Picked this little kit up today. It's awesome!
New tool thread
- Thread starter jhellwig
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Also check out this foam I found on Amazon:
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- Jan 6, 2005
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Just ordered this little 3/8" to 1/2" adapter. Found myself wishing I had one when doing an oil change on the 535d; I scanned my toolbox in vain thinking I had one, but nope. It will allow me to use a 1/2" drive 27mm socket on my 3/8" drive long reach ratchet to remove the oil filter housing cap.
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2005
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Got the Vessel because I needed a #3 Pozidrive bit (random I know) and the 12" bit holder because when you really need to maximize your reach..
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I had the same thoughts when I got mine (non fuel version though).Three-eights drive, cordless ratchet. I know pretty much nothing about these things, other than I see videos of other gearheads using them. I don't know which are good and which or meh, but Milwaukee Fuel appears to be the weapon of choice. I have zero experience using cordless hand tools; I've used pneumatic ratchets before and avoided them, especially when tightening fasteners - knuckle busters.
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Getting access to the fastener appears the be the main issue, once you're on it the tool does the rest. With manual ratchets, you need to consider handle "swing" (I'm looking at you, Toyota).
Let me tell you from experience. It will change your life.
Cordless and air ratchets are the some of the least used tools I own, none of them are much good. they are all slower than molasses in January even the so called "fast ones" are dog slow and the head size is usually way too big. There are some jobs where a long neck small head cordless is useful but for most work I use a compact impact or small 12v Bosch driver.
For me cost is not a big factor in the purchasing decision but for sure Snap on is out of the question, the performance of their cordless tools doesnt match the astronomical prices.
For me the Hercules 12v extended reach ratchet does everything I need as good as any other, the head is small so it gets into tight places where many of the others wont go. Anything on top of the engine these things are not very useful anyway, none of them are, the small impact handles that work much better and 4x faster but for $69 and $34 for a decent 4A battery it is well worth owning.
My IR air ratchet was their top model 20 years ago, it has only been used a few times, it just takes up space in the tool box.
For me cost is not a big factor in the purchasing decision but for sure Snap on is out of the question, the performance of their cordless tools doesnt match the astronomical prices.
For me the Hercules 12v extended reach ratchet does everything I need as good as any other, the head is small so it gets into tight places where many of the others wont go. Anything on top of the engine these things are not very useful anyway, none of them are, the small impact handles that work much better and 4x faster but for $69 and $34 for a decent 4A battery it is well worth owning.
My IR air ratchet was their top model 20 years ago, it has only been used a few times, it just takes up space in the tool box.
JHZR2
Staff member
I’m surprised at that. So you’re saying that a 12v impact gun works better than a ratchet? How do?
Those Hercules ratchets look just like my Milwaukee m12 ratchets, except that the square bottom battery is less ergonomic in some situations. I suspect the HF manufacturer in China just counterfeited the Milwaukee manufacturer in China.
I find electric ratchets so useful for repetitive work. Not everything, but activities where there are a lot of similar size fasteners.
I love my 12v 3/8 ratchet after breaking the bolts loose I’ll finish spinning them out with the ratchet. That’s if the ratchet can’t snatch’em loose.
I wanted a compact dolly for my T nitrogen tank and wasn't willing to pay the ridiculous prices for true cylinder carts.
I got this 300# Harper for ~$53 on Warehouse Deals. It's just enough while not taking up anymore space than necessary when parked.
I may do something more elegant with the ratchet strap in the future
I got this 300# Harper for ~$53 on Warehouse Deals. It's just enough while not taking up anymore space than necessary when parked.
I may do something more elegant with the ratchet strap in the future
JHZR2
Staff member
I’ve actually been surprised at how my m12 ratchet can operate as a regular ratchet and loosen things.
For me the little impact works better at least 90% of the time and does it 4x faster. The cordless ratchet in comparison is dog slow and needs help a lot of the time. for repetitive work like cam covers, oil pans trans pans, etc the small impact will have all the bolts out while the ratchet is still on the 3rd or 4th bolt, I use a small Bosch driver set to 10 on the clutch to run them up in a few seconds then hand tighten.
Bumper, fender and underbody cladding is super fast with the small impact, I can get a 2.0 Quattro in engine service position in under 20 min.
Once in service position I get the timing cover, guides, tensioner, chains and cam cover off with a 10mm and T30 in a few min. The only time I used the long cordless ratchet was to get the vacuum pump and coolant flange of the back of the head because of space limitations.
I am not saying the ratchet is useless it is useful for limited spaces but I don't need it for much and it is not a go to tool for me, I find them too slow and cumbersome.
Put a club foot battery on the Milwaukee and it is not much different than the HF.
That's about what a used SO Techangle goes for...
Despite what people say -- I am getting the Quinn's 3/8" digital angle torque wrench.
