Titanium 1/4" Drive Ratchet 2.0

[teagueo]

Here's an update for the GJ'ers who've been along for the ride during the development of this completely unnecessary and overengineered, but awesome tool.

It's finally into production as we speak.












Pound for Pound, it has the highest failure torque for its weight. From the Project Farm test results (we've lost 3 grams since the test ditching CF and the hex driver):

I added the Aluminum ARES "ratchet" for shits and giggles just to see (numbers from theirs and FirstInfo's specs). All of these ratchets would perform perfectly fine if used properly with normal 1/4" drive sized sockets. The Proto was a longer handled flex-head, so that's not really a fair comparison.



Now it may seem expensive, and I get that - I don't own much Snap-On myself; but I can almost guarantee the DLC coatings we use are more expensive than their entire rachet costs to produce. Likely just the Titanium stock on its own as well.

The only reason we can even bring this to market at a decent price is we haggled suppliers and were given some breaks, especially with DMLS parts and PVD coatings.

I'm super excited to get this ratchet out there - whether it's for guys who just want a tool trophy or for the Baja 1000 Trophy truck team that has shown interest.

For a lot more info and tech specs, here's a link to the beast: https://www.trodesigns.com/products/1-4-drive-titanium-ratchet

 

[bonneyman]

It's too rich for my blood but more power to ya!

It really looks slick!

 

[woody 73]

It sure looks pretty, but I am still at the stage of being a bottom feeder, if I ever win the big one, I would be knocking at your doorstep with cash in hand...Sigh my kids might have something to say, but oh hell it is really a cool looking ratchet.

 

[JunkBonds]

How about natural titanium finish? Would that reduce the cost?

 

[woody 73]

How about natural titanium finish? Would that reduce the cost?

Just a thought but let's say it breaks, or the gear needs to be replaced does your ratchet come with a lifetime warranty. It so the price would seem like a fair trade off.

 

[CallmeRuss]

Nice work. Sent you a question on your website.

 

[teagueo]

How about natural titanium finish? Would that reduce the cost?

It would be cheaper for sure. Raw Titanium is a bit "softer" than steel, so there is a long-term wear concern on the gear contact areas. Titanium also has a tendency to gall in these types of loading scenarios.

That's why we used PVD coatings which are very thin (2-5 microns thick) but are extremely hard and low coefficient of friction. It solves most of the surface hardness and friction limitations of Titanium.

 

[dutchgray]

I got one ordered.

 

[seber]

Standard torque for a 3/8 machine screw is 31 ft lb. I suspect you are going to have a lot of warranty work.

 

[dutchgray]

Standard torque for a 3/8 machine screw is 31 ft lb. I suspect you are going to have a lot of warranty work.

It's comparable in out right failure strength to most of the standard steel based options according to their own testing data.

 

[JWC86]

Very cool and great to see a product hit the market.

Is the "on-off" selector direction in line with Snap-On or Koken?

 

[GeoBruin]

It's comparable in out right failure strength to most of the standard steel based options according to their own testing data.

Wait, I'm confused, didn't it fail at 73.4 ft-lbs?

 

[Jswain]

Wait, I'm confused, didn't it fail at 73.4 ft-lbs?

You think the snap on failing @ 9ft/lbs more is going to make a real world difference on a ratchet that small?

Koken & nepros both fail at 66lbs and they don't seem to have a problem selling ratchets.

 

[GeoBruin]

You think the snap on failing @ 9ft/lbs more is going to make a real world difference on a ratchet that small?

Koken & nepros both fail at 66lbs and they don't seem to have a problem selling ratchets.

My question was in response to the previous poster who posited that the ratchet would struggle with 3/8" machine screws torqued to 31 ft-lbs.

 

[teagueo]

Standard torque for a 3/8 machine screw is 31 ft lb. I suspect you are going to have a lot of warranty work.

That's a wild assumption. The amount of cycles you'd need to loosen/tighten @ 31 ft-lbs to break it is absurd.

 

[dutchgray]

Wait, I'm confused, didn't it fail at 73.4 ft-lbs?

Ultimate failure strength isn't that important anyway, as long as the ratchet doesn't break at a reasonable torque level then what's much more important is how it behaves over many thousands of cycles, you don't want it to wear and the mechanism get sloppy and start skipping, or binding or when they will reverse themselves.

It's plenty strong enough at 73.4 lb.ft
The same people that always seem to be able to break tools will still be able to break this titanium ratchet.

 

[teagueo]

It's not impossible to break a 1/4" drive ratchet by hand, but it's definitely not easy...

In our case, you'd need to apply 244 lbs (111 kg) of force at the handle to break the mechanism in one go.

It might help to sort the Project Farm test results by Quick Release mechanism - it's pretty clear that our ratchet is in-line with the QR ratchets and only 0.2 ft-lbs less than Stahlwille.



To be honest, this is a Titanium tool - it's not a replacement for a Steel framed ratchet for extreme heavy duty work. It's been very robust so far in testing though and used sensibly (14mm or 9/16" hex sockets) it will not break earlier than any other 1/4" drive ratchet.

 

[teagueo]

Is the "on-off" selector direction in line with Snap-On or Koken?

All the SO guys won't like this but it is Koken-style where the direction switch "points" in the direction you want to rotate the fastener.

 

[teagueo]

I still haven't broken this old monster I've had since 2004. It's crazy notchy and slips out of gear now but still works:

 

[AEAdam]

I don’t understand the split beam. I feel like it would be stiffer and lighter if there was a web between the beams.

 

[JWC86]

All the SO guys won't like this but it is Koken-style where the direction switch "points" in the direction you want to rotate the fastener.

It means a pass from me but I’m far more particular than most about selector direction. I hope you sell lots of these and continue to produce innovative(and very nice) tools!

 

[teagueo]

I don’t understand the split beam. I feel like it would be stiffer and lighter if there was a web between the beams.

There is a small web between the 2 spars where it's absolutely critical, but a lot of that center web section (neutral axis) is almost not loaded at all.

The topology optimization study shows the load path throughout the part:





Of course, after all this you need to check with FEA and physical tests to confirm everything makes sense.

If you think about the ratchet as an I beam, adding beam height or flange width leads to the greatest increases in "moment of inertia" AKA resistance to bending. Having a full web (no holes) in the ratchet would be stiffer, but isn't the most efficient area to add material and weight.

 

[Steve_P]

This is cool, but pointless. Surely there's something else that more than .001% of us want to buy.

 

[AEAdam]

I feel like the beam under compression could be lightened until it crippled. At that point, it would appreciate a web to stop the cripple from becoming a buckle. What you have is a truss.

Wing spars see bending and torsion (kinda). Not that typical to truss them. Solid webs nearly always win the weight trades. I feel like that ratchet could be lighter.

Only thought to the contrary is that there is typically a minimum machine thickness. We typically will machine down to .040” webs. I wonder if you get lighter using aluminum.

Edit: the topology shows the web I’m talking about.

 

[teagueo]

This is cool, but pointless. Surely there's something else that more than .001% of us want to buy.

I'll let the Trophy Truck team buying these know that their purchase is pointless. I'm sure they're interested in your opinion lol.

 

[GeoBruin]

I'll let the Trophy Truck team buying these know that their purchase is pointless. I'm sure they're interested in your opinion lol.

Some unsolicited advice from the peanut gallery: don't feed the trolls. If you engage them, you get dragged into a ******* match where they have nothing to lose and you do. You've received plenty of praise in this thread for your creativity and hard work. You can afford to let a few comments roll off your back.

 

[teagueo]

I feel like the beam under compression could be lightened until it crippled. At that point, it would appreciate a web to stop the cripple from becoming a buckle. What you have is a truss.

Wing spars see bending and torsion (kinda). Not that typical to truss them. Solid webs nearly always win the weight trades. I feel like that ratchet could be lighter.

Only thought to the contrary is that there is typically a minimum machine thickness. We typically will machine down to .040” webs. I wonder if you get lighter using aluminum.

All I know is that the ratchet is lighter than hell and is stronger than the mechanism, using the optimization and testing.

It could definitely be a bit lighter, but there's a decent factor of safety designed in. Part of it is you don't want to be leaving a super thin wall while milling the pockets.

The design was Aluminum at one point. Titanium has a higher specific strength - this means if you have 2 designs that weigh the same, one Ti and one Al, the Ti will be stronger. Meaning you can make a lighter, yet stronger structure from Titanium. It's also a lot harder than Aluminum.

It's actually unbelievable how light the thing is, as it is already:

 

[seber]

That's a wild assumption. The amount of cycles you'd need to loosen/tighten @ 31 ft-lbs to break it is absurd.

Sorry, I misread the chart. I thought it was the ARES.

 

[Kaffeetanne]

It's finally into production as we speak.

Shut up and take my money!

That thing looks just awesome! I already have more ratchets than i might ever need until the end of my life, but 'm not sure if i can withstand the urge to get one of those.

 

[mrgirosky]

Definitely not something I need, but since I love the breaker bar so much I figured I should order it! Looking forward to getting it in my hands

 

[Lucid Moments]

Not something that makes any sense for me, and I am not going to be buying one, but it is cool.

 

[Steve_P]

I'll let the Trophy Truck team buying these know that their purchase is pointless. I'm sure they're interested in your opinion lol.

I said it was cool but pointless. You yourself said it was completely unnecessary. So I think we agree.

 

[teagueo]

I said it was cool but pointless. You yourself said it was completely unnecessary. So I think we agree.

You think unnecessary = pointless?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

This is definitely unnecessary - but I am in for one anyway. No idea if I will use it or give it as a gift but I figure its worth supporting a clever idea!

 

[Formerjeeper]

Site says preorder - are they now in stock, or if not, what is target completion date?

 

[teagueo]

Here's an update on these ratchets - anyone who's purchased one will receive a more detailed update via email tonight. The new estimate for shipment is by the end of the month (12/2023).

- All machining has been completed (with the exception of finish machining of the DMLS Titanium parts, which are the holdup). Final inspections have been done in addition to in-process inspections.

- The PVD (physical vapor deposition) coating supplier and process has been upgraded in every way possible (wear resistance, adhesion, ductility...). Still a US based location, different coast though. With the combination of the Titanium surface prep and the coatings, the ratchet body honestly would not be out of place on a helicopter.

- The ratchets will ship with something not shown in the pictures - it's pretty awesome!

- Many small improvements have been made. The result is the ratchet feels even better to use. With the exceptionally low backdrag and low handle weight, it feels almost effortless to spin a fastener out.

It makes sense, since you're doing about 30% less work vs a normal 1/4" drive ratchet, between the decreased gear mechanism resistance and the lower rotational inertia you need to work against.








The first set of ratchets have finished their multi-stage surface treatment and are on their way to be coated now. Another update will be posted once there is a more definitive shipping date.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Thanks for the update. Looking forward to getting my hands on it. Still not sure what I will do with it, but its probably a pretty kick *** present for someone.

 

[dutchgray]

Probably better for me that's its going to be a little late, it should avoid the international Christmas shipping black hole of doom which everything I order which is valuable gets stuck in.
Cheap stuff always makes it through just fine.

 

[cargar]

Spreading the word on IG to a some Bike Mechanics I know that are way into tools. This update has me salivating can’t wait to get these in hand!!

 

[Boogerman]

All the SO guys won't like this but it is Koken-style where the direction switch "points" in the direction you want to rotate the fastener.

I don't understand this comment, or rather the reasoning behind it. When I want the fastener to turn clockwise, I push the switch clockwise. Makes all the sense in the world. Other than the design of the mechanism is such that you have to make the design backwards, I don't understand why any manufacturer makes the backwards design. I would really like to like my Koken ratchet. Nice design, great workmanship, cheaper than Snap-on. But, the backwards selection lever makes it stay in the toolbox, shiny and new while the others get used. I only have two ratchets I use that are backwards, and that is because they're so good they're worth having to adjust the direction twice every time you use them. Those are old Indestro fine tooth flex heads, that have perfect balance and dimensions in 1/2" drive, better than any others I own or have used.

Nice ratchet, and I don't see the cost as a deal killer. For the low back drag and light weight and attention to detail, it certainly seems worth it for some applications, or just to have something really nice. If I could only overlook the selector lever direction design defect!

Here's a picture illustrating moving the lever in the direction you want the fastener to turn: