Show off your "Custom Handled Ratchet"

[greasemonkey44]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HUGE...QptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools#ht_1925wt_958 Lot of snap on handles, kinda used but thought yall might be interested

 

[nissan_crawler]

not sure if this one counts, but...

 

[rocklobster]

Are there any brands of chrome handle ratchets that you can remove the handle on? I thought I saw a post of someone removing a chrome snap on handle...

 

[rocklobster]

Well this thread inspired me today to replace the handle on my Husky Pro ratchet.

I love this ratchet it is so handy, but I really dislike soft grips, so my only gripe with the ratchet is the handle.

A year or two ago I found a plastic handle vintage phillips screw driver rusted beyond use in the dirt, I usually keep stuff like this so I tossed it into a drawer in my shop knowing that I would 'need' it someday...

I like what it says on the handle too:

In haste I got a couple of vise marks on the handle, no worries the handle has it's share of nicks, next time I will pad the jaws.

 

[Kirbot]

My "custom" ratchet handle is about 1/4 roll of electrical tape.

I couldn't stand the knurling on my 1/4" SK, so I added that to pad it some.

 

[rocklobster]

With all the interesting handled ratchets poping up lately it was mention that a thread was needed to showcase them all in one place.

You might see some real bastardizations in here so beware.

I'll start with a few I did.


Fuller/Gray Canada

This Fuller/Gray is boss!

I love fuller screwdrivers and gray ratchets. Was the gray ratchet originally equipped with a chrome handle?

 

[Gtamazing]

This Fuller/Gray is boss!

I love fuller screwdrivers and gray ratchets. Was the gray ratchet originally equipped with a chrome handle?

yeah it just had the regular tapered shape chrome handle. you could really tell the hardness of the steel on the outside compared to the softer interior when I cut it down.

 

[knocker]

A ScottG custom 'perfect handle' 1/4" rat.....

Still my favorite one, got to love the pocket knife handle look.

 

[mrholeshot]

Here is one I did this morning. Harbor Freight 1/2 ratchet cut down and Harley steel shift peg. drilled peg .015 undersize. Heated shifter peg in the oven for 35 min at 250 degrees and put ratchet in the freezer for 2 hours. Tapped the peg on and let it cool. Now I have a 1/2 stubby. What do you think.

 

[PT Doc]

Here is one I did this morning. Harbor Freight 1/2 ratchet cut down and Harley steel shift peg. drilled peg .015 undersize. Heated shifter peg in the oven for 35 min at 250 degrees and put ratchet in the freezer for 2 hours. Tapped the peg on and let it cool. Now I have a 1/2 stubby. What do you think.

Very nice work. How many teeth on that one?

 

[mrholeshot]

48 tooth.

 

[Kirbot]

I finally got around to doing this.

 

[Case IH]

Here is one I did this morning. Harbor Freight 1/2 ratchet cut down and Harley steel shift peg. drilled peg .015 undersize. Heated shifter peg in the oven for 35 min at 250 degrees and put ratchet in the freezer for 2 hours. Tapped the peg on and let it cool. Now I have a 1/2 stubby. What do you think.

How much would it cost for you to make one of those to sell?

 

[mrholeshot]

Here is one I did this morning. Harbor Freight 1/2 ratchet cut down and Harley steel shift peg. drilled peg .015 undersize. Heated shifter peg in the oven for 35 min at 250 degrees and put ratchet in the freezer for 2 hours. Tapped the peg on and let it cool. Now I have a 1/2 stubby. What do you think.

How much would it cost for you to make one of those to sell?

I'll have to see if I can find another steel harley shift peg. Most of them are aluminum and this is one I had off my Ultra. I'll check around and see if I can find a few. The ratchet was a whole 10 dollars.

 

[Gtamazing]

If I wanted to put one of these

On one of these

What would be the best sized handle for the 1/2" ratchet. I'm thinking #4 Philips

 

[digdug18]

Are you guys just going for a pressed on fit, or are you using epoxy or something to make sure the don't come off? Also how are you getting the screw driver handle off the screw driver shaft? Are you heating it up first and puling it out, or just pulling it out or what?

Andrew

 

[Catalyze]

This is a great thread for creativity! Now it makes me want to go out and change something in the ratchet drawer.....must fight the urge.
Craig

 

[JeremyManning]

I pulled mine out using a vise and 2 prybars not heat and I used some jb weld in the hole to ensure it doesn't come apart, there is a thread that cross references snap on screwdriver handle and matches to ratchet sizes that is what I used as a guide for determining which size screwdriver to get

 

[ovilla]

This is a great thread for creativity! Now it makes me want to go out and change something in the ratchet drawer.....must fight the urge.
Craig

That's what Harbor Freight is for. Go buy some cheap tools and give it a try on those first. Then play with your good stuff after that.

 

[BajaBound]

I seriously love what you guys are doing with these ratchets and handles!!!!

 

[kams1973]

Here's a possible link for screwdriver handles.

http://www.alhandles.com/pages/handle-samples.htm

 

[pcpro15]

Is it possible to put one of the new comfort grips on a sx80a? I can't find a ~17"+ long 1/2" drive locking flex with comfort grip. sx80a is the only locking flex in 1/2" that I see.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...=22911&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all

 

[gj67stang]

Is it possible to put one of the new comfort grips on a sx80a? I can't find a ~17"+ long 1/2" drive locking flex with comfort grip. sx80a is the only locking flex in 1/2" that I see.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...=22911&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all

It could be done. The end of the ratchet handle would need to be turned down to fit a soft grip.

Are you guys just going for a pressed on fit, or are you using epoxy or something to make sure the don't come off? Also how are you getting the screw driver handle off the screw driver shaft? Are you heating it up first and puling it out, or just pulling it out or what?

Andrew

The ratchets I make just use a press fit to retain the handles - this way, they can be removed for whatever reason.

 

[Kirbot]

Here's another one.
I didn't bother turning the handle down, I just drilled an undersized "stepped" hole, with two diameters.
Then used a dead blow and hammered it on.


I've been wanting a comfort grip 3/8" ratchet for a while!


The handle is from a Harborfreight screwdriver.

 

[Pro-Painter]

Here's another one.
I didn't bother turning the handle down, I just drilled an undersized "stepped" hole, with two diameters.
Then used a dead blow and hammered it on.


I've been wanting a comfort grip 3/8" ratchet for a while!

The handle is from a Harborfreight screwdriver.

I would like to do something like that except I plan to use a Duralast screwdriver handle. Hmm...

 

[Gtamazing]

I would like to do something like that except I plan to use a Duralast screwdriver handle. Hmm...

Did you photo shop that picture? Also the red one almost looks like my Gray/Fuller

 

[Pro-Painter]

Did you photo shop that picture? Also the red one almost looks like my Gray/Fuller

Kinda... I used MS paint lol.

 

[powertrip]

Here's another one.
I didn't bother turning the handle down, I just drilled an undersized "stepped" hole, with two diameters.
Then used a dead blow and hammered it on.


I've been wanting a comfort grip 3/8" ratchet for a while!


The handle is from a Harborfreight screwdriver.

Can you explain how you did the step drill method?

 

[Kirbot]

Can you explain how you did the step drill method?

Sure
It's pretty simple really.


The duralast handle is shaped just like a Snap On handle.

(picture stolen from mrholeshot)

Drill a deep hole the diameter of the single ring of knurling, and then drill a shallower hole a little smaller than the diameter of the double ring of knurling so that the ratchet can get pressed in.

I made the holes very undersized and then just hammered it together.
It seems fairly secure, but if if comes apart I'll just add some epoxy.

 

[powertrip]

Sure
It's pretty simple really.


The duralast handle is shaped just like a Snap On handle.

(picture stolen from mrholeshot)

Drill a deep hole the diameter of the single ring of knurling, and then drill a shallower hole a little smaller than the diameter of the double ring of knurling so that the ratchet can get pressed in.

I made the holes very undersized and then just hammered it together.
It seems fairly secure, but if if comes apart I'll just add some epoxy.

thanks

 

[Gmonkee]

Just go out and pick up a cheap but usable ratchet and a beat up screwdriver or two at a swap meet or junk shop, whatever is in your area. Practice modding on these gems a few times until you have a plan on how to do it smoothly.
Then carefully choose a handle that compliments your nicer branded ratchet for size and form and build your dream ratchet.

I used a cheap GN 1/4" RH and my fave Stanley 60 series handles to create and recreate a few pieces. Someday I may get around to making my RH 3/8" drive flex head with long handle and a nice hard handle. Still trying to find two key parts yet.

 

[Gtamazing]

Two Mastercraft ratchets, 1/4" with a Wera and a 3/8" with an Xcelite. These are the first 2 I did. both were drilled by hand in a similar step method to accomadate the handle shape.

 

[tonydanzah]

those weras look awesome

 

[rocklobster]

Very Nice Gtamazing!

I have the same mastercraft ratchets, I think that I need to go find some screwdrivers to butcher!!!!

oh and Gtamazing I found that soaking those ratchets in some auto trans oil and some breaking in really smoothed them out.

 

[Sterff]

Here is my Gearwrench Snap-on hybrid I made a few months ago.

 

[johno]

Sterff

What did that handle come from please?

 

[Sterff]

Sterff

What did that handle come from please?

It is a new replacement handle. Part #SDD5R1RR

 

[SMKS]

Here's one I just made up. I just bought two cheap used import ratchets and decent used screwdrivers to mock up some ratchets. I bought cheap stuff in case I screwed something up.

This is a Taiwan ratchet that I paid $5 for. It has no brand name, but is a Facom copy with a very smooth action that seems to work well. It had a trashed rubber handle. The new handle started as a $1 Xcelite nut driver. I drilled out the handle and pounded it on with a rubber mallet.

The hardest part is lining up the script on the handle with the script on the ratchet. I did another cheap ratchet/handle combination and the script ended up off center.

 

[gj67stang]

Craftsman 3/8" long full-polish with lime-green screwdriver handle:

 

[DonkDonk]

I just did a couple today. The FH80 I got from Jaysonb here on the GJ. On the FHNF100 3/8 roto I used a SPB8A pry bar handle and the THNF72 1/4 roto I used a SDD146 screwdriver handle.