Roto Ratchets with All-Metal Handles

[rsk4today]

I like ratchets with all-metal handles. I also like roto ratchets. I would like to purchase a set of all-metal handled roto ratchets that includes all 3 standard drive sizes - 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 but I;m having trouble finding any tool companies that make roto ratchets in all three drive sizes. Tekton, Carlyle, Cornwell and GearWrench all have roto ratchets in all three drive sizes but only with comfort grip handles. Snap on and Titan (who?) both sell all-metal handled roto ratchets but only in 1/4 and 3/8 drive sizes. I found an all-metal all-three-drive size-set from this no-name company out of Canada called Seattle Tools that looks interesting. The ratchet heads look very similar to the Carlyle ratchets, which is good, but this company won't ship their products in to the U.S. and they only offer a 1-year warranty.

https://seattletool.ca/collections/...swivel-head-ratchet-set-3-pieces-steel-handle

Does anyone here have any other leads on roto ratchets with metal handles that come in all three drive sizes?

 

[Fialaja]

Would there be a lot of use for a roto head in 1/2 drive?

 

[timboy]

I believe the Cornwell offerings can be had with or without the grips,I am not a fan of chunky handles either.

 

[JR 42]

I prefer metal ratchet handles, but really like the rubber handles on rotos for spinning them, makes the ratchet much easier to hold on to. Ive got a long Titan 1/4" roto that doesn't work well as a spinner both due to length and the narrow slippery handle. I'd like to find a knurled steel handle roto someday (SK, ?) to see how it compares.

Also, not wild about buying Taiwanese tools from a Canadian company named after an American city, just seems weird- similar to how Harbor Freight names their stuff after US cities and anglo/ western Euro names.

All that blather aside, I don't know of any bare handle 1/2" rotos.

 

[Professional Tool User]

After a bit of browsing online, I can't find any brand that sell a metal handled one in all three drive sizes. The only place I've actually seen Seattle tool products is at Lordco (auto parts store in western Canada). Their tool boxes looked usable but given how all the tools at Lordco are heavily marked up, I've never seriously considered buying any Seattle tool products.

But honestly, having a 1/2" dr roto ratchet is kind of pointless. I bought all three drive sizes off Harbor Freight and I almost never use the 1/2" dr one.

 

[rsk4today]

I believe the Cornwell offerings can be had with or without the grips,I am not a fan of chunky handles either.

Thank you for pointing this out. Cornwell's web site shows all three sizes with metal handles so now I have an American company that has what I want but that I can't easily purchase (I'm not a professional mechanic and don't have easy access to a Cornwell seller). I'd much rather have the Cornwell than the Seattle Tools, though I'm sure they're both from Taiwan. This is positive progress!

 

[ChevyEFI]

I have 72t Great Neck in 1/2" and 1/4. They look like the ones you linked except the selector knob is fine-knurled without the 5-spoke design. If you waste your life searching eBay you'll see some examples of the ones you link in other brands.

I haven't broken either; that 72 tooth mech. is pretty widely used on Taiwan stuff. The 1/4" has more backdrag than my 36 tooth SO TH737. And the 1/2" design isn't really that useful, but I "had" to have one in 1/2" and already had a couple 1/4" and 3/8" rotos. Happy shopping.

 

[sparky 1971]

Menards carries all three sizes in the Masterforce line. I don't know what the quality is like since they changed manufacturing from re-branded
Allen to Chinese.

 

[2000-cvpi]

Craftsman has a new roto ratchet without a comfort grip. It’s at Lowe’s and didn’t look too bad when I saw it. They had 1/4 3/8 drive sizes.

 

[kythri]

Dunno if they're still available, but Lowe's had Kobalt all-metal roto-ratchets in all three drive sizes. I picked them up a few years ago.

A quick perusal of their website doesn't turn them up.

 

[Stuey]

Craftsman has them in 1/4" and 3/8" sizes.

https://toolguyd.com/new-craftsman-swivel-head-ratchets/

As you mentioned, Snap-on and Titan only have 1/4" and 3/8" as well.

it's curious why none of the brands have all-metal ratchets in 1/2" sizing.

 

[kythri]

Kobalt part numbers:

337329 - 1/2" Drive - https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-1-2-in-Drive-Ratchet/3381194
337306 - 3/8" Drive - https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-3-8-in-Drive-Ratchet/3381164
337305 - 1/4" Drive - https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-1-Piece-1-4-in-Drive-Ratchet/3381162

The 1/2" and 1/4" are NLA from lowes.com, but you might be able to find them in the stores?

Here's a 1/2" on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/p/Kobalt-Roto-Head-Ratchet-1-2-Drive-Tool-72-Tooth-0337329/1023843862

 

[nieuport17]

I have 3/8 and 1/4 roto with metal handles from Lowes. I bought them 4-5 years ago.
You can try there if they haven’t replaced everything with Craftsman.

I actually don’t like all metal handles. Hard to turn in a screwdriver mode when my hands are oily.

 

[jimmyin3D]

Matco and Cornwell both have the Roto ratchets is all three sizes in all metal handles. They’re the same mechanism as the Mac Tools and Carlyle 100tooth.

 

[Hytekrednek]

Koken has them I think, with the great knurls too. I plan to get 2 in 1/4 and 3/8 before long

https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B004IKRWJK/

 

[Mr_B]

Toptul does them in all metal handle as well as grip in all 3 drives
I too tend prefer metal handles but made exception on these as part of reason I use them is for speed of using it like a ratchet nut driver and for that a grip so it can be more like a screwdriver in the hand is better from my perspective.
We all different though and you got options ...

 

[eschoendorff]

I’m curious as to why anyone would want a root ratchet in 1/2” drive. Seems like a white elephant type of tool

 

[milwaukeephil]

I looked at the new Craftsman and Masterforce roto ratchets at Menards the other day and both have plastic selectors. Garbage.