Favorite Craftsman ratchet

[Andres26tnt]

Now that we had a glimpse of what SBD will do with Craftsman, i can't help but reminisce on some of the best ratchets Craftsman put out.

Now i know most of you will reminisce of USA craftsman but unfortunately i started my career in 2011(military) and dint get the full awesomeness of USA craftsman, I was fortunate enough to score a New old stock 300pc socket set tho.

My favorite ratchet or should i say ratchet design was part number #44835, this ratchets felt good in your hand and the curved one is super useful when you need it, Personally I've never had any issues with the china/taiwan made ratchets. I did eventually purchased a 3pc USA made raised panel and well i hated the ratchets, they were clunky and uncomfortable. of course not everything was perfect with the polished craftsman ratchet, the tooth count in my opinion was insufficient.

What your favorite CF ratchet?

By the way can't wait to see what 1200 new tools CF will show in august, i doubt most of them will be "New" should be interesting.

 

[Mgdoug3]

My RHFT 43788 is by far my favorite Craftsman. It's actually the only one I use. I wouldn't mind to find a 1/4 and 1/2 drive but prices have gotten crazy for them.

 

[WWheeler]

My favorite Craftsman ratchets are the old RHFTs. Luv'em! ...

 

[Andres26tnt]

the round heads seem to be everyones favorite, I've herd many great things. I own a couple of SK round heads and if they are anything like them i see why.

 

[Fedwrench]

The round head fine tooth quick release ratchet is probably a sure thing but, i still think that Easco, KD, and Allen had the better version that was slightly longer and had a nice knurled handle.

Another craftsman ratchet that i thought really wasn't appreciated enough was the thin profile quick release ratchet in 1/4 & 3/8 drives. Crisp 60 tooth action, paint brush shaped handle, and a flush mounted quick release button made this a great little ratchet. Now I omitted the 1/2 drive version because, i thought it was much too bulky and thought it needed to be much longer.

 

[WWheeler]

The round head fine tooth quick release ratchet is probably a sure thing but, i still think that Easco, KD, and Allen had the better version that was slightly longer and had a nice knurled handle. [...]

Ugh. It seems knurled handles are a love'em or hate'em thing. Count me very strongly in the latter. I really don't even like to touch a knurled handle, even with 9-mil gloves on. Go figure.

I guess in some ways the raised panel handles are similarly love'm/hate'em. I like RPs, mostly because they always fit my hand very comfortably especially when pulling for all I'm worth. I feel like I get a better grip on them much more so than round knurled or full polish handles. Only handles I prefer more than raised panels are soft grips. I luv soft grips.

The thing that really set the Craftsman's apart for me was the quick-release. I don't recall any of the others had it, at least back in the day. IIRC Craftsman had the patent rights on the QR ratchet (pretty much stole'em from a Sears employee i believe).

 

[Andres26tnt]

i love the quick release as well always hated how some ratchets the socket were impossible to remove, that includes some snap-on's we have at work.

 

[mudflap]

I have lots of Craftsman rats..i happen to love the feel and grip of the RP.. I work with hydraulic lines alot..and old greasy equipment so the slick chrome handles are useless.. and the soft grips dont clean up easy and get swampy after a while.. I agree with Fedwrench..the thin profile ones were under appreciated..and the 1/2in like in the pic is kinda bulky.. The long flex is my go to for brake jobs at my home shop.. The round head is nothing special..just the first ratchet i bought myself..if it could talk...lol.. lots of time spent with High School friends working on our junk trucks.. The newer one..the extreme grip is hard to not like..it's kinda growing on me, been using it alot lately putting together shelving units in the basement.. 72 tooth..really smooth, no backdrag, recessed QR and switch..all for $14.99...what a bargain

 

[Andres26tnt]

I have lots of Craftsman rats..i happen to love the feel and grip of the RP.. I work with hydraulic lines alot..and old greasy equipment so the slick chrome handles are useless.. and the soft grips dont clean up easy and get swampy after a while.. I agree with Fedwrench..the thin profile ones were under appreciated..and the 1/2in like in the pic is kinda bulky.. The long flex is my go to for brake jobs at my home shop.. The round head is nothing special..just the first ratchet i bought myself..if it could talk...lol.. lots of time spent with High School friends working on our junk trucks.. The newer one..the extreme grip is hard to not like..it's kinda growing on me, been using it alot lately putting together shelving units in the basement.. 72 tooth..really smooth, no backdrag, recessed QR and switch..all for $14.99...what a bargain

i have the 84t thin profile ratchet in 1/2 its way to bulky and heavy, the tooth count is great, The 1/4 version is better. i been wanting to try the extreme grip, i felt craftsman does not have enough soft grips.

 

[mudflap]

i have the 84t thin profile ratchet in 1/2 its way to bulky and heavy, the tooth count is great, The 1/4 version is better. i been wanting to try the extreme grip, i felt craftsman does not have enough soft grips.

It's the only one i can think of right now...they have a hard handle similar to my long flex

 

[AmishFury]

personally i've only had real experience with the standard RP ratchets...

and only really keep a few around for the nostalgia factor... i don't see myself ever going back to them

maybe some day i'll happen across a RHFT or a thin profile or some other CM model that isn't the standard handle RP at a garage sale

 

[AceofSpad3s]

The only craftsman ratchets I'd personally call great are the RHFT, Premium and the Thin Profile ones.
I've personally never encountered a post 1990 style raised panel pear head I've cared for. The stuff older than that is pretty bad on back drag, my flying V had probably the worst back drag of any ratchet I have, the pear head quick release with the large selector that came after it has quite a bit, but I think for general useage it'd be good for what it is.
There is definitely a reason the RHFT was made for 40 years and they command retarded prices

 

[thesilverone]

RHFTs

 

[xin]

When they bringin it back to the U S A ?

 

[woody 73]

Funny thing but I grew up with all craftsman hand tools but I was never a big fan of their ratchets, not sure why they all got the job done, nothing I can put my finger on to give you a good answer but they were a good meat and potato type tool.


One day while watching my neighbor working on his car by chance I picked up his cornwell ratchet and I knew then and there that ratchet was calling my name. Oh sure snap on was very nice but something about that old cornwell ratchet had me hooked line & sinker.


Sorry not able to help you out op today, I still have my old craftsman ratchets if you want any pictures just let me know.

 

[bonneyman]

Yeah, the round knurled handle is a luv it or hate it thing for sure. (Just for the record I'm also a knurled handle subscriber).

If I had to have a Craftsman ratchet, I'd opt for the old LLTD "baby rattle" selector style. Although the even older MDF pear head would be a close second. I have one of each I've found used and abandoned and I've rebuilt both.

 

[yamaha0343]

I'm not really a fan of the RP ratchets, but have one of these that's never let me down. Have a buddy that's a oilfield equipment mechanic, and he says his sees daily use and holds up about as well as anything else in his box.

 

[M6erfan]

...Another craftsman ratchet that i thought really wasn't appreciated enough was the thin profile quick release ratchet in 1/4 & 3/8 drives. Crisp 60 tooth action, paint brush shaped handle, and a flush mounted quick release button made this a great little ratchet. Now I omitted the 1/2 drive version because, i thought it was much too bulky and thought it needed to be much longer.

Agreed. I have the 3/8 version (my 1/4 version disappeared years ago) and it's is the only Craftsman ratchet I've kept over the years. Too bad the repair kits for these seem to be unobtanium.

+1 on the 1/2" version critique

 

[ChrisLS8]

I am a big fan of the Craftsman Premium rats. Slim head, beautiful chrome, and super comfortable handle with high tooth count.

 

[SS5150]

I like the premiums too.

 

[Al Borland]

I have a variety of the RP Ratchets, rarely used. I also have an Easco-made roundhead that I do use and like and several of the Stanley-made roundheads with the thumbwheel spinner on top. The Stanleys are a dual-pawl design and strong. Nice Ratchet, but BULKY.

 

[Bretny]

Andre26tnt i have the craftsman ERGO. Same ratchet but different handle. I liked it so much i have one at home and one at work. They are great for the money and still have my original thats been through 12yrs as a diesel tech.

 

[Andres26tnt]

When they bringin it back to the U S A ?

August 16th in Baltimore is where Craftsman will show "New" tools, we may finally see the return to USA tools.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

August 16th in Baltimore is where Craftsman will show "New" tools, we may finally see the return to USA tools.

inb4 more beloved raised panel ratchets with even lower quality materials and QC to make up for the increased cost of US labor

 

[Andres26tnt]

Andre26tnt i have the craftsman ERGO. Same ratchet but different handle. I liked it so much i have one at home and one at work. They are great for the money and still have my original thats been through 12yrs as a diesel tech.

i agree great ratchet, i dint get one because i bought the 2pc 120xp geawrench soft handles ratchets.

 

[Andres26tnt]

inb4 more beloved raised panel ratchets with even lower quality materials and QC to make up for the increased cost of US labor

lol i think they already upgraded the raised panel ratchets for the tool kits in lowes, if you go to the Craftsman website it said that the kits come with a 72t ratchets.

https://www.craftsman.com/products/craftsman-95-piece-set?taxon_id=1874

 

[JBradley500]

The premium 84 tooth would be the obvious answer for me, but I never actually used them, just fondled them. I don’t own a Craftsman ratchet, but I have used them a lot, and the only raised panel I liked/trusted was a 1/4” filled with lube. It had about zero backdrag.

 

[mudflap]

I'm not really a fan of the RP ratchets, but have one of these that's never let me down. Have a buddy that's a oilfield equipment mechanic, and he says his sees daily use and holds up about as well as anything else in his box.

Yep.. I have one in the home shop.. love it for brakes and caliper brackets, and you know sometimes the brackets put up a fight..it reaches around there nice and gets em..

 

[Jtels85]

My favorites are the Thin Profile 84T Made In Taiwan. They are smooth like butter, have a nice balance and the finish is excellent. I have the USA 60T versions that came in my original USA “Build-a-Socket” sets. They have seen limited use but I like them as well.

 

[bluebolt]

I buy every RHFT that works good I come across. Probably have about 15 now in all 3 sizes. I have a Easco RHFT flex handle too. And I lucked out a while back and found 6 NOS RHFT rebuild kits!

 

[Moparman390]

I like the polished low profile 84T ones that are made in Taiwan. Also, the 3/8" raised panel flex handle I like a lot too, I'm hoping SBD comes out with some USA made flex handle ratchets that have 72T or more.