Anyone can suggest me the best air impact wrench?
Air Impact Wrench
- Thread starter BenZahel
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Best is always a matter of opinion. Ingersoll Rand and AirCat are very good.
I have a few and over the years have had many from CP, IR, AirCat, Snap On, Blue Point, Hazet, Atlas Copco and a couple of others, now I am using the titanium from Proto.
The best was the Atlas (model no longer in production) the worst was the IR.
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The IR titanium was a huge disappointment, buttons falling out but before that it lost most of its power. After the second time right in the middle of a job in the bin she went and not gently either, I really hated that POS.
The AirCat 1150 is a good gun, no problems with it and plenty powerful. The Proto is a very good gun it was also sold as a Mac AWP050 and the Mac boot fits the Proto, it performs flawlessly and has great power and not heavy.
The only minor drawback is the slightly extended anvil which adds about 1/2" to the overall length but its not been a real issue and not a deal breaker. Build quality is better than the AirCat and much better than the IR, if I were going to buy a gun today this would be at the top of the list.
The Proto is unique in that it has a handle forward design, it is incredibly well balanced (you can balance it on the air fitting) making it easy to handle in any position, it is a game changer. Amazon is high priced, you can find it elsewhere for less.
https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-J150WP-2-Inch-Square-Pistol/dp/B00F945CXW
https://www.mactools.com/en-us/Powe...Boots/PB050/AWP050-Protective-Boot-Clear
https://www.vehicleservicepros.com/...c-tools-12-drive-impact-wrench-no-awp050
The best was the Atlas (model no longer in production) the worst was the IR.
.
The IR titanium was a huge disappointment, buttons falling out but before that it lost most of its power. After the second time right in the middle of a job in the bin she went and not gently either, I really hated that POS.
The AirCat 1150 is a good gun, no problems with it and plenty powerful. The Proto is a very good gun it was also sold as a Mac AWP050 and the Mac boot fits the Proto, it performs flawlessly and has great power and not heavy.
The only minor drawback is the slightly extended anvil which adds about 1/2" to the overall length but its not been a real issue and not a deal breaker. Build quality is better than the AirCat and much better than the IR, if I were going to buy a gun today this would be at the top of the list.
The Proto is unique in that it has a handle forward design, it is incredibly well balanced (you can balance it on the air fitting) making it easy to handle in any position, it is a game changer. Amazon is high priced, you can find it elsewhere for less.
https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-J150WP-2-Inch-Square-Pistol/dp/B00F945CXW
https://www.mactools.com/en-us/Powe...Boots/PB050/AWP050-Protective-Boot-Clear
https://www.vehicleservicepros.com/...c-tools-12-drive-impact-wrench-no-awp050
My IR Titanium has been great. Light weight. Lots of power. It's the older version, the 2135. Had it for several years. Had a stuck suspension bolt, couldn't get it to move with a big breaker bar (with cheater pipe) or my IR 231 (which is good solid wrench, but not the most powerful, and is now the wheel bolt gun).
Walked into Northern Tool, asked for the best 1/2" wrench they had, paid about $350. Walked out with that Titanium wrench. It spun that bolt right out. Been great ever since. Very happy with it.
I don't use my tools like Trav, who's a professional. I'm an occasional user, so perhaps that's why my experience has been very different.
I got this AirCat 3/8". Awesome. So compact that I use it in really surprising spaces. Good power, too.
https://www.amazon.com/AIRCAT-1075-TH-Compact-Impact-Wrench/dp/B01707ZPKA/ref=sr_1_5?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1544880893&sr=1-5&keywords=aircat+3%2F8+impact
Finally, can we get this moved to the tool section, not here in the forum section?
Walked into Northern Tool, asked for the best 1/2" wrench they had, paid about $350. Walked out with that Titanium wrench. It spun that bolt right out. Been great ever since. Very happy with it.
I don't use my tools like Trav, who's a professional. I'm an occasional user, so perhaps that's why my experience has been very different.
I got this AirCat 3/8". Awesome. So compact that I use it in really surprising spaces. Good power, too.
https://www.amazon.com/AIRCAT-1075-TH-Compact-Impact-Wrench/dp/B01707ZPKA/ref=sr_1_5?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1544880893&sr=1-5&keywords=aircat+3%2F8+impact
Finally, can we get this moved to the tool section, not here in the forum section?
I have been very happy with the aircat 1150.
Originally Posted by sloinker
Don't disregard the Harbor Freight impact wrenches. I have an Earthquake 1/2" composite that outshines my IR easily at 1/4 the cost.
The only complaint I have about my Earthquake (red metal) is that it freezes up pretty easily. Guess I should get a water dryer for my air.
Don't disregard the Harbor Freight impact wrenches. I have an Earthquake 1/2" composite that outshines my IR easily at 1/4 the cost.
The only complaint I have about my Earthquake (red metal) is that it freezes up pretty easily. Guess I should get a water dryer for my air.
I have a craftsman I would give someone. Probably been at least 5 years since I have used it. It is a good craftsman but won't compare to the high end IR or snap on. takes lugs nuts off great. I no longer have an air compressor and just manually remove them now. If I were to get another impact I would likely go big battery and have looked at Milwaukee and Kobalt brands at Lowes
I use an earthquake on my crimping table every day. Other than being heavy it's been flawless.
Harbor Freight earthquake are clones of Ingersol Rand at 1/3 the price. Commercial shops use them day in day out and they flat out work.
That's what this IR was a 2135. It must have been something that didn't allow the buttons to hold in there very long as other guys have them a long time without this problem but a few did, I figure they had a bad batch of something. Still, it is the only gun that didn't give good service and it wasn't cheap.
I see Amazon is selling the buttons for it now also.
https://www.amazon.com/Ingersoll-21...eviewerType=all_reviews&pageNumber=1
The old 231 (USA Made) is still hanging in there 30 odd years and a few rebuilds later. As far as the HF guns go, they may be okay but the 90 warranty and lack of service parts is not.
I see Amazon is selling the buttons for it now also.
https://www.amazon.com/Ingersoll-21...eviewerType=all_reviews&pageNumber=1
The old 231 (USA Made) is still hanging in there 30 odd years and a few rebuilds later. As far as the HF guns go, they may be okay but the 90 warranty and lack of service parts is not.
IR 231. Cheap and will do pretty much anything you want it to.
I lost my 231, bought a 2100G, broke that doing my wheel bearings, found the 231 and am now using it again. I've had it for a few years now, very durable and if something happens to it I won't feel bad.
I have a 231G.
I lost my 231, bought a 2100G, broke that doing my wheel bearings, found the 231 and am now using it again. I've had it for a few years now, very durable and if something happens to it I won't feel bad.
I have a 231G.
For the shade tree mechanic do not rule out the cordless impact wrenches, especially if you do not have a big compressor.
That's true. I use my Makita 18V more than any other, its as small and as light as the 1/4" drive but is 1/2" and hard hitting for its size, so far its taken everything off I have thrown at it even rusted CV axle nuts. Big cordless impacts are not the most desirable thing for automotive work, too big and too heavy, for industrial use they are great.
A good medium sized cordless is a addition to a powerful air impact, but its not a replacement.
The makita puts out a lot more than the 210 ftlb advertised, more like 300 of real torque not nut busting torque.
https://www.amazon.com/Makita-XWT11...mp;psc=1&refRID=W668PEXKEEVC03D3FV5H
A good medium sized cordless is a addition to a powerful air impact, but its not a replacement.
The makita puts out a lot more than the 210 ftlb advertised, more like 300 of real torque not nut busting torque.
https://www.amazon.com/Makita-XWT11...mp;psc=1&refRID=W668PEXKEEVC03D3FV5H
I have a snap on 1/4 and it's worth every penny! Made in the USA and very powerful. I dont like 3/8 drive air ratchets because they will bust yo fingers!
Originally Posted by Trav
That's true. I use my Makita 18V more than any other, its as small and as light as the 1/4" drive but is 1/2" and hard hitting for its size, so far its taken everything off I have thrown at it even rusted CV axle nuts. Big cordless impacts are not the most desirable thing for automotive work, too big and too heavy, for industrial use they are great.
A good medium sized cordless is a addition to a powerful air impact, but its not a replacement.
The makita puts out a lot more than the 210 ftlb advertised, more like 300 of real torque not nut busting torque.
https://www.amazon.com/Makita-XWT11...mp;psc=1&refRID=W668PEXKEEVC03D3FV5H
That Makita tool is great. For the size it packs a nice punch.
That's true. I use my Makita 18V more than any other, its as small and as light as the 1/4" drive but is 1/2" and hard hitting for its size, so far its taken everything off I have thrown at it even rusted CV axle nuts. Big cordless impacts are not the most desirable thing for automotive work, too big and too heavy, for industrial use they are great.
A good medium sized cordless is a addition to a powerful air impact, but its not a replacement.
The makita puts out a lot more than the 210 ftlb advertised, more like 300 of real torque not nut busting torque.
https://www.amazon.com/Makita-XWT11...mp;psc=1&refRID=W668PEXKEEVC03D3FV5H
That Makita tool is great. For the size it packs a nice punch.
Thanks for your opinion.
I also found a good review site : https://carofsteel.com/ there is a good article on air impact wrench.
The IR 231C is a Chinese clone of itself, the original was a great gun but the one sold today is made in China and not the same quality as the original.
The Dewalt 1/2" air is a low end alternative to the Proto branded titanium ones (both are owned by Stanley Black & Decker), much lower power and lower quality materials.
The Dewalt 1/2" air is a low end alternative to the Proto branded titanium ones (both are owned by Stanley Black & Decker), much lower power and lower quality materials.
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