RE-PURPOSED A 1/4" RATCHET FOR TIGHT SPOTS

chief38

chief38

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There have been a few times recently that I could have used a real small stubby 1/4" Ratchet and did not have one. It is not something I need every day, however as most "tool guys" here know, on that rare occasion when you need a special tool you REALLY need it!

I have MANY 1/4" drive ratchets and so I decided to take a USA made Craftsman Pro 1/4" drive (I actually have a few of the same ones) and give it a "shave". My most used 1/4" drive is a flex head Snap-on and the Craftsman was probably never even used.

After about an hour and a half of Dremel, File and Sandpaper work (I wanted it to also look good ya know) below is what I would up with. Now instead of just having many redundant 1/4" ratchets that never get used, I have one now that has a specialized "tight spot" purpose. It came out really nice and to someone who didn't know I cut it they would think it came that way. I am very happy I finally decided to modify it! Before and after pics.
 

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Sometimes you just need to make your own tools for a certain situation. I pick up cheaper tools that I can modify when I know they won't get a lot of use so that I am not wasting my good tools and save a little cash. Looks like a pro job.
 
Looks good.
I have several modified tools in my box that serve a special purpose. But most of them are butt ugly because I just didn't have the time to make them pretty. I needed it right now! ;)
 
Having access to welding & cutting equipment, over the course of years I have cut, bent and modified (tortured) or made a bunch of specialty tools.

Back in the muscle car era of the mid 60s to early 70s I had to bend or other wise modify wrenches to fit in certain places in certain cars. Mostly a one of type tool. Big engines stuffed in small chaises made life interesting as I worked part time at my friends speed shop/ garage and had my own street racer car!

There was a store down the street that handled a real cheap brand of tools (globemaster I believe) get the size you need and work it over till you got what you needed. This was especially needed working around the exhaust headers we were putting on cars.

I also made up a bunch of specialty adjustable wrenches for convenience for my normal job of pipefitter/welder. Get a 12'' crescent as they had a jaw that could handle most common sizes we encountered and cut the handle down so it fit well in your pocket. Since I retired early 2000s I have seen wrenches built that way right from the factory.
 
Nice work CHIEF. Like NYlakesider I had welders and torches in my shops that were used everyday. I made similar modifications to a 3/8" on 1/2" drive ratchets. I cut them off and welded on a steel ball bearing for an old truck bearing. You do nice work. I always wanted to do the same with a 3/4" drive ratchet but never got around to it. Like NYlaksider we had drawers full of modified to fit just one application.
 
My gosh Chief, you know how much I appreciate good tools, but I have to tell you that PROTO makes a 1/4" ratchet drive that looks just like and is the same size as your creation...... :-( .............. On the other hand, you did a "craftsman" like job.

BTW, I just did a really delicate job on the lathe that wouldn't have turned out near as good if I hadn't of had that Jacobs Drill Chuck... :-)
 
Big Cholla said:
My gosh Chief, you know how much I appreciate good tools, but I have to tell you that PROTO makes a 1/4" ratchet drive that looks just like and is the same size as your creation...... :-( .............. On the other hand, you did a "craftsman" like job.

BTW, I just did a really delicate job on the lathe that wouldn't have turned out near as good if I hadn't of had that Jacobs Drill Chuck... :-)
Click to expand...

Big Cholla:

I am really happy the vintage Jacobs Chuck went to someone who appreciates quality tools and accessories! Thank you again and I am glad you are putting it to use! ;) :)

The shaved down ratchet I just did is something I have been meaning to do for a long time but never got around to it. I have so many 1/4" ratchets I decided to use one a as a donor rather than to buy a mini one. I used the Craftsman ratchet because I could not bring myself to carve up a Snap-on, Mac or Proto just incase I screwed up. This particular version of the Craftsman was a Pro-line model and other than being a bit bulky for its size it is of excellent quality and made in USA. Other than the bulky issue (although I took care of that), it feels very similar to a Snap-on in operation. I believe it does have 72 teeth per revolution and so it is fairly fine.

Regards,
Chief38
 
chief38 said:
There have been a few times recently that I could have used a real small stubby 1/4" Ratchet and did not have one. It is not something I need every day, however as most "tool guys" here know, on that rare occasion when you need a special tool you REALLY need it!

I have MANY 1/4" drive ratchets and so I decided to take a USA made Craftsman Pro 1/4" drive (I actually have a few of the same ones) and give it a "shave". My most used 1/4" drive is a flex head Snap-on and the Craftsman was probably never even used.

After about an hour and a half of Dremel, File and Sandpaper work (I wanted it to also look good ya know) below is what I would up with. Now instead of just having many redundant 1/4" ratchets that never get used, I have one now that has a specialized "tight spot" purpose. It came out really nice and to someone who didn't know I cut it they would think it came that way. I am very happy I finally decided to modify it! Before and after pics.
Click to expand...

You did a good job - congrats! :cool:
 
Oh, one thing I forgot to mention is that since the Chrome finish is now gone, (obviously removed when the Ratchet was reshaped) the finish you see on the ratchet is just brightly polished raw steel with the final polish being Flitz and a felt Dremel wheel. I have done this many many times in the past and as long as the finish is high polished, I've NEVER had any rust issues. Being a bit OCD, ALL my tools get wiped down with a Rig #2 Oil rag before going back into the tool box anyway. Just in case anyone was wondering about the finish............. ;)

On Nickel guns when you just cant find a screw, if you take a blued one and really highly polish it, no one will ever be able to distinguish it from Nickel. I have done this on the Baby Chief I inherited from my Dad that was Nickeled. The screw (NOT a nut on the Baby Chief) that holds the Flat Latch on is impossible to find ( in great shape) in Nickel, so a highly polished blued one was the donor - came out great!
 
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Stevens said:
That's a nice job you did, but they have been made for years.
Google "snubby ratchet"
Steve W
Click to expand...

Thank you! Yes - they have been around for many years and I never claimed to have invented it - but because I already owned so many 1/4" ratchets I could not see paying $80 - $100 or so for another Snap-on, Mac or similar. It is a tool that I only use on occasion and could not justify buying a new one for. The "donor" Ratchet I used for this project is a Craftsman, but a USA Pro-line Craftsman and it is actually not far behind the quality of the Snap-on.

Aside from which, I really enjoyed turning a Ratchet that NEVER got used into something I will use from time to time. Because I am into tools, I am often given tools acquired by friends from their parents who pass away, and many many tools from my Dad when he passed on. Add that to what I have collected in my lifetime and I will never be hurting for any tools. :)

There are many tools and pieces of machinery in my workshop that I built myself over the years rather than buying store bought versions. Not only do I get great satisfaction out of doing so, but in todays world I can make higher quality pieces than I can buy for the most part - unless money was no object in some instances. But again, mostly for the satisfaction of doing it myself and using what I have.
 
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