rubber coated handles on ratchets

[beerdog]

How does everyne else feel about ratchets with the thick rubber handles. I am not the biggest fan.

 

[cascivic]

i think people like them...they do get dirty but considering most the of high end tool companies high end ratchets are not just chrome handled would lead me to beleive there really popular.

 

[Tomato]

I would think with bare hands the rubber would be good but with gloves not so much

 

[Jim85IROC]

My experience with rubber handles is limited to my bent-handle flex head Snap On ratchet. I think it has its pros and cons. The pro is that it does offer a good, comfortable grip when you really have to reef on the ratchet to break something free. The drawback is that I tend to spend a lot of time holding my ratchet handles at positions other than the end, and in those cases, the rubber handle is a bit of a hinderance. Overall I like it, but I'm not sure that I'd pay any extra for it.

 

[bobcatdan]

The grips are nice, but it is totally up to the end user what they like. Personally I like the old SO and Mac hard handle over the newer rubber grips.

 

[mvptrukin]

I bought my first comfort handle over a year ago and at first I loved it really easy on an old man's hand! But I work around diesel fuel,hydraulic fluids and the usual toxic liquids, it took 6 months and the handle started to look like ****--so thanx to the info from forum members I did the hard handle conversion!

 

[Roots]

I personally really prefer the rubber comfort grips, but I still keep metal handled ones around for particularly dirty work with chemicals/oil.

 

[jetmech09]

I've got all chrome handled. Too many positions where I don't hold it all the way at the end. Would just get in the way.

 

[chris6278]

Instead of starting a new thread ill just ask in this one, a friend of mine gave me a gearwrench 1/4" flexhead with a comfort handle but its been put on crooked. Anyone know how to remove it so i can put it on straight?

 

[mvptrukin]

I resisted buying comfort handles for along time but it seems to me some mfg. are leaning towards offering some ratchets only in comfort grip! I bought the SO 3/8" drive FHOF80, mentioned in post#6, and it was only available with comfort grip. It is a flexible offset handle ratchet and it is really handy. First I put a slice in the handle and then the frack chemicals from a tank trailer I was working on caused part of the handle to swell up. It was not SO's fault and I could have bought a new handle for $10 but went with the hard handle retrofit. Do all mfg. make replacement handles available?

 

[richfinn]

Not for me, my hands have got used to the old fashioned Chrome Snap On Handle. Some of mine are 20+ years old and still work fine. Its hard to improve on perfection.

ps. If you really need a bit of foam rubber to cushion your hands try gloves

 

[pendragon1998]

Not a fan. I expect to be wrenching for another 40 years. I don't think rubber handles will last that long in the same level of condition that a chrome handle will.

 

[monster1]

Not a fan. I expect to be wrenching for another 40 years. I don't think rubber handles will last that long in the same level of condition that a chrome handle will.

I would suspect that soft grips wouldn't last long if the tool is used hard and the tool company probably would not warranty that part.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

I've had a couple I liked, and a couple I didn't. I like the Snapon and Mac variants, I really like the cheapo Bluepoint 3/8" drive I've got, and the Wright is just weird. Like a section of heater hose over the handle.

 

[Slingshot Engage]

I like handles

 

[Humble Mechanic]

I only have that on my big 1/2 snap-on ratchet. For that I love it. I think it would get damaged if it was on all my ratchets.

 

[twincam00]

Do all mfg. make replacement handles available?

Matco doesn't

 

[cascivic]

Instead of starting a new thread ill just ask in this one, a friend of mine gave me a gearwrench 1/4" flexhead with a comfort handle but its been put on crooked. Anyone know how to remove it so i can put it on straight?

was it put on crooked or has it torqued around ?? they are slim inside with two "wings" theres probably no way to put it back on straight without it tearing. i would rip it completely off and warranty it at advanced/sears

 

[HubbaBubba]

Pass. Not needed on ratchets.

 

[JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN]

Hate them. It just feels bulky and foreign to me and like others have said I don't always hold it at the end

 

[chris6278]

was it put on crooked or has it torqued around ?? they are slim inside with two "wings" theres probably no way to put it back on straight without it tearing. i would rip it completely off and warranty it at advanced/sears

I fixed it. Let the handle sit in boiling water for 3 minutes, slid right off and put it back on straight

 

[darkk]

Maybe I'm just to old and to set in my ways, but I hate rubber handles....

 

[Bill in Texas]

I use "PlastiDip" on some of my tools: smooth-handled rats, pipe wrenches, bare-metal handled pliers, etc.
It's especially useful since I may be on a job with others using similar tools so, I can readily identify mine.
Also, it can be easily removed.

 

[sselander]

Brake cleaner is what I use to get the grime off the handles.
The soft grip handles are great when you have to work in the cold.
Of course everyone has both kinds right?

 

[ndoran]

I prefer my snappy hard handles to the soft handles.