Craftsman has come out with a new 26pc mechanics tool set. It features a 1/4″ 72T gimbal-style palm ratchet, a bit adapter, (6) 6pt sockets of unspecified sizing, and (18) 1/4″ hex screwdriver bits, model CMMT12004.
I love this gimbal-style ratchet, and felt compelled to give it a quick mention, even though we’ve seen it before.
Gearwrench introduced their gimbal palm ratchets in 2013.
Sears came out with Craftsman gimbal ratchets back in 2015.
And now, Stanley Black & Decker has introduced their own gimbal palm ratchet mechanics tool set. They went with a mix of 1/4″ drive sockets and screwdriver bits. It looks good, although I would have liked to have seen an updated color scheme unique to the Craftsman relaunch.
Price: $20
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Palm ratchets are compact and allow you to work in tight spaces, and also pack up tightly, making them great for portable tool sets.
What the gimbal head does is improve that fastener accessibility further, allowing for off-access engagement in the same way as a wobble extension or universal joint. If it helps, think of it as a flex-head palm ratchet, but one that can flex in two directions at once, allowing for compact angles.
These aren’t high-torque tools, but they do work very nicely with screwdriver bits, and can be a problem-solver for reaching fasteners other ratchets might have difficult accessing.
This image of a Gearwrench gimbal palm ratchet might help you visualize things.
See Also
Gearwrench’s gimbal palm ratchets are priced at $12 to $14 individually. This is the money-saving way to go if you want just the ratchet.
Buy Now(1/4″ drive)
Buy Now(3/8″ drive)
Husky has a couple of options, and theirs has 100-position gearing for a finer swing arc.
The Husky 25pc set shown here seems to be on clearance, priced at just $10. It doesn’t seem to be available for home delivery, and so you might be out of luck if your local Home Depot stores don’t have any available for in-store pickup or purchase.
Husky 100 Position Gimbal Palm Ratchet
Husky 100 Position Gimbal Ratchet Tool Set
Husky 20pc 100 Position 1/4″ Ratchet and Socket Set
Husky 60pc Mechanics Tool Set
Husky 105pc Mechanics Tool Set
