sk ratchet setq

[jniolon]

ok this time I'll do it right.... I'lll ask for opinion BEFORE I buy

been wanting some new ratchets... tired of Crapsman.

a short search session showed some like these sk's and some don't

give me opinions on this three piece set... price is 82 bucks from SJdiscount.com...

sk used to make quality stuff but I haven't bought any in a few years....

wat yall think

model # sk4533.... 72 tooth superkrome finish euuuuwwww shiny !

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/sk4533.html

john

 

[Mike83]

I just purchased the 3/8" bent handle SK ratchet from Sears ($22 - about half off) and it is really nice. It has a very low ratcheting torque and easy one hand direction change. I would recommend! Check Sears clearance for those ratchets you are looking at.

 

[wrenchr]

Snap on F80 is my suggestion.

 

[Fedwrench]

That ratchet set is ok but, opinons are mixed as to if the head is too thick and ease of warranty service could be an issue.
The Snap on F80 series 3/8 drive ratchet is hard to beat but, I don't care for the T72 1/4 drive series.
I like the Gearwrench 60 tooth ratchets. Have you considered the Craftsman thin profile 60 tooth ratchets? They're a pretty good deal when on sale.

 

[cruiser808]

That ratchet set is ok but, opinons are mixed as to if the head is too thick and ease of warranty service could be an issue.
The Snap on F80 series 3/8 drive ratchet is hard to beat but, I don't care for the T72 1/4 drive series.
I like the Gearwrench 60 tooth ratchets. Have you considered the Craftsman thin profile 60 tooth ratchets? They're a pretty good deal when on sale.

So Fedwrench, what don't you like about the T72 series? From all the recent feedback on this forum, I would think it's a 1/4" version of the F80 series.

 

[wrenchr]

He has had a few issue's with it, I have had great result's with mine.

 

[cruiser808]

He has had a few issue's with it, I have had great result's with mine.

I got one (THL72) coming in the mail this week, that's why I asked.

 

[nismomans13]

Matco BFR8TMA imo. Love mine.

 

[wrenchr]

I got one (THL72) coming in the mail this week, that's why I asked.

You will love it!!

 

[Moose-LandTran]

i've never found my T936 to not have enough teeth, and i use that in spaces with 3/4" swing is the max possible, with only two fingers on the ratchet.

It'll be a while before i get an 72-Series or 80-Series Snap-on for my collection, my pre-and up-to-936s do me fine.

 

[Fedwrench]

So Fedwrench, what don't you like about the T72 series? From all the recent feedback on this forum, I would think it's a 1/4" version of the F80 series.

It's a scaled down version of the F80 having only 72 teeth but, Snap on lost something in the T72 series. I have 3 of them (T72, TL72, and TF72). What I don't like about them briefly is that the ratchet head is too thick, the ratchet tends to bind, and I broke the direction lever off of one during normal use. I like the F80 series alot but, the T72 series just didn't mesh as well with me. Aside from these issues, they're fine ratchets. Your results may vary.
I prefer my Matco and Gearwrench 1/4 in drive 60 tooth models. To each his own, every once in awhile a Snap on tool comes along that I just don't like. The T72 series ratchets and the MG725 fall in that category this year.

 

[philw]

I really like the SK palm controls but they do have a few drawbacks.
1) The head is thicker than a pear head--less room to work.
2) Unless you live close to a SK dealer getting it warrantied could be a pain.
3) SK's quality control has been a little lackluster recently--haven't heard anything bad about the ratchets though.
There are a few pros also:
1) you get 3 ratchets for about the price of 1 new snap-on
2) IMO they have the best action for a fine tooth ratchet short of the F80

 

[MAD]

Buy this set for 25 bucks and see if you like them.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00930153000P?vName=Tools&cName=Mechanics+Tools&sName=Ratchets

 

[cruiser808]

It's a scaled down version of the F80 having only 72 teeth but, Snap on lost something in the T72 series. I have 3 of them (T72, TL72, and TF72). What I don't like about them briefly is that the ratchet head is too thick, the ratchet tends to bind, and I broke the direction lever off of one during normal use. I like the F80 series alot but, the T72 series just didn't mesh as well with me. Aside from these issues, they're fine ratchets. Your results may vary.
I prefer my Matco and Gearwrench 1/4 in drive 60 tooth models. To each his own, every once in awhile a Snap on tool comes along that I just don't like. The T72 series ratchets and the MG725 fall in that category this year.

Thanks Fedwrench, I'll try mine out when it comes and report back to the group. Lately, I've been trying to build up my overall Snap-on 1/4" set and since I'd heard positive impressions from some GJ members, thought I'd try the T72's out.

 

[speed bump]

S-K seems to make pretty good ratchets even if the are kind of tall.

Personally my favorite 1/4" drive ratchets is one of those though
http://cgi.ebay.com/Proto-Challenge...39:1|66:2|65:12|240:1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

 

[MAD]

Personally my favorite 1/4" drive ratchets is one of those though
http://cgi.ebay.com/Proto-Challenge...39:1|66:2|65:12|240:1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Really? I have a Blackhawk branded ratchet that is identical to that Proto-Challenger that has the stiffest crappiest action of any name brand ratchet I own. No amount of lube or cleaning could help it.

 

[JeepsAreBuilt]

I bought a SK 1/4" semi deep socket set with that palm ratchet. It came non functioning out of the package

I finally found a tool dealer to warranty it for me.. when I finally got it back - it worked ok, the screw on top of the ratchet was in crooked

Then I eventually lost the ratchet and found it in the trunk of my beater and it was rusty and broken again

That 1/4" ratchet is pretty short.. and one thing I had to get used to was not to hold the head of the ratchet when ratcheting because it'll change directions. I had to learn to hold it properly. If it was me.. I'd look for something different.. I like SK, mostly for their wrenches, but not ratchets..

 

[vssjim]

I really like the old stlye SK Profesional ratchets like they show on the page below, and as far as getting anything replaced if it breaks I just send it to SK and it shows up right away, never had a problem even after I forgot to put postage on a package I still got it quickly.

http://www.sktools.com/Default.aspx?fusemode=10&pid=8808

 

[jniolon]

Buy this set for 25 bucks and see if you like them.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00930153000P?vName=Tools&cName=Mechanics+Tools&sName=Ratchets

well, I ordered this set last nite.... 31 bux including shipping... twofer deal...

should be here in a few days and I'll give you my critique... If I like these I'll order the 1/2". film at 11

john

 

[JayL]

well, I ordered this set last nite.... 31 bux including shipping... twofer deal...

should be here in a few days and I'll give you my critique... If I like these I'll order the 1/2". film at 11

john

John,

Any feedbacks on the ratchets?

tks, Jay

 

[DiStOrTiOn]

Jay, I can give you some. I bought the same set a few weeks back. I've only used the 1/4" so far, but, very very nice ratcheting mechanism. extremely smooth, and you only need a tiny amount of space to move it in. I used it to crack free some bolts that were on pretty tight, and the ratchet took that just fine. When i put them back in, I cranked em down hard, and again, the ratchet took it fine. The only gripe I've heard about the palm controls is that the 1/4" one's head is too tall. On the 3/8" it's marginally larger than some of my craftsman 3/8" pearheads. I like them a lot, you just have to get used to the round head ratchets, and that you can't put your hand on the head while in use. No biggie if you've used them before, and if not, you'll learn quick.

How about you John? What are your impressions so far?

 

[ToolGlutton]

I have the same feeling. My FH80 arrived last week. I am not that impressed.

For some reason, my FH80 ratchets very much like my Task Force ($14 from Lowes) 3/8 ratchet. In comparison, the coarse ratcheting mechanism of 936 series give me a sense of tightness. I do not like the idea of my ratchet falling in the other direction whenever you are trying to reverse it.

IMO, the ratcheting mechanism of Snap on 80 series ratchets do not feel any better than that of the 60-tooth series from Gearwrench or Craftsman thin-profile.

i've never found my T936 to not have enough teeth, and i use that in spaces with 3/4" swing is the max possible, with only two fingers on the ratchet.

It'll be a while before i get an 72-Series or 80-Series Snap-on for my collection, my pre-and up-to-936s do me fine.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I find all my 936s (with the exception of my fairly worn FK936) to have a very smooth ratcheting mechanism. Nowhere near as smooth as my F-70N, but that has 62 years of "running-in" under its belt.

When i get the FLF80 i'll do some kind of a review. I said earlier in this thread it'd be a while before i got an 80-Series. dps was right, sometimes the fruit does hang too low.

 

[jniolon]

John,

Any feedbacks on the ratchets?

tks, Jay

sorry for the slow reply and the bad news...been out of town and working too many hours to play.... they are still in the box.... maybe this weekend


later
john

 

[fuseone87]

I really like the old stlye SK Profesional ratchets like they show on the page below, and as far as getting anything replaced if it breaks I just send it to SK and it shows up right away, never had a problem even after I forgot to put postage on a package I still got it quickly.

http://www.sktools.com/Default.aspx?fusemode=10&pid=8808

yea i like those ones i have that set there and they work nice.

 

[Krawlin98ZJ]

I have an almost identical set and couldn't be happier. they have a super smooth action and are very comfortable. I did manage to break the 1/2" ratchets little ring thing on the back of the head simply by dropping it on the floor (casting flaw). I called sk and they sent me a rebuild kit in under a week.

 

[eschoendorff]

well, I ordered this set last nite.... 31 bux including shipping... twofer deal...

should be here in a few days and I'll give you my critique... If I like these I'll order the 1/2". film at 11

john

True, S*K has had documented QC problems... but I have the 3/8 palm control ratchet and that Facom design is one of the smoothest ratchets I have ever picked up. Quite honestly, the S/O 80 series has nothing on these as far as smoothness...

 

[jniolon]

Well today I finally got time to play with my new ratchets..... I tried out both the 3/8 and 1/4 ratchets and they simply blow Crapsman stuff out of the water...

nice smooth action... I had to get used to how quickly they engage. and get used to the thumb direction control... but once you do it two or three times it's second nature...

I didn't try to break them but put some pretty good torque on them tightening down some 3/8" nuts and they didn't give up... don't know about returns or replacement but I'm not a heavy daily user so I see no problem for a long time... besides I don't think the arthritis in my wrists and hands will let me put enough on them to break them..... getting old *****...

later
John

 

[jcs_in_ky]

Are the old professional style SK ratchets fairly smooth? Any idea how many teeth they have? I remember a old friend saying he really liked them and I think I looked at his years ago but I don't remember much about them

 

[eschoendorff]

Are the old professional style SK ratchets fairly smooth? Any idea how many teeth they have? I remember a old friend saying he really liked them and I think I looked at his years ago but I don't remember much about them

Not really any smoother than any of teh other round head ratchets out there. If I find them for $5 or so, I buy them. but I don't go out of my way for them.

 

[MAD]

Are the old professional style SK ratchets fairly smooth? Any idea how many teeth they have? I remember a old friend saying he really liked them and I think I looked at his years ago but I don't remember much about them

The 1/4" drive and slim design 3/8" drive SK professional series ratchets are exceptionally smooth and have around 60 teeth. (The slim design ratchets are their 1/4" drive size head with a 3/8" square drive.)

The regular 3/8" and 1/2" drive SK professional series ratchets are nice and smooth but with around 40-50 teeth,they are not as fine toothed as some of the newest ratchets available. Compared to the traditional 20-30 tooth traditional pear head ratchets though, they are quite finely geared.

These ratchets are smooth, strong, reliable, no-nonsense, tools. I have had a 1/4" drive get sticky from grit inside but I have never had one actually break or slip.

There are tons of the standard length ones around on the used market very cheap($5.00- $15.00.) The long, roto, flex head, and slim design SK professional series ratchets are harder to find and tend to cost more though.