Air Ratchets, how useful?

[neuralsnafu]

So I have in my box a 3/8 and 1/4" air ratchet from HF. I just don't know of a good use for them? I think in the two years I've owned them, they have been used like 5 times?

Just want to know what you guys use yours for....

 

[aussiek2000]

anywhere its too tight to get my impact in. Used my 1/4 and 3/8 today while putting an alternator on.

 

[MotoDave]

I think their main purpose is to convert air pressure into the most annoying sound ever made.

I never use mine.

 

[APEowner]

I use my 3/8 air ratchet almost all the time. There are a lot of places a 3/8" impact won't fit in an engine compartment that a 3/8 air ratchet will. In fact it's not uncommon for me to do something like pull an engine and never take a hand ratchet out of the tool box.

 

[rlitman]

I think their main purpose is to convert air pressure into the most annoying sound ever made.

AND to bust your knuckles open when you least expect it.

I won't say I never use mine, but I will say that I only use mine when no other tool will do the job as well, and that's not that often.

There are times that I need to turn something with a ratchet, where it's too tight to just spin it most of the way down, and it needs a LOT of turns, where using an air ratchet is a big time saver.

I will say that if I ever decided to replace the ones I have (not happening any time soon), I'd buy one that has an impacting feature that prevents the busted knuckle issue.

 

[DanInVA]

I say very useful. I prefer impacts, but there are times an impact just won't fit. I replaced a rear bumper on a pickup truck last week. There wasn't a lot of room to swing a ratchet, and I would have had to drop the spare out and take off the Reese hitch to get an impact in. I would love to try out one of those right angle impact wrenches someday. Might be the best of both worlds

 

[DennisH2014]

I'm honestly a bit surprised to see that so many people aren't a fan of air ratchets, but I find them to be incredibly useful.

I recently replaced the clutch in my RX-7, and let me just say, working underneath the car is tough. I only have jack stands, no lift or anything, so things are cramped to say the least, but having that air ratchet saved me probably hours of hand wrenching due to close quarters; that and my 72t Beta 1/2" ratchet of course....

 

[Ign]

Yeah, I'd get a hammer head type tool before an air ratchet. Even the new Milwaukee right angle impact, despite its seemingly weak 60# rating.

I used to use air ratchets years ago but it seems more work to drag out the air hose and fight it while I try to snake the ratchet into an engine bay than just use a "hand" ratchet and turn it a few more times. Add to that my M12 ratchet and I think air hoses are going the way of corded phones

 

[KinzeMech]

I haven't touched one in years.

I do have an IR Hammerhead that periodically sees some usage.

 

[Ign]

I'm honestly a bit surprised to see that so many people aren't a fan of air ratchets, but I find them to be incredibly useful.

I recently replaced the clutch in my RX-7, and let me just say, working underneath the car is tough. I only have jack stands, no lift or anything, so things are cramped to say the least, but having that air ratchet saved me probably hours of hand wrenching due to close quarters; that and my 72t Beta 1/2" ratchet of course....

This is true, particularly if you're working on concrete or a creeper. I was always less sore at the end of the day if I made a point of utilizing air tools. But again, with cordless no air hose to snag under those damn creeper wheels, and virtually all cordless has built-in lights too which isn't a bad thing; seems its always dark under there on that creeper

 

[crewchief888]

i seldom use either of mine.
30 year old CP has seen better days

just had my SO far72 rebuilt for that 1 or 2 times a year i absolutely have to have one.

 

[DanInVA]

I am pretty sold on cordless tools myself. At home I don't have compressed air, but I keep a couple of cordless tools handy. I don't have any good storage options for my tools right now other than in my home, so I keep my stuff pretty portable. Helps if you ever have a junk yard trip too

 

[92integra]

depends on you're style i suppose, guy's i work with use small 1/4" drive air ratchets all the time, if you want one that won't bust your knuckles check out the impacting ones mac makes

 

[DanInVA]

For those of you guys with the hammerhead and impacting ratchets, how do you like them? They seem like they would be pretty handy, but I haven't had the occasion to use one

 

[KinzeMech]

For those of you guys with the hammerhead and impacting ratchets, how do you like them? They seem like they would be pretty handy, but I haven't had the occasion to use one

Mine is remarkably handy.

There is one play you have to take out of your playbook to use them. If the tool is not strong enough to move a fastener, there is no manually ratcheting it. You will have to get a breaker bar, or a hand ratchet, or some other tool.

 

[GMTECH1]

I use air ratchets everyday. Usually more than one. If I can use an air tool to get it done, it gets used. Speed is everything when you're working against the flat rate clock.

I have a hammerhead impact air ratchet and I don't use it very often. It's fast, but free wheels and you can't break anything loose with it like a regular air ratchet.


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[Boredmechanic]

What is the little blue one?

 

[Ruger_556]

For those of you guys with the hammerhead and impacting ratchets, how do you like them? They seem like they would be pretty handy, but I haven't had the occasion to use one

I have a SP Air compact impact ratchet, thing is awesome

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I use mine when the benefit outweighs the hassle of having to fire up the compressor and unroll the air hose. I'm glad I own it, but it might not get used more than once or twice a year anymore.

 

[75ford]

at home i dont have a 3/8 but i do have a mac 1/4 sealed head and its rad for body panels and small things. but at school i had to do a timing belt on a pt cruiser, with a shity collection of tools and on that job the air ratchet got used alot

 

[GMTECH1]

What is the little blue one?

1/4 inch Cornwell. I got it because it was small. Pretty fast, loud as hell. Good enough for dash work. Not my main go to in 1/4 inch size.


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[DanInVA]

Thanks for the replys guys. I pretty much use powered tools whenever I can. Being lucky, I am an hourly in a shop that supplies the tools. Define perk, but I can never bring my own vehicle in to work on. There are people around me who came from a flat rate shop, and those who didn't. You can tell the difference by watching them. I was never flat rate, but I try and get the job done quickly. That way if I ever find myself moving into a flat rate shop, I can probably still afford to eat[emoji3]

 

[utmaggot]

I no longer work in a shop but when I did my 1/4" ratchet stayed on my air line all day. I could break anything 12mm and smaller loose with it. Anything bigger I broke loose by hand and spun off with the ratchet. Recently brought it out of the tool box while replacing the timing belt on my wife's car. Saved tons of time on all the small cover bolts and accessories. Worth having even if you only use them occasionally.

 

[gol4]

I haven't used an air ratchet since I got my 1/4" Skil battery operated ratchet. No hose to fight and very quite. When using it yesterday it occurred to me that the batteries were getting pretty old and still going strong. Not sure what I will do when it dies.

 

[Chris83]

I got rid of all my air ratchets after I bought a snap on cordless ratchet. I hated using the air powered because of all the noise so they rarely ever got used.

 

[rob0781]

Rarely use them but they have gotten me out of a jam and have saved me alot of time occasionally. Not a must have but definitely something you are happy to have when you do need it.

 

[AA/FC]

I think their main purpose is to convert air pressure into the most annoying sound ever made.....

This^

 

[durallymax]

Personally I hated using them and never would use mine.

Now that I have cordless ones I use them all the time and sold the air ones.

 

[Procareauto]

I am very surprised to heard all the feed back from this. But then again TIME is money and as a tech I always use my air ratchet. It saves me loads of time in tight places. In the right hands it's a very useful tool.

 

[dsimatt]

I just ordered a new 3/8 since mine is dieing fast, it isn't a everyday most have tool but it sure is nice to have and now with this one being stronger and faster will help to.

 

[zkling]

I think they are real handy..... at certain times. Especially for long threads or large patterns. I have a 1/4" black mac? and OLD 3/8" snap on. The 1/4" is pretty compact and gets used most of the time, usually with a 1/4" to 3/8" adapter. It doesn't have much breaking torque so a breaker bar is used to start.

If I could justify the money for a battery operated one I would go for it in a heart beat.

 

[bigfunwmu]

Hate the noise, speed sure beats by hand for a bunch of repetitive stuff. Works great submerged in oil where cordless goes to die.

 

[dsimatt]

I think they are real handy..... at certain times. Especially for long threads or large patterns. I have a 1/4" black mac? and OLD 3/8" snap on. The 1/4" is pretty compact and gets used most of the time, usually with a 1/4" to 3/8" adapter. It doesn't have much breaking torque so a breaker bar is used to start.

If I could justify the money for a battery operated one I would go for it in a heart beat.

I really thought about getting a battery one but the price is a deal breaker plus having different batteries and charger taking up space so i stuck with air.

 

[rtole]

I go back and forth.......when I dont have one, I want one. When I have one, it sits. I dont have one now. I seem to need it from time to time. I did get the milwalkee 12 volt. It fills the bill sorta.......I can live without an air ratchet, yet I need one?!?!?!?!

 

[mrborohachi]

interior 8 or 10mm head bolts/nuts on Toyotas, an air ratchet will not snap off a head like impacts will

 

[rsanter]

When I was a mechanic I used them every day.
Makes things go faster...
However I used a snap on as they have plenty of power. The old basic Chinese ones are not good enough to make much difference

You have to get used to using them. Pull the trigger and if the bolt is a little too tight then pull on the thing like its a ratchet and the bolt will break loose and the air ratchet will do its thing

Bob

 

[durallymax]

I think they are real handy..... at certain times. Especially for long threads or large patterns. I have a 1/4" black mac? and OLD 3/8" snap on. The 1/4" is pretty compact and gets used most of the time, usually with a 1/4" to 3/8" adapter. It doesn't have much breaking torque so a breaker bar is used to start.

If I could justify the money for a battery operated one I would go for it in a heart beat.

I'm selling my 3/8" M12 Milwaukee cordless ratchet.


The thing I like about cordless is that they don't pinch/smash fingers like air.

 

[beatcad]

if you're a 8 to 5 tech than yes air ratchets are the way to go. it's faster(time=money) and it's less wear on your wrists.
over the last 3 or 4 years i've seen a few guys at my shop use the battery drives for the convienence. i havent stepped up to these 'cause i dont need to.

at home i have air tools, but rarely use 'em.
if i'm working on my own ****(cars/motorcycles/bicycles) i want to turn a bolt by hand/feel and be one w/ the machine.
just wrenches and ratchets for me most of the time

 

[zkling]

I'm selling my 3/8" M12 Milwaukee cordless ratchet.


The thing I like about cordless is that they don't pinch/smash fingers like air.

Why and how much?

 

[thebeekeeper1]

One thing I've found them VERY useful for is putting together the cheap Chinese stuff that comes disassembled with a thousand little machine screws and nuts. Doubly so if they are nyloc nuts.