Featured Technical New tools….that actually work!

This may not actually be be new, I think I have heard about them in the past, but it’s new to me, the first time I’ve used one!
I had to change the starter on my mother’s care givers OT car, yesterday, at the salvage shop, I work at! I grabbed some tools out of the big box and one them was a funny looking Craftsman ratchet. As I was using it I found out it had a feature where you twist the handle and the socket turns! Wow, in that close place and my old fingers wouldn’t work, that ratchet preformed perfectly! Not many tools impress me , over my sixty plus years of working with tools, but this one did! It’s kinda pricey at $50, but I highly recommend it, especially for us older guys! Included is a picture of it!
Then after that, I got to thinking…..what else is out there that would make my old fingers work better and make the /any job easier!
Please post any tool you have found, old or new that actually works and gets the job done easier! Thanks in advance!







Bones

 

That is genius! I think I will need one of those!

 

I loved it! Many times a bolt will be just a little too hard to turn with your fingers, but not enough resistance to make the ratchet function! This is were this tool shines! BuyIt! I guarantee you will not regret it!




Bones

 

The idea is so simple, why did it take so many years to make it happen?

I got another birthday coming up and I'll drop a hint to the Boss Lady. HRP

 

What's a OT car ? O-tee, O-tee !

 

Cool ratchet, I seen then demonstrated on a YT video a while back but haven't noticed them in the stores.

Another that comes to mind are "thread checkers" How many of us have spent our whole lives getting the tap & die set out to identify threads? I bought a cheap 44 piece set off Amazon 5 years ago. They cover both SAE & Metric. Eliminate guess work and save time.
Just yesterday my friend ordered a set from Amazon after seeing mine. They did go up in price another $10.00 since I bought mine, but still worth it.

 

I bought two sets of Craftsman taps and dies, SAE and Metric, some forty years ago and the sets came with “ thread checkers” and have used them many, many times!
Taps and dies are kind of a “ thing” with me….anytime I see some at flea markets, garage sales or market place….i have a tendency to buy! Most of the time the seller doesn’t even know what They are and I get them cheap! I have many duplicates, so sometimes I will take a combo tap and make a bottoming tap out it!






Bones

 

Good tip! I should make some bottoming taps as well. I was the recipient of about a thousand taps and dies when the family owned machine shop closed down. At the time, I already had a set of "Hilkas" that I always use for SAE, 60 years old set now, garanteed for life...never broke or wore one out yet.
A friend gave me a set of Snap-on SAE & Metric taps & dies almost 30 years ago, in appreciation for doing a job for him. They have never been used yet.

 

Seen this one the other day.
Expensive but I’d bet in time we will be seeing harbor freight versions.

https://youtube.com/shorts/9nw5B74oPPA?si=6QfYl5txrnQSR6qf

 

There have been various versions of a ratchet like that over the years, I think at least as far back as the 1960s. Most of them seemed gimmicky and were from obscure companies you never heard from. This one looks more professional and has a known brand name (although there has been a lot of debate about the quality of Craftsman tools the last few years.)

 

Another one very similar to that craftsman.
German made I believe. Watch the whole video. you can actually attach another ratchet to the end of the handle to turn the socket.

 

Oh hell now I gotta go shopping! Cool
Dan

 

Yeah, I had heard of them before, never thought much about them, but I was also younger , back then! I grabbed this ratchet, not knowing what it did, just thinking it was a soft handled ratchet, but found out real quick! My hands don’t work like they used to, so I need all the help I can get!




Bones

 

Ya never know what's around the corner.
( one of my living truths )

 

If the craftsman wrench doesn’t have that option of the square drive in the handle, then the choice is obvious!
I can definitely see how having a 1/2” drive and a 3/8” drive and potentially if a 1/4” drive is available, from the pro**on brand, all 3 of those wrenches would be a good investment!
Kind of a specialized manual version of an air ratchet with distinct advantages !

 

Well the Craftsman is back at the shop, I don’t remember it having the square in the handle and the pictures don’t show one! I would just imagine if you put a ratchet in there and put some power to it is would probably break it! Maybe that’s why Craftsman elected to not put one there! But, it would/could be handy if a feller used some sense!
I checked on Amazon and the Pro**on ratchet is only $5 higher than the Craftsman! But oddly enough Pro**on had a 1/4 inch ratchet that was like 116!
I’d like to see them offer a set of 1/4, 3/8s and 1/2 inch drive ratchets like that! But then I probably couldn’t afford it. Hell, I can’t afford the one 3/8s ratchet! lol




Bones

 

The more I work on our modern cars the more I need unique tools like the ratchet. As far as

Another term I discovered was “Thread detective” ,I bought mine from Grizzley

 

I have an EZRed version of that rotary handle Craftsman ratchet. Got it in a bucket of SnapOn, Matco, and unknown brands at an estate auction a number of years ago.

It slips under load so I tried to get a ratcheting rebuild kit from EZRed, but they had no record in their computer as to the part number stamped on the handle.

The Customer service rep asked around and one old guy remembered the model, but couldn’t help with a kit.

It’s in line for a teardown and cleaning.

I considered it more of a novelty item than a must have tool.

I did use it before it started slipping through.

 

I have a set like those. I just call them "thread gauges".
I have 'em with me in my swap meet booth, where I get a lot of shift knob buyers. It's a minor miracle if a buyer knows his shift lever thread size. Sometimes they walk back to their car and bring me the knob to measure. Sometimes I hold their driver's license while they borrow the loop of gauges to take to the car to measure.
They are pretty darn useful for me. The thread sizes are stick-on labels. (Like they use on beer bottles and ladies' cosmetics) I've had 'em 15 years and lost one label in that time, so far.

 

Cuz they fired the engineer who floated the idea... it happens..

 

Back in my younger days, I considered it a novelty , too. Saw it advertised by some obscure company! I figured if it was workable Snap-on or Mac would have one! So I never used one and my young fingers really didn’t need it! But when I “ accidentally “ used the Craftsman version a couple of days ago, my old fingers were very happy!






Bones

 

Closer look…

 

Seems it just works for loosening not for spinning back on? They should devise a switch to work both ways.

 

I saw one but the size of the head made me figure that it wouldn't be useful. If the idea is that it can be used in a tight place, but then is too large to fit in that tight place, then it sort of defeats the purpose

 

The one I used worked both ways. Taking off and putting the bolts back in! The one I used looks a little different that the one in vidieo, also they are now $50 on Amazon.
Like I said it works great, probably can’t use it in every situation, but I would say most! I’m going to buy one!




Bones

 

It’s not for every situation, but will function just fine in most! I’ve seen places no ratchet will fit, have to use wrenches. That is why you have a variety of tools in the tool box, for a variety of situations!
That starter was real tight, but this ratchet was a blessing in that situation!





Bones

 

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We have one at work, I've used it several times. I don't remember the maker but there is some times it does come in handy !

...

 

Agreed. Use mine almost daily.

 

@Boneyard51 thanks for posting this. I have never seen these and have ordered a 3/8" Pro**on from Amazon as I liked the fact that you could put a standard ratchet in the end to get better leverage and get those nuts tight. After I try it out I will probably order one for my son's birthday present as he loves his tools.

 

Outstanding! I will contact Pro**on and collect my commission! Lol




Bones