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Astro Pneumatic Tool Company

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Astro_Pneumatic_Tools

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NYBODYMAN said:
@Astro_Pneumatic_Tools any reviews for the 658 HD air slide hammer?
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Same story as with the 658. It will do some things and not all things, but with 1.5X more power now.

People will see a tool like this and immediately think "rusted hubs time!" so they buy it and maybe it does that for them and they post a video, and the next person who buys it to get the same result from that video will give it one star when it doesn't for their application saying the tool doesnt work.

It is a slide hammer at the end of the day. If you buy a 5lb slide hammer and it doesnt bust a hub free your conclusion is that hub must be really stuck. If you buy this tool and it doesnt do it, often the conclusion is the tool doesn't work as though their hub in their climate was the purpose of the tool.
Slide hammers are used for many things, this does more than ever with the pull of a throttle that is power adjustable by air pressure for the first time. And we made it more powerful by popular demand. But just like your slide hammer, it's not going to budge things without heat and other implements on things that just plain do NOT want to come out.
 
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NYBODYMAN

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Callelle said:
I've seen a short or two of the FortisHD guys using it. Still don't know if its enough to convince me to get one myself.
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I'm torn whether or not to get one. It's not something I will use often but seems like a great idea and when it's needed it could be a life saver.

@Astro_Pneumatic_Tools that is just about the most honest response from a company I've ever seen, thank you. I'm not so naive to think it will move heaven and earth but was just wondering if anyone has legitimately used it even in small applications.
 
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Astro_Pneumatic_Tools

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NYBODYMAN said:
I'm torn whether or not to get one. It's not something I will use often but seems like a great idea and when it's needed it could be a life saver.

@Astro_Pneumatic_Tools that is just about the most honest response from a company I've ever seen, thank you. I'm not so naive to think it will move heaven and earth but was just wondering if anyone has legitimately used it even in small applications.
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One of our field sample prototypes was sent to Eric at South Main Auto to abuse, he said it seemed to work much better but gave it to his brother's heavy duty diesel shop to get more regular use - by all reports they love it and some of the footage out there of this tool is theirs.
 
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dnschmidt

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Astro_Pneumatic_Tools said:
One of our field sample prototypes was sent to Eric at South Main Auto to abuse, he said it seemed to work much better but gave it to his brother's heavy duty diesel shop to get more regular use - by all reports they love it and some of the footage out there of this tool is theirs.
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When you say Eric O. and abuse that's sort of like using synonyms for the same thing. If Eric uses it, he WILL abuse it. That’s one of the reasons I set you two up. Why spend thousands on torture testing machines when you can just send the prototype to Eric and get the same data cheap. The truth is Chris, if Eric hadn’t bitched so much about the original model, you’d have never come out with version 2.0. You two have a marriage made in heaven. You build it, he abuses it, and if he can’t break it you put it into production. Clearly a win-win situation.
 
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Steve_P

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I watched an SMA video a few weeks ago and the above-mentioned slide hammer didn't work for a rusted hub- but this is obviously an extreme example, and you'd know if you've ever seen the rusted junk he works on. Eric said that his brother uses it on large diesel engines where there is no room for a conventional slide hammer and it's worked for him.
 
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Astro_Pneumatic_Tools

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Steve_P said:
I watched an SMA video a few weeks ago and the above-mentioned slide hammer didn't work for a rusted hub- but this is obviously an extreme example, and you'd know if you've ever seen the rusted junk he works on. Eric said that his brother uses it on large diesel engines where there is no room for a conventional slide hammer and it's worked for him.
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As far as I know he doesnt have a 658HD after giving the one to his brother, just a 658
 
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KZOC

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He also did a Tool of the day vid a couple -4 days ago about your Toptul T-handles, DNSchmidt
 
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mreisner

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Steve_P said:
I watched an SMA video a few weeks ago and the above-mentioned slide hammer didn't work for a rusted hub- but this is obviously an extreme example, and you'd know if you've ever seen the rusted junk he works on. Eric said that his brother uses it on large diesel engines where there is no room for a conventional slide hammer and it's worked for him.
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I finally got to use my heavy duty 658 and I'm very happy with it, as others have mentioned the original could be a little weak,. Very happy with how much harder the heavy duty one hits. As others have said it won't do everything but it sure does a lot. I have arthritis and bursitis in my shoulders so using a regular Slide Hammer to be pretty difficult and even painful and I'm real happy with the new heavy duty version.
 
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cdmurphy

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Dankotaru said:
Any chance AP can make a 17mm Nano socket ratchet head with just a 3/8" square drive insert for the handle? So basically the current low-profile flex head ratchet with it's retaining ring for the nano sockets:
783105_RGB-02.png

But instead of the two current handle options, just have a 3/8 square insert like this:
6B4A0199-600x400.png

Then, users could insert any of the nano sockets and have a variety of flex head ratcheting wrench sizes in a variety of lengths, from stubby to long handle, as conditions require. It could also be used as a ratcheting crows foot, again in a variety of sizes with the nano sockets. Would be a very versatile product.
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Sorry to drag up an old post, but I had a similar desire to use 1/2 Nano sockets for some upcoming suspension work on our cars. Lots of the bolts / nuts are located in places that really limit you to box end wrenches, or something like the nano sockets. So I did this:
PXL_20260206_174409493.jpg
PXL_20260206_174424923.jpg

I cut up two Williams 22mm reversible ratcheting wrenches, and welded them to a cheap Pittsburg 25" breaker bar, and a Stahlwille 14x18 torque wrench adapter stub. Now I can break / torque just about anything I can fit a nano socket on.

If Astro is looking for accessories to fill out the nano socket ecosystem, I'd recommend ratcheting nano adapters to either 9mmx12mm or 14mmx18mm torque wrenches. It's a much better interface than the repurposed extension socket on the VIM tools, and works with a number of German or Taiwan sourced torque wrenches. The nano sockets with Astro's wrenches or other ratcheting wrenches are great for removing / installing in tight spots, but there really isn't any good way to use torque wrenches in tight spots without something like this, or buying a half dozen fixed adapter ends / torque adapters.

Also, selling 17mm and 22mm traditional torque adapters like these with a with retaining ring would be a great, lower cost option that would allow nano socket use in a lot of tight spots:
PXL_20260206_184710879.jpg

I figure I can't be the only one that would like something like this for suspension work.
 
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KnurledNut

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cdmurphy said:
Sorry to drag up an old post, but I had a similar desire to use 1/2 Nano sockets for some upcoming suspension work on our cars. Lots of the bolts / nuts are located in places that really limit you to box end wrenches, or something like the nano sockets. So I did this:
PXL_20260206_174409493.jpg
PXL_20260206_174424923.jpg

I cut up two Williams 22mm reversible ratcheting wrenches, and welded them to a cheap Pittsburg 25" breaker bar, and a Stahlwille 14x18 torque wrench adapter stub. Now I can break / torque just about anything I can fit a nano socket on.

If Astro is looking for accessories to fill out the nano socket ecosystem, I'd recommend ratcheting nano adapters to either 9mmx12mm or 14mmx18mm torque wrenches. It's a much better interface than the repurposed extension socket on the VIM tools, and works with a number of German or Taiwan sourced torque wrenches. The nano sockets with Astro's wrenches or other ratcheting wrenches are great for removing / installing in tight spots, but there really isn't any good way to use torque wrenches in tight spots without something like this, or buying a half dozen fixed adapter ends / torque adapters.

Also, selling 17mm and 22mm traditional torque adapters like these with a with retaining ring would be a great, lower cost option that would allow nano socket use in a lot of tight spots:
PXL_20260206_184710879.jpg

I figure I can't be the only one that would like something like this for suspension work.
Click to expand...

Kinda what I suggested:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...tic-tool-company.222015/page-64#post-11282097
 
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Astro_Pneumatic_Tools

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cdmurphy

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Astro_Pneumatic_Tools said:
We have prototyped something similar for field testing before.

We have prototyped something similar for field testing before.
You guys would prefer fixed box ends with the correct retaining rings over ratcheting, correct? Since ratcheting not sure that ads any benefit

Edit: And keeping in mind we will have a torque wrench that itself uses these sockets for low profile as well
Click to expand...
A dedicated torque wrench would be a great solution for a lot of folks. Will it be ratcheting, or just a fixed box end with retention?

As for the torque adapters, retaining rings would be nice, and shouldn't result in too expensive of a product. Your ratcheting handles or other ratchet wrenches would be sufficient for tightening things most of the way. Then having to switch to a fixed torque adapter + a regular 1/2" or 3/8" torque wrench for the final 30-40 degrees of tightening (even if you need to reset it 2-3 times) shouldn't be too onerous. But a ratcheting torque adapter with a 3/8" or 1/2" square drive would be pretty nice, and appeal to a lot of users if you could keep the cost down. It would allow tightening and torque setting in some tight spots without having to switch wrenches or reset the socket a couple of times. Stahlwille sells a reversible 22mm ratcheting 14x18 adapter (p/n 58170222), but it's about ~$150 in the US, and still needs a pricey ISO torque wrench.
 
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cdmurphy

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Astro_Pneumatic_Tools said:
The Nano torque wrench will be like a Nano ratchet wrench, but a micrometer style torque wrench in a wide torque range. Same head and neck size, takes the same sockets and just about the same access.
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That sounds like a winner. It would certainly cover almost all the tight clearance suspension use cases. I think there is still a market for something like a ratcheting torque adapter for the tool truck crowd, but It's certainly a smaller niche than just folks that need low clearance torquing via nano sockets. (and I could see a lot more warranty issues with a torque adapter, as you have no control over how much handle they attach.)
 
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KnurledNut

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Astro_Pneumatic_Tools said:
We have prototyped something similar for field testing before.

We have prototyped something similar for field testing before.
You guys would prefer fixed box ends with the correct retaining rings over ratcheting, correct? Since ratcheting not sure that ads any benefit

Edit: And keeping in mind we will have a torque wrench that itself uses these sockets for low profile as well
Click to expand...
Fixed preferably to keep the dimensions slimmer for limited access.

Is the torque wrench flex head?
 
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Astro_Pneumatic_Tools

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KnurledNut said:
Fixed preferably to keep the dimensions slimmer for limited access.

Is the torque wrench flex head?
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It is the same size and space as a 78318 layout but locking flex head in design so you can keep it within our preferred degree range for torque wrench use, though you can go past that should you chose for whatever reason as well
 
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drokihazan

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Astro_Pneumatic_Tools said:
We dedicate an amount of resources for working on cutting tools more than most people might believe, but you're right it's mostly private label.
The answer to your question mainly comes down to warranty. People will invest in very good and perhaps the best cutting tools and extractors out there and the price that commands when they are covered by lifetime warranty and that process is as easy as your dealer stopping by.
While Astro has lifetime on hardline hand tools, we don't have a category or process in place for lifetime cutting tools as it's very transactional for us with shipping and even the user with the time for that single 0.1lb replacement to arrive.
For 1/8" burrs we used to way back in the day, but these days we don't for Astro or any other brand. We can't lifetime cover them for a tool truck because if you're not skilled with 1/8" burrs you can kill 12 before lunch without remorse, I won't sign us up for that :D And under Astro for the same reason, it's very easy to get 1 star reviews from an honest yet perhaps not very experienced 1/8" carbide user who also breaks their 1st one.

We sell millions... with an s individual cutting tools total per year, and made a big effort this year to develop some of that in new very cool looking and new patent pending performance ways I'm sure many of you will notice in 2026, but yeah not so much under Astro I'm afraid for these reasons.
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I actually just realized you must be the OEM for the 81pc Matco tap and die set because I saw it has the same handle. I wish you'd sell that one directly. The same great ratcheting handle, and a complete set of metric and SAE taps and dies, it looks like an awesome product and I'd much rather buy something like that from Astro than at an obscene markup from a truck in the name of warranty on a consumable product.
 
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LXCam

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Chris, thank you very much for coming thru my friend. I really do appreciate someone who takes customer service seriously. I’ve been a fairly long term customer as is, but you cinched the life deal out of me.

IMG_7191.jpeg

Btw, not that I was worried about you coming thru. But just yesterday I ordered another kit so I could whip out a project over the weekend 😁
 
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drokihazan

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@Astro_Pneumatic_Tools Do you have any plans to ship a set of torque adapters, and specifically 1/2 metric drive ones? I find myself really struggling to use sockets and crows feet in some applications on suspension components, and more than once I've felt like owning a set of torque adapters might be what I'm missing. Curiously, it seems like 3/8 ones are very common - and like maybe others aren't using these for similar stuff to me. The Snap-On set is 3/8 and skips 17mm - one of the sizes I'd use the most. I'd love 15mm-24mm 1/2 drive torque adapters and I think I'd rather buy Astro than Capri.
 
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Astro_Pneumatic_Tools

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drokihazan said:
@Astro_Pneumatic_Tools Do you have any plans to ship a set of torque adapters, and specifically 1/2 metric drive ones? I find myself really struggling to use sockets and crows feet in some applications on suspension components, and more than once I've felt like owning a set of torque adapters might be what I'm missing. Curiously, it seems like 3/8 ones are very common - and like maybe others aren't using these for similar stuff to me. The Snap-On set is 3/8 and skips 17mm - one of the sizes I'd use the most. I'd love 15mm-24mm 1/2 drive torque adapters and I think I'd rather buy Astro than Capri.
Click to expand...
We ARE currently working on torque adapters, however even the prototypes are not finished and that's before field testing. So would be quite a ways out if they do get the green light
 
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drokihazan

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Astro_Pneumatic_Tools said:
We ARE currently working on torque adapters, however even the prototypes are not finished and that's before field testing. So would be quite a ways out if they do get the green light
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Well, if you need a field tester when the time comes, I'll be happy to try and break them for you and cram them into awkward spaces to torque suspension bolts! 👍🏼
 
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Hohn

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Just a short note in praise of the 78301 stubby. This is BRILLIANT. I didn't realize it came with the bit socket adapter in the 11mm/1/4" end.
Super handy the be able to swap from bit driving to 17mm Nano in a single, double-ended small tool with both ends flex.
I don't think I ever impulse bought something so fast.
 
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308guru

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Astro,
Any chance you'd entertain producing the 78218 (18" long 22mm hex nano ratchet) in the shorter 10.5" handle (Like a 783105)? After breaking torque, it's often nice to have a shorter handle for clearance.
 
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308guru

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308guru said:
Astro,
Any chance you'd entertain producing the 78218 (18" long 22mm hex nano ratchet) in the shorter 10.5" handle (Like a 783105)? After breaking torque, it's often nice to have a shorter handle for clearance.
Click to expand...
Is that a no?
 
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bftiedt

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@Astro_Pneumatic_Tools I sent you a PM a few days ago trying to see if you could help out with getting a tool of mine warrantied but haven't been able to get a reply back yet. Could you take a look when you have a free second please. Thanks
 
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drokihazan

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Chris, have you given any thoughts to selling sockets and wrenches individually? I'm a huge fan of flex extension sockets, they fit in difficult places that sometimes nothing else will get to. I can actually see myself using the 21 and 24mm ones for alignment/suspension work, but if I bought the 10-19 set it would feel a shame to buy the 13-24 set and have so much overlap with 3/8 stuff that I find more useful. I'd love to be able to buy just the sizes > 17mm as 1/2" drive individuals
 
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Astro_Pneumatic_Tools

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Every set we sell we carry individuals of and will sell them if you email or call in.
They each dont have their own like retail posting on for example Summit or Amazon or elsewhere because we dont do retail or sales direct, we dont create those listings for the most part.
 
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drokihazan

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Astro_Pneumatic_Tools said:
Every set we sell we carry individuals of and will sell them if you email or call in.
They each dont have their own like retail posting on for example Summit or Amazon or elsewhere because we dont do retail or sales direct, we dont create those listings for the most part.
Click to expand...
That's awesome, thank you. Is it cost-prohibitive for you to sell singles on Amazon like Tekton does on their website?
 
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