Air vs. Electric?

[gregpenechar]

I'm looking to buy an air or electric 3/8 ratchet. I'm trying to pick up the pace around the shop and power tools will be my biggest help right now. I'm looking at Snap-On stuff right now for the convenience and confidence in their product. (I have a Snap-On screw gun that makes small jobs a shitload easier/faster.) With air I won't have to worry about recharge or weak batteries, but at the same time, I don't want to drag an airline around. If anyone has experience with these two, let me know. Also, if you have used a similar product, feel free to chime in. Thanks guys!

http://store.snapon.com/Air-Ratchets...--P744814.aspx

http://store.snapon.com/CTR761-Serie...e-P760536.aspx

[95albinobird]

I would go air
i'm told snap on is made in china now. and i wouldn't be surprised.
and no company has a lifetime warranty on air tools so with that in mind I got this and it is actually high quality
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HUSKY-REACTI...item4ad3baf539
I found this post on google I did a copy and pasted here you go.....anyone know different????


"snap on has been transferring production of their tool to overseas manufacturers for a few years now, ever since snap on was split up and sold off to the highest bidder.
snap on surgical was sold and has been made in china for over 10 years now.

and most of the snap on hand tools are made on the same production line as the harbor freight stuff."

[Fastbird]

I don't know where you got your info about snap on being china made but you're dead wrong there bud. They're about the ONLY manufacturer that HAS NOT switched the majority of their line to offshore production. Mac, Matco? Yep, about 90% of it is now offshore, but not Snap On. Their only offshore stuff is mainly Blue Pointe and a couple of their specialty tools. But 95% of snappy's stuff is still right here in the USA made and worth every penny. Don't know where you got that quote above about the hand tools being made on the line with the Harbor Freight stuff, but if you've handled any Snap On stuff regularly you'd know there's a MAJOR difference in quality. That said....

I'd go electric. You're going to be using it in a low torque application, and with as compact as they're making the battery packs anymore, you're not giving up any clearance, and you're dealing with far less hassle of an air line and a heckuva lot less noise. But.......take a close look at the Milwaukee M18 Fuel stuff. It's a LOT cheaper than the Snap On and they're very very highly reviewed.

[95albinobird]

I agree with the quality and I find it hard to believe harbor freight is made along side snap on.
but if you are a shadetree mechanic then the husky I listed has a 2year warranty and you don't have to chase down a truck.
i'm a air guy because my air compressor runs my die grinder,inpact, air drill,da sander,wrenches,blower thing I even have a tool to vac down out my ac system.you can do much more with a compressor. I have had some of my air tools for over 10 years that is longer than any battery can last.but to each his own.
I was a Pontiac dealer mechanic and I was all about snap on but their quality has gone down no matter where they are made.take a 20 year old socket and put next to a "new" unit and you will see the difference.

[96LT1355Z28]

Like Fastbird said the Milwaukee lithium stuff is pretty impressive, strong, light, and last's quite awhile. Depending on what tool you get some come with extra batteries, they charge pretty quick.

[blkchevyz]

just dont by cheap crap... i made that mistake and half the time you still have to bust out a ratchet because they dont have enough torque.

[Sahara54]

I have a mixture of both. I use my 1/4 Dewalt 20v impact for everything it can reach but still use air for my 1/2 impact, grinders and sanders. I have used the M18 Fuel stuff before and if my budget would have allowed I would have went that route.

[gregpenechar]

air ratchet.jpgWent with the FAR7000. It's not the most powerful air ratchet out there, but I wasn't looking for an arm breaker/knuckle buster. The selling point was the sockets that were included.