After raving about the utility of tools like Stanley Proto’s Rotator Ratchet — which allows you to drive the ratchet by rotating the handle with your wrist as well as turning it the normal way – I came across the tool pictured above in the bottom of my “spare sockets” drawer. Turning the T-handle at the left rotates the ratchet head.
It’s branded Popular Mechanics, and I can’t imagine that it’s anywhere near new. Most of the stuff in the drawer where I found it came from a similar drawer in my Dad’s roll-away.
Since I found it, I’ve used it a couple of times. It’s certainly handy for situations where clearances are tight, but I’m not much of a fan of the ratcheting mechanism. And turning the T-handle while holding the ratchet in place requires two hands. Though I think I’d like Proto’s wrist-action design better, I imagine I can make more torque with this one.
Of course, there is one big advantage (for me, anyway) of this wrench over the Proto: I already own this one.
Note: If you have a cool old tool lying around in your collection, why not drop us a description and a link to a picture of it using our contact form? I bet other readers would enjoy seeing it, and I know we would.
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10 Responses to From The Toolbox: A Rotator Ratchet, Old-School Style
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Isn’t that a sidewinder ratchet? I always wondered about them but never actually found myself needing one.
One of those things that look like a great idea in the store, then when you get it home, it winds up in the bottom drawer of the tool chest. Another candidate for Santa’s Secret gift exchange.
I had a Sidewinder, and it was great till I loaned it out and it came back jammed solid. It wasn’t even a ratchet anymore. DON’T try to do anything that requires a lot of torque!
OTOH, I have no idea what that guy did to break mine. He may have welded it to keep it from ratcheting.
I have the same wrench except that it is called a Sidewinder; thought I would have use for it but only used it once in 5 years …
I have had two of them. They are really handy, especially for bolts like starter or bell housings in tight spaces. I have finally found a sight where I could order another. http://www.aircraftspruce.com. John is right They don’t stand a lot of torque either at the “t” or as a ratchet, so use a breaker bar or other ratchet first. Then you can speed it off. Using the “T” handle spins the bolt out at a 4:1 ratio so it is pretty quick.
They run about $29 plus shipping, and yes it might sit in your tool box a while, but when you need it and can only wish you had it……
[...] Joe recommends Husky’s rotator ratchet, the consumer version of Stanley Proto’s pro ratchet. The basic idea: you can turn the ratchet either by moving the handle or rotating it with your wrist — perfect for tight spaces. You can’t really apply much torque, but it’s fine for backing off a fastener after you’ve broken it loose. We also wrote about the old-school version we found in an old toolbox – also quite effective. [...]
I love the rotator ratchet for car work-taking out an alternator or removing side post battery cables, for example. The index ratchet I have just doesn’t get where I need it to.
The Popular Mechanics name was licensed by Walmart as a private label brand for some hand tools.
Just picked up one of these does anyone know their value
I have had mine for 15 years , Theres always the right tool for the job and i have found a few, spark plugs and headers for a start! Mine still works like a charm but dors take some getting used to..