Air Impact Ratchet

[GBCMAN]

I was thinking of buying a right angle 3/8" air impact, but prices are high for what little I will use it.
I see listings for air impact ratchets and the prices aren't bad, especially on Ebay.
Anyone have one and what's your opinion on them?
Thanks

 

[johndeere720GA]

I have a couple of air ratchets and though they will kind of tighten a nut/bolt they are not impact. I usually have to give an extra pull or two on the ratchet to get it tight. But that being said they do take up the slack very nicely when you have little swing room. I have seen the impact ratchets but they are too $$ for what little I would be using them.

 

[glennster]

i have a couple 3/8 drive air rachets,a mac and one from napa. both are knuckle busters if you are not careful. also have a couple of 1/4 inch drive air rachets, a snap on and a blue point. i use the 1/4 in snap on the most. if you are doing production, they are real time savers. wear mechanics gloves with the 3/8 drive ones.

 

[Dave Sherburne, NY]

I have a 1/2"ratchet like that. It won't break anything loose, you can use it like a regular ratchet to break nuts loose and then it will take the nuts off. Kind of handy when you can't get a gun type impact in there.

 

[ztrmower]

watch you wrist they will snap you real quick. hardly ever use mine for that reason period.

 

[El Hombre]

I've never seen an 'impact' ratchet, all of mine just run the nut down and then I have to pull on the ratchet to get it tight. Or pull to break it loose.

Last one I bought in 2001 was this:

http://www.airtoolsale.com/products.php?product=IR-%23111-The-Knuckle-Saver-3%2F8%22-Super-Duty-Air-Ratchet

Actually works; I can just put it on the nut and trigger it. If the nut is tight, it won't rotate and smash my fingers. Same deal when tightening.

I searched for these 5 years ago and they were out of production; but obviously now in production.

 

[rrlund]

I've got a cheap one from TSC and a Snap-On. Not much difference except the price.

 

[Married2Allis]

I needed to replace the starter on my truck and could not get a socket wrench on one of the bolts without taking half of the front end apart. Air ratchet did the trick. Was an Ingersol Rand 3/8". Paid for itself just that one time. Though as said above, not enough force to break loose or tighten high torque bolts.

 

[marloweg]

have a3/8 and 1/2 from harbor fright and they get a lot of us and they work just fine just like the ones tractor supply sells look just like Sears

 

[Jshum40]

I got a cheap one from Harbor Freight as I don't use it too often and It does a good, but it will skin your knuckles if you're not careful.

 

[gab]

I never had an impact ratchet, some of the guys at work had them 15 or 20 years ago and they didn't last long. With the air ratchets usually you break the bolt loose with it to start with and to tighten it. I've had Snap On, Mac and Blue point and a 25 dollar one from Farm/ Fleet will last just as long as hi dollar one, pinch your fingers a couple times and you'll learn how to use it.

 

[Donald Lehman]

They are handy to get at places you can't get at with a regular air wrench. Had one for twenty years or so, but I don't use it much anymore. Used it quite a lot doing small engine work, though. The one I have is a cheapie, but it seems to work okay.

 

[markiz41]

Got a 3/8 drive K&E (Japan?) a few years back. Don't like it. As was said previously, it won't break stuff loose like a real gun. The impact mechanism adds to the bulk, making it the size of a 1/2 dr. And the power/torque is nothing to brag about. My old 3/8 drive low RPM craftsman ratchet will perform the same, if not better.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I use one all the time, rarely use a regular ratchet unless there is not enough room for the air ratchet. Time is money.

 

[RandyB(MI)]

I believe what you are referring to is an air ratchet , not an "impact" ratchet and they are not designed to impart a "hammering impact" action like a true impact wrench. They are made to take a nut/bolt out without moving your hand. Any brand will last a long time for occasional use. An "impact wrench" is the one that looks like a "gun" and goes straight on the bolt and will actually "hammer" the bolt loose (like what they use to change tires/wheels) I would get a good grade one because there is quite a difference in the torque and the hammering affect between makes. I've got a Sears 1/2 dr. that after a year will not hardly loosen lug bolts so go to my 40 yr old Rodac asian one and still does the job.

 

[Hobo,NC]

They do make one...

https://www.zoro.com/ingersoll-rand...xenIkKqbvKkkrqmEahoCt4Xw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

If I worked on enuff stuff were I needed it I would own one... It would be rare I needed a impact air ratchet...

I do Like IR air tools but I can ware out a $200 IR in a couple a years so for 3/8" I get one from northern tools with a 1 year warranty and exchange it about the time the warranty is running out...

1/4" is a different story I use Aircat 1/4" air ratchets they hold up well. I don't like the trigger but deal with it...

http://www.tooltopia.com/aircat-acr...C6djU-guYZdnUGJAGLGWS1ObXO3v-gSXpUxoCYRTw_wcB

I should give there 3/8" a try... If I hit the trigger and it does not break the fastener loose I grab a ratchet. I do not do my finale tightening with a air ratchet either... Practice this and it will save the head on any air ratchet...

 

[markiz41]

If you look at the design of this thing closely, you'll see it has the pin clutch type impact. Problem is: it's small and weak. Gimmicky.
ratchet

 

[Bryan inIowa]

I have several . Snap on 3/8 will squish your knuckles real good . I hardly use air tools anymore. snap on 1/4 battery ratchet and IR 3/8 , dont use them to final tighten but they are great for tear down . No air hse to deal with .

 

[Hobo,NC]

(quoted from post at 21:05:42 02/16/16)


One of the local tool truck guys use to stock #45 Ware Washer on his truck. When the drive lost its punch like its slipping that washer will add years to a old worn out air ratchet...

 

[Hobo,NC]

I am addicted to a hose They to fall down from the sky everywhere around my shop.