Which ratchets have a 7/8" diameter knurled handle?

[jeejay]

I don't know, do they ever specify the handle size? At least 4" long too...

I mean if you happen to have any that size, just wondering how common it is. I could try contacting manufacturers sometime otherwise. Got a 1/2 dr Urrea hinge handle with those specs (around 10" over all). Seems like a good balance between comfort, durability, and storage. A wild guess would be maybe they make ratchets that size too (guess I'll ask them in the meantime).

 

[Al Borland]

SK roundheads have a substantial handle.
Or, look for a New Britain Kilness patent ratchet.

 

[jeejay]

Oh yeah (pics look similar in proportion), I'll check into those also, thanks.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

do you measure inside the knurls, or outside?
What if there is a curved profile?
Or if comfort handle, how hard do you squeeze it?
would you accept a metric dimensioned handle if close?

 

[davethorik]

Wright 4425 ratchet, 15" oal 1/2 drive = .906"
Wright 4435 breaker, 18" oal 1/2 drive = .912"
Craftsman circle-U breaker, 15" oal 1/2 drive = .950"

Those are my biggest knurled handles.

 

[jeejay]

do you measure inside the knurls, or outside?

The knurled area is 4" in length from the end of the tool to where it smoothes out and tapers into a smaller diameter smooth finish from 7/8".

What if there is a curved profile?

I've never seen a knurled handle with a curved profile.

Or if comfort handle, how hard do you squeeze it?

I don't tend to squeeze them as much as pushing/pulling.

would you accept a metric dimensioned handle if close?

Yeah that's alright.

 

[jeejay]

I think 3/4" diameter is probably the most common size for 1/2" drive knurled handles...

Wright 4425 ratchet, 15" oal 1/2 drive = .906"
Wright 4435 breaker, 18" oal 1/2 drive = .912"
Craftsman circle-U breaker, 15" oal 1/2 drive = .950"

Those are my biggest knurled handles.

Okay, thanks.

 

[ganymede]

do you measure inside the knurls, or outside?
What if there is a curved profile?
Or if comfort handle, how hard do you squeeze it?
would you accept a metric dimensioned handle if close?

 

[jeejay]

What, dry-chafed humour?

 

[ganymede]

 

[jeejay]

Yeah the Wright 4426 looks largest for mid size ratchets.

I think that's a 4433, same handle though.

 

[shockwave]

Look at older kd made 3/4 ratchets I believe had them

 

[jeejay]

The SK 42470 says 0.84", a little under the 0.875 threshold, damn it! No that's probably close enough too (a millimeter or something).

 

[jeejay]

Alright, Urrea didn't get back to me on that, so I got the Wright ratchet, and it has a slightly larger handle anyway. Yay (found a pretty good deal too, around $25 less than the SK, which was supposedly marked down itself). Just add gear lube to it for a better grip? No, but that's the first ratchet I've taken apart to oil (since there's a hint stamped on the smaller part of the handle, it kind of screams "oil me", yeah it was dry). Found a tip on opening it here (and had to turn the lever toward the middle to slip the assembly back in).

It's a relative thing though, handle size (between length and diameter). Why they knurl them shorter than hand sized for smaller drives is beyond me (I don't even have a huge hand, and the 1/2" dr handle is barely long enough). I think for a longer bar with a two handed grip, up to 1.5 inch diameter would be appropriate (like on my big torque wrench, I could still wear padded gloves for that kind of a pressure point, pushing down a couple hundred times with 150 pounds-force or so, right I should put those in my case).

 

[gdocktor3]

They make them smaller so they can fit in really tight spots. I bought this little guy a few weeks ago and it's made things really easy for me a few times. Up under the dash especially. It's a Mac 72 tooth with quick release. Awesome little ratchet.

 

[bob15]

So you took apart a brand new ratchet to oil it? Good grief, I think the oiling of ratchets has gone crazy.

When using a ratchet or breaker bar, you don't want to put two hands on the handle as this can and/or will cause a dangerous situation if pulling very hard due to likelihood of losing your balance. If using 2 hands and the fastener breaks to the socket comes off, you're probably going to fall down. If using only one hand, you use the other hand for balance and bracing.

Do you put 2 hands on the torque wrench? Probably not.

Padded gloves for what pressure point? I'm lost

If the gloves or larger diameter handles are for comfort, why didn't you buy a comfort grip breaker bar?

 

[jeejay]

They make them smaller so they can fit in really tight spots. I bought this little guy a few weeks ago and it's made things really easy for me a few times. Up under the dash especially. It's a Mac 72 tooth with quick release. Awesome little ratchet.

Yeah I can see the point of stubby tools, just that on standard sized ones, even if the whole handle is the same diameter, the knurled part shrinks like that can only be a certain proportion of it, they should knurl the whole thing methinks. No big deal though, at least they make some the right size for a hand tool. I also like the extension handles for plug-in drive tools, so they can be used with or without a larger/longer handle (KT has four that fit in their adjustable handle, a ratchet, t-bar, and two l-handles with different shapes). Not many of those around, or various sizes though.

 

[jeejay]

So you took apart a brand new ratchet to oil it? Good grief, I think the oiling of ratchets has gone crazy.

When using a ratchet or breaker bar, you don't want to put two hands on the handle as this can and/or will cause a dangerous situation if pulling very hard due to likelihood of losing your balance. If using 2 hands and the fastener breaks to the socket comes off, you're probably going to fall down. If using only one hand, you use the other hand for balance and bracing.

Do you put 2 hands on the torque wrench? Probably not.

Padded gloves for what pressure point? I'm lost

If the gloves or larger diameter handles are for comfort, why didn't you buy a comfort grip breaker bar?

Are you kidding? To each their own... pretty sure they make two-handed size handles for one hand though, duh. Actually I wear knee pads too, so when it slips I just slide across the parking lot (it's like hurricane force torque)! What, are you wearing roller skates (and what else are you holding onto)? Well, they make gloves to go with handle bars (which also have comfort grips), or weight sets, for the same type of repetetive thing, it's an established combination.

Like I said, the ratchet has a stamp saying what to use for lubrication (oil only in this case), so obviously that's important to check immediately, and it was bone dry. They probably do this so you can use the same type of oil (of your choice) as needed.

 

[gdocktor3]

jeejay what type of work do you do and how long have you been doing it? I'm curious because you ask a wide variety of questions. I'm not breaking balls, just curious.

 

[jeejay]

jeejay what type of work do you do and how long have you been doing it? I'm curious because you ask a wide variety of questions. I'm not breaking balls, just curious.

I just drive heavy trucks, and am doing more of the preventative maintenance on a regular basis (since all the federal safety regulations fall on my shoulders, and nobody else cares too much because they can blame me), the rest is for DIY, general interest (hadn't collected many tools myself until I got into that).

 

[jeejay]

So you took apart a brand new ratchet to oil it? Good grief, I think the oiling of ratchets has gone crazy.

Crazier still, a couple other new ratches I checked (by King Tony and Titan) were dry inside too, I get the impression not many are oiled to begin with. My gear oil (Lubrimatic 11505) says it withstands severe shock, high torque loads and wide temperature variations.