T & E roto ratchets?

[NHerron]

Hey guys, I'm Nathan, all around mechanic/electrical guru from Montana. Been to this site a lot lately between buying my Snap On box and Williams impact sockets/wrenches to go with. Made an account the other day to review my awesome new Williams tools but haven't gotten around to taking pics.

Anyway, my current quest is to find a set of roto ratchets. And by set I mean 1/4, 3/8, AND 1/2". I was about to **** it up and buy up the GW 2pc, and deal with no 1/2" roto, when I saw this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190726177569?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
(T&E 3pc. roto ratchet set)

But I couldn't find much on this T&E brand, roto-ratchet-wise. Price is kind of high but if you guys swear by it over the GW's then I'll go for it.
\Let me know, thanks

 

[Olinrj]

No direct experience with them myself, but a quick search turned up a few threads. Appears that t&e is an outsourcing distributor based in AU. I'd wait on the set, personally, until more information comes up.

 

[dirtydogintex]

Is T&E a distributor, a mfg.... or both?

I was looking at their roll pin punches just a bit ago and got the impression they were the mfg.
Yall know what is said about stuff found on the internets! *L*

 

[sk farmer]

i think t and e is distributer. the mac's hardware store chain,(fargo, bismark, sioux falls, jamestown and a few other places) have a lot of it. the fargo store has several rows of it. decent looking stuff but obviously from different mfgs. the prices are good on some things and high on others. i think the also picked up some old sk and gearwrench stock, repackaged it and put their name on it.

 

[ericburns4]

As far as I know t&e are the distributors and not the US based manufacturers.

 

[NHerron]

Cool, thanks. It doesn't look like I'm interested much now after searching a bit differently on google. So GW it is for the semi-set.

Looks like I'll piece this together so does anyone know of a good 1/2" roto ratchet?

 

[billymade]

I guess the question becomes:

1. how much do you want to spend?
2. how high quality do you want?
3. do you want USA or offshore COO?

If you want high quality USA COO; SK and Snapon come to mind. Tons of imports out there: Gearwrench is probably the best quality asian import being sold currently, plus... many knock off brands who's oem is usually ROTAR (e.g. kobalt, northern tool, husky, HF, Titan etc.). A issue to think about; is ease of warranty, availability of rebuild kits etc. , all ratchets eventually break... so, finding a brand and vendor you have easy/quick access to is a consideration as well.

I think SK is one of the few brands that made a 1/2" drive roto ratchet.

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en...6.16.0.81.308.4.4.0...0.0...1ac.1.8JXGjQvGgJU

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools.asp?tool=hand&Group_ID=674821&store=snapon-store

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools.asp?tool=hand&Group_ID=674760&store=snapon-store

 

[Super Sport]

I have the GW roto ratchets. I haven't had them long, but they have become my go-to ratchets for nearly everything.

From playing with them in the store, I think the roto ratchets at HF are of similar quality, and they have a 1/2" available. They also now have stubby versions with shorter handles. The price also beats GW.

 

[sk farmer]

i am almost 100% positive that sk never mad a roto ratchet in 1/2 drive. i have never seen one and it isn't in any of my catalogs back to 97 or in earlier ones i have seen.

if anyone can prove me wrong i will happily retract my statement.

 

[billymade]

I guess one website was wrong; its just a flex head, was listed as roto.

SK Hand Tool 42775 1/2" Drive Tuff 1 Flex Head Ratchet 17.2"

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en...40,d.aWc&fp=61f00d716d218586&biw=1280&bih=937

 

[Fedwrench]

i am almost 100% positive that sk never mad a roto ratchet in 1/2 drive. i have never seen one and it isn't in any of my catalogs back to 97 or in earlier ones i have seen.

if anyone can prove me wrong i will happily retract my statement.

You are correct sir. In fact, SK never made one in 1/4 drive either. SK only made the roto ratchet in 3/8 drive. I think they did such a good job with the 3/8 that they quit while they were ahead.

On a side note, why would you want a 1/2 drive roto ratchet.

To me 1/2 drive means a longer ratchet and leverage but, to each their own.

 

[scorpion46645]

If you want a name brand of roto ratchets you might check thru Mac Tools. They are a 100 tooth ratchet with Mac Lifetime Garantee. Downfall is that they are made in Taiwan Not USA.

 

[ChevyEFI]

First off, poke around eBay and Amazon long enough and you'll find better pricing than what you linked.

Rotos I have:

1/2" Great Neck 38098 Works fine. Quick release equipped. A little stiff compared to the others I have. I wish it was longer; the below picture is misleading.

(two) 3/8" SK 3870 I'm very used to the SK round head so it just feels natural and I have no intention to replace (them) with finer tooth or anything. To me, it's a classic. However, I intend to pick up an SK 43875 some time, which is a different selector design and double (72 vs 36) tooth count mechanism.

Oh, I use a spinner with it (and my other rotos) all the time.

1/4" SO TH737 and Great Neck 18098 The SO feels smooth and when backing up, it's slick and quiet. It's a nice longer length and the soft handle feels right to the point you forget you're using it. But, it is the only ratchet I've broken with non-abusive, normal use. I think the selector fails to stay in position effectively which led to the break.

The Great Neck works great. I use it all the time and I prefer it hugely over the standard SK round-head ratchet that comes in a lot of SK 1/4" sets.

 

[NHerron]

I see, well in that case my main considerations are

Not total ****, similar to at least GW

Standard handle, I won't use it to tighten or break things loose. That's what my super dooper Armstrong flex locks are for Got the long handled ratchets covered with the 12-994, 11-994, and 10-994 pieces.

I couldn't find any Snap On 1/2" rotos'. Or Matco. I did however find a Mac one (http://www.mactools.com/shoponline/product/tabid/120/p-330431-vr12spa.aspx) but couldn't find it on ebay used. I could swing $120 but I'll think a bit more on if I'll use it.

I work on vac trucks, winch trucks, water trucks, front end loaders, skidders, etc all that big *** ****. We don't use stoneage equipment even by a stretch but each truck spends at least 60% its time on backroads just made. So they get stuck and very weathered in a short amount of time. Plus I'm pretty sure straight up **** has something to do with making life trying at times LOL
So I think a 1/2 roto standard handle will help at times. After I break the bolt loose (Armstrong) but not enough to spin by hand, the roto comes in to speed things up

 

[BK13]

Forgive my ignorance, but what would you use a roto ratchet for?

 

[sk farmer]

i beleive titan has the most extensive lineup of roto tatchets. pretty much 72 tooth sk/facom clones. i have a compact 3/8 in 1/4 size roto titan. it works well.

 

[Super Sport]

Forgive my ignorance, but what would you use a roto ratchet for?

Same thing as a flex head pretty much. They can be turned 90* and used as a speeder handle as well.

 

[BK13]

OK, thanks.

 

[toolstools]

I myself am not fond of the the roto heads, but love my Blackhawk 3/8 rotator ratchet. That thing is just a beast. Double ratcheting handle makes driving fasteners a breeze. Got it for free to from Stanely Proto

 

[toolstools]

I myself find the double ratcheting rotator ratchets work much better for driving fasteners. My dad and I love our 1/4 and 3/8 Blackhawks we got for free from Stanley Proto.

 

[NHerron]

I've never been a fan of that double drive stuff thanks though. My tools take a beating and never seen another heavy equipment mech/tech use one so I figured they aren't that proven yet. Who knows though...

 

[SMKS]

The Great Neck's posted above sure seem to have the same OEM as the T&E. Check out the distinctive red screw or button in the middle of the selector.

 

[sk farmer]

i had my hands on a 3/8 drive t and e roto ratchet today. it was doa hanging on the hook. even if it did work i wasn't impressed.

 

[NHerron]

Kinda what I was thinking. Aesthetics tells the story usually...

Does anyone have a link for said 1/2" Great Neck roto?

 

[Carves]

Thought I would give this thread a bump.

Spotted 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" drive RotoRatchets, wearing a Crescent brand, yesterday, in a store down here.

Out of Taiwan so they should be quite acceptable.

Did feel a bit "notchy" compared to my gearwrench ones tho ... but that wasnt a side by side comparison.