1/4" drive straight type air ratchet?

[runonbeer]

I've just spent about 15 minutes searching here and google for a straight, "in-line" air ratchet.

like an air powered screwdriver, but with the 1/4" drive anvil for sockets.

Couldn't find a thing. You guys know of any? Thanks!

 

[daveblank]

Never heard of one. Would a butterfly impact work?

 

[mrholeshot]

IR made one back in the 80's. I have one in my stuff somewhere. 25 ft lbs max

 

[jjjrmx5]

Might want to Google "Industrial nut driver " or "pneumatic nut driver" and they are also called nut runners.

Here's an electric by IR, but lots of companies make pneumatic ones...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ingersoll-Rand-..._DefaultDomain_0&hash=item588ce17ef2&x=13&y=6

Used extensively in floor mfg especially automotive. Can get them to calibrated to any torque range you want, but they are pricey. Main design is to put on nuts, not remove them. Some have square drives and some have the bit drives, which you can use a drive bit on if necessary.

Mfgrs:
GARDNER DENVER
Atlas Copco
Ingersoll Rand

Hope this helps.

 

[hotrozz]

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=91865&highlight=pulse+driver

 

[runonbeer]

Hmmm, nothing with a straight up 1/4" anvil huh?

I just want it for taking the screws out of the plastic belly pans on my volkswagens. I only work on VW and they all have these plastic pans with about 10-15 T-25 screws holing them on.

I just got a new hose reel with 3/8" hose and some CEJN high flow fittings on it. Its a little heavier than my old 1/4" hose with the Milton Ms. Just seems to take more arm to hold the 1/4" ratchet up there at that angle. There's a lot of hose hanging off my arm.

Guess I could get one with a drill chuck and find a T-25 bit that would lock up into it.

Unless one of you guys know of exactly what I'm looking for...

 

[jjjrmx5]

Hmmm, nothing with a straight up 1/4" anvil huh?

I just want it for taking the screws out of the plastic belly pans on my volkswagens. I only work on VW and they all have these plastic pans with about 10-15 T-25 screws holing them on.

As the current owner of several VAG products with belly pans, i think you're making things too complicated.

If on a lift, I use a Bosch battery drill driver. If on jack stands a Bosch battery bit impact driver or 1/4" pneumatic ratchet with pigtail whip. If lazy, I just use the Snappy ratcheting screwdriver.

Certainly no need for a uni-tasking tool for a piece of plastic and a few low torque torx screws in my eyes.

Now if you're running it at the 24 Hours of LeMans where wrenching speed and time is at a premium, then of course.

 

[bgott]

Never heard of one. Would a butterfly impact work?

Does anybody make a 1/4" drive butterfly impact anymore? I was looking a few weeks ago and couldn't find one.

 

[Layspeed]

As the current owner of several VAG products with belly pans, i think you're making things too complicated.

If on a lift, I use a Bosch battery drill driver. If on jack stands a Bosch battery bit impact driver or 1/4" pneumatic ratchet with pigtail whip. If lazy, I just use the Snappy ratcheting screwdriver.

Certainly no need for a uni-tasking tool for a piece of plastic and a few low torque torx screws in my eyes.

Now if you're running it at the 24 Hours of LeMans where wrenching speed and time is at a premium, then of course.

What he said, I would just get a small cordless screwdriver/impact driver made by Bosch, Dewalk, Milwaulkee, Makita, etc. and just put the torx bit into a bit holder and call it good. It would be easier than lugging that 'big' hose around. I use my Snap On cordless drill or Dewalt 12v Max impact whichever one is closer/charged up for removing under carriage covers and engine covers on everything.

 

[runonbeer]

Well, my air compressor motor quit so I bought a Makita 18V Li impact. I had been thinking about getting one of these for a while anyway and I wanted the 3/8" version instead of the 1/4" drill chuck one. Since I was in a pinch I went down to the local Home Depot and bought the drill chuck one they had. At the same time I picked up a 3/8" and 1/2" drive socket adapter as well as a set of T-25 and long phillips bits that click into the chuck. I gotta say, I'm very happy with this tool so far. I'm 3/4 of the way through a brake job on a B5.5 Passat right now and it's working great.

As for the weight, I set my little scale up on my table on top of a tall box so it was around 6' in the air and weighed my 1/4" air ratchet and hose, then I weighed the cordless tool. They weighed almost exactly the same (just under 3.5 lbs.) But I think the benefit of not having the hose to deal with makes up for the similarity in weight of the new tool. I actually expected the cordless tool to weigh more but I guess my scale could be wrong. It works for this comparison though.

I like the versatility of the drill chuck with adapters. The tool is very light and small. The price was right $269 for the gun, 2 batteries, and a charger. Add in adapters and tax I was at $308.

It won't break the lugs loose so I had to go around and snap 'em loose with the car on the ground but really, the impact is for speed. I can still whip 'em in and out quick.

I haven't used it on the belly screws yet but I think the T-25 I picked up is going to make it very useful.

What I picked up as a temp. sub. for my air, might wind up being my go-to tool.

And if anyone is curious, I bought a Quincy 5hp 2 stage to replace my Harbor Freight 3.5hp. Luckily, I bought the 2 year replacement on the HF compressor so I'll be getting a brand new one as soon as they get one in stock which I will promptly post on C-list for $400 if anyone is interested...

 

[fr0mastaj]

I have the same Makita 18V impact. Thing is certainly awesome for anything that doesnt require me to bring out the TiMax's

 

[hammergodthor]

Horrible Freight makes a straight impact air driver.

http://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools/drills-screwdrivers/reversible-air-screwdriver-90059.html