My local mini mechanic uses his 3/8" Air Ratchet for wheel studs.
Swears that it does them up to exactly the right torque.

I love my air ratchet Saves soooooo much time, & makes a cool noise!

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Too many cars, and too little time.

With rattle guns - ½" or ¾" ? I see you can get about twice the torque from a ¾" - thinking of undoing - not tightening and I already have a reducer if I wanted to use the ½" sockets in the tool kit

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

I have used 3/4 drive rattle guns for erecting structural steelwork and large mechanical equipment (conveyors, kilns, etc).

Stick with a 1/2" rattle gun for use on cars. Easier to manage & fit in places.
A 3/4" drive will snap/thread most fasteners used on a car.

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Too many cars, and too little time.

I use an air saw...

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Miniworx Centre 0883741299
Sooperdooperminicooperexpertengineering
Online BMW Mini Shop

i bought a gmc kit with a rattler ratchet and air chisel, has served me great cept on rear subframe, but it just helped me break bolts and welds faster than i would have doing em by hand lol, i swear by air tools, at work and at home. light weight would have to be the plus, and chuck a pair of earplugs in and you are sweet to go

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I have a problem.. apparently

½" will do everything that you need on a Mini.
¾" guns are too heavy to use on cars. They are Ok on truck wheel nuts but too big for most use.

When I had my own truck I used a ½" gun and on big heavy stuff I would crack the nuts with a breaker bar (and a bit of pipe if needed) and once it was loose I could then use the rattle gun to run the nuts off. I used a ½" to ¾" adaptor to use the ¾" sockets.

air chisel worked well cutting out a rusty rear beaver panel

Does a plasma cutter count if it uses compressed air? Cos I just got one dropped off by TNT then, and it is going to be my new best friend with the cooper shell.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

ooohh plasma cutters are fun

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I have a problem.. apparently

Aside from a plasma cutter what is best for cutting flat sheet for body panels - nibbler, shears or cut off wheel?

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

if hand shears id say no cos it will warp the steel, but if a big guiloteen go that i reckon a cutoff wheel, although i have used a nibbler ... but you still have to grind off the dags...

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I have a problem.. apparently