SK Tuff 1 ratchets, how are they?

[TheGrooveking]

Being a long time SK user/owner - over 37 years I haven't bought any new SK ratchets in a long, long time so when I saw the Tuff 1 ratchets (which I assume are a FACOM design) and this made me wonder are they any good, are they an improvement over the standard long standing design?

TheGrooveking

 

[cruiser808]

Excellent question Groove. I've been wondering the same thing. My classic round heads are the best there is, but they only have 45 teeth. The newer tuff -1's have more, 72 I think. Our GJ resident expert is sk farmer, so hopefully he'll chime in.

 

[Fedwrench]

I don't think they last as long as the SK professional model ratchets but, your results may vary. What size difference you gain in ratchet head width, you lose in head thickness. They are ok but, not that great of an improvement over SK professional ratchet design. In fact, the professional series models really don't have any adjustment, it's just lube and go. Whereas, the Tuff one, is held together with a setscrew. Just like with the Facom version, there is a sweet spot of set screw tightness where the ratchet works the best. When the Tough one series first came out, SK advertised that there was almost an inch of contact teeth between the pawl and the gear. Although there are a lot more teeth in contact than on the pro series ratchets, an inch is a bit of an over statement. Buy one on ebay to try out. They will do the job but, there are better fine tooth ratchets out there with much thinner heads.

 

[Merkava_4]

Set aside $5 in case you need to warranty it.

 

[sk farmer]

Set aside $5 in case you need to warranty it.

nice try merk. that is one ratchet i have not broken. i have a flex head, long handle and standard tuff1 ratchets. not one issue with any of them. i will admit you have to adjust them but that should not be an issue. if you can take it apart and put it together again you can adjust.

 

[krusty the clown]

here ya go sk farmer...........

i think the roto head is a tuff1.

 

[sk farmer]

Set aside $5 in case you need to warranty it.

nice try merk. that is a ratchet i have not broken. i have a flex head, long handle and standard tuff1 ratchets. not one issue with any of them. i will admit you have to adjust them but that should not be an issue. if you can take it apart and put it together again you can adjust. they way i see it merk your argument is kind of lame. it would cost most of us more than 5 dollars in gas to drive around looking for the truck guy to not warranty it anyway.

 

[krusty the clown]

it would cost most of us more than 5 dollars in gas to drive around looking for the truck guy to not warranty it anyway.

they come to me AND warranty them

 

[Merkava_4]

Krusty - is that Cornwell a 3/8" drive?

 

[krusty the clown]

Krusty - is that Cornwell a 3/8" drive?

yes it is.....

 

[Griff93]

I have a 1/2" dr one that I've been pretty happy with. I didn't count the teeth but its finer than most of my 1/2" ratchets. So far it hasn't given me any problems at all.

 

[quattrojon]

I think they are a superb ratchet, very smooth in action and nicely knurled. Not really a popular seller for me, I seem to sell a lot more of the Armstrong maxx range.

 

[sk farmer]

they come to me AND warranty them

oh krusty, i am glad for you. i am also glad to see you have a few sk items. for a lot of the rest of us that is not the case with truck brands. many of us are not on a route or not in an area that has sevice. like it or not i have to try and go find a truck. maybe they repair or replace on the spot maybe they don't. do you like the rotoratchet or does it bother you that you even have it in your collection?

 

[vssjim]

the tuff 1's are good but like most of the other people I really like the old stand by Pro Series ratchet

 

[krusty the clown]

do you like the rotoratchet or does it bother you that you even have it in your collection?

first, i'm not a fan of rotoratchet's regardless of brand.

second, do i detect a hint of sarchasm

i was once a SK fan boy myself. i started buying SK from my uncle who was an SK dealer in the early 80's. at the time my tools were a 50/50 mix of SK and CMAN. even he had trouble getting them warranteed back then. i understand your position with the truck brands for the non-pro and if i wasn't a mechanic i would probably feel the same way. but i think you have to understand that there is different markets for SK and SO/MAC/MATCO/cornwell. even the SK mobile distributor system hasn't changed that (and they won't warranty SK tools either, at least in this area).

 

[krusty the clown]

like it or not i have to try and go find a truck. maybe they repair or replace on the spot maybe they don't.

thats the same experience's i have had with SK

 

[sk farmer]

first, i'm not a fan of rotoratchet's regardless of brand.

second, do i detect a hint of sarchasm

i was once a SK fan boy myself. i started buying SK from my uncle who was an SK dealer in the early 80's. at the time my tools were a 50/50 mix of SK and CMAN. even he had trouble getting them warranteed back then. i understand your position with the truck brands for the non-pro and if i wasn't a mechanic i would probably feel the same way. but i think you have to understand that there is different markets for SK and SO/MAC/MATCO/cornwell. even the SK mobile distributor system hasn't changed that (and they won't warranty SK tools either, at least in this area).

"sk fanboy" that is rich krusty. hey, i like the notoriety. what i do not like is the bs that some guys sling because they like brand x or they dislike brand y. i know you have seen my pics and so have others. i have a pretty diverse, multicultural mix of tools. you and i both know that brand x and y have plenty of good and bad points. opinion and fact are not always the same around here. my opinion is that just becase something does or does not work for you that does not mean it is gospel. some people think their opinion is the gospel and the last word. i just like people to know that there is other brands and opinions out there. i may be a fan but i am not fanatacal like some people are about other brands.

 

[krusty the clown]

"sk fanboy" that is rich krusty. hey, i like the notoriety. what i do not like is the bs that some guys sling because they like brand x or they dislike brand y. i know you have seen my pics and so have others. i have a pretty diverse, multicultural mix of tools. you and i both know that brand x and y have plenty of good and bad points. opinion and fact are not always the same around here. my opinion is that just becase something does or does not work for you that does not mean it is gospel. some people think their opinion is the gospel and the last word. i just like people to know that there is other brands and opinions out there. i may be a fan but i am not fanatacal like some people are about other brands.

i'm with ya there......i have about every brand out there. for me it comes down to service (and not just how the tool preforms).

 

[Elroy]

i'm with ya there......i have about every brand out there. for me it comes down to service (and not just how the tool preforms).

Elroy would venture to say that it actually comes down to a mix of performance. A tool really isn't worth a damn it won't fit into the work. Equally valid is the tool that breaks and is a ***** to get serviced.

Set the service issue aside for a moment and allow Elroy to point out a few issues;

You'll find that the S-K ratchets have a very small head:




The S-K is also a little thinner than the Snap-on but not by much. It's almost a wash:




But if you look at the thickness of that big bulky Proto it's the thinnest of the bunch



Elroy would venture to say the S-K is a little on the delicate side and combine that with the recently announced "service fee" from S-K, you really have to look hard at what you're trying to do.

I'll say this for the S-K: The mechanism is as smooth as glass out of the box. The real question is, does it shatter like glass. At this time Elroy hasn't had any issues. Time will tell but it would most likely take a bunch to bust the S-K.

It's in Elroy's box.

 

[Hiball]

Elroy are you flipping us off.. I can see your reflection in the Proto pics. LOL. Btw Nice write up.

 

[mikevango]

Elroy are you flipping us off.. I can see your reflection in the Proto pics. LOL. Btw Nice write up.

funny. i noticed that too

 

[Elroy]

Elroy are you flipping us off.. I can see your reflection in the Proto pics. LOL. Btw Nice write up.

Why never:

Are you just now taking notice. Elroy has been doing that for a year at least. It's all in fun!

 

[Thumper]

I got one. I like it, it feels really nice. My son grabs it first everytime he needs a rachet. So far...so good.

 

[sk farmer]

excellant info elroy. when you speak, we listen. you back up your posts with experiance, facts and nice pictures. none of the tool bashing bs. that sk looks pretty shiney and not much wear on the selector. don't be afraid to put it to work.the small head diamater and fine tooth work great in confined areas.

 

[psychoclaw84]

I have both 3/8 & 1/2 drive Tuff 1 Ratchets in the standard lengths.

The 1/2 drive is rarely used, Model 42475.

The 3/8 drive, Model 45175, is one of my favorite ratchets and going strong after 15 years of use.

Pros: Has a small profile head that enables the ratchet/socket to fit in small places. A 72 teeth ratcheting mechanism that is very smooth and easy to reverse. Very durable, have used for 15 years with out a problem.

Cons: Not a thin profile ratchet, see Elroy's photos (minus the bird) for comparison.

The only SK Professional Reversible Ratchet I own is the 1/4 drive (Model 40970, a 45 tooth ratcheting mechanism) and it is my favorite 1/4 drive ratchet I own and with 15 years of use. IMO, it is far superior to the Matco 60 tooth ratchet and the Snap On versions.

Response to your questions:

1. Are they any good. YES
2. Improvement over longstanding design. Two part answer. Yes, they have a smaller diameter head and easier reversing mechanism. No, the 45 tooth professional ratchet is a fine unit and is easier to clean and lube.

 

[BB26]

I have about 10 Tuff 1 ratchets in various lengths, drive sizes and styles. If the set screw holding the head together is adjusted properly and the you have the right amount of lube, they are very smooth ratchets. They have a far more compact head in 3/8 and 1/2'' drive than the pro models. The pro models, however, feel like they can handle a bit more torque. I am usually a little rougher on them for that reason. Both styles are quite good in my experience; no issues with either over the 5 or so years that I have owned them.

 

[The collector]

they come to me AND warranty them

You are a sk dealer? I need some sk stuff and have been having problems with quality control online need a dealer I can trust

 

[Al Borland]

...Apparently he has been waiting for over 12 years.

 

[The collector]

...Apparently he has been waiting for over 12 years.

Been waiting my whole life

 

[Firebrick43]

I am a tuff1 ratchet fan. I am on always on the lookout for the 3/8" ones I don't have yet. Other than the damn screw backing out(solved with a drop of locktite) I use them professionally as an industrial mech. Don't remember why I got my first one but it must of been nearly 10 years ago now. I haven't had to rebuild one yet and they have high torque applied as they are almost always used with hex bit sockets on socket headed cap screws.. They fit into tight areas around ball screw nuts and such better than dual 80 snap ons.

 

[WJD]

I have a 3/8 tuff1 45175 ratchet. Been real good to me after 30 plus years and two kits later. Use the heck out of it cause it fit anywhere, and the fine and smooth action allowed ratcheting in confined space.

They take ALOT of torque. Back around '98, I managed to twist the hex drive in the tuff1 attempting to remove a very stuck 3/8 p!ug... First rebuild kit for the ratchet.

Then around 10', the tuff1 needed an honest rebuild. Go to use the tuff1 it would feel like it would 'slip' then catch. Disassembly revealed the pawl was wore almost smooth. E-mailed S-K and had a kit in a few days later, Still running fine today.

I have a standard 1/2 dr. Professional S-K ratchet. Love it, all original parts too. I always thought a tuff1 in a 1/2 Dr. Must be one animal in a 1/2 dr....

 

[sk farmer]

a blast from the past. the reason why i joined this site and became very active. krusty, elroy, mikevango, thumper, hiball. all guys i consider friends. i stlll talk to elroy and have his number. krusty faded away. i guess he can still be found on facebook but i dont do that. i have mikes number but rarely talk to him either. hiball is stil around as well as thumper but they are a little sparse as well.

my tuff 1 ratchets? still plugging away.

 

[Steve_P]

Ancient thread, but I had a long handle 3/8 SK Tuff ratchet in the 1980s. Great while it lasted. After about 4 months of heavy daily use It started slipping; I cut the head off of it and turned it into a drift.