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Thinnest Bit Ratchet?

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neophyte

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The bit ratchets Victorinox sells with their Swisstool plier multitools, are thinner than the length of a typical insert bit, or even a short insert bit.
The main issue is that the ratchets are uni-directional, meaning you have to take the bit out, and flip the ratchet over, for use in the opposite direction.
The bits also would not have the ratchet to press down on them. So the ratchets aren’t as great for bits like philips and slotted head screws that tend to cam out.

You can usually find the ratchets sold separately on Ebay if you don’t want the whole multitool kit.
 
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Air21

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THIS guy really likes his Craftsman at .223" thick for just the tool (5.664mm). I don't know how at plus your bit would stack up to the 22mm your Anex driver would be.
 
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bob15

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neophyte said:
The main issue is that the ratchets are uni-directional, meaning you have to take the bit out, and flip the ratchet over, for use in the opposite direction.
The bits also would not have the ratchet to press down on them. So the ratchets aren’t as great for bits like philips and slotted head screws that tend to cam out.
Click to expand...

this is where the Chapman ratchet works nice. You can push down on the bit to help with the cam-out issue
 
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visionguru

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HaroRider said:
Hey all, I was just wondering what would be the thinnest bit ratchet out there? I know there are ones that are stamped out of sheet metal, however I want one that actually ratchets.

What would be the thinnest possible one that ratchets?

I was thinking about this one, are there any thinner than this?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0028DGHQS/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Click to expand...

That's about as thin as a ratchet goes. Craftsman even offered slightly angled ones.
s-l1000.jpg
 
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American Locomotive

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The narrowest bit-ratchet I know of is the Wadsworth Mini Ratchet, but it uses proprietary bits. It's also unidirectional, meaning you need to take the bit out and put in the other way to switch directions.

It's by far the narrowest, but others have ratchets that are thinner with shorter bit heights.
 
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CAF51

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+1 for the VIM ratchet. Combined with some custom ground bits it can go anywhere. Facom does make a "ULTRA COMPACT 1/4" BIT RATCHET" with the added benefit of a flat turning plane. The VIM ratchet ends are kicked up like a box end wrench, for better or worse. A lot of the posted ratchets have wide arcs, if you really want to get into a tiny space, go for a roller ratchet. Omega Tech makes the RR40S-P2, or others if you aren't married to a #2 bit.
 
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mfewtrail

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VIM claims their HBR3 is the smallest/slimmest head profile out there. Someone else linked to it above from amazon. Combine it with half cut bits or self-modified ones and it can save you a ton of time on various jobs.
 
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bonneyman

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I've got several of the ones already mentioned (Craftsman, Chapman, Titan, VIM, etc.) and no one of them is best for every job. So, I keep the collection handy. Each job gets looked at to see which tool will work best for it.
I grind down some bits, too.

I find myself gravitating to the VIM HBR5 DBE the most. The 1/4" side for bits, the 5/16" side stand alone for panel screws. It really works well. Reversible, too.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003TSMQWU/?tag=atomicindus08-20
 
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HaroRider

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Yea, I am not looking for "the best" which is relative anyway. Just looking for the thinnest.
 
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jsteih

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VIM for the win!
 

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scubadoober

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I measured the vessel and it is 18.5mm in the real world. Still pretty thin. Looking at the bits I don't see how you could get much thinner.
 
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superautobacs

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The Taiwanese run-of-the-mill "Reverse Gear" series forged model bit ratchet is sold under a whole slew of brands, but they also offer it in a laminated style body. In my case I have them under the Anex brand.


Anex Bit Ratchet by ChrisCas aka Superautobacs, on Flickr



Anex Bit Ratchet 3 by ChrisCas aka Superautobacs, on Flickr



The Anex one is just a hair thinner and the laminted style is more affordable, but the build quality isn't as good as the one-peice forged model.


Anex, SEK, Hi-Five, Ko-ken by ChrisCas aka Superautobacs, on Flickr
 
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bonneyman

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Parrothead said:
There’s a Craftsman version, Bluepoint version, and made by Lang. Also USA made if that matters.

http://www.langtools.com/sku-5221-5-pc-fine-tooth-bit-wrench-set/

I’ve got the Craftsman version and it’s much more like an actual ratchet than some of the click style that look similar. These are fine tooth and invaluable in hard to reach places
Click to expand...

I also have the C-man version. I took an old 1/4" allen wrench with detent ball, and cut it to insert into the ratchet. (Strong magnet in there!) Then I can use old 1/4" hex drive sockets (ubiquitous and cheap), and can grind them down on both ends to get a thin socket. :thumbup:
 

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logical

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Any ratchet that lets the bit pass thru is going to be as thin as you can get. At that point they are all the same and the limitation is the bit itself. Any ratchet that isn't a pass thru can't be as thin as one that is. The problem of course that the bit will sometimes push thru when you don't want it to. They are usually fine on a hex or torch but can be a problem with a phillips bit that wants to climb out of the screwhead.

I've just used my 1/4 ratcheting wrench to hold a torx bit pretty often too.
 
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Air21

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bonneyman said:
...Then I can use old 1/4" hex drive sockets (ubiquitous and cheap), and can grind them down on both ends to get a thin socket. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Is it just me or... Whaaaaa? :wtf:

How have I missed out on ball detent Allen keys AND hex drive sockets?
 
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.Dan.

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Don’t forget about the Husky and Kobalt minis. a5f5ff158c2ca94abff49cad0fe29879.jpga654e3eb55cdd85d30f415b624443f3c.jpg529fece4f5ed851f15a669b4fe7e09ba.jpg
 

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bonneyman

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Air21 said:
Is it just me or... Whaaaaa? :wtf:

How have I missed out on ball detent Allen keys AND hex drive sockets?
Click to expand...

When you've bought tool lots as long as I have you accumulate alot of stuff you didn't really need. Then one day you're looking at something and an idea pops into your head.

I've taken to tossing all the little knobs, clips, and machined bits into a gallon paint bucket and keep it handy for mods. I call it "Parts waiting for a project":lol_hitti
 

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Air21

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Who made 1/4" hex drive sockets? That sounds super useful for things just like this but Google fails me
 
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mfewtrail

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C.L S2000 said:
When I was in a pinch and needed one, stopped by HF and got this one which isn't used everyday but has still lasted me 3 years now.

https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/screwdrivers/8-piece-right-angle-screwdriver-92630.html
Click to expand...

The old version HF had were a lot lower profile than that. I just went and looked at mine and the HF bit ratchet is ever so slightly thinner than the VIM I have by about 1mm. Neiko appears to sell one identical to the old HF version...

TTIMPORTER_1538171264148_L1000.jpg
 
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Parrothead

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C.L S2000 said:
When I was in a pinch and needed one, stopped by HF and got this one which isn't used everyday but has still lasted me 3 years now.

https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/screwdrivers/8-piece-right-angle-screwdriver-92630.html
Click to expand...

I have that same one, and it served it’s purpose at the time. My issue is the ratcheting mechanism is so tight and corse it wouldn’t work on semi-tight fasteners. I even used some super lube hoping that would help. It did but not enough.

I then bought the Craftsman. Worlds better.
 
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