Thumb/Palm/Finger ratchets?

[EmptyWallet]

Does anyone use these? For what? What brand/kind/size?

I think SK makes one.

I've found some Titan ones on ebay. They look like the Gearwrench ones.

Thoughts?

 

[marnav1]

I have the S-K 1/4 and 3/8 ones. They are very nice and not that expensive.

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

I use a thumbwheel, a Craftsman I got a while back, for tight spots where a nut or bolt is just a bit too tight to do by hand, but not enough to need a normal or even a stubby ratchet. Nylock nuts get the thumbwheel a lot.

 

[franzdom]

Snap-on has one as well, I have never seen it in person though.

 

[dclassical]

I bought them from HF on a whim and have used them a few times. Easier than turning the socket extension when doing more than one bolt. I have used them to get bolts started on covers, oil pans, ... Still, a lot of times I won't remember I have them until the last bolt!

 

[plinker]

Easier than turning the socket extension when doing more than one bolt. I have used them to get bolts started on covers, oil pans, ... Still, a lot of times I won't remember I have them until the last bolt!

+1,
Pan bolt's are an ideal use, I usually forget I have one though. I have a 3/8 drive S-K.

 

[redwrench60]

I have the 1/4" drive S-K And I use it a lot for HVAC mode and temprature door actuators under dashes. Come to think of it I use it for a lot of interior stuff, could be nearly all I use it for.

 

[bcradio]

I have the Craftsmans and I have not yet used them. I thought they would be useful, but honestly I could get by without them just fine. I like tools too much though.

 

[concealer404]

I have some Gearwrenches. I like their shape a lot better than the others i have.

 

[jzt]

Snappy PalmRat, bought it as novelty, does not get much use. Then I also have the Craftsman 3/8" and 1/4" thumb ratchets, they are smaller(than the palmrat) and see occasional use.

 

[stonesfan68]

I have the SK 1/4" version and use it on the interior of cars where a normal ratchet just won't fit.

 

[Jim85IROC]

I usually just use my flex head ratchets and fold the handle back so I can palm the head of the ratchet. Then once it's snug, I can just use the same ratchet to tighten. I also hse my flex head stubby the same way when I need to spin something on prior to using a torque wrench.

 

[Vvmvbb]

I use my cman 3/8" a lot. I put a 3" extension on it and use it to start lug nuts.

 

[homesale]

Is the Kobalt Palm Ratchet any good?

http://www.lowes.com/pd_90606-1074-...=AFF_CJ-_-Slickdeals+Inc-_-1122587-_-10926682

 

[stonesfan68]

I don't know about the Kobalt version, and the website doesn't list the price, but if you watch eBay then you can get the (Made in USA) SK 49270 (1/4" drive) for less than $25.

 

[theamcaddict]

I have the 1/4 & 3/8 SK thumbwheel ratchets. They are both FINE tooth and very smooth. SK

 

[archirelic]

Seems like the "consensus" is that SK's thumbwheel ratchets are cream of the crop. I've been looking myself at some Gearwrench ones on Amazon...but may just have to check out the SK ones instead.

 

[Jawn]

I have the 3/8" SK... been meaning to pick up the 1/4" too, I'm happy with the one I have.

 

[Mickey O]

Keep an eye on the classifieds here, I hear there will be several NOS Kraeuter (S-K) thumb wheel ratchets for sale soon.

 

[Super Sport]

I have some made in Taiwan Craftsman ones. They are excellent quality, the only foreign-made Craftsman hand tool I own. They were so nice I had to keep them.

I was looking at SK, but I had read they were not fine tooth. Apparently that info was wrong. I think fine tooth is a must for these. The cheap HF ones just aren't the same as a nice fine tooth version.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

any link to the sk versions? I am on my phone, I searched but nothing turned up.

 

[greasemonkey44]

i use a matco 88t thumbwheel
its very nice, was only 30$
i use it for trim and like redwrench hvac stuff

 

[adamsredlines]

I bought the cheap HF ones to see if I'd use 'em. I did, so I upgraded to SK and tossed the HF ones in my road box. They're handy.

 

[Exceller8]

I never use them but I know there will come a time when I'll need them.

 

[ajchien]

I bought the cheap HF ones to see if I'd use 'em. I did, so I upgraded to SK and tossed the HF ones in my road box. They're handy.

Me too. Except that the HF ones I got were probably one of the worst tools I ever bought. Rough action, way too much drag. I might as well have been using a nutdriver. They got returned the next day.

I am cursed, because HF is about a mile away from my workplace.

 

[jpickar]

I was digging thorugh a tool box in a pawn shop and found this home made palm ratchet. After a little more digging I found the rest of it. I almost cried!

But a 3/8" palm ratchet is handy at times! Oh, the pawn shop gave it to me because they saw it was cut up and had no value!

John

 

[senlow]

I like the SK thumb ratchets. I use 'em pretty regularly (both 1/4" &3/8" drive). I had a Snap-on thumb ratchet years ago, and didn't like it. I do have an old Snap-on palm ratchet that comes in handy once in a while. I'd probably use it more often if it were a dual 80.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

looks like I can get the 1/4 and the 3/8 for only 45 plus shipping.

 

[tjmonsen5]

Ive had a 1/4 craftsman thumbwheel sitting in my box for years, i dont think ive used it once.

 

[HaroRider]

I got the 1/4 3/8 and 1/2 from HF. I use them, but could not justify upgrading them since I just dont use them enough.

They are great for hard to reach places when it would be a pain to be playing around trying to keep a ratchet on a bolt..Tighten with thumbwheel then go back and use a real ratchet.

Also oil pan bolts as mentioned, works out great.

They have their place but they are certainly not needed.

 

[fourtythree]

That Lowes ratchet linked above is thesame one you can find at flea markets labeled as grip, mit etc. normal cost is about two bucks.

 

[Cryptic1911]

I bought one of the taiwan made ones from HF, and it was actually quite nice (the rubber covered china made ones ****). Problem was that they didn't sell a full set, so I ordered the other two from Northern (Torin brand), so now I have 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2. I have had times where they saved my ***, but honestly I thought I'd use them more often. They are handy to have when you need them though

 

[Mickey O]

I was digging thorugh a tool box in a pawn shop and found this home made palm ratchet. After a little more digging I found the rest of it. I almost cried!

But a 3/8" palm ratchet is handy at times! Oh, the pawn shop gave it to me because they saw it was cut up and had no value!

John

Nice smooth head, great for greasy finger, that baby needs a little knurling.

Ive had a 1/4 craftsman thumbwheel sitting in my box for years, i dont think ive used it once.

Apostrophe key broken? Those thumb wheel ratchets are quite handy, mine sat unused for years, then I tossed it in my portable box with a hex bit adapter and use it quite frequently.

 

[OctoMan]

I bought the HF ones thinking I'd use them frequently but haven't. When I have used them they're junk! Usually the teeth are not fine enough to be useful.

 

[tjmonsen5]

Apostrophe key broken? Those thumb wheel ratchets are quite handy, mine sat unused for years, then I tossed it in my portable box with a hex bit adapter and use it quite frequently.

Yes it is broken.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

I just got a snap on Palm ratchet today at work. it is big and has a ergonomic body. it is very smooth just too big.

 

[CRTDI]

Unless you're taking apart and reassembling a lot of plastic interior pieces, I would have to say that this ratcheting extension speeder is just as gimmicky as a palm/finger ratchet. It can be used as an extension or as a hand held ratcheting speeder, but not a ratcheting extension.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=683220&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[scouting]

I actually went to a pawn shop and got 1/4 and 3/8 ratchets and cut off the handles, they're great for limited access motorcycle and engine work. Break the bolt with a wrench or regular ratchet then switch to palm drive so you don't have to take forever taking a single bolt out.

Simply a time saver, nothing anybody needs. But this isn't the place for tools you need, it's the place to talk you into tools you 'absolutely can't do without' once you've used them. I got by for years w/o a flex head ratchet, and once I used one as a speed wrench, I started kicking myself for not getting one sooner. Exact same thing w/ the stubby ratchets.

 

[homesale]

If you could only buy one SK thumb ratchet, would you buy a 1/4 or a 3/8? Or should I buy a 3/8 SK thumb ratchet and a 3/8 to 1/4 adapter?

I plan to use a SK thumb ratchet on the tight engine bays of compact imports.

 

[sdguy55]

Unless you're taking apart and reassembling a lot of plastic interior pieces, I would have to say that this ratcheting extension speeder is just as gimmicky as a palm/finger ratchet. It can be used as an extension or as a hand held ratcheting speeder, but not a ratcheting extension.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=683220&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

I could actually see myself using this quite often...if i remembered i had it. I on sensitive stuff i use an extension to get them snugged up first and then torque later.