wow! can you send me that ratchet and or kit with the missing part or should i throw all my sk ratchets away. i've used those rhft ratchets once or twice and never thought much about them. maybe i need to give them a second chance. i could never figure out why sears would carry every left handed smoke shifter widget made out of unobtanium but didn't have enough room to hang a few more ratchets on the wall. go figure.
Craftsman RHFT Ratchets On Way Out
- Thread starter lauver
- Start date
Dave,
Easco clearly produced these ratchets under their own brand as well as under the Craftsman brand and under the KD brand following their acquisition of KD.
Did Easco produce the RHFT ratchets under their own brand prior to producing the Craftsman branded RHFT ratchets? That's anyones guess, but to date, we have no evidence of this.
Does anybody have an Easco branded RHFT ratchet with patent pending stamp, or a patent application date stamp?
sk farmer,
You raised another interesting point concerning Sears marketing strategy for the RHFT ratchet (or lack of marketing strategy).
I've always wondered why the RHFT ratchet was kept almost a secret for close to 40 years. I can only conclude that it is typical Sears ineptitude.
Anybody got any alternate theories?
Paladin
Well-known member
You should put all your garbage SK rats in a box and mail them to me. I'll even throw a couple bucks your way for shipping because thats the kind of guy I am!
I have three of these, two old, one over 30yrs that I have had since new, and one of more recent vintage. This means I have both old and new, and I can say that every one feels just as smooth as the others, and they have been smooth with no change of feel that I have ever been able to discern from day one. (in the case of the one I got new)
No offense to anyone, but I do not agree with any of the ideas of "broken in", or this ratchet design and durability having to take a back seat to any others. I have had this design of ratchet longer than any others I own decades later I would still rate them at the top of the heap. I often grab a Craftsman RHFT over my Snap-on, Proto, Armstrong, or Williams ratchets because they are just that bullet proof in reliability, feel, and design. In over thirty years of use I have never had a need to rebuild, relube, or exchange any one of my RHFT ratchets.
Simply use them, wipe the crud from them, and toss them back in the box, it is really just that easy! (Say no to breaking them in!)
UB, we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. I think you just got lucky because every well used RHFT ratchet I've picked up feels very loosey goosey to me. I bought one, and it skipped even though I could find nothing wrong with it.
Uncle Buck
Banned
davestlouis
Well-known member
Gary, all of my Easco, Allen, K-D and NAPA's in this design have a round knurled handle, so there's no place to put a bunch of patent #s.
Dave,
Understood. So how would a person go about dating an Easco RHFT ratchet?
A dated receipt for the ratchet? A dated inventory entry for the ratchet? A photo of the ratchet laying on the front page of a newspaper...with the date visible? A journal entry from an ex-Easco ratchet designer. A vintage Easco tool catalog...anybody got one or some?
I'm sure there is a record somewhere, but it sounds like a long shot.
davestlouis
Well-known member
Gary, short of a receipt, I don't think there's any way to definitively date one of the non-Craftsman ratchets. I would be interested to see when the Easco model first appeared in a catalog or advertisement, so at least we would know if it was available before, or after the Craftsman model. I'm mainly curious about one thing...what was the function that led Sears to start selling that ratchet...did Easco introduce the RHFT and Sears liked the design, or did Easco offer it to Sears first then build their own variant?
wantedabiggergarage
Member Emeritus
The only other theory that I ever heard, was they listened to the marketing people, and decided someone returning a broken ratchet, was a way to get them in the store to buy more stuff.
Dave,
The vintage Easco catalogs would be the easiest route to go. I don't have any Easco catalogs, and have never seen one. Not sure they even exist...
Does anyone have an Easco catalog from the late 1960's to early 1970's?
Edit: Prior to Easco's acquisition of MDF and the Sears/Craftsman contract, Easco primarily marketed it's tools thru auto parts stores and hardware stores. It's possible that Easco tools could be contained in catalogs published by auto parts and hardware stores/chains.
The vintage Easco catalogs would be the easiest route to go. I don't have any Easco catalogs, and have never seen one. Not sure they even exist...
Does anyone have an Easco catalog from the late 1960's to early 1970's?
Edit: Prior to Easco's acquisition of MDF and the Sears/Craftsman contract, Easco primarily marketed it's tools thru auto parts stores and hardware stores. It's possible that Easco tools could be contained in catalogs published by auto parts and hardware stores/chains.
Last edited:
John in OH
Well-known member
I think that most of you are not referring to the same Craftsman RHFT ratchet design as lauver. In the late '60s or early '70s Craftsman started selling a design of RHFT that had a raised panel handle, fine-tooth mechanism, quick-release button and ... the really cool part .... an integral thumbwheel !!
I bought a set of these ratchets when I got out of school and got my first job. I've used this set of ratchets for over 30 years (not for business, only casual mechanic work) and although I now have a drawer full of different style ratchets, these old C-man RHFT are still my favorite ratchet. It's the integral THUMBWHEEL that makes these so user-friendly!! Unfortunately, I have not seen this style in the C-man catalogs for several years.
A close second to these old C-man ratchets are the Proto RHFT Professional line of ratchets. I don't recall the Proto series number but they are nearly identical and include the quick-release and the THUMBWHEEL.
To paraphrase the old presidential debate, "It's the THUMBWHEEL, stupid!"
I bought a set of these ratchets when I got out of school and got my first job. I've used this set of ratchets for over 30 years (not for business, only casual mechanic work) and although I now have a drawer full of different style ratchets, these old C-man RHFT are still my favorite ratchet. It's the integral THUMBWHEEL that makes these so user-friendly!! Unfortunately, I have not seen this style in the C-man catalogs for several years.
A close second to these old C-man ratchets are the Proto RHFT Professional line of ratchets. I don't recall the Proto series number but they are nearly identical and include the quick-release and the THUMBWHEEL.
To paraphrase the old presidential debate, "It's the THUMBWHEEL, stupid!"
loubapache
Well-known member
The set I got from Sears this month do have the thumbwheels.
NugeConstruction
Well-known member
The link* posted by Joe B. to the 1/2 in. Drive Fine Tooth Flex Head has a review that seems to echo the consensus of this thread:
"A note of advice- If you buy a craftsman tool set with the standard ratchets give them to somebody you don't like and buy yourself a full set of the fine tooth roundhead design."
(*) http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...me=Tools&cName=Mechanics+Tools&sName=Ratchets
"A note of advice- If you buy a craftsman tool set with the standard ratchets give them to somebody you don't like and buy yourself a full set of the fine tooth roundhead design."
(*) http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...me=Tools&cName=Mechanics+Tools&sName=Ratchets
charlie_nj
Well-known member
I just bought 3 RHFT ratchets from Sears website and they all have the integral thumbwheel. Just got them on Monday.
davestlouis
Well-known member
John in OH, I'm a little puzzled...why do you think we don't know what ratchets we have been discussing? There are pics in the thread, that clearly show the head design. Care to fill us in?
kythri
Well-known member
Yeah, these ratchets were also in last years catalog, as well...
John in OH
Well-known member
Man, you guys are right!! I totally missed the boat on this one! I better get more sleep tonight! Sorry for adding the unnecessary confusion.
davestlouis
Well-known member
Not a problem John, just wanted to be sure we were all on the same page...O'Reilly's stocks these ratchets too, labeled as K-D...I may buy one or 2 from them just to have yet another variation.
cruiser808
Well-known member
Hey Dave - are the K-D handles the same as the old EASCO's? The EASCO's are the round knurled handle version. Wrenchr sold me his 1/2" long handle and I love it. I wouldn't mind grabbing some K-Ds if that's the case.
davestlouis
Well-known member
cruiser, the K-D's Allens and NAPA's all have round knurled handles as far as I know. My NAPA 1/4 inch one is in, I just haven't been to the store to pick it up...I'll be curious about whether it has a polished or matte finish on the head and non-knurled portion of the handle.
cruiser808
Well-known member
Thanks Dave, I'm guessing the older ones as are you say. Please give us an update on your purchase. Thanks.
Chief
Well-known member
^^^^
Look at the catalog team inside the cover. Ol' Janet was using here creative managment skills. I don't know why they filled the Craftsman catalog with other brands, Sears is expensive on SK,etc.etc., Sears is not the best deal on non-Danaher brands. I would have liked to see the ENTIRE Craftsman line up, like you get online. You know all the more obscure Craftsman odds and ends, and all the available open stock. Oh! well, maybe they will do it right next year. Now if the quality of yesteryear would snap back, although I still rate Craftsman high on the list for staple tools, etc...
Look at the catalog team inside the cover. Ol' Janet was using here creative managment skills. I don't know why they filled the Craftsman catalog with other brands, Sears is expensive on SK,etc.etc., Sears is not the best deal on non-Danaher brands. I would have liked to see the ENTIRE Craftsman line up, like you get online. You know all the more obscure Craftsman odds and ends, and all the available open stock. Oh! well, maybe they will do it right next year. Now if the quality of yesteryear would snap back, although I still rate Craftsman high on the list for staple tools, etc...
^^^
Here is an example of the above, a good Craftsman tool, not in the catalog. These come in real handy.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...crewdrivers&keyword=super+stubby+screwdrivers
Here is an example of the above, a good Craftsman tool, not in the catalog. These come in real handy.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...crewdrivers&keyword=super+stubby+screwdrivers
Keep
Well-known member
I just bought one of each!
I just did this as well. Though "they cannot be ordered in Canada" (by the lazy staff) So I ordered them online and had them shipped to my Dad in Ohio
PowderKeg
Well-known member
For chits 'n giggles (when wrenchr mentioned seeing a round head Armstrong) I checked out the Armstrong site for any current round heads - they now list the classic Craftsman RHFTQR ratchet head with the sculpted Armstrong handle. Gotta watch for one now....
http://www.armstrongtools.com/ECommerce/Product.aspx
I'll keep my eye's out for one of those to!!
Wow, that round head Armstrong looks just like the Craftsman except with a nicer looking handle .. gotta get me one of those ..
Attachments
davestlouis
Well-known member
Wow, I need one(or more) of those now too.
kythri
Well-known member
Not a fan of the handle, I'll keep my Craftsman handles, thanks! The NAPA handles don't seem too bad, though.
Edit: NM, those ****, too. I was thinking of the NAPA handles on their version of the next-gen thin profiles...
Edit: NM, those ****, too. I was thinking of the NAPA handles on their version of the next-gen thin profiles...
Last edited:
davestlouis
Well-known member
Well, I picked up my 1/4inch NAPA NM47 ratchet today. It came in a plastic bag that was white, with a bar code and other information printed on it. Open the bag, and inside was your normal RHFT ratchet, the top of the head was polished, the rest had rough machining marks and a round knurled handle, but what almost looked like an attempt at a gloss chrome finish over the rough underlying surface,...shinier than the C-Man variant I bought in November. -NAPA- deeply embossed on one side of the shank, NM-47 and what looks like a little tiny "M" on the other side. Here's the kicker, their retail is $45.95, charged me $35. I like to died, but I figured, what the hell, I want it, so I'll take the beating. The counterman did stress the lifetime warranty, said to bring it back in 200 years, they'll warranty it. Now I need the Armstrong version...
davestlouis
Well-known member
I compared the new NAPA to an old Easco I have at home, and the quality of the exterior finishing on the ratchet body is very similar...not going to win any beauty contests, but they work well and feel nice. Rough grinder marks where the head meets the throat and the edges of the knurling on the handle are a bit sloppy, but nothing that will cut my hand or cause other issues.
Does anybody know where to get the NEW Armstrong version?
davestlouis
Well-known member
I gotta imagine Fastenal sells them
I checked .. they had the RHFT with a round handle ...
davestlouis
Well-known member
What brand name was on it? Was an Armstrong ever made with a round handle? Did you actually see the tools to be sure it's the right head design?
davestlouis
Well-known member
Tuner, how was Fastenal's pricing?