Quality air tools?

[Aaron_W]

Ok, just getting in on all the recent air tool love recently.

I'm looking for an air ratchet, not impact gun. Prefer 1/2" drive but 3/8" would be ok.

I'm a home user so really no justification to spend tool truck money, but I'd like something that isn't a piece of junk.

I've looked at most of the box stores (not Lowe's as I don't have one locally, and we don't have Meynard's in California), so I've seen Husky, Dewalt, Campbell Hausfeld, Ingersall Rand and Harbor Freight. All but Harbor Freight run $90-ish. The local HD currently has several Husky 3/8" "reactionless" 80 ft/lb air ratchets marked down on their clearance shelf from $99 to $60 and $75 ($60 is an open box). Harbor Freight has 3/8" for (I think) $22 and 1/2" for around $30.

Looking at all of these I would not be surprised if they are all actually made in the same plant in China and just getting different stickers applied. This is one of those cases where I really question if buying the HF isn't just a lot cheaper for the exact same tool (all of these are Chinese made).

The Dewalt is actually cheaper than the retail price of the Husky ratchets which surprised me.



Maybe the box stores aren't the best place to be looking. Is there a better place to shop for air tools without getting into full on pro tools. Just looking for something decent quality without having to sell a kidney.

 

[plinker]

For online stores Check out this one, good prices all around.
https://www.tooltopia.com/
Amazon may have decent prices too, depends.

Aircat is a decent brand, not sure if they make a 1/2 air ratchet though. I know they have 3/8 air ratchets. CP & IR too, they have different tiers of quality, ok to pro grade.



FWIW, a battery ratchet like Milwaukee's M12 may be worth looking into if you already have some of their stuff. I never cared much for air ratchets myself, 1/4 drive was useful at times though.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

I have a craftsman 3/8 air rachet that i have used probably 5 times in the 10+ years that i have had it. Between the compressor running and the noise an air ratchet makes I would rather use a regular ratchet.

 

[Aaron_W]

For electrics I have Makita and Ryobi, neither offer a long skinny ratchet tool.

I have a cheap impact gun, so I am aware of the downside of airtools, but there are times where an air ratchet would be really nice, particularly those tight spots where you can barely move enough to ratchet more than one or two clics. A cordless drill works fine if it is just long bolts, but not so good for getting into those tight spots.

I'd like a better impact gun eventually, I bought this one out of immediate need and it has been doing the job more or less, but having looked at specs later when I had time for comparison, it is pretty weak. Part of the reason I'm looking for good, but not really expensive, limited use, but needs to work when I need it.


Thanks for Aircat, not much more expensive than what I've been looking at. I know where Milwaukee, Makita, Dewalt etc stand in the electric power tools world, but don't use a lot of air tools so really don't even know which brands to look for.

 

[Negen]

Sp air stuff is nice.

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[WittHay]

I am used to a CP 828 ratchet. They are part of the classic series from CP like the 860 die grinder. Older style tools that are made in Japan and seem to last forever. The reactionless and composite design are more modern but pricier.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

St Louis Pneumatic is probably the only US made one still being produced, but no 1/2". In my opinion 1/2" is generally too big for an air ratchet for home use, and not common in general.

http://www.stlouispneumaticstore.com/store/c/26-Ratchets.aspx

 

[Aaron_W]

I was only looking at 1/2" because a lot of the 3/8" ratchets say they are only rated for 1/2" bolts, some only 3/8". It is not unusual to run across 9/16" and 5/8" (or 14-16mm) on cars, and definitely on older trucks.

I see some of the Aircat 3/8 ratchets say up to 5/8" which would work. Or maybe I'm just reading more into what the bolt rating actually means.

 

[Skin]

The "bolt" spec is a generic torque spec. Its not like you cant use them on larger bolts. Pretty much all 1/2" ratchets are just 3/8" with the anvil swapped out. Definitely go reactionless or impacting and the only other specs to compare are noise and RPM.

 

[sberry]

For general auto you want 3/8. I have all 3 sizes, I do use 1/2 some. I like it under car, it is much more stout but probably use the 3/8 the most. I havnt used the HF but it wouldn't surprise me if they were the same as some of the other models found in the box stores. It would be worth a look. Lots of tools done that way these days.

 

[sberry]

I have CP, it's a bigger heavier tool in the bigger size.

 

[driz]

For general auto you want 3/8. I have all 3 sizes, I do use 1/2 some. I like it under car, it is much more stout but probably use the 3/8 the most. I havnt used the HF but it wouldn't surprise me if they were the same as some of the other models found in the box stores. It would be worth a look. Lots of tools done that way these days.

Ahhh but in rust heaven those are pretty light for those nasty bolts dorm low. I use my 18 v or even my 12v for the lesser stuff pretty well.
Mine is a 1350 or something like that Aircat. Works great though it’s nowhere near that rating due to distance piping and compressor size . IR makes decent stuff too along that line. I just fell out of love with them after paying the long dollar to for a needle scaler that to say the least just doesn’t do [emoji90]. My IR DA sander is a champ. All the lesser used air tools I have are [emoji85]HF and the damned things all work ok. Not the strongest /fastest but they work well enough .


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[gtsgarage]

I have a craftsman 3/8 air rachet that i have used probably 5 times in the 10+ years that i have had it. Between the compressor running and the noise an air ratchet makes I would rather use a regular ratchet.

Man I had to read that to see if it was something I posted. . Exactly same here I have a Craftsman 3/8” air ratchet and never use it. Especially because my home compressor, a 15 year old Craftsman is loud and annoying. If I was in a shop with hard air lines and a compressor room for noise I might love air.

I just bought a couple of m12 ratchets last month. Much quieter, easy to grab and go and no air line or compressor noise.

 

[Mr_B]

3/8 reactionless impacting air ratchet is what you want, Kuani KI-2323 aka the AP 1128
Some of the cheaper options can be usable but decent reactionless is a game changer .

 

[lightning struck]

I have an IR 3/8" that I've used a handful of times. But after getting a Milwaukee M18 90* impact, and high torque impact, about the only reason I air up the compressor anymore is to blow stuff off and air up tires.

 

[ex-x-fire]

I found that since I bought a mini impact that I don't use my air ratchet as much as before. Check out King Tony air tools.

 

[ToolPolisher]

Length of ratchet and/or purpose are going to be the deciding factor of what tool you should be looking at.

I had a long and rather bulky 3/8 drive air ratchet that I could hardly find the space to use where I didn't already have the freedom to use a high-tooth ratchet so I dedided I didn't need that and dropped down to the Astro Pnuematic Onyx 3/8 drive wobble air ratchet. If it's tight quarters you're accessing, this thing fits the bill but you sacrifice break-away torque.

As others are alluding to, if it's suspension work in the rust belt then you might need an actual impact and not an air ratchet. But if you break them loose with a 1/2 drive tool (bar, ratchet, impact) then just about any air ratchet can finish the job.

It's all about potential use. Timing cover access on an FWD car? Maybe a long air ratchet. Something with limited access? Maybe a smaller/lighter stubby. Trying to do everything from start-to-finish with one tool? Maybe an impacting ratchet...

 

[finn]

Consider cordless. I haven’t used my CP 3/8” drive air ratchet in several years. It’s too bulky with the hose for on car use, in my experience.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

In this day and age no way would buy an air ratchet and not be an impacting model. I have Mac tools 3/8 which was made by sp air putting out about 75lbs, if you aren't careful you will smash your hand real fast.

 

[danielbuck]

SP air makes a very nice compact impacting ratchet, I don't know if they make 1/2" or not, mine is 3/8".

Probably anyting from SP, CP, Aircat, IR, Astro, are going to be high quality, for air tools in general.

 

[99LeCouch]

I've had good luck with the Harbor Freight Earthquake 3/8" reactionless ratchet. It looks identical to the Husky.

My Husky 1/2" compact impact gets far more use since it can throttle down to 60 ft/lbs for running down bolts/nuts, and ramp up to break things free. For passenger car work, it's plenty. I did suspension work on my daily driver, and it broke everything free with no issues.

 

[sberry]

Reason i have 1/2 is when breaking by hand, its just so much stronger. I bought a new 3/8 IR and bout the first day in got it my but picks it up and just horses an oversize bolt apart with it. Really hasn't been right since.

 

[Aaron_W]

Ok, so if the bolt spec is basically break away than that isn't a problem. I can always start it by hand and then go to air. It is the click, reset, click, reset in a small area that I'm trying to work with.

I understand that this is a diminishing niche tool, that is the big reason I don't want to spend a fortune on it. I'll have a look at the brands mentioned.

Impact / cordless are completely different things in that they are not ratchet shaped so won't get into the areas where I'm wanting the ratchet. If there was a long narrow cordless ratchet or impact I'd definitely look at that, but I haven't seen one. They are all short squat gun shaped tools, and the cordless add a battery to that. If I can barely get my closed fist into a spot, there is no way that any impact gun will fit.

I have a cheap air impact gun which I will eventually replace and for that cordless looks very good. I do have an appreciation for impact tools. I've also got a little Makita mini-impact driver that has been nice for smaller nuts where I have room to use it.

I've been looking at the Milwaukee electric drivers, but while I do have some Milwaukee tools, they are corded. The cordless tools have a fairly large initial buy in when you don't already have some.

 

[ChrisLS8]

Milwaukee M12 ratchet. You can use em to break em loose and then run em off. Techs everywhere do that so no reason you can't

The non fuel is 100 bucks at HD right now with an extra battery iirc, you can find chargers for cheap

 

[Aaron_W]

I've had good luck with the Harbor Freight Earthquake 3/8" reactionless ratchet. It looks identical to the Husky.

My Husky 1/2" compact impact gets far more use since it can throttle down to 60 ft/lbs for running down bolts/nuts, and ramp up to break things free. For passenger car work, it's plenty. I did suspension work on my daily driver, and it broke everything free with no issues.

I did look at the HF ratchets and agree they look about the same as the rest and 1/4 the price. As a tool I don't plan on using a great deal paying $20-30 is a lot more appealing than $99.


When you say Earthquake are you talking about Cordless rather than air? I just saw this one

https://www.harborfreight.com/12v-m...s-xtreme-torque-ratchet-wrench-kit-63538.html




Well nevermind then, none of the stores around me carry these, but there are long thin cordless ratchets. Milwaukee has a 3/8" with battery for $150, I can live with that.

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

 

[Aaron_W]

Milwaukee M12 ratchet. You can use em to break em loose and then run em off. Techs everywhere do that so no reason you can't

The non fuel is 100 bucks at HD right now with an extra battery iirc, you can find chargers for cheap

Yeah, I just found that. It's just none of the stores seem stock them, they just have the pistol shaped ones. I have no problem ordering online, just didn't know they existed.

Problem solved.

 

[Mr_B]

reactionless impact ratchet, nothing better for tight space .
http://www.astrotools.com/air-tools/3-8-mini-impact-ratchet-wrench.html

http://www.kuani.com/ugC_ShowroomItem_Detail.asp?hidShowID=108

 

[manwithtools]

Yeah, I just found that. It's just none of the stores seem stock them, they just have the pistol shaped ones. I have no problem ordering online, just didn't know they existed.

Problem solved.

I have seen them in that last two weeks in San Diego and Nashville stores - Home Depot that is.

 

[kb1982]

I 've had an aircat 805-ht in 3/8 for a couple years now. Its a pretty good ratchet. It is a full size ratchet, so tight spots isnt its thing. I think the rating is around 130 ft lbs, and it will actually do it. Ive used it to remove lugnuts on passenger cars without any problems. Be forewarned though, its not reactionless so you need to be aware of the surroundings. You dont want to pin your hand against something with it. If you search aircat 805ht on here, youll find my review that i did and added to later down the road. Btw, its also made in Taiwan, instead of China. https://www.ebay.com/i/223319266549...1%26rvr_ts%3D6d80439f1680ad4bb2458e41fffa7914

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[Aaron_W]

I have seen them in that last two weeks in San Diego and Nashville stores - Home Depot that is.

Ok, so probably really new then.

Man that could get expensive really quick, I've had my eye on a couple of those Fuel tools but lacking the battery logistics has really helped my self control.


Well my options have just expanded considerably, not only a lot more air tools to look at, but there is a cordless option after all.

 

[99LeCouch]

I did look at the HF ratchets and agree they look about the same as the rest and 1/4 the price. As a tool I don't plan on using a great deal paying $20-30 is a lot more appealing than $99.


When you say Earthquake are you talking about Cordless rather than air? I just saw this one

https://www.harborfreight.com/12v-m...s-xtreme-torque-ratchet-wrench-kit-63538.html




Well nevermind then, none of the stores around me carry these, but there are long thin cordless ratchets. Milwaukee has a 3/8" with battery for $150, I can live with that.

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

This one: https://www.harborfreight.com/air-t...essional-impact-air-ratchet-wrench-68426.html

Put a swivel air fitting onto it, and it greatly increases where it can be used.

 

[sberry]

Yes, there might be better options. A part timer would have trouble wearing a HF out. If i was under a hood 40hrs I would be looking for something cordless etc. I do most of the hard work with a 1/2 air impact, I use the rest some.
Some exhaust work comes to mind. Putting a ****** in, 1/2 is better with long extension, not scared to twist heavy muffler clamp off.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I'm very happy with my SP Air impacting 3/8. My HF impacting ratchet lasted over a year before the detent ball fell out. Replacement parts from a similar model were nearly 75% of a new unit. SP Air has been going for 2+ now, part of me wishes I got the "flat" model, as the direction switch is easier to reach if you get it stuck. However the flat model is only half as powerful.

It's VERY fast and VERY strong, so much so I would advise caution with it until you are used to how it works. A coworker borrowed it and smacked himself in the mouth with it; he didn't expect how quickly it would back the bolt out, and into his face.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073VG4WGQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[JJ99SS]

Yeah, I hate using my air ratchet. It's so loud (think dentist drill) it drives me nuts. Luckily its a Craftsman variety and was cheap, and no torque. If I can get a regular ratchet in there I'd rather use that. Or my Makita impact driver if theres space.

 

[Mr_B]

^
problem is it junk, buy a decent air ratchet and preferably reactionless impacting and you love using it and find it a game changer .
Some of the cheaper stubby ones can be useful for cost but you got hand pick or buy known good models ...

 

[NUTTSGT]

About the only time I use my air ratchet is to get at some longer bolts or plenty of bolts with not much access. I'd prefer to use my 3/8 impact.


The local HD has some of their air tools in the clearance section, maybe check your local store ?

 

[Aaron_W]

About the only time I use my air ratchet is to get at some longer bolts or plenty of bolts with not much access. I'd prefer to use my 3/8 impact.


The local HD has some of their air tools in the clearance section, maybe check your local store ?

That is actually what got me going. Saw them in the clearance section and started looking around at what else is out there. The local store has a couple of the Reactionless Husky 3/8 drivers marked down to $75 (from $99).