Comments on: Finds: Stanley Proto’s New Box Wrench Ratchet Adapters http://toolmonger.com/2006/10/10/finds-stanley-protos-new-box-wrench-ratchet-adapters/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:14:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Charlie Wardell http://toolmonger.com/2006/10/10/finds-stanley-protos-new-box-wrench-ratchet-adapters/#comment-2090 Charlie Wardell Wed, 11 Oct 2006 21:01:14 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/10/10/finds-stanley-protos-new-box-wrench-ratchet-adapters/#comment-2090 I talked with an engineer at Proto and asked why you would buy these instead of using a standard ratchet. According to him the advantages are: Size: -You can get into smaller spaces with a ratcheting wrench and adapter than you can with a conventional ratchet. -The total thickness of the wrench head-and-adapter combination is considerably thinner than a conventional ratchet. A Proto 4749P is 20 mm thick. A Proto 10 mm ratcheting wrench (SCRM10) with a 1/4" drive adapter is 15 mm thick. -The ratcheting wrench head is also smaller than the ratchet head (4749P - 23 mm wide; SCRM10 - 19 mm). The differences increase on the larger sizes. Weight/convenience: These aren't intended to replace ratchets; if you're using ratchets regularly, keep doing so. However, if you only intend to use a ratchet a few times a day, the adapter/wrench combination will be lighter, smaller and easier to carry around, especially if you already have to carry the wrenches anyhow. A 1/2" drive ratchet is likely to weigh more than a pound. The 1/2" adapter weighs a couple of ounces. I talked with an engineer at Proto and asked why you would buy these instead of using a standard ratchet. According to him the advantages are:

Size:
-You can get into smaller spaces with a ratcheting wrench and adapter than you can with a conventional ratchet.
-The total thickness of the wrench head-and-adapter combination is considerably thinner than a conventional ratchet. A Proto 4749P is 20 mm thick. A Proto 10 mm ratcheting wrench (SCRM10) with a 1/4″ drive adapter is 15 mm thick.
-The ratcheting wrench head is also smaller than the ratchet head (4749P - 23 mm wide; SCRM10 - 19 mm). The differences increase on the larger sizes.

Weight/convenience:
These aren’t intended to replace ratchets; if you’re using ratchets regularly, keep doing so. However, if you only intend to use a ratchet a few times a day, the adapter/wrench combination will be lighter, smaller and easier to carry around, especially if you already have to carry the wrenches anyhow. A 1/2″ drive ratchet is likely to weigh more than a pound. The 1/2″ adapter weighs a couple of ounces.

]]> By: Harry Zier http://toolmonger.com/2006/10/10/finds-stanley-protos-new-box-wrench-ratchet-adapters/#comment-2086 Harry Zier Wed, 11 Oct 2006 18:58:18 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/10/10/finds-stanley-protos-new-box-wrench-ratchet-adapters/#comment-2086 KD also makes these adapters for use in their standard or metric gearwrenches. They've been out since gearwrenches first appeared. Their handiness really depends on how thick your ratchet head is. If you have real thin ratchets, then these may not make you any money. However, if you still use the bulkier ratchets, then these may give you just enough clearance to get those hard to reach fasteners and that can be priceless depending on the situation. Sears even has sets of gearwrench sockets if you will that fit flush in the corresponding gearwrench for an even lower profile. As with all other tool purchases, you have to look at the return on your investment to see if they're worth getting. KD also makes these adapters for use in their standard or metric gearwrenches. They’ve been out since gearwrenches first appeared. Their handiness really depends on how thick your ratchet head is. If you have real thin ratchets, then these may not make you any money. However, if you still use the bulkier ratchets, then these may give you just enough clearance to get those hard to reach fasteners and that can be priceless depending on the situation. Sears even has sets of gearwrench sockets if you will that fit flush in the corresponding gearwrench for an even lower profile. As with all other tool purchases, you have to look at the return on your investment to see if they’re worth getting.

]]> By: Chuck Cage http://toolmonger.com/2006/10/10/finds-stanley-protos-new-box-wrench-ratchet-adapters/#comment-2084 Chuck Cage Wed, 11 Oct 2006 17:02:53 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/10/10/finds-stanley-protos-new-box-wrench-ratchet-adapters/#comment-2084 By looking at them it seems that they'll offer a slightly lower head profile than a standard ratchet. It's been my experience that the more options you can have at your disposal to get at those hard-to-reach fasteners the better -- especially if you're doing automotive work. And though Stanley Proto certainly isn't the least expensive option around, their pricing isn't out of range when you compare them to Snap-on. By looking at them it seems that they’ll offer a slightly lower head profile than a standard ratchet. It’s been my experience that the more options you can have at your disposal to get at those hard-to-reach fasteners the better — especially if you’re doing automotive work.

And though Stanley Proto certainly isn’t the least expensive option around, their pricing isn’t out of range when you compare them to Snap-on.

]]> By: Myself http://toolmonger.com/2006/10/10/finds-stanley-protos-new-box-wrench-ratchet-adapters/#comment-2082 Myself Wed, 11 Oct 2006 15:46:08 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/10/10/finds-stanley-protos-new-box-wrench-ratchet-adapters/#comment-2082 You're not the only one who fails to grok the advantage here. I have a set of socket caps for those occasions when a ratchet won't fit, they're rather thin and I can turn them with a standard open-end. But these adapters look like they'd be just as thick as a regular ratchet, so there's no point. You’re not the only one who fails to grok the advantage here. I have a set of socket caps for those occasions when a ratchet won’t fit, they’re rather thin and I can turn them with a standard open-end. But these adapters look like they’d be just as thick as a regular ratchet, so there’s no point.

]]> By: Fletcher http://toolmonger.com/2006/10/10/finds-stanley-protos-new-box-wrench-ratchet-adapters/#comment-2079 Fletcher Wed, 11 Oct 2006 13:55:04 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/10/10/finds-stanley-protos-new-box-wrench-ratchet-adapters/#comment-2079 Okay, so the ratchet begat the ratcheting wrench (which, by the way, I love), and now we can conver those ratcheting wrenches into...ratchets? (How much longer before we can convert the ratcheting wrench ratchets into band saws?) It's Proto, so I'm sure it's quality, but I fail to see the advantage of popping an adapter into a ratcheting wrench versus just reaching for a proper ratchet. And because it's Proto, these things likely won't be cheap, so even if all you have in your toolbox is ratcheting wrenches, you're not going to save any money by buying these adapters over a nice set of ratchets. (Ratcheting wrenches also don't lend themselves well to breaker bars.) Am I missing something here? Okay, so the ratchet begat the ratcheting wrench (which, by the way, I love), and now we can conver those ratcheting wrenches into…ratchets? (How much longer before we can convert the ratcheting wrench ratchets into band saws?) It’s Proto, so I’m sure it’s quality, but I fail to see the advantage of popping an adapter into a ratcheting wrench versus just reaching for a proper ratchet. And because it’s Proto, these things likely won’t be cheap, so even if all you have in your toolbox is ratcheting wrenches, you’re not going to save any money by buying these adapters over a nice set of ratchets. (Ratcheting wrenches also don’t lend themselves well to breaker bars.) Am I missing something here?

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