Rotary / Twist Ratchets - do they ever see the light of day?

superautobacs · Nov 25, 2009

What's your opinion?
Subjective comments are welcome, but objective comments are appreciated.

I've always sneered at these things ever since they came out on the shelves of Home Depot and Canadian Tire, but I'm interested in hearing others' thoughts.

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mik641 · Nov 25, 2009

Yeaah, not sure whether you could grip the handle enough to tighten the bolts up enough. I have seen these by sidchrome as well but i couldnt see a use for them ,only in a situation where you could not swing the ratchet

Moose-LandTran · Nov 25, 2009

Yep. In fact, i used mine (Blue Point) today for the clamp bolt when changing the fuel filter on a VW T5 Transporter. I also use it for engine mounts a lot when changing timing belts.

hanny · Nov 25, 2009

always thot they were a joke until seeing the video where there is an extension in the back. Issues i see with it is rounding bolt heads off. That and if you are like me and use air tools i see no purpose.

Monte · Nov 25, 2009

I wonder how strong the mechanism is ? The heads are a bit bulky. A nice idea is the 1/4" square drive in the end of the handle of the Proxxon ratchet .

Moose-LandTran · Nov 25, 2009

hanny said:
always thot they were a joke until seeing the video where there is an extension in the back. Issues i see with it is rounding bolt heads off. That and if you are like me and use air tools i see no purpose.

I need one that will take an extension into the handle. Mine has a hex in the end of the handle, but has a plug pressed in.

superautobacs · Nov 25, 2009

The main reason I posted this is because I've never seen one with a square recess on the end of the handle. That one thing made me think twice about its potential usability (especially for people without airtools). I guess this is why the Proxxon is more(?) popular.

Monte · Nov 25, 2009

i always take a Proxxon catalog with me when I`m at the dealer . Already have 3 or 4 laying around here but no ratchet

. I need a lower price to convince me to buy one

ps: @superautobacs: Don`t forget to post the factory gear video with the socket comparison, koken vs. snapon vs. Deen

Monte · Nov 25, 2009

Facom rotary ratchet

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amishman · Nov 25, 2009

I wonder if anyone makes a 1/2" version. Stanley and Home Depot had this style of ratchet but same, only 1/4" and 3/8". Wonder why they never do a 1/2" version. I like the idea and it looks like the ratchet could come in handy.

tj

Monte · Nov 25, 2009

The Proxxon ratchets are available in 1/2"

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supertooljunkie · Nov 25, 2009

I have a 3/8" Husky version I bought at Home Depot for $10 on a closeout. It is still on the display card as I haven't had a use for it yet. I like the idea.
I like the drive socket in the end of the Proxxman ratchet.

LeadDoggy · Nov 25, 2009

got the Stanley model when they first came out. have not used it once

Monte · Nov 25, 2009

Coach James · Nov 25, 2009

Never thought much about getting one but after today, a 3/8 is on my to get list. I finally got around to removing the egr valve from my Grand Prix and one of these would have made removing the bolts a lot faster.

Coach

The Muffin Man · Nov 25, 2009

I never really cared for this type of ratchet, though the only ones I've played with were not from reputable tool companies. After seeing some video's I may just pull the trigger on one if the price is right

.

Dust · Nov 25, 2009

I used to use my Husky ratchet when I did all my wrenching at home. Now I use an air ratchet.

Still, they come in handy every once in a while.

amishman · Nov 27, 2009

Monte said:
The Proxxon ratchets are available in 1/2"

Who sells Proxxon Ratchets like these in USA?

tj

Danglerb · Nov 27, 2009

Original I think was called a Speeder Handle ratchet, oddly now sold by HF. Idea looked good to me when I first saw I think the Stanley version, but I shopped by picture and description and bought the cheapest I could find, Neiko, which is junk even I can't stand using.

Friend bought the Husky and he uses it all the time. Handy mode is rocking your wrist quickly CCW and CW on the handle and rachet will turn in the correct direction all the time.

Bottom line, yeah I guess I need to buy a good one.

Monte · Nov 27, 2009

Proxxon is available in the US here:

http://www.bestrestproducts.com/c-28-proxxon-tools.aspx

DetroitDIESEL444 · Nov 27, 2009

So where is the proxxon ratchet made? Ill probably buy one if its not made in Asia. Ive used the cheap ones and liked them for hard to get to places, but a high quality one would be awesome.

Matt

supertooljunkie · Nov 27, 2009

Taiwan. The Stanley/Husky/Blackhawk ratchets are also made in Taiwan.

Monte · Nov 27, 2009

I guess there are 2 or 3 companies making them. Somebody has to do a patent search...

here is one: click another one: click

wantedabiggergarage · Nov 27, 2009

Never seen the Proxxon ratchet until I watched the linked video in the first post. I have the Husky and if it had the extension feature, it might get used. As is I have only used it once, on rear plugs of a trans 6, that you couldn't get to from underneath. I've said for a long time, I wish it had a nut or a way to use it as an extension (even considered welding one on).

The only ratchet in my box that is cleaner from less use, is the Mac Gearless ratchet.

Tool Pants · Nov 27, 2009

A few times I thought about buying the Stanley version.

I bought the Blue-Point version from someone on this message board. Called rapid ratchet and made in Taiwan.

superautobacs · Nov 28, 2009

That Blue Point one is vastly different in design from all the other ones I've seen from the Stanley group. Must be a different manufacturer?

I was at Horrible Depot today and noticed something about the Husky version that I guess I had overlooked all this time. At the end of the handle was a steel cap that appears to have been pressed in. I wanted to take a flat head screwdriver to see if I could pop that off, thinking that I can reveal a square recess. :lol:

Someone brave enough to try that at a store?

Aside from the handle, everything looked and operated the same as the Proxxon.

Danglerb · Nov 28, 2009

Monte said:
Proxxon is available in the US here:

http://www.bestrestproducts.com/c-28-proxxon-tools.aspx

Ouchies.

1/4" Drive SKU: PROX-23082 Price: $70.00

3/8" Drive SKU: PROX-23083 Price: $75.00

michael murder · Nov 29, 2009

I would have killed for one of these changing a starter yesterday. Though I imagine an obstruction wrench would have helped me just as much and been less gimmicky.

kooldino · Jan 2, 2010

I've had a HUSKY version of that socket wrench for years and I love the hell out of it. Obviously it's not the slimmest, sleekest thing out there, but it can REALLY come in handy at times when you don't have a lot of space to work. It will allow you to do 95% of the wrenching by just twisting your wrist, and then allow you to simply tighten down the last little bit in the traditional sense.

What I'm most impressed with is the fact that I can twist either way and it will still rotate the head in the desired direction.

Cost me around $25 @ Home Depot.

boogerboy72 · Jan 2, 2010

these would work very well for knock sensors on nissan maxima's. i may have to pick one of these up.

kooldino · Jan 2, 2010

boogerboy72 said:
these would work very well for knock sensors on nissan maxima's. i may have to pick one of these up.

Funny you say that, knock sensors are something I tend to use them on.

M900 · Jan 2, 2010

superautobacs said:
That Blue Point one is vastly different in design from all the other ones I've seen from the Stanley group. Must be a different manufacturer?

I was at Horrible Depot today and noticed something about the Husky version that I guess I had overlooked all this time. At the end of the handle was a steel cap that appears to have been pressed in. I wanted to take a flat head screwdriver to see if I could pop that off, thinking that I can reveal a square recess. Someone brave enough to try that at a store? Aside from the handle, everything looked and operated the same as the Proxxon.

Ill report back on this Tuesday afternoon....if my home depot has one to handle.

holden26 · Jan 3, 2010

i use my 1/4 nearly every time I'm changing timing belts

farmall57 · Jan 3, 2010

I have the Blackhawk version of the Stanley one in 3/8. I use it quite a lot, it's one of those things that most of the time you could probably do without, but having it does really make some situations go faster. I'd like it maybe better if there was a way to lock the twist when not needed. There are times you need to be able to lock the twist so you can get the socket in place, then unlock the twist to turn it.

cheap bastard · Jan 3, 2010

I've used mine for changing out brake pedals when somebody installs the wrong one. With a car going down the line, air supply is spotty at best, so they work wonders where very little swing can be done with the handle.

Shadowdog500 · Jan 3, 2010

I would have to look in my catalogs to be sure, but doesn't Snap-on have a T handled version?

Id probably get one the ones in the video for $10 if I saw it at Lowes.

This is one of those odd things that you usually don't really need, but will save your bacon every now and again. About 15 years ago my wife bought me one of those "as seen on TV" squeeze ratchets, that looked so cheap that I was embarrassed to put it in my box. I think I used it twice in the last 15 years, but it really saved my bacon both times.

Chris

superautobacs · Jan 8, 2010

M900 said:
Ill report back on this Tuesday afternoon....if my home depot has one to handle.

Anxiously awaiting. :bounce:

mcdtommy23 · Jan 8, 2010

superautobacs said:
That Blue Point one is vastly different in design from all the other ones I've seen from the Stanley group. Must be a different manufacturer?

I was at Horrible Depot today and noticed something about the Husky version that I guess I had overlooked all this time. At the end of the handle was a steel cap that appears to have been pressed in. I wanted to take a flat head screwdriver to see if I could pop that off, thinking that I can reveal a square recess. Someone brave enough to try that at a store? Aside from the handle, everything looked and operated the same as the Proxxon.

I've got one that I use daily. I now must pop the cap off. I will post the results.

I work on commercial kitchen equipment and I can say this thing is a life saver. If it does have a square hole in it I will be really kicking myself as there have been a few times I could have used it.

mcdtommy23 · Jan 9, 2010

Bad news, the cap on the handle of the Huskey does not hide a square hole.

Good news is I had an old 3/8 1/4 adaptor that fit right in with a little heat and pressure. Works great! Last pic = should be able to reach any bolt :thumbup:

Monte · Jan 9, 2010

mcdtommy23 said:
Bad news, the cap on the handle of the Huskey does not hide a square hole. Good news is I had an old 3/8 1/4 adaptor that fit right in with a little heat and pressure. Works great! Last pic = should be able to reach any bolt

good idea !!

Rotary / Twist Ratchets - do they ever see the light of day?

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