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Does anyone use air ratchets anymore?

That reminds me, I hate these new keyless chucks on cordless drills. Can never get them tight enough to prevent slipping when drilling anything that requires power. As far as I know there are absolutely no manual key type cordless ones made. As a result, I usually use my old corded one when I am working at home. My old sears 3/8" variable speed reversible gave me excellent service for over 35 years before the bearing got too sloppy. Does anyone know of or has anyone ever converted a keyless to a manual type chuck?
 
multimopes said:
That reminds me, I hate these new keyless chucks on cordless drills. Can never get them tight enough to prevent slipping when drilling anything that requires power. As far as I know there are absolutely no manual key type cordless ones made. As a result, I usually use my old corded one when I am working at home. My old sears 3/8" variable speed reversible gave me excellent service for over 35 years before the bearing got too sloppy. Does anyone know of or has anyone ever converted a keyless to a manual type chuck?
Click to expand...
Buy octagon bit drives and they will not slip.
 
I am aware of them and have a couple but this just reinforces my comment on the thread (fuel/brake lines). Here we go again, having to buy more damn tools to make this new convenient garbage work! I have several drill bit sets and types already, from common, masonry, wood, etc... Now I need more! Where the hell is real technology like an adjustable beam hand laser to cut through anything! By the way, now that I am venting; todays drill bits suck also. What the hell happened to Carbide Tipped Drill Bits? Nobody seems to make them. All you can get is tungsten dipped and they suck! Use them once or twice and it's all worn off! Damn, I am bitchy tonight! I'm sorry; just trying to prevent an ulcer I guess! :eek:
 
Sometimes i just use this and make my own air noises:carrot:

Resized_20180125_183951.jpeg
 
I use a Milwaukee 18volt impact for cars/trucks
I have a 1" IR that I use for the big jobs. And an old 3/8" IR air ratchet that I use when needed.
IR seems to be a good brand if you keep them oiled. Now my Compressor is another story, difficult to keep the water out of even with a dryer
 
Air ratchets are great for extra torque in tight spaces.
sometimes a battery impact just will not fit and and you can't get enough human leverage due to poor angles.
 
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I used air tools to disassemble my cars for restoration. For reassembly and maintenance, I only use hand tools.
 
I still use mine and also love the 1/4 impact driver. Hey I just found something out recently, My old dewalt finally went thru the third set of batteries, well needed a new one found out Ridged cordless tools are guaranteed for life even the batteries! Picked it up and got a free impact gun, so far love it, chuck locks down tight no slippage and the impact gun is a beast for cordless! Just my 2 cents.
 
multimopes said:
That reminds me, I hate these new keyless chucks on cordless drills.
Click to expand...

I agree 100 %. That was some really stupid bullshit the industry forced on us. Small bits with no flats in them are a real ******. I've bought deburring bits that are great for elongating holes.....IF they don't slip and wobble out.
I'd love to meet the guy that invented the keyless chuck and kick him in the dick with a pointy boot.
 
Come on now there are keyless chucks and then there are keyless chucks. Milwaukee, Dewalt or Porter-Cable all have a decent chuck.
I have more trouble with keyed chucks in older drills. Its not the chuck but lack of being able to find the correct key.
 
Keyless chucks have changed between the time I bought my previous, and last year, when I bought my latest.

They are now one hand operation capable and if using two hands, the grip area for the hand closest to the drill body is much larger.

Much, much tighter grip now as well.

I believe part of the advancement is the brake, which allows you to torque the clutch against it.
 
Hardly ever use it. I find it too cumbersome with the airline for tight spaces, which seems to be majority of where the work is.
Otherwise my dewalt 20v cordless tools are used the most.
 
I rarely use my air ratchet. It's loud, lacks torque, and can be awkward with the air hose. I have Craftsman 18v lithium batteries for my drill, 3/8, and 1/2 drive impacts. I have 5 batteries, and a charger. Due to medical issues, I find they work great most of the time. If they won't do the job, i have air tools to get aggressive with. Also, i have a corded Dewalt drill, and hammer drill. Most of the time, the battery powered tools work great.
 
"You are correct sir!" Most everything I have is cheap crap. After a divorce long ago and even before that it's all I can afford. I have never heard of Viking; (but I am liking)! Thanks for the link. I think if I sell my 73 clone I can afford to buy some. I always try to buy American but it is very hard these days. I have only had my 2 cordless tools since last August. So the deal with slippage (besides using them at work) is new to me. However, the 3 brands they have at my job are Milwaukee, Dewalt and I don't remember. None is any better than the other, they all slip and it pisses everyone here off as well. It seems the budget for tools doesn't allow for an entire new type of bit with hex shanks. Lets face it, if I had a larger wallet, I would not only keep my RR clone, but it would be done exactly the way I want it and I would also have a Viper and a Challenger Hellcat Demon! Heck, why not a New Ram while I'm at it. LOL. I have enough bits now that I could take an afternoon and grind the ends to a somewhat hex shape.
Really, I am grateful for what I have but I long for the old days, before they sold us all out!:(
 
Got lots of air tools, but just got a new DeWalt cordless impact wrench. Kinda cool! Works pretty good, too. A lot less hassle than getting the compressor going and getting the hoses out especially for quick jobs!
 
In the 70's most of my 'air' tools were corded electric but now that they are all worn out, most of my air tools ARE air tools. And when I was still a machineass working for the refinery, we got a lot of our tooling from Rex Supply in Houston. http://www.rex-supply.com/cgi/CGP2HOME
 
I'm reading how a lot of you like using air and or cordless tools. I have my fair share of both and use them now and then but I always find myself going back to hand tools. I understand time is money when working in a garage for a living.
For me at home I prefer the quite of the shop with just the radio playing in the background and the occasional wrench hitting the floor.
 
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