New 1/4" dr ratchet options

[Krokodil]

I'm looking at getting a good quality 1/4" dr ratchet. I've narrowed it down to the Stahlwille 415 and the Snappy FHL72.

I like the finish and recessed level on the Stahlwille more, but the Snappy has got more teeth!

Any experience with any of these?

 

[DanCo]

The Snappy gets my vote.

 

[tonydanzah]

I am normally a matco guy, but between those 2 i would take the thinner head snap on

 

[mspecperformance]

The snappy dual 80s are nice but im a big fan of the Matco 88s or any danaher ratchet that accepts the 88 guts. My most used 1/4 daily rat is a gear wrench 1/4 with a comfort grip and 88 guts

 

[Seanbev24]

I haven't tried the stahwille ratchet so I can't say anything about it. I own several Snap-On 1/4" drive ratchets and absolutely love them. The only thing I don't like is the price. How much does the stahwille ratchet cost?

 

[lipadj46]

How about the new craftsman premium ratchet? Save some bucks maybe.

 

[Krokodil]

The snappy is actually a THL72. The price is more or less similar. We don't get craftsman here in south africa.

 

[Seanbev24]

How about the new craftsman premium ratchet? Save some bucks maybe.

Good option if they live up to the hype. As much as I bad-mouth craftsman, I'm rooting for those to succeed.

 

[MrMark]

I have the TL72, but I find the TF72 to be the one I reach for.

How much is that Stahlwille?

 

[Krokodil]

The price is about the same here. Not too sure about the $ prices.

 

[MrMark]

I'm sure the Stahlwille is nice too. But based on just pictures, and my use of the snap-on, it is finished beautifully and it is smoooooth, I would tend to get the Snap on. Maybe comes down to which one feels better in your hands and which one you can get serviced if it breaks.

 

[Seanbev24]

Another thing to add... For 1/4" drive ratchets I'd much rather have a slim regular handle like the T72 or TL72. If I'm using 1/4", chances are space is at a premium.

 

[Danglerb]

For 1/4 drive the ratchet I grab from my box the most is the Harbor Freight stubby swivel head, and about the only other one I use "intentionally" is I think a Mac Micro something that is VERY small. Not many things the HF swivel with an 8" wobble extension can't handle, as long as its a job for a 1/4 drive and not a muscle job that needs a 3/8.

 

[MattT]

I'd definitely get the Dual 80. No way would I pay top dollar for a 22 tooth relic. If tooth count doesn't bother you look for a used SO 30 tooth and save some $$.

Stahlwille 415

 

[Delray]

The two 1/4" I use most are a SO TH737 rotor head and a Craftsman Thin Profile. I have SO T72 and TFLH72 and they are nice ratchets also.

I have not tried the new premium grade craftsman ratchets but if you pay that much you might as well get a Snap ON.

 

[Davefr]

Neither one because at 1/4" I just don't like lever ratchets. I'm always hitting the lever and accidently reversing the ratchet or going into free wheel mode. (big hands, small ratchet and tight spot causes this to happen too often).

I dumped my SO 1/4" and picked up an SK and couldn't be happier. You might also want to look at SO round heads.

Pear heads are best at 3/8"+ or very long handle 1/4".

Personal experience.

 

[Monte]

only 12 teeth less than the SO......

 

[lbgradwell]

Bump for some info from Monte, other Germans, Europeans, or anyone else who might know!

I just found this older Stahlwille 415 for $5 at a local used tool store. It was, without doubt, the filthiest ratchet I've ever cleaned! No idea how it could have gotten so grimy...

Anyway, now that it's had a thorough cleaning and re-lubing, it is quite a nice piece.

I notice the handle shape has changed, but an intensive Google search has failed to find a single picture of a similar model.

Who can tell me the vintage of this thing? As you can see, the screws that hold it together are slotted...

 

[billymade]

Well, it says "germany" instead of "west (w.) Germany"; so, I would think, after 1989.... (after the wall came down) Monte, give us some info! Samstag Sales; still has a older style handle similar to yours; I guess the question is.. when did they go to the green/black style grips?

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=stah...&tbnw=189&start=0&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0

Another style handle here: http://www.samstagsales.com/images/sw415sk.jpg

Considering the above two pics; I wonder if someone put their own custom handle on it?

 

[canuckian]

Ive never used a stahlwille so I can't comment on it. The THL72 is a fine ratchet, no doubt. My favorite in that lineup though is the thlx72 which is a comfort handle locking flex head. Best of both worlds!
don't know if you can get Hazet in South Africa but I just picked up one of their New 72 tooth round head 1/4 ratchets (863-1) and couldn't be happier. Damn fine tool.

 

[johnnybentwrench]

I have the Stahlwille 1/4

 

[Monte]

my oldest Stahlwille catalog is from 2004 but they already had the green/black handles then and all black plastic handles but in a different shape like in this pic:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ps50k0/5717397714/in/photostream

 

[lbgradwell]

Well, it says "germany" instead of "west (w.) Germany"; so, I would think, after 1989...

Samstag Sales; still has a older style handle similar to yours; I guess the question is.. when did they go to the green/black style grips?

Considering the above two pics; I wonder if someone put their own custom handle on it?

Surely they would not have been using slotted screws in 1989 or later!? I saw the handles like the ones at Samstag, but they are different again, so I guess your custom handle idea is a possibility... Still, it just might be even older...

my oldest Stahlwille catalog is from 2004 but they already had the green/black handles then and all black plastic handles but in a different shape like in this pic:

From your experience, when would German manufacturers have ceased using slotted screws?

 

[Toolhorder]

I like Stahlwille (it's cheap at the fleas and commands SO prices used online) but that handle is too big for me. It looks like an arcade joystick. I want to fix cars not play street fighter 2 or something
I think SO's handle is too big most of my rats are straight chrome.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

The snappy dual 80s are nice but im a big fan of the Matco 88s or any danaher ratchet that accepts the 88 guts. My most used 1/4 daily rat is a gear wrench 1/4 with a comfort grip and 88 guts

So the teardrop gear wrench ratchet sold today will take the Matco 88s guts?
Is that just a 1/4" drive Matco 88s rebuild kit?
If that the case where do I get one and is there a part #?
I like the feel of the Gear wrench in my hand, but the action is just so so.

 

[lbgradwell]

Well, thanks to Rob, I can confirm that the handle is factory and was available in the USA from at least 1983 to 1994...

1983 dealer catalogue:

1994 condensed catalogue:

As you can see, the 1983 catalogue depicts slotted screws. That detail can't be made out in the 1994 publication, but the handle was obviously still in production.

The 1983 catalogue also shows the ratchet with only "Germany" stamped, not "West Germany" so the "West" must have been dropped by some even before the wall came down. That is, if a tool says "West Germany", we can safely say it was prior to 1989, but if it is marked "Germany" it is not necessarily post-1989...

 

[powertrip]

Maybe consider a Bahco. They are owned by snapon. I believe the internals are the same as the dual 80. There was a thread on here recently comparing the two and they were identical. Just do a search for bahco ratchet. They are cheaper than snapon also.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

So the teardrop gear wrench ratchet sold today will take the Matco 88s guts?
Is that just a 1/4" drive Matco 88s rebuild kit?
If that the case where do I get one and is there a part #?
I like the feel of the Gear wrench in my hand, but the action is just so so.

Found out the # for the 1/4" kit is AFR8TK but looks like you have to have a Matco truck in your area (I do not)
Can't find it at the website.

 

[astrodoggie3000]

The 1/4 Bahco is the same as the Snap-on... with a better handle design. Snap-on is just to over-priced, you're paying for the name. I would pick a Williams over a Snap-on at only 24 dollars.

 

[Subyroo651]

Yea but you won't find a 72T USA made Williams ether

 

[Krokodil]

Wow, what a thread resurrection! I eventually got the Stahlwille 415 and love it!

Pics were posted in "Tools from the old world" before somebody accuses me!

 

[TheFarmer]

Between those two I would go with the Snap-On (I have that same FHL72) but do consider the Matco 88 ratchets. I just picked up the orange handle 1/4" Matco 88 and it's a sweet little ratchet!

 

[Monte]

wow thanks for the catalog pics !!!!
Nice to see that they still use the same ratchet too, just the handle changed.... almost 30 years (or longer) in production ! Nice !!!
Have to get me one now...

Well, thanks to Rob, I can confirm that the handle is factory and was available in the USA from at least 1983 to 1994...

1983 dealer catalogue:

1994 condensed catalogue:

As you can see, the 1983 catalogue depicts slotted screws. That detail can't be made out in the 1994 publication, but the handle was obviously still in production.

The 1983 catalogue also shows the ratchet with only "Germany" stamped, not "West Germany" so the "West" must have been dropped by some even before the wall came down. That is, if a tool says "West Germany", we can safely say it was prior to 1989, but if it is marked "Germany" it is not necessarily post-1989...

 

[Mario]

Another thing to add... For 1/4" drive ratchets I'd much rather have a slim regular handle like the T72 or TL72. If I'm using 1/4", chances are space is at a premium.

This!