Torn - Craftsman 75t ratchet Vs 84t ratchet

JorWood · Jan 16, 2016

Hey guys, I'm new to the forum but not new to working with tools.

I just picked up Craftsman's 311 piece toolset in an effort to cease working out of the 2 hodge podge no name mobile toolsets that I've been using since I moved away from my dad's town where I had use of his glorious tool collection; and start my own. I went with Craftsman after much consideration. The kit includes their thin profile 75t ratchets which look and feel GREAT. However in the time between ordering and using the new tools I discovered they're 84t next generation thin profile ratchets (not the premium grade - which I am considering trading up for, but the ones made in Taiwan). Anyways I went ahead and ordered the 84t thinking I could sell my 75t's for near the $59/the new ones costed me.

The problem is, these are totally different ratchets. I was assuming they were the same handle/head with different internals. Not the case. Now I'm torn, I love the thicker grip, look and feel of the 75t. However the 84t has much nicer feeling and sounding action... I'll attach some pictures. I really don't know much about either and was hoping to seek the knowledge of the wise wise internets.

Also I am well aware of the I hate Craftsman now/not made in USA/not the company we grew up with/you were supposed to be my dad but you were never around/said I love you/I hate you Craftsman arguments...

I just want help deciding!!! So so torn... Can't even enjoy my Saturday

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JorWood · Jan 16, 2016

Also these are44996 L-AE (84t) and 20723 A-AE (75t)

byoungblood · Jan 16, 2016

I'd just pick whichever feels best in your hand. 75 v 84 teeth isn't going to make much difference in swing arc. Put some Super Lube in both of them before making up your mind, I doubt there's much (if any) lube in either.

drink · Jan 16, 2016

When in doubt......keep'em all! Nothing like having a bigger box of tools!

Actually I have no idea because these are new tools and lately it seems like the only way to learn about them is the hard way. Live and learn. A lot of new tools have been marketed and as soon as they hit the market they pull them from the shelves and replace them with something else. I've heard people say they purchased the USA version of the 1/4" drive premium ratchets and they didn't work from the time they got them home.

Recently I found some made in USA Craftsman Industrial ratchets being marketed in 2016 but I do not know how good they are or how long they will be in production.

drink · Jan 16, 2016

You can buy'em, try'em, and let us all know how good they really are.

DSLTRK · Jan 16, 2016

JorWood said:
Also these are44996 L-AE (84t) and 20723 A-AE (75t)

IMO, it's hard to beat the CM thin profiles. I tried the 75 tooth Chicom CM ratchets in the store, and they are heavy, bulky and not well balanced. The thin profiles are your better bet.

I'd sell the 75 tooth ones, and get a flex stubby. Many say you need tons of ratchets, but yet you only have two hands. Specialized is the way to go.

If you work on vehicles, you WILL be needing a stubby ratchet.

d.mcfarland · Jan 16, 2016

Honestly if you are torn between those for the reasons you have listed, the premium models will give you the best of both worlds. The better handle feel than the thin profile, and the crisp affirmative action that you are seeking.

Old Donn · Jan 16, 2016

I'm in the "keep them both" corner. Do much work and you'll decide on a favorite. That, and there's always a chance one might get lost or broken. It's nice to have a spare, save yourself a trip to the store in the middle of a job.

Yankee · Jan 16, 2016

I think the 84t is a much higher quality rachet, but I would keep the one that's the most comfortable to use... I have the Craftsman USA thin profile 60t and the Armstrong MAXX 88t, but I always end up picking up the old Craftsman Professional 36t. The handle is just more comfortable to me..

wiens80 · Jan 16, 2016

Another vote for keep them both. I'm guilty of having doubles or triples of a lot of tools. I have 3 pairs of Klein side cutters... why... dunno.

1950mercury · Jan 16, 2016

Keep all of them

JorWood · Jan 16, 2016

I'm tempted to take them apart and see if I can swap internals... Tempted as in, I'm going to take them apart and see if can swap the internals.

ChrisPace · Jan 16, 2016

I have the thin profile 60t USA versions, love them. Especially after Super Lube.

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jcfields · Jan 16, 2016

lordabraxis · Jan 16, 2016

The thin profile ones are the better ratchets. I work at Sears and I am the one that rebuilds the ratchets on a daily basis. I have had to rebuild at least twice as many of the newer updated ratchets in the last 3 weeks than I have the low profile ratchets in the last year.

JorWood · Jan 17, 2016

Well that's some good insight. Took em apart, everything fits but the release buttons as someone had said...

I will say that the mechanisms fit much tighter in the housing on the 84t slim than the 75t. And after grabbing my old classic Craftsman I realized just how much sweeter the new low profiles feel when compared to what I've been using all this time without complaint. So it's looking like the 84t is gonna be the winner. Or more realistically, I'll keep them both.

Also as someone that had never seen the inside of a ratchet before, I am amazed how much strength these can hold! And also less offended that I have broken them with a cheater bar slipped over the grip... Maybe I should actually by a breaker bar... One day...

Andrew360 · Jan 17, 2016

Keep both of them and use whichever one you want whenever you want.

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Richard Cranium · Jan 17, 2016

and save the other one as a spare. I have used two different ratchets on a job with two different sized sockets just to save time.

JorWood · Jan 17, 2016

Also in my review I forgot to mention that the 75t mechanism is night and day better quality than my old 36 tooth. MY. GOD. So compared to what they had before I'm really just splitting hairs.

JorWood · Jan 17, 2016

lordabraxis said:
The thin profile ones are the better ratchets. I work at Sears and I am the one that rebuilds the ratchets on a daily basis. I have had to rebuild at least twice as many of the newer updated ratchets in the last 3 weeks than I have the low profile ratchets in the last year.

What's your opinion on the how the Craftsman premium grades compare to the slim profiles?

impactsocket · Jan 17, 2016

Sell all of them and get the Craftsman premium ratchets but they are discontinued.

sicnarf247 · Jan 17, 2016

Sounds like your on a budget... buy the Harbor freight breaker bars with coupon.. you can get em for around 10 bucks bro

Don't stress your ratchets on tough jobs. Use it properly and either will be fine obviously!! Personally I would go with what the other guy mentioned. I would replace 1 set with some stubby/long ratchets. Having 2 of same size comes in handy when your working with multiple size sockets and your a fast worker. If you don't use it much don't keep the same size ratchets....you sound broke lol so switch it up!

lordabraxis · Jan 17, 2016

JorWood said:
What's your opinion on the how the Craftsman premium grades compare to the slim profiles?

The premium grade ones are pretty nice. I personally do like them better than the thin profile. Have hardly ever had to rebuild any either (I can probably count on one hand this past year). Only issue is they aren't quick release but that's an issue I can handle! Lol

DSLTRK · Jan 17, 2016

JorWood said:
What's your opinion on the how the Craftsman premium grades compare to the slim profiles?

The premium are ok. Just "ok". Handle length, gear action, finish, profile are all great, but, with heavy use the cover plate tends to loosen. Parts will be difficult to acquire since Sears stopped selling them.

The head really isn't as sealed as the thin profiles either, so dirt, grease, oil etc can foul the action. Many of these ratchets also had an issue with auto reversing, especially with thick oil/cold work locations.

lordabraxis · Jan 17, 2016

DSLTRK said:
The premium are ok. Just "ok". Handle length, gear action, finish, profile are all great, but, with heavy use the cover plate tends to loosen. Parts will be difficult to acquire since Sears stopped selling them.

The head really isn't as sealed as the thin profiles either, so dirt, grease, oil etc can foul the action. Many of these ratchets also had an issue with auto reversing, especially with thick oil/cold work locations.

The kits for the premium ratchets are actually still available but like every other cm repair kit now, they are made in China.

Its funny that you mention the auto reversing...I haven't had mine do it to me until about an hour ago and I've had these ratchets since our store started selling them. It did it to me a couple times.So I got frustrated with it and switched ratchets. Guess which ones I went to? Yep the thin profile! So I take back what I said and the thin profile ratchets ARE better than the premium ones (as long as they are the USA made ones)

Torn - Craftsman 75t ratchet Vs 84t ratchet

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