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Seeking Small Hex Bit Ratchet

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Bolster

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I'm looking for a quality small hex bit ratchet. Need it for tight clearance situations. Suggestions?

This is the one that has caught my eye:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F42ZF9B/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I already own one like the following, unbranded, no great shakes, but it does the job, just wanted to upgrade:

https://www.toolsource.com/14-in-dr...-drive-hex-bit-ratchet-w-handle-p-106154.html

...and since I haven't haunted GJ for awhile, what happened to the GJ image hosting, and what low cost source do you use to post your images these days? It's a lot more fun to post images than links...
 
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Bigblue&Goldie

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This is one tool you want to make sure has super light back drag. I have a SnapOn (bring on the hate) and it's been worth every penny. I bought it on ebay for ~$60. Best tool ever for assembling Ikea **** and kid's toys.
 
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TonyJ

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76d13bb14af157d1dab6f1206c21f95e.jpg $11 on eBay. I’ve had one for close to 10 years and lost it and bought another one last week. I use it more than a 1/4 regular ratchet by using a 1/4 bit adapter


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Luciferi

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I have then Titan flex head. It works great and wondered why I didn’t get one sooner
 
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KnurledNut

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Bolster said:
I'm looking for a quality small hex bit ratchet. Need it for tight clearance situations. Suggestions?

This is the one that has caught my eye:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F42ZF9B/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I already own one like the following, unbranded, no great shakes, but it does the job, just wanted to upgrade:

https://www.toolsource.com/14-in-dr...-drive-hex-bit-ratchet-w-handle-p-106154.html

...and since I haven't haunted GJ for awhile, what happened to the GJ image hosting, and what low cost source do you use to post your images these days? It's a lot more fun to post images than links...
Click to expand...

Bolster is back!
:beer:

Both of the ones you linked, and the VIM someone else posted (and many other brands) all have Reverse Gear brand mechanisms. So you wouldnt be gaining much over what you currently have.

On the pics, just link the URL using the picture button when posting.
 
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RKA

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Bigblue&Goldie said:
This is one tool you want to make sure has super light back drag. I have a SnapOn (bring on the hate) and it's been worth every penny. I bought it on ebay for ~$60. Best tool ever for assembling Ikea **** and kid's toys.
Click to expand...

Same one made by EZ Red? I have a full set of VIM bit ratchets and that’s my one gripe with them. Too much back drag considering how and where these are intended to be used.
 
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pedalwrench

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Jun 5, 2011
Messages
23
I have the presta cycle thing n I love it, mostly because of the ability to turn it into a t-handle. It's designed as a bike tool and that's a very handy feature in that application. I haven't seen another bit ratchet that does that, so I'm a fan.

Sent from my moto g(7) power using Tapatalk
 
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JBH

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M6erfan said:
Did someone say low back drag?

http://www.kokenusa.com/products/model/622
Click to expand...


I have the flex head version of the Koken as well as Felo, Reverse Gear, Stahlwille, Anex, and Wiha.

Koken is by far the best in actual use. Felo is a distant 2nd. The others have their place; the tiny headed Reverse Gear for USAG/Facom locking flex is sometimes more useful than full sized Koken for example.
 
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Bigblue&Goldie

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RKA said:
Same one made by EZ Red? I have a full set of VIM bit ratchets and that’s my one gripe with them. Too much back drag considering how and where these are intended to be used.
Click to expand...

The one I have is essentially the 1/4 Dual 80 (72t) ratchet.
 
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M6erfan

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ssdave said:
My favorite is the MAC MR5bd, unfortunately no longer made. I have 3 of them. I also have a Snap-on, and it's okay, just longer handled. I use it for more leverage. I bought a Koken flex head 5/8" for heavier work, and it's well made. I have a long handled EX red, and it's mediocre. But long handled.

Buying new, I'd recommend either the Snap-on or the Koken. The difference between them is the Koken has retaining ring for keeping in the bit, the Snap-on is magnetic. Both have their advantages.
Click to expand...

MAC website shows it as available...

https://www.mactools.com/en-us/Ratchets-and-Accessories/1-4-Drive/MR5BD/1-4-Mini-Hex-Bit-Ratchet
 
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nbpt100

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I have a 25 year old Sears brand. Nothing fancy and I hardly use it so it is fine. I recently needed a very low profile so I bought a 1/4 ratcheting box wrench and cut the bit down to minimum length that would work. I needed to be careful to not let the bit fall out but it worked to get the screws removed.
If I were to buy a new one I would look at VIM or the Koken that were shown above.
 
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ihateminimumwage

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ssdave said:
My favorite is the MAC MR5bd, unfortunately no longer made. I have 3 of them.
Click to expand...
They're actually listed as in stock by MAC again, but with the $55 price tag, I've been doing just fine with the VIM that TonyJ posted a picture of.
 
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bonneyman

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I have a Reverse Gear clone that works very well, and the cheapie one offered by Craftsman has turned out to be pretty decent as well. For $11 and change it was definitely worth it.
 
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TonyJ

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ihateminimumwage said:
They're actually listed as in stock by MAC again, but with the $55 price tag, I've been doing just fine with the VIM that TonyJ posted a picture of.
Click to expand...



Autozone used to carry one I think was branded as Titan that was the same as the VIM one but I haven’t seen it there in a while. The one I posted a pic of is my new one and my old one which is now lost I took apart and shortened the spring in just by one coil and gave it allot less back drag and it made it much better


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CGarage

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Bigblue&Goldie said:
That's a cool looking ratchet. I notice the kit with bits is only $10 more.
Click to expand...


The bits are phenomenal and the tool is a lifesaver. 72 teeth in the mechanism also. I believe it is the smallest on the market. I have both the fixed and flex head versions. The flex head was released a few years after the fixed head.
 
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madmanc

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england
i have glued a penny to the top of a hex and used a ratchet spanner to work it for a tight space once , you can do a google search theres loads of tiny kits for these jobs , bahco being a very good one that i can recommend
 
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Mr_John

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I was looking for the same thing and bought a TONE 1/4 open ratchet set:

https://www.ebay.com/p/1086659269

I bought this as well, a Koken 1/4 mini ratchet, along with a 1/4 to 1/4 anvil to bit socket:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Koken-Stub...522007?hash=item25acd66657:g:zYsAAOSwq6Nb1MUb

Both are great for low clearance areas. The TONE ratchet is nice, but the if the Koken fits, it has extremely low backdrag when you're trying to avoid the bolt backing out. I also have a set of GearWrench stubby Torx sockets, with a set of stubby VIM XZN triple squares on order from Zoro for those extremely tight access areas where the Koken will actually fit (vs the TONE).
 
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CGarage

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RKA

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Along the lines of the OP’s question, does anyone have a suggestion for a long ratcheting bit wrench with low back drag?

https://www.amazon.com/Vim-Tools-HEX-Ratchet-Vim-HBR8/dp/B073WLCWCX/ref=asc_df_B073WLCWCX/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=343227722076&hvpos=1o4&hvnetw=g&hvrand=587962265666246338&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004018&hvtargid=pla-751271648858&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=68750937003&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=343227722076&hvpos=1o4&hvnetw=g&hvrand=587962265666246338&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004018&hvtargid=pla-751271648858
 
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DSLTRK

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$15 at Oreilly auto parts. Comes with the rare 1/4" hex-square adapter.




 
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OP
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Bolster

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Well! I can see this is not going to be a "buy one" sort of affair, it will require a collection. Thanks for pointing me in excellent directions, folks!

I am partial to the "passthrough" types, where the hex hole is broached all the way though, since that allows really low profile access. (I have even cut down hex bits in length for minimum clearance issues=too radical?)
 
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JBH

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Bolster said:
Well! I can see this is not going to be a "buy one" sort of affair, it will require a collection. Thanks for pointing me in excellent directions, folks!

I am partial to the "passthrough" types, where the hex hole is broached all the way though, since that allows really low profile access. (I have even cut down hex bits in length for minimum clearance issues=too radical?)
Click to expand...



If you’re looking for absolute minimum clearance I think the set to buy is the Würth one with the 11mm outer hex through sockets (compatible with Wera, Snapon, and Matco, but not the garbage set Astro Pneumatic sells), low profile bits, and dual 1/4” hex/11mm ratchet.

I think Matco and KS Tools have similar sets.
 
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ZRX61

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I have a Sunex that's barely 3in long & a GW that's 1/4in on one end & 5/16 on the other. Both came with a few bits & the GW has some 1/4 drive sockets.
 

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