Loosening torque? Nitrocat 1200k vs 2135TiMAX

[chrislib]

I use a 2135ti every day...because my broken down worn out wrists wont let me use anything heavier. More than enough ooomph to loosen stuff, and it`s going on over 3 years of very poorly maintained use (I think i have oiled it 3 or 4 times), that said we have VERY dry air so that might have something to do with the longevity/poor care issue. This gun replaced a ir2131, which worked perfectly but the 2135ti is a bit lighter. Now that I have written this it will no doubt leave me stranded tomorrow and I`l have to lug out the dinosaur ir244. Cant comment on the snappy gun, never used it but a co worker has the 3/8 version of that gun and loves it.

 

[wellstig1]

what psi shop air u run? cause my MG725 wont blast off headbolts off of a 444e much less truck lugs. my guns maxed out on the setting i gotta leave it there to break lugs on a z71

The air isn't regulated, about 160 I think. I run a regulator for my stuff at 100psi. Mine will even take the 20mm 12pt off the lower idler gear of a 466. I even pulled the head bolts off a maxxforce 11 no problem. Something is either wrong with your gun, fitting too small, or air supply.

 

[gofastman]

While I agree with the principle, I'm not sure that the couplers are really a problem. When looking into this, I found that most 1/4" couplers have a rating of around 35 SCFM and the Milton HVLP are around 70 SCFM. I know those numbers aren't exact but they are ballpark and good enough for this discussion.

A 1/2" impact wrench uses 4-5 SCFM average which means approx 20-25 SCFM peak. Based on that, standard couplers shouldn't limit performance.

Anybody see a flaw in this reasoning?

Sure you can stuff 35 CFM through a standard fitting, but what kind of pressure loss are you going to have?

I use a 2135ti every day...because my broken down worn out wrists wont let me use anything heavier. More than enough ooomph to loosen stuff, and it`s going on over 3 years of very poorly maintained use (I think i have oiled it 3 or 4 times), that said we have VERY dry air so that might have something to do with the longevity/poor care issue. This gun replaced a ir2131, which worked perfectly but the 2135ti is a bit lighter. Now that I have written this it will no doubt leave me stranded tomorrow and I`l have to lug out the dinosaur ir244. Cant comment on the snappy gun, never used it but a co worker has the 3/8 version of that gun and loves it.

You should check out a IR 2125TiMAX, SO MG3255, or a NitroCat 1375XL

 

[77Montecarlo]

Picked up the SO mg725 last week for around 290 after trade in/discount off the truck, and absolutely love it. Much better than the older matco hardcased gun i had. The direction/power selector switch is so much better. Kept bumping it on my old gun and it would rotate every time i switched from forward to reverse. Not sure about others having power problems.. even on the lowest setting it puts out more power than i need for most light automotive fixes.

 

[WhiffySpark]

I'm a truck mechanic and it's a complete pleasure owning a mg725. You always run into those large diameter rusted bolts. I have none of these issues that you listed. I got raw kick *** power and it's not bulky at all. These IR fanboys just can't face it.

Fanboy?

I have both.

 

[BeansBaxter]

Sure you can stuff 35 CFM through a standard fitting, but what kind of pressure loss are you going to have?

I haven't measured it but my best guess, based on available literature is 5-10 psi.

 

[WoodbyFabrication]

I love my 2135timax, my mac guy told me when your impact starts to get sluggish to take it apart and clean it out real well it will work like brand new trust me save yourself from buying a new impact once you get it apart you will see why do it about twice a year.

 

[aliaz]

I own a IR 2135QTiMAX, which is the the quiet version of the 2135TiMax. It is rated at 780 working torque, 1100 ft/lbs nut busting torque.

While I like the gun, I don't think it lives up to its rating. I just bought the Nitocat 1200K to remove a harmonic balancer bolt that my IR 2135QTiMAX would not. FWIW, I had an older IR 231C that was rated at 600 ft/lbs that would easily remove the same bolt the last time I did a timing belt on this car, but I regrettably sold it.

I like that the 2135 QTiMAX is quiet and reasonably powerful, but it won't get the all of the bolts that the better guns will handle without issue.

 

[nato]

My boss and another coworker both have 1/2" NitroCats (one is a rebranaded Mac) and I have a 2135Ti non-max. Nitrocats sound cool and competing strength is close, BUT, in the end, my IR usually owns them in the loosening arena. Espeically when it comes down to people that have overtightened axle nut sockets.
They're nice impacts, don't get me wrong, but I'll still choose my Ti over them any day of the week. For the extra $$$$, do yourself a favor

 

[Jaralaccs]

so your 780 reverse ft lbs beats a 1200 reverse ft lbs?

I have the 1100 Aircat which goes for about $40 less than the 1200. At the time I thought it was overkill - more than I needed... I was definitely wrong. From an automotive shop with 15 techs, nothing has yet beat a 1200k nitrocat. We have since convinced the matco truck guy to start carrying them. Now there's about 4/5 guys in the shop who own one.

 

[hemipower0469]

i would like to see more opinions of the 1200k in comparision to the mg725

 

[crewchief888]

i been a fan of the IR 231 for many years.
dollar for dollar it's the best deal out there IMHO

 

[hemipower0469]

So I wanna know one thing, what is the strongest impact, I think all the tool companies or some third party test should be done! Film it and record results for everyone to see

 

[kmorgancraw]

So I wanna know one thing, what is the strongest impact, I think all the tool companies or some third party test should be done! Film it and record results for everyone to see

I ended up buying an MG725 and it kicks a$$. Honestly I don't think you are going to go terribly wrong buying an MG725, 2135TiMAX or Nitrocat 1200k. They're all great guns.

 

[ovilla]

I have an IR2135QTiMAX that I've been using for home use for a couple of years now and must say that it's a very powerful gun. Have yet to find a nut/bolt that I can't loosen. Have even busted a few bolts with it. Anyway, I normally just keep it on its lowest setting for removing wheels.

 

[Marlin]

so your 780 reverse ft lbs beats a 1200 reverse ft lbs?

You're comparing apples and oranges (actual reverse torque vs nut busting torque). Also, even if it was apple to apples it is two different manufactures test procedures for which there is no standard test.

 

[fordracing200]

i have the 1100 nitrocat and have broke a 18mm head 12mm shaft lower shock bolt on my truck, an 17 or 18mm head intermediate steering shaft bolt (turned it to white powder..haha) on a 00 dodge dakota, and 2 or 3 of the 4 bolts on the catback flange on an 03 duramax when putting a 4" turboback straight pipe on it.........its a monster........thats just what I can remember inthe past 2 or 3 months...and I'm just a hobbyist...

 

[fordracing200]

also, for a fact, nothing will beat the Nitrocat for the money...my 1100 cost me 162 with free shipping from tooltopia......my 550ft lb IR composite cost 179.99.....

 

[Marlin]

also, for a fact, nothing will beat the Nitrocat for the money...my 1100 cost me 162 with free shipping from tooltopia......my 550ft lb IR composite cost 179.99.....

Just as an fyi, the IR 550 ft-lb value and the 1100 Nitrocat value are not the same thing. Nothing against the Aircat stuff, sounds like it is a good fit for your needs.

 

[gofastman]

so your 780 reverse ft lbs beats a 1200 reverse ft lbs?

I have the 1100 Aircat which goes for about $40 less than the 1200. At the time I thought it was overkill - more than I needed... I was definitely wrong. From an automotive shop with 15 techs, nothing has yet beat a 1200k nitrocat. We have since convinced the matco truck guy to start carrying them. Now there's about 4/5 guys in the shop who own one.

yes, because the latter is a compleatly made up number!
both companys make good guns, the IR is more powerful, yet I always reach for my mini NitroCat

 

[hemipower0469]

So tech next to me bout a rebadged mac tools impact that I could tell was either a air cat 1100 torque or 1200 torque. Anyways he plugged it in and hit the trigger sounded like a quiet race car! Now this is the 1st time I have ever seen one or heard one first thoughts super quiet. So then he pulled off a nut off of a truck. It was still really quiet, I have ir with quiet technology in it and it was loud compared to this. Next I saw how it took of the lug nut with ease, so I grabbed my mg725 impacted a lug on the truck for a fewseconds, the took off the nut with ease with the aircat. Then impacted the lug back on the aircat, tried same thing with the mg725, I'm not gonna lie but I was a little embarassed how long it took the mg725 to take it off when the aircat made it seem so easy

 

[TheCarbideRat]

Aircats ROCK.

 

[epmills]

From the sounds of it, everyones opinion doesn't mean much since there are way too many variables. Air line size, shop air PSI, what type of fittings, ect. I can't believe there isn't a standardized system for measuring impact performance... That said I love my 2135.

 

[TheCarbideRat]

epmills what if I have a Snapon IM6100 and an Aircat 1/2" in my box, same fittings same line etc.?

 

[Muffduster]

I have a brand new NitroCat 1200K and I just put it to the ultimate test. I have a Toro riding lawnmower with a blade nut that is literally bent onto the shaft. I have an 80 gallon Porter&Cable compressor, 3/8" line with 3/8" automotive fittings and no fitting smaller than 3/8". I had to crank it to 120 PSI and **** on it for about 2 minutes before the nut came off. It was also soaked with Liquid Wrench. It zipped the other two off in about 1 second.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

So what are you trying to say?

 

[rodm1]

the nitrocat is supposedly made by pissed off former IR engineers, (IR)usa assembly vs (NitroCat)chinese

NitroCat is assembled in the USA now.

 

[Muffduster]

So what are you trying to say?

It is what it is.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

I had to ....**** on it for about 2 minutes before the nut came off.

So what are you trying to say?

It is what it is.

Robert,

I think he is saying that he raped it for two minutes before he got his nuts off......

 

[jethro29]

if it were me i would stick with the time tested proven ingersol,i'm not familiar with nitrocat ,i've always shyed away from them.as far as torque i think the working torque is the most important factor,sometimes manufactures don't list working torque and only list the "nut busting"or "loosening" or "breakaway" numbers and they can be misleading.so find out the working numbers and stick with a proven product they are to expensive to gamble with.as you just learned.good luck

 

[jethro29]

assembled in usa? maybe but where do the parts it's assembled with come from?

 

[jethro29]

even if the nitrocat if more powerful than the snappy, how long will it last?

 

[Muffduster]

if it were me i would stick with the time tested proven ingersol,i'm not familiar with nitrocat ,i've always shyed away from them.as far as torque i think the working torque is the most important factor,sometimes manufactures don't list working torque and only list the "nut busting"or "loosening" or "breakaway" numbers and they can be misleading.so find out the working numbers and stick with a proven product they are to expensive to gamble with.as you just learned.good luck

Just learned from my post? If so, I was not meaning my post to make the NitroCat look bad. I love the impact.

 

[moparmuscle88]

i have a matco 1769 which is a rebadged 2135timax

its is amazing at 160 psi it can snap a seized 15/16 bolt in half

ive haerd many good things about aircat/nitrocat, but just dont trust them enough to buy one, and i dont need one anyway with the matco gun i have now

my vote is for the 2135timax

 

[moparmuscle88]

btw, i forgot that the snap on gun is a magnesium housing, so it would have the advantage of being less likely to break when you drop it compared to a composite housing

that said the Ir is lighter so id still pick the IR, just throwing this info out there for ya

 

[Igotta355z28]

I just ordered a set for $294 that is a MG725 impact, a 15pc set of SO impact sockets in mm and a 11pc SO impact set in standard. Also got a set that was $280 for a MG325 3/8 impactc, and 28piece impact set mm deep and shallow 3/8 sockets.... I cant wait till they come in, I think I got a pretty good deal with my Student discount....

 

[ratrodfink]

I bought the 1200K today. My Snapon guy stated it is a Snapon approved tool and no questions 2 year warranty as long as you oil it. He also stated some have said it doesn't sound as strong as the MG due to it being a quoted tool, which is one of its selling points. He also said Air Cat came into the business on the construction side and moved into some assembly plants. I'm very pleased with it so far and it is a very quiet gun. I'm gonna buy the 3/8" next week. Just my $.02.

 

[Marlin]

I bought the 1200K today. My Snapon guy stated it is a Snapon approved tool and no questions 2 year warranty as long as you oil it. He also stated some have said it doesn't sound as strong as the MG due to it being a quoted tool, which is one of its selling points. He also said Air Cat came into the business on the construction side and moved into some assembly plants. I'm very pleased with it so far and it is a very quiet gun. I'm gonna buy the 3/8" next week. Just my $.02.

No sure that your dealer is correct on Aircat being in the construction side of things. The owner came out of the automotive service business and I've never seen their stuff targeting anything but auto service.

 

[pop pop]

If you want maximum profit from mark up - SO is the only way.
If you want to strut in the shop - SO is the way.
If you work, maybe some other way?

 

[TheCarbideRat]

if you want maximum profit from mark up - so is the only way.
If you want to strut in the shop - so is the way.
If you work, maybe some other way?

way.