So I need to stay at 5 - 5.5 cfm average (175 PSI, 30 Gallon tank) and under $150. Right now the IR 231C seems to be the best choice for max torque, though I could be missing other options. Lighter and quieter than the 231C would be nice. Candidates?
Looking for a 1/2" air impact wrench
- Thread starter 70Mach1
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rlitman
Well-known member
Aircat offers impact wrenches that are lighter and quieter (and more powerful) than the 231C.
Bondo
Well-known member
rlitman
Well-known member
I have no arguments that it is a great tool. Perhaps the best right now. My IR 2135TiMax is a fantastic impact, and the 2235 is even better. However, $260 retail is way more than $150.
I also have an Aircat 1000TH, and it is quieter than my IR, plus it has a more comfortable handle. I use it more, because though it is a little heavier, it is quiet enough for me to use outdoors at night without worry about bothering the neighbors (dragging my jack around my rough driveway is louder). Both guns are both far lighter and far quieter than my aluminum Snap On that now never leaves the drawer. If I'm going to be holding it a lot (like when pressing a bearing), and a little extra noise is acceptable, I'll reach for the lighter IR.
The Aircat 1000TH can be had for $126 on Amazon, and the 1150 is $148 (just touching the limits of the budget). I doubt that the extra power of the 1150 is really all that useful, and both have WAY more power than an IR 231, while weighing considerably less.
Why don't you try one of these from Aircat.. Cheap enough,and might suit your needs fine.. I have a 1150,1450-2, and a 1077-TH in 3/8 All have been very good air tools.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0756XRVVD/?tag=atomicindus08-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0756XRVVD/?tag=atomicindus08-20
p90puma
Well-known member
The 2235timax can be found for deals if you look long enough, I got mine for ~190USD on amazon.ca back in 2017.
It's so light and powerful, always love using that gun. The only one that comes close to it's feeling which has way less power is the M12 Fuel Stubbies, but they are in a totally difference class.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
People hate on the Snap On mg725. I use a small compressor and it powers my 725 quite well. Never leaves me wanting for power. If you can get one cheap it’s worth a look
I bought this one last year after my last CH quit after 20 something years. I use it to change the blade on the lawnmower and to remove lung nuts when rotating tires. It works great. I don't know how it would hold up for everyday use but it's just fine for occasional use.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006JVIHQI/?tag=atomicindus08-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006JVIHQI/?tag=atomicindus08-20
rlitman
Well-known member
No hate. That's just a newer magnesium version of my aluminum impact. It's plenty powerful, or at least it sounds powerful. It's much lighter than mine, but they never got the noise level down to anything near acceptable.
Ign
Well-known member
If you can spend $50 more to also get a stubby I think this combo on the cover is a solid deal:
https://www.mscdirect.com/FlyerView?contentPath=/sales-catalogs/super-savers
https://www.mscdirect.com/FlyerView?contentPath=/sales-catalogs/super-savers
Ok, I've narrowed it down to the Aircat 1050 and 1000-TH. Besides the 1050 having a higher torque spec and being a little more expensive than the 1000-TH, I'm having trouble telling if there are any other meaningful differences between the two.
CFM doesn't really matter to impacts. That's a rating of the constant output of the pump. The fully charged state of the tank will only be limited by the hose and fittings and will be plenty to zip off a handful of stubborn fasteners at a time.
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MrSurly
Well-known member
I know it's list price is too high but I would encourage you to search out a deal on an IR 244. It's old school. it's compact. It's a beast. It's my favorite and it slays the 231 in performance. It's not super quiet or plastic or hi-tech, it's just a bad *** compact impact.
Here's one under 200
Here's one under 200
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Those average cfm numbers are only useful for sizing larger multi user systems. Running cfm of any 1/2" impact is going to be several times the output of your compressor and will **** the tank down if you go to hammering on something.
The 231 is a solid dependable tire gun but ain't powerful enough for mechanic work IMO. If you're gonna be dealing with crank bolts and heavy suspension work get a stouter gun and live with the higher air consumption. Waiting on the compresser an extra minute beats crawling under a vehicle with cheater pipes.
driz
Well-known member
I’ve had an Aircat 1250 for 6 years now . It won’t make rated power because my compressor isn’t 2 stage but it does the deed with ease. Pickup bed bolts take some serious hammering here in rust belt but they come off eventually
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have the old Nitrocat serves my need most of the times supposedly 1100 ft/lb and fine with the 30 gallon craftsman compressor.... Not sure why OP is so hung up on this CFM thing... it's an Intermediate air use tool... unless you are pounding bolts all day, then you wouldn't have that small air compressor....
anyways... there was a waving revews of that HF earth quake as well.... or if you are spendiy they have that battery one.... (probably my next one if this nitrocat dies)
anyways... there was a waving revews of that HF earth quake as well.... or if you are spendiy they have that battery one.... (probably my next one if this nitrocat dies)
Not "hung up" on it after others explained why it isn't the issue I thought it was.
ex-x-fire
Well-known member
I'd go with a mini 1/2 impact, I use mine daily and hardly touch my 231 anymore.
99LeCouch
Well-known member
My 30 gallon compressor runs a Husky stubby 1/2" impact with no issues. For passenger car use, it's great. It also fits into a lot of spaces. Might not be the most powerful, but it sure is nice to use due to size and light weight.
No experience with CP impacts. I had a 1355XL which is the little brother of the 1150 and it was a good unit. That said trigger teasing was a pain so if it has to be new maybe a 1000TH? Its a more standard twin hammer impact.
If you don't mind used/ebay shopping if it were me i'd look for a 2135 or a Matco MT2769. Last time I checked the latter used were going for around $100 and its a nice gun being essentially a high quality Taiwan knock-off of a 2135. Really good power and I just like that style of control layout.
SMA has been beating on 2 231 variants for over 10 years and they were his primary impacts for most of that time. The only reason I wouldn't buy one these days is weight and ergonomics and there really isn't money to be saved either.
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I have the same tool. A member here told me that it was made by Florida Pneumatic.Anyway I have used it abused it, dropped or fell. And it is still the best $69 I ever spent at Sears. Great tool for the cost.I have 145 PSI at my compressor. It likes this, Ken
I have a IR 231classic that I bought at a pawn shop in close to brand new condition, still had the stickers on it . here's a thread on it. I like it, does what I need it to do
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=282923&highlight=231classic
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=282923&highlight=231classic
I have had the CP 7748 for a few years now. I use it at home and have never had a problem with it. I even run it off of a little Makita portable compressor.
I've read a few reviews saying that sockets are a bit wobbly fitting in the Aircat impacts, which can cause the gun to jump out of the lug nut holes in aluminum wheels, raising the risk of marring the surrounding area. What's your experience been with the 1000-TH in this regard?
rlitman
Well-known member
Looking for a 1/2" air impact wrench
I bought my Aircat at a pawn shop, WELL used (actually, my IR too). At the time, it did fit a little loose (a socket would fall off if you tipped it nose down), because the nose ring was shot. I have since changed the ring, and it fits as well as my other impacts now.
Regardless, I never had it jump out of a socket. That’s a user error.
I bought my Aircat at a pawn shop, WELL used (actually, my IR too). At the time, it did fit a little loose (a socket would fall off if you tipped it nose down), because the nose ring was shot. I have since changed the ring, and it fits as well as my other impacts now.
Regardless, I never had it jump out of a socket. That’s a user error.
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rlitman
Well-known member
Looking for a 1/2" air impact wrench
I’ve got the HF stubby. It’s awesome! Still, I use the big guy on lug nuts, not because the stubby isn’t up to them, but because I’d rather reserve the stubby for places where the big guys don’t fit (and sometimes because of the noise).
But I agree that today’s high power stubby impacts may be a one size fits most answer.
That being said, my Snap On impact spent years doing non-stop tire work, and plain wore out several impact sockets, yet still works as good as new. I wouldn’t expect a stubby to stand up to that level of abuse for long.
I’ve got the HF stubby. It’s awesome! Still, I use the big guy on lug nuts, not because the stubby isn’t up to them, but because I’d rather reserve the stubby for places where the big guys don’t fit (and sometimes because of the noise).
But I agree that today’s high power stubby impacts may be a one size fits most answer.
That being said, my Snap On impact spent years doing non-stop tire work, and plain wore out several impact sockets, yet still works as good as new. I wouldn’t expect a stubby to stand up to that level of abuse for long.
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rlitman
Well-known member
That's what I've read, and since I own several full sized impacts, it's easy for me to baby my stubby. But a short lifespan for some could still mean it lasts a lifetime for others. You don't work in a tire shop (not with that compressor), so I don't think that the lifetime is much of a consideration in your case.
My stubby spins it's lighter hammers faster than my bigger impacts (with a correspondingly higher pitched noise). Top end stubby impacts today are claiming more torque than an IR 231, but unlike the 231, I doubt you'll be passing it down to your great great great grandchildren.
For your small compressor, a harder hitting, slower turning conventional impact wrench will remove a fastener using less air, but the difference may not be all that great unless you encounter a fastener that's borderline for the stubby, where you have to sit hammering on it for a few seconds.
ex-x-fire
Well-known member
I think I'm going on 5yrs with my M7 as my primary, only thing that happened was the hammer case cracked last year. King Tony sent me the whole front with no questions asked.
Jazz1
Well-known member
X2, when in the shop on air this is my go to. Scored it for $60 on Amazon. It has more *** than the bigger impact it replaced.
Not exactly a rebranded 231, it is a knock-off of the 231, which there are a ton of out there, some okay and some not so good.