Hmmm, I now have single purpose ratchets

[Kev442]

For about 4 years I have had a 3/8 drive ratchet with a 3/4" deep socket on it that only has one purpose in life: remove the nut on the back of my trailer to remove the rear panel for loading and unloading. Not uncommon to have something like that in a vehicle, I guess.

Saturday I noticed that I have my original 30 yo 1/2 drive Cman ratchet with a 1 1/4" deep socket on it that has not moved from my auto rotisserie in over a year now. Sat untouched all winter, but is now used several times a day to secure it from rotating. This reminds me of the Williams ratcheting mechanisms used in the navy for watertight doors, all I do is loosen and tighten a few turns as I maneuver the body back and forth.

Good uses for old 36 tooth ratchets, but I see a trend developing...

 

[jakemac]

How is needing MORE ratchets a bad thing ?

 

[M_George]

I recently got one of the HF composite ratchets for battery terminals and any where I might come in contact with a hot connection. Used it once so far and it was nice not to worry about hitting metal. It's cheep, but don't need much torque on electric connections anyway.

 

[Tonyuk]

I have a cheap 3/8 ratchet with a 32mm low profile socket on it that gets used purely for opening up oil filter housings at work. It has a nice red handle and saves hunting for the socket.

 

[Kev442]

How is needing MORE ratchets a bad thing ?

I am one of those guys that would rather have 4 cheap grinders set up with different disks than one quality one. I have a bit more than 4 ratchets ( OK, a lot), but if I decide I need a ratchet for every socket for convenience sake, I'm gonna be bankrupt!

I recently got one of the HF composite ratchets for battery terminals and any where I might come in contact with a hot connection. Used it once so far and it was nice not to worry about hitting metal. It's cheep, but don't need much torque on electric connections anyway.

Aw, no sense of adventure?
The HF composites are fairly rugged, but my 1/4" is feeling a little gimpy these days.

I have a cheap 3/8 ratchet with a 32mm low profile socket on it that gets used purely for opening up oil filter housings at work. It has a nice red handle and saves hunting for the socket.

This makes great sense, especially in that you only have one ratchet/socket getting filthy!

 

[firworks]

"I don't change router bits, I change routers." - Norm Abram

 

[derosa]

I keep tools attaches to all my woodshop tools that need one, planer/molder has a 10&26mm wrench, 3&4mm hex, and screwdriver magnetized to the side of the base; 5&4mm hex at the bandsaw for blade changes and a 1" wrench at the RAS for blade changes. The RAS came with a wrench but since it has a bronze nut I wanted a wider wrench to avoid damaging it. I keep a couple other tools about like a hammer in the kitchen drawer. When you know there's a task to do on a frequent basis its just easier to have the tools there then to have to go looking or walking back and forth to get them out and put them away.

 

[TheGrooveking]

I recently got one of the HF composite ratchets for battery terminals and any where I might come in contact with a hot connection. Used it once so far and it was nice not to worry about hitting metal. It's cheep, but don't need much torque on electric connections anyway.

I've been on the fence on composite ratchets, and was looking at the Texton units at Target last week while the wife was shopping. But thinking back to that time I welded a 1/2" ratchet to an oil pan while removing a starter on an LTD because I trusted the owner of the car who said he disconnected the battery. I'm going to buy a few sets for the exact reason you referenced.

TheGrooveking

 

[FJ 432]

I have a first generation Craftsman robo grip pliers that has lived in my sawzall case after failing miserably at every other task that I tried to use them on. They help me change blades on my first generation Tiger Porter Cable sawzall.

That's all they do.

 

[M_George]

I've been on the fence on composite ratchets, and was looking at the Texton units at Target last week while the wife was shopping. But thinking back to that time I welded a 1/2" ratchet to an oil pan while removing a starter on an LTD because I trusted the owner of the car who said he disconnected the battery. I'm going to buy a few sets for the exact reason you referenced.

TheGrooveking

If you don't need it right away, go with the Tekton ratchets. As often the case when I need a tool... I need it now! That's why I got the HF one. It's been a pain, since the demise of Craftsman, nobody in my area carries a full line of any brand (I Like) anymore.

 

[dnschmidt]

"I don't change router bits, I change routers." - Norm Abram

I live by that rule. I've got 32 of them.

 

[dnschmidt]

Tekton's composite ratchets and HF's composite ratchets are EXACTLY the same ratchets. Ones red and the other gray but other than that they are identical.

 

[ilovevocs]

This is a great idea. My primary mode of thinking is to always put my tools away when I'm done working.

I have so many spare ratchets, sockets, and tools that require adjustment I could easily accelerate my workflow by deviating from my thought process.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[nine4gmc]

"a ratchet for every socket"..... Now THAT is an idea I had not thought of!

 

[EOC_Jason]

I find myself using my stubbys for light / simple work where I know the bolt isn't going to be seized and I don't want to over-tighten it. Likewise if I know it's going to be a problem I grab a long-handle ratchet to get more torque... My regular length ratchets don't seem to get much love these days...

 

[tonyciambrone]

I recently got one of the HF composite ratchets for battery terminals and any where I might come in contact with a hot connection. Used it once so far and it was nice not to worry about hitting metal. It's cheep, but don't need much torque on electric connections anyway.

I do this too, and on my motorcycles where a normal ratchet might ding or chip the finish/ plastics. I have reefed pretty hard on the 3/8th one...no worries about strength. They have a metal skeleton inside the composite body.

 

[Bill Ramsey]

I apply this practice to hacksaws. Good old ones are so cheap at estate sales, there's no reason not to have one dedicated to every common pitch blade, instead of having to change blades.

 

[EOC_Jason]

I do this too, and on my motorcycles where a normal ratchet might ding or chip the finish/ plastics. I have reefed pretty hard on the 3/8th one...no worries about strength. They have a metal skeleton inside the composite body.

Hmm... Interesting you mentioned this... I got a can of plasti-dip to re-do some handles on some slip-joint pliers... Now I'm thinking I might dip a ratchet handle too for those rare instances...

 

[M_George]

Hmm... Interesting you mentioned this... I got a can of plasti-dip to re-do some handles on some slip-joint pliers... Now I'm thinking I might dip a ratchet handle too for those rare instances...

Good idea, let us know how that works out in case I kill my little HF 1/4 incher.
Got plenty of ratchets and they are plentiful at the local flea market.

 

[3baygarage]

For about 4 years I have had a 3/8 drive ratchet with a 3/4" deep socket on it that only has one purpose in life: remove the nut on the back of my trailer to remove the rear panel for loading and unloading. Not uncommon to have something like that in a vehicle, I guess.

Saturday I noticed that I have my original 30 yo 1/2 drive Cman ratchet with a 1 1/4" deep socket on it that has not moved from my auto rotisserie in over a year now. Sat untouched all winter, but is now used several times a day to secure it from rotating. This reminds me of the Williams ratcheting mechanisms used in the navy for watertight doors, all I do is loosen and tighten a few turns as I maneuver the body back and forth.

Good uses for old 36 tooth ratchets, but I see a trend developing...

I'd be interested in hearing more about that.

 

[DaveIRL]

well how about specific ratchets designed for a specific job like this ratchet for removing the fitting off radiators

 

[jakemac]

well how about specific ratchets designed for a specific job like this ratchet for removing the fitting off radiators

It's a trap. You'll need to buy one for every radiator in your house.

 

[Kev442]

I'd be interested in hearing more about that.

Sure wish I could find the reference to watertight doors in the ships, I thought I read it here on the GJ. Here is the mechanism being used on bomb hoists:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=240615

Maybe I was abducted by aliens and had false memories implanted. The Bastards!

 

[3baygarage]

That's the thread I started!

 

[Kev442]

Whoops, I was kinda distracted searching Williams WWII all over the net!