I’ve been wanting to buy an SK palm ratchet for a while now. For some reason, product images always made these ratchets look big. Or maybe in recent years I saw a large chrome palm ratchet, and used that memory to create a mental picture of the SK ratchet. Before buying one, I couldn’t understand why SK would call their palm ratchets thumbwheel ratchets.
Despite how these are explicitly described as being 1-1/2″ in diameter, I always thought they were large palm-sized tools that were comparable to other brands’ palm ratchets.
Advertisement
Looking for a new palm ratchet to replace a plastic-knobbed Gearwrench/Kobalt model, I finally pulled the trigger on the 3/8″ sized SK Hand Tool ratchet, model 45172, a couple of months ago. It looks like the product descriptions were all correct – this is definitely a thumbwheel ratchet.
This ratchet, and others like it, are designed for use in tight spaces where you might not be able to reach a fastener with a full-sized or even stubby-sized ratchet.
The first thing that caught my eye was the superb knurling, and this continues to draw my attention and admiration nearly every time I use the ratchet.
The direction selector switch is nearly flush with the top of the ratchet, while still being easy to turn.
Advertisement
My SK thumbwheel ratchet is functional and handy, and I often look forward to using it. There’s something to be said about a tool that one actually enjoys using.
To give you a better sense of scale, here’s a photo of the thumbwheel ratchet next to a 1″ screwdriver bit.
Yep, it’s small!
Fit and finish are excellent. This is my first-ever SK Hand Tool purchase, and if all of their tools are like this, my wallet will surely be in trouble.
There’s a spring clip on the back, presumably holding the gearing all in place. I don’t foresee having to rebuild or lubricate the ratchet anytime soon, but it’s nice to know that the ratchet can be opened up if or when necessary for servicing.
The ratcheting mechanism is pretty fine too – I counted 60-teeth per full rotation – not that swing arc is of importance with thumbwheel or palm ratchets. Older models apparently only had 36 teeth. This one makes a nice and soft click click click sounds during use.
I paid about $30 for my SK 3/8″ thumbwheel ratchet, and might someday pick up the 1/4″ drive version as well.
I really wish that SK would come out with a 1/4″ hex version, but that unfortunately doesn’t seem likely. It’s not terribly inconvenient to use this with a 1/4″ hex bit adapter, and so a dedicated screwdriver thumbwheel ratchet isn’t really necessary.
SK continues to manufacture these ratchets in the USA. They’re sold through Amazon, industrial suppliers, and other SK tool distributors.
Buy Now(3/8″ via Amazon)
Buy Now(1/4″ via Amazon)
I don’t like being so insistent but, if your budget allows for it, definitely consider adding one of these thumbwheel ratchets to your toolbox. Even if you only use it once in a blue moon, these SK ratchets are great problem-solvers that take up very little space in your ratchet, socket, or drive accessory tool drawer.
mikedt
I picked up some really cheap ones at Harbor Freight a while back and I don’t think I’ve run across the need to use them yet. So at least for me, spending real money on thumbwheels doesn’t make much sense.
Col. Bud
I got a set of the HF versions too, and have used them a few times each. For the price, they’re very handy to have in the tool chest. You can’t really put a lot of torque on these, so other than a finer ratchet I’m not sure what a higher quality version provides.
dave
More feel for what you’re doing when you can’t see the fastener, finer ratcheting for VERY tight places, less rough on your hands with finer knurling, better metal to make it longer lasting, not a plastic directional knob that people report as being prone to break, nor the issues with suddenly striping or working in only one direction.
To only say you can’t put a lot of torque on it so it wouldn’t matter, predisposes that both are made with the level of precision needed for a small ratcheting tool. That can depend a bit on your subjective needs and the objective task you’re doing.
Some people buy only high end. Some buy mostly if not all low end. Some buy according to how integral the tool is to the importance, frequency, or value of the work they’re doing in a timely fashion.
Sometimes I find it funny how people rationalize a low end tool but then they’d rather a high end house or car, etc., when any old junker yugo that runs will theoretically still get them from point A to B if their only criteria is will it do that.
DJ
I’ll say that if you’re going to depend on an old junker Yugo for transportation – then you’d better invest the money you’ve saved in a good set of tools!
dave
Therein lies your issue. Seldom do jobs actually “need” as in absolutely require one specific tool and no other can take its place. Rather there are a lot of instances in tight spaces where this is quicker and easier the fumbling around wit a ratchet that can only make 1/10th of a turn at a time if you can get one in at all, else you had to have an assortment of offset wrenches or ratchets and extensions, wobbles, etc.
Rather, if only you have reasonably strong hands/wrist/forearm, this can do most fasteners faster than a wrench once you use something else to break the initial torque on the fastener, to loosen, or to get it all the way on until the final torque turns.
In other words, anything this can do, it’s often better at doing than other methods. Of course a torque wrench is faster where it will fit, but it goes without saying that you don’t bother using another tool when you have a torque wrench unless you’re still stuck in the stone age where torque wrench means going over to fire up a compressor, waiting for the pressure tank, pulling a hose over, etc instead of just having an AC or cordless wrench an arm’s length away.
I wouldn’t expect you to appreciate the refined use of this type of tool when also dealing with the poor function of the Harbor Freight version. HF sells a lot of tools that are better than the counterparts they offered years ago, but even today, 18 months or so after your post, the HF version of this is still crude and undesirable.
Karl
SK tools are well made and very durable. I have been in industrial maintenance for over 20 years and seen SK tools stand up to incredible abuse. It is very hard to break an SK ratchet, even with a long cheater pipe.
Allen
I bought the 3/8 and the 1/4 from HJE on the SK day. I find more uses for the 1/4 drive.
Dahna
Thirty bucks for a once-in-a-blue-moon type tool is a little rich for my budget, but all the same, it looks like a nifty little gadget. Perhaps someone will put it in my stocking for Christmas….
Stuart
Once in a blue moon tools pay off the first couple of times they get me out of a pinch.
I find that I’m using this more than some of my other ratchets, such as my Gearwrench flex-head ones.
Mike47
I, too, have something like this and have no recollection of ever having used it.
Jesse Neil
I have one of the gearwrench plastic knobed 1/4″ palm ratchets and I love it. I don’t think I would have ever thought to buy one, but I got one in a kit and I use it a ton, mainly on screws that feature a hex head combined with a phillips. I would normally use a nut driver or spinner handle, but this seems to be easier.
Michael
I have had the 1/4″ for 30 + years and used it once
fred
I know nothing about the quality – but here’s a tool with a 1/4 hex drive:
http://www.oempta.com/Reversible-Finger-Ratchet-1-4-Socket-1-4-Hex-FR14.htm
Stuart
Craftsman makes a bunch with different colors, but I really like the greater comfort and smoother mechanism of this SK ratchet.
Norm
I think you might be talking about these:
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-3-pc-screwdriver-set-finger-bit/p-00941390000P
I don’t know if you have seen this or not, but this a very smooth compact hex ratcheting tool:
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=52846166
What’s weird is, I bought this at a Sears store, for $15, but I can not find it on Sears’ site.
fred
Vim makes something similar – one for 1/4 hex and one for 5/16 hex:
http://shopsite.readyhosting.com/ss11.0/sc/productsearch.cgi
fred
Sorry – try this link
http://www.opentip.com/product_info.php?products_id=3625092
Hang Fire
I’ve been buying SK since I lost my primarily Craftsman tool box around 1990. I was tired of sorting out my Craftsman from my brother’s Craftsman from his friend’s Craftsman at the end of every big car repair. My first purchase was a big 3/8″ drive Metric socket set, deep and standard, everything but the flex.
In the time since then SK has gone from the highest quality, to middling, to something lower than that, and then back to the highest quality again. So word to the wise- be careful of New Old Stock. Panel wrenches are OK quality but are really old stock. Some of the late 90’s stuff looks like cheap imports. The first SuperKrome wrenches look like nice thick chrome over rough steel. I had a set, gave it away, I have to say it worked OK.
I recently received my birthday request, a new production SK Long Pattern 6-point metric wrench set. They came in a green Ernst Gripper holder. They are beautiful, and I love the Ernst Gripper wrench holder, and immediately bought some more from Amazon… but the Green color seems exclusive to SK. Red looks nice, too.
Dan
I bought two of these in 3/8″ drive, they are very nice ratchets and are handy sometimes for spinning things on or when you don’t have a nut driver to hand but have a socket the right size.
Robert
I have another version of this that I’ve reached for on occasion. During the few times I’ve needed it, it has come in handy. While purchasing quality tools is a good general rule of thumb, this is an example of a “Harbor Freight need” in my book.
I know that everyone’s needs are different, but I would never reach for this often enough to justify 30 dollars. This is also not a tool where I’d be overly concerned about quality anyway. The one I have is cheaper, but a more expensive model wouldn’t meet my personal needs an ounce better.
Again, everyone’s needs are different. As for me, I could think of better ways to spend 30 bucks.
SteveR
I would have to agree with Robert. The “other” version he’s speaking of is probably an HF or Titan variant; those have a plastic six-point gripping handle that is lightly textured. They are 1-7/8″ across at the widest point and have a 72-tooth ratcheting mechanism. These provide a comfortable grip, but are not designed to be used for breaking fasteners loose or final tightening. That won’t stop people from using them that way, though.
I have all three versions of it (1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 drives) and use them now and then. My brother had the 3/8 that he was using in place of a stubby ratchet, so that was my introduction to them. Most of the makes I’ve described are about $5-$7 each. Amazon sells the Titan models, so a quick look under “finger ratchets” will reveal what they look like.
The round body of the SK looks harder to grip compared to the ones I have. The knurling on the SK is thankfully muted, so it won’t cut into your hand as some do. I bought an SK 3/8-drive socket set in 1975, and it hurt to use the ratchet because the knurling was so deep. I eventually ended up replacing it.
Stuart
That’s why it was on my “maybe buy someday” wishlist for the longest time. I checked my records, and I paid $24.33 via Zoro during one of their coupon sales. $20 or less would be even better, but I at least feel that I got my money’s worth with this ratchet. I’ll pay more sometimes for greater comfort and finer details such as gentler knurling.
Hang Fire
Stuart,
I have to compliment your photography. Your focus, lighting, depth of field and color saturation are all excellent. Shiny tools are hard to photograph, I know.
Too bad you didn’t wipe the tool down with a microfiber cloth first. 🙂
Stuart
Thanks! Chrome tools really are a PIA to photograph with or without flash. This time I only used one light and it came out okay. Then again, I take and retake a couple of times until I get the angles and reflections right.
Technical aspects aren’t perfect (notice how the 1/4″ hex bit is slightly beyond focus in the scale image), but reaching perfection greatly lengths the time and effort required. I figure that getting as close as I can without being perfect allows more time for more photos, more testing, more coverage, and responding to more emails and comments, and is thus a good tradeoff.
As far as wiping tools down first – I tried that a while ago but it took too much time. Chrome tools require a lot of fiddling, and all that fiddling leads to more fingerprints and smudges. I usually clean grease and gunk off my tools, but that’s about it.
dave
Gloves. They keep hand oils off the camera, too.
Brian14
Interesting little tool.
Toolfreak
I have the old USA-made Craftsman labelled versions of these, that they made for a few months, and they are a great thing to have in the toolbox when you need ratchet action but can only get a hand in there to do it. They are used way less than once in a blue moon, but they are great to have in the toolbox rather than having to make do with something else when the need for them arises.
I also have a 3/8″ Thorsen branded one, which isn’t nearly as nice, but gets the job done. You can still get Thorsen ones for cheap if you want ones that are nicer than the HF variety but not nearly as costly as the SK.
Lowe’s also has their “palm ratchet” which is the thinner spinner-type of thumbwheel ratchet, and it even comes in a set with sockets and hex bits.
Steve D'Gerolamo
Here’s a palm control version from Facom….72 tooth. See http://catalogue.facom.com/en/categorie/aerospace/specific-aerospace-tools/1-4-metal-handle-ratchet/produit/1-4-ratchet-without-handle/r-150a .
SD
Bryan
I have the 3/8″ SK and find it useful while working in the very tight engine bay of my car. Aside from automotive use, I really don’t use it much.
Mike
To those wondering why spend more than the Harbor Freight version, the answer is the HF ones can fall apart. The springs have partially popped out of two of mine. Upon returning them under the lifetime warranty, one of the 3 in the replacement new set was defective right out of the packaging. The knurling on the HF ones is also rough and crude. One of mine tended to rip nitrile gloves I use when working on cars.
If you’re lucky enough to get HF tools that hold up and do the job, great. But the quality control is lacking and it’s luck of the draw–especially for anything with moving parts, batteries, or that plugs in.
I use mine mostly for automotive work in tight places with bolts and nuts that can’t be finger threaded but can be turned with one of these once you loosen them.
Nathan
year late and a dollar short I guess.
I have the 1/4 drive model – didn’t see a need for the 3/8’s.
It’s earned it place in the roll around since last christmas. smooth, easy running, holds sockets tight and extensions – as you’d expect from a quality device.
other than break away – I can spin bolts out with this faster than I can using my fingers only, grips very nice even in gloves and even wet. I’m sure the gear wrench device is good too – and the gimble part might come in handly – but so do u-joint sockets.
also it works well with a bit holder and screw bits too.