Snap On Hard Handle Swapping

[Rosso]

Hi,

My dealer currently has the 1/2 drive flex head ratchets on promo at an amazing price. I have gone with black hard handle:

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

He also has 1/2 breaker bars on promo but they aren't available with a black handle.

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

Does anyone know if the two use the same hard handle ? I could obviously buy a black one and swap it but both of us aren't sure if they use the same handle.

Thank you

 

[Zewnten]

Probably close enough to make it work.

 

[TheToolEnthusiast]

They both use a SHD80A12 so yes if you order the black one you should be able to swap them.

 

[a390st]

Sorry to drag up an older thread, but I don't think a month is too bad.

Does anyone know how different in size replacement handle SHD80A12 is from SDD6R1R or SDD8R1R?

There is like $20 difference in price, with SHD80A12 being more expensive. However, I assume it would take less work to replace a soft handle on SH80A with the SHD80A12 than it would to use SDD6R1R or SDD8R1R.

Has anyone tried using any of those who could share any opinions? I really appreciate your input.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

What’s involved with changing handles? Do they just slide off?

 

[a390st]

Boil the soft handles for about 5 minutes and they'll come off pretty easily. I just don't have experience replacing the soft handle with a hard handle. Different people have put SDD6R1R and SDD8R1R on 3/8 and 1/2 ratchets and liked them, depending on how big their hands are. I know SDD6R1R takes drilling out, and I believe SDD8R1R might take a little work. I assume SHD80A12 could be driven on without any modification. I'd like to hear from someone who has done it before.

 

[Pig_Pen]

Seems like there was a thread a long time ago about swapping handles that said the soft handles had a longer shank than the hard handles but I'm just going by memory.

 

[a390st]

I found a few threads, but they didn't exactly give the level of detail I was after.
SO Hard Handle Numbers
SO Comfort Grip Replacement
SO Hard Handle Dimensions for Conversions
A Machinists Take on Conversion

I believe @Todd.Brock may have done this, according to the second linked thread. It seems like the comfort grip ratchet may be a little longer than the hard handle ratchet, but drilling out the hard handle makes it work.