Air ratchet question

[kiteman]

Picked up an air ratchet for $14 at HF today, figured what the hell I'll try it or take it back. Air compressor is 3 gallons, 1hp, 2.4scfm Craftsman oiled. I figured it may not be enough juice for this thing, but I'm new to air compressors and again, for $14, why not?

So it spins fine when it's not trying to undo a bolt, but when I tried to loosen a pretty stiff bolt, it just didn't go anywhere and air shot out the front. Does that mean my compressor isn't giving it enough juice, or is that more of a case where the bolt probably needed an impact gun instead of an air ratchet? If so, what's the use of ratchet if you have to break the bolts first with an impact wrench or by hand?

Anyway, I just want to confirm or at least ask if what I'm experiencing is a result of an underpowered tool or if that is normal for the tool to operate this way. And FYI I only tried one bolt. I couldn't think of where anymore bolts were lying around lol. Thought it'd be best to stop and ask before ruining a tool or an air compressor first after that. Thanks.

 

[DanInVA]

I know that when I am using an air ratchet at work, I will put it in the fastener and pull the trigger. If the fastener is too tight, I let off and break it loose by hand using the air ratchet as a ratchet. You can get quite a bit of leverage by pulling on the body of the air ratchet. Then you can pull the trigger and spin the fastener off.

 

[Cope]

Break the fastener loose and then pull the trigger.

 

[James-W]

Break the fastener loose and then pull the trigger.

I agree, air ratchets don't have a ton of power to loosen really tight nuts.

 

[Bill Bowman]

The few air ratchets that have enough power to loosen a really tight nut/bolt, can be real knuckle busters. I always try to break the fastener loose before pulling the trigger.

 

[kiteman]

Thanks guys. One more question, in this brief first time use of the gun I forgot to oil it beforehand! Like I said, I'm new to air compressors! Did I damage the tool already?

 

[sberry]

No, its fine.

 

[AndrewV]

Most air tools come pre oiled a little.
So you're good.

 

[Skin]

I agree, air ratchets don't have a ton of power to loosen really tight nuts.

but they have plenty of power to smash your hand into things

I hate air ratchets. All I have left that I occasionally use is my 1/4" one. Cordless or my hammerhead has taken over the roll of a larger air ratchet.

 

[dnschmidt]

HF makes an Earthquake air ratchet that is fabulous. It's an impacting air ratchet and completely eliminates the wrist snapping common with non-impacting ratchets. It will take off bolts up to 60 ft-lb. without manual turning. It's a great tool.

 

[kiteman]

HF makes an Earthquake air ratchet that is fabulous. It's an impacting air ratchet and completely eliminates the wrist snapping common with non-impacting ratchets. It will take off bolts up to 60 ft-lb. without manual turning. It's a great tool.

Yeah but can my air compressor handle it?

 

[DodgeMech]

I get mine spinning then slam it down and on the fastener...it usually catches and removes it...that's hard on the fastener, socket, and ratchet, though

 

[Engine]

Yeah but can my air compressor handle it?

According to the specs below, your compressor is a bit small for the Earthquake air ratchet:

Name 3/8 in. Impacting Air Ratchet Wrench
SKU 68426
Brand Central Pneumatic Earthquake
Average air consumption 4 CFM @ 90 PSI
Exhaust location Handle
Maximum speed (rpm) 400 RPM
Maximum Torque (ft. - lbs.) 50 ft. lbs.
Working pressure (psi) 90 PSI
Air inlet size 1/4 in. - 18 NPT
Drive size (in.) 3/8 in.
Product Length 11 in.
Product Weight 2.8 lbs.
Recommended hose size (in.) 3/4 in.
Shipping Weight 3.05 lb.
Warranty 90 Day
Torque range (ft.-lbs.) 10-50 ft. lbs.

 

[bcradio]

Your air tool is fine, but I'd start oiling now that you noticed.

For your current setup, break the bolt loose by hand turning the air ratchet on it and then zip it off

If you want to start using air ratchets more, it would be worth looking at the impacting versions (HF Earthquake). They usually break free the bolt.

I would also look at a slightly larger compressor (down the road) if you plan on using more air tools. a 6 or 8 gallon will get you by on most basic things.

keep us posted

 

[kiteman]

According to the specs below, your compressor is a bit small for the Earthquake air ratchet:

Name 3/8 in. Impacting Air Ratchet Wrench
SKU 68426
Brand Central Pneumatic Earthquake
Average air consumption 4 CFM @ 90 PSI
Exhaust location Handle
Maximum speed (rpm) 400 RPM
Maximum Torque (ft. - lbs.) 50 ft. lbs.
Working pressure (psi) 90 PSI
Air inlet size 1/4 in. - 18 NPT
Drive size (in.) 3/8 in.
Product Length 11 in.
Product Weight 2.8 lbs.
Recommended hose size (in.) 3/4 in.
Shipping Weight 3.05 lb.
Warranty 90 Day
Torque range (ft.-lbs.) 10-50 ft. lbs.

I thought I understood CFM for a compressor to be only the rate at which the tank is filled, and the CFM for a tool being the rate at which the tool uses air in the TANK. But that the CFM of a compressor is mostly irrelevant to the CFM of a tool unless the tank is small and the compressor is constantly working to keep it filled (meaning the CFMs should match relatively closely). Did I get that right?

For my application I would think changing an alternator on a car and having 5 10mm bolts to remove with that Earthquake impacting air ratchet a 3 gallon 2.5CFM compressor might be okay, what do you think? The compressor may run the entire time, but it's not like it would take more than 5 minutes to take off 5 bolts.

Edit: and here is another question I have. Even though the EQ impacting type requires a lower 4CFM draw than the less powerful non-impacting type I bought (6CFM), does that mean the EQ will actually require less air to do a much better job? How is that possible?

 

[cheechi]

HF air tools come with a lot of gunk in them. I have an air ratchet from them (I also have the impacting one but that's not the one I'm talking about here) and it had almost no power out of the box. I took it apart and cleaned it really good, it has a LOT more power now. Don't get me wrong, it's not like it's amazing, but it easily spun bolts 3x faster than it did at first. I used WD-40 to clean it, didn't do anything real scientific just took it apart and sprayed a bunch.

Even though the EQ impacting type requires a lower 4CFM draw than the less powerful non-impacting type I bought (6CFM), does that mean the EQ will actually require less air to do a much better job? How is that possible?

Because of the impacting action it can do more with the same air supply. Think of it this way. The bigger your air tank, the longer you can use the ratchet before the compressor has to refill it. Assume the tool can do everything it's supposed to do on your compressor. The main issue is, how long it could do it. It seems like it shouldn't be that simple, but for most tools it is.

 

[Super Mech]

HF makes an Earthquake air ratchet that is fabulous. It's an impacting air ratchet and completely eliminates the wrist snapping common with non-impacting ratchets. It will take off bolts up to 60 ft-lb. without manual turning. It's a great tool.

Not to hijack this thread but that HF ratchet looks pretty much like my IR reaction less ratchet with an orange handle! And a hell of a lot cheaper!