toolandequipmentsupplement-april2023 - 15

TOOL REVIEW
Ingersoll Rand 1211MAX High Speed Ratchet
A master diagnostic technician reviews the Ingersoll Rand
1211MAX High Speed Ratchet and why it's rarely in his tool box.
Last fall, Ingersoll Rand launched the
1211MAX Series High Speed Ratchet, a
slim but sturdy pneumatic tool available
in 3/8 " and 1/2 " drive models perfect for
wrestling bolts free from engine blocks
and other tight fits under the hood.
The company touted gaudy power
stats including 80 lb.-ft. of torque and
625 rpm for a much faster operating
speed than competitors or previous
models. Two internal innovations, the
twin hammer and true ratchet mechanisms,
were designed to keep that power
contained to the tool, so only bolts
are ripped free, not a technician's skin.
In theory, that all sounds great. But
how does it fare in the real world? I
asked one of the most brutally honest
people I know, John O'Brien, a master
diagnostic technician at a Toyota dealership
in the Cleveland area. He's been
a tech for 25 years and he tried the
TOOL REVIEW
Matco Tools 1/2 " Drive Dual-Flex
Angle Pneumatic Impact Wrench
Reviewed by Brin Kline, shop owner/technician at
Assured Auto Works in Melbourne, Florida.
Q: How did the tool function as far as
saving you time?
A: This flex head, low-profile impact
wrench is a game changer. Being able
to use the power of an impact wrench
in areas where a traditional or even
low-profile impact will not fit was a
huge time saver.
Q: How has using this tool impacted
your shop's profitability?
A: The best that I'm aware, there's
nothing like this on the market. Before
this tool, we were forced to remove a
lot more parts just so our tools would
fit where we needed them. In some
scenarios, we would have one person
hold a device with one tool while the
other individual tried to loosen
a fastener. With this tool, we are
saving time because we're not
having to do as much disassembly,
and we are not having to rely
on help from others to get the
job done. Both situations mean
more efficiency and more opportunity
to make money.
Q: What kind of setup was involved
before using the product?
A: Just add an air nipple, a drop or two
of air tool oil, and get to work.
Q: How easy was it to use?
A: Anyone who has used air tools or
pneumatic impact wrenches can use
this tool without the manual.
Q: How was its packaging? Did it
come with any accessories?
A: The tool came in a cardboard box
with a warranty form, wrench for adjusting
the pivot bolt for the flex head,
and product information paperwork.
Q: What features did you like?
A: I love how low profile the impact
wrench head is and that the impact
wrench head swivels. The trigger/
switch is on the handle and the
handle turns. In some situations, it's
easier when the trigger is facing the
same direction as the wrench so you
can simply press the trigger with your
fingers. In other situations, it might
be easier to turn the handle so you
can press the trigger with your thumb
or the palm of your hand.
Q: Is there any way you could think
to improve or add to this tool?
A: No, I like it just the way it is.
This product was given to the reviewer free of charge by the manufacturer.
April 2023 * Tools & Shop Equipment 15
1211MAX-D3 (3/8 " ) for two months.
" I think that it's absolutely incredible, "
O'Brien started, " It takes bolts out
two or three times faster than anything
I've used before. "
He explained how convenient the
slim profile is to get to water pumps and
timing covers, while the speed and power
make the tool " just faster and more
reliable than a normal impact gun. "
He said the ratchet impacts the bolt
loose " without compromising your fulcrum
point, " which means that torque
focus does not travel up the handle and
take your arm with the bolt. O'Brien
noted the smooth operation also prevents
future knuckle dings. " It's very effortless
when you pull trigger, " he said.
There's only one problem the master
tech has: He let other shop technicians
try it out and now it is more often than
not somewhere in their bay. One even
personalized the 1211 by attaching a
hinged fitting to the air connector to
prevent air hose tangles.
" I often have to dig through his tool
box to find it anytime I need it, " O'Brien
noted.
In the late 1990s, impact ratchets
could be found in most toolboxes,
O'Brien explained, but they fell out of
favor as impact guns and battery-powered
tools rose in popularity.
After using the 1211Max and seeing
how it reduces time per job, he is convinced
air ratchets like this " will become
a part of everybody's toolbox again. "
-John Hitch
This product was given to the reviewer free of charge by the manufacturer.
toolandequipmentsupplement-april2023

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