Will dewalt come out with a cordless ratchet?

[MikeH]

Short version is that the lack of a cordless ratchet is making me reconsider my Dewalt loyalties.
At some point I’m going to have to get off my **** and replace my aging cordless tools. I’ve been a dewalt guy up to this point, but all my cordless is on the old 14.4 and 18v nicd platform. In looking at what’s available and which way to go, I figure that they’re all probably even on the things like drills and impact drivers, so the decision would come down to the other tools. The two that I think of right off the bat are a multitool, and a ratchet. It seems like there are a bunch of companies that do fill that slot, like Milwaukee, Makita (which I’m realizing needs to go on my list, complicating what I thought was a simple Yellow v Red decision), and even several expensive options for using Dewalt batteries like Mac).
Is Dewalt likely to come out with a ratchet option for those of us who aren’t going to use it hard in the shop every day and so don’t need the upgrades of the Mac? I mean, they already market an air ratchet, why not battery? Or is it time for me to switch teams to Red (or whatever color Makita is)?

 

[RKA]

You could still go with Dewalt for 18/20v if you like them. I would stick with a multitool on 18/20. The only thing you gain by keeping both 12 and 18v in the red family is a charger that can charge 12V and 18V. Not enough reason to keep it in one family imho.

For a 12v, I wouldn't hold your breath for Dewalt. And team red obviously has a huge selection of M12 tools, so there is that.

 

[Alaniho]

what about the Mac tools version, it takes a DeWalt 12v battery

https://www.mactools.com/en-us/Powe...e-9736-a4ae011e6980/12V-MAX-Cordless-Ratchets

 

[mike93lx]

I don't think their battery platform is conducive to a stick shaped tool. I wouldn't hold my breath

 

[jdewitt]

I don't think their battery platform is conducive to a stick shaped tool. I wouldn't hold my breath

They've got a 20v right angle drill in the same form factor. They can certainly make the ratchet.

 

[MikeH]

what about the Mac tools version, it takes a DeWalt 12v battery

https://www.mactools.com/en-us/Powe...e-9736-a4ae011e6980/12V-MAX-Cordless-Ratchets

Unless my shopping skills are crazy off, that Mac is about twice the price of a Red Ratchet. Facom makes one for dewalt batteries as well, but it is the same 225-240 price as the Mac. If you can show me one cheaper, I'll be thrilled.

 

[MikeH]

I don't think their battery platform is conducive to a stick shaped tool. I wouldn't hold my breath

They've got a 20v right angle drill in the same form factor. They can certainly make the ratchet.

I thought the same with the Right angle drill, especially since they do market an air ratchet. I know it isn't just bolting the two together, but it seems like an achievable engineering goal.

 

[mike93lx]

They've got a 20v right angle drill in the same form factor. They can certainly make the ratchet.

It is certainly possible, but a ratchet is often used in tight spaces. I don't think something as bulky as their right angle drill would be all that useful. Milwaukee really owns the market here

 

[Farmall450]

You could still go with Dewalt for 18/20v if you like them. I would stick with a multitool on 18/20. The only thing you gain by keeping both 12 and 18v in the red family is a charger that can charge 12V and 18V. Not enough reason to keep it in one family imho.

For a 12v, I wouldn't hold your breath for Dewalt. And team red obviously has a huge selection of M12 tools, so there is that.

Most DeWalt chargers do both 12/20v, as do the Milwaukee offerings. However, both have single chargers, too, just more common in Milwaukee due to the substantial hardware differences.

__

The Mac ratchets really aren't that much cheaper than a DeWalt would be (I'm not talking truck prices). Go look at what stuff is selling (not sitting listed at, but selling) for on eBay. You'll be surprised.

 

[Farmall450]

Here's a prime example. 3/8 rat, 2 batteries, charger...$175 shipped to your door.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MAC-TOOLS-...519723&hash=item5d98108afd:g:JCsAAOSwmeNd5q-j

 

[Alaniho]

Unless my shopping skills are crazy off, that Mac is about twice the price of a Red Ratchet. Facom makes one for dewalt batteries as well, but it is the same 225-240 price as the Mac. If you can show me one cheaper, I'll be thrilled.

If you don't have a local friendly Mac guy who can do a deal then yes its Milwaukee. I rarely even look at Milwaukee since i am all in on Dewalt and sorry i didn't know the Milwaukee were as well priced for this tool ! Milwaukee with batteries is very close to the Mac price for bare tool, i may even go red myself !!

 

[RKA]

Most DeWalt chargers do both 12/20v, as do the Milwaukee offerings. However, both have single chargers, too, just more common in Milwaukee due to the substantial hardware differences.

I think you misunderstood. The presumption is he will end up with an M12 ratchet. But that is no reason to stick with M18 as his 18/20V solution. He could get new Dewalt 20V tools and use separate chargers and it wouldn't be the end of the world.

 

[Rabid Badger]

If you're looking for a ratchet the Makita is an excellent tool. Between the swappable anvil, faster speed and enclosed switch vs the exposed lever on the Milwaukee it's no contest.

 

[Skin]

Unless my shopping skills are crazy off, that Mac is about twice the price of a Red Ratchet. Facom makes one for dewalt batteries as well, but it is the same 225-240 price as the Mac. If you can show me one cheaper, I'll be thrilled.

Buy a used one on Ebay? You can easily find them at the same or cheaper than the Milwaukee Fuel ratchets. You sound like you're fishing for an excuse to dump DeWalt though. I bought the Milwaukee stubby impact kit and didn't get an urge to suddenly dump my high torque and mid torque MAC/DeWalt impacts. My cordless ratchets are even a third brand (Snap-on). Maybe you have horrible OCD but I don't mind an extra charger for a better tool. Brand loyalty is for suckers.

My problem with the MAC and new Makita ratchets are that they're too long. The Milwaukee fuel has a fat head and is slow, hence SO. If they weren't an option i'd probably own a couple of the pre-fuel Milwaukees.

 

[kctyphoon]

Another DeWalt guy tormented with dreams of Milwaukee..
What a coincidence.

Well good news is if DeWalt ever comes out with their own branded cordless ratchet, they will likely sell that model for 20 years. So you'll have plenty of time to pick one up

 

[kctyphoon]

If you're looking for a ratchet the Makita is an excellent tool. Between the swappable anvil, faster speed and enclosed switch vs the exposed lever on the Milwaukee it's no contest.

Whoa buddy.. that sounds like it came from a CNN segment..

Anyway OP - there are other options too.. like IR, HF, Husky, and a handful of m12 clones on amazon too. Out of all of them though, the Milwaukee models are definitely the most popular on the forum it seems.

 

[svrider]

All my cordless tools are Dewalt....except my Milwaukee cordless ratchet. Really not a big deal to add a couple of the 12v Milwaukee batteries and a small charger to the arsenal. Probably cheaper and better than the comparable Mac product.

 

[Farmall450]

I think you misunderstood. The presumption is he will end up with an M12 ratchet. But that is no reason to stick with M18 as his 18/20V solution. He could get new Dewalt 20V tools and use separate chargers and it wouldn't be the end of the world.

Ah. I was wondering what was going on there, although someone was griping about a dual charger.

Either way, kit I linked on eBay essentially closes the thread...cheaper than new bare competition, compatible with all his stuff.

 

[kctyphoon]

Ah. I was wondering what was going on there, although someone was griping about a dual charger.

Either way, kit I linked on eBay essentially closes the thread...cheaper than new bare competition, compatible with all his stuff.

Yea - for someone else’s used beat up ****.. being sold from what looks like a pawn shop.
“I found a used ratchet for less money then a new one”
great argument..
lets all run out and buy $500 cars..

 

[Rabid Badger]

Whoa buddy.. that sounds like it came from a CNN segment..

You mean my post citing multiple concrete advantages of the Makita ratchet over competing models?

Sorry, but I just can't bring myself to post useless statements like these:

Another DeWalt guy tormented with dreams of Milwaukee..
What a coincidence.

Well good news is if DeWalt ever comes out with their own branded cordless ratchet, they will likely sell that model for 20 years. So you'll have plenty of time to pick one up

Anyway OP - there are other options too.. like IR, HF, Husky, and a handful of m12 clones on amazon too. Out of all of them though, the Milwaukee models are definitely the most popular on the forum it seems.

Two consecutive posts utterly devoid of useful information. I'd like to think you can do better, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

 

[Farmall450]

Yea - for someone else’s used beat up ****.. being sold from what looks like a pawn shop.
“I found a used ratchet for less money then a new one”
great argument..
lets all run out and buy $500 cars..

Not sure if you're ignoring the bigger picture here or just missing it entirely

 

[rmack898]

Mike H,

I bought yellow tools for the last 30 years. My first was a 12v drill/driver. since then I acquired almost any cordless tool that the yellow company made. I was at the point you are when I bought in to the 20v Li-ion yellow tools with a drill and 1/4" driver combo.

About the same time I started going to Li-ion yellow tools, my day job started buying Red M18 and M12 tools and I was sold.

I gave all my yellow tools to my son and started buying Red in both M12 and M18. I now have way more $$ invested in Red tools than I would like to admit. I turn wrenches for a living and the M12 (non-fuel) ratchet is probably my most used tool on any given day.

Having used both flavors of cordless tools for a long time, I can tell you that you are at the point where changing colors makes the most sense. I have no horse in your race but all I can say is that I have not been disappointed by any Red tool I have bought to date.

 

[kctyphoon]

You mean my post citing multiple concrete advantages of the Makita ratchet over competing models?

Sorry, but I just can't bring myself to post useless statements like these:





Two consecutive posts utterly devoid of useful information. I'd like to think you can do better, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

Sorry bud, just assumed you might catch on that you CANT lose the anvil on a Milwaukee, and their lever trigger mimics air ratchets most people have already spent a few decades using. Where you can wrap a whole hand around it, and prevent the same knuckle from getting banged up where only one would be protruding out on a tool with a switch. You can engage/disengage the m12 with never changing hand positions.

Plus ya know - longer warranty - years worth of reviews, bigger system of compatible tools targeted at mechanics, rubber boot you can buy to protect the ratchet head, and with a slower RPM, its not gonna jerk your hand as much when whatever you’re spinning finally bottoms out..

But please dont let me interrupt your concrete case of Makita’s clear superiority.

OP - if the m12 would be your first tool - another “pro” would be you could get a stubby m12 impact later as a bare tool, or underhood work light.

 

[hotrod1968]

Short version is that the lack of a cordless ratchet is making me reconsider my Dewalt loyalties.

At some point I’m going to have to get off my **** and replace my aging cordless tools. I’ve been a dewalt guy up to this point, but all my cordless is on the old 14.4 and 18v nicd platform. In looking at what’s available and which way to go, I figure that they’re all probably even on the things like drills and impact drivers, so the decision would come down to the other tools. The two that I think of right off the bat are a multitool, and a ratchet. It seems like there are a bunch of companies that do fill that slot, like Milwaukee, Makita (which I’m realizing needs to go on my list, complicating what I thought was a simple Yellow v Red decision), and even several expensive options for using Dewalt batteries like Mac).

Is Dewalt likely to come out with a ratchet option for those of us who aren’t going to use it hard in the shop every day and so don’t need the upgrades of the Mac? I mean, they already market an air ratchet, why not battery? Or is it time for me to switch teams to Red (or whatever color Makita is)?

Why one family? I buy what I need and what I want when I need it. Who cares a extra charger....

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[hotrod1968]

Yea - for someone else’s used beat up ****.. being sold from what looks like a pawn shop.
“I found a used ratchet for less money then a new one”
great argument..
lets all run out and buy $500 cars..

Some of the best buys are quality used tools... but why buy quality used when you can buy h.f. **** new..... counter argument to your used car theory if confused....

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[tomwil]

Just get the Husky ratchet for $60, which could hold you over until Dewalt finally decides to release a ratchet model.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-3...thium-Ion-Cordless-Ratchet-H38CPRAT/305713305

 

[kctyphoon]

The downside of the husky is the battery charges in the tool. Its not removable. So when the battery dies - the tool dies.. the upside is the price.

Just something to consider.

AC Delco is another model he can look at. There are probably a dozen options these days.

 

[kctyphoon]

Some of the best buys are quality used tools... but why buy quality used when you can buy h.f. **** new..... counter argument to your used car theory if confused....

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

The m12 at half the price of the Matco isnt a quality tool? I think many people would disagree with that. Your argument has no bearing to this. The OP’s point is he wants to invest into a platform, and NOT have a desk of different chargers and different batteries, none of which will work with one another. Thats his point. (Which is smart on his part) it makes sense if you are going to pay for batteries and a charger, that you can then use those with other things as well. Like a heated jacket...

 

[Firefighter1406]

Short version is that the lack of a cordless ratchet is making me reconsider my Dewalt loyalties./QUOTE]

The lack of following for the DeWalt 12V platform and the lack of mechanic tools in general made me contemplate a switch also. Me my dad and I both left the 18V DeWalt No-cad platform at the same time. My dad went Milwaukee and went with the DeWalts 20V platform. Worked great for a long time. However with the stagnant 12V line and lack of new tools in general pushed me to bite the bullet on Milwaukee almost exactly 1 year ago. I fell hard and have spent way, way to much money swapping. However I couldn’t be happier.

I do feel DeWalt will come out with a cordless ratchet at some point and time. I can’t imagine them leaving the mechanic line high and dry forever. They have been a lot slower to launch new platforms but not sure why.

Like others have said if you don’t want to switch completely having one tool a different line is a pain but not impossible. I still have DeWalt 12V batteries for my green laser that I will keep due to cost and Milwaukee not having any laser offers. I don’t regret the switch, but to each there own.

 

[kctyphoon]

Short version is that the lack of a cordless ratchet is making me reconsider my Dewalt loyalties./QUOTE]

The lack of following for the DeWalt 12V platform and the lack of mechanic tools in general made me contemplate a switch also. Me my dad and I both left the 18V DeWalt No-cad platform at the same time. My dad went Milwaukee and went with the DeWalts 20V platform. Worked great for a long time. However with the stagnant 12V line and lack of new tools in general pushed me to bite the bullet on Milwaukee almost exactly 1 year ago. I fell hard and have spent way, way to much money swapping. However I couldn’t be happier.

I do feel DeWalt will come out with a cordless ratchet at some point and time. I can’t imagine them leaving the mechanic line high and dry forever. They have been a lot slower to launch new platforms but not sure why.

Like others have said if you don’t want to switch completely having one tool a different line is a pain but not impossible. I still have DeWalt 12V batteries for my green laser that I will keep due to cost and Milwaukee not having any laser offers. I don’t regret the switch, but to each there own.

(Cough).. dont mind me...

 

[Farmall450]

DeWalt has been amping up the 12V line heavily of late, so I wouldn't be too surprised to see more along the way.

 

[MJK]

I had Dewalt 18v for a LONG time, and then largely made the switch to Dewalt 20V. I bought one of those 20v to 18v adapters for rarely used 18v tools I could not justify replacing. About a year ago I bought a non fuel 12v 3/8" Milwaukee ratchet. I have been very pleased with all of the above. Milwaukee stays with the roll cab and yellow goes everywhere else.

It seems like this may be unacceptable to many folks, but it works fine for me.

 

[Rabid Badger]

Sorry bud, just assumed you might catch on that you CANT lose the anvil on a Milwaukee, and their lever trigger mimics air ratchets most people have already spent a few decades using. Where you can wrap a whole hand around it, and prevent the same knuckle from getting banged up where only one would be protruding out on a tool with a switch. You can engage/disengage the m12 with never changing hand positions.

Plus ya know - longer warranty - years worth of reviews, bigger system of compatible tools targeted at mechanics, rubber boot you can buy to protect the ratchet head, and with a slower RPM, its not gonna jerk your hand as much when whatever you’re spinning finally bottoms out..

But please dont let me interrupt your concrete case of Makita’s clear superiority.

OP - if the m12 would be your first tool - another “pro” would be you could get a stubby m12 impact later as a bare tool, or underhood work light.

See? Now you're providing useful information that can help people make an informed decision. Next time lead with that.

 

[WittHay]

Short version is that the lack of a cordless ratchet is making me reconsider my Dewalt loyalties.

Short version is that the lack of a decent chuck on a drill is making me reconsider my Milwaukee loyalties. Sad no red blooded Chinese tool using American ever. Yes if you want a cheap diy grade cordless ratchet Milwaukee is your only choice. Buy a stubby and a M12 impact driver and you have the perfect tools for taking off rusted 3/4 ton lug nuts and driving long lagscrews all day

That concludes the Milwaukee bashing speil. Truth is Milwaukee is a good choice for 12 volt especially automotive but you should look at the cordless options by DeWalt, Makita as well as Milwaukee for 18/20 volt

I have the Mac cordless and even though it is a well built tool it is lacking in speed and power. I dont think it is quite the right tool for regular automotive use. Too long. The Milwaukee and Snap-on are about right

What i need is the power of the new Snap-on Brute, the speed of the Makita and the length and build quality of the Mac in a cordless ratchet. That aint gonna happen just like I dont think DeWalt will build a reasonable price diy cordless ratchet

 

[bixxjs]

When I bought my 1/2 Dewalt impact wrench, which is a BEAST, I was told by the sales rep that a ratchet was coming out shortly and my battery would fit!

 

[dsimatt]

Short version is that the lack of a decent chuck on a drill is making me reconsider my Milwaukee loyalties. Sad no red blooded Chinese tool using American ever. Yes if you want a cheap diy grade cordless ratchet Milwaukee is your only choice. Buy a stubby and a M12 impact driver and you have the perfect tools for taking off rusted 3/4 ton lug nuts and driving long lagscrews all day

That concludes the Milwaukee bashing speil. Truth is Milwaukee is a good choice for 12 volt especially automotive but you should look at the cordless options by DeWalt, Makita as well as Milwaukee for 18/20 volt

I have the Mac cordless and even though it is a well built tool it is lacking in speed and power. I dont think it is quite the right tool for regular automotive use. Too long. The Milwaukee and Snap-on are about right

What i need is the power of the new Snap-on Brute, the speed of the Makita and the length and build quality of the Mac in a cordless ratchet. That aint gonna happen just like I dont think DeWalt will build a reasonable price diy cordless ratchet

When I was looking at getting a cordless ratchet I had planned on going Milwaukee till I did some reading on here and my SO dealer cut me a better deal than I could buy the Milwaukee. Theres a few guys at work with them and they sound like tinker toys compared to the SO ones.

To the OP, unless you think theres other stuff in a products lineup that you think you'll like better than dewalt I wouldnt jump ship.

 

[MikeH]

I stirred the pot a bit more than intended with this one! But I guess any topic involving both Dewalt and Milwaukee will, so I shouldn’t be too surprised. Someone said I sounded like I was fishing for a reason to dump Dewalt; I’m really not. You could better summarize my starting point as fishing for a rumor about a ratchet so I could stick with Dewalt.
I think what I’m taking from this is that Dewalt is unlikely to release a ratchet very soon—I assume if there were well sourced information someone would have said so.

I was told by the sales rep ...

how long ago was that dealer statement, and do you know if we’d get it in ‘Merica?
One way or another, I’m going to have to let another charger into the shop, since it sounds like the Mac isn’t even that great a design, but I guess those of you telling me that having unrelated 12v and 18v tools won’t be a problem. I’m solidly DIY, so I don’t even have an unfriendly SO dealer to talk to, but the snap on at the Milwaukee price would be tempting. Perhaps eBay.
Thanks for the good info, and for spirited defenses of each team! (Team Makita: I will check you out too, the interchangeable anvil sounds awfully versatile, so who knows.)

 

[HiWind]

Just bought one out ... not a week after I finally pulled the trigger on the mwakee