Did snap on make blue hardhandles

[concealer404]

I have one dark blue in my box in not great shape. Or at least i think it's dark blue.

It's next to the Wihas.

 

[Toolhorder]

so these would be the pearl blue ones?

lol,
my co-worker wants to sell these now ^^^

 

[franzdom]

Those are worth 75-90 in good but used condition.

 

[Tarpley]

lol,
my co-worker wants to sell these now ^^^

PM me a price, I'm interested in them.

 

[boostedgt]

i have a set of dark blue pry bars i bought in '98? or so.

 

[BPracing03]

so these would be the pearl blue ones?

I'd be interested in buying this set.

 

[Wamsutta]

I waited too long to buy an FHKFD80A. Now they're out of production again.

 

[AEAdam]

I waited too long to buy an FHKFD80A. Now they're out of production again.

I do not love this ratchet. Mine is yellow and I find it clumsy, awkward. I would prefer the 3/8" stubby flex. Mine is yellow. Yellow is fast.

 

[Wamsutta]

I do not love this ratchet. Mine is yellow and I find it clumsy, awkward. I would prefer the 3/8" stubby flex. Mine is yellow. Yellow is fast.

The size of that handle looks way too big. Did you transplant that handle?

 

[AEAdam]

The size of that handle looks way too big. Did you transplant that handle?

Nope that's an off the truck FHKFD80A. Feel as tho all the 3/8" hard handles are exactly the same size.

By the way, FHKFD feels like something like DAMHIKT, but maybe dirtier. This coming from a Dad who until recently thought LoL was lots of love, so.....

 

[Rinspeed]

I'd be interested in buying this set.

I think they probably would have sold after 14 years.

 

[L.Cheapo]

I waited too long to buy an FHKFD80A. Now they're out of production again.

If you have a good dealer, they can talk with other dealers and probably find one that has one laying around. Handle color choice will be limited. There's a dealer-only snap on Facebook group mine belongs to and he's found some pretty off the wall stuff for me that way.

 

[Wamsutta]

If you have a good dealer, they can talk with other dealers and probably find one that has one laying around. Handle color choice will be limited. There's a dealer-only snap on Facebook group mine belongs to and he's found some pretty off the wall stuff for me that way.

I need to get one because I'd be using it for all kinds of stuff.

 

[mikey03]

I do not love this ratchet. Mine is yellow and I find it clumsy, awkward. I would prefer the 3/8" stubby flex. Mine is yellow. Yellow is fast.

How you like hard handle ratchets compare to say plain chrome handle? Honestly I never liked flexible handle ratchets they seem to get too dirty and get damaged but maybe I abuse them. I only had one and I ditched it.

hard handle seems interesting but idk if I’d like it.

 

[CB350F]

There sure seems to be a lot of blue handled snap-on tools on ebay now. Take care...CB

 

[AEAdam]

How you like hard handle ratchets compare to say plain chrome handle? Honestly I never liked flexible handle ratchets they seem to get too dirty and get damaged but maybe I abuse them. I only had one and I ditched it.

hard handle seems interesting but idk if I’d like it.

Good question!!!

The hard handles were screwdriver handles that many of us fell in love with. I don’t think they are a slam dunk for ratchets. I greatly prefer the soft grips. But I get the complaint about them getting manky.

Here’s the part I never see discussed. All the plastic handles have 2 advantages over chrome besides comfort.

When you are working in restricted spaces, which for me is almost always, I crack the bolt free holding the handle, then I typically palm the head and swing that handle back and forth to ratchet the hardware out quickly. 2 advantages over chrome:

1) I inevitably bang into adjacent stuff with the end of the handle. Rather hit something with soft plastic than chrome to protect the car/whatever.

2) Because the handle end is lighter it ratchets faster, lower polar moment of inertia. Thats pretty huge. Forget who said it here: plastic handled ratchets are lighter, less metal and should be cheaper than chrome. The handles are probably pennies.

So I totally prefer plastic handles. That said, I use the snot out of my T72 and F80. Ratchets are so personal.

Been working on my bobcat. The hardware is all a little corroded and tight, too tight for a T72 or F80. So I’m using my long flex ratchets and doing exactly what I described above.

Hope this is thought provoking. I could almost see someone making rubber caps for chrome ratchets (3d printed). Could also see silicone handle covers to protect engine bay finishes.

 

[mikey03]

When you are working in restricted spaces, which for me is almost always, I crack the bolt free holding the handle, then I typically palm the head and swing that handle back and forth to ratchet the hardware out quickly. 2 advantages over chrome:

in a restricted space doesn’t the bigger handle take up more room compared to a plain chrome grip?

1) I inevitably bang into adjacent stuff with the end of the handle. Rather hit something with soft plastic than chrome to protect the car/whatever

that’s a real good point man

2) Because the handle end is lighter it ratchets faster, lower polar moment of inertia. Thats pretty huge. Forget who said it here: plastic handled ratchets are lighter, less metal and should be cheaper than chrome. The handles are probably pennies.

I just assumed the metal handle went full tange to the bottom of the plastic. Does it only go some of the way? I figured it would be heavier than a chrome one since it’s metal plus plastic? And their plastic is real dense usually

So I totally prefer plastic handles. That said, I use the snot out of my T72 and F80. Ratchets are so personal.

if I was going to get one to try out which makes the most sense for plastic grip? Reg length, long length, stubby length and straight or flex and which drive size? I mean we have all of them anyway right but if I was going to add one for plastic handle which one would I see the most difference with?

 

[AEAdam]

in a restricted space doesn’t the bigger handle take up more room compared to a plain chrome grip?

yeah, but to be honest, its really the length that gets you, not the diameter of the handle.

I just assumed the metal handle went full tange to the bottom of the plastic. Does it only go some of the way? I figured it would be heavier than a chrome one since it’s metal plus plastic? And their plastic is real dense usually

If you take a plastic handle off, you will see there is a reduced diameter tang. It's pretty long, but obviously not quite as long as the plastic. If memory serves it's only about 1/2" where a chrome handle has a nice swell. That's a lot of metal. And you can feel the difference in weight when you pick them up. And the balance is different too.

if I was going to get one to try out which makes the most sense for plastic grip? Reg length, long length, stubby length and straight or flex and which drive size? I mean we have all of them anyway right but if I was going to add one for plastic handle which one would I see the most difference with?

So, broken record time, but remember you asked!

I think every mechanic, pro or amateur, needs an SHLF80A, which has the cushion grip. You can really put a lot of grunt into that and that cushion grip isn't so spongey you don't have control, but is spongey enough that you can pull really hard without hurting your hand. That's my #1 ratchet advice. I think everyone should own that ratchet. Impact guns just don't fit everywhere and if you don't have a lift, they can be even harder to fit in places. The SHLF80A is an amazing piece of kit.

Next, I really like the Snap on FHLF80A. That's the 14" (?) flex head, 3/8" version of the above. This, or literally any of the competitors like it, should be in every mechanic's toolbox. This is the first ratchet I reach for for many many jobs. Ratchets like the F80, mid length, chrome handled, often included in kits, I find to be the least useful ratchets. I like long flexes with soft grips, then stubbies. Long for leverage, short for speed.

Ratchet #3, THLF72, which is the Snap on 1/4" version of the first 2. The Icon version looked pretty attractive to me. I just bought the round head Icon model and I like that. I use 1/4" a lot. Dual80 ++++++ (all the other similar-ish mechanisms) have allowed us to use long 1/4" drive ratchets in engine bays without worrying we'll strip their heads. Pretty sure all the new, decently made ratchets are like that. This has really revolutionized 1/4" drive, which has so many advantages for access, and speed. In many many engine bays, for 10, 12 or 13mm, you really can probably stick with 1/4" drive. 14mm might be pushing it. But I'll use my 1/4" THLF72 to reinstall up to 15mm. Pretty sure the 1/4" drive ratchets naturally have a bit less back drag than 3/8". A LOT of guys here have 1/4" ratchets with 3/8" anvils in them (I don't yet, but I may well do that to a THLF72).

Hopefully I answered your questions. No, I don't think it's super advantageous to have short ratchets with plastic handles. They can be nice, but just aren't my personal preference.

Edit: I think there are a lot of opinions about ratchet handles. Makes sense. They are super personal. But be beware, there are people who don't like the IDEA of a soft grip. I may have been one of them. I had craftsman ratchets with hard black plastic grips years ago.

The Snap on soft grip is something you have to try and actually use (not just stand in the truck holding one). The Icon has a different texture, different sponginess, but feels really similar. I liked the ones I held in the store and I like the grip on the Icon roto I bought.

 

[mikey03]

Hopefully I answered your questions. No, I don't think it's super advantageous to have short ratchets with plastic handles. They can be nice, but just aren't my personal preference.

you know I’ve been trying to use cordless ratchets more m12 one and impact driver with 1/4 adapter. So I’m wondering if it makes sense honestly to focus my ratchet collection on sizes and styles that make sense when the cordless tools don’t work. But tbh I’m still figuring out what to grab when and I got alot of options too many sometimes

im thinking of trimming down to smaller number but higher quality. its not easy though

 

[lotus_esprit]

Good question!!!

The hard handles were screwdriver handles that many of us fell in love with. I don’t think they are a slam dunk for ratchets. I greatly prefer the soft grips. But I get the complaint about them getting manky.

Here’s the part I never see discussed. All the plastic handles have 2 advantages over chrome besides comfort.

When you are working in restricted spaces, which for me is almost always, I crack the bolt free holding the handle, then I typically palm the head and swing that handle back and forth to ratchet the hardware out quickly. 2 advantages over chrome:

1) I inevitably bang into adjacent stuff with the end of the handle. Rather hit something with soft plastic than chrome to protect the car/whatever.

2) Because the handle end is lighter it ratchets faster, lower polar moment of inertia. Thats pretty huge. Forget who said it here: plastic handled ratchets are lighter, less metal and should be cheaper than chrome. The handles are probably pennies.

So I totally prefer plastic handles. That said, I use the snot out of my T72 and F80. Ratchets are so personal.

Been working on my bobcat. The hardware is all a little corroded and tight, too tight for a T72 or F80. So I’m using my long flex ratchets and doing exactly what I described above.

Hope this is thought provoking. I could almost see someone making rubber caps for chrome ratchets (3d printed). Could also see silicone handle covers to protect engine bay finishes.

I’ve tried the hard handles but they just seem an afterthought- the square profile means they are only comfortable to me in four positions. I haven’t tried the new Cynergy/ 100 tooth hard handles (and probably unlikely to as I got rid of the two new 100 tooth ratchets I had as didn’t get on with them).

My favourite grip was the slimmer soft grip which was used on the 936 series and early dual 80’s - looks the same as the current dual 80 soft grip but is slightly slimmer in profile.

I am with you on the softgrip SHLLF80 / FLLF80 / TLLF72. My go to ratchet is the F80, I think this is from growing up with the Snap On F720 / F730’s, the F80 just feels right when in use, I have the FH80 and FHD80 but never use them.

I have never gelled with the T72, I think this is because the earlier 20/30tooth versions were miserable affairs, so my go to ratchet is the THL72.