I've been noticing a lot of posts over time calling various joints "ratchet joints'. I used to think there was a specific type of joint construction most of us understood as "ratchet" joints but it's become clear that I was wrong. Technically speaking, there is no such thing as a "Ratchet joint". The word ratchet means that the moving part can not move in both directions. To actually be a "ratchet joint", a should joint would have to spin completely around in one direction, using the joint mechanism to prevent it from going backwards. Anyway, preemptive pedanticness aside, these joints are long-lasting and generally used to hold limbs secure in position. they can hold much more weight and stress than something that relies on straight friction. And if they wear out, they can often be easily fixed by replacing a spring. THIS is a ratchet. Or more accurately a ratcheting tool. Anyone that;s used one knows how they work. They make "clicky-clicky" sounds in one direction but can't turn in the other (unless you flip the switch). The clicking part of the mechanism is what people associate with what they call ratchet joints in their figures. They usually consist of a round piece with teeth all around it that move against teeth on another part. There's usually multiple components usually with an actual spring or similar compression component. Those are what people usually call ratchet joints. There were common on medium to large G1 figures, dropped off a lot during G2 and Beast Wars, came back heavily with Armada/Energon/Cybertron to ROTF. They have been much rarer since. a recent line wide example are the combiner blocks from Combiner Wards. Their prevalence has typically been tied to Has/TaKTom's investment in durability/quality/longevity plans for figures. Hence the Masterpiece line using them much more than, say, Titans Returns. Then there's other type of joint that people have been mistaking as ratchet joints. These are things like basically *any* joint on Titans Returns Galvatron, most Combiner Wars limb bots where thery don't use ball joints. These are calls "detents". They're basically little nubs on a part that bump against little indents on another part, simulating a ratchet joints teeth or 'stops'. These are much more common than ratchet joints since Fall of Cybertron. Some of the big ones like Combiner Wars Jetfire/Seekers are really loud making people think they're actually ratchet joints but nope. SO there you go, a little education. I'm also probably wrong on at least something and I await the Internet's ability to correct it.
Well, you are right...however, the fanbase is used to 'our' terminology. A 'repaint' isn't a figure with literally every part covered in different paint. We all know...it should be called a 'redeco', since it usually is mostly the same mold casted in a different color plastic. A G1 'brick', doesn't refer to the blocky aesthetics either. We all know, it refers to the lack of articulation. We just roll with it.
Just so you all know, "kibble" generally refers to hard pieces of dog or other animal feed, so everyone should completely stop using it in reference to Transformers toys, 'kay? Is it so wrong to accept fandom slang as fandom slang, and not be too concerned with the strict definitions of words used in an insider context? While everyone decides, I'll repaint the ratchets on my Ratchet repaint.
I wasn't telling people not to use the word ratchet, merely explaining. I'm sure as hell going to continue calling them ratchet joints. I even pointed out how pedantic the argument is.
Didn't mean to imply you were, though I apparently did. I was poking at the pedantry, and it came off more ranty than anything.
Is "third party" fandom slang as well? I mean at this point since anyone can use "slang" I would prefer to call it something else but people keep getting offended or triggered. The thread: Ratchet teeth and pawl.
Ratchet and ratchet joints. Two different things. Each describing different mechanisms that have similar functions.
