A discussion of everything 1/4dr

[Hickory n Steel]

From sets to just ratchets, and all 1/4dr hand tools including bit drivers and bit ratchets...etc let's talk about them here.

I'll start this off with my " baby ", it's my ultimate decked out 1/4dr kit.
This kit gradually happened like pulling a loose thread from a sweater.
I started with a WRIGHT tool 2426 contour grip ratchet, from there I added the flex head, next came the flex handle, then I decided to add the entire rest of the WRIGHT 1/4 set and it eventually just kind of spiraled from there.










Basically it's a really complete 1/4 set that also includes some other small tools that often come in handy when working on small engines and other things that mostly have fasteners in the 1/4dr territory.

I originally started with a MAC MC1 box but outgrew that, so I upgraded to a SNAPON " Party box " that found on Ebay.
It was initially intended as a stop gap standin for a Snapon KRA149 but I don't think I'll ever be able to afford what they fetch and I'm not sure it would end up working out as well as this little " Party box " that originally housed a poker set.

One goal for this set was that I wanted every tool in it to be American made, and with the exception of the little Japanese made Anex brand hammer I achieved that.
Everything including the VA bits and driver sockets.

[Elroy]

Are we a Taryl fan boy?

[Hickory n Steel]

Are we a Taryl fan boy?

I am quite a fan.

[Muddy]

Are we a Taryl fan boy?

I stumbled upon him some how. Now my son love his skits.

[skfarmer]

still an impressive set. looks like a few changes since we last saw it.

interesting hammer. any info?

[Hickory n Steel]

still an impressive set. looks like a few changes since we last saw it.

interesting hammer. any info?

I don't remember all the details, but it's a little guy made in Japan by a company called Anex.
They generally come with additional brass and nylon faces, but this version just had 1 flat and one rounded steel face with no extras.
They're also available in blue from Tamiya.
It wasn't terribly expensive,  but i did have to get it from an Ebay seller located in Japan.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/373764384249?_skw=Anex+micro+hammer&epid=5067033854&itmmeta=01JJ8NTS7W9Z31XTP52PMSV2YR&hash=item570617e5f9:g:HfQAAOSwQuJhcgh9&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKnPbX40K%2FvTQ%2FJp%2BtcfS5vhhIOtD0ooGnEIaqVdnundiBoPJHpB8xKoyaSmB5Uz0LFVa4KL%2BOGbKz3%2Fiz8HPujX5bio9o%2BDf%2BBs1dzQgQQOXw7IRlXptKD95C%2F1W1%2FfkH6U13xGpyPzBiM%2FupzzstsoknQyt1jhRZnXf6e9jkGCsMOmYLlEWQ4Yupy7eLJ7Its%2B10Rl7p0Ly6yHsVUozo0ABf%2B6ubXCZlmiv7WI8RlV2bZph2T3pt6wDRUOECsGf5V3%2FaBWHOmfYZtyJ4YSR%2FKCg2CNu%2BgT%2FymHM%2FqK8SxuFA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBMhpTrlZJl
I can't remember all the changes I've made,  I think mostly just adding the hammer and the Mayhew mini pry bars.
They are modified,I shortened them and added Striking caps.

[Hickory n Steel]

Are we a Taryl fan boy?

I stumbled upon him some how. Now my son love his skits.

I introduced my dad to him awhile back,and now he has asked me to get him a Taryl hoodie for his birthday.
I got my uncle one of their BenSHOT glasses with the 10mm socket in the side this past Christmas and he's started watching the channel as well.
The skits are fun and the channell informative.

[Hickory n Steel]

Here's a 1978 (dated ratchet) Wright 1/4 set I love, I added the modern driver handle and swapped it from the original blow mould case to this  Thorsen Action case gifted to my by J.A.F.E that I rehabbed.

[Hickory n Steel]

Here is a basic SAE 1/4 Indestro set I use frequently in my garage.



The sockets and extension were my grandfather's, I was missing the 1/4 and a forum member helped me out a a number of years ago.
The breaker bar came from another member, then the ratchet I bought on Ebay and liked it better than my grandfather's worn 6072 so I keep it together as a convenient quick grab little set.

[Hickory n Steel]

My current 1/4 ratchet collection drawer, I enjoy using some of them but they're not the primary users.
With the exception of one Japanese PROTO copy they're all domestic.


5 of these came from Forum members.

[goodfellow]

Very nice collection Hickory. That set is a prime example of functionality and given the small spaces we are forced to work in these days in our automobiles, it's definitely a huge plus to own such a collection.

The only suggestion I would have is to add a set of 3" and 6" flexible extensions to the mix. Those little spring wound extensions have saved my bacon on many occasions.

[Hickory n Steel]

Very nice collection Hickory. That set is a prime example of functionality and given the small spaces we are forced to work in these days in our automobiles, it's definitely a huge plus to own such a collection.

The only suggestion I would have is to add a set of 3" and 6" flexible extensions to the mix. Those little spring wound extensions have saved my bacon on many occasions.

I haven't needed one yet, but may think about adding one.

[Hickory n Steel]

Did I ever mention that I hate 1/4 driver handles ?

A few years back I had trouble trying to order a Wright spinner handle, ending up with the 2442 driver handle instead of the 2441 spinner and then eventually ordering a 2442 for again before finally figuring out the problem and ordering the 2441 spinner handle.

Well I just went through this same trouble again.
I recently decided to finally start completing my Craftsman 1/4 set, and one of the things I need is the spinner handle.
I went on Ebay and found plenty of very clean to NOS examples of the black handle H code 43372 " extension " handles, and bought a clean example for $12.

I knew Craftsman offered both types, but since I was going for the black handle I just took the word " EXTENSION "stamped onto it to mean that it acts as an extension and is the tool I wanted.
If it were the older clear acetate it would have jumped right out at me that there was no drive end in the handle but I didn't bother to look at the butt end.
Well I decided to brows a little more to look into those stubby models, and that's when I saw the the clear acetate 43372 which was obviously not a spinner handle which made me double check my purchase.

I did not find any of the 43371's available so I'm not going to cancel my order, for the price I payed I'll just modify it.
I'll pull the handle, drill all the way through, and fit a spare Craftsman extension I have to turn it into a spinner handle.
I kind of want a shorter one for this set anyways.

[Hickory n Steel]

I just ordered a rebuild kit for my Craftsman 43178 RHFT.
I received it from a forum member a few years back ( maybe Bman ?, trade gift or purchase I don't remember) and I think it needs a rebuild.
The body of the ratchet is in excellent cosmetic shape but there's a lot of slop in the mechanism and it kind of binds a bit here & there.
Hopefully the kit will solve the issues.

It was hard to find this rebuild kit until I realized that for some reason the kits reference the earliest model number for these ratchet.
Once I figured this out I found the kits to be plentiful and bought one for $20 shipped.

[goodfellow]

Good call =-- post up a pic of the kit and the model number. I'm sure many folks are in the same boat as you in trying to find rebuild kits for their older Craftsman RHFT ratchets.