cordless ratchet 3/8

[123hotchef]

ok so I want to upgrade my 1/4 cordless to a 3/8 cordless ratchet

any brands to stay clear of? also are LI batteries much better than NiCad's?

 

[Agrismith]

Li batteries are worlds àhead of nicad
Look at milwaukee
I think they do an impact ratchet aswell although not sure if that is 18 v or 12v

 

[Johnseat]

Milwaukee and Facom do them but they are very expensive size, saying that they are powerful and easy to use in one hand.

 

[knighty]

mechanic mate has a milwaukee one, I used it once, really impressed by it, he loves it

he did break it once (heaving on it) but milwaukee fixed it no problems... he's a mechanic so using it all day etc.. so quie heavy user

 

[123hotchef]

I was looking at Milwaukee and falcom the falcom looks like the snapon and mac vareity

 

[123hotchef]

can the impact be turned on and off on these http://www.powertools-direct.com/PBSCProduct.asp?ItmID=11900330

it does not look like it

 

[123hotchef]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Milwaukee...019958?hash=item5b316979b6:g:DW4AAOSw6DtYV2Nc

a wee bit cheaper http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Milwaukee...f23bb7f&pid=100005&rk=6&rkt=6&sd=391671019958


But can the impact be turned off? i think not. is the impact function a pain? or useful?

 

[knighty]

the impact on it isn;t bit like on a big wheel not type impact gun, was pretty much perfect when I used one (was only for an hour or so of intermittent use mind)

I think you'll need an impact one for anything tight... little motors just don;t have the torque without it... few knocks while it takes the strain off a nut and after that it spins off

 

[123hotchef]

they look so much cheaper in the usa too

 

[123hotchef]

Some of them ebay might be fakes as the sellers seem to chinese junk wholesalers...I saw a few I was going to recommend but then noticed the seller name - stuff like "happy-forever-store" "Gooddealforyou"

good point mate

 

[Bill Edwards]

Milwaukee seem to be the name when it comes to cordless gear (maybe all power tools) and ahead of Snap On at the moment, in my opinion.
Not cheap, but worth it if you'll use it and value quality.

 

[123hotchef]

i will invest i might wait until i go the the usa though it looks way cheaper out there

 

[123hotchef]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauke...ss-3-8-in-Ratchet-Tool-Only-2457-20/203111681


$79 at home depot..might get my old man to get me one when he is stateside...

big difference isnt it

 

[123hotchef]

i better get to the inlaws this year then

 

[123hotchef]

just ordered this http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p42711 not a bad price now i only need the bare unit from the states well I probably get the ratchet with some 4AH batteries

 

[WorkshopChris]

just ordered this http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p42711 not a bad price now i only need the bare unit from the states well I probably get the ratchet with some 4AH batteries

You wont regret it got a few bits in 12v and we have a 18v one that has more torque than most corded drills.
Only problem i have had with the Milwaukee gear is the 12v driver on its lowest setting the clutch will not operate when inserting 3.5mm wood screws so had to get a dewalt 10v for the small stuff.
I keep looking at the heated jackets for the winter, dad feels the cold and is always trying to heat the workshop like the tropics, problem is i am normally melting at that temp.

 

[123hotchef]

You wont regret it got a few bits in 12v and we have a 18v one that has more torque than most corded drills.
Only problem i have had with the Milwaukee gear is the 12v driver on its lowest setting the clutch will not operate when inserting 3.5mm wood screws so had to get a dewalt 10v for the small stuff.
I keep looking at the heated jackets for the winter, dad feels the cold and is always trying to heat the workshop like the tropics, problem is i am normally melting at that temp.

Heated jackets wow that is a good idea yes get him one will save you on heating and he will love it. I also splashed out on the 3/8 rattle gun

 

[123hotchef]

I got that m12 free when I opened an account with howdens when I was sparkying...one of my fave tools, light and has enough power for most jobs...

i could not believe that price with 2 batteries and charger sets me up nicely for when i can get out to the states

 

[123hotchef]

tell me do the 4ah batteries last twice as long as the 2ah ones?

 

[knighty]

yeah twice as long

(technically a little more in test conditions!)


I've noticed more power on my ryobi tools with the bigger batteries too (4ah vs 1.5ah) makes sense, my other power tools all have the same size batteries so can't test them