Good Offset Ratcheting Screwdriver?

[Danglerb]

VIM is at Tooltopia for $10, makes me think more about the GearWrench set that seems about the same.
http://www.tooltopia.com/vim-hbr4.aspx

 

[Monte]

micro bits

 

[dede2897234]

Monte,

Who makes the above micro bits? Can you please provide a link to the manufacturer's website?


Thanks,

Dave

 

[Danglerb]

Monte,

Who makes the above micro bits? Can you please provide a link to the manufacturer's website?


Thanks,

Dave

I can feel this thread pulling money out of my wallet.

 

[Bolster]

Microbits... here, maybe?

http://www.hdl-kstools.de/micro-bit-system/

Oh wait, even better, if you know how to "suche" (search)...

http://www.hdl-kstools.de/suche.html

Put in "micro bits" (with the space) where it says "suchwörter"

MONTE: When you made your own short bits, did you just hold with pliers and grind on a wheel? Or more sophisticated?

 

[JayL]

Xcelite

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001T4VY3I/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000B5YJ06/?tag=atomicindus08-20

on the reverse side of the handle it says Xcelite Apex N.C. USA

 

[Monte]

@Dave:
Bolster has the answer for you ! I dont know who is the manufacturer though - KS-Tools dont make anything. Maybe its "Hi-Five" since a lot of KS stuff is from them ?

MONTE: When you made your own short bits, did you just hold with pliers and grind on a wheel? Or more sophisticated?

no engineeering there i just cut it with an angle grinder and thin wheel (1mm) and then ground it a little bit with the help of a bench grinder and a pair of combination pliers. The short bit is too short though, it has lots of up and down play as well as side to side play. The medium length bit (cut where the recess for retaining rings etc. is) works good. About same side play like a standard 25mm bit and only a little bit up and down play which is not so annoying compared to side play.

 

[Monte]

Some comparison pics:


forged bit ratchet, traditional bit ratchet, ratcheting wrench with bit adaptor, 1/4" ratchet with bit adaptor (all bits 25mm long)

ratcheting wrench and forged bit ratchet with 1/4" adaptor, 1/4" ratchet

 

[ace028]

I love the ones I bought from my matco dealer, they are a fine tooth, like the link in the first reply link
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=75044&group_ID=11620

mine was a 3 peice set, don't remember paying more then $40, I think it was around 30. They are sooo much better then the old style ones.

 

[Bolster]

Thanks Monte.

That ratcheting bit adaptor is not nearly as low profile as I'd hoped. I'm getting this GW adaptor and I hope it will do better (ie, shorter)...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HBAI1I/?tag=atomicindus08-20

@JL: I think your Excelite is the same as Chapman?

 

[Danglerb]

Post a review when you get them. I'd like to know how and how well they hold a bit. Like can I press down hard on the wrench to prevent cam out?

 

[Monte]

If you own the mini bit ratchet i don´t know if there is a use for a ratcheting wrench with bit adaptor anymore ?


some nice pics of the Wera bit ratchet: http://www.f-gear.co.jp/cgi-bin/saitama_nikki/index.html
Even the reverse lever looks like a Kraftform handle !

 

[Bolster]

I've been hunting for a very low profile and very small head ratcheting screwdriver for some time, and this thread kicked me into overdrive. I've been eyeballing several offerings from GearWrench, got and returned one, but finally settled on this General.

This General is Taiwan made, 1.003 inch height with bit installed (ie, really low profile, the bit itself is .985) and the head is the size of a button (9/16), smaller than most competitors. Looks like the one Monte posted on the first page. I'd have to cut down a bit to match the Suekage depth tho. Reversible by thumb selector. 60 tooth!

Been using it all day in an application that needs a really small, really low profile driver (installing locks) and so far I love it, although I can't yet vouch for long-term durability.

 

[Danglerb]

General 80078 around $30 from various sources including Home Depot (online anyway). Says 72 tooth in desc.

How is the bit held, can you press down on it?

 

[Bolster]

Bit retention device appears to be a small wire stretched across two facets of the 1/4" hex hole, which catches the bit indent and provides solid retention but has me wondering about durability. Like the GearWrench, there's a constriction (a lip, or "capstop") on the thumb wheel that won't allow the bit to travel through the head. So you can force the tool down onto the bit without the bit popping through the head. And you can put your thumb on the thumb wheel and press down, too.

Looks like the HD version converts to the world's smallest 1/4" ratchet too. (Mine was half the price from OSH and did not include the sockets or 1/4" drive bit.)

I think this is the VIM in yet another version, everything on the head looks the same. Different plastic handle. Oddly the VIM advertises 48 tooth, and the General is 60.

 

[superautobacs]

My Suekage is, IIRC, a 45-tooth. I've never counted the "clicks", but that's what the manufacturer was advertising. I figure the original version, which has been around for 2 years or more now, is the 45-tooth; the newer version (like Wera and yours) have "stepped up" to 60-tooth. I hope the back drag isn't bad from the increased number in tooth count. At such a small size, I'd rather have low drag resistance, just like my stubby ratchet. ...high tooth count doesn't matter when it's that short. ....sorry, off on a tangent.

 

[Bolster]

By 'back drag' do you mean difficulty to spin the thumb wheel and/or resistance of the ratchet when its freewheeling? If so, the General 60 tooth has a fair amount of resistance. If you can get a thumb and a finger on the thumbwheel then you can spin it fine; however if you are only using the side of your thumb due to clearance issues, it works with effort but IMO doesn't spin freely enough.

Corollary to this, is that you can't easily turn in a screw that's only loosely in place. The screw has to be partially tight before the ratchet starts working.

My (other) worry about higher tooth count in a small ratchet like this is strength. I think tooth count is just a marketing gimmick after a certain point.

All theoretical criticisms after only a day of use.

 

[Bolster]

Inspired by Monte, I made myself a "shorty" Phillips #2 bit from a Proto ACR bit. I removed .310 from the bit, which allows the detent to catch the forward part of the hex on the bit for firm retention. Used cutoff disc followed by chucking & rotating the bit into my belt grinder. Chamfered both the backside and a little more to the front side, so it would slide in and out of the ratchet easily. Also touched the nose to the belt grinder to shorten the bit just a hair.

The bit is .795, so installed in the tool I have total depth of .820, or about 21mm. (Suekage claims only 16mm for theirs, for comparison.)

It seats solidly and securely. Removal takes a pair of needlenose pliers. WOW this makes some previously difficult tasks easy. Thanks for the inspiration Monte!

 

[kornbln]

Husky Pro... American made

http://www.homedepot.com/Husky-Pro/h_d1/R-100038024/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053

 

[Bolster]

OP requested ratcheting options. And for good reason, the old static style takes forever.

 

[Kenwc]

OP requested ratcheting options. And for good reason, the old static style takes forever.

Yes I was only interested in ratcheting but I have that fixed one made by Craftstman and there are times when it was a real livesaver.

Has been a great thread and since it started I actually bought and received the Wera and I like it.

 

[kornbln]

OP requested ratcheting options. And for good reason, the old static style takes forever.

oops !!

 

[Bolster]

... I actually bought and received the Wera and I like it.

Review, Please! I'm very interested in this tool....photos in action if possible!

 

[AlexG]

I'm also interested on this Wera Bit-Ratchet, it is so beautiful and looks so well made that I want one. I think it is not just cheap, at about 27€ (it alone) or 53€ (with some bits and a bit holder) at "amazon.de" or 55€ at Bauhaus, is rather expensive........ but I still want one
Bolster, if you want to watch it in some action, just watch this:

One question, please, what do you think about Wera screw-driver bits?
Are they good or just average? Because the ones that I have came with a Bosch screw-driver.
Thanks.

 

[bchee]

hey Bolster does that General brand say "reverse gear 1/4 bit" on yours??

 

[bchee]

i like this miniature bit ratchet:
Same as the Gearwrench but with handle.

Monte the GW and VIM are fairly different. I wasn't positive until I saw these picts from fedwrench
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1203745&postcount=18

 

[Monte]

yeah it seems so. I only knew the pic from the sears website ( http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00930035000P?prdNo=23 ) and thought that it is the Hi-Five ratchet. But it seems they make their own. A detailed pic of the "head" (thumbwheel) would be good. But it seems the GW is larger ??? I would buy the VIM version with handle for 10 $

 

[bonneyman]

i like this miniature bit ratchet:
Same as the Gearwrench but with handle.

I bought one like this for $1 at a pawnie - looked cool, real tiny. Didn't use it at all in 3 months. Sold it to a buddy - he loves it. Go figure..

 

[bonneyman]

My favorite is the chapman set....they have their own proprietary bit system which is, how do I say it, "closely spaced." If you need a bit slightly larger or smaller, they will make it. Sort of a gunsmith's tool, where you have to have very precise fit of the bits so the screws don't look cammy. And their standard bits are parallel ground not wedge, for the ultimate in "screw damage control."....

I'm glad we have some gunners on this site. Gunsmiths must have alot of special tools to do the work they do, and the rest of us wouldn't even think of looking at sites like that for tools. I'll bet gunners have alot of great tools everyday mechanics can use.
Thanks for that insight!

 

[Monte]

Didn't use it at all in 3 months. Sold it to a buddy - he loves it. Go figure..

i love it too but also need it only like once or twice a year.... but already paid off to remove the screws of this dashboard speaker from a Cadillac for example. Only tool which fits there...

was also helpful to install these mud flaps on a Audi A4

 

[Gary Indiana]

Old thread, but chiming in to recommend Craftsman set of three offset ¼ inch bit ratchets. They are still made in USA and are magnetic. Reg. $20 for the set of three at Sears.

The offset wrenches are Craftsman P/N 947477

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-7-pc-bit-wrench-set-sae/p-00947477000P