have a Montgomery Ward half inch (the one with the black rubber handle) that I bought when I was 17 years old (I'm now 73)! Got the matching three eighths at the same time. The case on that one broke and I welded it back together and got a few more years out of it. Lots of miles on those tools.--Dave

[RWebb]

not a great video, but this guy has a serious tool porn addiction (and you can see why)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV7Ka8uTVBA

[Mike Andrew]

Sure miss the old Rigid Tool calendars which were top flight. Never made me purchase any Rigid products but left me that way😁

[A930Rocket]

It’s a slippery slope...

[Steve Carlton]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

It’s a slippery slope...

No kidding. Your tool chest wheels must have some great locks on them!

[wayne robson]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

Don't forget to turn your ratchet off at night when you leave the shop or it'll be dead come morning.

Mike ---that reminds me,your quote with my torque wrench,---release the spring tension
when finished----i always do. regards.

[sc_rufctr]

On "torque wrenches and spring tension"

Have you seen those torque wrenches that are preset to a certain value? (used in production line work in a factory) The springs in those can't be released so do they need to be re-calibrated more often? I'm guessing yes.

Also... I saw these being used in the local tyre shop on the end of their impact guns. They "give" at a certain torque. I don't know how good they.