What is a ratchet and how does it work?

29th February 2020


What is a ratchet and how does it work?


	Shop for Hand Drills and Braces


		A ratchet is a mechanical device consisting of a gear and pawl. A ratchet will allow the tool it is fitted to to turn in a circular motion in one direction but not in the opposite direction.

		3 way or reversible ratchets
		A 3 way ratchet is also called a reversible ratchet as it has three different settings. One setting will disengage the ratchet mechanism, allowing direct drive of the tool in both turning directions. Another setting will engage the ratchet and allow the tool to turn only clockwise. The final setting will engage the ratchet and allow the tool only to turn in an anti-clockwise direction.

		5 way ratchet mechanisms
		A 5 way ratchet mechanism is so called because it has five different settings. The first three are the same as on a 3 way ratchet. However it has an additional two settings.

		The first of the additional settings is the double ratchet. In this position, the ratchet mechanism works to turn the drill bit in a clockwise direction whether the handle and drive wheel are turned one way or the other. This allows for quicker drilling than the setting which only allows the drill bit to turn in a clockwise direction, as the drill bit is turned clockwise on both the forward and back strokes of the handle.

		The final setting on a 5 way ratchet is a spindle lock. In this position, the drill is locked in place and will not turn. This position is useful for when you really need to tighten the chuck up onto a drill bit or if you need to replace the chuck.

		How to tell the difference between a 3 way and 5 way ratchet If you do not have a user manual for your hand drill, then the easiest way to tell if the ratchet is a 3 way or 5 way mechanism is to count the number of positions that the ratchet can be set in. If the ratchet can only be set in 3 positions then it is a 3 way ratchet mechanism, if it can be set in 5 positions then it is a 5 way ratchet mechanism. For more information on ratchet setting positions see our page: How to alter the ratchet setting of a hand drill or brace

		Should I choose a 3 or 5 way ratchet and why?
		The main advantage in choosing a 5 way ratchet is if you need to drill lots of holes quickly in a confined space that will not allow you to make a complete turn of the turning handle. By using the double ratchet setting, the turning handle can be moved back and forth in the space available to drill into the workpiece.

		However, hand drills can no longer be purchased new with a 5 way ratchet mechanism, due to the lack of demand for such a specialised tool, especially with electric drills being preferred by most people now. A hand drill with a 3 way ratchet will be more than adequate in most situations, and due to their greater availability, they are likely to cost far less than an old hand drill with a 5 way ratchet.

		What does 12-point mean when talking about ratchets?
		Many hand drills or braces will be advertised as having a 12-point reversible ratchet. This means that the gear within the ratchet mechanism has 12 teeth. So the pawl will engage the ratchet mechanism every 30 degrees. The more points or teeth a ratchet has, the more frequently the pawl will engage the ratchet mechanism, allowing it to be used with smaller movements of the handle and so in more confined spaces.

		What is the difference between an enclosed and an exposed ratchet?
		As the name suggests, an enclosed ratchet has the pawl and gear completely enclosed within a case, whereas an exposed ratchet has part of the gear and pawl exposed. An exposed ratchet can result in dust, wood shavings and dirt getting into the ratchet mechanism.

		This can have several negative effects, including: preventing the drill being turned smoothly, increased wear in the ratchet mechanism or clogging the ratchet altogether.

		Better quality enclosed ratchets will have an oil hole for lubricating the ratchet mechanism, enabling the ratchet to run smoother and minimising the wear within it.

		Which ratchet setting should I select?
		If the job you are doing requires you to drive screws and remove them from a workpiece, you should select the direct drive setting that will allow the chuck to rotate in both directions depending on which way the turning handle or sweep handle is rotated.

		If you are doing a job that only requires drilling, then you are best selecting the ratchet setting that will only allow the chuck to rotate the drill bit clockwise as you use it. This means the drill bit will always be turning in the right direction to drill into the workpiece.

		If you are doing a job that only requires removing screws, then you are best selecting the ratchet setting that will only allow the chuck to rotate the bit anti-clockwise as you use it. This means the drill bit will always be turning in the right direction to remove the screws from the workpiece.

		If you are using a hand drill with a 5 way ratchet to drill holes in a workpiece that is in a confined space, you should select the double ratchet setting. This means you will not have to make a full rotation of the turning handle and can instead drill holes quickly by moving the turning handle back and forth in the space that you have.

		If have a hand drill with a 5 way ratchet and want to remove the chuck to replace it, you should place the ratchet in the spindle lock position, as this will prevent the drill from turning instead of unscrewing the chuck. For more information on altering the ratchet setting of a hand drill or brace see our page:How to alter the ratchet setting of a hand drill or brace