Air ratchet vs. impact wrench ?

[Jacobson]

Do you own an air ratchet? When do you use it?
What situations call for an air ratchet and not an impact wrench?

 

[alpaca]

if an impact wrench will fit use it otherwise use the ratchet with the exception for when you are worried about over torquing a bolt with a impact

I've got an electric one. It's real nice because it saves me from having to use a ratchet where my impact won't work. You can also get a better feel for how much torque you're applying than with an impact.

 

[K-Dog]

I have both. I use my 1/4 impact for 90% of the fasteners. Access would be the only variable. If I feel like dragging a hose over to the project I grab my air ratchet, otherwise its by hand.

 

[dgxlh]

A 1/4 inch one is nice to have for dropping oil pans, valve covers, diff covers, stuff like that with alot of bolts to remove, saves alot of time. I use my 3/8 for motor work like water pumps, removing heads, body panels etc. Same principle, just more power

 

[Jbullfrog]

Air ratchets are for places an impact won't fit and you can't swing a wrench or ratchet manually. I used my 1/4 for screws and dash work and my 3/8 for confined spaces like removing auger gearboxes. I have a 1/2" impact ratchet that is great for tractor and farm equipment work.

 

[garfunkle24]

I hate air ratchets, more specifically the sound they make. I'm from a HD background and usually reach for an impact first, but my friends who started in auto love their air ratchets.

Hence i only use an air ratchet when an impact wont fit. I am tempted to get one of the IR hammerheads.

 

[IndyGarage]

Until about 3 years ago I used air a lot. I had my Milwaukee v28 cordless impact, but it is too big and bulky to use daily.

Then 2 things happened:

First the small 12V impacts from Bosch, Milwaukee and Makita came out - you can put a 1/4 or 3/8 inch drive into the hex chuck and get a lot of small bolts with them. They are so compact and easy to use it makes no sense to use air for small stuff.

Second, the new generation of brushless tools came out and have real impact wrench power. My Panasonic 14.4 has a 1/2 drive built in and can remove most lug nuts easily. It's smaller and lighter than an air impact with no hose. It doesn't have quite the power of my IR 1/2 inch impact, but it's so convenient that it has reduced my air gun use by about 90%. And the air hose is so inconvenient that I find it's easier to get a breaker bar out and manually loosen the 10% than to pull the hose out.

 

[thebeekeeper1]

When you buy the China **** that comes in a box disassembled but has a thousand little bolts/nuts a pneumatic ratchet is invaluable.

 

[unslow1]

Where I seem to use an air ratchet most is brake jobs.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have had am air ratchet for over 30 years (DIY). I almost never use it. Not enough torque.

I would like to try one of those reactionless/impact ratchets to see it they are any good.

What I am really looking for is a good deal on a Milwaukee M12 Fuel 3/8" Drive Impact ! Hopefully Santa will deliver !!

 

[mp4]

I have a 1/2" for heavy stuff, a 3/8 butterfly, impact and reactionless ratchet. They all have their places...if you do go with an air ratchet definitely get a reactionless model, it will save a few ****** knuckles.

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