Craftsman Low profile

[kartracer55]

Well I was thinking about getting one as I dont own a fine tooth ratchet, In 3/8, fine tooth and 1/2 are kinda like oxymorons, but anyway...

Has anybody opened one of these up? Is it just one or two teeth on the pawl or is it more like a fancy schmancy SK fine tooth with 17 teeth? Will they take a beating? Your talking to monkey boy over here, who managed to break a snap on ratchet :scared: lol

Anything else about the construction? i dont think sears would let me take one apart :lol:

Thanks

Jim

[toolcrazy]

What's up Jim? The Craftmans low profile ratchet is the BEST ratchet hands down. Though I don't own as many ratchets as Rachetdon, I have over 80 and not even my Snappys, Mac or Sk are better. I've taken all 3 sizes apart and there are ten teeth in contact with the pawl, making them very strong. They also have 2 o-rings, making them a sealed head design as you probably know. The fit and finish is better than any other ratchet as well. Plus the way the ratchet fits in your hand is perfect. It also does'nt have a plastic direction change lever like many of the other Craftsman ratchets. I've had my 3/8 since 2002 when it first came out and was the only size available at the time. I was hopeing at the time the 1/4" and 1/2' sizes would come out and Sears did not disappoint a year later. Back then they didn't have a 3 piece combo and separately they were $120 plus tax. Plus the exchange rate back then was close to 50 cents on the dollar compared to about 18 cents today. Close to $200 Canadian. No Sears 3 piece ratchets would even come close to costing that much here in Canada. And today with the lower price for all 3 and the much lower exchange rate, they are a real bargain at about $125 Canadian. Too bad they're not available here. If there are other Canadians close the US border, do yourself a favour and drive over there and get these ratchets. I've been using these everyday at work and they're holding up very well. :bounce:

[kartracer55]

Sweet... Im convinced now... craftsman has a habit of doing everything 90%, but I guess they did it right this time!!

Thanks

Jim

[stupidjet]

i actually sold my snap ons after i got the thin profile ratchets...i hated how i needed a screw driver to get the socket off of the snap ons and how much friction was needed on the bolt for it to ratchet. one may say that is "quality" but i want a ratchet to remove the bolt...anyways, i really like them and would recommend them to anyone.

[bmwpower]

I can't believe what I'm hearing... Craftsmans are BETTER than Snap-ons??

[kartracer55]

I can't believe what I'm hearing... Craftsmans are BETTER than Snap-ons??


haha yeah, people rant and rave about these things. 60 tooth too... hmm, doesnt matco have a 60 tooth "fine tooth " series of ratchet too.........


Jim

[toolcrazy]

I forgot about the 60 tooth. They're just like me, very very smooth :thumbup: . Like stupidjet said, the Snap-ons don't have a quick release, which means most of the time you have to pry off the socket and the backlash and backdrag of the Snappys aren't great to work with. You might think the Snappys are sort of smooth, but if you try the Craftman thin profiles you'll see what smooth really is. Plus the thin head has come in handy at times. I only wish they would come out with a longer 3/8" and a flex head in the same size. Are you listening, Sears? :willy_nil

[stupidjet]

i dont give in to the snap on craze...EVEN if you are a profesional. i know many pros that use and have used craftsman AND other like brands for years putting food on the table without a problem. go to a shop right now and open a tool box, let me know what you find... tools break no matter what brand if dont use them properly. for example, ever heard of a breaker bar? snap on is a marketing god, simple as that...just like tommy or nautica clothing, youre paying for name, style and bragging rights (but i'm guilty of it too)...braggin about high end tools is very popular on the web forums. but this is america and do as you please.

[Wolverine]

Gotta pic of one of these ratchets?

[kartracer55]

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00944995000&subcat=Ratchets

[Luckydevil]

Damn, might have to go get one now. Good info guys. :beer:

[YJTypeR]

I've had all three for a while now and am still in love. Don't discount the 1/2" either, there have been many times I've needed a fine tooth larger ratchet. They are all three extrememly smooth and fit wonderfully in my hands. Awesome ratchets for the money.

[AdamMopar]

Sweet... Im convinced now... craftsman has a habit of doing everything 90%, but I guess they did it right this time!!

Thanks

Jim

:rolleyes2

[MarkH]

Does anyone have a comparison to SK's 72 and Matco's 60 tooth ratchets? I have a couple places my 36 tooth ones just barely make it.

[stupidjet]

:rolleyes2


youre right, only snap on can make nice tools that work.

[kartracer55]

Does anyone have a comparison to SK's 72 and Matco's 60 tooth ratchets? I have a couple places my 36 tooth ones just barely make it.


id bet they share a part or two from the matcos... why make more parts than you have too?

Jim

[Rickster]

Thanks for posting the pic! I remembered I had got one similar from a garage sale for a couple of bucks. Went out and searched the garage and found it on the shelf with some other sale stuff I had picked up that weekend. 3/8 drive high chrome finish, it looks really nice! Can't wait to use it now!

[bmwpower]

Looks like word has gotten out about these.... Sears online is temporarily out of stock on the set of 3.

[thump186]

The one thing i notice is some of craftsman quality seems to be dropping some. I had a ratchet that i traded in because it was simply worn out. Anyway i traded it in and when i got the replacement it had a plastic release button and direction lever this may seem minor but the one i traded was metal. Seems like alot of companies are cutting cost and corners. I don't see this as much with snap on this is why i'm a fan of thier products.

[G1K]

Don't trade in the older ratchets, have them rebuilt.



Ryan

[kartracer55]

The one thing i notice is some of craftsman quality seems to be dropping some. I had a ratchet that i traded in because it was simply worn out. Anyway i traded it in and when i got the replacement it had a plastic release button and direction lever this may seem minor but the one i traded was metal. Seems like alot of companies are cutting cost and corners. I don't see this as much with snap on this is why i'm a fan of thier products.

Sears is trying to compete with the Husky and Duralast type tools made overseas. If your just an average guy looking to fix your kids skateboard or something, are you going to buy a $60 snap on ratchet or a 9.99 husky ratchet? See what I mean? Most of sears stuff is from Danaher, they could quite easily make tools of the snap on caliber (like this ratchet), afterall, they do make Armstrong and Matco, but they want to keep the price down as well. This is most likely why they have the regular and the pro line, Regular meant to be cheaper and compete with the HD and Ace brands, and the Pro line to be, well, Pro... the pro wrenches are much better quality than standard, look at this ratchet too!

Tools from 40-50 years ago were right on par with thier snap on equivalents ( i have a pretty decent old tool collection too) at a time when hardly any cheap import tools were coming into the US. The times have changed and to keep up, sears has had to make adjustments.

I applaud sears for these ratchets, havent heard anything bad and I am going to buy at least the 3/8, but they need to expand more on the Pro linet oo.

Jim

[z28toz06]

I never saw one of these ratchets until I read this thread. They are very nice looking. I went to sears and checked them out and I must have them! I see them in the catalog fro the set of three for 79.99. I will be adding them to my box asap!

[Uncle Buck]

With sears, I don't even want them to rebuild my ratchets, just give me the proper gut kit and I will do it myself, Thank you very much! :cool:

[motorheadjohn]

Got a link to rebuild kits by chance?

[Uncle Buck]

motorheadjohn: I have no link, all I do is go to the store with the shot ratchet and they have always produced a gut kit on the spot, they will even install the guts if you want. I just like rebuilding my own. :bounce:

[amishman]

I got this 3 ratchet set for Christmas from my wife. Super cool gift. I had some real nice Hazet Ratchets but figured why did I need such expensive ratchets and sold them this year for what i paid for them. Then, I asked for the Craftsman for Christmas and at 1/2 the price of the Hazet, have some nice Ratchets. tj

[Wolverine]

Does anyone have a comparison to SK's 72 and Matco's 60 tooth ratchets? I have a couple places my 36 tooth ones just barely make it.




A friend of mine has been a Ford mechanic for 18 years. He has this 3/8 60-tooth Matco ratchet in his "carry around" tool box (all his Snap On stuff, etc is at work). We've wrenched on my mustang several times together and I've used this ratchet several times. I was very impressed! He had pointed out that it was the only "comfort grip" ratchet that he has owned and is VERY impressed with it's performance and low profile.

It really is a good ratchet. :thumbup:

[chevy302dz]

The low profile Craftsman ratchets are the best deal going, I really hope Sears expands the line to include flex heads and long handles. The Matco version is nice but it doesent have the squared handle or the quick release button.

[stupidjet]

the craftsman has 60 teeth.

[chevy302dz]

The Matco version also has 60 teeth