Craftsman Thin Profile Ratchets

[cruiser808]

Hi everyone - new to the board, however I've been lurking for some time. I like some opinions of the Craftsman thin profile series. Yup, I know about the regular ones and the collection of my Craftsman ratchets go from the 30's to the early 80's when I stopped buying them. I got a lot of ratchets!

That said, the thin profiles are geting pretty cheap on ebay lately and while I have way more high end professional ratchets that I can ever use as a diyer, the temptation and my ratchet addiction is great. What say you, trash or treasure?

 

[jay50]

I have a set of the Cman pro thin profile ratchets and they are great. IMHO, they are better than what the truck truck has to offer.

 

[Chris Adams]

Good ratchets. Not as robust as the heavy Snap ons, but way better than any of the other stuff Sears sells.
Do a search for all the pros and cons on them as we have beat this to death.

 

[DavidtheDuke]

It has the Matco/Danaher 60 tooth ratchet design with a quick release for half the price, definitely worth it. Very nice polish job, too.

 

[Fedwrench]

They were really sweet when Sears got rid of the 80th Anniversary 3 piece sets at $30. Just shop around for the best price before purchasing. I like them.

 

[Norton155]

They were really sweet when Sears got rid of the 80th Anniversary 3 piece sets at $30. Just shop around for the best price before purchasing. I like them.

This is why you are starting to see them going for $35-40 on ebay. Everyone scooped them up for $25 on clearence. A week before the clearance sale they were selling for $65-75 on ebay.
I picked up the set of three on clearance and have only used the 3/8" once, but I am very impressed with the feel. Far better then the standard raised panel Cmans I've used before I got these.

 

[biggsean]

Wow, and I thought I had scored an absolute bargain when I purchased this set for $69.99 last year.

The 80th anniversary 3/8" drive is my most often used ratchet out of my collection, in fact I actually have two of them.

I'd love to be able to pick up a spare set for $25.

 

[Mike83]

Very nice ratchets. I have 3/8" and 1/2" drives and they are really comfortable and have a good, strong feel. They don't feel cheap at all like the regular Craftsmans.

 

[Stuey]

They're excellent, especially compared to the regular Sears lineup.

What I like about them: robust internals, metal gear switch. Even Craftsman's "professional" ratchets have plastic switches these days. Correct me if I'm wrong, it also looks like their pro racthets have the same internals as the cheap crappy ratchets, only with different handle styles.

I say: treasure, especially if you can get a set for less than $50.

 

[davestlouis]

My 1st set I paid $79, grabbed a 2nd set for $49, last set my store had. The handle design looks like it should be uncomfortable, but I like them and they feel good in my hand. I think that I prefer the feel of Matco's ratchets to the feel of my Snap On's anyway, and prefer the Thin Profiles to the "normal" Matco...so my cheapest ratchets are my "go-to"...good grief.

 

[Stanger]

I am very very pleased with my thin profiles. I was going to buy a couple Snap-On's but they were very pricey and I was concerned about warrantying them should I have had a problem. I never buy from the SO guy so I figured he may give me a hard time. Sears has always been good about replacing tools so I am happy that they are making a decent ratchet. Very smooth action and comfortable grip IMO. I think these ratchets are the best "bang for your buck" available right now.

 

[billymade]

The new thin profile ratchets rarely come back for a rebuild; they are definitely better then all the other ratchets from Craftsman. The problem with the other ratchets are they all have the same head design; which has become "Danaherized." The ratchet is sloppy and the metal used is soft; we rebuild the standard ratchets like crazy! I prefer the shape of the "full polish" model but it has the same bad head design and the plastic selector. The other design that is good is the old "fine tooth" model that is only available from the catalogue; it is the old design that you used to see in the 70's. If you have one or prefer it and need a rebuild; ask them to order you a new replacement through the catalogue. They are not sending us the rebuild kits at our store.

 

[eschoendorff]

The new think profile ratchets rarely come back for a rebuild; they are definitely better then all the other ratchets from Craftsman. The problem with the other ratchets are they all have the same head design; which has become "Danaherized." The ratchet is sloppy and the metal used is soft; we rebuild the standard ratchets like crazy! I prefer the shape of the "full polish" model but it has the bad head design and the plastic selector. The other design that is good is the old "fine tooth" model that is only available from the catalogue; it is the old design that you used to see in the 70's. If you have one or prefer it and need a rebuild; ask them to order you a new replacement through the catalogue. They are not sending us the rebuild kits at our store.

That is one of the most underrated ratchets in the industry. I've been meaning to get my hands on a few of those.... like I need more ratchets!

 

[T56 Impala]

That is one of the most underrated ratchets in the industry. I've been meaning to get my hands on a few of those.... like I need more ratchets!

I have 3 of these. 1/2 and 2 3/8 units. I never really thought about them but you are right. They are a real tough ratchet. I know as a kid I used that 1/2 one as a hammer more than I care to admit and it still works like it is new. I guess dad would have pick them up in the early 70's maybe late 60's?

I like the new one too. I picked up one set for $59, and two more sets at $25 a few weeks back. Man, I have a LOT of ratchets! Now you did it, I have to go count.

 

[Uncle Buck]

That is one of the most underrated ratchets in the industry. I've been meaning to get my hands on a few of those.... like I need more ratchets!

Still the best ratchet Sears has made in my lifetime, to me anyway. I have all three drive sizes of those and I have never needed a rebuild on any of them, but it sounds as though I better get some rebuild kits stashed away just in case!

 

[wrenchr]

That is one of the most underrated ratchets in the industry. I've been meaning to get my hands on a few of those.... like I need more ratchets!

It puzzles me why they do not discontinue the other design and stock these in the store.

 

[Uncle Buck]

It puzzles me why they do not discontinue the other design and stock these in the store.

No surprise, it fits in with the rest of their thinking!

 

[Stuey]

That is one of the most underrated ratchets in the industry. I've been meaning to get my hands on a few of those.... like I need more ratchets!

I plan on getting this one the next time I place an order w/ Sears. I think that it's by far the cheapest "reputable" flex head ratchet I've seen. I guess that Sears doesn't stock it anywhere because people might choose it over their Companion branded ratchets, and in the Craftsman line it might carry a lower profit margin than the crappy pear-headed ones they offer. Then again, maybe it just wasn't popular once the pear headed quick releases came out.

 

[davestlouis]

I wonder if the Thin Profile are going away, or if it was just the 80th Anniversary models they were giving away cheap. I don't think I've seen any non-80th Thin Profiles in my local stores.

 

[Stanger]

I wonder if the Thin Profile are going away, or if it was just the 80th Anniversary models they were giving away cheap. I don't think I've seen any non-80th Thin Profiles in my local stores.

I hope not. It is their only decent ratchet.

 

[Stuey]

It was just the 80th anniversary version that was clearanced.