Around 2 months ago I saw a Kickstarter campaign for a new titanium modular bit ratchet, and ever since then I’ve seen dozens of other versions on Amazon of similar tools.
The premise is rather simple. There’s a core ratcheting component, with 1/4″ hex bit sockets on 3 sides, and the included extensions can be used to extend the reach of the bit ratchet core or as handle components.
You can use it as a ratcheting T-handle driver, or as a non-ratcheting inline screwdriver.
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It seems like a neat concept.
There are many different brands all selling the same or similar tool sets. The one shown here is from “Kelin.”
As for sample application, the tools are often described as being suited for use on household repairs, furniture, electronics, computers, bicycles, DIY, and random other stuff.
One brand advertises that you can use it on watches, which I doubt.
I like the idea of the design, and hope that more mainstream brands give it a try.
Competition is fierce between all of the different brands. While I see some differentiation, most appear to be the same tools in near-identical packages.
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Here are some tool sets by various Amazon marketplace brands:
- Kelin 43-in-1 Set
- Bomivoi 42-in-1 Set
- Prekull 42-in-1 Set
- Saker 42-in-1 Set
- Sakerplus 42-in-1 Set
- MrToNo 42-in-1 Set
- Usuauu 24-in-1 Set
- Vman 24-in-1 Set
- Elead 40-in-1 Set
- MrToNo 74-in-1 Set
- Disen 43-in-1 Set
- Anvanna 42-in-1 Set
- Faireach 42-in-1 Set
- Fideco 74-in-1 Set
- Oria 42-in-1 Set
At this time, it seems like this type of tool is only available in online marketplaces. I wonder how long it’ll be before Home Depot (Husky), Lowe’s (Kobalt), Harbor Freight (Icon?), or Walmart (Hyper Tough) launch similar modular ratchet tool sets of their own.
Robert
What is the blue wizard’s fire between the attachment points, shown in two larger photos? A particularly poor depiction of magnetic flux lines?
PapaWags
Most of these sets are magnetic. The blue wizards fire is used to indicate the magnetism.
Bonnie
Turns out they actually work via arcane flux. Gonna be all the rage in a few years.
EBT
Ironic since I just got Fix It Stix tool set for gunsmith work.
https://store.fixitsticks.com/collections/toolkits/products/compact-ratcheting-multi-tool
William Adams
Yeah, I was surprised that they were mentioned as the progenitor of this sort of thing since they were discussed here back when they were first announced:
https://toolguyd.com/fix-it-sticks-t-handle-edc-bit-wrench/
Still a bit bummed that my favourite tool, the Silca T-ratchet and Ti Torque Kit which seems to be the first tool to take this concept down to components wasn’t mentioned.
Stuart
The Fixit sticks don’t ratchet, and while the Silca is very close, these various modular ratchets are different enough I would not consider them clones.
Side note @Will: I saw your email, wrote you a lengthy response, and then received a bounce-back with “address not found.”
William Adams
My apologies, must have mis-keyed.
Jason
I have this set (well, one of the many whitelabel versions), I think I got it for Christmas. It’s a unique idea for sure; the ends of the T-handle come out and can interchange or work as extensions for the driving end of the T. It’s decent quality for what it is, but you won’t want to use it for any real high torque situations because the handles want to magnetically pop off. It’s basically no more useful than a mini ratchet but is a little more unique in design.
Jared
I have one too. I didn’t know it was a clone of something – but of course it is.
I like it for bicycle work. The T-handle shape is particularly well-suited to that.
It wouldn’t surprise me if the quality varied even amongst tools from the same brand, but the one I got seems decent. A little sloppier than my really good bit drivers, but low back drag and perfectly usable.
I like using it, it’s a novel but useful design for a bit driver.
Bonnie
None of these seem like a real “brand”. I assume they’re all the exact same from the one factory making them.
Jared
I agree. Mine was sold as “TOTITOM”, but I highly doubt that has any meaning beyond distinguishing the Amazon listing.
Mike S
I just spent 10 minutes playing spot the difference on the 42 and 43 piece sets (excluding Anvanna). The only difference I could find is that the MrToNo has the long bits upside down.
kyle
I received one of these as a gift, and was skeptical about the quality – BUT – I used it to assemble a desk recently, and really enjoyed it! Quality was better than expected – and I think it’s a better t-handle than the ratcheting Dewalt t-handle set I picked up a few years ago (which has been a complete disappointment, other than the long bits which I use fairly often). I’ll likely use the Dewalt bits with this new t-handle/ratchet, as retention is significantly better, and I like the compact size for assembly.
Doresoom
I feel like you’re losing a lot in the way of head clearance with this design for the marginal benefit of the t handle functionality. I’ll stick with my 711L ratchet that also takes 1/4″ hex extensions in the handle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09T9MHM8Z
Jared
I wouldn’t conceive of it as a bit-ratchet replacement, but a bit-ratchet alternative. Just like you have flex-head, extra-long, low-profile, bent-handle… etc., ratchets.
fred
Is it just me – or is the Kelin brand name (owned by Anhui Disen Tools Co., Ltd.) and their orange-colored case lining – meant to look like “Klein” – if you only glance quickly?
Scott
Exactly
avi
It got me on the first read through.
Stuart
That’s why I put the name in quotes, because I saw high potential for readers to think it’s a mistype.
There is a meme post, about how people recognize letter combinations in words, even if in the wrong order.
fred
Writers of advertising copy and creators of brand names – may think we all have a bit of dyslexia built into our brains – so they take advantage of it when they can.
Chuck R
NAAAH… probably a complete coincidence entirely 😉
S
It got me for a second as well, but Stuarts tone in the article for a new Klein tool put me on the sceptical side.
Rob H
I have one that I ordered from Aliexpress a couple months back. For $10 it’s a nice little kit. I haven’t managed to break anything (yet.)
Franco
I picked one of these up a couple of months ago. Liked it so much, I bought one each for my two boys for Christmas. Great for working on things that go bang. It’s a poor man’s (or smart man’s) FixIt Stix.
PETE
Looks like a TikTok tool lol.
Kevin R Franklin
I can see applications where this design would be beneficial. Having a T-handle can be helpful when you are fastening something that just needs a little more torque than a straight driver.
ElectroAtletico
Kelin? I can’t wait for “MIRWAUKEEY” or “DAYWAAHLT” to come up with their options!
gleb
bought the same at ali for around 10 dollars. nothing special. sometimes wanna smaler bits. laying at the tools shelv with a lot of dust
D3t
This reminds me of these two sets:
https://www.amazon.com/Neiko-Security-Ratcheting-Screwdriver-101-Piece/dp/B075H3QBLT/
https://www.amazon.com/HORUSDY-140-Piece-Screwdriver-Magnetizer-Demagnetizer/dp/B0DD36Q81K/
Just browse through the offerings until you find a color you like. LOL
S
It’s really not all that far off from the icon “tiktok” tool that went viral a while back.
https://www.harborfreight.com/brands/icon/tool-sets/locking-flex-head-ratchet-and-bit-set-35-piece-58074.html
I personally don’t have a use for a T-handle. My issue is that anywhere I have clearance for a T-handle, I have clearance for larger, nicer, and faster tools.
After resisting the trends for a while, I finally picked up one of the Icon sets for myself because I had a limited space job that specifically needed the flex head and ratcheting bit drive capability, and I was stealing a coworkers.
The T-handle version would not have fit in the space I needed it to for that job.
JH
These have been on tiktok and deal sites listed for well over a year now
Adam S.
I’ve seen these around the shop sometimes. I can’t tell which one is the original. Is the kickstarter the first? Does anyone remember the company name?
William Adams
Silca, see my comment elsethread.
William Adams
Why not get the original?
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1400728964/t-ratchet-multi-tool-and-ti-torque-travel-torque-e
They’re on their second generation:
https://silca.cc/products/t-ratchet-ti-torque-kit-2nd-generation
928'er
I’ve got the Lezyne Torque Drive set.
https://ride.lezyne.com/products/torque-drive
It was about half the price of the Silca version. Silca is a well established company. I question why they were looking for Kickstarter funding..
William Adams
I believe that is discussed in the Kickstarter linked above, which began in early 2016.
Berg
Often Menards is the last one to hop on trends that Home Depot/Lowes/Harbor Freight start, but for once they might have been first for these. I’m not sure if it was Black Friday or slightly after for some other Christmas sale, but they had a rebranded Performax (which is the mid tier of Menards store brands between Tool Shop and Master Force) version of these available in stores recently, though now they’re gone like a lot of the cheap seasonal tools they do. I’ve bought seasonal Performax bit ratchet and ratcheting screwdriver sets previous years and been disappointed in the quality even for the very low price, so this time I just stayed away from them.
https://www.menards.com/main/grocery-home/holiday-gift-ideas/performax-reg-24-in-1-ratcheting-screwdriver/px-79978/p-1642874354932017-c-1446215532061.htm
928'er
Doesn’t look like any of the various versions offer the bare tool. I’ve already got enough bits to last me for the rest of my life. Not buying any more…