fig1 a shows a hand tool 10 , which as evidenced by the blade 12 , is a typical screwdriver . the blade 12 is formed at the end of a shank 14 , the shank 14 being attached in a known manner to an elongated handle 16 . as viewed in fig1 a , three visible faces 18 extend the length of the handle 16 except for the rounded end 20 of the handle 16 . three more faces , obviously not visibly in this figure , extend along the back of the handle 16 . a ratcheting mechanism is shown at 22 and comprises a conventional ratchet drive tool or ratcheting socket head for instance . the ratcheting mechanism 22 is moved along axis 24 until the handle 16 is mated therewith , the six faces 18 being engaged by a corresponding recess 26 in the ratcheting mechanism 22 . conventional operation of the ratcheting mechanism 22 causes the hand tool 10 to rotate about axis 24 in a clockwise or counter - clockwise fashion 18 , as desired . an end view of the hand tool 10 is provided in fig1 b wherein the six faces 18 are readily apparent . the six faces 28 form a circumferential surface around the handle 16 that is engaged by the ratcheting mechanism recess 26 . because the recess 26 engages the external faces 18 , a relatively large moment are &# 34 ; r &# 34 ; is available that is only limited by the full diameter of the handle 16 . thus , if a constant force &# 34 ; f &# 34 ; is applied to the external surface of the handle 16 via the ratcheting mechanism 22 , a large torque results ( tqu = r × f ). obviously when the same constant force &# 34 ; f &# 34 ; is applied to prior art hand tools which do not utilize a maximum moment arm , as is realized in the present invention , less torque is generated . thus , an individual may be able to free rust - frozen bolts that would be impossible to loosen with other devices when exerting maximum physical effort . another important feature and advantage of the invention now becomes apparent . when a screwdriver is turned by hand the blade frequently slips from the screw head slot unless adequate pressure is directed along the longitudinal axis of the screwdriver . the tighter the screw , the greater the axial pressure must be to insure non - slip of the blade , otherwise injury to the tool operator may occur . however , a tool incorporating the features of the present invention will not slip quite as readily from an element which is being driven thereby . while a first hand of the operator activates the ratcheting mechanism 22 , the second hand may apply a downward pressure along the longitudinal axis of the tool 10 via the handle 16 . the first hand may also provide additional axial pressure and the second hand may also restrain the tool from becoming misaligned with the driven element . fig2 shows a hand tool 10 which is a variation of the fig1 a embodiment . the phillips head 30 is attached to the handle 16 via the shank 14 . a phillips head 30 is shown merely to illustrate that the particular tool head ( screw blade , phillips blade , etc .) is of no consequence with respect to the novelty and advantage of the power driven tool described herein . as embodied in fig2 a , the handle 16 is provided with twelve surfaces 32 , corresponding to the twelve - pointed recess commonly found in ratchet driven sockets . each of the twelve surfaces 32 engage a single point of such a socket recess . fig2 b shows an end view of handle 16 , wherein the shape of the twelve surfaces 32 is more clearly seen . a cross section of the handle 16 would reveal a star - shaped surface with twelve points . however , each surface 32 need not terminate in a defined edge . the handle 16 may be designed with a cross section that resembles a gear having trapezoidal teeth , provided the surface 32 are dimensioned to be received by a twelve - pointed socket recess . again , the surfaces 32 extend the length of the elongated handle 16 and a large movement arm &# 34 ; r &# 34 ; is available in that the full radius of the handle 16 is utilized . in fig3 a , another embodiment of the invention is portrayed to which the general principals of the fig1 a embodiment are applicable . here , the hand tool 10 comprises an awl 34 instead of a standard or phillips screwdriver as discussed above . the handle 16 at it distal end 36 is shaped to include six surfaces 18 , the remainder of the handle length comprising a grip 38 which is grasped by the operator when using the hand tool 10 . in this case , the ratcheting mechanism is slipped onto the distal end 36 to engage the six surfaces 18 . the grip 38 is presented merely for the convenience of the operator and does not interact with the ratcheting mechanism 22 . the end view of the fig3 a handle 16 is seen in fig3 b . the grip 38 has a diameter slightly larger than that of the distal end 36 , merely as a matter of illustration and may be of the same diameter if desired . the moment arm &# 34 ; r &# 34 ; available to the ratcheting mechanism 22 is measured from the longitudinal axis to the surfaces 18 . see fig3 b . the fig4 a version concerns a nut driver which incorporates a distal end 36 including twelve surfaces 32 adjacent to the grip 38 . as mentioned with respect to the fig2 a variation , the twelve surfaces 32 are engaged by a twelve - point recess of a ratchet driven socket , however , at the distal end 36 only . also , the surfaces 32 need not present a sharp edge , but may have a substantially trapezoidal cross - section . the fig4 a handle 16 is viewed from its end in fig4 b where the moment arm &# 34 ; r &# 34 ; is evident . the fig5 a embodiment involves a hand tool 10 comprising a screwdriver , awl , nut driver , etc . wherein the handle 16 comprises a grip 38 except at the end secured to shank 14 . the shank end 42 of the handle 16 has a six - sided surface 18 for engagement by a ratcheting mechanism of the type generally disclosed in u . s . pat . no . 3 , 475 , 999 to roberts , et al , for instance . fig5 b reveals the corresponding moment arm &# 34 ; r &# 34 ; in an end view of the fig5 a handle arrangement . in fig6 a , the shank end 42 of handle 16 is twelve sided ( 32 ), while the moment arm &# 34 ; r &# 34 ; is indicated in fig6 b . it is believed that in view of the discussion with respect to the prior embodiments , the advantageous features of the variation portrayed in fig6 a and 6b are apparent and need not be detailed further . the aspects of the invention as described concerning fig5 a are generally applicable . fig7 a depicts a hand tool 10 which incorporates a handle 16 with a grip 38 separating a six - surfaced distal end 36 and a twelve - sided shank end 42 . thus , the hand tool 10 can be driven via either handle end ( 36 , 42 ) by either of two different ratcheting drivers , whichever is available to the operator . end view 7b shows the two moment arms &# 34 ; r 1 &# 34 ;, and &# 34 ; r 2 &# 34 ; which may be utilized . conversely , fig8 a portrays a distal end 36 with twelve surfaces 32 and a shank end 42 with six surfaces 18 and a grip 38 therebetween to facilitate engagement with various ratcheting mechanisms 22 . the moment arms &# 34 ; r 1 &# 34 ; and &# 34 ; r 2 &# 34 ; are shown in fig8 b . other modifications are apparent to one skilled in the art which do not depart from the spirit of the invention . the described embodiments are therefore considered to be only illustrative and not restructive ; the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims .