Comfy Ratchet

[altec]

I found a Proto 3/8 ratchet the other day, and after getting it working (Froze up), I decided I'd do a regrip.

I found some green Stanley screwdrivers at Lowes to use as the handle. I clamped the blade of one of the 'drivers in a vice with the handle facing down. I wrapped the top of the handle with a rag, and put some channel locks around the blade so it sat on the top of the handle. Then simply tap the handle off by hitting the pliers with a hammer.

I then took a caliper and measured the knurled handle on the ratchet. It came out to be about .635". So I found a 5/8" drill bit, chucked the handle in the lathe using the three jaw chuck, and bored the handle out.

Next I lined the logo on the handle up straight with the head of the ratchet, and using a mallet, I tapped it on. :) No more knurled crappy handle!

[mDust]

Haha, nice! You should have machined the logo off and machined your name onto it.

[blueonblack]

Well done, I love it.

[altec]

Thanks guys! Here are a couple better lit pictures. It ain't quite a Snap-on round-head, but I have a feeling it will be one of the ratchets I reach for.

I'm trying to find a rebuild kit for it now. I'm trying to find a rebuild kit that will fit it, but doesn't have a quick release...

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a269/Mrjunior/11/IMAG0567.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a269/Mrjunior/11/IMAG0568.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a269/Mrjunior/11/IMAG0569.jpg

[x88x]

Nice. It looks a lot better in the pictures than I was imagining. :P

[altec]

Got a chance to use it today on a PT loser. The refreshing to the ratchet I did seems to have done the trick. No slipping under load. :)

The grip works good, too. Comfy, still fits in tight spaces, and didn't get marked up even when it hit a bracket while using it.