Speed up a multitude of workshop tasks with the Clarke X-Pro reversible air ratchet

I discovered the joys of using an air ratchet as a spotty teenager working in Dad’s garage, and what an eye-opening moment it was.

Fast forward to today, and the world of air-powered hand tools has moved on considerably. Modern air ratchets, like this Clarke X-Pro CAT134, have become lighter, more reliable and more powerful; user friendly is the key phrase here.

The X-Pro features a half-inch drive and requires 16cfm at load, meaning it is easily combined with compressors like the Clarke Shhh Air Max lightweight and compact home compressor. Pair the X-Pro with the aforementioned Shhh Air Max, and you’ll be drawing just 5cfm (five cubic feet per minute) at no load and 16cfm at full load. Given the 16.9cfm rating of the compressor (and its 50-litre tank), that means longer runtimes between the compressor pump refilling the tank.

With an approximate maximum torque of 60lb-ft, the X-Pro is about as powerful as mechanical hand ratchets get, and with a maximum speed of 180rpm, it will come in handy for undoing everything from corroded caliper bolts to engine casing bolts that haven’t been touched for decades.

And we haven’t even touched on the best part. Compared to the air ratchet I first wielded two decades ago, the X-Pro is small, lightweight – weighing in at around 1.3kg – and perfectly at home in the tight confines of a motorcycle frame. With its variable speed trigger and four air regulator speeds, you’ll always be able to dial in just the right amount of torque to get the job done. It even features a rotating exhaust, meaning you can always aim the flow of relief air away from your face and other parts of your body.

To help make your life easier in your garage, check out the full range of Clarke compressed air hand tools on the Machine Mart website.