Are 3/8 impact wrenches all weak?

[hpfiend]

Hey all-

I bought a used 3/8 Rodac USA impact ratchet from my neighbors' widow who was an aircraft mechanic. Unless the nut is already loosened by my arm it wont budge anything ever.

My dad bought a brand new 3/8 craftsman professional (the one with the lever trigger not the directional switches) and it also is about as weak. Maybe 65 ft-lbs is not very much with out the leverage from the handle of a 1/2 ratchet.

I would think that would be the case but I used an all metal snap on 1/4 air impact when I worked in a shop back in 1996 that would snap off 1/4 bolts in a millisecond. It was actually too powerful at times.

Any advice? I run my air at 100-120psi. I think the shop ran 175 psi. Sometimes I cannot fit my 1/2 impact gun in with any variety of extensions...

Thanks, Andrew

 

[reptilezs]

snap on mg325. ir 2115. astro nano.

 

[rpcraft]

MIght be your supply and the lines, especially if it is all 1/4 line and fittings. Also you failed to mention anything about your compressor? Hopefully it is up to the task and not a pancake or HF compressor or something...

 

[ChrisLS8]

If you are talking about ratchets they aren't powerhouses

 

[OHMS LAW]

Craftsman air rats aren’t very useful. When I first started wrenching I bought a set that had an impact and air rat. First one didn’t work. Exchanged two
More time after. None of them worth their weight in lead. All junk. Any quality 3/8 air rat w snap your wrist

 

[Ohmthis]

OP, your titles says impact, but your post states air ratchet. The air ratchets are not made for breaking nuts and bots loose as much as they are for quick assembly and disassembly.

 

[HaroRider]

Cordless? Milwaukee?

 

[rpcraft]

He's talking air but now that others have chimed in yeah if you are talking about air ratchets the idea is you use it like a normal wrench for breaking nuts and then the air portion for getting them off quickly. If 3/8 impact is what you are using then if you have extensions on it it decreases ability to bust nuts and even then 3/8 usually isn't a busting monster. Some can definitely be better than others but if you are talking about stuff larger than 14 to 15 mm (or 9/16) that starts to fall into the domain of 1/2 air impacts, especially if you are working on torqued bolts. It will also depend on your delivery and compressor like I mentioned earlier. If you want something that really hits hard you can get one of the new Ridgid cordless Gen 5 (or is it 6) impacts. Even the 3/8 is a bit of a monster but the 1/2 is just a beast and they have them for a good price at home depot right now. If i had some cash to spare I would pick one up right now and all my compressor would be used for non impact related duties.

 

[kctyphoon]

If youre talking impact wrenches - Go cordless Milwaukee and stop buying tools with torque ratings from 10 years ago.. someone had to say it.. lol.. jk.

If youre talking air ratchets.. - go buy an impacting ratchet like the husky reactionless, i think even hf sells one now too..

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Sounds like the wrong tool for the job and the wrong compressor for the tool.

For Your situation; I second Kctyphoon's suggestion of a Milwaukee cordless impact ( or a DeWALT 20v Max XR; I like Mine ).

I wouldn't think of attempting to run My air ratchets or impacts on a 100-120 psi air supply. My 80 gallon compressor is set at 175 psi for a several reasons, and kick Azz air tool performance is one of them.

 

[Tonyuk]

Air ratchets are used like a normal ratchet to break the fastener loose then the air motor lets you spin it out, sometimes they'll have enough power to break a fastener free but don't count on it if its a decent size.

I have the astro mini 3/8 ratchet and a standard 3/8. The astro gets fair use but the standard ratchet rarely gets used.

I also have the milwaukee fuel ratchet, also rarely used.

 

[rpcraft]

Sounds like the wrong tool for the job and the wrong compressor for the tool.

For Your situation; I second Kctyphoon's suggestion of a Milwaukee cordless impact ( or a DeWALT 20v Max XR; I like Mine ).

I wouldn't think of attempting to run My air ratchets or impacts on a 100-120 psi air supply. My 80 gallon compressor is set at 175 psi for a several reasons, and kick Azz air tool performance is one of them.

Have you ever wondered why most manufactures recommend not running the air tools any higher than 90 PSI or have you noticed that? I just recently realized it. Had no ill effects from before but I just noticed all of them recommend that but will recommend high flow rate connectors and 3/8 hose. Has to do with the CFM some I suspect but also not unnecessarily blowing the guts out of your guns. Maybe someone that knows from a professional perspective can pipe up.

 

[rsanter]

I have an older snap on 3/8 drive and it has good power. The newer snap on 3/8 impact drivers have enough power for lug nuts

 

[Danglerb]

HF used to at least have a 3/8 impacting ratchet, and mine works great.

 

[ex-x-fire]

My IR composite from the 90s was strong enough to shear the anvil, it did it twice and then I retired it.

 

[epmills]

I have a IR 2115, snapped many bolts with it. Plenty of power for most suspension work.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Have you ever wondered why most manufactures recommend not running the air tools any higher than 90 PSI or have you noticed that? I just recently realized it. Had no ill effects from before but I just noticed all of them recommend that but will recommend high flow rate connectors and 3/8 hose. Has to do with the CFM some I suspect but also not unnecessarily blowing the guts out of your guns. Maybe someone that knows from a professional perspective can pipe up.

Speaking... I have been pulling wrenches for over 50 years... I have very good luck with air tools; and have some that are pushing 50 years old that have never been apart.. We air some semi truck tires up to 120 psi... My 1" drive impacts are worthless without the higher pressure.. With the exception of a 1/4" line used on an air nailer, I use mostly 3/8" air hoses with high flow couplers. My sand blasters, and 3/4" and !" drive impacts use 1/2" or larger diameter hoses with larger high flow couplers. I cannot stand to hear an impact wrench sickingly rattle away while wearing itself out in it's effort to loosen a bolt.

 

[Marlin]

Have you ever wondered why most manufactures recommend not running the air tools any higher than 90 PSI or have you noticed that? I just recently realized it. Had no ill effects from before but I just noticed all of them recommend that but will recommend high flow rate connectors and 3/8 hose. Has to do with the CFM some I suspect but also not unnecessarily blowing the guts out of your guns. Maybe someone that knows from a professional perspective can pipe up.

Higher air pressure will in many cases increase performance but it will also decrease the life of the tool.

 

[Marlin]

Speaking... I have been pulling wrenches for over 50 years... I have very good luck with air tools; and have some that are pushing 50 years old that have never been apart.. We air some semi truck tires up to 120 psi... My 1" drive impacts are worthless without the higher pressure.. With the exception of a 1/4" line used on an air nailer, I use mostly 3/8" air hoses with high flow couplers. My sand blasters, and 3/4" and !" drive impacts use 1/2" or larger diameter hoses with larger high flow couplers. I cannot stand to hear an impact wrench sickingly rattle away while wearing itself out in it's effort to loosen a bolt.

Air tool pressure ratings are dynamic, meaning that the pressure is 90 while the tool is running free speed. If you have 120 static pressure, then with a large tool like a 1" drive you are probably close to 90 when the tool is running freespeed.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

air tool pressure ratings are dynamic, meaning that the pressure is 90 while the tool is running free speed. If you have 120 static pressure, then with a large tool like a 1" drive you are probably close to 90 when the tool is running freespeed.

bingo.. The gauge on the air tank may read 175 psi, but a gauge plumbed in next to the air tool inlet would read less; especially with 100 feet of hose between the units.

 

[hpfiend]

Thanks for the replies. I realize a 3/8 air ratchet is not going to bust things loose like a 1/2 impact gun but I need something that is about ratchet size that can fit on in tight areas and break loose tight bolts bigger than 9/16. I am not looking for speed or ease of removing already loose fasteners.

I believe that cordless milwaukee tool listed a 35 ft-lb limit? I need something that will do an actual 75 at 1/2 inch ratchet handle length size.

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[hpfiend]

Also the 2115 is an impact gun. I have the 2135, a composite hf earthquake and ir 231c as 1/2 impact guns. To me the 3/8 gun is only slightly smaller than the 3/8.

My dad and I went down the air compressor/air line diameter rabbit hole trying to get a MAC tools 1/2 impact he bought years ago to work like it cost him. We ended up buying my IR 231c which will bust lugs using one of those less than 1/4 coiled hoses hooked to an air tank.

An 80 gallon three stage compressor and 1/2 lines at 175psi should not be needed on a quality tool. We have the option of using all of the above. Well it may be a two stage, I cannot recall.

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[hpfiend]

You are right. I did say impact ratchet. Neither the craftsman tool or my rodac are impacts. Just air ratchets but i cant figure out how to edit

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[Mr_B]

Best ratchets are kuani reactionless air impact ratchets, modern air which pretty respectable usability, I suspect your 175psi shop pressure part reason old snappy seemed mean.
People on here think battery tools the best but if you run top quality modern air tools at 120psi+ the power to size is unbeatable by large margin .

 

[hpfiend]

That husky reactionless does look good. Does IR or snap on make one that is more of a sure thing? "Impacting" air ratchet maybe is what i want?

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[hpfiend]

Best ratchets are kuani reactionless air impact ratchets, modern air which pretty respectable usability, I suspect your 175psi shop pressure part reason old snappy seemed mean.
People on here think battery tools the best but if you run top quality modern air tools at 120psi+ the power to size is unbeatable by large margin .

Sorry missed this. I will look into these, thanks. Never heard of kuani

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[bcradio]

IR Hammerhead

 

[rpcraft]

If you are wanting a 3/8 ratchet to do much more than 35 ft/lb then I doubt you will find many. You are going to have to switch to a full body impact.

 

[Road Wrench]

The husky 3/8 reactionless air ratchet is rated 80 ft lbs and is on the clearance shelf for $79. Harbor freights earthquake 3/8 air reactionless is rated 70 ft lbs and is also $79. Somebody mentioned kuani ratchets. I know they are also sold under other names, such as the Astro mini impacting ratchet which is a kuani.

 

[Kenskip1]

The lug nuts on my F150 are torqued to 150 LBS. I have a 60 gallon compressor. Delivered air pressure is 125 PSI.My 3/8 Nano has no problem removing them.3/8 diameter hose. I use "Mayle/Milton I forgot which one" high flow air couplings. They do make a difference.

 

[md21722]

As others have suggested, air tools are designed for PSI at working/ dynamic pressure not static pressure. Depending on line size and length from regulator, 110-120 is not uncommon to get 90 PSI when the tool is working. Even with a 25 foot hose! Air ratchets are commonly available 60 something lb-fts torque, cordless may be a bit less. You need the right tool for the job. Break it free with the air ratchet and then use the air to spin it off. Something like the Snap On air ratchet FAR72C, etc is rated at 60. It will do 60. The Husky reaction less is good for about 80 but its VERY, VERY loud. Cordless ratchets are much, MUCH quieter.

 

[kb1982]

The Aircat 805-ht definitely isnt weak. Its rated around 130ft lbs so be prepared as its not reactionless. Ive used mine on lugnuts on cars without a problem.

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[Elvisidal]

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Power-Tools/Fastening/Impact-Wrenches/2554-20

If you are wanting a 3/8 ratchet to do much more than 35 ft/lb then I doubt you will find many. You are going to have to switch to a full body impact.

Milwaukee m12 3/8 is rated to 55?

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Power-Tools/Fastening/Ratchets/2557-20