Stanley "Rotator" 3/8 ratchet

[Lomotil]

I bought one of these for my dad a couple of years back at Wally world, think I spent right under $25 for it, and have been wanting one ever since.

That being said, he still hasn't used the damn thing, and I was still curious on how well it performed (but not $25 worth of curious, mind you...)

Found a new one at a pawn shop for $10 the other day, and haven't used it yet (despite the 'clickity-clickity-click' as heard from the sofa.)

Haven't seen this ratchet mentioned on the forums, so I thought I'd ask for opinions. Not like it'll influence a potential purchase, but curious about any experience in using one...

 

[itsvegas]

i noticed these the other day at walmart and forgot all about it til now. id be interested in hearing what people here think of them as well.

 

[Danglerb]

Its a love it or hate it tool, and the Stanley seems like about the minimum practical quality version, both nicer, and not nicer ones are available.

What they all basically do is allow you to reach in without the room to swing even a high tooth count ratchet and apply "some" torque to a fastener by twisting the ratchet handle.

Pro: without this tool you might be doing with fingers, or pulling off a bunch of stuff thats in the way.

Con: All of the cheaper tools feel a little sloppy to me, and the torque is pretty limited. I'm not sure its enough to break even a slightly stuck fastener loose, or torque down one your are putting back in. So far the heads are also kinda bulky.

Great idea IMHO, but I expect them to get a LOT better, smaller heads and powered devices like my cheapy Skil cordless ratchet.

 

[Lomotil]

...and the torque is pretty limited. I'm not sure its enough to break even a slightly stuck fastener loose, or torque down one your are putting back in...

That's kinda along the lines of what I was thinking. It'd be ideal in a spot where you only have 10° of movement, up until the point when you have to swing it as a typical ratchet.

 

[loubapache]

Blue Point makes a nicer one, FTW 936. It is all metal and called Rapid Ratchet.

 

[Danglerb]

The one I "want" the most is the Proxxon rotator, $85 on amazon, and no plans on getting one soon, but wanting it a lot.

 

[pcpro15]

My buddy has one. We rarely use it, but it is nice to have in that niche spot.

 

[supertooljunkie]

I have a Husky rotator. I bought it at Home Depot, on a closeout, four years ago, for cheap. I still haven't used it. I guess I have to many other more practical tools I go to first.
It looks to be a good idea though.

 

[trents99]

I've used these for a few years at work. I haven't ever had a use for one at the house but at work I use it quite frequently working on equipment with limited room to turn a normal ratchet.

My only gripe on the Stanley brand which includes Husky and Blackhawk is that the black rubber insert rots off after a while of use. Granted I subject mine to coolant, oil, grease and such but after a while I'm left with just the solid plastic handle. I'd rather see them get rid of the rubber inserts.

**Edit to add I've used mine to break and tighten 1/2'' SHCS on equipment and never had one fail on me. YMMV

 

[BJ42LX]

I don't own one, but I think of this as a 90' ratcheting nut driver. It can probably save time when you have a lot of fasteners in restricted locations.

Stanley now owns Facom, so...

 

[domain]

Seems like a great idea. I can thing of a couple of times where it may have helped out. I have played with it at Walmart also but was never propelled to actually buy it. If I am correct, it was a bulky ratchet and price was too high for me.

 

[Jononon]

The Blue Point item is absolutely horrible, put in any torque and it slips.

I've got the Stanley and the Facom, the only differences are the reversing switch and the handle. They're useful in a very limited number of situations, but invaluable in those situations.

The one I "want" the most is the Proxxon rotator, $85 on amazon, and no plans on getting one soon, but wanting it a lot.

In the metal that appears very much just to be another variant of the Stanley item.

 

[Jononon]

My buddy has one. We rarely use it, but it is nice to have in that niche spot.

Exactly. Probably only get used once a year, but it's nice to know you've got it.

 

[dankicksass]

I'd buy one with the sq. drive receptacle on the handle end if it were $29. Never heard much about Proxxon, but their price is too much for a gimmicky tool.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

I've got the Stanley - decent quality, and works well for the few things I use it for.

 

[Achilleus]

An air ratchet is useful in similar situations. They have loads more torque also.

 

[precisiontech]

I have both the 1/4 and 3/8 drive Blackhawk versions. I believe Stanley owns Blackhawk.

Have had them for roughly a year, not my daily ratchet but definetly worth having, got me out of some jams quick.

 

[skeletonizer]

An air ratchet is useful in similar situations. They have loads more torque also.

My thought exactly... and a smaller head.

 

[charle10]

I bought one 5 years ago for removing a hex screw buried inside a machine, had about 1/8" of swing at the end of the handle. Worked great to break it loose and screw it out. Since then it has taken some major abuse and is the main ratchet used by the setup guys. As mentioned above the handle is destroyed easily, but the guts on the one I bought are still going strong, and haven't had any issues.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Have a Husky one, that has been used once, in an area I couldn't reach with air tools. It should have a nut or female 3/8" end to it so I can use it as a 90 degree angle, IMHO.

 

[wbclassics]

Black and Decker used to make a horribly cheap version of these, the handle popped off to reveal a 1/4" hex shaft that you could drive with another ratchet and 1/4" hex socket OR according to the product literature use an electric drill and turn it into a right angle drive tool.

 

[Lomotil]

Damn, that would be nice to have a drive hole on the end of the handle...

 

[BJ42LX]

Damn, that would be nice to have a drive hole on the end of the handle...

The Proxxon has a drive hole. If it's really the same as Stanley, it'll have one too.

 

[Lomotil]

The Proxxon has a drive hole. If it's really the same as Stanley, it'll have one too.

Unfortunately, it doesn't. Just a polished chrome end.

 

[usdemt]

Good idea but poorly executed. It is a very slow turn if you twist the handle. I do like how you can just twist the handle back and for and it still goes the same way though. Think of it like a ratcheting screwdriver that spins the bit on the backturn as well.

Mine got handed down to the less tool minded brother, he thinks its pretty neat.