tool question...
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
From: Madison, Mississippi
tool question...
Well I have been tinkering with idea since xmas time around....I have a nice ingersoll rand 20 gallon 2 hp air compressor with the goodies.....
Been looking online at a cordless rachet and curious as to how well they perform, battery life torque ect and curious if anyone here uses them.
I know I could probably buy 10 cheapies at harbor freight, but just nice to pick it up and start wrenching with it...
MERRY XMAS!!!
Been looking online at a cordless rachet and curious as to how well they perform, battery life torque ect and curious if anyone here uses them.
I know I could probably buy 10 cheapies at harbor freight, but just nice to pick it up and start wrenching with it...
MERRY XMAS!!!
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,837
Likes: 1
I'm confused, are you looking for battery powered or pneumatic?
We have both, the battery powered is awesome for smaller jobs like removing hose clamps, but doesn't have tons of torque. We probably use it most often, though. It's a Skil brand. Not sure of the voltage or battery type, but it has good battery life. It looks like this one, but I can't swear its the same one:
http://www.amazon.com/Skil-2372-01-7.../dp/B000P7MAGU
We have varying sizes of pneumatic depending on how much torque is needed. One in particular will just about break your wrist if you aren't careful.
We have both, the battery powered is awesome for smaller jobs like removing hose clamps, but doesn't have tons of torque. We probably use it most often, though. It's a Skil brand. Not sure of the voltage or battery type, but it has good battery life. It looks like this one, but I can't swear its the same one:
http://www.amazon.com/Skil-2372-01-7.../dp/B000P7MAGU
We have varying sizes of pneumatic depending on how much torque is needed. One in particular will just about break your wrist if you aren't careful.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
From: Madison, Mississippi
I have pneumatic 3/8 rachet and using quarter inch adapter....seems like you said, most of my stuff i use it for is little stuff like most of the stuff on the top half of engine. I have purchased 2 of the flimsy 1/4 inch pneumatics from harbor freight and they just dont hold up, and that 3/8 can be a bit bulky,
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,392
Likes: 0
From: NW Arkansas
cordless ratchets don't work like an impact wrench. I would go with mac or snap-on in the case of these types of tools..
here is a snap on air ratchet for $125.. pretty good deal.. lifetime warranty..
AT203, Ratchet, Air, 1/4" Drive (250 in. lb.)
here is a snap on air ratchet for $125.. pretty good deal.. lifetime warranty..
AT203, Ratchet, Air, 1/4" Drive (250 in. lb.)
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
My experience has been the cordless impacts are great for running the nuts on or off the bolts after they are broke loose, or up to the point where they need to be torqued down. It will save you a lot of turning on the hand ratchet. For half the price of a battery powered impact, you can get an air impact that will outperform it, but not be as portable.
OK, I'm going to hijack a little now.
I'm looking for a good air impact myself. My old craftsman is just too tired. Looking for the typical 1/2" drive. Prefer made in the US, or at least assembled in the US, or Canada or Mexico if any of that is possible.
OK, I'm going to hijack a little now.
I'm looking for a good air impact myself. My old craftsman is just too tired. Looking for the typical 1/2" drive. Prefer made in the US, or at least assembled in the US, or Canada or Mexico if any of that is possible.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,047
Likes: 10
From: Snohomish, WA
I have a set of the Bosch PS series tools for woodworking. One of them is the Bosch PS40-2A Impact Driver. It is not a ratchet, but it is pretty compact and since it is an impact it works very well on bolts under 9/16". It can do bigger bolts, but starts to struggle. I really shave a ton of time using it when swapping up-pipes out and doing my intercooler boots. Price is pretty affordable too at around $125.
Here is the Amazon Link
Here is the Amazon Link
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New User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7
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I have to agree with the snap on, Mac route. Once you use either one (impact or air ratchet) everything else is just that. Everything else. They will last eons longer as well. My old ones grew legs long before they broke, funnily enough they walked right to the pawn shop.
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My link isnt working for some reason
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 52
From: Southern Colorado
The IR 231 is a venerable pneumatic gun - the tire shops use these. Wait until a lightly-used one gets stale at a pawn shop and get it for $35-$50. I have used mine for 15 years and it's not the torquiest thing in the world, but it gets the job done 99% of the time. It may need a rebuild - who knows. Even new, the 231 (and it's successors) are around $200.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,372
Likes: 108
From: Northern Indiana
I have a IR thunder gun like the NASCAR guys use. Very pricey at $280 but there hasn't been anything it will not take off yet. And it does help that I only had to pay for half. Does take a lot of air though. I have a 60 gallon compressor so it works great for me.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,112
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
OK, I have to show my arsenal. 
Matco, IMO makes the best air impact.
Tried Snap-on, Mac, IR, and I have found that Matco does the best job.
The 3/8 and 1/2 inch are both about 5 years old and I've never had to do any repairs to them at all.
The 3/4 is a new aquisition and it will pull the 46mm Vanagon axle nuts off when a 1/2 inch gun will rattle for a long time to the point you are worried about breaking the anvil inside which I have done many times over the years trying to get those huge stubborn nuts off.
Snap-on makes the best electric impact.
Mine will pull the lug nuts off of my F550.
Don't have a picture of that one, it's stored in my truck right now.
Matco, IMO makes the best air impact.
Tried Snap-on, Mac, IR, and I have found that Matco does the best job.
The 3/8 and 1/2 inch are both about 5 years old and I've never had to do any repairs to them at all.
The 3/4 is a new aquisition and it will pull the 46mm Vanagon axle nuts off when a 1/2 inch gun will rattle for a long time to the point you are worried about breaking the anvil inside which I have done many times over the years trying to get those huge stubborn nuts off.
Snap-on makes the best electric impact.
Mine will pull the lug nuts off of my F550.
Don't have a picture of that one, it's stored in my truck right now.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,112
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Oh and what I like the best about those Matco air guns is the fact they don't weight a lot. Very easy to handle and they are not excessively loud like most of them.
They've done a great job of muffling the sound without compromising on the power generated.
They've done a great job of muffling the sound without compromising on the power generated.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,144
Likes: 11
From: Rochdale MA
My experience has been the cordless impacts are great for running the nuts on or off the bolts after they are broke loose, or up to the point where they need to be torqued down. It will save you a lot of turning on the hand ratchet. For half the price of a battery powered impact, you can get an air impact that will outperform it, but not be as portable.
OK, I'm going to hijack a little now.
I'm looking for a good air impact myself. My old craftsman is just too tired. Looking for the typical 1/2" drive. Prefer made in the US, or at least assembled in the US, or Canada or Mexico if any of that is possible.
OK, I'm going to hijack a little now.
I'm looking for a good air impact myself. My old craftsman is just too tired. Looking for the typical 1/2" drive. Prefer made in the US, or at least assembled in the US, or Canada or Mexico if any of that is possible.
I just bought an IR 1" Drive, (at work) it is a monster and is very heavy this thing is a torque monster.