To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Lowest profile ratchets?

D-Vice

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 27, 2017
Messages
71
Location
Colorado
Anyone have or know of some low profile ratchets that are at least the same profile or lower than matco. I have not found anything lower profile myself in my searching.

I thought my facom was pretty low, then I got my koken ratchet and it was even lower. Today I borrowed a matco and this thing is amazing low.
Which is also the gearwrench low profile ratchets.

Sorry I am unable to find the profile specs of the matco ratchets at this time, anyone know it?

sfrtd3ta.jpg
 
Last edited:
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

stercorarius

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 6, 2016
Messages
220
Location
Eastern Washington
I have a GW and a Carlyle in my box at work. I do believe the Carlyle is lower profile and also QR. I'll have to double check tomorrow. The Carlyle is the smallest one in terms of other dimensions I have for sure.

Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk
 
OP
D

D-Vice

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 27, 2017
Messages
71
Location
Colorado
I just pulled the trigger on a gear wrench tonight. I'm really interested to hear about the carlyle
 

stercorarius

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 6, 2016
Messages
220
Location
Eastern Washington
P90 series is the one I'm referring to I have the quick release version of the r38fl90 which I can't seem to find online for some reason. Usually it's just a matter of adding a QR to the part number.
c7c4b73fbfed5bd847ccf6f818d4a87b.jpg

Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk
 

Attachments

  • c7c4b73fbfed5bd847ccf6f818d4a87b.jpg
    c7c4b73fbfed5bd847ccf6f818d4a87b.jpg
    4.6 KB · Views: 19

PureLeaf

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 25, 2014
Messages
1,417
There are some very specific low profile ratchets. Snap on makes a set, but if I recall, they have to be used with a special low profile socket. Koken also makes low profile sockets that will fit onto any ratchet.

I have armstrong ratchets which are the same as the matco and are very slim as you said.

I believe the new SK ratchet is supposed to be pretty slim.
 

losvre

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 13, 2011
Messages
1,199
Location
UK
Wera short combined with ratchet mini or just 11mm ratchet wrench will give you a max height of 18mm.

Taiwan, if you don't mind

5cdfd509087c02cc6ef0f9a459005253.jpg1a44e6673e4ee87e8cf407c72d9b78db.jpg

Sent from my SM-A510F using Tapatalk
 

Attachments

  • 1a44e6673e4ee87e8cf407c72d9b78db.jpg
    1a44e6673e4ee87e8cf407c72d9b78db.jpg
    3.4 KB · Views: 21
  • 5cdfd509087c02cc6ef0f9a459005253.jpg
    5cdfd509087c02cc6ef0f9a459005253.jpg
    2.9 KB · Views: 26

Danglerb

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 6, 2007
Messages
9,736
Location
SoCal
Pass thru about the lowest, I also have a set of GW bit drivers that have a short two ended two different sized bits offset essentially ratcheting box end, but hots bits as well as sq driver adapters. Also tiny I have the smallest Titan branded bit and sq drive ratchets.

The GW micro actually gets a lot of use for tight spots as well as just a handy small bit/socket set.
 

ocloc24

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 21, 2017
Messages
977
I think the harbor freight is one of the lowest. And they're a damn good ratchet, I use snap on dual 80s but every now and again I grab my hf for dirty jobs and it's ridiculous the level of quality for the price. One of their gems

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk
 

Mr_B

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 21, 2016
Messages
5,374
Location
Reading
What I tend do for real low profile solution is my ratchet wrench with drive adaptor and socket either shallow standard semi deep or deep pending on requirement ..
Always have them when go mobile as got wrenches and ratchets to suit most scenarios with less bulk of tools and with flexi head set of wrenches you also get a flexi head ratchet solution too .
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

ssik101

Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2017
Messages
7
Location
Cleveland, OH
I have a set of these Craftsman Pass Throughs, and they are great.
 

Attachments

  • Craftsman-MAX-AXESS-Ratchet-ToolGuyd-Sneak-Preview-Teaser.jpg
    Craftsman-MAX-AXESS-Ratchet-ToolGuyd-Sneak-Preview-Teaser.jpg
    8.9 KB · Views: 60

shawhite

Well-known member
Joined
May 28, 2014
Messages
1,519
Doesn't that also require Snap-on's special low-profile sockets along with it? I thought the drive end was reduced in size, along with the head, so a normal socket wouldn't lock on to the detent ball...

The model brawnsfan listed should accept any 3/8 socket but snapon does sell a kit that includes some shallow sockets too
 

dnschmidt

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 3, 2014
Messages
7,270
Location
Phoenix, AZ
The Harbor Freight without a doubt. They are thinner than most, if not all, ratcheting wrenches. I'm almost certain these are made for them by KABO in Taiwan as the switch mechanism looks like KABO's design. TOP QUALITY TOOL.
 

kythri

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 3, 2007
Messages
6,330
Location
Lebanon, OR
The model brawnsfan listed should accept any 3/8 socket but snapon does sell a kit that includes some shallow sockets too

From the description:

Special low-profile square drive design works with low profile sockets to access restricted clearance areas with no loss of strength
 

48548

Well-known member
Joined
May 14, 2008
Messages
4,015
Location
Phoenix
Here is a better view of both of them and the sockets are shorter as well. The smaller ratchet is not a pass through, but the sockets do push into the hole. The other one ratchet is more "normal" with shorter sockets.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_5713.jpg
    IMG_5713.jpg
    108.3 KB · Views: 104

2oolhound

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 18, 2010
Messages
5,918
Location
BC Canada
Doesn't that also require Snap-on's special low-profile sockets along with it? I thought the drive end was reduced in size, along with the head, so a normal socket wouldn't lock on to the detent ball...

This is correct. The detent ball doesn't line up with normal sockets. I've used mine with normal sockets without issue but their extra length kind of defeats the purpose. The low profile sockets that come with the ratchet on the other hand will line up with the detents on normal ratchets. S-O should sell a kit of just the sockets because I ask myself "why do I even have regular shallow sockets". The LP sockets are super nice with that quality feel. The socket detent is made in a kind of slope so the tiny detent ball of the low profile ratchet fits the shallow front of the slope and the big detent ball of normal ratchets fit the deep bottom end of the slope further in.
You can see the small detent ball in this photo.

attachment.php


The other cool thing about the S-O rat that no one seems to have copied yet is the low profile handle. It's just a thin flat handle like the shank of a wrench for better clearance all around.
 

Attachments

  • S-OLoProDetentComp9326.jpg
    S-OLoProDetentComp9326.jpg
    30.9 KB · Views: 357
Last edited:

visionguru

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 2, 2017
Messages
1,233
Location
Chicago
Anyone have or know of some low profile ratchets that are at least the same profile or lower than matco. I have not found anything lower profile myself in my searching.

I thought my facom was pretty low, then I got my koken ratchet and it was even lower. Today I borrowed a matco and this thing is amazing low.
Which is also the gearwrench low profile ratchets.

Sorry I am unable to find the profile specs of the matco ratchets at this time, anyone know it?

sfrtd3ta.jpg
No sure how often you need low profile. I think low profile ratchet alone won't be as lower profile as "low profile ratchet + low profile sockets".

I'm an occasional DIYer. I bought this ATD set for about $25, just in case I need low profile. It's typical Made in Taiwan quality. The 3/8 low profile ratchet with 11mm socket is only a few mm thicker than Snap-on 3/8" ratchet.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0135.jpg
    IMG_0135.jpg
    145.3 KB · Views: 105

stercorarius

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 6, 2016
Messages
220
Location
Eastern Washington
Similar thickness. Threw in a dual 80 for reference. Head to head image is the GW and Carlyle.55a5fd03ff4f9d87c4a1829b61370347.jpg3c26bc80c87b2b04a36190dc8e31edaf.jpg949d67a273b89f49281ff518fdcb4102.jpg

Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk
 

Attachments

  • 3c26bc80c87b2b04a36190dc8e31edaf.jpg
    3c26bc80c87b2b04a36190dc8e31edaf.jpg
    44.1 KB · Views: 16
  • 55a5fd03ff4f9d87c4a1829b61370347.jpg
    55a5fd03ff4f9d87c4a1829b61370347.jpg
    92.9 KB · Views: 7
  • 949d67a273b89f49281ff518fdcb4102.jpg
    949d67a273b89f49281ff518fdcb4102.jpg
    52.3 KB · Views: 7

48548

Well-known member
Joined
May 14, 2008
Messages
4,015
Location
Phoenix
Here are some better pics....86822587df97e48f2a0f4b9bc01096e1.jpg26c0954fdb762b4e43e32b63c457d322.jpg5dca0f9434d02e7bdfe0abc8539c2268.jpg
4cc303cb245eedb1d27e7fdb61f9fe90.jpg
 

Attachments

  • 5dca0f9434d02e7bdfe0abc8539c2268.jpg
    5dca0f9434d02e7bdfe0abc8539c2268.jpg
    72 KB · Views: 9
  • 26c0954fdb762b4e43e32b63c457d322.jpg
    26c0954fdb762b4e43e32b63c457d322.jpg
    57.4 KB · Views: 4
  • 86822587df97e48f2a0f4b9bc01096e1.jpg
    86822587df97e48f2a0f4b9bc01096e1.jpg
    86.2 KB · Views: 4
  • 4cc303cb245eedb1d27e7fdb61f9fe90.jpg
    4cc303cb245eedb1d27e7fdb61f9fe90.jpg
    69.9 KB · Views: 7
Last edited:

JohnDeere1

Banned
Joined
Jun 21, 2017
Messages
710
Location
Kentucky
Ive got any ratchet you can name pretty much and by far the smallest 3/8 ratchet I have is a Carlyle pear head nice and low profiled and narrow, mine is the 60t flex and I do believe the 90t is larger.
 
OP
D

D-Vice

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 27, 2017
Messages
71
Location
Colorado
Some pass through might be a way to go, if I could find a set with a nice long handle.
 

7avalon7

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 14, 2015
Messages
1,464
Location
KY
I think the harbor freight is one of the lowest. And they're a damn good ratchet, I use snap on dual 80s but every now and again I grab my hf for dirty jobs and it's ridiculous the level of quality for the price. One of their gems

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

I been meaning to pick up this ratchet for the leverage, but since I have a set this XL double box ratcheting wrench, I am not sure if I need it anymore. Those XL wrench has the low profile and the length. I regret not getting two sets when they were $50 - that was such a deal. Similar set from Gearwrench is a lot more money.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-8pc-max-axess-wl-ratcheting-wrench-set/p-00910924000P
 

MikeF2316

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 29, 2012
Messages
9,605
Location
Thornhill, ON
I have that "Harbor Freight" one, but it came from Princess Auto in Canada. I've only needed it a couple of times, but it sure is handy in those situations.:thumbup:
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom