Chapman Bit Driver Set Review & Ratchet Alternative  

Didn't realize they fit into the VIM ratchet. Awesome tip. Thank you!

I have a set, have had two over the last 40 years. I don’t use them often but when I do they save the day!

Made in CT, I have the set, bought the guys that work for me a set. A great American made tool, featured on Jay Leno's garage.

I just stumbled in this channel and let me tell you it is purely based and I love that.

This company is in Durham CT the next town over from me. Lived here all my life and never heard of them till I found a wratchet in a toolbox I bought. The one I have has reverse. Very cool 😎

I think it's important to note the original patent also has an 8 tooth mechanism. Perhaps losing the reverse was the tradeoff to bring it up to 20 teeth while keeping the tooling and stuff largely the same? For a while John Chapman was making these out of his garage, until 1965. Being a tiny company of like a dozen employees I imagine new machines and R&D into new products is also a rather tall order. Which would explain why the palm ratchet retained the same ratchet mechanism, and a lot of their newer products have been mainly expanding their bit range and offering new extension sizes.

You need to get the PR-13 palm ratchet that they introduced a few years ago. I never really used the standard CM-13 ratchet before, but over the past few years I basically never use it since getting the PM-13. If you've got any small hex or star machine screws to deal with, it's excellent. The round body combined with the serrated finger turn on the bits makes it extremely easy to quickly spin such screws in and out. You can even put a philips bit in it and spin it like a top on your work bench which is kind of fun. Btw the particular temper of Chapmans bits is very important to me. Awhile back I was working on a vintage CZ air rifle ( my kit is for working on firearms, vintage airguns, and vintage spinning reels ) and I broke one of my bits, but it was much much cheaper to replace that $1.25 bit than to track down a costly hard to fibd screw for a 50 year old Czechoslovakian air rifle. Most of the complaints i hear about the Chapman system is from people who just don't understand it. It's a specialty use system, not an everyday general purpose screw driving set. Aside from the very dated CM-13 ratchet their bits and their system are the best, cross compatibility is a non issue. Complaining the the Chapman system isn't cross compatible is like complaining that a Harley can't be pedaled like a bicycle.

This was a great review, pragmatic and honest. I love the design of the Chapman but the lack of cross compatibly and tooth count are enough of a deterrent. Check out the Victorinox mini ratchet if you haven't already, it has a through hole which would work with Chapman bits and is by far the most compact design I have ever seen albeit without a reversing mech. I'm not saying it's my favouriite, just bringing it to your attention.

i happen to like non reversible ones (when you can find them) since the levers tend to wear out and cause slippages i've found more frequently than the non reversible ones.

the problem with the 1939 version is that the reversing leaver on it was made of stamped steel and they tended to lock up or break off due to there very thin steel

That knurled attachment to manipulate the bits is so based! (Am I using that word right?) But something like that on bits would come in handy with so many tight situations.

I prefer the wadsworth mini ratchet. I used and abused this at work and it never failed me. I wanted to buy two, one for my dad and I. Prices have gone up significantly. If I needed this for my personal business I wouldn't hesitate a second.

Very interesting bits!!! Very detailed info!! Thanks for sharing,you got a new subscriber!!

100% agree they need to up their game on the ratchet and a thinner-walled screwdriver bit holder. I own two Chapman sets but still have to use a few better items in a made-in-Taiwan Pachmayr gunsmith set.

Vessel makes a similar equivalent with reversing lever, onboard but storage and accepts Chapman bits.

I have had the product for years. I actually broke the boomer ratchet. Split the black ratcheting piece in half. Still think it's a great product I was certainly abusing it

This is a great video. Thanks. And also I am straight up boomer tier at life !

I like Chapman...But Apex usa bits are my favorite.I have a nice selection and a bit of a bit fetish..ha-ha.USA made insert and power bits...I like to collect them.My favorite is all the various 3 inch power bits made by Apex.Basically any USA made bit is a prized piece for me..although I do have Wera and Felo also,and every other brand known to man.What I am missing is PB Swiss,so they are next.Collecting bits is a never ending process.

Does your bits come out of the rachet when you use the tool ..

Yeah but what’s the torque rating on the vim ratchet. It’s 200 ft lbs on the Chapman.

Thiccnesses. 😂

bits are kind of consumable. scratching my head on why you would put the ball detent on them

Those bits are goofy, because they have 🔴🐂wings.