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Favorite 1/4” drive swivel head ratchet?

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measuredtwice

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I just picked up the 匹茲堡 Pro (Pittsburgh in Chinese :rolleyes:) 1/4" swivel ratchet from Harbor Freight for $8 after $5 off coupon. Will try it out and decide if I want the 3/8".
 
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lardy1

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measuredtwice said:
I just picked up the 匹茲堡 Pro (Pittsburgh in Chinese :rolleyes:) 1/4" swivel ratchet from Harbor Freight for $8 after $5 off coupon. Will try it out and decide if I want the 3/8".
Click to expand...


Similarly, I unexpectedly walked into a 40% off Tekton last November so I bought a few things including the 1/4" drive roto. I've never had one. I haven't used it much yet but I think I'm going to like it. I have some things to do on my Harley and hers so it's going to get used.
 
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measuredtwice

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M635_Guy said:
Taiwan speak Mandarin too, and written Chinese is pretty much universal across the various dialects (Mandarin, Cantonese, etc.)
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^^What he said (that's Australian for "What he said" :thumbup: )

lardy1 said:
Similarly, I unexpectedly walked into a 40% off Tekton last November so I bought a few things including the 1/4" drive roto. I've never had one. I haven't used it much yet but I think I'm going to like it. I have some things to do on my Harley and hers so it's going to get used.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I totally missed the 40% off Tekton coupons!
 
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jimmyin3D

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Neat idea with the Titan micro! Titan seem to be always coming up with these new tool ideas which is better for everybody.

But with swivel head ratchets I feel the SO is a clear winner, perfect size for your hand and the price/durability/availability all make it such a useful ratchet.
 
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measuredtwice

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jimmyin3D said:
Neat idea with the Titan micro! Titan seem to be always coming up with these new tool ideas which is better for everybody.
Click to expand...

The knurled shaft looks nice but it comes with the loss of the typical split shaft and adjustment. I don't see a way to tighten it up if it loosens over time. Edit #1: Saw a photo of the side on reddit and it looks like it might have a hex screw for adjusting tension.

There certainly are a seemingly endless influx from Taiwan/China. I suspect the Titan will get cheaper over time like others.

Edit #2: I called O'reilly and they have one on hold for me at $14.
 
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Rabid Badger

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I just saw that I'm not the first one to talk about the Titan mini swivels in this thread, so credit where it's due:

Hytekrednek said:
I just got 2 of these Titan mini 1/4'' roto ratchets. They are very small. Seem well made, 90 teeth, smooth. These will be very handy. They were $14 each locally at Oreily's. They cost more on ebay...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Titan-Micr...740403?hash=item3fd8d46f33:g:2fMAAOSwZ~peKTCG
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I just picked one up from O'Reilly's and have a couple observations & questions for anyone else that gets one.

1) It's even smaller than it looks in pictures.

2) It felt a little rough off the shelf. I opened it up and found no lube. I sprayed some CLP in it and spun it around a little, then cleaned it out and gave it a tiny dab of Super Lube on the teeth and a little on the surface where the pawl bears on the anvil. That smoothed it out considerably.

3) There is plenty of tension on the swivel. I'm not too worried about it loosening up.

4) My only complaint: the mechanism on mine has about three times as much backlash as my Pittsburgh rotos. It's not a massive issue with a handle this short, but it does more-or-less negate a good portion of those 90 teeth. I'm curious to see if this is common and if anyone has any ideas to reduce it. The only thing I can think of would be to file down the pawl bearing surface on the anvil enough to allow the pawl to properly engage the next tooth on the ring.
 
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Hytekrednek

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Rabid Badger said:
I just saw that I'm not the first one to talk about the Titan mini swivels in this thread, so credit where it's due:



I just picked one up from O'Reilly's and have a couple observations & questions for anyone else that gets one.

1) It's even smaller than it looks in pictures.

2) It felt a little rough off the shelf. I opened it up and found no lube. I sprayed some CLP in it and spun it around a little, then cleaned it out and gave it a tiny dab of Super Lube on the teeth and a little on the surface where the pawl bears on the anvil. That smoothed it out considerably.

3) There is plenty of tension on the swivel. I'm not too worried about it loosening up.

4) My only complaint: the mechanism on mine has about three times as much backlash as my Pittsburgh rotos. It's not a massive issue with a handle this short, but it does more-or-less negate a good portion of those 90 teeth. I'm curious to see if this is common and if anyone has any ideas to reduce it. The only thing I can think of would be to file down the pawl bearing surface on the anvil enough to allow the pawl to properly engage the next tooth on the ring.
Click to expand...


I lubed my 2 also. It helped smooth them out. They do have a bit of lash, but not enough to be an issue for me. At $14 each, they are worth every cent in my opinion
 
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mr.lemons

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Toptul also sell a mini 90 tooth roto without a split in the beam.

wsrthgwrthwerth.jpg
 
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so2315

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Can't go wrong with the Icon, they did have a 20% off coupon on Icon tools about a month ago.
 
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measuredtwice

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so2315 said:
Can't go wrong with the Icon, they did have a 20% off coupon on Icon tools about a month ago.
Click to expand...

Even with the coupon, it's still $20 more than the Pittsburgh Pro and I don't see any real benefit that warrants the difference in price.

Icon: $34.99 - 20% (coupon from a month ago) = $27.99
Pittsburgh Pro: $12.99 - $5 (never ending coupon) = $7.99
 
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M635_Guy

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measuredtwice said:
Even with the coupon, it's still $20 more than the Pittsburgh Pro and I don't see any real benefit that warrants the difference in price.

Icon: $34.99 - 20% (coupon from a month ago) = $27.99
Pittsburgh Pro: $12.99 - $5 (never ending coupon) = $7.99
Click to expand...

Honestly, using the two 1/4" (Pit Pro and the Icon) while working on my old BMW I found myself wishing I had two Icons instead of one of each. The main beef was the handle, at least for this session (lots of small 6mm, 8mm and 10mm fasteners, band-clamps, etc).

I think the less "spinny" the job is, the less the handle will matter. I think the 1/2" P-Pro is likely to see more traditional ratchet use - sort of a regular ratchet with some extra capability, but after two jobs where the 1/4" ratchets were what I was primarily using, the Icon is the easy favorite.
 
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measuredtwice

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Re: Favorite 1/4” drive swivel head ratchet?

M635_Guy said:
Honestly, using the two 1/4" (Pit Pro and the Icon) while working on my old BMW I found myself wishing I had two Icons instead of one of each. The main beef was the handle, at least for this session (lots of small 6mm, 8mm and 10mm fasteners, band-clamps, etc).

I think the less "spinny" the job is, the less the handle will matter. I think the 1/2" P-Pro is likely to see more traditional ratchet use - sort of a regular ratchet with some extra capability, but after two jobs where the 1/4" ratchets were what I was primarily using, the Icon is the easy favorite.
Click to expand...

Your posts are actually what pushed me to pick up a ratchet at Harbor Freight. We just have different opinions.

When I look at the ICON, I see an $8 ratchet with a different handle shape that's selling for $35 (or $28 when there's a coupon). I don't see a $35 (or $28 ratchet). I don't see the value.

If I wanted that handle shape then I could pick up a 2 piece 1/4 and 3/8 Crescent set for cheaper than 1 single Icon 1/4.

I'm happy that you are enjoying your ratchets. It's just money. But on a forum about tools, I have to be objective and say that I don't think a buyer "Can't go wrong" with a ratchet from a brand as over hyped and over priced as Icon.
 
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ForrestT

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M635_Guy said:
Honestly, using the two 1/4" (Pit Pro and the Icon) while working on my old BMW I found myself wishing I had two Icons instead of one of each. The main beef was the handle, at least for this session (lots of small 6mm, 8mm and 10mm fasteners, band-clamps, etc).



I think the less "spinny" the job is, the less the handle will matter. I think the 1/2" P-Pro is likely to see more traditional ratchet use - sort of a regular ratchet with some extra capability, but after two jobs where the 1/4" ratchets were what I was primarily using, the Icon is the easy favorite.
Click to expand...



Think about boiling the handle off the Pittsburgh pro and the. Put a heat shrink tube on the handle for grip and use a heat gun to shrink it. I’m thinking that may be what I do to my 1/4” drive Pittsburgh model.


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Rabid Badger

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I couldn't stand the ovoid grips on the Pittsburgh rotos. Swapping them for screwdriver handles makes them a joy to use.
 

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M635_Guy

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Re: Favorite 1/4” drive swivel head ratchet?

That Titan looks tiny!


measuredtwice said:
Your posts are actually what pushed me to pick up a ratchet at Harbor Freight. We just have different opinions.

When I look at the ICON, I see an $8 ratchet with a different handle shape that's selling for $35 (or $28 when there's a coupon). I don't see a $35 (or $28 ratchet). I don't see the value.

If I wanted that handle shape then I could pick up a 2 piece 1/4 and 3/8 Crescent set for cheaper than 1 single Icon 1/4.

I'm happy that you are enjoying your ratchets. It's just money. But on a forum about tools, I have to be objective and say that I don't think a buyer "Can't go wrong" with a ratchet from a brand as over hyped and over priced as Icon.
Click to expand...

I'm definitely with you on the "different strokes" part - wasn't counterpointing you so much as offering my surprise at the dogs that barked for me while using both. If I ever decide to have a dedicated tool-roll for when I'm running around in my vintage BMW the PP will probably wind up in it and I'll get a second Icon.

As far as the price piece, I guess it's perspective. I think both of them are well-better than $8 of value. I can't say I have any knowledge or of them metallurgy and construction of these guys, but there seems to be some subtle differences between them - i.e. I don't think they're just charging for the handle with the Icon, and I doubt anyone buying one will wind up regretting the tool.

I think the Icon is positioned vs. the Carlyle and SO, and viewed from that perspective I think it's a great value.
 
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measuredtwice

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No worries, m635.

The coupon DwightS posted is the one that I was referring to. Used it again yesterday. ...bringing my Harbor Freight ratchet collection up to 2.
 
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Shootinok

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The Pit Pro swivel I have seems to have stamped L and R backwards.
They’d be better off not indicating left and right at all than being backwards !!
Look at the excellent picture in post #45 - you’ll see what I mean.

Carlisle is my favorite.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app
 
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ForrestT

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Shootinok said:
The Pit Pro swivels are stamped L and R backwards.
They’d be better off not indicating left and right at all than being backwards !!
Look at the excellent picture in post #45 - you’ll see what I mean.

Carlisle is my favorite.


Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app
Click to expand...



Went out to check my Pittsburgh Pro’s for backwards stamping. Rotate the head on you ratchet 180 degrees the opposite way. They are stamped correctly.


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Shootinok

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Mine clicks when turning the direction of the arrows. In other words, if I turn it in the direction of the R it ratchets right, thus turning the anvil left.

Am I loosing my marbles?



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mc4life27

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Shootinok said:
Mine clicks when turning the direction of the arrows. In other words, if I turn it in the direction of the R it ratchets right, thus turning the anvil left.

Am I loosing my marbles?



Sent from my iPad using The Garage Journal mobile app
Click to expand...



I believe all ratchets are the same to where if you use the center of the anvil as the center and no matter what style it is but you turn it clock wise to make the ratchet tighten whatever and counter clock wise to loose whatever.


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pioneer1

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So I picked up the 1/4 Titan, 1/4 Pit Pro & 3/8 Pit pro. Taking Rapid badgers idea I Bought 2 Tekton hard handle #1 screw drivers to swap out the handles. The handle seems to be a good size for the 3/8 but might be a little big for the 1/4 Pit Pro.I will not be putting a handle on the Titan.
I think the round handles of the Icon, Carlyle and Snap On would be my preferred handle for turning straight to unscrew fasteners.
Does Snap On sell the handles?

Thanks for spending my money!!
 
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goforbroke

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