Astro Pneumatic Tool Company

[nicks78camaro]

Took my 1/4 drive Nano sockets and ratchet for a test run with an oil cooler job on family member's Aveo and they worked a treat. There were a few times where a shorter ratchet would have been great and I'm wondering if you guys were considering a shorter ratchet for the 1/4 sockets? Something in the 5-6" range, more in line with a traditional 1/4 drive ratchet length.

Also just an FYI, the 1/4 drive Nano's fit perfectly in Hansen socket trays.

Check out VIM FRW11

FRW11 - VIM Tools

11 X 11MM DD FLEX RATCHETING WRENCH

vimtools.com

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Any update on when # 78320 will be shipping ?

We get it in about 45 days, so probably add 1-2 weeks onto that

Correction: 45 days

 

[Hohn]

Nope. They look too heavy for me. I think their mass would work with air impacts but, I'm not sure about cordless impacts.

Cordless usually has much higher BPM and is accordingly much less sensitive to torque loss through extensions. That's why torque sticks that work with air guns often will not limit torque on a cordless gun.

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Cordless usually has much higher BPM and is accordingly much less sensitive to torque loss through extensions. That's why torque sticks that work with air guns often will not limit torque on a cordless gun.

This applies when the extension is thin, and the aim is to limit to a window like 100 or 120 ft-lbs and you overshoot it.
You will still see large differences with both air and cordless impacts on traditional extensions, as in both lose a lot and both can lose a lot less when designed to. It turns out that it in no way favors one or the other, though I thought it might when it was originally brought up here.

 

[mikey03]

Every time this post gets a new post I excitingly click hoping it’s about the new nano dual drive bit sockets.

 

[308guru]

Cordless usually has much higher BPM and is accordingly much less sensitive to torque loss through extensions. That's why torque sticks that work with air guns often will not limit torque on a cordless gun.

Do you have any data to back this up?

 

[308guru]

What will the cost be for the 78320 set?

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

What will the cost be for the 78320 set?

We dont set MAP pricing, so the end user price will be whatever each retailer decides to sell it at.
But similar price point sets that have been recently released from us are going for in the $65-70 range or so?

Every time this post gets a new post I excitingly click hoping it’s about the new nano dual drive bit sockets.

It's still another month and a half or so I'm afraid

 

[mikey03]

It's still another month and a half or so I'm afraid

And how long until the bit nano socket bogo launch deal?

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

And how long until the bit nano socket bogo launch deal?

We havent cleared how to do BOGO's with admin here yet with the new layout/linking

 

[Hakeem]

Astro should offer 11/17/22mm retaining drive torque wrenches for their nano sockets. I bet they would be a good seller. Non-reversible wouldn’t be a big deal since it’s mostly CW.

Just passing along this clever idea …..

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Just passing along this clever idea …..

Just make a head which can fit on a Techangle. No need for anything but copying the dimensions for mounting and the center location of the drive.

If that style head was on a torque wrench it would likely result in contact from the body of the tool. The tool would need to be flex head or else the body (digital) or adjustment locking ring (mechanical) would hit the work surface before you engaged the socket.

The mostly metal bodies could pull it off. The chunkier models with higher ranges probably wouldn't work as well. Maybe offset the hinge point so the head/socket is closer to the work piece rather than centered to the shaft?

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

That with a Koken Zeal socket will generally get the job done anywhere a torque wrench could actually fit. I could see a case for the 300ft/lb 1/2 drive model for tight areas. Would be a niche tool for sure.

 

[Fedwrench]

Does Astro plan on offering the five piece Nano Drive Size Adapter set in 1/2 drive/22mm hex in the future?

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Does Astro plan on offering the five piece Nano Drive Size Adapter set in 1/2 drive/22mm hex in the future?

No plans at the moment

 

[Dick]

Item # 783105 / Item # 78318 / Item # 78345. Any chance you'll add a reversible option so customers don't have to buy the Matco version?

 

[nicks78camaro]

Item # 783105 / Item # 78318 / Item # 78345. Any chance you'll add a reversible option so customers don't have to buy the Matco version?

This has been asked and deliberately not answered, probably due to exclusivity contracts with Matco. We will have to wait and see.

 

[ecotec]

Anyone have the SLMCUP magnetic work light suction cup? Do you like it? Do you actually use it much?

 

[ecotec]

This has been asked and deliberately not answered, probably due to exclusivity contracts with Matco. We will have to wait and see.

This seems like a pretty reasonable explanation. Remember when the blue-point amp hound was exclusive? Now you can get it in local stores from a couple different brands for half the price of blue-point.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Item # 783105 / Item # 78318 / Item # 78345. Any chance you'll add a reversible option so customers don't have to buy the Matco version?

Being an instructor I get the Matco discount, but have not convinced myself why I would want reversing in those. I already have the Astro version of them.
Can someone please convince me why I should get the reversing Matcos?......

 

[Callelle]

Being an instructor I get the Matco discount, but have not convinced myself why I would want reversing in those. I already have the Astro version of them.
Can someone please convince me why I should get the reversing Matcos?......

Because it's easy to carelessly wedge yourself into a situation where the next step requires destruction of something.

 

[nicks78camaro]

Being an instructor I get the Matco discount, but have not convinced myself why I would want reversing in those. I already have the Astro version of them.
Can someone please convince me why I should get the reversing Matcos?......

Having stupidly backed myself into situations with nonreversible ratcheting wrenches (which many of us have done), if I have a choice I'm going reversible. Not sure I'd pay Matco markup for it, but with an instructor discount maybe.

 

[Hakeem]

Having stupidly backed myself into situations with nonreversible ratcheting wrenches (which many of us have done), if I have a choice I'm going reversible. Not sure I'd pay Matco markup for it, but with an instructor discount maybe.

If you didn’t have room to take the ratchet wrench off, how would you have had room to remove the fastener?

It’s a bit of a different story with a ratchet, since it sits atop the fastener, but a ratchet wrench is flush with the top of the fastener.

 

[nicks78camaro]

If you didn’t have room to take the ratchet wrench off, how would you have had room to remove the fastener?

It’s a bit of a different story with a ratchet, since it sits atop the fastener, but a ratchet wrench is flush with the top of the fastener.

If you don't know how that could happen to anyone at least once or twice, you haven't worked on enough cars.

 

[308guru]

If you didn’t have room to take the ratchet wrench off, how would you have had room to remove the fastener?

It’s a bit of a different story with a ratchet, since it sits atop the fastener, but a ratchet wrench is flush with the top of the fastener.

There are applications where a fastener has just enough room to sneak in or out. The clearance allowing that is less than the thickness of the wrench. Not often, but there are out there.

Yes, I’ve been there a few times. It usually ends with a dremel, hacksaw, or whatever method you can use to cut the wrench or fastener off. I now stop and think about the situation as it approaches the point of no return.

 

[ecotec]

There are applications where a fastener has just enough room to sneak in or out. The clearance allowing that is less than the thickness of the wrench. Not often, but there are out there.

Yes, I’ve been there a few times. It usually ends with a dremel, hacksaw, or whatever method you can use to cut the wrench or fastener off. I now stop and think about the situation as it approaches the point of no return.

Exactly. I have had to cut a ratcheting wrench out in automotive and electrical work.

I still use non-reversible ratcheting wrenches most days for electrical work.

Sometimes the hardware or fitting isn’t, obviously to me, in too tight of an area until it is tightened down.

 

[Buckgnarly]

I tell all my students everyone does something stupid once, the stupid ones keep doing it. I have been in the non-reversing situation once quite a few years ago, and only once......yeah, I know what's coming now.
I may just buy the Matcos and move the Astros to my "school box"......

 

[Hakeem]

If you don't know how that could happen to anyone at least once or twice, you haven't worked on enough cars.

Sure, anything can happen if you’re careless.

There are applications where a fastener has just enough room to sneak in or out. The clearance allowing that is less than the thickness of the wrench. Not often, but there are out there.

Yes, I’ve been there a few times. It usually ends with a dremel, hacksaw, or whatever method you can use to cut the wrench or fastener off. I now stop and think about the situation as it approaches the point of no return.

Yes, but the ratchet wrench is able to slip down over the fastener head to allow for removal of the fastener, no? Maybe not if it’s a flanged nut, I’ll concede that point.

 

[Dick]

I tell all my students everyone does something stupid once, the stupid ones keep doing it. I have been in the non-reversing situation once quite a few years ago, and only once......yeah, I know what's coming now.
I may just buy the Matcos and move the Astros to my "school box"......

Being Matco, you might be able to just buy the head. Prob have to call them or step on the truck to find out.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Sure, anything can happen if you’re careless.



Yes, but the ratchet wrench is able to slip down over the fastener head to allow for removal of the fastener, no? Maybe not if it’s a flanged nut, I’ll concede that point.

Most everything on a car is flanged or has a captive washer. All about what you work on.

 

[nicks78camaro]

Sure, anything can happen if you’re careless.



Yes, but the ratchet wrench is able to slip down over the fastener head to allow for removal of the fastener, no? Maybe not if it’s a flanged nut, I’ll concede that point.

I stand by my previous statement.

 

[Wrench97]

There are applications where a fastener has just enough room to sneak in or out. The clearance allowing that is less than the thickness of the wrench. Not often, but there are out there.

Yes, I’ve been there a few times. It usually ends with a dremel, hacksaw, or whatever method you can use to cut the wrench or fastener off. I now stop and think about the situation as it approaches the point of no return.

There are also a few were you need a big pry bar to move the engine over just enough to get the bolt out..................

 

[Steve_P]

I tell all my students everyone does something stupid once, the stupid ones keep doing it. I have been in the non-reversing situation once quite a few years ago, and only once......yeah, I know what's coming now.
I may just buy the Matcos and move the Astros to my "school box"......

Same here. I've done this once, and thankfully it was easy to recover from as I could screw in the bolt with my fingers. Like you, I haven't done it since; I'm not saying I won't do it again, but it's been 5+ years; of course, my saying this means I'll screw this up on my next project

 

[KnurledNut]

Underrated benefit of Kabo's non-reversible ratcheting mechanism. It has an exposed slotted brass screw that can be removed to release the spring and pawl if this happens.

 

[drokihazan]

We get it in about 45 days, so probably add 1-2 weeks onto that

Correction: 45 days

Waiting this long for 78320 may kill me.

 

[nicks78camaro]

Waiting this long for 78320 may kill me.

Waiting for the competition to come out with something

 

[maxpower_hd]

I have several 40sl magnetic work lights. I love them. I have three at home and two in my shop. And I have a couple I use for parts. Is there a way to get a charging port? I have at least two that have become difficult to recharge.

Thanks

 

[drokihazan]

Waiting for the competition to come out with something

Olsa Tools has torx and hex sockets with the hex fitting in a wider selection than 20 pieces and they absolutely look like nano sockets made by Astro - so they probably are nanos made by Astro. I don't think I want to buy anything from Olsa though, they're just a rebranding label that doesn't seem to make anything. I'd rather just buy the 78320 as long as it has the sizes I need

 

[KnurledNut]

Olsa Tools has torx and hex sockets with the hex fitting in a wider selection than 20 pieces and they absolutely look like nano sockets made by Astro - so they probably are nanos made by Astro. I don't think I want to buy anything from Olsa though, they're just a rebranding label that doesn't seem to make anything. I'd rather just buy the 78320 as long as it has the sizes I need

Astro doesn’t produce their own Nano sockets. They are built to spec by a separate Taiwanese manufacturer.

 

[drokihazan]

Astro doesn’t produce their own Nano sockets. They are built to spec by a separate Taiwanese manufacturer.

well, maybe the Olsas are the answer then

 

[kbeefy]

Duplicate post