A little Craftsman time capsule

[dsh]

I've heard great things about Craftsman RHFT ratchets - but never owned one.

Today I got lucky and found some NOS. Thought some of your old timers would appreciate taking a glimpse before I put them to work for what they were made for.

First impressions - they fit really well in the hand. Was curious why so many people enjoy using them because I assumed they were going to feel like the cheaper raised handled end of US production Craftsman ratchets that I dislike.

 

[Old Donn]

Heard the same good things about RHFT's. Picked up a 3/8" and 1/2" drives a few years back. Can't give a thumbs up or down. Gearwrench 120xp is my go-to 3/8" and I don't have much call for 1/2" drive these days. The old Chevy needs some TLC, so I'll make it a point to work both in as the summer cruise season unfolds.

 

[ike]

Cool find. We had some at our business when I was much younger. I didn't personally find them to be as amazing as some have made them out to be, but to find a couple NOS ones, I'd be delighted.

 

[consti2tion]

Those are very nice. You will get get use/service out of them. I have a 1/4" drive one that is one of my go to ratchets.

 

[Qualitytools]

I have those in all 3 sizes. They have been great all these years with no maintenance and they keep working flawlessly. Enjoy!

 

[Professional Tool User]

I have them. The RHFT ratchets are okay for what they are, but Craftsman ratchets were never really that great to begin with. I usually end up using my Gearwrench 120XP ratchets.

 

[dsh]

So it's been about six months and these have been my main ratchets. I liked them so much that I decided to splurge for Xmas and grab a 1/4" too.






Obviously it is unfair to compare them with modern ratchets, but they are a joy to use.

 

[Ton ton]

If you lube up those round head ratchets, They are more fun to use. Just my limited experience.

 

[KnurledNut]

Nice ratchets!

Here's an older thread with some RHFT goodness:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/craftsman-rhft.346224/

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

Found a long handle 1/2" drive Allen branded rhft new at a hardware store this year. Love this thing. Pictured in action here

 

[KnurledNut]

@Chrome Vanadium Cody
Great find!
Is that an Enderes prybar?

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

@KnurledNut thanks, and good eye on the pry bar! Got it at the same hardware store- Pastime Hardware in El Cerrito CA. They have some nice older stuff

 

[WWheeler]

Now just need to get a couple flex heads to round out the set.

 

[larry4406]

I have the 1/4" version of those. Very nice. I think I have had it since about 1980. Wish I had the 3/8 and 1/2" ones.

 

[WWheeler]

I have the 1/4" version of those. Very nice. I think I have had it since about 1980. Wish I had the 3/8 and 1/2" ones.

Reminded me, in addition to the Craftsman RHFTs I posted above I also have this Armstrong 1/2" dr. #12-915.



For a few years now I've been hoping to come across it's 3/8" and 1/4" dr siblings but no such luck yet. Just gotta keep hunting those unicorns.

And FWIW, going back to the late 1960s these RHFTs offered the tight swing of today's best ratchets. They had a unique design featuring an asynchronous double pawl that effectively doubled the # of clicks, or range of travel between the # of teeth.
So the 1/2"dr has 45 teeth = 90 clicks, so ~4° of arc swing, or travel between teeth engagement
The 3/8"dr has 41 teeth = 82 clicks / ~4.4° arc swing
And the 1/4"dr has 35 teeth = 70 clicks / ~5.1° of arc swing.

 

[wrenchr]

Now just need to get a couple flex heads to round out the set.

Yah the flex heads are much tougher to find. I see you have a pair of the in each size.