Stubby 1/2" Ratchets

[gdocktor3]

I was just cruising around on eBay and decided to punch in 1/2" stubby ratchet. Basically nothing but a bunch of no name brands popped up, with a few Snappy's for nearly $200 a piece. Anyone know of any other pro brands putting out 1/2" stubbers? Those with stubby 1/2" ratchets, are they worth buying? I could see it coming in handy in some situations, but at the same time, you won't put a ton of torque on them, so a 3/8" would probably work just the same, no?

I don't need one, it's just something I don't have... yet...

 

[rjvjeepster]

I agree, if you're constrained to a stubby then 3/8" drive would be plenty of torque and be easier yet to manage size wise.

 

[shockwave]

Never really thought about 1/2 I know hazet makes a short version but not stubby can't really think of a use for that 3/8 cannot handle

 

[thegroundpounder99]

I can't think of a situation that would call for one but maybe one of the cheap ones to test the water. Damn it now I'm curious lol.


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[rjvjeepster]

The only thing I could think of is if the socket size you're using is not commonly available in 3/8" drive, like say a 24mm or something.

 

[Wes J]

They make 3/8 to 1/2 adapters...

 

[rjvjeepster]

Yeah, but if you didn't have room for it.

I'm drawing at straws as to when a 1/2" stubby would be better than a 3/8. Lol.

 

[jreb10]

I have one. Got it in a box at an auction with some other things I wanted. I have never used it, but it could be useful to tighten up large fasteners in awkward situations, before another tool is used for final torque.

But I don't think you buy one of these. Just find an old or cheap 1/2" ratchet and cut the handle at your length of choice.

 

[gdocktor3]

Just find an old or cheap 1/2" ratchet and cut the handle at your length of choice.

I like your style..

 

[T45]

Hazet 916-K is a 1/2 in a 3/8 body, saves weight and stack height, 200mm not stubby per-se

Gedore also makes a short 1/2 inch drive composite ratchet, almost like a hybrid palm-ratchet.

 

[gdocktor3]

Those little Gedore ratchets look "cute" for lack of better word...

Too bad those German tools are so expensive to ship to the USA. Why is the handle hollowed out like that?

 

[kball]

Hazet 916-K is a 1/2 in a 3/8 body, saves weight and stack height, 200mm not stubby per-se

Gedore also makes a short 1/2 inch drive composite ratchet, almost like a hybrid palm-ratchet.

The first thing I thought of when I looked at your pic of the Gedore ratchets was a cockroach.

 

[KMdef9]

The only thing I could think of is if the socket size you're using is not commonly available in 3/8" drive, like say a 24mm or something.

That's my thought, but if its torque is in proportion to the socket size, I don't know what good a stubby would do.

IMO, it seems like a tool they made so people could say they have it.

OP, I'd stick to your orginal thought, stick with a 3/8. If not, follow jrebs advice.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I use mine with deepwells, as the 1/2 ones are often quite a bit deeper than the same size in 3/8. Sometimes it a releif in a tight spot after you've got the fastener broke loose, or its a nylock or damaged bolt you can't quite run out bare handed. I'd probably go for a flex stubby over fixed if I could only have one.

 

[T45]

That's my thought, but if its torque is in proportion to the socket size, I don't know what good a stubby would do.

In my experience friction (sticktion) is proportional to fastenr size, so even free-running up bolts sized 24mm+ (or large hex-bits 17mm+) it is useful to have a ratchet/handle on them not just a bare socket. doubly so if any ostensible corrosion or galling risk like with mixed materials or stainless.

There is an argument that only needed 1/2 ratchet is a 18-24 inch flex, but sometimes a regular or smaller one is less of a battle ax to carry around.

 

[Banshee365]

SK 3/8" stubby

 

[tool_scrounge]

Why is the handle hollowed out like that?

When molding plastic it is better to design it with a near constant wall thickness for defect free casting.

From the Dupont plastics design guide:

Uniform Walls:
Uniform wall thickness in plastic part design is
critical. Non-uniform wall thickness can cause serious
warpage and dimensional control problems.

 

[Gttrucker]

I have 2 stubbies and love them.
My 3/8 is a snap on and it gets a lot if use. Once I break the nut loose with a longer one, I switch to the stubby to get it off and back on quick. Almost as fast as an air ratchet. There are also times when space is tight and it's super handy. I'd get a good brand in a 3/8.
My 1/2" stubby is a decent off brand. I doesn't get as much use as the 3/8 but occasionally is just the thing. I wouldn't spend much on the 1/2". It's not for tough nuts or high torque, just occasional tight space or multiple nuts on long threads.
the 3/8 is definately most useful.

I'm not crazy about the thick black ones shown above. When working in a tight space I sometimes spin it with just my fingers. The snap on is very nice, always a tight ratchet mechanism with a fine tooth gear.

 

[Jarhead0408]

Talk to Deafautomechanic. He's got the SKF80 and seems to like it a lot.

 

[Know Wosad]

I have a 10" BR4F from KTC. That was the shortest flex in 1/2 I could come up with.
If you ever broke an 8N tractor in half you want one
Like many Japanese tools, it rocks......

 

[oldldh]

These are all Taiwanese 3/8" drives...

The Tekton Stubby Ratchet, with the ubiquitous Taiwan 72 tooth movement, can be had from Amazon for less than $15.00...

The GearWrench flexheads, both 84 and 120 tooth, are nearly three times as much from Amazon...

However...

www.tooldiscounter.com will sell you the four piece set for under a hundred...

I have all of these, and, if I needed a 1/2" drive stubby, I'd put an adapter on one of the 3/8's...

Stubby, anything, equals minimal torque...

I cannot foresee the situation where I'd "need" a half inch drive stubby...

But...one never knows, does one???

 

[BK13]

Hazet 916-K is a 1/2 in a 3/8 body, saves weight and stack height, 200mm not stubby per-se

Gedore also makes a short 1/2 inch drive composite ratchet, almost like a hybrid palm-ratchet.

When I read the OP, I thought, "why would anyone need a 1/2" stubby ratchet?" But seeing this, I find I must have these two. Damn you German tools and your Siren Song! LOL


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[ChevyEFI]

http://www.kokenusa.com/products/model/403

http://www.kokenusa.com/products/model/404

I'm pretty sure those 1/2-in-3/8 style, as the 3749S ratchet is 3/8 normally.

 

[sqaurelizard]

When I read the OP, I thought, "why would anyone need a 1/2" stubby ratchet?" But seeing this, I find I must have these two. Damn you German tools and your Siren Song! LOL

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have the gedores in 3/8 and 1/2 very low tooth count but really nice to use in certain places

 

[Dirty Diesels]

have the gedores in 3/8 and 1/2 very low tooth count but really nice to use in certain places

You can get 72 tooth Clarke stubby ratchets from Machine Mart.

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-pro214-12-stubby-ratchet/

 

[decableguy2000]

I have a Proto 1/2" drive in 3/8" body. Don't know if that counts.

 

[a52-830]

The Tekton Stubby Ratchet, with the ubiquitous Taiwan 72 tooth movement, can be had from Amazon for less than $15.00...

The GearWrench flexheads, both 84 and 120 tooth, are nearly three times as much from Amazon...

i have both the tekton and gw 120xp stubbies. i prefer the tekton handle. those thin handles are OK when they are long, but when they are that short, there isn't enough to hold on to.

YMMV

 

[rustbucket5]

i have the tekton stubbies in 3/8 and 1/4, they get a lot of use i like them dont know if i would ever need a 1/2 stubby but im sure it wouldnt hurt to have

 

[davethorik]

I almost forgot about this thread, but Wright makes a 1/2 "stubby" ratchet 4401 that has the tootsie roll handle. 8" oal. Not sure if they make a knurled or contour handle variant.

 

[gdocktor3]

So I've been thinking about this and a 1/2" stubby could come in handy. Let's say for O2 sensors, suspension hardware, bumper bracket bolts, etc. Those larger sized fasteners that are plagued by rust & corrosion and need some leverage to keep them spinning, more than you can apply with just a socket, but don't have the room for a full length ratchet. I do notice most of these stubbers are made in UK, Taiwan, Japan, etc. I wonder if that's because they all have little baby hands over there???

 

[gdocktor3]

I almost forgot about this thread, but Wright makes a 1/2 "stubby" ratchet 4401 that has the tootsie roll handle. 8" oal. Not sure if they make a knurled or contour handle variant.

Amazon is asking $102 for that thing and Carid.com is asking $120

 

[chrisnazzy]

While reading this thread the whole time I'm thinking the Snap On S80 is only a little over 10". I almost consider it a "stubby". I've always thought a 12" to 18" length in a 1/2" ratchet to be more proportional to the necessary torque to be applied. I have always reached for 3/8" drive if a shorter handle was required.

 

[davethorik]

Amazon is asking $102 for that thing and Carid.com is asking $120

Hey i didn't say it was cost effective, lol. There are used on ebay cheaper than that.

Edit: there is a new 4401 on the bay for 45+free ship. No used.

 

[gdocktor3]

Even for $45 I'll just cut down one of my old ratchets and wrap the handle with electrical tape. Same thing as that ugly tootsie roll grip...

 

[Al Borland]

Well, never thought about a need for one of these before, but now I want one. I use 1/2" extensively, nearly exclusively at work. Be better than carrying a whole extra set of tools, or having to go out to my truck for a smaller ratchet and socket when I don't have any swing room.

 

[Al Borland]

Even for $45 I'll just cut down one of my old ratchets and wrap the handle with electrical tape. Same thing as that ugly tootsie roll grip...

Saw it off and put on a piece of rubber hose, maybe 5/8 fuel line or whatever size fits. Redneck comfort grip.

 

[a52-830]

ok, since no one else has asked, i'll do it.

there is a thread for putting 3/8" ratchet guts in 1/4" ratchet frames. has anyone done this with 1/2" ratchet guts in their 3/8" frames? how about the really brave (or just curious) who put them in 1/4"frames?

time to fess up. we all know some of us are itching to try it . . . . .

 

[gdocktor3]

ok, since no one else has asked, i'll do it.

there is a thread for putting 3/8" ratchet guts in 1/4" ratchet frames. has anyone done this with 1/2" ratchet guts in their 3/8" frames? how about the really brave (or just curious) who put them in 1/4"frames?

time to fess up. we all know some of us are itching to try it . . . . .

Those are manufactured to fit in 1/4" ratchets. It's not like people are machining their 1/4" ratchets to accept 3/8" internals. They are made from the factory with 3/8" square drive on a 1/4" mechanism. We're just taking our existing 1/4" ratchets and ordering the correct part to refit them.

And to try and fit a 1/2" mechanism in a 1/4" body is not brave or curious, its just crazy. And impossible...

There are 1/2" drive in 3/8" ratchets though. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=95413

 

[a52-830]

i understand that they are not machining the smaller frames to support the larger mechanisms. i was just wondering if there was "common knowledge" i was missing (that is a bottomless hole, i know).

i will note that the thread you mentioned deals almost exclusively with snap on ratchets, and talking about taking a repair kit for a discontinued ratchet and applying it to a current frame, although it appears that those kits are also discontinued now . . . . .

but what about other brands?

 

[oldldh]

Let's Talk Cheap!!!

Harbor Freight will sell you a 3 Pc Stubby Ratchet SET, for $11.99...

HF # 46742...

You can find non-flexer's on the Net by searching "Stubby Ratchet Set", or "3 Pc Stubby Ratchet Set"...

Since the torque load on these is minimal, I imagine a set from HF will do the deed just fine...

Why do we make something difficult, out of something easy???