Help need to replace my 1/4 dr air ratchet

[ptab01]

my ancient CP 1/4 died today (THANK YOU GOD)
i am considering
Snap on FAR2500
Air Consumption, free speed, 1.4 (10) [40]
Free Speed, RPM 235
Torque Range, ft. lb. 0-35



or

AirCat (ACAACR800R) 1/4" Drive
# 50 ft./lbs. maximum torque -((Not Sure I trust this figure))
# 82 dBA sound level
# 230 RPM free speed
# Weight 1-1/4 lbs.

or

Sioux 5009 Detailed Specifications:

Drive Size : 1/4"
Bolt Cap. (Grade 5) : 5/16"
Max. Torque : 20 ft lb
Free Speed : 265 rpm
Weight : 1.5 lb
Length : 6.6"
Avg. Air Consumption : 1.2 cfm

Help!

 

[ptab01]

um . . . I had a slight problem.
surprisingly won both the Aircat and Snap On on ebay

I may be looking to sell one in the near future. Damn! I seldom win on these auctions and didn't offer enough to really think a would win.
Freaky

 

[Farmrod]

keep the aircat ditch the snap on ive had both and the aircat will out work the snap on

 

[nissan_crawler]

aircat has nuts, lots of trigger control, and it's quiet. Huge bonus if you're working in an enclosed area. I get annoyed at all the guys with their screaming *** air tools, drives me nuts. I'll often go hand them my air ratchet, just so I don't have to listen to theirs.

 

[ptab01]

thanks for the advice
I'll give it a go the hardest part will be not automatically going for my flex head ratchet

 

[browntown]

I guess it is too late now, but I've enjoyed my sioux tools and my Ti IR air tools. Both make some snazzy air ratchets.

 

[ptab01]

i was leaning towards the Sioux ratchet ( I like to put the money out into other brands than Snap On) but didn't see one @ a better price- $240 - Hell the Aircat was $80 New
the SO was $90 slightly used (just over 12 months)
Sioux is gonna need to pitch their product better for that asking price

 

[browntown]

my sioux stuff is all retired from industrial use found on ebay. It all still works like a champ. They really make fine die grinders.

 

[ptab01]

need to keep an eye open for a die grinder -if i see it under 100 i'll be investing in it

 

[emeraldcoupe]

i was leaning towards the Sioux ratchet ( I like to put the money out into other brands than Snap On) but didn't see one @ a better price- $240 - Hell the Aircat was $80 New
the SO was $90 slightly used (just over 12 months)
Sioux is gonna need to pitch their product better for that asking price

snap on owns sioux

 

[tonydanzah]

i really like my mac ar250, i have had it for 6yrs so far, i bought it used and it needed a rebuild kit. Not sure if the current ones are of the same made in japan quality. Whatever you buy i would look for the feature of being able to aim your exhaust.

 

[jvitez]

For my non-professional edification: what you use a 1/4 air ratchet for? The low torque would seem to really limit the type of work you could do with it. I'm not trying to be a jerk, just honestly curious. Thanks.

 

[browntown]

Off hand I know it came out removing the bazillion 8mm bolts holding the oilpan on my bmw

 

[wafrederick]

I like the cheap 1/4 air ratchets,they tend to hold up and last longer than the expensive 1/4 air ratchets.I have a $44.95 ATD made by Sunex from the Auto Value parts store which has held up so far and a $50.00 earthquake from HF which also has been holding up.Problem with the expensive 1/4 air ratchets is they get more expensive to fix overtime.

 

[ptab01]

For my non-professional edification: what you use a 1/4 air ratchet for? The low torque would seem to really limit the type of work you could do with it. I'm not trying to be a jerk, just honestly curious. Thanks.

Often it is the oil / ****** pan story -a bunch of 10 mm that just annoy the piss outta me.

BUT sometimes w/ the engine compartments shrinking quicker a johnson in a winter gail -a 1/4 dr air rat , some decent size extensions and my precious swivel sockets save the day.

B-4 the CP went completely dead i was splitting duty time between my SO flex head rat and my 12 v bosch impact driver.

of course for the ridiculously close quarter **** i grab the low profiles by SO but that is when i am like working in a finger wide gap and cursing a storm up.

 

[Honda guy]

i really like my mac ar250, i have had it for 6yrs so far, i bought it used and it needed a rebuild kit. Not sure if the current ones are of the same made in japan quality. Whatever you buy i would look for the feature of being able to aim your exhaust.

+1 on the AR250. Bought mine used aorund 2002. I like the compact head, good power (for a 1/4"), and the aimable exhaust. It broke about 6 months ago and I almost went with a new AR251 that was on sale for around $200 at the time. Ended up letting Mac rebuild this one for $125 and it works like new.

 

[tonydanzah]

+1 on the AR250. Bought mine used aorund 2002. I like the compact head, good power (for a 1/4"), and the aimable exhaust. It broke about 6 months ago and I almost went with a new AR251 that was on sale for around $200 at the time. Ended up letting Mac rebuild this one for $125 and it works like new.

what broke on yours out of curiosity? I think i bought mine off ebay for around $50, it only turned on way. It just needed a rebuild in the head, I want to say the pawl was broken. Was maybe $50 for the rebuild kit from mac.

 

[Danglerb]

The more you work on cars the more you start liking something doing some of the work for you. Starts out with when do I need to use the power tool, and ends up when can't I use the power tool.

 

[Honda guy]

what broke on yours out of curiosity? I think i bought mine off ebay for around $50, it only turned on way. It just needed a rebuild in the head, I want to say the pawl was broken. Was maybe $50 for the rebuild kit from mac.

Not sure what broke. It sounded like it was working but the anvil/socket didn't turn. When I got it back, it had noticeably more power and they even replaced the black rubber grip.

 

[jvitez]

Often it is the oil / ****** pan story -a bunch of 10 mm that just annoy the piss outta me.

BUT sometimes w/ the engine compartments shrinking quicker a johnson in a winter gail -a 1/4 dr air rat , some decent size extensions and my precious swivel sockets save the day.

Makes perfect sense now. Many thanks! Hmmm, I've got a couple of ATF changes planned for this summer. Maybe it's time for a new tool.....

The more you work on cars the more you start liking something doing some of the work for you. Starts out with when do I need to use the power tool, and ends up when can't I use the power tool.

Point well taken. When I first got my air compressor and a cheap 1/2" air impact I felt invincible. The power!! Until I couldn't budge a couple of bolts. Then I bought a "real" air impact, 400 ft lbs rating. NOW I felt invincible. It opened a whole new world of doing things vs how I limited myself because of my tools.

Thanks for the tips and explanations, gents.