My 20+ year old pneumatic Craftsman impact wrench crapped out (Sears wont replace it) and therefore am in the market for one. General use like lug nuts, car restoration, etc. Not sure to go with cordless electric or pneumatic air. I need something that simply kicks ass. Thanks
If you want simply kicks ass, thats my IR Thundergun. I have a handful of impacts, Snap-On, Blue Point, Husky and even some gardner-denver industrial ones but the IR Thundergun is simply amazing. Link over at Northern http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_370269_370269 As far as 1/2 impact's that will work with any decent compressor I haven't found anything better. Bonus: It sounds like a beast.
Thank you Probe!!! This is exactly what I was looking for, I'll check it out. As far as socket sets (both metric and standard), any recommendations there? Thanks again.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_36347_36347 The wife bought me this set for my bday this year and I like it.
Well, if you've had your Craftsman for 20+ years, I'd say go get another one. It seemed to serve you well. Sears does not warranty power tools for more than 1 year. They don't last forever. I have a Craftsman and never had an issue. I believe that CP ir IR make them for Sears. The only other advice I can give you is stay away from all of the cheepos out there like Harbor Fright, Northern and Tractor Supply.
I picked up a new Craftsman Impact wrench a couple of months ago on sale,,basically a hundred bucks,,my old Craftsman impact is still working and I've had it for at least 35 years. HRP
Thanks again fellas for the recommendations. Yes, I considered getting another Craftsman but thought I've give another brand a shot. Take care
IR makes a excellent product but I'm just a hobbyist and can't justify twice the money for something I don't use that often. HRP
Yes, hobbyist as well and you bring up a good point about paying for something that may be over kill.
I have an older craftsman plug in electric inpact that is fairly bad ass. havent found much that it wont remove(or at least twist off).
I have switched over to the battery impacts and love them. I have a Craftsman 1/2" Ryobi 3/8" and a Dewalt 3/8" . I cant imagine using air impacts anymore.
Thats wierd, my craftsm wrech was at east 2o tears ld, likey closer to 25 when the seals ent out. The locl sars toe siply gave me a new one. Maybe I was just lucky.
Chicago Pneumatic - my brother sells this stuff for a living and that's what's in a lot of shops This is my impact gun. There are many like it, but this one is mine... <center> <table width=""> <tbody><tr> <td style="text-align:center" width="100%"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </center> Chicago - Pneumatic 7733
Another Vote for CP I've had my 727 for around 40 years and it's never been apart but I'm thinking it finally needs some work.
IR 231C is the best CHEAP gun around. Around $125 shipped from numberous sites. Tooltopia,Northern tool. I gaurantee you will not be sorry with this gun. Ron
This is the gospel truth. For general use this gun is perfect, and the price is right. They are strong and reliable. Ive got a high end Snap On 1/2 inch gun also, but I dont use it much, its to nasty for most general automotive needs. I used to use it for changing springs on semi trucks and trailers, to much gun for most automotive use. Buy the 231 IR, great gun for the money.
The electrics only go to 250ft/lbs or so. I used one before I bought a good compressor. It did not work on pinion nuts, harmonic dampers and some of the larger bolts and nuts that were rusted. There are some great deals on lightly used Craftsman on eBag, but look up the specs online before bidding.
Why not have it rebuilt? All but 1 of my air tools are rebuilt hand me downs....used everyday in a professional shop.
Take it apart and fix it. I cant count the times Ive fixed an expensive tool for less than lunch money. A few sites online have useful catalogs with parts diagrams.
Wife bought me an IR 235 QTI a few months ago for my birthday after my old IR went south.Was going to rebuild but she surprised me. Killer gun,a little much for my home hobby use but am happy with it. They are around $275 but it kicks ass and is real quiet.
I have had several impact wrenches over the years, including an electric or two and one 3/4". about a year ago I started looking again, this time I started comparing torque. Harbor freight just came out with a new impact wrench called the EARTHQUAKE, it has power! At the time it was about $80. I found a 20% off coupon. I am impressed! It has more power than the 3/4" I have. From time to time they have sales on them. Whatever you get, compare torque before you buy, that is what to gauge them by. I forget exact number, I think it is 500 or 600 ft/lbs. By the way, they sell 4 or 5 models in the 1/2" range. Some as cheap as $35 but they don't compare. This tool amazes me every time I pull the trigger.
I'm not sure how much power you need, but my Snap-on 1/2" drive will break off 1/2" bolts if you let it eat. I have had a bunch of different ones, but for as much as I use them I have all Snap-on, they are hard to kill, but they are spendy.
One of the magazines, R&C or Street Rodder, did a shootout of impact wrenches awhile back and the Earthquake from Harbor Freight was at the top of the list. I think H/F is trying to improve their image.
IR 231 is the only one to buy. When I was 18 I bought mine(37 now) And is has never let me down. I was starting out in a truck shop and my boss bet me 20 bucks that his 231 could remove a lug from a rig before my craftsman would ever.......Sold the craftsman to my neighbor and bought a 231 as well as lost 20 bucks. Expensive bet.
I agree with the IR231C, I bought one when I first started working on cars (20+ years ago) and still use it everyday.....all day long at work. I bought a new one last year and ended up bringing the new one home as my old one works like new still. http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-14192-12-dr-super-duty-air-impact-wrench.aspx I've bought tools every year for at least 6 years from the tool warehouse, great site.
As a truck mechanic, I use to go through those old CP 1/2 inch impacts every 2 years...and sometimes I'd replace broken hammers etc etc....until FINALLY someone let me use their Ingersol Rand 2135 TI...WOW! 1000 lbs feet to "take off" power and 750 lbs of 'put on" power! And the thing sounds like a 2 cycle engine. I had to have one...cost less than 300 bucks at that time and I've never had any trouble with it at 125 PSI shop air pressure. Used it on the job for about 5 years before I retired. Gotta watch it when using it mounting wheels..even with 1/2 inch studs. Its' a fuckin animal! Nothing will stop this thing. I wouldn't buy anything else now.
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