Just How Useful is a Cordless Ratchet?

[pgtr]

A year or so back I thought long and hard about getting a LiON powered cordless ratchet - specifically this Craftsman C3 Auto Ratchet (recently discontinued but still avail from 3rd parties):

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-c3-max-axess-auto-ratchet-kit/p-00939558000P

I didn't care for the way the 3/8 drive mounted from the rear but found a work-around. However these don't put out a lot of torque - they only really seem to be able to quickly remove or tighten loose fasteners - not torque them down or loosen them.

Can this same tool also function as a traditional mechanical ratchet? E.g. can you swing it back and forth clicking away on a tight fastener until it gets loose enough to allow for the power tool to 'take over' and spin it off the rest of the way?

Instead of getting the auto ratchet above - I got a battery powered Craftsman C3 impact driver. It's pretty darn impressive (when I actually remember I have it and use it). But it's somewhat big and the 1/2" drive is too big for a lot of my projects and it's somewhat overkill. If I am super light on the trigger it doesn't 'impact' the fastener.

The ideal tool would be one that I can use as a traditional mechanical ratchet to tighten or loosen but once loosened or before it's too tight - use in power mode. It would be 3/8 drive. And wouldn't 'hammer' or 'impact' the fastener.

Thanks for any opinions or experiences with the auto ratchet above!

 

[CSRPenFab]

The battery on that Craftsman is way too big to make that tool functional. Get the Milwaukee M12 3/8" ratchet and you can thank me later. Best $79 I've spent. It gets used all the time.

 

[Ign]

Yes, the M12 can be used as a regular ratchet.

How useful? Extremely.

 

[firworks]

In particular, the M12 is a savior in an engine bay or when removing air dams and big plastic panels on the underside of the engine bay. Anywhere with lots of little fasteners it just blasts right through them and you can have things apart quickly.

 

[Vvmvbb]

Milwaukee m12 3/8 ratchet instantly became one of my most used tools. I seldom do a job where this doesn't come out anymore.

 

[anthonysps]

Like said up top the m12 is one of my favorites now


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[WWheeler]

The M12 cordless ratchet is easily one of the best, if not the best, tool purchases I ever made.

There are certainly times it won't fit / reach, but it saves sooo much time I use it everywhere it can. Every time I'm grabbing ratchets & sockets it's right there and tends to be the first thing I try. I like to keep a short wobble end extension on it to help allow me to get it to places it might otherwise not.

 

[Hagatronics]

I always wondered if you need impact sockets for a cordless ratchet or if standard chrome ones are ok.

 

[BlackLS2]

Sure you could live without it, but it sure makes wrenching much nicer....especially under the hood of a car.

The M12 3/8 ratchet and 3/8 square impact are easily my unexpected stars of that line....used the drill and screwdriver a ton, 2438 buffer is very cool, and the vacuum is even decent....

The Hackzall would be my biggest disappointment....

I got onto the M12 bandwagon early...thought I made a BIG mistake when the first gen batteries sucked so bad, and the drill chuck had the auto-loosen feature. Fortunately the batteries got better, and so did the tools...they earned their own drawer in my main box.

Grab the ratchet...you won't regret it..

 

[BlackLS2]

Chrome sockets are fine for the M12 2457 3/8 ratchet...it's not an impact.

The 2467 is the M12 Hex Right Angle IMPACT. Impact sockets would be best, but it only puts out 600 inch pounds.

 

[Westozfixer]

I wouldn't be without my M12, I mainly use the Grey pnuematic impacts with it.

 

[3 Gun Shooter]

I have a Milwaukee 1/4" M12, use it nearly as much as my M12 impact drivers, I have 3 of those in my tool box. Had to change a accelerator pedal on an Enclave yesterday, cordless ratchet with a 10mm Snap On swivel made the job real fast and easy.

 

[Fedwrench]

With all of the plastic and aluminum parts on today's upper engines, the M12 is quick & handy to have. Unlike that freak craftsman ratchet in the first post, the M12 is much slimmer and more maneuverable. I wouldn't use it to break some fasteners loose as its body is mostly plastic though. As others have posted, I wouldn't want to be without mine.

 

[TonyCH]

To me the M12 has been very handy in various jobs. Much easier to use in tight place than a conventional ratchet. I mainly use it in car projects but I would think any job with lots of bolts and nuts or ones in tight positions would benefit from one.

For example this thing had hundreds of nuts and bolts to install to assemble the framework. M12 made it much easier and quicker:

 

[wilsonsmith]

Yeah! It works well.

 

[velillen01]

I have the craftsmen 12v Nextec right angle driver that I use as a ratchet 99 percent of the time. Love the thing. Says 700 in-lb of torque but its really more like 20-30. Which is perfect in my mind cause I use it for smaller fasteners and interior fasteners. If I need more power I either go to the Ryobi 1/2" impact or the Ryobi 1/4" hex.

 

[nh_yota]

I've been eyeing the M12 ratchet for the past year but I can't justify it yet since I'm just a weekend warrior and use my sockets maybe once or twice a month. I think it would be very useful if you worked with nuts and bolts on a daily basis.

 

[Ign]

I have the craftsmen 12v Nextec right angle driver that I use as a ratchet 99 percent of the time. Love the thing. Says 700 in-lb of torque but its really more like 20-30. Which is perfect in my mind cause I use it for smaller fasteners and interior fasteners. If I need more power I either go to the Ryobi 1/2" impact or the Ryobi 1/4" hex.

The 2467 generally affords better access w a more compact head

That said, OP realize these don't ratchet at all. They're impact drivers and can only be used under power. If they don't have the guts to rattle something loose your only recourse is a different tool

 

[joe_padavano]

All my ratchets are "cordless"...

 

[bcradio]

I have never used my M12 ratchet even once (except to try it out). I either use my hand ratchets or my impacting air ratchets. I'm with Fedwrench in that I wouldn't trust the plastic on it to break very many bolts loose, and by the time I break it loose with a regular ratchet and switch to the M12, I could have had it out by hand.

Now if they make an M12 impacting ratchet then I would be all over that.

 

[Buckgnarly]

I use it after breaking stuff loose, but find the 1/4 impact easier and faster for trim/small stuff if space permits. Do not expect it to have any strength, just speed and convenience.

 

[popparoach]

All my ratchets are "cordless"...

cant say i have ever seen a ratchet with a cord.are they 110v or 220v?

 

[chilly460]

Use my M12 3/8" ratchet all the time, as others have said it saves a ton of time. I break bolts loose with it and haven't had an issue yet. I'm not talking heavier suspension type bolts, I'd have my 3/8" impact out for those anyway

 

[VinceG]

I have the Matco one and several other techs at our shop have them and other brands and use them daily working on class 8 trucks.

 

[BajaBound]

Purely convenience for me.

 

[skruft]

I have not found a need for battery ratchets, though I tried one or two early ones. I guess I can see the use where there are many nuts or bolts to do and air is not available, like the garage door installers who would use big electric impacts.

 

[nh_yota]

I have a 3/8 to hex adapter for my cordless 1/4" impact driver and it actually works quite well on most bolts 14mm or less. The only real advantage of a cordless ratchet is that it can fit into tighter spaces.

 

[Ign]

All my ratchets are "cordless"...

Another witty user said that about cordless chainsaws. Clever!

 

[JoJoSnap]

The thing i like about craftsman axcess ratchet thingy... it has the open gap in the center head that passes thru long threads to tighten/loose the bolts. Battery ahhhh too unpractical


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[Teenager with old tools]

cant say i have ever seen a ratchet with a cord.are they 110v or 220v?

I have a corded one. Chuck up an extension that broke in half into my drill press to tighten things. Clearance around engines is much less than ideal and i've broken a few bolts with it. But hey no batteries to charge and no little ratchet to worry about losing


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[Todd.Brock]

I have a Makita 10.8 v driver and impact combo set. I use the driver with a 3/8 , 1/4, or 1/2" hex adapter. It works great for repetitive stuff like that green house.

 

[scooterGA]

I do a lot of dash work, heater core, evaporator, instrument cluster etc. Would not go to a job anymore without my 1/4 cordless. Essential tool

 

[-Brent-]

The way it's held, aside, how would one of these be better than a m12 impact driver with a 1/4 or 3/8 attachment? I use that thing for everything and I actually would consider one of these.

 

[TonyCH]

I have a Makita 10.8 v driver and impact combo set. I use the driver with a 3/8 , 1/4, or 1/2" hex adapter. It works great for repetitive stuff like that green house.

Tried my Makita driver with the greenhouse but at places it was way too big of a lump (including my knuckles) behind the long socket - like in the corners. The M12 3/8" ratchet on the other hand has a small head and the body is angled away so I found it better suitable for that project. These were aluminium bolts/nuts with 11 or 12mm heads IIRC.

I do use the Makita/Bosch/Dewalt drivers for the thousands of screws I drive every year though, superior tool for that.

 

[Dr.JohnnyFever]

Yes, the M12 can be used as a regular ratchet.

How useful? Extremely.

This right here.

When I first got the M12 ratchet, I wondered if I had wasted some money. Instead, it has turned out to be big time saver and one of my favorite M12 tools.

 

[Flat-rate]

Another vote for the M12 ratchet. Also for the complete line up.

I use my 1/4in all day long, and compared to the tech next to me with the $500 Snap On version I'm extremely satisfied.

If mine went missing or broke, I would be over at Home Depot in 5 min to replace it.

 

[Ign]

Another vote for the M12 ratchet. Also for the complete line up.

I use my 1/4in all day long, and compared to the tech next to me with the $500 Snap On version I'm extremely satisfied.

If mine went missing or broke, I would be over at Home Depot in 5 min to replace it.

Maybe not....stores barely carry the 3/8". I'm not sure that ANY HD B&M stocks the 1/4? Maybe I'm wrong (hopefully)?

 

[ScottsGT]

I would be lost without my M12 ratchet or 3/8 impact now. Always thought it was another one of those useless tools since I hate pulling a hose around with my air ratchet.

Oh no, big difference!!

 

[Mastermind]

i have a matco 12v 1/4 inch ratchet and a snap on 14.4v 3/8. use them everyday. love them. the snap on is dangerous, but not as bad as a quality air ratchet. my air ratchets have not even had the air fittings switched since the last shop, or the one before. almost two years since they've come out of the box.

 

[MacMcMacmac]

Mt Ac Delco 12V 3/8" ratchet was a godsend when doing the head swap on my motorcycle. Lots of fasteners up under the headstock and behind the front wheel. You can use it like a regular ratchet as well, not something we can do with the 18V Milwaukee impact ratchet at work, which, to be fair, is also a very useful addition to our inventory, and quite strong.

You can order them at Pep Boys for about $85 for the bare tool. It is a bit long for some stuff, but in those cases, the impact would not have fit in the space available either.