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Battery Ratchet (socket) Thoughts?

Discussion in 'The Tool Shed' started by aallison, Oct 5, 2017.

  1. Oct 5, 2017
    aallison

    aallison 74 cj6, 76 cj5. Has anyone seen my screwdriver?

    Green Cove...
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    Thinking about a battery ratchet. I have a couple of air powered but they are loud and the cord gets in the way. I know they don't have a lot of torque and often I'd have to break the fastener free with good old arm muscle. But many of the nuts/bolts would not need that.

    I have looked at several and there are two I think I like...a Milwaukee and an AC Delco. Not sure what brand the Delco is.

    Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Milwaukee 2457-21 3/8-in Cordless M12 Lithium-Ion Ratchet Kit

    Amazon.com: ACDelco ARW1201 Li-ion 12V 3/8" Ratchet Wrench w 2 battery, 57 ft-lbs: Home Improvement

    But I'm open to anything.

    I'm not even sure I want one but it looks like something that might be useful.

    Thoughts?
     
  2. Oct 5, 2017
    Dave B

    Dave B Frankenjeep '67

    Northern Minnesota
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    I have air ratchets and air impact guns, and I also use my cordless impact drivers--not a right angle or compact--but I already own the drivers--and they work in many applications--I often finish off with arm-strong/hand tightening anyway.
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2017
  3. Oct 5, 2017
    DHill78

    DHill78 Sponsor

    Central AR
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    Jul 27, 2015
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    I don't have the cordless ratchet, but I do have lots of Milwaukee cordless tools. One I use all the time is a 18V, 3/8" drive cordless impact. It works great, and actually has quite a bit of torque. Battery last a long time on it, although I wish I had a 12V one just for the smaller battery, more compact.
    I also have the 1/2" drive impact, 18V Milwaukee. It's a beast! My biggest issue with it is, it's friggin heavy! Lot's of torque and great to have when I need to change a tire on something. I rarely drag out the air tools anymore...
     
  4. Oct 5, 2017
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
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    I have the entire milwaukee 18V fuel line on the job and the 12V fuel 3/8 ratchet.. it's real handy..
     
  5. Oct 6, 2017
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    Ive got a couple electric tools from snapon and ive used their 1/4", 3/8" ratchets. I think they are 12 or 14v. Smaller battery pack...
    They will twist your arm. They are handy with no air lines, but are usually bigger than a comparable air tool still.
    Only reason i havent broken down and gotten their 1/4" ratchet is i usually use mine for trans pan bolts, trans teardown...
    Dont think it would like an atf bath. The metal cased air ratchets have no problems with atf;)
     
  6. Oct 6, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    The main reason we use air tools is because electric motors are large and heavy. They traditionally need a lamination stack of iron plates to make the field and armature. A turbine makes a lot more power for given size and weight. That said, electric motors have gotten much smaller and lighter in the past couple of decades, so maybe a cordless ratchet is a reasonable option. They certainly seem like they would be handy for trips to the pick-n-pull.

    I like Makita. My Makita corded 1/2" drill is a beast, and small compared to other corded 1/2" drills.

    You still have the battery hanging off the end though. Doesn't sound so convenient to me.
     
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2017
  7. Oct 6, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    I use my 20 yo 9V Makita drill with a 1/4" driver bit and sockets to run small nuts and bolts on/off all the time. I would think that this driver would be more handy than a cordless ratchet. Delivers 800in-lb which is 67 ft-lb. That's enough for most jobs. Makita LCT209W 12-Volt Max Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit, Black, 2-Piece - Power Tool Combo Packs - Amazon.com

    I have this 1/4" air ratchet that I find very handy, even with the air hose attached Amazon.com: Florida Pneumatic FP-733M 1/4-Inch Quick Reverse Flat Head Mini Air Ratchet: Home Improvement If you want something more maneuverable and can tolerate the air hose, this might be an option.
     
  8. Oct 7, 2017
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
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    My turbine makes about 1.7 X 10^6 Hp.....

    [​IMG]
     
  9. Oct 7, 2017
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    Ill betcha you break every bolt tightening with that though;)
     
  10. Oct 8, 2017
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
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    Big bolts we do with induction heating..
    Medium bolts we use various tools, mostly hydraulic wrenches such as..

    And for our small bolting we use air impacts ranging from 1/2" up to 2-1/2" drive

    I have just recently shifted to the battery operated Milwaukee Fuel 18V 1/2" and 3/4" drive impacts and I am impressed.. They hit harder than air in my opinion and for our purposes are a safety bonus removing the air hose from the tripping hazards and just time savings running air lines all over the plant..
     
  11. Oct 8, 2017
    radshooter

    radshooter Member

    Northwest Kansas
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    I looked at the Milwaukee M12v ratchet a few days ago. I have several M18 tools including the impact gun. I really like them, but I passed on the M12 ratchet because I am a hobby mechanic and don't use them all the time. I couldn't justify the price of an M12 charger and battery and wrench when I already have the M18 stuff.

    I went with an air ratchet instead as I already have a compressor that will run it. I probably won't use it all that much so I don't see the air hose being in the way too bad.

    I too am getting worsening arthritis in all my joints and back. Getting up and down on my knees is heck. Shoulders, elbows, wrists and hands are slowly getting worse.

    One thing I found to help a bit is I now wear mechanic gloves for a lot more things than I used to.

    Good luck. Getting old ain't for sissies.
     
    cookieman likes this.
  12. Oct 8, 2017
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    Kid at work bought snap ons 1/2" electric impact gun. Its heavy but will rip just about anything off. Pretty sure its got more power than my snappy air impact
     
  13. Oct 9, 2017
    aallison

    aallison 74 cj6, 76 cj5. Has anyone seen my screwdriver?

    Green Cove...
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    Well, I have the 18V ryobi and dewalt tools. The issue I have with air is you have to be near a compressor and the hose always seems to be in the way. From the reviews i thought the battery sockets would be only slightly larger than an air socket wrench. And if they made enough power, they would be great for what I needed, basic mechanic stuff.

    I don't want something the size I already have (18V dewalt) which has plenty of power but is way too big.

    So from what i see above, it is not worth risking a bunch of money. I guess they are not up to par yet.
     
  14. Oct 9, 2017
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
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    You just need a better impact gun. Ours at work will snap the head off of a 1/2" bolt at full power, even when taking them out. In fact I have seen them snap the head off of 1" bolts when they get some age on them.
     
  15. Oct 10, 2017
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    There are some good smaller ones, just depends how much you want to spend;)
    Im guessing but i believe the snapon ratchet with charger and 2 batteries is about $350-400. 14volt
     
  16. Oct 15, 2017
    aallison

    aallison 74 cj6, 76 cj5. Has anyone seen my screwdriver?

    Green Cove...
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    Well I went and bought a couple of swivel fittings and I'm going to try the air tool again. My only real complaint was the noise of the compressor when it was running and the hose.

    We will see what happens. The worst thing I can do is to keep using the old arms muscles.
     
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