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Bit Ratchets

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JBH

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Jan 17, 2018
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811
only the first is the R1 pico Facom

worse, it's $125


Whining about the cost is quite a ways away from claiming something “seems impossible to find in the US.”

Never mind that a modern American can always shop at Mister Worker, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, TBS Aachen, and so on.
 
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Mr_B

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<a href='https://postimg.cc/3yXdRXyV' target='_blank'><img src='https://i.postimg.cc/3yXdRXyV/4a522bc9-b3f7-4368-adf9-4e2f139b8d99-720x.jpg' border='0' alt='4a522bc9-b3f7-4368-adf9-4e2f139b8d99-720x'/></a>
 

NoahG

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Feb 24, 2013
Messages
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Location
Detroit, MI
My go-to bit ratchet is a HF composite with a Craftsman bit spinner socket in it. 019a44bb2281608e9f2bd7bd30bf5123.jpg


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JBH

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Jan 17, 2018
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811
The KS tools is advertised as 72 tooth and the Facom is advertised as 60 tooth. Do you know if they have different ratchet mechanisms or is this a mistake? If they do, can you feel any significant difference between them? Facom could be an older design as they seamed to have it available for a few years before anyone else.

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There’s no appreciable difference in feel between them. I assume KS Tools has the wrong tooth count listed, because all the others seem to be 60.
 

Fedwrench

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Just got my Titan 11317 neon blue swivel head micro bit driver in the mail today. Measuring 4 inches long. The aluminum handle makes it very light compared to the black swivel micro ratchet. It even came with a stubby P2 bit. I like it. :beer:
 

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mc4life27

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Jul 2, 2014
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404
why? are they smooth, fit the hand well, or...?



I did bring it up when I first posted. I have the titan and it’s ok. I like the rise the Handel has but it’s not my go to. The ratchet mech is not that nice on it. Plus I had to modify mine. The buy retention ***** with the bit being held in by the little metal clip. I removed that and took and magnetic from a impact but hold and glued it inside the titan. Works much better and if you find the right size magnetic it doesn’t cause the bit to stick out any further either. It still hands down my favorite is the felo


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ChevyEFI

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Sep 2, 2012
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Location
Phoenix, AZ
Just got my Titan 11317 neon blue swivel head micro bit driver in the mail today. Measuring 4 inches long. The aluminum handle makes it very light compared to the black swivel micro ratchet. It even came with a stubby P2 bit. I like it. :beer:

A 1/4 roto and socket w/bit made the old 4.3 EGR valve pretty easy access. That's a must-buy tool right there.
 

visionguru

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Jan 2, 2017
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Location
Chicago
3 pages and no one seems to mention this:
bcc47193059e271d373c225bc66a53f4.jpg

With ratcheting screw drivers, ratcheting thumb wheels, and bit adapter on a 1/4 rachet, a bit rachet is not an essential tool for anything IMO.

I've only used it once or twice for the leverage. I could also achieve the same thing with a regular rachet or wrench on screwdriver bolster.

The craftsman was less than $10. Many fine tooth bit rachets can be had for cheap, Titan for example. I'd buy a 24k gold Snap On rachet before spending $100+ for those Euro junk tools only for this first few turns of a screw.
 

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81turbota

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Oct 29, 2019
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USA
Here’s my favorite - SO THNFDM72R. I got a great deal on it and intended to swap the guts to have a hard handle SO roto but decided against it after using it.

It’s not nearly as small as some of the other great looking ones posted here but I really like the roto head, allowing it to be used as a driver.

CFC4-D324-1758-48-EF-91-C0-FE28-EB1839-BA.jpg
 

ChevyEFI

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3 pages and no one seems to mention this:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200822/bcc47193059e271d373c225bc66a53f4.jpg

With ratcheting screw drivers, ratcheting thumb wheels, and bit adapter on a 1/4 rachet, a bit rachet is not an essential tool for anything IMO.

I've only used it once or twice for the leverage. I could also achieve the same thing with a regular rachet or wrench on screwdriver bolster.

The craftsman was less than $10. Many fine tooth bit rachets can be had for cheap, Titan for example. I'd buy a 24k gold Snap On rachet before spending $100+ for those Euro junk tools only for this first few turns of a screw.
Like many antique Craftsman tools / designs, it's just a cheap, coarse, poor ergonomics design that has nothing to offer over other designs, and doesn't merit mention.

There are some access situations the Titan posted above will take care of, that nearly nothing else will. Because torx, allen, and other female head drive designs are getting more common, bit ratchets are as relevant as traditional socket drive systems. It all just depends on what you work on.
 
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kwyjibo

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Apr 8, 2008
Messages
736

My first thought when I got this email was that buying the new SK bit ratchet wouldn't improve on my current situation. When access is too tight I resort to a bit driven by either a 1/4" wrench, or more often a 1/4" socket/ratchet combo. I am tempted by the designs used by viM, Facom/USAG, etc where the overall height is not much more than the length of the bit. It's just too bad that USAG doesn't sell the ratchet only, I already have a bunch of bit sets.
 

senlow

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Apr 26, 2008
Messages
2,228
Location
Wheat Ridge, Colorado
3 pages and no one seems to mention this:
bcc47193059e271d373c225bc66a53f4.jpg

With ratcheting screw drivers, ratcheting thumb wheels, and bit adapter on a 1/4 rachet, a bit rachet is not an essential tool for anything IMO.

I've only used it once or twice for the leverage. I could also achieve the same thing with a regular rachet or wrench on screwdriver bolster.

The craftsman was less than $10. Many fine tooth bit rachets can be had for cheap, Titan for example. I'd buy a 24k gold Snap On rachet before spending $100+ for those Euro junk tools only for this first few turns of a screw.

That's made by Lang. It has coarse teeth and a ton of back drag. The enclosed version that Lang makes is a much more refined tool for just a little more money. Snap-on also sells these under the Blue-Point name.
 

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928'er

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Jul 26, 2012
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756
Location
Wine Country, CA
I like my Wiha set:
 

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itwnexus

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Feb 16, 2012
Messages
317
ARES 70040 is the same as the Sealey AK6962 but only cost $14.42 on amazon:

72-Tooth Gearhead - 5 Degree Sweep

But it does not come with a 1/4 inch socket adapter.

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813smsBzJ%2BL._AC_SL1500_.jpg


https://www.amazon.com/ARES-70040-1-Screwdriver-72-Tooth-Gearhead/dp/B01BUJXQJ6/ref=sr_1_50?dchild=1&keywords=ks+tools+bit+ratchet&qid=1598149973&sr=8-50

================================================

Sealey AK6962 1/4-inch Hex Stainless Steel Micro Ratchet

https://www.amazon.com/AK6962-Sealey-Driver-Ratchet-Stainless/dp/B00K1UNJ52

$10.95 + $11.26 Shipping = $22.21

51Vz-aSmyNL._AC_SL1200_.jpg


video:
 
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JBH

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Joined
Jan 17, 2018
Messages
811
Just got my Titan 11317 neon blue swivel head micro bit driver in the mail today. Measuring 4 inches long. The aluminum handle makes it very light compared to the black swivel micro ratchet. It even came with a stubby P2 bit. I like it. :beer:

Interesting. Have you used it yet? Thoughts?

3 pages and no one seems to mention this:
bcc47193059e271d373c225bc66a53f4.jpg

Because it's not a good example of the tool type.

a bit rachet is not an essential tool for anything IMO.

To you. That's fine. Others of us like them and use them frequently.

spending $100+ for those Euro junk tools only for this first few turns of a screw.

I think only Stahlwille and maybe Hazet cost that much as a bare tool. Sets with bits/sockets can cost that much.

PS: Calling tools "Euro junk" is just advertising your provincialism.

I like my Wiha set:

Wiha seems to have improved theirs. I bought one a while ago, and it was terrible compared to Wera and (IMO best of the fixed heads) Felo. However, last year when Wiha had that $25ish set with blue-wrapped bits and the bit ratchet in their little metal case, I picked one up to keep in a drill case. The ratchet isn't half bad. I still prefer Reverse Gear locking flex heads all around, and Felo in fixed head, but there's nothing particularly wrong with Wiha.
 

HenryAZ

MEMBER EMERITUS
Joined
Sep 18, 2012
Messages
1,054
Location
South Congress AZ
With ratcheting screw drivers, ratcheting thumb wheels, and bit adapter on a 1/4 rachet, a bit rachet is not an essential tool for anything IMO.

Granted I use my bit ratchet rarely, but I have found a few use cases where the ratchet was the only way I could get to the screw head (without taking everything apart). In those few cases, I sure was glad it was in my toolbox.
 

billp603

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 31, 2011
Messages
222
Location
NH
I'm surprised nobody has brought up the Titan bit ratchet and micro ratchet. They're also made in Taiwan and have an offset design. Probably one of the best bit ratchets out there (and there's lots). Engineer and Vessel also have bit ratchets (plate ratchets they call them).

I'll second this recommendation. We use these at work in a factory setting, not enough volume to justify expensive torque control pneumatic drivers but they work great for the application, super smooth.
 

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mc4life27

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Jul 2, 2014
Messages
404
Here’s my favorite - SO THNFDM72R. I got a great deal on it and intended to swap the guts to have a hard handle SO roto but decided against it after using it.



It’s not nearly as small as some of the other great looking ones posted here but I really like the roto head, allowing it to be used as a driver.



CFC4-D324-1758-48-EF-91-C0-FE28-EB1839-BA.jpg



This is the next one I want to order after other blue round head one. But the. Again I have to take a loan out to afford the snap on though lol. Good thing the trucks have credit


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JBH

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Jan 17, 2018
Messages
811
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CGarage

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Nov 23, 2018
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2,995
Location
United States/Switzerland
Not sure on the answer to above question.
That said, I own both the fixed and flex-head Facom bit ratchets and there is a reason to own both. They are different enough and the fixed head is really compact and sturdy.
 

Hytekrednek

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Joined
Feb 6, 2015
Messages
373
Just got my Titan 11317 neon blue swivel head micro bit driver in the mail today. Measuring 4 inches long. The aluminum handle makes it very light compared to the black swivel micro ratchet. It even came with a stubby P2 bit. I like it. :beer:

where did you get it? Looks handy. I have and love the tiny roto head ratchet they make
 

JBH

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Joined
Jan 17, 2018
Messages
811
Is there a better flex-head bit ratchet than the Facom?


Where it’s not too big, I prefer Koken.

As a stand-alone tool I prefer KS Tools, because it’s basically the same Reverse Gear unit as Facom/USAG (slightly different handle shape but identical functionality) and cheaper.

In fixed head I think there are better options than Reverse Gear. Felo is smoother and nicer to use in the compact format, and the bit wobbles less because it uses a magnet instead of that bottom C clip that holds the Reverse Gear unit together and retains the bit.
 
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JBH

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Jan 17, 2018
Messages
811
Yes. The downside is, it is Koken’s 1/4” drive except with female 1/4” hex opening instead of 1/4” square. So it’s a lot larger than dedicated bit ratchets.


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