Air ratchets and snap on sockets (two questions)

[duct tape]

Hi to all and thanks for a great web site.

I have two separate questions - I've looked through the stickys and tried to review old posts with the search function, so sorry if this has already been discussed:

Air ratchets - what do most of you use these for? For spinning nuts on or off when you can't get to it with your impact gun and don't want to use a hand ratchet or spinner? From what I understand, one thing you don't use them for is to break loose a tight nut.

Snap On Socket lettering - I love my sockets, I just can't read them. I can't find any info from this site, the catalog or their web site about coming out with large letter chrome sockets like their laser imprinted impacts.

Thanks again, and looking to further reading and discussions.

 

[kartracer55]

I mostly use air ratchets when I cant fit an impact. Sometimes they are good though. 1/4 drive is great for little fasteners that secure plastic shields and covers under the hood (VW!) or dash/interious work where they manage to incorperate 3,000 little fasteners. I use 3/8 for running things down where I want more control than you can get with a gun, because guns spin alot faster. Hard to explain, but if you get one, you will find a use. Get a 3/8 first.

Snap On sockets **** for reading them. Hansen trays are nice for that, but so are the matco/craftsman/kobalt plastic racks. Easy to place and remove the socket.

Jim

 

[Deafautotech]

i own 1/4 mac tool AR251 air ratchet and Mac tool AR1776 3/8dr air ratchet. i have craftsman 3/8dr in 1/4dr air ratchet as it is worn out and it will not tight the bolt like for 5 ft lbs. i used most of my mac tools air ratchets to remove bolts or nuts then i use torque wrench to final tight on bolts or nuts. i do use air ratchet to make bolt or nut go on again but not tight it up....

i am using a lot of impact wrenches to work on engine and transmissions and differentials. but i always use torque wrench for final tight!!!!

i have snap on impact sockets and it have laser etch prints on it as it is new sockets because snap on corp started to have it laser etch the impact sockets like 2 years ago. i have no problem to read the socket because i know which socket that i need because i had it wear a lot like 21mm or 18mm....

 

[SteveU]

Air ratchets are good for tightening or loosening the nut on hose clamps or anything else that takes a lot of turning but not much torque. I have both 1/4" & 3/8" aircat ratchets along with a 3/8" from another company. The aircats are very quiet & great to use but the other is so loud that even though it works good I can't see myself using it, would rather get one of the aircats.

 

[Deafautotech]

i dont care how much noise that air tool make because i am deaf and i must have air tools to working to do repair.... my tech friends have little complain about my impact wrench that i just found out that it have muffler missing. so i already bought rebuilt IR2135ti and it working great. they are happy to not listen my impact wrench while i am working.

 

[eschoendorff]

Hmm... i have a couple air ratchets and never use them. My butterfly impact is WAY more useful. As far as reading Snap On sockets... you answer might be only a Sharpie away...

 

[Deafautotech]

i love my mac tools air ratchets because it is both flat head that have mechanism inside to make small head of ratchet. it is very strong than normal air ratchet. i did open inside to make sure it keep lube inside but it still have orignal lubes inside since i bought it in three years ago.

 

[wilbilt]

I have never used air ratchets. I think I did own one once.

In my opinion, they make way too much noise in relation to the amount of work being done. They also take away a lot of "feel" in regards to the tightness of the fastener.

I can spin down a fastener by hand nearly as fast as an air ratchet. Many times I have finished a job with confidence while other techs were still "wheeeee....wheeee" on their air tools working on the same campaign ticket.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[Deafautotech]

my master tech friend told me that i will be hungry to death if i dont use air tools to remove the parts but have it tight by torque wrench.

because he noticed that i used all my ratchets while i working. but problem is i use my ratchets is too long to finish the job.... so i had use all my air tools to removes parts, transmission, engines, and else but for engine, transmissions, and differentials are use torque wrenches to final tight.

i got works done quick than other techs in my work, not next door because next door (lincoln and Mercury) techs have over 20 years exp. in dealership. i was helped my tech friend and i asked him how long he work for Crossroads Lincoln and Mercury and he said 24 years and still working....

i won't against them in repair in mercury and lincoln because they know more than me because they did training and know what equipments they need to do. In my work, both my tech friends who was work with me at Independent shop before changed my job to Dealership. they are good techs but they dont like to work on transmission or engine because it is not their interesting in... but they still need to do because they want make money for living.

 

[ImportTuner]

Air ratchets are great if you are on the clock but for most home DIY's, it's not really necessary; I have 2 Sears, 1 Snap On, and 2 IR's which hardly see usage. As for sockets that are easy to see, you can't beat the Matco's ...

 

[bmwpower]

Are there ANY ratchets that are quiet?? I don't use mine often since it's loud.

 

[Canadian Charlie]

I use my air ratchets when I'm in a hurry to get things done. Most of the time I prefer to use my standard hand ratchets. I have a 3/8" and 1/2" drive air ratchets

 

[eschoendorff]

I have never used air ratchets. I think I did own one once.

In my opinion, they make way too much noise in relation to the amount of work being done. They also take away a lot of "feel" in regards to the tightness of the fastener.

I can spin down a fastener by hand nearly as fast as an air ratchet. Many times I have finished a job with confidence while other techs were still "wheeeee....wheeee" on their air tools working on the same campaign ticket.

Your mileage may vary.

I am glad to see taht I am not the only one who feels this way. Granted, I do not use my tools to make my living, but I MUCH prefer using my regular ratchets. Esp for assembly. For disassembly, I get lazy and use more airtools....

 

[Deafautotech]

i must have air tools because flat rate is only paid the job...

master tech of my friend at work keep said use air tools to pull something so i can make more time to earn the more money or i dont make money....

 

[wilbilt]

I am glad to see taht I am not the only one who feels this way. Granted, I do not use my tools to make my living, but I MUCH prefer using my regular ratchets. Esp for assembly. For disassembly, I get lazy and use more airtools....

Air tools all have their uses. I have no problem using air impacts, grinders, chisels, etc., when the job calls for it. I just have never seen the need for an air ratchet...I prefer to use a speeder or hand ratchet on the sizes of fasteners air ratchets are generally used on.

The noise of an impact or an air hammer doesn't bother me, but air ratchets drive me nuts.

 

[Canadian Charlie]

The sound of air tools are kind of ****

 

[z28toz06]

Are there ANY ratchets that are quiet?? I don't use mine often since it's loud.

I have no problem with using my 3/8" aircat with no ear protection and I am sensitive to noise, especially white noise like that.

 

[Deafautotech]

i am sorry that i cant help you for which air ratchet that make less noise while use it. i am deaf.... but i am enjoying to have my tech friends come to me to stop make a lot of noise.... LOL... but i told them that i paid it much cheap as it have no mufflers on it.... sometime tool truck guys sell me much cheap price for air tool because they know it is loud but they know that some of techs will not buy it if it make loud noise...

 

[joenero]

I agree, try a quiet aircat air ratchet and it is a completely different experience. The mac guy brought in their labeled version of it and hooked it up to and air line and showed everyone how quiet it was. I was quick to buy it.

For jobs that I've become quick on I always use an air ratchet. Removing everything it easily cuts the time by 1/3 and doing a big job with a lot of fasteners like a heater core it makes life much easier.

 

[SteveU]

BMW,
The aircat ratchets make about the same noise as an electric drill, nothing like the high pitched whine of the other ratchets.

 

[bmwpower]

Sounds like I can justify another tool purchase.

"Hunny, you don't want me to lose my hearing, do you?"

What model Aircat is the one to get?

 

[Deafautotech]

i was noticed that you said that tool truck do sell aircat air tools?? my tool trucks dont sell all aircat tools but my snap on guy have one aircat impact wrench but i dont interesting about aircat because i dont have it or use it but i prefer to buy IR...

 

[joenero]

Mac rebadges them with their own name and sells them.