Am I getting old? No more air impacts?

[katit]

I am not pro mechanic, just working on my own stuff. More often than not I am using regular 1/2, 3/8 ratchets.
Last night I was changing oil in my truck and had to take like 10 12mm screws to get pan out. Then I remember seeing in more and more videos that people just use electric drivers which look like screwdrivers.

I do have 3/8 air Snap On impact but rarely use it for 2 reasons:
1. Air hose
2. Need to use bulkier impact sockets from different drawer.

So, question is.. Is it time to get electric tool? Are they staying charged for long periods? Do those batteries last? Do they require impact sockets?
Will I use it or it will be same as with air impact?

 

[P0234]

I never used my air tools for the same reasons you state, but now with cordless impact drivers, I find I do a lot less cursing. Initially I just went for a cordless 1/2" impact gun but have come around and see how useful a 1/4" impact driver is as well. Batteries last a long time as long as you have one in the charger, one in the tool, I don't think you'll run out of juice.

 

[Spareparts]

I have a ton of air tools, used them professionaly for years, I took a 1" square aluminum bar drilled several holes and tapped
for 1/4" pipe put the female quick connectors in and hung most of them under the edge of my work bench, real handy and not
cluttering up drawers in my tool box. They have been hanging there for several years. Why, Because I got several 18V tools 1/2" & 3/8"
impacts Impact Driver several different saws, and on and on. Every thing is Ryobi over 12, 4AH batteries and 3 chargers, That is my goto tools for just about anything I do now. Some of my batteries are over 5 yrs old. The 6 1/2" skillsaw is the handiest tool ever, no cords, air hoses just start cutting. One of the pluses is they are lighter. Long winded but it helps.

 

[signcrafter]

I have a whole shelf of air tools that rarely get used anymore besides the air hammers. Cant remember the last time I used an air impact, and have maybe 10 of them. Cordless is where it's at.

 

[katit]

Wow.. OK, I guess maybe it's time to upgrade. And get rid of air tools. I assume they worth nothing this days..

But still have to use impact sockets with those, right? If I have nice Hazet set which I use with 3/8 ratchet I don't want to use them with cordless?

 

[dcg9381]

And get rid of air tools. I assume they worth nothing this days..

You have "snap on".

Is it time to get electric tool? Are they staying charged for long periods? Do those batteries last? Do they require impact sockets?

It's been time for a while.
You don't store them full charged.. I mean, you can, but I don't - pretty standard with any Lithium battery.
I have not replaced any lithium batteries (yet) but they do have finite life.
Yes, some of these tools put out levels of impact/torque that would required hardened sockets.

 

[GrayFlattop]

You should use impact sockets, but there are plenty of times when you might not be able to. I can't recommend using really nice chrome sockets with an impact, but a cheapie sacrificial set - sure as long as it's 6-point and you wear safety glasses with side shields.

Like signcrafter, I have tons of air tools and haven't used them for years - except for the air chisel and the 5" high-speed sander. Maybe the cut-off tool, but the milwaukee M12 version isn't bad...

 

[katit]

You have "snap on".


It's been time for a while.
You don't store them full charged.. I mean, you can, but I don't - pretty standard with any Lithium battery.
I have not replaced any lithium batteries (yet) but they do have finite life.
Yes, some of these tools put out levels of impact/torque that would required hardened sockets.

Ha! I have 3/8 snap on and 1/2 Husky (been working great for me) and 3/8 ratchet Craftsman. All would have to go.

With battery tools my story is like this..
I had Makita 14.4 drill long time ago. Batteries went bad, replacements were as much as new drill.
I bought Ridgid set with 18V batteries and lifetime warranty. I have receipt, registered it, etc. But it's been over 5 years and they work good. I have driver and drill.

Since I don't use them whole lot - my worst case - battery dead when I need it. Or, battery dies after X years, but I didn't use them whole lot.
And now you say it's bad to keep them on charger. Because ideal environment for me would be to build a shelf with a charger(s), batteries and all of the tools. Batteries would be on chargers. And I may not touch it for months ...

 

[dcg9381]

Ha! I have 3/8 snap on and 1/2 Husky (been working great for me) and 3/8 ratchet Craftsman. All would have to go.

I bought one pre-lipo Makita, it's proably 25 years old and it's still going. That's what got me sold on Makita. I was on battery #4 for it.
Everything now is Makita. I'm sure that I have 6 batteries... So individual batteries don't get cycled that much.
Brushless is a whole new ball game. As is Lipo.... Favorite chain saw now is 36v electric. You just never worry about if it'll start.

 

[ItsNemo]

I have both, plenty of nice IR air impacts and I reach for my Dewalt DCF923 first more often than anything else. Would highly recommend it.

 

[Farmall450]

I have both, plenty of nice IR air impacts and I reach for my Dewalt DCF923 first more often than anything else. Would highly recommend it.

Same, but in my case the Mac version of the 899.

 

[Wrench97]

There are 2 reasons not to use chrome sockets on impact guns, air or electric.
1 Chrome sockets are harder and will damage the anvil on the impact gun a lot faster.
2 Chrome sockets are harder and will shatter(more so with air then electric since the impacts are slower) Impact sockets are softer will wear faster and may crack but good ones don't fly apart when they break.
So using cheap chrome is a no go for me if something is going to fly apart and send pieces in the air it's going to be cheap chrome ones.

That said I do use chrome on 3/8" and 1/4" impacts usually set to the low power setting I like to break fasteners loose by hand either with a wrench or ratchet then use the power tool to speed up removal and install the opposite way no hard impacts are not going to damage anything.
My new favorite tool is a 12v 3/8" dewalt ratchet lots of torque battery life is decent with 3amp hr bats so/so on the stock 2amp hr.

 

[Wrench97]

Ha! I have 3/8 snap on and 1/2 Husky (been working great for me) and 3/8 ratchet Craftsman. All would have to go.

With battery tools my story is like this..
I had Makita 14.4 drill long time ago. Batteries went bad, replacements were as much as new drill.
I bought Ridgid set with 18V batteries and lifetime warranty. I have receipt, registered it, etc. But it's been over 5 years and they work good. I have driver and drill.

Since I don't use them whole lot - my worst case - battery dead when I need it. Or, battery dies after X years, but I didn't use them whole lot.
And now you say it's bad to keep them on charger. Because ideal environment for me would be to build a shelf with a charger(s), batteries and all of the tools. Batteries would be on chargers. And I may not touch it for months ...

I will not leave batteries on chargers unattended there have in the past been issues with all brands and fires while charging from the batteries and from the chargers catching on fire.

 

[PoorUB]

I am 64 years old. Working in the shop doesn't have the same excitement it used to have. I don't spend as much time in the shop as I used too. I don't see replacing my air tools with cordless at this point in my life. Heck, I used to sell Milwaukee and could buy at store cost, but I didn't buy one tool!

If I was 20-30 years younger perhaps I would buy cordless.

 

[dcg9381]

I will not leave batteries on chargers unattended there have in the past been issues with all brands and fires while charging from the batteries and from the chargers catching on fire.

That's a good policy with lipo in general. But from what I've seen in the tool space, if an individual cell dies, the whole charging system just says "no" and you're into buying a new battery.

This is different from the "hobby" space where you can bulk charge a battery and if a cell dies, you're overdriving the charge on the rest of the cells.

I've damaged and boiled out (one way or another) more lead acid than I've had problems with Lithium... But perhaps I've been lucky.

 

[turnthewrench 2.0]

So, question is.. Is it time to get electric tool? Are they staying charged for long periods? Do those batteries last? Do they require impact sockets?

Yes, to all. Pick your platform and keep buying. If you wait, Black Friday comes with good deals at the Home Depot and the other stores.
Hercules is another good option.

 

[toolenthusiast]

I am 64 years old. Working in the shop doesn't have the same excitement it used to have. I don't spend as much time in the shop as I used too. I don't see replacing my air tools with cordless at this point in my life. Heck, I used to sell Milwaukee and could buy at store cost, but I didn't buy one tool!

If I was 20-30 years younger perhaps I would buy cordless.

64 isn’t really that old But in 10 more years, it might be nice to 1) not have to drag a hose around 2) not have to worry about tripping over the hose 3) be able to grab a couple battery tools and go help someone (grandkids, maybe?) 4) be able to change a tire without exerting yourself so much

To that last point: if you throw a cheap battery impact in your trunk with the right socket, you can remove the lug nuts and jack up the car with the impact

 

[Wrench97]

That's a good policy with lipo in general. But from what I've seen in the tool space, if an individual cell dies, the whole charging system just says "no" and you're into buying a new battery.

This is different from the "hobby" space where you can bulk charge a battery and if a cell dies, you're overdriving the charge on the rest of the cells.

I've damaged and boiled out (one way or another) more lead acid than I've had problems with Lithium... But perhaps I've been lucky.

I've seen the dewalt chargers melt when left plugged in with no battery in them.

 

[PoorUB]

64 isn’t really that old But in 10 more years, it might be nice to 1) not have to drag a hose around 2) not have to worry about tripping over the hose 3) be able to grab a couple battery tools and go help someone (grandkids, maybe?) 4) be able to change a tire without exerting yourself so much

To that last point: if you throw a cheap battery impact in your trunk with the right socket, you can remove the lug nuts and jack up the car with the impact

Sure, but perhaps you missed the part where I don't spend that much time in the shop. I may have used my 1/2 impact two or three times in the last 12 months. I use the 3/8" fairly often. I see my need for tools dropping in the future.

I will not carry an impact in my vehicle for just in case. In fact I had a flat tire the other day, the first flat I have had in over 20 years, (maybe 30 years when I think about it!), so why haul around tools that probably will not get used? I do not carry any tools at all in my vehicles. I used too, but they never got used so I stopped. Keep in mind, in the last ten years I have driven over 500,000 miles. I have had a couple break downs on the road, but neither were repairable on the road. I carry a credit card and a cell phone!

Our daughter lives 900 miles away, so not running over to help her out. Most anyone else I know and hang out with is pretty capable with there own tools. If someone needs vehicle help we get the vehicle to my shop. I refuse to work in someone else's place and haul tools back and forth.

Ten more years? I might just sell everything off by then and just keep a basic set of tools handy.

 

[dcg9381]

I've seen the dewalt chargers melt when left plugged in with no battery in them.

Well, we can agree that has nothing to do with battery technology then. Straight up design defect and associated liability!

 

[dcg9381]

I will not carry an impact in my vehicle for just in case. In fact I had a flat tire the other day, the first flat I have had in over 20 years, (maybe 30 years when I think about it!), so why haul around tools that probably will not get used? I do not carry any tools at all in my vehicles. I used too, but they never got used so I stopped. Keep in mind, in the last ten years I have driven over 500,000 miles.

You're probably set to change a tire on that vehicle. 50k miles per year is a lot.

I carry an impact, a driver set for a bunch of different lugs, and a 3-ton jack that I adapted to cradle a round axle. But this is in on a "heavy tow" truck. It's often 105+ in Texas, I'm I'm too ******** old to be fighting the inner rear wheel on a DRW truck or dealing with finding a jack on a 20k lb trailer. But I have this setup in ONE vehicle.

I'm just as screwed as everyone else if I'm not driving the truck.

 

[zendriver]

So, question is.. Is it time to get electric tool? Are they staying charged for long periods? Do those batteries last? Do they require impact sockets?

Will I use it or it will be same as with air impact?

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes and No, you will use it.

 

[Fedwrench]

I think you're mixing apples with oranges.

You don't need to get rid of your air tools. It sounds like you need a cordless impact driver that you can use with a whole bunch of accessories. Great for removing dust shields, or any other plastic **** found on a late model vehicle.
Holiday sales are coming up look at milwaukee, Dewalt, or some other brand that floats your boat. Check out You tube and the torque test channel for more testing info than a person needs.

 

[turninwrenches396]

Oufff this subject is a tough one for me...I went all in with snap on 14.4 electric and loved it...matter of fact still love my long neck brushless ratchet BUT the batteries **** and are crazy expensive I find myself lugging and tracking charged and waiting in line to be charged batteries SO that being said ive basically went back to air....more power no downtime no babysitting batteries just plug and work...do battery tools have their place...heck ya but do they replace air tools? Not in a truck shop i dont think

 

[Packard V8]

Wait a frickin' minute, the OP is a home-handy-hack. Asks for advice and everyone here says throw away perfectly serviceable air tools and spend many hundreds of dollars to buy battery powered tools to do what he's already equipped to do. Where's the cost/benefit in that advice?

jack vines, who's got all the tools he'll ever need.

 

[Wrench97]

Oufff this subject is a tough one for me...I went all in with snap on 14.4 electric and loved it...matter of fact still love my long neck brushless ratchet BUT the batteries **** and are crazy expensive I find myself lugging and tracking charged and waiting in line to be charged batteries SO that being said ive basically went back to air....more power no downtime no babysitting batteries just plug and work...do battery tools have their place...heck ya but do they replace air tools? Not in a truck shop i dont think

I used air under the hood and under the truck but battery is sure better in the cab for pulling a dash apart to change a brake valve or heater control or when chasing a air leak.

 

[ctandc72]

Thing is - how often do you use an impact, regardless if it's air or battery powered? I work on vehicles a good bit - I've yet to replace my impact. 99% of the time I'm working in my shop. I have plenty of air hose and it takes a minute to grab it and take it to where I'm working. I've tried several different battery impacts (friends / neighbors) and some of them were impressive, others not so much - but for the price?

If you just want new tools go for it.

If my air impact died tomorrow - I'd probably look around, but for the money I'd spend on a cordless impact that would come close to the power of my current air impact, I'd probably just replace my impact. Well I'd need two air impacts to die - I have another older Nitro Cat that was 'broken' and I fixed it - so it was free.

Now if I was more 'mobile' it might be different. It's all about what YOU do with YOUR tools, how you use them, how often you use them and whether or not you can / want to spend the money to replace tools you have already that work.

As for air ratchets - that's a whole other deal for me. I have several 3/8" air ratchets sitting around. I rarely use them. Nine times out of ten I'll use my 1/4" Milwaukee impact when I have room. Anything bigger than that usually gets taken care of by the impact or the breaker bar.

It's all about what you use, how you use it, and what you want / need.

 

[zendriver]

Wait a frickin' minute, the OP is a home-handy-hack. Asks for advice and everyone here says throw away perfectly serviceable air tools and spend many hundreds of dollars to buy battery powered tools to do what he's already equipped to do. Where's the cost/benefit in that advice?

The OP didn't ask about the cost.

The benefit? You pick up the tool, use it and put it down when you are done. No dicking around with "firing up the air compressor" and dragging hoses around.

Me, IDK (or care) if the OP keeps the air tools or not. Hang on to them, maybe use them on a big job later. Keep the hoses where they don't get tripped over.

Age has nothing to do with it. People use cordless tools, because they are convenient and get the job done in almost every case.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I am not pro mechanic, just working on my own stuff. More often than not I am using regular 1/2, 3/8 ratchets.

I do have 3/8 air Snap On impact but rarely use it for 2 reasons:
1. Air hose
2. Need to use bulkier impact sockets from different drawer.

So, question is.. Is it time to get electric tool? Are they staying charged for long periods? Do those batteries last? Do they require impact sockets?
Will I use it or it will be same as with air impact?

I made the jump about 4 years ago ! My big issue with pneumatics was that I did NOT have a permanently install air compressor. 2hp, 20 gal Craftsman. More than what I would need but still a pain to haul it out !!

I started with a Milwaukee M12 3/8" impact because I work on a lot of outdoor power equipment. I added a 3/8" to 1/4" hex adapter along with Phillips and Torx bits. I got a 3/8" (non-Fuel) M12 drill just to have one inside the house. Then I got an M12 inflator (lots of bicycles for the grandkids). This was all I had for a couple of years.

Got tired of dragging out the compressor to rotate tires, so last year I made the jump to M18 ! Mid-torque 1/2" impact, 1/2" drill (with hammer function; my old corded 1/2" did not hammer), M18 1/4" hex impact driver (leave it at my son's house). My latest addition was an M12 right angle die grinder. I was not sure how much I would use this, but it is quickly becoming my FAVORITE power tool !

Yes, I AM HOOKED ON MILWAUKEE BATTERY ELECTRIC TOOLS ! Not cheap, but at my age, I am realizing "You can't take it with you !"

Pneumatics are for mechanics who use and abuse them DAILY ! Quickly and cheaply rebuilt. Quality ones will easily outlast electric tools 5 times or more.

 

[bonneyman]

I don't wrench professionally, but have been in enough shops to get a feeling for usage.

There's gonna be air available with a compressor, as tires and air blowing duties are present in every shop. So - if you have a set of air tools - keep 'em and use 'em. If you need something new, cordless might be the way to go. For DIY use I could go either way.
For awhile when doing A/C cordless tools wouldn't last long enough (I guess modern batteries are better) and I was thinking of outfitting the van with an inverter and get long extension cords to run my corded tools. Never got around to it.

 

[AJHD]

Oufff this subject is a tough one for me...I went all in with snap on 14.4 electric and loved it...matter of fact still love my long neck brushless ratchet BUT the batteries **** and are crazy expensive I find myself lugging and tracking charged and waiting in line to be charged batteries SO that being said ive basically went back to air....more power no downtime no babysitting batteries just plug and work...do battery tools have their place...heck ya but do they replace air tools? Not in a truck shop i dont think

I sold all my Snap On 14.4v and went back to Milwaukee. I could not continue down the Snap On electric tool route, they are just too ******** expensive and getting worse. Too bad, I really liked them. I like the Snap On triggers over the Milwaukee.

Anyway... My opinion, a mix of both battery and air tools are mandatory in the shop. But pnuematic tools have no place outside of a shop environment in 2023 going into 2024.

Compressors are loud, home compressors lack capacity and dragging an air hose around the garage, driveway and/or into the street is just a pain. Modern battery tools cover just about every tool you could need, except an air hammer.

Shops I worked at have better and larger capacity compressors, and are plumbed for air through out the shop and in every bay. When I worked at CAT we had 2 air hoses in every bay and outside too.

 

[BonzoHansen]

The only time my IR 1/2" air gun comes out anymore is when I need some extra umph. Otherwise it's almost always my 1/2" and 3/8" ryobi guns, and a makita 3/8.

3/8 ratchet I typically start by hand if I have to, then a Milwaukee m12 ratchet. Have a 1/4" too. Buddy gave them to me when his shop updated. I only pull my 3/8 IR air ratchet out when my m12 battery is dead lol

 

[nadogail]

In addition to my Makita cordless, I have a compressor in my shop.
For Roadside Work, my cars have a jack and Lug wrench; for real problems on the road I have my cell phone and a AAA card.

 

[katit]

OP here again. I have 80 gallon compressor plumbed in with outlets in garage. Hose is available too. I use impact for taking wheels off mainly.

3/8 impact used very few times. To me switching to electric would also mean getting sockets.

Last time when I was taking pan off I was too lazy to get up get a gun since I already had ratchet in my hand. There is also a question with torque. Do you use them to put fasteners back. Because I want to start them by hand and I also want to make sure they torqued properly

 

[Blueshound_GJ]

OP here again. I have 80 gallon compressor plumbed in with outlets in garage. Hose is available too. I use impact for taking wheels off mainly.

3/8 impact used very few times. To me switching to electric would also mean getting sockets.

Last time when I was taking pan off I was too lazy to get up get a gun since I already had ratchet in my hand. There is also a question with torque. Do you use them to put fasteners back. Because I want to start them by hand and I also want to make sure they torqued properly

I changed careers almost 20 years ago and haven't ever bothered buying electric replacements for my air tools. I use them with a 2.5 gallon pancake compressor and sometimes have to wait a minute for pressure. Doesn't bother me, I am not in any hurry working on vehicles, it is meditative. In fact, last brake job I used only hand tools, including a tire rotation. My old SnapOn spinner works great on lugnuts, with a breaker bar to loosen and torque wrench to tighten them. Quiet unlike impacts of any kind. Sounds like you might be the same.

 

[Wolley]

I'll use my makita impact driver on small stuff like the plastic on the bottom of a car other than that it's air. My compressor is always full and I've never had an issue tripping over hoses that apparently plagues most people.

 

[Jswain]

OP here again. I have 80 gallon compressor plumbed in with outlets in garage. Hose is available too. I use impact for taking wheels off mainly.

3/8 impact used very few times. To me switching to electric would also mean getting sockets.

Last time when I was taking pan off I was too lazy to get up get a gun since I already had ratchet in my hand. There is also a question with torque. Do you use them to put fasteners back. Because I want to start them by hand and I also want to make sure they torqued properly

Honestly you will gain NOTHING, except for a lighter wallet by going with cordless.

Depending on what your air setup is I would find a way to make it more convenient instead(better hose reel/more flexible hose/swivels etc.)

Leave the cordless tools to the people who primarily work outside the reach of a compressor, professional mechanics maximizing efficiency, or those who can't have a larger compressor.

 

[Wamsutta]

The cost of the replacement batteries are still stupid money.

With air tools, all you have to pay for is the cost of the electricity to run the compressor.

 

[Hohn]

I am not pro mechanic, just working on my own stuff. More often than not I am using regular 1/2, 3/8 ratchets.
Last night I was changing oil in my truck and had to take like 10 12mm screws to get pan out. Then I remember seeing in more and more videos that people just use electric drivers which look like screwdrivers.

I do have 3/8 air Snap On impact but rarely use it for 2 reasons:
1. Air hose
2. Need to use bulkier impact sockets from different drawer.

So, question is.. Is it time to get electric tool? Are they staying charged for long periods? Do those batteries last? Do they require impact sockets?
Will I use it or it will be same as with air impact?

There’s room for both, IMO. I went cordless early and I’m surprised how often I’m still using (and preferring) air tools.

I have a makita cordless ratchet and and cheapo Husky air ratchet. I reach for the Makita first, but often end up having to use the air ratchet anyway because that battery just adds so much bulk. The makita is 14.5” long and the battery is pancaked along the bottom rear:

https://cdn.makitatools.com/apps/cms/img/xrw/5351f1a0-223b-402f-94dc-de8ab898c901_xrw01z_p_1500px.png

The Aircat ratchet I’m looking at is <9” long:

AIRCAT 801 - 3/8" Mini Composite Single Pawl Ratchet

Strongest 3/8" Mini Ratchet in its class! 45 ft-lb Loosening torque Single pawl mechanism Fast rundown 320 RPM Superior internal mechanics Patented quiet tuned exhaust (82 dBa)

aircat.com

Over 5” shorter and slimmer as well as higher RPM for the same torque output. 5” is more than enough to account for an air fitting or swivel and such.


That’s ratchets. For impact tools, the advantages of air are 1)physical size (as always) and 2) smoothness/vibration.

There are some compact air impacts now that are amazing in their power for the size. Cordless, but comparison, is huge and fits in a lot fewer places. Yes, cordless if fine for lug nuts and a couple wide open spaces. But for underhood and front end work, I find the cordless just doesn’t fit well enough to be much use. My cordless is a compact 1/2” only rated 240lb-ft, so by no means is it huge. It’s just still too big.

For similar power output, I could get an Astro Nano that is much smaller and more compact and yet more powerful. It’s also a lot smoother.

I have arthritis now pretty bad and I place a high premium not having my hands vibrated to oblivion. high output cordless is simply not possible for me, it would destroy my hands and the tools are HUGE.

The most useful cordless is a small impact driver with a 3/8 socket adapter. They fit a surprising number of places and are mild enough that they don’t even need impact sockets. You can’t hurt a chrome socket with a 1/4” hex drive.

 

[katit]

Honestly you will gain NOTHING, except for a lighter wallet by going with cordless.

Depending on what your air setup is I would find a way to make it more convenient instead(better hose reel/more flexible hose/swivels etc.)

Leave the cordless tools to the people who primarily work outside the reach of a compressor, professional mechanics maximizing efficiency, or those who can't have a larger compressor.

Yep, I start thinking this way. What airhose would you recommend? Perhaps thinner one?

A lot of times I find it hard to get to places with impact as well

And what about assembly? Do you use impact for that?