You haven't tested what I consider to be the most useful ratchets of them all and that's the impacting air ratchet. They are powerful, small and fit places the cordless can't and best of all don't break your wrist. I know SPAir makes these, as I have two of them, and Harbor Freight either still does or use to make one. Our mutual friends at Astro (your employer) make these as well.
Yeah the SP air and Astro 1128 are examples of air ratchets with impact mechanisms, higher RPM and more torque but a different type of reactionless TQ. HF sells a reactionless too i believe that's basically a similar idea.Forgive the ignorance all the way around, but I've never heard of a "impacting air ratchet". Impact wrenches and ratchets sure, even right angle impacts, but never a true air ratchet that has an impact mechanism.
Speaking of which, it's always been a grip of mine when people complain about ratchet, air or battery, not providing enough torque or lack ability to breakaway bolts/nuts... That is not their purpose, they are ratchets, not impacts.
Also, I was unaware that the TTC works for/at Astro? Is this true or supposed to be some sort of secret? Again, news to me.
I like Astro's ratchets, in spite of their having too small of handle girth for my big hands (me) and Chris having a hatred for comfort grips which would help in that regard, but why haven't you guys come out with flex head, or better yet locking flex head ratchets? That's what most people currently use or at least that's what I primarily use. Non flex head ratchets are so last decade. I find it funny that Astro is the king of flex head impacts but has zero with respect to flex head ratchets.Yeah the SP air and Astro 1128 are examples of air ratchets with impact mechanisms, higher RPM and more torque but a different type of reactionless TQ. HF sells a reactionless too i believe that's basically a similar idea.
But yeah, we weight torque pretty low on importance for ratchets.
It's not a secret that I'm (1/3 of TTC) working in product dev for Astro. Look at the description of any video, or the pinned comments as well. Try to point conflicts of interest in relevant videos, but lucky for us most of the testing doesn't come down to impressions
I have the Husky reactionless ratchet from HD which in my estimation is the same same as Harbor Freight's and maybe even the Aircat. It's been great, but it seems like the new Dewalt cordless ratchets advertise higher torque than even the reactionless (impacting) ratchets so maybe not the Torque kings anymore.I like Astro's ratchets, in spite of Chris having a hatred for comfort grips, but why haven't you guys come out with flex head, or better yet locking flex head ratchets? That's what most people currently use or at least that's what I primarily use. Non flex head are so last decade.
Yeah the SP air and Astro 1128 are examples of air ratchets with impact mechanisms, higher RPM and more torque but a different type of reactionless TQ. HF sells a reactionless too i believe that's basically a similar idea.
But yeah, we weight torque pretty low on importance for ratchets.
It's not a secret that I'm (1/3 of TTC) working in product dev for Astro. Look at the description of any video, or the pinned comments as well. Try to point conflicts of interest in relevant videos, but lucky for us most of the testing doesn't come down to impressions
Haven't handled a HF, but parts (in diagram order) 24, 54, 58, 23, 60 & 22 make up what's called a twin pin ball and cam sprung impact mechanism, like what's used in the Aircat 1250K scaled WAY down.Learn something new every day. I've been a mechanic and "tool guy" for 6+ years, and literally the first time I've ever heard of such a thing...
I see in Astro's breakdown there is a hammer mechanism assembly, but interestingly as for the HF version, I fail to see a hammer or what otherwise would cause it to act as an impact.
I never thought of reactionless ratchets as being torque kings. They just save your knuckles.I have the Husky reactionless ratchet from HD which in my estimation is the same same as Harbor Freight's and maybe even the Aircat. It's been great, but it seems like the new Dewalt cordless ratchets advertise higher torque than even the reactionless (impacting) ratchets so maybe not the Torque kings anymore.
Yes, but whether it was the goal or not, the impacting models did have the highest torque numbers for a while. I realize it's really not about torque with air ratchets but thr fact that every company advertised their torque specs and there seems to be an ongoing game of one-upmanship so it clearly matters to somebody.I never thought of reactionless ratchets as being torque kings. They just save your knuckles.