Impact wrenches - need imput

[olthumpa]

I am considering purchasing a:

AIRCAT 1000-TH 1/2-Inch Composite Air Impact Wrench With Twin Hammer Mechanism.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. I can get it for $129 right now. I would like an IR but can not justify the price for my use.

Recently replaced 2 captured rotters an a Honda and used a 5' cheater bar to break free the spindle nuts. Two other guns would not do it.

Thanks for your response.

 

[Daren Todd]

I think you'll be very happy with that. I've known a couple people that have them and they loved them. It's pretty comparable to my snapon composite, with the same butt, and half to 1/4 the price depending on who you order it from.

Just be warned, that they are some bolt snapping son of a guns, so go easy on the trigger when working on smaller bolts till you get used to it I've gotten to the point with mine, that I reach for my 3/8" impact when dealing with a bolt size less the 1/2" cuts down on the cussing that way

 

[Bobsfixit]

Can't go wrong with The Aircat, Priced right for the everyday and Occasional user, Have IR 1/2 and 3/8 guns, Would definitely they are fairly new

 

[forceten]

Not everything from harbor freight is good - but just wanted to give you another option. I'm a member on a few mechanics boards - and this is a gem for 1/2" drives

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-professional-air-impact-wrench-68424.html

I was skeptical at first - but so many mechanics are using them on the boards I frequent I decided to give it a try. 20% coupon for even more off.


I usually use IR, but even IR will go bye bye after so much use. This earth quake has been holding up very well for 1+ years so far of some heavy commercial use. And when it goes just like the IR and other brands will - it costs less to replace.


For the price - the aircat will be a good buy though also.

Just wanted to give you a sub $100 option also

 

[ipz2222]

As a mechanic for 40 years I can tell you this, I still have and use the first 1/2 impact I bought, CP 730 ( maybe 740). Granted , I have replaced the anvil on it twice,and several new sets of vanes, but it is still going. The MAJOR thing I like about it and you cannot find it on hardly any impact today is the air bleed adjuster on the bottom. Many impacts have what looks like the one on the cp but it is not the same. The cp can be turned down to a crawl, ie,, can install 1/4 bolts with it. The other ones have the same looking dial , but it only selects 3 or 4 different positions. I have 4 of them, 2 at the shop and one at home. Bought one brand new when I found out everyone, even cp was going away from the infinite adjuster. The new one has never been used. Some of the IR and snapon are stronger but their air adjuster sucks.

 

[ipz2222]

Forget to clarify. The cp I'm talking about is Chicago Pneumatic, NOT Central Pneumatic.

 

[alansz400]

After owning 2 cheap impacts about 10 years ago I bought a Ingersoll Rand it was $250 and about killed me to spend that much but it has been great. I have beat the crap out of it, under oiled it, and took 100s of nuts and bolts loose and it still works like new. Picked up a used 3/8 a few years ago and very happy with it.

 

[Tooljunkie]

I bought one from napa, ultra pro. 15 years and still going strong. Think its a sioux.
Used a jet a buddy had, was some powerful. I dont really care for the composite ones, was disappointed with the ingersoll i got a while back. Mgmt bought it and i had no choice but to use it.that or crank by hand.
Next one will be a high quality snap on or sioux.

 

[Daren Todd]

Tj, the heavy duty snap-on I got has the anvil in an oil bath. No greasing Just the daily squirting of air tool oil. does 1100 ft/lbs breaking force, 800 ft/lbs tightening. Had it for 2 years now with no issues. Heavy use daily busting 5/8" to 1" bolts loose It's the go to for stubborn bolts at the shop

 

[cerlawson]

I've had reversal 1/2" impact wrenches and they work OK for light work. However,they couldn't take off those high torque nuts on my pick-up wheels. I bought the Harbor Freight 3/4" impact wrench and it does the job nicely. I seem to recall it cost about $100.

 

[mikes1165]

I've got the Nitrocat 1200k and it's a hoss. Aircat says the Aircat is for all round automotive use and the Nitrocat is for high torque applications. So fat I love mine.

 

[olthumpa]

I would like to thank everyone for their responses.
I Have lower torque impacts and am looking for a higher torque 1/2' impact that will not break the bank. It will not be subject to every day use. I have considered the Harbor Freight options but the local store would not let me use the 20% coupon on them which put the Aircat about $20 more. I appreciate the options, comparisons and the reassurances that the Aircat is a quality tool and have decided to get one before the price goes back up.

olthumpa

 

[cerlawson]

My Harbor Freight 3/4", necked down to run 1/2" sockets was used Yesterday to mount tractor rear wheels. My torque wrench is buried in my stuff so I didn't have a measurement tool except for estimating . Setting at lowest "power" I could get another quarter turn with an estimated 80-90 ft. lbs. torque. Then, with half level of "power", I could not get any any more turn.

Today found my measuring torque wrench which goes only up to 100.
With that could not get anymore turns at 100 for the half power setting.

 

[Bulldog]

I bought a IR Thunder Gun. It has done everything I needed it to do and even took some nuts off that my 3/4 CP wouldn't budge. Cost a little more but worth every penny IMHO.

 

[Green Acres]

Hi, what size impact wrench would I need to use on my L3301? 1/2 - 3/4 and how big cfm - ft. lbs. thanks

 

[Daren Todd]

1/2" impact would be fine. I don't usually pay attention to the cfm. What you need to look at is torque

you'll want one with a minimum of 300 ft/lbs breaking torque. But honestly the more torque the better. The one I use at work has 1100 ft/lbs breaking torque and an oil bath for the anvil (no greasing). And I still have to break out the torch occasionally to heat up a nut to get it loose. I only use that gun for bigger bolts since it likes to snap smaller ones For smaller then 1/2" bolts, I use a 3/8 impact.

The aircat listed in this thread is a pretty bad a## impact for the price.

 

[Green Acres]

Thanks Darren!!

 

[olthumpa]

I ended up going with the AIRCAT 1150 instead of the 100-TH. I got the 1150 because it went on sale for $10 - 15 more than the 100-TH.

Absolutely NO regrets. A 3/4 inch grade 8 bolt that had not been touched in 25 years came off without any trouble.

 

[CaveCreekRay]

OT,

Just make sure you get FWD and REV memorized and check direction with that beastie before wailing on a nut.

Ray

 

[Bulldog]

OT,

Just make sure you get FWD and REV memorized and check direction with that beastie before wailing on a nut.

Ray

No joke. The other night one of my son's friends wanted to take a tire off his truck. He grabbed my Thundergun and hammered on it. I told him to check the direction before hitting the trigger and I got the normal smarta$$ teenager look, you know the one. After he broke the second stud I ask him again if it was going the right way. He flipped it the other direction and I got to give him the should have listened to the old man look.