Klein Tools has come out with a new 1/4″ hex drive mini bit ratchet and bit set, model 65200. It comes with a bit ratchet, 1/4″ hex to square adapter for use with standard sockets, and 4 common-sized screwdriver bits.
The new Klein bit ratchet has a unique shape that features a finger loop built into the handle, which Klein says gives users greater control.
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The ratchet has a 72 tooth mechanism for a 5° swing arc for use in tight or obstructed areas.
Features & Specs
- 72 tooth ratcheting mechanism
- 1/4″ hex bit holder – doubles as a 1/4″ nut driver
- 5/16″ nut driver on the reverse side
- Set includes a 1/4″ socket adapter
- Ring magnet and bit clip for screwdriver bit retention
- Handle loop for one-hand driving and storage or carrying options
- Bits: Phillips #1, #2, Slotted 3/16″, 1/4″
- Nutdriver sizes: 1/4″, 5/16″
Price: $15
Buy Now via Home Depot – product is not yet available for purchase, check back soon
See Also: Sunex Bit Ratchet Set
Thank you to Abe for the tip!
Discussion
The new Klein bit ratchet has 1/4″ and 5/16″ nutdriver sizes and comes with an assortment of 4 screwdriver bits, plus the 1/4″ hex to square drive adapter. It also looks to feature a manual spinner ring and a direction lever switch. And it only costs $15?
Most bit ratchets have teeny tiny handles. The large ring that Klein built into the end of the handle looks like it might be as convenient as claimed. I can see it potentially allowing for a better grip, plus it could allow for easier storage.
What’s the downside to a tool like this, especially given the very affordable pricing?
I can’t speak as to how suitable it might for electrical applications, but there are certainly a number of general everyday fastening tasks it might work well for.
Update: The image of the Klein bit set has been updated. There was an error in the original.
bob
With a Wera socket adapter? Interesting.
Wayne R.
I’m no Wera expert, but maybe that whole bit rack is theirs?
Toolfreak
I’d guess that the bits, ratchet, and everything in the kit is made by Wera.
salmon
Judging by the “wear goggles” and “yield to oncoming traffic” symbols on the ratchet it is definitely of European origin.
Philip
I like it. I’ll probably get it.
JR
I just tried to buy this, but it is not available in stores or online at this time.
Dustin
Still not in stores 🙁
Jared McBeth
I’m in, supposing it ends up with reasonably similar pricing from a Canadian retailer.
Bit ratchets are one of my most used tools, while I have favorites, I also appreciate having options. Because I use them so much, they don’t really have to be excitingly different to entice me to add a new one.
I kind of wonder why they didn’t make the loop end do something – i.e. be a wrench end, bottle opener etc., but maybe that’s too gimmicky.
Also, are Wera and Klein connected?
Koko The Talking Ape
I like these wrench-style hex drivers. Much greater torque than the screwdriver-style, and extenders can give you the same reach as screwdrivers.
Evadman
I have been looking for this exact layout, a bitholder with a finger loop, for a long time. Hurry up and get it in stock please, HD.
Klein (or preferably craftsman): Take note and make a 1/4″ ratchet with a finger loop. That would be a thinner stack than using the adapter.
Diamond Dave
I had the old craftsman (not unique to them) mini screwdriver ratchet for a couple of years and it was miserable. Last year Toolguyed made an announcement when the Gearwrench mini screwdriver ratchet set came on sale on Amazon and I snagged one for purchase. The case lid is cheezy but the set is awesome! Love it! I also own a few different finger ratchets and love them too!
Kenneth Stephens
I hate that lid. I found an old 1/4 snap on socket set case and used it to hold the gw driver and bits. Gearwrench lid kept popping open and dumping the bits everywhere
Pastor Dan
First thought was, if it is aimed at the electrical trade (duh, it’s from Klein, right?), why not maybe coat the handle or make it of something non-conductive?
Also, I remember looking high and low for an itty-bitty torque wrench with which to properly tighten screws on electrical lugs, which are commonly specified in inch-pounds (or at least they were, last I read). Something in this size range might be a place to start. Or am I trying to reinvent someone’s wheel? If so, show me where to buy one, please.
Lastly, I’d expect that finger-tightening toothed ring to be worth the price of the tool all by itself. Looks like somebody was thinking that day. Remind me after payday and after they get stocked, please!
aerodawg
Wera makes a line of torque screwdrivers. I have one I use specifically for tightening 6-32 screws in aluminum machining fixtures.
Pastor Dan
Thanks. I’ll look into those.
Nathan
a number of people make torque set screwdrivers in the inch lb or N-cm range for this purpose. I think even SK makes one. also look for a 1/4 drive click type torque wrench. but there are a number of options.
TonyT
Wera also makes relatively small torque wrenches (290mm length overall, 1-18 lbf-ft, including with 1/4″ hex drive) such as the Click Torque A6, which is made in Taiwan and costs around $300.
Mountz specializes in torque screwdrivers; they also have a number of torque wrenches, including insulated models.
Corey Moore
When I did explosion protection, there were many many varying torque specs on every nut, bolt, valve, and cap, down to 5/10 inlb if I recall. Manufacturers offered their own service kits, but a friend of mine who did their manufacturing told me that their supply of tiny torque tools were commonly sourced from gunsmithing supply stores.
Pastor Dan
Thanks you for that tip!
Robert Adkins
Got the Craftsman for ~$9, and it’s awkward to use. That’s baked into the cake, because your hand needs to be over the screw head to keep it straight and apply force. I seldom find myself using it, and am not happy when I do. The Klein is no doubt just as awkward.
Rev. Daniel J. Lemke
More reason to use Torx ® fasteners, but it will be a long time before an industry like electric construction adopts any new design, even if it’s a good idea.
Mike (the other one)
This is pretty much exactly what I’ve been looking for. When mounting devices to walls/ceilings, there isn’t much room to work with, and previous mini socket drivers and offset ratcheting screwdrivers are sometimes too bulky or poorly made.
I think the loop handle might come in handy in certain situations. Will buy as soon as I find one.
Rory
“For elechickens” why? its just a normal bit driver… the marketing wank of Klein hurts my brain.
William Adams
Neat, but I still think that the Silca T-Ratchet + Ti-Torque Kit is the epitome of this sort of tool design — I pair mine with a collection of bit and adapters in a pair of Altoids tins and it lives a small bag of tools I use for pretty much every project.
Koko The Talking Ape
That’s the one that costs $99 for the set? Holy frijoles.
William Adams
Yeah, I bought in on the Kickstarter, so it was a bit less, but it is a pricey thing.
Worth it to me if for no other reason than it got me to stop trolling eBay trying to find a 1/4″ Snapon ratchet to match the 3/8″ my father brought home from Vietnam.
Reno
Why would you but the big round loop on a mini ratchet does nothing but get in your way
The swing should be no more then 3% the ratchet head is one of the oldest style on the market
someone at Klein needs to proof there photos before sending them out its not good to show your competitors product in your photo
Stuart
If you’re talking about the “Wera” on the bit adapter, that could be intentional. It would be extremely difficult to miss that during proofing if it were a mistake.
This is a small bit ratchet, and an inexpensive one at that. There’s nothing wrong with a 5° swing arc here. Do you want to pay much more and deal with a larger ratcheting mechanism just to get a shorter on-paper swing arc? If it’s a 3° swing arc, that means what for a 3″ or 4″ tool? Let’s say the ratchet has a 4″ length. A 5° arc swing would have a 0.35″ arc length. A 3° would have a 0.21″ arc length. The difference in arc length is ~9/64″. The linear distance difference is going to be a little smaller, but requires a little more trig than is necessary for this. Basically, 72-tooth gearing is just fine for this application. Sure, 120-position gearing might sound better on paper, but would compromise the compact size of the head and also drive up the price.
Reno
Yes am talking about WERA its not intentional its upside down and you can only see part of the name and its a competitor
take a look at the usage photo it showing its being use without using the ring the way the photo looks the ring just gets in the way and ring is what this tool is all about
if it 72 tooth or 120 it does not have any affect on the size of the head 120 tooth is much better for tight spaces the whole reason why you would buy this tool
bad idea and very poor marketing
Stuart
A 120-position ratchet mechanism usually involves a double-stacked pawl system. How could you fit that in a ratchet head this small? So, a 120-position ratchet head would be thicker, and the price would be higher. For what? At most ~1/8 of an inch extra swing arc?
If Klein only releases one bit ratchet, a less expensive 72T bit ratchet would be much more popular. If they could make a finer ratcheting mechanism at similar pricing, wouldn’t they have?
$15 is a “I might not need it, but maybe it’ll come in handy” price point for a tool like this.
gregg
Lol…………..I searched HomeDepot and it said its not available within 100 miles of my location
Amy
I would cut that giant loop portion off… for god’s sake, smaller tool handle is all we wish for when working in tight corners, but bigger and longer seems to be conceived as the one and only answer by the manufacturers.
Heather Roberts
Not available near me yet either. Could see this being useful with the thumb wheel and loop. I work with thick cotton heat resistant terry cloth gloves in tight spaces sometimes, and the Sunex set I own sometimes won’t “grab” when the fastener is too loose. Hard to manually turn it with the gloves, so maybe this would be helpful.
Nathan
one thing the loop lets you do is spin it when you have the open space. Think about putting your finger or maybe 2 in the loop and then spining it around in an open circle without having to ratchet it to quickly spin down something.
No you might not use it that way often but you’d use it some. also would let you get a good grip on there vs a short 3 or 4 inch handle.
I like it. might try one and if it doesn’t work out great so be it.
Max Musial
I really want one of these. Any idea when they will actually be available?
Brett
All that loop makes me think of is trapped fingers.
Craig
Looks like the page at Home Depot is gone now. Bummer.
Stuart
Might be my fault. I emailed Klein, linking to the page, and asked what the “Wera” on the bit adapter meant.
Joe
If they must have a big loop at the end, at least make it into a Box Wrench
SubJock
I don’t understand the need for a ring on the end… I’d rather have a bit-driver like the Topeak mini ratchet, which is now showing up in auto parts stores, or a fixed 1/4″ driver like the mini Dewalt DT71516-QZ kit, which no-one seems to have locally.
JR
I’m not in the Trades, so take this for what it’s worth, but in my use I would find it handy to hang it from my pinky while I use two hands to install and start a bolt or screw, or move a conduit, etc. Maybe a lanyard is THE solution, but this seems to be useful for me.
Someone above mentioned the “pinch method” with thumb and forefinger in the loop and that seems useful as well.
Kevin_Wayne
Can I use this if I am not an electrician?
Stuart
Sure.
adoginthepouringrain
As an appliance technician, I see this being VERY useful. Sometimes having a compact socket or screwdriver makes this difference between dismantling part of the appliance or the whole darn thing!
Dustin
I have been checking on this product frequently and still no sign of it in stores. Anyone have any news?
Marcus Cole
Got one today, seems well made. The head is thicker than I thought.
Al
They are good, but not for hi torque applications. Mine was being used to unlock a service valve on a condenser unit and it skipped. I disassembled it, and at least two of the gear teeth were damaged. It still works fine, but sometimes you can feel it skip were it gets to the damaged teeth. The pawl looked fine.
I wish they sold a repair kit for it. It’s difficult to send it to klein tools for repairs from where I live.
It works great for unistrut fittings that’s for sure.
Stuart _T
I like the look of this! I just posted a comment on the “Who likes 1″ hex bits” thread , saying that they are really useful in conjunction with a decent right-angle ratchet driver (and recommended one from Bestway/Mayhew) but I hadn’t seen this review. HD here in Canada doesn’t list them but I’m sure I can find one.