Plastic handles or not...whats your preference?

[adamsredlines]

Just curious...am I the only one here who doesnt like plastic handled ratchets? Seems they would be a bit more comfortable I suppose, but harder to clean at the same time and prone to getting damaged and leaving mars that would be hard on the hand.

Whats your opinion?

 

[jrherald420]

I dont like them, dont know why but they just dont feel right in my hands.

 

[canuckian]

yes, they do retain dirt. That's why I have a set of chrome handled ones for use in situations where there's a lot of grease and ****. I started out trying to buy or make ratchets with the screwdriver-type hard handles but the more and more i used them, they more often than not seemed to get in the way on the 1/4 and shorter 3/8 ratchets. So, now, I do still have a few hard handled smaller 3/8 and a couple 1/4 but for the most part, all mine are the newer style comfort handles. the best ones IMO are the colored ones with the black trim that they put on some of the 36 tooth ratchets. theyre a harder plastic making them easier to clean and theyre still not as bulky as the screwdriver handles. I do, however have a big screwdriver type handle put on one of my 24 inch breaker bars. I just fiind that having a bigger handle on it allows me to put a little more grunt into it.
as for my preference, i prefer the feel of a comfort handled ratchet but I prefer the easy to clean properties of the chrome ones.

 

[chickenfarmer]

Good ol steel is always my choice

 

[muddyjoe15]

I like the metal for my daily ratchets. I prefer my long handle flexhead ratchets to be soft grip so I can yank on them and not worry bout my hands slipping off easily. I still like bare steel for the long straight ratchets though.

 

[ibedayank]

plastic is for screwdriver handles... not ratchets... IMHO

 

[BloodySinner]

Never liked plastic ratchets. I'll stick to metal. I wish they would do the same for screwdrivers as well...

 

[Tatsuya]

Tootsie roll! Let me see that tootsie roll!

 

[back2class]

Not a fan of the plastic handles either. Big and clunky! Now, on very long handled ratchets that you most often use where clearance is a non issue and roto head ratchets that you use much like a screwdriver...they are fine and the softer ones offer a great grip as noted by another poster. Otherwise I HATE the plastic handles!

I also perfer Knurling on ratchet handles....smoothe chrome just does not work for me...I put function above form and I perfer grip to shine and easier cleaning.

I honestly thought for years that the big plastic handled ratchets were for people with authritis untill I started reading here and see people going crazy for them....making custom ones and stuff like that. I assume they are not all suffering authritis.

 

[yjWrangler]

Would love to have a plastic hard handle to go with my plain chrome one

 

[Outlawmws]

I have a 14" "Long C" CM 1/2" breaker bar, that I did with Plastidip 30+ years ago, but I wouldn't go out of my way to do so today. the PD clean up OK with basic degreasers like Simple green or 409, and has held up, but I like the feel of steel.

 

[twincam00]

I would rather have something more durable and easy to clean than comfortable

 

[muddyjoe15]

I also perfer Knurling on ratchet handles....smoothe chrome just does not work for me...I put function above form and I perfer grip to shine and easier cleaning.

This too, i prefer older ratchets with knurling, they feel better in the hand! IMHO

 

[american lockpicker]

While I do like the old Facom with plastic handles I prefer knurled metal.

 

[redwrench60]

Regular hard handle ratchet. Can't slip a pipe over the screwdriver handle ones,ooops! did I say that out loud!?

 

[shampoop]

I dislike them. I prefer either well knurled chrome or soft grips. Soft grips get messed up easier than plastic but grip much better and are very cheap/easy to replace.

 

[BuckHenry]

Another vote for knurled handles--preferably on an Indestro or SK.

 

[Hawk Thor]

I prefer plastic handles. I deal with a lot of seized and rusty fasteners on ships and older 4x4s and need to be able too push and pull on a ratchet.

If the plastic gets banged up or marred I can always take a sharp blade to the affected area and smooth out the sharp edge of the plastic.

I don't like the feel of small diameter metal handles digging into my palm when I could have thicker handles that are more ergonomic and grippier.

Tools get dirty, that's life. I wipe them down with brake-cleaner after use and oil tools that need some protection. I keep ratcheting mechanisms clean and lubed but I don't care if the handles that once were bright orange or green are now dull and grayish, they work the same.