Keep or chuck my Craftsman Raised Panel Ratchets

[MN4x4]

I have over a dozen ratchets, including the Craftsman Premium, GearWrench, HF composite and others, I have a complete set of Craftsman Raised Panel Ratchets in my toolbox, but I never use them. They are the ones I would reach for LAST.

Should I even keep them - since I'll likely never use them - or should I just sell them off?

 

[ChevyEFI]

I hate those too. But I've never owned one. Just used them.

I'm not proud of owning the wrenches.

 

[byoungblood]

I sold mine off. Amazing how those actually got worse, or were at least very inconsistent in their quality, over the years. Ones I had from the early 90s weren't that bad, ones I got in exchange were all over the place.

Ironically, the older full polish Professional ratchets were halfway decent despite using the same mechanism. Leads me to believe that the tolerances in the ratchet body may have much to do with the sloppiness and skipping in the RP model.

 

[ganymede]

Keep them in a tool shed if you have one. Or in your vehicle. Keep them as loaners to give to people who you wouldn't trust with good stuff.

 

[rtole]

I have not used a cman for this purpose.....but i used hf ratchets to keep in a boat, car, or any other equipmemt you may get stuck with if it breaks in the middle od nowhere.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

I never use them either but I just plan on giving them to my son.

 

[MN4x4]

I have tool sets in each of my vehicles, so I don't need 'em for that. And I don't loan tools out - ever. I'll loan ME and tools out, but never tools alone.

 

[DTB]

I threw mine in a small tool kit I keep in the toolbox in one of my trucks. They'd probably work in a emergency. For what they are worth, not hardly worth selling. I'd rather just give them to somebody in need.

 

[jim1987]

Go out on the road somewhere and chuck them out the window. Someone will feel lucky lol. Unless you need a paper weight somewhere.

 

[zkling]

Geeze do you guys really think they are that bad? Maybe my standard for ratchets is just low Maybe find someone just starting out and see if they would use and appreciate them.

 

[jim1987]

Geeze do you guys really think they are that bad? Maybe my standard for ratchets is just low Maybe find someone just starting out and see if they would use and appreciate them.

Yea to me they are lol. Id rather use a fixed wrench to remove the bolt.

 

[JDon99]

Keep them in a tool shed if you have one. Or in your vehicle. Keep them as loaners to give to people who you wouldn't trust with good stuff.

This.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Keep them. I seem to come across jobs that I just don't want to use my nice ratchets on, so I reach for cheaper ****.

 

[ganymede]

The 1/4 drive with a bit socket and a #1 or #2 phillips bit is good for the kitchen junk drawer.

 

[nicksnothereman]

I have over a dozen ratchets, including the Craftsman Premium, GearWrench, HF composite and others, I have a complete set of Craftsman Raised Panel Ratchets in my toolbox, but I never use them. They are the ones I would reach for LAST.

Should I even keep them - since I'll likely never use them - or should I just sell them off?

Fawful ratchets. No really. It's (mostly) everyone's first ratchet and the one they rush to replace as soon as possible. I don't even know if anyone would buy these to the extent it'd be worth your time; I guess in a set you could do better selling them.

I've got a 3/8" from a starter set; I'll use it so I can hammer on it if I'm having problems removing a bolt, actually the handle is kind of set up similar to a slugging wrench. Even then don't use it that much.

 

[boostedgt]

my raised panels are the only ratchets ill never sell because my grandpa bought them for me when i was a kid. i still use them a few times a year for the memories and they function just fine

 

[oak_park]

If you go to flea markets, then bring them with you and trade them for something else. Sellers at flea markets love craftsman because of the ease of warranty. Tout they are made in usa and not china tekton garbage. works every time.

 

[taumac]

I've only broken my 1/4 inch once other sizes have been fine. I do use them often but I really havnt had a issue. Are they really that bad?



Have a good one, Gerard

Florida GJers ( FGJ)
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=117

The 5 Stitches Garage
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899

 

[Kracin]

I've only broken my 1/4 inch once other sizes have been fine. I do use them often but I really havnt had a issue. Are they really that bad?



Have a good one, Gerard

Florida GJers ( FGJ)
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=117

The 5 Stitches Garage
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899

it's the snooty mentality you get if you hang around here too long. a tool that works fine isn't a good tool here if it says craftsman... let the flaming begin

 

[stovebolt6]

I have a set, I think the 1/4 and 1/2 are from the early 2000s and the 3/8 is from the early 90s. They all seem to be pretty much the same as far as quality goes--they work. They don't do any funky things like automatically reverse or slip/bind, so no need to get rid of them IMO. I have Taiwan made ratchets that are way better though.

 

[AndrewH]

I must be one of the few people whose first ratchet use wasn't Craftsman, after reading this forum I feel spoiled that my first ratchet use was my Dad's old 3/8 SK round head that came in the first socket set he ever bought when he was 17. ****, I don't even know what RP (raised panel?) or RFHT (no clue) means? I did however buy a Made in USA thin profile Craftsman ratchet and I love it. I also love my 1/4 3/8 1/2 Craftsman Premium ratchets, they're very high quality.

 

[jim1987]

RP- raised panel like you said
RHFT - round head fine tooth

 

[countryroad82]

I keep mine around to loan out. But I also have no problem putting some together for trail riding, I loose 'em ill just say 'dang that *****' and go about the day!

 

[Davefr]

It depends what style they are. Not all RP ratchets are the same.

If they're the late models or Chinese then get rid of them.

However some RP ratchets were excellent. The version with round head, fine tooth, speeder ring and push button release is a keeper. I also like the old style with the oil port in the head.

 

[lowbucktruck]

It depends what style they are. Not all RP ratchets are the same.

If they're the late models or Chinese then get rid of them.

However some RP ratchets were excellent. The version with round head, fine tooth, speeder ring and bush button release is a keeper. I also like the old style with the oil port in the head.

Davefr is right, not all Craftsman RP ratchets are the same. The early ones were better quality. Different manufacturers made RP ratches for Sears over the decades, so the quality is not consistent. Some of the early Easco-made Craftsman ratchets are pretty good. The later Danaher-made RP ratchets kinda ****.

I have that exact same Craftsman RHFT ratchet and its a keeper.

"Craftsman 43788 3/8-drive quick-release ratchet with a dual-pawl mechanism, stamped "Craftsman" on the raised panel, with "Forged in U.S.A." and a "-V-" code on the reverse panel. The reverse panel is also stamped with "U.S. Pats. 3467231 3532013" and "Can. Patented 1971" patent notices. The first patent #3,467,231 was filed by H.J. Haznar in 1968 and issued in 1969, with assignment to the Moore Drop Forging Company. The describes a pawl-reversing mechanism for fine-tooth ratchets."

Moore Drop Forging became the Easco Corporation, and later became part of the Danaher conglomerate. (source: alloy artifacts)

 

[larryq]

I'd list them on Craigslist, you might be surprised. The Craftsman name and lifetime warranty means a lot to some folks, even if the recent RP ratchets are nothing special. I listed a 3/8" USA one (10-15 years old) with a few old sockets and a guy came right over and paid $15, because of the warranty. (He may have been intending to exchange it for a new one, in which case, more fool him.)

 

[exmaxima1]

If you make the modification that was detailed here, the ratchets will perform much better:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=178652

I had a bad ratchet that kept jumping out of gear and after making the mod, it works as well as any other in my "work" set. BTW, I found it very fast to do the grinding on a belt grinder--much more efficient than Dremel tool.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I never use them either but I just plan on giving them to my son.

+1

My Cman Raised Panel Rats belong to my 4 year old...along with a bunch of Craftsman sockets.

Resale on them is poor..I would have sold them, but watching my son "play mechanic" with his ratchets is worth more then the 5 bucks I would have gotten for them.

 

[exmaxima1]

I did however buy a Made in USA thin profile Craftsman ratchet and I love it.

Ditto

 

[b-body-bob]

I've personally never seen a reason to sell a tool.

 

[finn]

Not usually my Go-To tool, but I grabbed one out of the box yesterday to bleed the brakes on my truck. Perfect length for the job and performed flawlessly.

Why would anyone sell a tool?

The Craftsman bashing is getting old.

 

[u118224]

I heard from a Sears employee recently that Sears in in talks with Lowes to sell the Kenmore and Craftsman names. He's a manager, although I still take it with a grain of salt. Sears is transitioning to an internet retailer. I'd be curious to hear from other Sears employees.

As far as the ratchets go, I'd keep them if they're US made, sell if China. Just my .02.

 

[countryroad82]

Also I'm not a fan of the handle. It hurts my hands!! It always seems when I am really pulling/pushing on one it just downright hurts. Any round-type handle seems better to me. Before I started buying more truck tools I had replaced all my Craftsman ratchets with Performance Tool ratchets, for me that was a huge upgrade!

 

[PugetDude]

List them in the GJ Classifieds, you might be surprised who buys them.

And it will spawn a few more Anti-Craftsman threads, we've been running short on those lately...

 

[1950mercury]

Take them apart and lube tbem with rll. Makes a huge difference. Keep them for loaners or a road box.

 

[Kev442]

I use the danahar's in wheelwells where my 18" breaker bar won't fit. Whack 'em with a hammer or use a pipe extender on them to break things loose. About all they deserve after reversing on me over the years and taking their pound of flesh.

 

[Coach James]

List them on ebay as "Vintage" and watch people bid the price to absurd levels.

I have some raised panel of the style that so many hate and they work ok. I used a 1/2" rp in the last month to do two brake jobs and I did not get injured in the process and both vehicles stop when they are supposed to.

Coach

 

[PnHmech]

I kept a set In my boxes, sold the rest In a yard sale, I'm pretty loyal with my snap on ratchets .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Brownsfan]

I heard from a Sears employee recently that Sears in in talks with Lowes to sell the Kenmore and Craftsman names. He's a manager, although I still take it with a grain of salt. Sears is transitioning to an internet retailer. I'd be curious to hear from other Sears employees.

As far as the ratchets go, I'd keep them if they're US made, sell if China. Just my .02.

I would also take that with a grain of salt. Although with Sears nothing is out of the question or would surprise me. Those are the 2 brands that are keeping Sears alive getting rid of them would just be the death nail.

 

[MN4x4]

This thread took a left turn somewhere, as no Craftsman bashing was intended by me. Perhaps I was too brief in my original post.

I have both the Craftsman Premium and the Craftsman thin profiles and I like them a lot. I usually grab the thin profiles first since they live in my service cart, and I grab the Premium ones whenever I am working on something 'heavy'. And my 3/4" Craftsman ratchet is a raised panel, which I intend to keep.

I also have a set (1/4" & 3/8" & 1/2") of the regular - i.e. not RHFT - Craftman raised panel wrenches in EACH vehicle AND in the house. I was just questioning whether I need a fourth set in my big toolbox, since I never use them?

Edit: If they're only bring $15 or $20 for the set, I guess I'll just keep them in case I ever need something to bang or weld on for any reason.