Looking for a high quality mini 1/4" ratchet. Hazet vs Ko-Ken?

[GophersGarage]

I currently use the Gearwrench 90t 1/4" drive and its great but not compact enough for what I am looking for.

I am leaning towards the Hazet 116mm


or the Ko-Ken 114mm


What are your thought on these brands?

 

[WabiSaabi]

Can't speak to either of those choices, but I have a Tone 1/4" ratchet that has an insanely compact head. They make a short handle (3.5") version if you want to go even smaller, as well as a flex head.

It had a touch of back-drag out of the box, but a couple of spins with a drill and it's smooth as silk.

 

[TJohn]

No experience with the Koken, but I have a few of the non-locking version of the Hazet and have been very pleased with them.

If you want a really small rachet Stahlwille has a mini version of their quick release ratchets

 

[four.cycle]

Don't laugh. These are actually real tools. Nice fit and finish. I don't think I'd be trying to use them for head bolts, though.

Obviously not suited for high-torque applications. I have not seen any smaller than this that I'd carry home.

Utoku / Utoku Tools LLC, 1F. No. 190 Shude St., Daya Dist., Taichung City 428009, Taiwan / https://www.utokutools.tw/ / est. 1988 /

 

[General Geoff]

What are your thought on these brands?

I have both of these. The Koken is a far better 1/4" ratchet due to its far lower backdrag. The Hazet is nice and smooth, but a little stiffer and not as efficient for typical 1/4" drive jobs.

 

[micromind]

I like Tekton. High tooth count and minimal backdrag.

 

[nutsandbolts]

I have the non locking Hazet, no complaints, a nice difference compared to the older version with less teeth, though nothing wrong with that either.

As @TJohn mentions above Stahlwille have some nice versions I have this one which is lovely https://www.amazon.com.au/Stahlwille-Ratchet-Drive-Release-STW415SGQR/dp/B00I3DSGKC?th=1 and this one https://www.amazon.com.au/Stahlwill...c1-927f-39b3ae35dee5&pd_rd_i=B07NBWDGYR&psc=1

 

[banditbigdog]

If you can find an old Hazet 863F they are pretty smooth.
Had one for many years.
Smooth back is nice as you can put pressure on it with a thumb or finger when turning.

 

[Wamsutta]

Why do the Germans always have to put a fricken hole in the handle? Fedwrench, answer me that.

 

[KnurledNut]

Why do the Germans always have to put a fricken hole in the handle? Fedwrench, answer me that.

If you put an @ before the member name, it will tag and alert them they have been called out. I.E. @Fedwrench

 

[KnurledNut]

I currently use the Gearwrench 90t 1/4" drive and its great but not compact enough for what I am looking for.

I am leaning towards the Hazet 116mm


or the Ko-Ken 114mm


What are your thought on these brands?

I don't see how either of those options are much if any advantage over the Gearwrench 90t you currently have. Which dimension are you needing to be more compact?

 

[mikey03]

I read the KoKen ratchets got the lever switch backwards and that honestly turns me off. So you got to have the lever opposite what your used to with regular ratchets

I’d go snap on or Tekton depending on how much you want to spend

 

[drtyler]

The Hazet 90 ratchets tend to have a good bit of back drag, which is not ideal in 1/4” drive. The 20-tooth 863P has very little back drag if you are ok with the low tooth count.

Might go for the Koken 1/4 72-tooth ratchet instead.

 

[FigN⋅m]

The Koken is a little shorter than I'd prefer, but I find it to be a great ratchet -
especially since it's one of my few Japanese tools actually acquired in Japan

 

[Mr_B]

Koken Zeal is a real nice ratchet, hard to fully appreciate until use one professionally or at the least a well seasoned home shop high job hour user .
Other good option at sensible money already been mentioned is the Tone RH2H .
I don't even think Hazet in same ball park with ratchet design in that price point . Taiwan super ten rebrands are better than the Hazet 1/4 ratchet models in all aspects of design from compact design details to ratchet mechanism feel and back drag all at very sensible prices . Snapon isn't even in the ballpark when talking compact head designs and most innovative flex locking designs on current market ratchets .

 

[Fedwrench]

I believe German Manufacturers place holes in some of their ratchet handles to give users a hanging storage option

Back to the OPs question, what do you mean by compact? Ratchet Head thickness or overall length/width?

Owning both Hazet & Ko-Ken 1/4 drive ratchets, I find them to be much bulkier than a comparable Gearwrench or Tekton 1/4 drive models. Their ratchet head thickness is close to double that of a Gearwrech/Tekton version. Nice ratchets but not the thinnest head available.

Tekton recently released smaller 1/4 drive flex head ratchets that run less than 3.5 inches overall length with a thin ratchet head.

Other compact 1/4 ratchet options include the Titan micro series,

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Tita...ing-Bit-Driver-Set,577401.html?utm_matchtype={match_type}&msclkid=b091b2d76a701e5e33ebd8f2ef228a49&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=SMI%20-%20High%20Quality%20NB%20Shopping%20(NB)&utm_term=4577404354825663&utm_content=High%20Quality%20NB%20Shopping

Robot or human?

Astro makes a nice 1/4 drive ratchet as well:

1/4" Sealed Head Nano Short Ratchet - 5" | Astro Pneumatic Tools

• A 1/4" drive ratchet that's 50% the head size of the competition, about the size of the average pinky finger • 72 tooth, 10" long, quick-re ...

www.astrotools.com

What tasks do you want to accomplish with this compact 1/4 ratchet?

Another option would be the VIM dual drive sockets with their FRW11 ratcheting wrench or Astro's 1/4 nano sockets with their associated ratcheting wrench. Please note, unfortunately when it comes to dual drive type sockets the location of the notches for the retaining ring on the associated drive wrench aren't always interchangeable across brands.

 

[DarryT]

Love my Koken, but the switch is backwards. The Tekton 1/4 is also top notch.

 

[lardy1]

There are multiple brands that were using the High Five 72 tooth mechanism that is a very compact mechanism. Carlyle and Blackhawk to name a couple but there are others using the same head. Tone was mentioned above as another example. I have multiple variations on it and like them a lot.

Different handles available through the different brands.

 

[AEAdam]

I believe German Manufacturers place holes in some of their ratchet handles to give users a hanging storage option

I didn’t google it, but my gut tells me there is an EU version of OSHA that requires tools to be tethered when working on elevated platforms.

When I first moved to Europe, seeing a kid in full hi viz with a helmet and safety glasses, washing the one story glass outside a McDonald’s looked absolutely ridiculous to me. The longer I lived there the more I thought about it. They have a safety culture over there. The act of deliberately putting on a hi viz vest to perform some mundane task kinda changes your mindset toward being careful. And what’s wrong with that?

Not sure about the hole, but my guess is, it’s there to satisfy some sort of safety reg.

 

[ecotec]

I didn’t google it, but my gut tells me there is an EU version of OSHA that requires tools to be tethered when working on elevated platforms.

When I first moved to Europe, seeing a kid in full hi viz with a helmet and safety glasses, washing the one story glass outside a McDonald’s looked absolutely ridiculous to me. The longer I lived there the more I thought about it. They have a safety culture over there. The act of deliberately putting on a hi viz vest to perform some mundane task kinda changes your mindset toward being careful. And what’s wrong with that?

Not sure about the hole, but my guess is, it’s there to satisfy some sort of safety reg.

Some of the giant contractors like Kiewit are requiring tethered tools… or they say they do… and bring three tethers for 7 people… when they probably should have 3-4 tethers each…

This is just the beginning, though. In a few years, you will probably see tethered tools everywhere.

We are already starting to see Class 2 safety helmets instead of hard hats.

 

[Caa311]

I like the Tone ratchets. The finish is silky smooth, just something about them.

 

[whateg01]

Why do the Germans always have to put a fricken hole in the handle? Fedwrench, answer me that.

What's the problem with a hole? Do you get things stuck in it a lot? Oh, sorry. No kink shaming.

Fwiw, I've been known to run a piece of paracord through said hole when I couldn't drop the tool. I don't normally use tools that way since the cord can get caught on stuff, but in some situations, it's nice. In some situations, it's mandatory.

 

[bonneyman]

The S-K TUFF 1 and Matco ergo 1/4" ratchets are quite small and very nice action. They make a DT90 rebuild kit for the old stand-by S-K roundheads - which could get you nearer to your tooth count.
These days with my arthritis I'd shove a piece of fuel hose over the handle to get more grip.

 

[Wamsutta]

What's the problem with a hole? Do you get things stuck in it a lot? Oh, sorry. No kink shaming.

Fwiw, I've been known to run a piece of paracord through said hole when I couldn't drop the tool. I don't normally use tools that way since the cord can get caught on stuff, but in some situations, it's nice. In some situations, it's mandatory.

I have to wrap electrical tape around the handle to cover the hole. I have a scraper I use for scraping mower decks that I do that to.

 

[whateg01]

I have to wrap electrical tape around the handle to cover the hole. I have a scraper I use for scraping mower decks that I do that to.

Why

 

[manwithtools]

I have to wrap electrical tape around the handle to cover the hole. I have a scraper I use for scraping mower decks that I do that to.

Why

Yes, why? Are we afraid of hair accumulating in that hole?

 

[Wamsutta]

Why

It's sort of like having a foxtail stuck in the crotch of your underwear. It just don't feel right.

 

[RonnieC]

It's sort of like having a foxtail stuck in the crotch of your underwear. It just don't feel right.

Man, sometimes this place is weird.

 

[ecotec]

Man, sometimes this place is weird.

It is the good kind of weird, though.

 

[sk farmer]

Man, sometimes this place is weird.

you think he's weird. you should have met merkava.

 

[drtyler]

you think he's weird. you should have met merkava.

Same person, different username

 

[sk farmer]

Same person, different username

apparently, you missed my sarcasm.

 

[Fedwrench]

you think he's weird. you should have met merkava.

What's weird is he used to worry about getting his little finger stuck in the hole in a Witte Screwdriver handle

 

[Sal Bandini]

I got this one just because it's so cute

 

[ecotec]

I got this one just because it's so cute

I need another ratchet like I need another hole in my head… but, I want a Zyclops. I want the one with the roto head with the recess in the anvil for 1/4” hex bits.

 

[Dave455]

Both the Hazet and the KoKen are superb tools.

With regard to the Hazet, it isn’t really a “compact” ratchet, other than being 1/4” drive. It’s not a long handle tool though, so if it suits, you can’t go far wrong.

Hazet do offer some compact ratchets, by which I mean short handle. These might suit better.

The KoKen you picked is part of the Z Series, and is compact in every dimension, as are all the Z Series. Again, if that suits, go for it, but I occasionally see folks complaining about the small handles on the Z series. That goes with “compact”, but bear that in mind.

If by “compact” you meant short handle, you might be better served by one of the regular series KoKen. Below is mine in use, and I find it a very useable tool. Handle is just enough for smaller fasteners, and the dimensions make it very handy.


If you’re serious about KoKen it’s worth downloading the full catalogue and seeing exactly what suits.

 

[svtride]

^^^ I 2nd anything Ko-Ken

 

[Trapps]

Wera has a couple of options:



The tiny one with the tool check kit has proven very useful on a few ocassions...