Palm Ratchet

[walrus]

This started me thinking about getting one
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...arms=tab=Watching&item=360129208493&viewitem=
I figured anything hard black plastic would go for alot of money. Never seen one before but $42.51 seems like alot of money to me.

Anyone have a palm ratchet? what kind? do you like it and more important do you use it?

 

[billymade]

I have one just like that one; it can be useful in certain situations. I like it! The newer models basically look the same but looks a little different; I think the tooth count maybe higher!

 

[Mike83]

For $20 you can get the C-man or SK thumbwheel ratchet. So smooth you can barely feel the ratcheting. I don't use it much, but in tight spots it is handy.

 

[janarvae]

For $20 you can get the C-man or SK thumbwheel ratchet. So smooth you can barely feel the ratcheting. I don't use it much, but in tight spots it is handy.

Or the HF red ones are pretty good. I have the 3/8" and 1/4" models and they are pretty seamless.

 

[Uncle Buck]

This started me thinking about getting one
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...arms=tab=Watching&item=360129208493&viewitem=
I figured anything hard black plastic would go for alot of money. Never seen one before but $42.51 seems like alot of money to me.

Anyone have a palm ratchet? what kind? do you like it and more important do you use it?

I have always wanted one of those, though I know they would not be nearly as good in the tight places where they are generally needed as the thumbwheels referenced below!

For $20 you can get the C-man or SK thumbwheel ratchet. So smooth you can barely feel the ratcheting. I don't use it much, but in tight spots it is handy.

Actually this is the better choice for the true tight place, much more compact. No question this version will get to double the number of tight spots the Snap-on shown above will go to.

 

[48548]

I actually prefer a smaller ratchet, like the 3/8 head in the 1/4 body.

 

[zuspiel]

For $20 you can get the C-man or SK thumbwheel ratchet. So smooth you can barely feel the ratcheting. I don't use it much, but in tight spots it is handy.

Those would get my vote, too. I have the Cman 3/8". Very smooth. Also don't use it much since you have close to zero torque with it. Has come in handy, though...

 

[billymade]

My Snapon has good torque with the grip of your whole hand; it is helpful and I used it to run a die down when I was working on the turbo jetta.... much faster and easier then a die wrench!

 

[hitmanharleyk]

I posted this in another thread, but I paid $50 for this 3 pc. set.

 

[Stuey]

For $15 you can get a 1/4" ratchet and bit kit. (TG post about the Kobalt set)

I believe that Gearwrench palm-ratchets are also going to be released this year.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Or for about $4.00 each you can get the same ratchet without all the extras at HF, looks the same except red instead of blue. Avilable in 1/4 & 3/8

 

[J.A.F.E.]

I had one like that that I really liked. Not an everyday tool but good in many situations.

The pawl spring went south and when I tried to buy a repair kit the dealer said no parts available so he exchanged a new one for it!

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...4&group_ID=229&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Truth be told I like the old hard plastic one better, but it's still a neat item.

 

[Stuey]

That S-O one looks very ergonomic. What does the outer shell material feel like?

 

[Flash21]

That S-O one looks very ergonomic. What does the outer shell material feel like?

Kind of the same as a 1st gen soft grip screwdriver handle. It is nice

 

[billymade]

Thats too bad about your Snap-On F714 palm ratchet; they list replacement parts on their website! Go figure! The spring is .64 cents!

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/parts/pro.asp?group_ID=6882
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/parts/pro_det.asp?Item_id=1760&group_id=6882

By the way; is the new design, made out of hard plastic or a rubbery material?

 

[J.A.F.E.]

That S-O one looks very ergonomic. What does the outer shell material feel like?

The old plastic one felt like the 3rd generation tennite hard handles but with a smooth finish instead of the lined texture on the screw drivers. The new one has a nice feel almost kind of silky but I'm not sure how it will stand up to greasy fingers and grimy hands.

 

[billymade]

I guess Snapon also sell another palm ratchet but I think the currently shipping unit; is a Bluepoint branded import?

 

[J.A.F.E.]

Thats too bad about your Snap-On F714 palm ratchet; they list replacement parts on their website! Go figure! The spring is .64 cents!

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/parts/pro.asp?group_ID=6882
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/parts/pro_det.asp?Item_id=1760&group_id=6882

By the way; is the new design, made out of hard plastic or a rubbery material?

The new one is a two part material like the screwdrivers with a hard plastic core and softer rubberized top cover. Similar to the GW handles but a little nicer material for the soft part.

I saw the spring listed but the dealer said he couldn't get it.

He's a good guy and I have only good things to say. I liked the old style, but at least SO put their money were their warranty mouth was.

 

[billymade]

Well, that *****! How do you like the new one, does it seem to have a higher tooth count then the old one?

 

[J.A.F.E.]

Well, that *****! How do you like the new one, does it seem to have a higher tooth count then the old one?

It feels like there are more teeth on the new one. I haven't counted the teeth on either one so it's just a seat of the pants description. The biggest problem I have with the new one is it is thicker from the top to the end of the drive slug than the old one and won't fit in the drawer with the rest of 3/8 drive tools.

 

[X1 Mike]

This is the one I have

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...4&group_ID=229&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

It's not a tool I use every day but when I need it it's priceless. I use it more when i have to use force to start a screw rather than using it because it's has a small profile. You have the benefit of all your force going straight down on the screw so you get more force and you have less chance of crossthreading.

 

[Stuey]

Kind of the same as a 1st gen soft grip screwdriver handle. It is nice

The old plastic one felt like the 3rd generation tennite hard handles but with a smooth finish instead of the lined texture on the screw drivers. The new one has a nice feel almost kind of silky but I'm not sure how it will stand up to greasy fingers and grimy hands.

Guys, you should make believe that the only Snap-On tool I've ever handled was a 4" extension that my father found in the street and gave me.

I do see what you're saying though, and now I want one!

 

[J.A.F.E.]

Here's a snap (ok, 2) of the new style palm ratchet. The F710BK is 4" for comparison the PALMRAT is 3.5 x 2.45.

The red Snap on script is hard plastic and I think the rubber cover is overmolded the red plastic base.

Stuey, I counted 30 teeth on the PALMRAT.

 

[Stuey]

Hmm, that's odd - S-O used phillips screws to hold that ratchet mechanism together! I wonder why they didn't go for hex or torx.

 

[DynoDale]

It feels like there are more teeth on the new one. I haven't counted the teeth on either one so it's just a seat of the pants description. The biggest problem I have with the new one is it is thicker from the top to the end of the drive slug than the old one and won't fit in the drawer with the rest of 3/8 drive tools.

I had the same issue of it not fitting in the drawer. I found that if it is toward the middle of the drawer instead of near the edge, there is enough clearance. The same was true of standing deep sockets or hex drivers up on/in racks in a taller drawer.

 

[beelsr]

That looks like what is now sold by Willimas as the "Palmster" - minus the top corners. I have 2 of those. One works fine, the other is missing the tri-lobed top cover. Never gotten around to replacing it because I use it so rarely. But it is nice when you can open up the topcover and get some swing into it. Don't know how much I trust the hinge though....

I have a pair (1/4 & 3/8) of radian tools gearless thumbwheels that I use alot in close quarters instead.

I guess Snapon also sell another palm ratchet but I think the currently shipping unit; is a Bluepoint branded import?

 

[ImportTuner]

I guess Snapon also sell another palm ratchet but I think the currently shipping unit; is a Bluepoint branded import?

Hey, I have the exact same set .. Haven't really used it much tho ..

 

[Flash21]

Stuey, I counted 30 teeth on the PALMRAT.

I count 20 teeth on my F714.

The SO webpage lists the PALMRAT with:

Gear Action 18°
Gear Teeth 20

 

[billymade]

Hmm, no improvement in tooth count? Oh, well! Mine works fine for me! I like it!

 

[J.A.F.E.]

I had the same issue of it not fitting in the drawer. I found that if it is toward the middle of the drawer instead of near the edge, there is enough clearance. The same was true of standing deep sockets or hex drivers up on/in racks in a taller drawer.

The drawer is short by about 1/4. I need to reorganize the boxes again. Just when I finally fgured out where everything is...

I count 20 teeth on my F714.

The SO webpage lists the PALMRAT with:

Gear Action 18°
Gear Teeth 20

That was either for the 714 and the page not updated properly or they changed the PALMRAT - I just now counted the teeth again and it's 30.

Hmm, no improvement in tooth count? Oh, well! Mine works fine for me! I like it!

Really it shouldn't make much difference I have never used it where clearance was much of an issue. I don't see 12° vs 18° having any real meaning in this one item. But I think the old design was actually superior to the new design 20 teeth and all.

 

[walrus]

I saw a hard black plastic Snappie palm ratchet for the BIN price of 45.00 plus shipping. SHould have pulled the trigger but... Bid on the newer style one last night, went to 30 but someone got it in the last second. Went for 31 but there was 9 dollars shipping, so 40 bucks. I can buy a brand new one, tax included, shipped for 56.
Is there a rule of thumb as to what a used tool should go for? I don't mean rare or collectable tools but everyday stuff?

 

[billymade]

eBay can be crazy for Snap-On stuff; IMHO... you can get better deals at pawn shops and flea markets; at least in my area. I have yet to buy any Snap-On on ebay; I see deals but they are usually ones I am watching and miss. There are deals to be had; many guys on here report on their good buys but I think they are hard to find. I am like you; I am always comparing the snapon.com price and factor in the fact, that shipping is free from the mother ship! I guess I am cheap skate; I am used to paying less then 50% of retail and many times way less then that...

 

[walrus]

Not many Pawn shops around me, thats what happens when you live in a rural area. There is one that I know of, maybe I should check it out