I just thought I would compare my different 3/8 drive ratchets:
The standard Hazet 8816P is probably the one I reach for most often. It's built like a tank but the drag resistance is the highest of the bunch. I think it's just time for some lubrication...
The Hazet 8816F is the fine tooth version and is a huge contrast to the standard one. The drag resistance is the least of all in this group except the Koken. It has a very precise feeling mechanism. The design is unusual looking, but I really like it. Inside the mechanism is similar to a Facom. Like the other Facom based designs, it tends to be a bit tall and that can sometimes be a factor in tight spaces.
This is an older versoin of the 8816F from the 1980's. It's much longer but not as smooth as the later one, but it is still very nice. The reversing knob on the top sometimes gets unintentionally switched, especially when you're using your palm.
Here is the famous Facom. I heard so much about it that I just had to try one. It has the free-spinning palm control disc on the top so it won't switch in your palm. The mechanism is very fine, almost as good as the later fine tooth Hazet. The ratchet is signifigantly shorter than the others in the group. That could be an asset in some situations, but is a disadvantage in others. They do make a long version, though. There is no COO on the tool, nor was there any on the packaging it came in. But my friend inside Facom Taiwan told me that these are made by USAG in Italy.
Another famous ratchet, the fabled Snap-On F80. It won't disappoint you in any way. It's so so nice. It's the prima donna of the group and it knows it.
This is an older Snap-On F=71B ratchet with a date code from the year 1949. I actually like the looks of it better than the contemporary one. It still works just fine. Very smooth.
This Elora 870-1-U probably dates to the 1960's or 70's. The mechanism inside is pretty similar to a Snap-On. Its mechanism was very worn and sloppy so I replaced the pawl with one from a modern Elora. The newer gear wheel wouldn't fit because the top part was a larger diameter. I thought about machining it to accept the new gear wheel but decided against it. I wanted to preserve its originality. So now it's half rebuilt. Its action is acceptable now.
This is really a clone of a Belzer. Which in turn was heavily influenced by Snap-On designs.
Old Belzer socket set for sale on ebay.uk
This is the undisputed champion of smoothness and low drag resistance. The mind-boggling Koken 3753P. Its smoothness is almost supernatural. You can hardly hear it. Nothing else even comes close. I don't think that it is particularly good looking, but it definitely does the business!
The mechanism inside is pretty much the same as those of Plomb/Proto which of course are also famous for smoothness.
The standard Hazet 8816P is probably the one I reach for most often. It's built like a tank but the drag resistance is the highest of the bunch. I think it's just time for some lubrication...
The Hazet 8816F is the fine tooth version and is a huge contrast to the standard one. The drag resistance is the least of all in this group except the Koken. It has a very precise feeling mechanism. The design is unusual looking, but I really like it. Inside the mechanism is similar to a Facom. Like the other Facom based designs, it tends to be a bit tall and that can sometimes be a factor in tight spaces.
This is an older versoin of the 8816F from the 1980's. It's much longer but not as smooth as the later one, but it is still very nice. The reversing knob on the top sometimes gets unintentionally switched, especially when you're using your palm.
Here is the famous Facom. I heard so much about it that I just had to try one. It has the free-spinning palm control disc on the top so it won't switch in your palm. The mechanism is very fine, almost as good as the later fine tooth Hazet. The ratchet is signifigantly shorter than the others in the group. That could be an asset in some situations, but is a disadvantage in others. They do make a long version, though. There is no COO on the tool, nor was there any on the packaging it came in. But my friend inside Facom Taiwan told me that these are made by USAG in Italy.
Another famous ratchet, the fabled Snap-On F80. It won't disappoint you in any way. It's so so nice. It's the prima donna of the group and it knows it.
This is an older Snap-On F=71B ratchet with a date code from the year 1949. I actually like the looks of it better than the contemporary one. It still works just fine. Very smooth.
This Elora 870-1-U probably dates to the 1960's or 70's. The mechanism inside is pretty similar to a Snap-On. Its mechanism was very worn and sloppy so I replaced the pawl with one from a modern Elora. The newer gear wheel wouldn't fit because the top part was a larger diameter. I thought about machining it to accept the new gear wheel but decided against it. I wanted to preserve its originality. So now it's half rebuilt. Its action is acceptable now.
This is really a clone of a Belzer. Which in turn was heavily influenced by Snap-On designs.
Old Belzer socket set for sale on ebay.uk
This is the undisputed champion of smoothness and low drag resistance. The mind-boggling Koken 3753P. Its smoothness is almost supernatural. You can hardly hear it. Nothing else even comes close. I don't think that it is particularly good looking, but it definitely does the business!
The mechanism inside is pretty much the same as those of Plomb/Proto which of course are also famous for smoothness.
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