Coming Full Circle

[morgaj1]

For the first 37 years of my life, all I knew were Craftsman and Cornwell coarse tooth ratchets. After doing much reading here, I started picking up Snap On, Armstrong and Gearwrench fine tooth ratchets. After using them for a while, I have found myself hating the back drag of the fine tooth ratchets. In fact, I sold all of the new ratchets and have gone back to Cornwell for 90% of the time and SK ratchets when I need a finer tooth. I know that many here will disagree, but these old ratchets just work better for me.

 

[PoorOwner]

You mean the fine teeth has lots of back drag? Because I thought it is supposed to have LESS.

Though I think i know what you mean, when I am feeling I need something heavy duty I just grab the protos
They are heavy and clicking is crisp and give me a better feel Or maybe its all in my head
Now we are talking about 100+ tooth on some of these new ratchets I personally don't feel I need that.

 

[firworks]

I doubt anyone would fault you for preferring Cornwell ratchets. They're really nice. My most grabbed ratchet is a Cornwell SR50 and that's only a 30 tooth.

 

[Jarhead0408]

To each their own man. So long as you like them and the
get the job done for you, that's all that should matter.

 

[Fedwrench]

It's your choice as your hands are using the ratchets. It's not about what we like, it's what you like to use.

 

[uart]

You mean the fine teeth has lots of back drag? Because I thought it is supposed to have LESS.

That's what I thought too????

It's certainly been my experience that my coarse tooth ratchets and ratcheting wrenches have more back drag than the finer tooth ones I've used.

 

[firworks]

Are you guys mixing back drag with swing arc? Fine tooth ratchets have lower swing arc, but at least in my experience more back drag. In particular the Steelman Pro 160 tooth ratchets have a tonnnn of back drag. The trick I use is I just keep one finger on the socket to provide a kind of braking action preventing it from spinning and that eliminates any back drag issue.

 

[morgaj1]

You mean the fine teeth has lots of back drag? Because I thought it is supposed to have LESS.

Every fine tooth ratchet that I've used has much more back drag than the old Cornwells.

 

[Brownsfan]

Cornwell 30t ratchets are some of the nicest,smoothest and strongest you will ever use. They haven't changed the design in years and they are still IMHO one of the best. The standard chrome handles are the most comfortable non comfort grip handles I have ever used.

 

[uart]

Are you guys mixing back drag with swing arc?

No I was thinking back drag (force or torque). I guess it just comes down to what particular brands of fine or coarse tooth ratchets you've used. My coarse tooth ratchets (and ratcheting wrenches) probably just have higher back drag because they're cheap and nasty, LOL.

I'd always imagined that with the bigger teeth of the coarse tooth ratchet that the ratchet pawl had to deflect a lot more and that caused the higher back drag. Oh well, now I know that it need not necessarily be this way.

 

[Richard Cranium]

to each their own, I have many different brands and you which ever one I feel will work for the job at hand.

 

[zkling]

Do you mean the lack of back drag on the fine tooth models?

Agreed, those old cornwell ratchets are very nice.

 

[shoggoth80]

I really like my Cornwell 30 tooth. I really like my Snappy 100 tooth too though. Depends on what I am doing. Still, Cornwell makes a fine ratchet.

 

[zcbauer89]

You know, I love the Dual 80s, but I like using the old SK ratchets better. Just comes down to preference I suppose.

 

[Wamsutta]

You mean the fine teeth has lots of back drag? Because I thought it is supposed to have LESS.

Most of the time that is the case, but the Cornwell 30 tooth ratchets defy the laws of physics by having next to no back drag.