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...

[x88x]

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

[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.