Show off your "Custom Handled Ratchet"

[jeffmoss26]

metaldad, those are awesome! Someone needs to put a pocket clip screwdriver handle with a schrader valve remover on a 1/4 inch ratchet haha

 

[toolstools]

These are my favorite job yet. Not favorites ratchets but favorite outcome. Picked up the stanely USA handle today at a pawn shop with some others for $1/pop

 

[jeffmoss26]

Nice! I still have some of those screwdrivers.

 

[toolstools]

Nice! I still have some of those screwdrivers.

Thanks! I almost hated to tare apart a USA Stanley screw driver, but I found it worth it. I'm going to have to get a bigger drill bit And redo it. The Stanley didn't get as far down as I wanted to because the handle size. But its not a so much used ratchet anyways.

 

[Conductor562]

These are my favorite job yet. Not favorites ratchets but favorite outcome. Picked up the stanely USA handle today at a pawn shop with some others for $1/pop

I have to admit, that Stanley rat is pretty damn cool! I haven't really taken Stanley stuff seriously for quite some time, but that is pretty cool.

 

[toolstools]

I have to admit, that Stanley rat is pretty damn cool! I haven't really taken Stanley stuff seriously for quite some time, but that is pretty cool.

Hey thanks man! Fwiw, that's stanelys "professional model" same pn as the kit ratchets but are noticeably different. Pro has a bigger release button and held in with a snap ring. Kit models are held together with torx screws and have a tiny QR.

Thanks again man, never expected someone to say that. These are my 3rd and 4th doings now. Getting easier.

 

[Hako86]

This thread got me started.
Top is an Ace RHFT, in a Masterforce.
Next are KD RHFT, one in a Klein, the other in a Lenox.
4th is obviously a Cman.
Bottom is an Ace Professional / Cman. (Rat shifted during epoxy set)
None of the rats were adulterated. The Cman rat, the driver handle was drilled, chiseled, and filed. The rubber handles are the most comfortable. Whatever plastic the chinese used on the Lenox handle is kinda brittle (I cracked 1 handle).

The Ace Professional/Cman ratchet looks exactly the same as my Kraftwerk ratchets (from Taiwan). Is this ratchet made in the USA or in Taiwan? Just wondering if those ratchets are made by the same company .

 

[gtermini]

Here are mine that I've done so far. They are regular handled 1/4" drive ratchets, and I just drilled the handles in my lathe and hammered them on. I think the drill was 23/64" and 1.500" deep.

Greyson

 

[Farmall450]

How do you get the shank out of the screwdriver?

 

[gtermini]

How do you get the shank out of the screwdriver?

I clamped the shank of the screwdriver in the vise with the pommel of the handle about 3/8" above the jaws. Then I used a pair of prybars to pry up on the handle, reset a couple times and it was off.

Greyson

 

[Farmall450]

I clamped the shank of the screwdriver in the vise with the pommel of the handle about 3/8" above the jaws. Then I used a pair of prybars to pry up on the handle, reset a couple times and it was off.

Greyson

Wow, and here I thought it would involve a drill press!

 

[Honda guy]

Here's my S-K Snap-on fusion.

Is that a wooden handle?

 

[ganymede]

Here's my attempt . Kinda lame but its my 1st one.
Baby Cornwell with yellow plastic.
Handle was a standard screwdriver . I filed the ratchet handle to 3/8 diameter and made it hex shape to keep it from spinning in the plastic handle under heavy use.
Drilled the plasric handle 1/32nd undersized and filed it to shape. Felt most comfortable with the top n bottom flat and the sides rounded.
Now it's bigger than standard issue metal handle but smaller than the hard plastic ones that can be bought and that's just right for me.
Final polish this week.

 

[gtermini]

Here is my new ******* child, crime against humanity, and abomination!

I generally use exclusively Snap On tools, but I wanted a roto head ratchet in 1/2" drive. To my dismay, I could not come up with a Snap On one, as they are not made. So I find myself killing time in my local Garbage Freight store and I see there round head ratchets. For $14.39 (on sale for $18 - 20%) I became the proud new owner of a Chiwanese ratchet. To be honest, the action, chrome, and overall quality is very nice.

But first things first the ugly handle had to go! It turned out to be a ***** to get off; I had to split both sides with a chisle.

With that thing safely deposited in the garbage can, I determined I was going to **** a #2 phillips for its maroon hard handle. Simple job with two prybars and my trusty Prentiss Bulldog vise.

Now the original plan was to just drill out the handle and install it, but measurement of the ratchet shank determined that this would have only left .050" thick sections in the handle at its waist. Too thin for my taste. I decided to turn the tang down to be a .010" press fit in a 17/32" handle hole.

Since the head of the rachet wouldn't fit in the bore of my biggest lathe chuck, I had to devise another method of workholding. Being lazy, I didn't want to center the thing up in the 4-jaw. I grabbed a big 1/2" drive socket and chucked it with the drive end facing out.

I used the steady rest with a set of Delrin jaws to support the ratchet, and backed it up with a live center.

The shank was turned down with a carbide tool to 0.542". I was surprised to find out the steel reasonably tough with a 0.025" thick skin that seemed to be from the forging and heat treament process.

After turning the shank down, I moved onto the handle. The 4-jaw was put on, and the handle wrapped in several layers of paper towel. I stuck a suitable drill in the handle hole to hold it with the tailstock chuck to roughly center it.

The drill shank was also used to dial the handle in with an indicator.

I used a progression of drills to open the handle out to 17/32". Even with taking small bites with the drills, the handle became quite warm. I used this to my advantage to fit the ratchet shank more easily.

And finally, a hard handled 1/2" drive roto head ratchet. It is perfectly camouflaged in the ratched drawer.

Greyson

 

[rusty65]

A old Caterpillar ratchet made by Snap on for Cat in 3/8 drive date coded 1978 with a indestro 1/2 torque wrench yellow handle on the ratchet.

Sent directly from the Snap On Kool Aid factory.

 

[stonesfan68]

Here is my new ******* child, crime against humanity, and abomination!

And finally, a hard handled 1/2" drive roto head ratchet. It is perfectly camouflaged in the ratched drawer.

Greyson

That's some nice work!

 

[Tsquare]

I see some of mine above, but here are all the "custom" ratchets I have:

Most of the ratchets I've modified have required turning down the ratchet on a lathe as well as boring out the handle to press it onto the ratchet. See here for details about some of my conversions. Contact me through PM if you're interested in having some ratchets customized.

Just saw this thread, thanks for positing your custom handle work - will be ordering a set.

 

[Rusty Kustoms]

Thought I would make up a few while the kid naps this morning. 3/8" matco silver eagle with husky handle, and a couple snap on 1/4" with snap on handles.

 

[logixjock]

Snap-On man came through for me. Saw a dual 80 on the truck a couple of weeks ago with an orange handle, supposed to be a special promotion. Figured they had to have replacements for the handle, and he was able to order it. Fit perfectly.

 

[STEVENC]

My torque wrench broke, so I created this thing of beauty. Head was off a Craftsman Digi torque. The cheater bar has a nice comfort grip. smack the head on the ground and its pressed well enough to use. the ratchet has a taper to it. smack the cheater bar off for speed.

 

[ganymede]

I didn't like the last one so I took a 50's Craftsman screwdriver that someone trashed and made another.
Just clamped it in my vise, drilled the hole a little deeper and filed. A lot. A little sanding and done.
Liking this color a lot more. Sort of a 'bladder infection pee yellow' .

 

[taumac]

I've really enjoyed this thread. Here's a couple I played around with being new to this I've use in order Pvc, some cman handles, gray conduit pvc, air hose and another with gray pvc. After playing with these now on look out for some really nice handles to make better ones.



Have a good one, Gerard

The 5 Stitches Garage part 1 http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142100

The 5 Stitches Garage part2 http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899

 

[taumac]

Forgot one, my great next flex head with semi rubber handle.



Have a good one, Gerard

The 5 Stitches Garage part 1 http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142100

The 5 Stitches Garage part2 http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899

 

[Alex in Canada]

Wow, these look great!

Where do you guys get the handles? Do you sacrifice S.O. screwdrivers for this?!

 

[gtermini]

Wow, these look great!

Where do you guys get the handles? Do you sacrifice S.O. screwdrivers for this?!

Yah, a few old screwdrivers had to give their lives so I could have the ratchet I wanted.

Greyson

 

[Wayfastwhitie440]

Here's my newest addition to my collection, a GearWrench 81306F. 84 tooth, 1/2 drive flex head. Used my co-worker's lathe to machine down the handle a bit, then threaded it to accept a Hurst shifter I had.

I can't wait to try it out.

Dan

That is freakin awesome.

 

[superautobacs]

My most recent additions are the 1/4" drive rotator ratchets in the center with Williams handles.

The rest were done in 2010/11 after I getting inspired by what some Japanese tool nuts were already doing at the time.

The 3/8" drive rotator has a 3/8" square drive attached to the drive shaft. This allows me to use it as a powered right-angle ratchet by using a cordless drill.

Here's what some of those Japanese tool enthusiasts were doing:

 

[coyotejake]

Here's a Craftsman 1/2" drive flying V that I found on e-bay. Not sure why the 1/2" female end was welded on, but it's nice to have a 1/2" stubby. This is before I ground down and polished up the welded end.

 

[bluebolt]

Here's a Craftsman 1/2" drive flying V that I found on e-bay. Not sure why the 1/2" female end was welded on, but it's nice to have a 1/2" stubby. This is before I ground down and polished up the welded end.

Maybe a ratcheting torque wrench adapter for a specfic job. I really like that idea. Could also be used with an extension and breaker bar. May have to do that myself!

 

[DieselDent]

3/8's KD flex head with a snap on hard handle

View media item 37619

 

[bodyguy16]

My most recent additions are the 1/4" drive rotator ratchets in the center with Williams handles.

The rest were done in 2010/11 after I getting inspired by what some Japanese tool nuts were already doing at the time.

The 3/8" drive rotator has a 3/8" square drive attached to the drive shaft. This allows me to use it as a powered right-angle ratchet by using a cordless drill.

Here's what some of those Japanese tool enthusiasts were doing:

What brand ratchet are the two flex heads with white handles and the two long ones with the black snap on style handles? Part numbers? Thx really need to get myself some love the look !

Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk

 

[doan]

Kobalt Long handled 1/4" drive

 

[doan]

A few others I made.

 

[Mastermind]

seen a couple of those on clearance at lowes, but didn't think about changing the handle...hmmm

 

[doan]

seen a couple of those on clearance at lowes, but didn't think about changing the handle...hmmm

I hate those stupid Kobalt handles.

 

[Outlawmws]

I took a different tack to get the handle I wanted: I started w/ the handle, and made the head into a usable ratchet;

Started with:

And made it into:

 

[superautobacs]

What brand ratchet are the two flex heads with white handles and the two long ones with the black snap on style handles? Part numbers? Thx really need to get myself some love the look !

Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk

The flex heads are made by Facom.
The Williams-handled one is a Powerfist brand sold in Canada (also sold by Deen in Japan, and SW-stahl in Europe).






Outlawmws,

Cool!
What would've been the intended use for the original female square drive?

 

[bodyguy16]

The flex heads are made by Facom.
The Williams-handled one is a Powerfist brand sold in Canada (also sold by Deen in Japan, and SW-stahl in Europe).






Outlawmws,

Cool!
What would've been the intended use for the original female square drive?

Looks like ill have to visit princess auto.........

Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk

 

[daparrothead]

should have known there would be a thread for this on here. lol
My latest creation.

Williams 3/8 B-52

 

[Outlawmws]

snip

Outlawmws,

Cool!
What would've been the intended use for the original female square drive?

We are still guessing on that. Clearly Military/army. I was thinking possibly landing gear for smaller aircraft until I got it. That handle is solid steel (also ball bearings...) so with the extra weight I doubt it flew.

Some have thought a mobile antenna mast lift, or stabilizing legs, It could be artillery, hard to say. Possibly more than one use. the rounded corner square drive is pretty unique though. I struck out on Google and Google image so far. Open to other ideas.

This is not the only one out there; they do come up, but not often.