Speed Handles --- What They Good For?

[In The Doghouse]

I recently realized that I no longer use the speed handles, I now instead use a battery powered tool. It's too bad, as they can be fun and productive to use. The first one I bought about 40 years ago when I installed the garage doors at my house. There are multiple self-tapping 1/4" screws on the hinges and rollers and the speed-handle really helped out.

The 1/2" drive one is Kobalt, the other two are Craftsman. Should I move them from the socket drawer or try to use them more often?

 

[kbuhagiar]

Put them in the same drawer with the Yankee Drill and Brace-and-Bit.

 

[four.cycle]

^ How many you want? What drive size? Pay shipping and they're yours.

1/2" drive models are too big for a flat-rate box, otherwise these would have all gone out in "Secret Santa" packages.

 

[liliysdad]

They look cool on the wall.

 

[scooterbum46]

My 3/8" SK-Wayne speed handle with a shallow 7/16" socket was always ready to remove the rocker cover bolts on a first generation SBC..

 

[IndyGarage]

I threw those things out 20 years ago.

 

[ecotec]

I think that A&P mechanics are one of the last cohorts of workers that are still using speed handles regularly.

 

[Rusted Nut]

My speed handles are next to my old hand saws and hand drills.

 

[Byrdnyrd]

I have had one for literally 50 years! I bought it at Sear Roebuck in Quincy Massachusetts in 1975!!

I have NEVER used it! Not even once!! It’s going to the scrap pile this weekend!! Thank You Guys for the permission to launch!

Cheers,
BN

 

[turbowoodworker]

Back in the day, it was really cool watching all the NHRA mechs using speed wrenches for everything. They were smooth.

 

[cody1325]

I use mine, a 3/8 Craftsman, a lot. Handy for stuff with a lot of short bolts that aren't torqued very high--it is about the fastest way I can get them on and off with just a non-powered hand tool. It's faster than walking back to the house to grab a drill or cordless screwdriver.

 

[AEAdam]

Speed handles are infinitely variable speed, infinitely variable torque power tools where we provide the power. They can be handy for body work, body panels, stuff that is torque sensitive. Any trim through plastic or painted panels. I pretty much only use my 1/4" snap on with the black knob handle.



I can see how guys get good with the triggers on their ratchets or impactors. Some sorts of power tools have clutches to limit torque. But for me, that's the deal. They are for torque sensitive stuff and are relevant for that sort of work.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I remember using the speed handles when be constructed the quonset on the farm, nearly 60 years ago. Buckets of bolts and a few spins of the handle.

 

[Professor Gascan]

I've got a 3/8 drive from my 90's Husky set. I use it for wheel bolts, valve covers, spark plugs, and motorcycle engine cases. Way faster than a ratchet while still having good feel when spinning bolts into aluminum.

 

[RTM]

I use my bit braces with an adapter to drive wood use fasteners. Much better torque control, and tight corners are easy due to the ratchet. I've never used my speed handles for that job, as they aren't very beefy. Great for lag bolts.

And yes, I do have drills and impacts of the cordless variety that can do the same job. Still don't.

 

[cvairwerks]

Use them almost daily, as our engineering guys figured out long years ago, that power tools driving fasteners into nutplates results in hundreds of galled fasteners. Even with drive speeds limited, they can heat up the fastener enough to drive the bonded lubricant off the nutplate and result in galling.
Doing an inspection and it's not unusual to run in or out more than a thousand screws in a single shift. Most guys and gals on the crews can run fasteners in or out fast enough with a speed handle that it will leave a burn mark if you aren't careful. Looks weird with a thread pattern burn on your hand...

 

[AC-WC]

I picked up a used one years ago and still haven't used it. Probably from a $1 box at an auction.

 

[mikey03]

makes me wonder what of my tools today going to be useless in 30 years

 

[Jeffrey D]

Use them almost daily, as our engineering guys figured out long years ago, that power tools driving fasteners into nutplates results in hundreds of galled fasteners. Even with drive speeds limited, they can heat up the fastener enough to drive the bonded lubricant off the nutplate and result in galling.
Doing an inspection and it's not unusual to run in or out more than a thousand screws in a single shift. Most guys and gals on the crews can run fasteners in or out fast enough with a speed handle that it will leave a burn mark if you aren't careful. Looks weird with a thread pattern burn on your hand...

I use a 1/4 dr for hubcaps when doing wheel/tire assembly changes and running down fasteners on fuel tank access panels before torquing. I use a 3/8 dr for stubborn panel screws with a dab of valve grinding compound on the apex bit. Not many guys here use them, it's mainly us older guys.

 

[51dueller]

I have a 1/2 drive Canadian made Snap On that I got for free. Haven't used it yet but is one of the few Canadian made tools I have.

 

[pfbz]

I have several as well, but can't figure out where to plug in the USB-C cable..

 

[Wamsutta]

The best kind are the ones with the ********* plastic knob like AEAdam shows in his picture.

You can get some serious downward/upward pressure on screws when used in conjunction with a bit socket.

Very popular with aircraft mechanics when removing screws from wing access panels.

The screws are usually full of paint and the bit can slip if not using enough upward pressure.

 

[finn]

Use them almost daily, as our engineering guys figured out long years ago, that power tools driving fasteners into nutplates results in hundreds of galled fasteners. Even with drive speeds limited, they can heat up the fastener enough to drive the bonded lubricant off the nutplate and result in galling.
Doing an inspection and it's not unusual to run in or out more than a thousand screws in a single shift. Most guys and gals on the crews can run fasteners in or out fast enough with a speed handle that it will leave a burn mark if you aren't careful. Looks weird with a thread pattern burn on your hand...

I see repetitive stress, aka carpal tunnel lawsuits in your future.

 

[d42jeep]

My wife found the 1940 36” Snap-on speeder useful as a walking stick when we were walking up the gravel driveway leaving the yard sale last year. They live in the top of my user box. The 1/4” drive speeder is a Proto
-Don

 

[yhprum]

I have one, a 3/8 craftsman. Really good for busting loose aircraft aircraft screws. Just push it in hard and go back and forth in opposite directions and the screws usually pop loose. A oldtimer showed me this 4O+ years ago when I dragged out my screw knocker tool. On a B17 bomber no less too!

 

[svtride]

I think that A&P mechanics are one of the last cohorts of workers that are still using speed handles regularly.

Agree…inspection panel screws can be real finicky to remove or one spends many hours extracting stripped out screws. Speed handle allows a more controlled torque application feel whilst removing. Driver bit selection is key also.

 

[Firebird1975]

I use a 1/2 speed wrench when putting tire lug nuts on vehicles. I then torque them down with a torque wrench. A little bit old school, but it works for me as a hobbyist mechanic.

 

[seber]

I still have one living in the camping trailer. It runs the jacks up and down. Any others are long gone.

 

[zimman]

I have a few. I've seen them used in drag racing still a lot.
Zim

 

[OccupantRJ]

I eventually gave mine away as I never seemed to use them. All were from the 50’s. Battery tools for me if possible these days.

 

[niget2002]

I make my son use them.

 

[zimman]

A story.
Zim

 

[Chipm]

I recently got a 3/8 Snap On as part of an auction for another thing I actually wanted. Now I want a matching 1/4.

 

[Etchase]

SK still sells all sizes new that were made in the USA. A few years ago they were trying to clear these out for under $20 if I remember correctly, and they still have them left. I wonder how long ago they decided to do a run of speed handles? I doubt Ideal spent the money on them. Talk about obsolete inventory. Amazing how fast we lose the history of the tool industry.

 

[snapmom]

wall art

 

[rust in the eye]

Looks like I'm the odd guy out having recently purchased a NEW one from Koken.
I mostly use mine when doing up repetitive fasteners, think oil pan bolts, spark plugs and coil retaining bolts on BMW inline 6 engines.
Not enough leverage with these to damage anything(think small bolts into aluminum) and excellent feel for how the bolt is tightening.

 

[txvwnut]

I use mine when building aircooled veedub engines, actually its got a lot of miles doing engine rebuilds on a lot of different makes as well.

 

[dr_clyde]

I occasionally use mine when I'm doing some sort of torque sensitive assembly.

I used to work with an engine builder who used them to run in all the fasteners snug before torque.

I just bought a brand spanking new one for a gift for a friend of mine who used one as an aircraft mech when in the Navy. He had told me he missed having a speed handle when doing mechanical work, as he'd gotten used to using one so often.

 

[Higgins]

I recently realized that I no longer use the speed handles, I now instead use a battery powered tool. It's too bad, as they can be fun and productive to use. The first one I bought about 40 years ago when I installed the garage doors at my house. There are multiple self-tapping 1/4" screws on the hinges and rollers and the speed-handle really helped out.

The 1/2" drive one is Kobalt, the other two are Craftsman. Should I move them from the socket drawer or try to use them more often?

 

[Higgins]

LoL!
I enhardened two of those from my dad over 50 yrs ago! Can't remember ever using them! Probably a good candidate to pass down to my grand kids! Oh,Ya, they only drive their cars!!