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Just for fans of knurling

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tanukiboy

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Dec 24, 2016
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Japan
Man, I really like knurling.

Not a big fan of mirror-finish chrome. Okay with satin chrome, rough sandcast, or gray industrial finish. But I just love knurling: the way it looks, the way it feels, and even the way it sounds --- knnnuuurrrling!

Favorite is the knurling on my Ko-ken ratchet handles...

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mudflap

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cincinnati,ohio
Looks really nice... Im no fan of the slick chome.. but i work on alot of old beat up greasy equipment/ nasty hydraulics.. So my SKs come out alot, plus they are almost indestructible.. But i like the agressive knurrrling on those.
 
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M6erfan

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'Merica!
tanukiboy said:
Man, I really like knurling.

Not a big fan of mirror-finish chrome. Okay with satin chrome, rough sandcast, or gray industrial finish. But I just love knurling: the way it looks, the way it feels, and even the way it sounds --- knnnuuurrrling!

Favorite is the knurling on my Ko-ken ratchet handles...

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I agree and can't add anything to what you already pointed out.
 
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DFB

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Nice...another a fan of knurling here.

Old school styling to me.

Don't really care for the long and thin smooth handles lots of tools come with now.
 
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eschoendorff

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Michigan
I like knurled, smooth, soft grip, hard grip... whatever. I can get along with almost anything on a decent toll. But my favorite knurling is on Proto stuff.
 
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mr.lemons

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Oct 24, 2017
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Some Knurling from PB Swiss.

IMG_6081-2.jpg
 
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eschoendorff

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Granted, the Koken knurling is nicer. But here is some old Indestro, SK and a couple Proto for comparison. All pretty typical of American knurling I suppose...
 

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PWC Repair

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I wish all my extension had a knurled section like that. I hate not being able to spin the extension between my fingers while holding the ratchet if my fingers are oily.
 
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DFB

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mr.lemons said:
Some Knurling from PB Swiss.

IMG_6081-2.jpg
Click to expand...



Dude you made go dig around in my tool box for the first tool I ever made in machine shop class at least 30 years ago :lol:. Everybody got to step cut and taper a center punch on lathe from a steel rod stock, knurl it, heat and quench it.

Yup brings back an old memory :D
 

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454ragtop

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Carver, MA
Apparently no one else is going to say it, so I will. Those are about the clunkiest looking ratchet heads I have ever seen. Are they that nice to use? Looks like they wouldn't fit in a lot of tight spots either. The knurling is nice though...…..
 
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shanny19

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bsaint said:
Oh the Proto Big Dawg. Love that one.
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454ragtop said:
Apparently no one else is going to say it, so I will. Those are about the clunkiest looking ratchet heads I have ever seen. Are they that nice to use? Looks like they wouldn't fit in a lot of tight spots either. The knurling is nice though...…..
Click to expand...

I don’t think you know what you’re looking at
 
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tanukiboy

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Dec 24, 2016
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Japan
454ragtop said:
Apparently no one else is going to say it, so I will. Those are about the clunkiest looking ratchet heads I have ever seen. Are they that nice to use? Looks like they wouldn't fit in a lot of tight spots either. The knurling is nice though...…..
Click to expand...

Both are fitted with removable Ko-ken quick spin adapters, which I mounted for the pictures because they are (you guessed it) knurled! :thumbup:
 
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davethorik

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Norka, Ohio
Probably a challenge for you Tanukiboy to get Wright Tools in Japan, but the knurling on their newer ratchets is very interesting. It is unlike traditional pointy knurls. Shallow grooves cut into a smooth surface in a diamond pattern. It is not aggressive like SK knurling can be, but it still grips phenomenally.

Nowadays they only make it in 3/8 and 1/2. Their bigger ratchets are knurled too but I have never used a new one.
 
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Kev442

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Jan 15, 2009
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Wi
PWC Repair said:
I wish all my extension had a knurled section like that. I hate not being able to spin the extension between my fingers while holding the ratchet if my fingers are oily.
Click to expand...

I think even non knurling fans would learn how nice it is on extensions and appreciate it, it can save a buttload of time working in tight places without needing to swap a thumbwheel on.

Personally, the more knurling, the better on everything!
 
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ChevyEFI

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Phoenix, AZ
SK handles work for me.

In Ko-Ken, I only have a thumbwheel ratchet; coined I guess. Super smooth and backdrag is nice; 45t I believe.

In the knurled spinners, Dad always had a 3/8 SO and is a diff. design than mine from the 90s. Their design spaces the wheel away from the driving ratchet. This makes it easier to grip. And the narrower edge makes it dig into the fingers more thoroughly.

I think your Ko-Ken spinners are the later design spaced away from the ratchet, but not Z-eal. Earlier Ko-Ken versions lacked spacing (as does the above linked Matco,) and IMO are inferior.
 
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tanukiboy

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Japan
ChevyEFI said:
I think your Ko-Ken spinners are the later design spaced away from the ratchet, but not Z-eal. Earlier Ko-Ken versions lacked spacing (as does the above linked Matco,) and IMO are inferior.
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The spinners are both Z-EAL, but the later design. I also recall reading here that the earlier Z-EAL spinners sat flush. I wonder if they might have offered a bit more clearance, but I don't have any of the earlier type to compare.

(Somebody here at GJ probably has both types, though, and may be able to provide an answer.)
 
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fallenspirit123

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Dec 5, 2017
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Thanks guys looks like I'm off to impulse buy those Ko-Ken ratchets! Anyone know any good sources for those knurled models? Don't recall seeing them on frankstools...
 
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tanukiboy

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Japan
fallenspirit123 said:
Thanks guys looks like I'm off to impulse buy those Ko-Ken ratchets! Anyone know any good sources for those knurled models? Don't recall seeing them on frankstools...
Click to expand...

If it helps, the model numbers are 3753NB (3/8") and 2753NB (1/4"). Even without the knurling, they're really nice ratchets!
 
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GrayFlattop

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Jan 18, 2018
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Chicago
tanukiboy said:
Actually, aren't the edges "reeded"? :pimpflash
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Yes - either by fine-blanking or via broaching (might also be referred to as splined). Coining is when you displace material thickness via stamping - pull a coin out of your pocket for an example.
 
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ChrisLS8

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Jan 16, 2015
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Kev442 said:
I think even non knurling fans would learn how nice it is on extensions and appreciate it, it can save a buttload of time working in tight places without needing to swap a thumbwheel on.

Personally, the more knurling, the better on everything!
Click to expand...
I have koken extensions on my SK ratchet with OEM knurled sockets. Knurled all the things.

I want knurling on my cooking pans and dinnerware
 
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anndel

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Oct 28, 2015
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Hawaii, USA
Ok, you said knurling I thought you said curling
 

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CR888

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Feb 19, 2017
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You get the impression with tools like Koken with good Japanese knurling they are out to produce the best possible tool for its purpose. They are happy to charge more and offer a product that's unique to their brand. To many ratchets and other chrome tools these days are generic copies of each other with 'cheap price' being what seperates them from each other. Knurling is one feature that can really improve function & user experience.
 
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