I have been kind of looking around for a different 1/2" drive ratchet, and wondering about the SK. Are they fine tooth, coarse tooth, etc? Is there anything you would compare them to? I am looking at the basic round head with knurled round handle. I've never seen one in person.
SK Ratchets, what do they compare to?
- Thread starter iroc409
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Farmer Joe
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- Sep 28, 2011
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I have an older SK Wayne 1/2" ratchet, basic round head, knurled handle. Works great. It is not fine tooth, but then again, I really don't find that as a disadvantage, since where are you really going to use 1/2" in very tight spaces? I'll usually move to my 3/8" fine tooth ratchets when spaces get tight. But SK ratchets are a very well made, tough ratchet
bobcatdan
Well-known member
SK makes very good ratchets if you like the round head style. Very proven design, hasn't really changed in 50 or 60 years, thats how good they are. Very strong, 40 or so tooth design. For a straight comparison, I would compare to Wright. I would rate overall quailty and stenght very close to a Snap on, but the two are of different design , SO being a pear head and SK the round head. SO round head are fine tooth, was 72 and the now 100, not really a direct match to SK. Overall SK is a very good and with the chinaing of craftsman, is probable the best price USA wrench.
gatewaysysop
Well-known member
I also have the SK round heads, they're not fine tooth but they are excellent overall. Chrome on them is some of the best and they have a very distinctive ratcheting sound compared to my other round heads. They're very well made, parts are available for rebuild (even here on GJ from Alex) and it's easy to pick up more if you end up liking them and wanting other sizes/handle styles.
And, on the other side, if you end up not liking, you can probably hock it the classifieds and I'm sure someone will snap it up.
In any case, these are some of my favorite round headed ratchets, second only to my Craftsman RHFT ratchets.
And, on the other side, if you end up not liking, you can probably hock it the classifieds and I'm sure someone will snap it up.
In any case, these are some of my favorite round headed ratchets, second only to my Craftsman RHFT ratchets.
plinker
Well-known member
Back when they first came out they were stae of the art, tooth count wise (compared to 20 tooth ratchets). Since the 60 tooth ratchets and higher came out not as much but still hold thier own, especially against 36 tooth & under. To me the 60 tooth Gearwrench style 3/8 ratchet feels real close to the 3/8 drive S-K ratchets.
IIRC, the 1/4 is 60tooth, 3/8 is 50 tooth, 1/2 is 40 tooth, I dont remember on the 3/4 drive off hand. These are for the "Pro" ratchets, All the "Tuff 1" ratchets are 72 tooth.
As was said they're an older design (from late '30's), but they still make them for a reason, IE; little has changed about them, they are that good.
IMO, the 1/4 drive S-K 40970 is the best one available in regards to price, size, tooth count/swing arc (8*).
IIRC, the 1/4 is 60tooth, 3/8 is 50 tooth, 1/2 is 40 tooth, I dont remember on the 3/4 drive off hand. These are for the "Pro" ratchets, All the "Tuff 1" ratchets are 72 tooth.
As was said they're an older design (from late '30's), but they still make them for a reason, IE; little has changed about them, they are that good.
IMO, the 1/4 drive S-K 40970 is the best one available in regards to price, size, tooth count/swing arc (8*).
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SMKS
Well-known member
I really like the regular SK ratchets. They are a simple but rugged design. I think I would rank the 1/4" and 3/8" ratchets higher than the 1/2", though. The head is large on the 1/2". The ratchets really shine in the other sizes.
ajchien
Well-known member
What is confusing to me is that my 1/4 is 60 tooth, 3/8 is 40 tooth, and 1/2 is 50ish teeth. I keep hearing different count numbers from different people, I wonder if there as been some variance over the years.
Nevertheless, they feel and work well. And I concur that the 1/4 is great.
85camaro
Banned
The standard SK ratchet may not be pretty but it's tough. I compare them a little to the Snap on F936. Both of them are the Bull Dogs of ratchets IMO.
kblazer87
Well-known member
S-K makes a 60 tooth, round head, long handle, 1/2" drive ratchet that is an excellent tool. Model number is 40175 and it has the star wheel on the top to change the direction. I just sold mine as I replaced it with a Snap on long handle version.
AZ_Catskinner
Well-known member
My SK 1/2" drive ratchets are referred to as the hammer of God. Frozen bolts/nuts tremble in fear when they come out of the box. I seriously don't think that there is a tougher ratchet on the market today.
Well, if you are looking for different:
I dont have a 1/2 SK, but I have a 3/8 and compared to my 3/8 Wright, Ill take the Wright hands down. I do have a Wright 1/2 that I picked up recently, and have been very happy with it. The 1/2 Wrights are a 45 tooth dual pawl (gives 90 clicks) 4425 & 4426 are the knurled handles
-Jeff
I dont have a 1/2 SK, but I have a 3/8 and compared to my 3/8 Wright, Ill take the Wright hands down. I do have a Wright 1/2 that I picked up recently, and have been very happy with it. The 1/2 Wrights are a 45 tooth dual pawl (gives 90 clicks) 4425 & 4426 are the knurled handles
-Jeff
cruiser808
Well-known member
j.c.whitney
Well-known member
SK 40170 is your friend. SK ratchets make a distinct sound and have a quality feel when in use. Pretty easy to find nice examples for sale in the classifieds at decent prices.
ajchien
Well-known member
Mmmm. How about also considering the Williams S52 series? Round head, knurled handle. 72 or 80 teeth depending on the -A or the old style.
GoBlue
Well-known member
Very strong, but archaic...if you like Craftsman you will love SK...If you like Snap on...you wont. They are good tools for sure imho.
Thanks for all the input! I've never been real crazy about the round heads, but willing to try a good ratchet for something different. I've always preferred the pear heads.
I have a RP and thin profile. The thin profile is a decent ratchet, just a little off balance. I actually don't really mind the RP too much, mostly just afraid of breaking it.
I'd kind of like a Snap-On, and I have a Dual 80 in 3/8", but don't really want to spend a lot of money as I've went through quite a bit on tools lately.
I have a RP and thin profile. The thin profile is a decent ratchet, just a little off balance. I actually don't really mind the RP too much, mostly just afraid of breaking it.
I'd kind of like a Snap-On, and I have a Dual 80 in 3/8", but don't really want to spend a lot of money as I've went through quite a bit on tools lately.
diesel research
Well-known member
I love most of their tools, but ratchets are not on my favorable list.
I first really learned about SK when they were issued to me in the military. The 1/2" was used for most everything. These things seemed to auto-reverse almost (but not quite) as much as cman RP. As a matter of fact, they were nicknamed" Slip & Kill". It wasn't just 1 or 2 worn out units or poor users, it was everyone in the team. Can't be warranted in a combat zone, and they did go to combat, and always seemed to act up at the worst times. Kind of the opposite of what AZCatskinner stated. "The ratchets trembled in fear even if the bolts were not frozen"
They possibly just needed new "kits", since I do recall the usual cure was taking them apart and playing with that strange shaped spring. Kits were often not available where ever I was, so I may never know.
Feel free to dismiss my opinion, since I thoroughly enjoy my SK "facom clone" palm driver, yet everyone else claims the screw falls apart. Or chalk it up to previous inconsistent build quality during certain time frame.
I first really learned about SK when they were issued to me in the military. The 1/2" was used for most everything. These things seemed to auto-reverse almost (but not quite) as much as cman RP. As a matter of fact, they were nicknamed" Slip & Kill". It wasn't just 1 or 2 worn out units or poor users, it was everyone in the team. Can't be warranted in a combat zone, and they did go to combat, and always seemed to act up at the worst times. Kind of the opposite of what AZCatskinner stated. "The ratchets trembled in fear even if the bolts were not frozen"
They possibly just needed new "kits", since I do recall the usual cure was taking them apart and playing with that strange shaped spring. Kits were often not available where ever I was, so I may never know.
Feel free to dismiss my opinion, since I thoroughly enjoy my SK "facom clone" palm driver, yet everyone else claims the screw falls apart. Or chalk it up to previous inconsistent build quality during certain time frame.
greasemonkey44
Well-known member
^ did it have a black selector on the back?
because i had many of those and they are called tuff1 and are for the birds
the all steel ones are miles apart
those plastic ones are for the birds; they had a special one way slip......got to send it in for warranty
because i had many of those and they are called tuff1 and are for the birds
the all steel ones are miles apart
those plastic ones are for the birds; they had a special one way slip......got to send it in for warranty
diesel research
Well-known member
I do not recall any plastic, but good question. I almost think I remember a screw on the backside, so it's possible. Since it had the weird spring that might make sense.
FWIW, I've got an SK "Pro" 3/8" drive and a Tuff 1 1/2". The Tuff 1 has never given me any problems other than the set screw backing out. At some point the rebuild kits had pre-applied Loctite on the set screw (current inventory seems to not). A dab of the blue stuff and you won't have to worry about the screw backing out. BTDT.
I don't use the Pro ratchet much but it has a nice, light action. If I had to compare it to something, I'd say price-wise it compares to the RP ratchets... but with a nicer action, grip, durability, and much nicer chrome.
plinker
Well-known member
If they had a "strange shaped spring" those are the "Tuff-1" ratchets, I'm certain they are especially if the screw would loosen (blue loctite will fix the issue). They had some issues with them when they first came out. Late '70's or early '80's IIRC.
The "pro" ratchets use a spring & plunger inside the selector "pin", completely different internals.
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The round head Cmans with the tri-selector on the back are the same design as that Tuff-1.
-Jeff
SMKS
Well-known member
You are thinking of the Tuff 1 or Palm Control ratchets. They were based on a Facom design, since Facom owned SK for some time.
I know you aren't thinking of the normal SK ratchets, because the normal SK ratchets don't have a "strange shaped spring."
Tuff 1 ratchet rebuild kit. Note the "strange spring". The Palm Control ratchets use the same type of mechanism.
Normal SK ratchet rebuild kit.
This is an overhaul kit for a normal SK ratchet. It just replaces the moving parts in the mechanism.
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diesel research
Well-known member
I'm positive it wasn't a palm control 
as previously mentioned, I love my palm control (circa ~2007). As to screws backing out, it's been quite a few years, but I know the fix wasn't simply tightening a screw. Don't remember what, but something inside would move out of place or something, and require disassembly and realignment before being serviceable for another week or 2. Then it might last a while or it might act up later the same day.
as previously mentioned, I love my palm control (circa ~2007). As to screws backing out, it's been quite a few years, but I know the fix wasn't simply tightening a screw. Don't remember what, but something inside would move out of place or something, and require disassembly and realignment before being serviceable for another week or 2. Then it might last a while or it might act up later the same day.AZ_Catskinner
Well-known member
I've never had a regular "professional" series ratchet auto reverse - it had to have been either one of the Facom design or some unique to government contracts type thing.
toolz
Well-known member
V70R
Well-known member
First ratchet I purchased outside of a RP Craftsman was a 3/8'' Tuff1, 5 years later of daily use it is still going strong. Sure the chrome and knurling may not be top tier, but damn it has surely never left me hanging. With 5 Dual80's in the box I still reach for the SK at any chance.
I'm positive it wasn't a palm control
There were two styles of mechanism: Professional and Tuff1/Palm Control.
Professional:
Palm Control:
Tuff 1:
What happens with the Tuff 1 and Palm Control is that the set screw can back out causing the ratchet to auto reverse or just not engage at all. If the screw comes all the way out, then, yes, you'll have to fiddle with it and get the spring in place just so. With the Pro style, there's just nothing to adjust really.
Aside from having to fiddle with the screw, my Tuff 1 hasn't let me down. And I've not been easy on it. I'll go out on a limb and say that the Professional series ratchets are what the Craftsman Raised Panel SHOULD be, and the Tuff1 give the high tooth count truck units a run for their money. I like the positive, light action on both of mine... and the small head on the Tuff1s.
If your ratchets didn't look like the above, it's possible you had yet another different design. OTOH it sounds like maybe a pear head ratchet of some sort might have been a better fit for military duty.
diesel research
Well-known member
At some later point in time they began phasing in 936 series so's. Not as a specific cure for the ratchets, but a change of vendor for entire GMTK's in certain areas. While the S936 far out performed whatever SK was handed out before, it was nothing special.
One benefit of the SK is no one would ever bother to steal one, while the 936s seemed to grow legs and walk off permanently (at a replacement cost to whomever it was originally issued)
Is it just me or does the Tuff1 have a way smoother action than the pro wrench? Higher tooth count?
After cleaning and re-lubing on the 1/2 inch tuff1 the action almost seems to glide. Compare this to my brand new 3/8 Pro the action is a tad bit notchier. Or is it just that it is new?
Matching the new SK 3/8 to the 2 craftsman and the 1 kobalt I have it is like night and day. Plain Jane looks but a real performer.
Thanks for the locktite tip!
After cleaning and re-lubing on the 1/2 inch tuff1 the action almost seems to glide. Compare this to my brand new 3/8 Pro the action is a tad bit notchier. Or is it just that it is new?
Matching the new SK 3/8 to the 2 craftsman and the 1 kobalt I have it is like night and day. Plain Jane looks but a real performer.
Thanks for the locktite tip!
72 teeth in the Tuff1, much more than the Pro.
I had a Palm Control and have a Pro flex. The palm control was junk. The screw had to be loose enough for the guts to wobble or else it was binding every rotation. Blew out leaving me with ****** knuckles the first time I used it. Maybe Facom knew how to build them but SK didn't.
The Pro flex has been flawless. I like high tooth count quick release pear heads and don't like flex heads with no detents, but for some strange reason this is the ratchet I grab first.
The Pro flex has been flawless. I like high tooth count quick release pear heads and don't like flex heads with no detents, but for some strange reason this is the ratchet I grab first.
I should have a 42470 sitting on my front porch when I get home new from Grainger. I got a 42472 last week. I have quite a few dual 80s and if I didn't have those it would probably be all SK. Put some super lube in them and they are very smooth. These are going to be truck tool box ratchets and one will replace an older 42470 that has the diamond logo on it. As long as you like how a round head functions they're excellent. I live with it.