air ratchet

[j p smith]

What air ratchet do you use and like? I am looking for one that I will use alot but not everyday to make a living. I saw a 3/8" at northern, I think it was Ingersol Rand. Thanks

 

[tjmonsen5]

Stay away from craftsman, I used bought one and started swapping my sway bars and springs/shocks and it broke before I could finish the job. It probably turned 10 bolts before it died. Just blows air now.

 

[theamcaddict]

I am a heavy home user and I have been very happy with a second hand Snap on FAR7200 I purchased on ebay for less than $50. I really appreciate the quality and feel. Being able to buy repair parts easily is nice also. I would have preferred a FAR72C but I am still very happy. My main requirement was that it is Made in the USA

 

[shoggoth80]

I run a Matco 3/8" drive air ratchet. Bought it used from an associate at work. Works well. I would imagine an IR is a good buy, as a lot of people swear by them for air tools.

 

[71goldss]

I just picked up HF's 3/8" Earthquake air ratchet this weekend. It's on sale right now for around $73, then applied a 25% off coupon and got it for around $56. Haven't had a chance to try it out yet, but it gets great reviews and if it's anything like my 1/2" Earthquake impact, I'm sure I'll be very happy with it.

 

[Stooge]

Ive had a mac ar124 (think thats the #) for a few years, and its been great, fairly slim head to make fitting it in awkward spaces a little easier. a little on the heavy side but it had survived many falls off the benches until recently when the plastic valve screw Cracked and it started leaking. Ebay has em used for cheap too

 

[GoodEnough]

Stay away from craftsman, I used bought one and started swapping my sway bars and springs/shocks and it broke before I could finish the job. It probably turned 10 bolts before it died. Just blows air now.

Do you think you got a lemon? Clearly there are 1000's of customers whose CM air ratchet didn't die after 10 uses. Are you sure you were using it correctly?

 

[TDLMOMOWERS]

I have an Ingersoll Rand 3/8 air ratchet that I bought new about 30 years ago. I have used it hard and it still works great. It was sent in for service, once about 15 years ago. I'm fussy about oiling it every time I use it. I got it at my local Napa store.

 

[j p smith]

Thanks, I am going with the 109XPA. Jeff

 

[kc-steve]

Stay away from craftsman, . . .

Do you think you got a lemon? Clearly there are 1000's of customers whose CM air ratchet didn't die after 10 uses. Are you sure you were using it correctly?

Probably a lemon. I have a Sunex SX3830, with low db, and it is a dead-ringer for the Craftsman professional air ratchet. A friend who is a professional mechanic always buys the Craftsman pro and likes it. He is hard on them is why he has bought a few over the years. Last time I looked, he still hasn't got a good moisture removal system yet which might explain why he is "hard on them."

Steve

 

[cheechi]

There is one IR I would avoid because it's so fat in the middle. I don't have the model but almost everything is smaller.

I have a CP someone found as a hot deal a few months back, and an Earthquake. Neither are bad, but neither is as good as an impact gun at breaking loose. They do an ok job at fastening back but I haven't learned to control the too tight/not tight enough with either one yet so I still aim to only get it snug with the air. There is a learning curve.

 

[tjmonsen5]

Do you think you got a lemon? Clearly there are 1000's of customers whose CM air ratchet didn't die after 10 uses. Are you sure you were using it correctly?

I received it as a christmas gift probably 7 years ago, and never used it until this year. I used it as a breaker bar to break loose 13mm nuts, then used the air to spin them out. I figured that was ok to do? a 13mm nut shouldnt break a 3.8 air ratchet.

The drive end didnt break though, something was jammed up inside. I tried to take it apart, it was SUPER tight, they use a loctite of some kind on the large nut. Ended up bending the drive end, oh well it was junk anyways. Ended up throwing it away. Probably going to buy the Snap-on 1/4 or 3/8 new lithium.

 

[kc-steve]

I received it as a christmas gift probably 7 years ago, and never used it until this year. . .

Sounds more likely the protective oil/grease had hardened over time is all. Just an educated guess.

Steve

 

[woody 73]

Thanks, I am going with the 109XPA. Jeff

Is there a big difference between your 109xpa and the 107xpa for home use?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000AXBNT/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[j p smith]

Is there a big difference between your 109xpa and the 107xpa for home use?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000AXBNT/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Woody the 107 is light in torque, 54 lbs. The 109 has 76 lbs. Minor difference between the handle & push button. For me, work or home use I wanted the extra torque. Jeff

 

[collinb1234]

I have a Cornwell full size 3/8 and it works pretty well


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[Jawn]

Smaller is better, for my preferences. I have a stubby 1/4" IR I got from a pawn shop. Paid $20 for it and it works great.

 

[ol'Red]

I use an air cat in 1/4 and 3/8 everyday. Its good enough. used IR's for years — tough but loud.

 

[spotco2]

I love the Snap On FAR72 series. The added length can be very helpful in breaking fasteners loose.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I have had good luck with Chicago Pneumatic......not to be confused with Chicago Electric.

 

[Skin]

What air ratchet do you use and like? I am looking for one that I will use alot but not everyday to make a living. I saw a 3/8" at northern, I think it was Ingersol Rand. Thanks

1/4", anything quiet. I wouldn't even bother with anything else with all the battery powered tools that can do the same task faster and/or with more power these days (cordless ratchets/12v impacts). Do yourself a huge favor and save your hearing and the hearing of your co-workers.

 

[not-required]

I have a 1/4" IR that is really quiet and a 3/8" husky that is loud. I used to use the IR a lot more but I got the cordless Milwaukee in 1/4" and haven't gone back. The 3/8" husky comes out when I'm doing a bigger job like replacing the engine on the busses.

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[teamarctic]

You can get a snap on far7200 lightly used in ebat for less than $100.

I was gonna try and sell mine but that price i just kept it.

 

[zakmartin]

In defense of Craftsman air ratchets, I have the 3/8" Craftsman Professional and it's been great. I also have a 3/8" Craftsman from Japan that's about 20 years old and it's never skipped a beat. I can't say that they still make them like they used to, because they don't, but at least the Craftsman Pro is a good buy and it's got plenty of usable torque.

 

[NewShockerGuy]

I like all my IR 1/2, 3/8. and 1/4 drive. Impact as well is awesome.

-Nigel

 

[Aqua-Andy]

I would take a used SnapOn FAR72whatever over anything else new any day. All the others just make noise and the head skips after a month of use. I don't think anyone has come out with a head design as good as SnapOn yet and there's is still the best. Any other air tool I would say IR is the best but not when it comes to air ratchets.

 

[wafrederick]

Snap On,The price of getting them sent in to get rebuilt is not that bad.I bought my FAR72B and FAR7200 from pawnshops that sell stuff on Ebay.Never had a problem with them out of the box,they were used.I don't like IR's 1/4 air ratchets,the heads of them wear out quickly.Had a couple do this,threw them away since it was cheaper to buy a new one than rebuilding them.

 

[jfcasey]

The only one I own/use is a mac(aircat) mini 1/4" quiet. The only sound you can hear is the ratchet mechanism and it won't destory your hands/face/body parts when you tighten stuff down. Its also tiny so it will fit a lot of places a big boy won't.

 

[Panel Dan]

I have a 1/2" drive Chicago Pneumatic. It's been great.


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[skruft]

For a 3/8 I have a "generic" looking IR and two models of Snap-on. I use all of them. They all work fine. All seem loud. One Snap-on is very heavy. I think those are perfected enough that any good brand should be OK. I have the little Mac 1/4, very quiet.

FYI When I got one of the Snap-on it would not apply any real torque. The problem turned out to be that the "disc brake" mechanism in the head was greasy and would not hold.