Ratcheting Chuck Key
By Benjamen Johnson
These days everything ratchets: screwdrivers, box end wrenches, adjustable wrenches, hex key sets — so why not bring your old drill press or power drill into the 21st century with a ratcheting chuck key from Ratchkey? If you’ve ever pinched or skinned your fingers trying to use an original chuck key, or had problems loosening the chuck to remove a bit, you’ll appreciate Ratchkey’s design.
The ratcheting chuck key can apply up to 120 inch-pounds of torque with its highly visible, red, high-impact, polymer handle. Ratchkey designed the handle to be comfortable to hold, unlike the small steel rod on most chuck keys. The ratcheting action works in only one direction — you use one side to tighten the chuck, and the other side to release it.
Ratchkey makes their ratcheting chuck keys in four sizes:
- The HC-10 for 0 - 3/8″ drills, Jacobs KG series chuck keys.
- The HC-12 for 3/8″ - 1/2″ drills (10 mm), Jacobs KK series keys.
- The HC-14 for 1/2″ (13 mm) - 1/4″ pilot - Jacobs K-32 series.
- The HC-15 for 1/2″ (13 mm) - 6 mm pilot - Röhm style S32A chuck key.
If you don’t know what size key you need, a table on the McFEELY’s link below describes which Ratchkey key fits which chuck for each model on their web site .
Made in the USA with a lifetime warranty, each Ratchkey ratcheting chuck key runs about $5 — about the most cost-effective upgrade you can make to your keyed chuck drill.
Ratchkey [Corporate Site]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Ratchkey [McFEELY’S]
January 29th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
At five bucks a pop how could we go wrong. I like the ring hanger; more for the drill press than a hand held. A quick check shows another model from a different manufacturer having 3/8″ and 1/2″ on the same tool with a flip switch for tighten/loosen.
January 29th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Frank are you talking about the TwinKey? It was a toss up on which tool to write about. I chose the standard Ratchkey figuring you’re going to keep the key with the drill rather than move them around from drill to drill.
http://www.ratchkey.com/ratchkey_twinkey.html
January 29th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
With all the keyless chucks these days, I wonder if the chuck key will go the way of the skate key.
January 29th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Nice idea if it is a durable tool and cheap. I bought one a few years ago and it lasted for 3 shop days. Not Hot for me.
January 30th, 2008 at 1:35 am
I sure hope keyed chucks aren’t like the Do-Do bird. Keyless is great for light duty work with a cordless drill, but doing serious drilling and reaming requires a chuck you can really crank on. The racheting key seems more of a gimick than a useful tool.
January 30th, 2008 at 4:16 am
Actually Ben I was referring to one on eBay called “UNIVERSAL FIT RATCHETING CHUCK KEY” an example here: http://tinyurl.com/2mm9xk. I’ll agree the chuck tool belongs with the drill, but many of us have a drawer full of drills and chucks floating around that drawer. I like your RatchKey as it appears to be better made than the eBay one (suprise!).
January 30th, 2008 at 8:39 am
My old Walker Turner Drill Press (I have a more modern Delt too) uses a Morse Taper chuck - which is even more secure than any hand tightened chuck. I’ve never galled up any of the large morse taper bits - drilling ito cast iron etc.