I'm not usually a bitch when it comes to tools making noise, but air ratchets are generally just noisy bitches... Other than digging out earplugs every time I go to use one, has anyone found one for a reasonable price that's not obscenely loud?

get some ear muffs

Ratchet or impact? Air ratchets normally aren't that noisy.

Ratchet or impact? Air ratchets normally aren't that noisy.

Air ratchet..

Air ratchet..

all air ratchets are about the same sound level,because there all basically built the same way.maybe turn down that miracle ear or get some muffs,if you think an air ratchet is loud,you'de never survive in my shop.

Aircat air tools are supposedly made to be "quiet". I only own one Aircat tool - a cutoff tool - and yes, it's tolerably quiet... until you start cutting with it. :laughing: When freewheeling, it's not bad at all.

I would suppose their ratchets use a similar approach. Just Google for AirCat ratchet and see what you come up with.

For an impact, I have an IR 2135QTiMax - which is significantly less noise than a similar "non-Q" version.

So, are we talking this (air impact):
http://base0.googlehosted.com/base_media?q=http://www.antarespro.com/product_images/big/2624304_1.jpg&size=19&dhm=d60d050b&hl=en

Or this (air ratchet):
http://base1.googlehosted.com/base_media?q=http://www.improvementdirect.com/imagebase/resized/x800/CampbellHausfeldimages/PL1501981001.jpg&size=19&dhm=e0571ba5&hl=en

Makes a difference in the answer.

he said air ratchet. I have the aircat 1/4" one. Very quiet for what it is. Guys at work are always wanting to borrow it over their IR or HF ones. Using one of them will drive you up a wall in an enclosed space in a plane. The aircat helps keep me sane. It has smooth trigger control, great power, and I like the "lever" on it way better than the ones with a flat steel piece for a trigger. The aircat lever doesn't get crap stuck under it all the time.