Another bit ratchet recommendation thread

[user.nr.1]

my humble bit ratchet collection

If you want a small bit ratchet go with the Topeak or a Victorinox ratchet (fifth from the left).
You want to put some torque on your bits, go get the Stahlwille lower toothcount but indestructible (second from the right).

The Pro-Auto ratchet is also available from VIM

VIM HBR3
http://www.tooltopia.com/vim-hbr3.aspx

 

[Jrussell86]

This one from Sunex is great and reasonably priced at $22.

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-6868-mini-ratchet-and-bit-set-38-pc.aspx

 

[Monte]

wow

my humble bit ratchet collection

 

[Trucky]

Humble? Bull! That's a heck of a lotta em

So.. the question: Which one is your favorite!?

 

[bart1]

Made a stubby PH2 today. Used a good apex ACO bit and then cut it down to 16mm or so.

 

[superautobacs]

@ user.nr1's collection.




Anex has been making these stubby bits. They come with a groove ring to make it easier to pull out the bits from the bit ratchet.



The SEK came with two ultra-stubby Phillips bits:




Took some more comparison shots:

The 1/4" ratchet is a Ko-ken Zeal with a Ko-ken T-20 torx bit socket, next to it is a standard length T-20 bit with the SEK bit ratchet. Note that the thickness of the Zeal ratchet is the same as the bit ratchet. Perhaps Ko-ken should make a Zeal version bit ratchet.

The bottom comparison is between Anex's stubby T-20 and a standard T-20 bit.


Here's a different shot:

From left:
Zeal ratchet, 13mm ratcheting wrench with 1/4" bit adaptor, SEK bit ratchet with standard length bit, Anex bit ratchet with stubby bit.

Another:

For comfort and best control, Anex, with its wonderfully shaped handle is my preference.

 

[bart1]

Okay, got my Wera order in. It was also my first order with Chad's Toolbox and I was impressed with the fast shipping and the letter than came with it. It was a little difficult to contact a person the day I placed the order, but they emailed me that evening.

Complete set: very nice. Much more compact than my Hazet SmartCase 1/4" set, but an extremely good selection of tools. Of note, there are 3 PH2 bits, which are most everybody's most common driver. Also, the hex bits are wera hex plus and you have both regular and security torx. Far more complete set than maybe any "micro driver" I've seen.

Ratchet compared to my Husky (old husky, not the one they sell now. This one is available as a VIM product) and Chapman. I didn't include chapman in all comparisons because I don't think it's as good a tool as the Husky or Wera. It is made in the US though.

I like the adaptor that comes with the husky. It is very short and also mounts in the 5/16" end, which should be stronger than the 1/4" and you would typically apply more torque to a socket.

Here's the 13mm wera socket compared to a Hazet. I always like the mixed finish of the Hazet tools, but the wera socket has a nice looking finish and good knurling.

With the bit inserted, the husky is the lowest profile. Bit in both are the same length.

The chapman, with its special socket is pretty deep in comparison and the purported benefit of being able to turn it with fingers is easier with the other two.

I also got this wera bitholder. It is nice and compact and can be used as a stubby or extended. This, combined with the tool check set make for a very good compact tool set. I plan to have a long handled 1/4" ratchet and extension with them as well.

Hope these photos and thoughts are helpful, I just thought I would follow up and show what I got. I like the wera set. The ratchet itself will have some advantages and disadvantages. Obviously the husky/VIM is better in some ways and much cheaper. It's great we have so many quality options to choose from.

 

[powertrip]

We sell these @ AAP $13.

I use these to make this.


Dan

Are those bit ratchets two different part numbers? If so, what are they.

 

[DanCo]

Same part number, TW242. The one with the closed head is the newer version. You can still find the older style in some stores.

Dan

 

[williammcneely]

These are awesome, expensive, but I have (or any of my techs) never broke one of these,

http://www.techni-tool.com/307SC344...EoABQ&ef_id=UpfTZwAAAQbYqEM9:20140122230749:s

 

[powertrip]

Same part number, TW242. The one with the closed head is the newer version. You can still find the older style in some stores.

Dan

Does one perform better than the other? Does the closed back help in anyway? That closed back looks plastic

 

[williammcneely]

These work well, Expensive but My crew and myself have been using these over ten years and never broke one,

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg79/williammcneely/Mini-Ratchet01_zpsed557bd4.jpg

 

[williammcneely]

These are cheaper and use standard bits,
http://www.toolsource.com/mini-ratchet-p-109909.html

 

[DanCo]

Does one perform better than the other? Does the closed back help in anyway? That closed back looks plastic

They both perform the same, new head design. Cover is steel, not plastic. AAP probably just changed manufacturer.




Dan

 

[GSMotorrad]

I really like the WIHA 35 piece bit ratchet set. It was $39.98 and free shipping (because I ordered some other stuff) at their site (linked).

The metal box is steel, with a piano hinge, and it's nice. The plastic bit holding inserts could be nicer, separated with a bit of foam that is just flat, so the ratchet bounces around in there and scratches against the bits. I wish it had a slight cut-out for more secure retention.

The ratchet is 72 tooth, about 12 teeth more than most other's offerings. It's super-smooth, but when I opened it up, it was bone-dry. I'll slap some light grease in there and see how it works out, but I really like the way it feels and it has very little resistance.

I love the shape and size and finish of the ratchet. I considered the WERA, but this set being less than half the price skewed me towards the German C.O.O. versus Czechoslovakian manufacturing.

Some of the bits are stamped, "WIHA" with the part number and size, while others are not branded, and only have the size stamped (like they're made by someone else?)

The bits are all of the highest quality I've encountered and I'm pleased with them.

I also picked up the MICROFINISH bit driver and the PROTURN version as well:

and they match the handles on my other sets.

(Does anyone know if their BITS have a lifetime warranty as well? Like if the PH#2 gets chewed up around its corners, will they replace it for free? Or if I twist a TORX bit? I hope so anyway.)

 

[Thunderbisciut]

I like my Vessel TD-79 for close quarters stuff. This is the angled version, and you can store 2 extra bits in the handle.They have a straight version that I wanted too, but they only wanted to stock 1 version for now in the US.

I have bit sockets from Zephyr and Apex in 1/4-1/2 sizes if I need a real ratchet.

 

[GSMotorrad]

These are cheaper and use standard bits,
http://www.toolsource.com/mini-ratchet-p-109909.html

Is that clear top on that case thick and rigid? Or is it just some thin sheet of film? Can it hold up to some abuse, anybody know? Does it scratch easily?

 

[Mgnu]

Is that clear top on that case thick and rigid? Or is it just some thin sheet of film? Can it hold up to some abuse, anybody know? Does it scratch easily?

That looks very similar to mine. The set I got is from Costco, branded Bon Aire, made in Taiwan.

Flex head, micro ratchet, with bits, and spline sockets.

The case is metal, the clear top is glass on mine (weird, huh?).

 

[GSMotorrad]

That looks very similar to mine. The set I got is from Costco, branded Bon Aire, made in Taiwan.

Flex head, micro ratchet, with bits, and spline sockets.

The case is metal, the clear top is glass on mine (weird, huh?).

Glass sounds kind of sketchy. Just got the Wiha in a little steel box, I like it a lot:

 

[superautobacs]

I really *snip

I considered the WERA, but this set being less than half the price skewed me towards the German C.O.O. versus Czechoslovakian manufacturing.

The bit ratchet themselves are Taiwanese origin, both Wiha and Wera.

Some of the bits are stamped, "WIHA" with the part number and size, while others are not branded, and only have the size stamped (like they're made by someone else?)

I didn't see your set on Wiha.de website, so I'm going to assume it's a set made for the North American market by Wiha USA. They've been known to put together non-Wiha items into a set. I recall hex bit sockets being an example.

Which ones aren't stamped? The SAE sized hex bits?

(Does anyone know if their BITS have a lifetime warranty as well? Like if the PH#2 gets chewed up around its corners, will they replace it for free? Or if I twist a TORX bit? I hope so anyway.)

Unless it's clearly a manufacturing defect, I doubt they will cover it. That said, if it's worth your trouble to warranty a single bit, it doesn't hurt to try and test their after-sales customer service by giving them a call.

 

[GSMotorrad]

The bit ratchet themselves are Taiwanese origin, both Wiha and Wera.

I didn't see your set on Wiha.de website, so I'm going to assume it's a set made for the North American market by Wiha USA. They've been known to put together non-Wiha items into a set. I recall hex bit sockets being an example.

Which ones aren't stamped? The SAE sized hex bits?

Unless it's clearly a manufacturing defect, I doubt they will cover it. That said, if it's worth your trouble to warranty a single bit, it doesn't hurt to try and test their after-sales customer service by giving them a call.

Wow. Thank you, superautobacs, that's a lot of valuable information I did not know. I had not even questioned the origin of the ratchets. I'll be checking out the Wiha.de site from now on. The ones that weren't stamped were actually all the metric (except for the smallest one), all the torx, 1/4 drive adapter, and all the screwdriver bits. Only the SAE bits and two square bits were the real deal.

I've sent them an email, and waiting to find out what they say. I'm perturbed only because there is a very big difference in the two bits, and the Wiha ones seem so much nicer.

Just look at how the non-stamped bit is machined all sloppy, compared to the stamped one. Both bits are brand new, fresh out of the packaging, while the non-stamped bit looks like a little chewed up around the tip already, with a speck of rust. The slight difference in color hints that they may be different metal compositions as well:

In this picture, you can see the sloppy machine marks better on the right-most bit:

There was one bit that had a much lighter stamp, in a different font, and doesn't look like the rest (on the right):

If they were all uniform (one way or the other) I wouldn't have even noticed anything, but with more than half the bits being janky, I question its authenticity.

 

[Monte]

They do manufacture cheaper bits in Vietnam....maybe thats why it is like it is

 

[bonneyman]

If someone is looking for the smallest ratchet possible it would be pretty hard to beat the Chapman. They're not flashy or fancy but they are well made and really small.

Another Chapman fan here.
Here is my set, and I've found a bunch more off the missing pieces since this pic was taken.

Apparently, Champion is still making sets. They're even nicer now!

http://www.chapmanmfg.com/MasterKit.html

 

[mrborohachi]

Which MFG. was it that had a video of the bit handle taking off a properly torqued on lug nut off a BMW?

 

[pozidriv]

Wera:

Pretty impressive!

Question: does anybody know who makes the victorinox bit ratchets in their swisstool kits?
http://www.victorinox.com/ch/produc...15-mm/SwissTool-Plus-II-en-étui-cuir/3.0339.L

Could they be made by PB swiss (they have colaborated before on the victorinox bike tool)
http://www.victorinox.com/ch/app/product/Swiss-Army-Knives/Category/Outdoor/Sport/Bike-Tool/4.1329
http://www.pbswisstools.com/nl/specials/reclameartikelen/reclamedragers/biketool.html

Or do they make them themselves?

 

[boosteddsm92]

Here's another option, I have this set and they are really nice:

 

[senlow]

Here's another option, I have this set and they are really nice:

I like these a lot. They work very well. I use them far more often than my Snap-on bit ratchets. They are made by Lang (formerly Kastar). My set is Blue Point branded.

 

[superautobacs]

Wera:

Pretty impressive!

Question: does anybody know who makes the victorinox bit ratchets in their swisstool kits?
http://www.victorinox.com/ch/produc...15-mm/SwissTool-Plus-II-en-étui-cuir/3.0339.L

Could they be made by PB swiss (they have colaborated before on the victorinox bike tool)
http://www.victorinox.com/ch/app/product/Swiss-Army-Knives/Category/Outdoor/Sport/Bike-Tool/4.1329
http://www.pbswisstools.com/nl/specials/reclameartikelen/reclamedragers/biketool.html

Or do they make them themselves?

All I can say is--the bits, ratchet, and extension pieces all do not appear to be PB Swiss products.

 

[Air21]

I have the Titan ones and think they are pretty cool. An Amazon reviewer says its the same as the MAC MR4C with 12 fewer teeth, they look the same but I don't have the MAC to compare it to. The head is tiny and they came a little tight so I clipped a little less than .090" off the spring and its super smooth.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

I have a Wera that I like quite a bit. I also have an old school Craftsman that takes some goofy 1/4" bits.

 

[JettaGetUpandGo]

I've had the Craftsman bit ratchet set for years and hate them. Without fail, I bump the selector every time I use them. The low tooth count wasn't great in tight spaces either. That being said, they proved to be both useful and annoying.

A friend had a Mac bit ratchet that seemed a little bulky, but felt great. The cheapest I could find it was $50 in a set with lots of bits. I forget the model number, but it looks a little bit like the Sunex.

Today I ordered the VIM bit ratchet on eBay. It looks like a huge improvement over the Craftsman ratchets and was only $12.54 shipped: http://www.ebay.com/itm/191580139055?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2648&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[AV tinker er]

I admit that Wera is **** and seems strong. Although I wouldn't use my personal (if I owned one) to put a cheater pipe on, it would be interesting to see how many times it could break that lug nut before failing.

 

[pozidriv]

All I can say is--the bits, ratchet, and extension pieces all do not appear to be PB Swiss products.

Yeah, they lack a few distinctive PB swiss design elements. I still find it kind of hard to believe that victorinox makes these themselves. Ratchet, L-key, bits, it's kind of a departure from their usual stuff..
I stand to be corrected though

 

[sljeme345]

Bahco made very good and small bit ratchet

 

[AV tinker er]

Wera:

<br />
Pretty impressive!<br />
<br />

I know why they have the warning but it's a hell of a selling video.