Homemade palm ratchet

[RMRCattleCo.]

I have been contemplating making one from an old cresent brand ratchet I have. Either that or one of my kilness ratchets that is very rusty. I have about thirty of them so it wouldnt be a loss to me. Probably will make a 3/8" drive one and see how much i use it then make the other drive sizes. Has anyone here ever made one? I.e. chopped a ratchet handle off?

 

[BLJ]

i'm making a stubby out of one of my cheap spares thanks to you. never considered it until now. thanks for the idea.

 

[RMRCattleCo.]

Kind of a neat idea right? Fine tooth seems to be optimal for a palm i think

 

[shocksandstrutz]

Post pics please. I wanna build one too

 

[BLJ]

i've just got an old cheapie that came in a set from a long time ago that i havn't really used because it was a cheapy. shortening the handle means less leverage and teh cheapy ratchet last longer. plus i gain a stubby ratchet. win, win.

 

[SaddleBronc]

I've had a "custom" palm ratchet for years, ever since I broke the handle off of my 3/8" flex-head.

I also have the made-for-purpose Craftsman 3/8" version I got later as a gift...and I actually prefer the "custom" one for most situations (better leverage), but I do wish it had finer teeth like the Craftsman.

 

[Robbie UK]

Done the same. Needed a stubby in a hurry so sacrificed a cheap 3/8th drive that had sat unused for years. More difficult to saw than anticipated (well with the saws I had to hand) but tidied up on the bench grinder. It has become a frequently used tool but I wish it had finer teeth!

 

[sc3013]

I have one of those Cresent ratchets Way in the back of my tool box. Its a 1/2" and I hate the handle on it, hurts my hand. Now I know what I am going to do tomorrow, thanks for the project.

 

[jeremy v]

I have made several stubbies out of cut down regular ratchets (Kobalt danaher round handle, and gearwrench roto head) and I did make a set of 3 (one in each drive size) palm ratchets out of the harbor freight roto heads by removing the roto head from the handle and then clipping the pictured piece of PVC pipe (shown below) around the roto head (with the posts through the holes) for grip. I only have pics of the PVC piece by itself because I ended up eventually putting the roto heads back together and using them with just a cheap custom extra-light handle instead so they swing around a lot faster and have a better weight balance for my tastes vs. stock. Now they get a lot more use. They worked great as finger ratchets, but I just didn't use them as much as I thought I would.

I have thought about just cutting the handle off of a regular round head ratchet and then taking a thin grinding wheel and scoring the outside edge lightly for better finger grip, but I haven't tried it yet.

 

[fflintstone]

I made two stubies like this

 

[tyheuser]

Most all these are a stubby ratchets not a palm ratchet. I have a cornwell that is a cornwell ratchet head with no handle from factory and I love it. I also have a fine tooth round Mac and prefer the cornwell by far its easier to put some torque on it running bolts in the same amout of space. It would be easier to make one similar to this

http://www.cornwelltools.com/webcat/productimage.php?product_id=4057

 

[RMRCattleCo.]

Tyheuser thats what ive made. No handle at all!! Got some stubbies aint never called them a palm ratchet but i do see how someone would as it is used in the palm on the hand for fast action. I ended up chopping the ugly square handle off of a crescent ls-70. Already used it while doing the oil pan gasket on our big john deere tonight