1/2 tool help

[Chequeac]

whats the best air gun on the market ive recently bought the snap on deep
and shallow 10-24 1/2 impacts on offer and now need a air gun, breaker bar and longer ratchets

 

[ken w.]

I like my IR 231 impact wrench. I've used it for 25 + years without a problem. I keep it well lubed up. Breaker bars and long ratchets I have to go with Snap On. They are kinds pricey but excellent quality.

 

[Chequeac]

im debating on either a snap on mg725 or a IR impact cant choose

 

[malykaii]

The best? Too subjective.

Top choices include Snap-On, IR, and NitroCat.

I personally really like my NitroCat the most of those three. (and yes I've used all three)

 

[stikman56]

You looking for value, torque and quality, dependability? I'd stay as far away from Snap-On as possible.

 

[geartow]

Imho ir 2135

 

[F150tech]

Used all of them, I prefer my ir 2135, not a fan of the mg725, the aircat 1/2 inch guns are pretty impressive I have a 1000 th that has taken a beating and still works great. My advice is see if you can try each one in a reali world situation, what I like and prefer in an impact probably differ greatly from what you prefer. As for a long ratchet I love my ez red 22 inch locking flex head ratchet

 

[malykaii]

WTF, Snap On wants over $500 for their gun? You can buy both the IR and Nitrocat for that price and still have enough for a 1/2 ratchet.

I say skip on the s.o. op

 

[gdocktor3]

im debating on either a snap on mg725 or a IR impact cant choose

I will be honest, I'm not a mechanic, but do quite a bit of different work all the time. I have the MG725 and I haven't been too impressed. Just the other day, another member made a comment that they're "loud & unpredictable quality" which nailed it right on the head. For the money I'd stay away. The Matco MT2769, IR2235, or Cornwell CAT4150 (Napa 6-1123) are known to be the current heavy hitters. I personally think the Aircat or Nitrocat line or air tools are the way to go. They are reliable, powerful as heck, and made of composite materials making them light weight and not so cold in the winter. I have the 3/4" Aircat 1600TH and have been extremely impressed. There's nothing it can't do. The Nitrocat 1200K can be had for $165 with free shipping, which is a bargain with almost 1300 ft lbs of torque. Here's the link http://www.tooltopia.com/aircat-120...z43sbTTYFRTIYFEm7pWfNFm3uHJ1f117BcaAtcb8P8HAQ

Here's a link to a thread that was posted a few days ago with lots of good info. There are also many videos on youtube with impact wrench shootouts. Realtoolreviews.com does a lot of great reviews. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5609279#post5609279

You might also consider a 1/2" compact impact wrench. They put out high torque numbers and are the same size, sometimes smaller than 3/8" impacts.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=323116

 

[mfrantz90]

I've owned several and I would not buy another nitrocat had the 1250k and the anvil broke within 6 months , had an ir 2135 which was good but not to my liking I now have gone to snap on and have both the 3/8 mg325 and the 1/2 mg725 both are loud don't get me wrong but they hit hard and are built well. I use my 725 everyday to take lugs off of semis and it has never let me down


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[gdocktor3]

I've owned several and I would not buy another nitrocat had the 1250k and the anvil broke within 6 months


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I can honestly say this is the first time I've seen a complaint about something breaking on an Aircat/Nitrocat. I'm surprised.

 

[mfrantz90]

I was surprised too, I liked the gun until that ... It actually cracked in 3 separate spots where it tapered into the corners of the 1/2" square drive


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[gdocktor3]

I was surprised too, I liked the gun until that ... It actually cracked in 3 separate spots where it tapered into the corners of the 1/2" square drive


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Did you have it fixed or did you toss it? There is a chance of a manufacturers defect. Or were you throwing 150 PSI of air at it and not giving a damn? It's not the tools fault!

 

[mfrantz90]

I traded it in on my mg725 and snappy fixed it... It was under warranty still so I just gave him the receipt and he got the parts to fix it. Snap on is actually an authorized dealer for aircat


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[Farmall450]

The best? IR 2235TiMax

Get Snappy Ratchets or RHFT for US COO
Otherwise gear wrench makes a nice long (or long flex) ratchet.

I've noticed my SO breaker bar flexes a lot but so will any round one (HF) While cman makes a nice rigid one it's rather short.

 

[Jim Diesel]

For air: IR 2235 TiMAX and Battery: Milwaukee hight torque m18 with friction ring. I have both and use the Milwaukee heaps more

 

[Olafur]

In recent years I have used many impact wrenches mostly IR albeit not the latest and greatest (2235?). Several other guns as well. None of them compares to the Aircat 1250K I got recently based on recommendation from members here . It's quiet, smooth and out powers them all by considerable margin. It replaces 3/4" guns for the most part when working on 4-600 hp diesel engines.

 

[Chequeac]

i am a apprentice hgv mechanic if this helps, ive used a IR impact and a MG725 at work and while in the uk i can get a brand new MG725 for 300 pounds plus 20% tax

 

[MrGiggles]

Aircat impacts are the winner when you compare cost and performance. 160 dollars for 1300 ft lbs. IR has always made a solid product, although it is more expensive than the Aircat.

Can't go wrong with Snap On breaker bars and ratchets, if you're able to pay the price. Tekton makes a good inexpensive long handle fixed head ratchet, and I like HF flex head long ratchets. The HF Pro breaker bar is pretty good as well.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... I've used alota air impacts,....

I Love the 2235 I bought when they came out,....

Huge power in a nice package,...

 

[WhiffySpark]

2235 is my favorite. Also have the 2135timax. There's nothing wrong with the mg 725 I had two of those and 2 mg325s.

Far72 for air ratchet and whatever their 1/4 one is.

I would never buy a 231 these days. You'll need to go to the gym before you start using that gun lol. I wouldn't buy nitrocat/air cat either for a front line gun. A back up gun maybe. One of them you can't use torque sticks with due to the hammer mechanism. Idk which one

 

[Wamsutta]

Get something different that nobody else has.

http://www.clecosales.com/wrenches-impact-cwc.html

 

[Cap'nJake]

Get something different that nobody else has.

http://www.clecosales.com/wrenches-impact-cwc.html

I think the gearwrench impacts are rebadged cleco's and are less expensive

 

[jt777]

Aircat impacts are good at a even better price. Snap on for the long ratchet if day. For the breaker bar, I'm sure snap on is good but i tend to go to the craziest place i can get them. ( canadian tire for me) because i only need warranty on them from having a pipe on them. Not the kind of terms i want to be on with my snap on guy.

 

[WhiffySpark]

You'd be better off buying the big snapon or Matco ratchet than a breaker bar

 

[maxpower_hd]

I'm surprised at the MG725 complaints referenced here. I have one and so do the other two mechanics at work and we haven't had ANY of the issues mentioned. In fact we all love them. That is why two of us bought the ones we did. We used the other guy's. One is several years old, one is two years old and one is only a few months old. All quiet (relatively), all powerful and no dependability issues with any of the 3.

I can't comment on Air Cat but I have an older IR at home and it works OK but doesn't have the power of the SO. I also have a Craftsman one that was given to me which works for small stuff but has no balls at all.

Just my experience.

 

[maxpower_hd]

Oh yeah. I got mine for $375 not $500+ like listed on line.

 

[gdocktor3]

Get something different that nobody else has.

http://www.clecosales.com/wrenches-impact-cwc.html

I think the gearwrench impacts are rebadged cleco's and are less expensive

Yea that things expensive. Aircat can be had for less than 1/2 that price with same or better specs. But if you're happy with it that's all that matters.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Yea that things expensive. Aircat can be had for less than 1/2 that price with same or better specs. But if you're happy with it that's all that matters.

What air at/nitrocat stuff do you own?

 

[gdocktor3]

What air at/nitrocat stuff do you own?

I only have the Aircat 1600th 3/4" drive right now. I've only used an older IR 261, I think, and a corded 3/4" before, so can't compare to other modern day impacts that size, but aircat is about 1/2 the weight and blows the doors in on both of those. A brand new one can be had for $280, but I bought mine used for $110 off eBay. That 1/2" Cleco goes for around $400 new.

I did a lot of research before buying the Aircat and to date, I've only read one bad complaint about them and that was literally 2-3 days ago.

I've been satisfied and I will literally be buying the Aircat 1055 before the week ends.

 

[gdocktor3]

whats the best air gun on the market ive recently bought the snap on deep
and shallow 10-24 1/2 impacts on offer and now need a air gun, breaker bar and longer ratchets

OP BUY THIS NOW! This is a 1/2" impact with 3/4" impact specs. This is a smokin deal and I guarantee you won't be disappointed with Aircat tools.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AirCat-1250...:g:bT8AAOxyLm9TEnUW&item=281965197455&vxp=mtr

 

[WhiffySpark]

That's not much cheaper than an IR 2235. I wouldn't recommend that blindly if you have no experience with it.

It doesn't have 3/4 specs either. 1/2 ir has better specs lol (barely -but still) any will actually hold up and be reliable.

Hell I still have my first 2135timax and I used that thing everyday for 6 years with one rebuild

 

[gdocktor3]

That's not much cheaper than an IR 2235. I wouldn't recommend that blindly if you have no experience with it.

It doesn't have 3/4 specs either. 1/2 ir has better specs lol (barely -but still) any will actually hold up and be reliable.

Hell I still have my first 2135timax and I used that thing everyday for 6 years with one rebuild

What??!?! The cheapest I've seen the IR2235 is almost $240. That's a considerable amount more for only 50 ft lbs more.

 

[gdocktor3]

Well, I'm convinced....

 

[WhiffySpark]

It's been posted before. That style impact doesn't work right with the machine. Ir is twin hammer nitrocat or whatever is twin clutch or something. Idk but it's on here somewhere.

I'm just telling you from real world experience. I wish Marlin was still around

 

[WhiffySpark]

Try searching on here for that discussion. I think people said it sounds like the gun was turned down too as well or something.

Of course an air at production would show it's more power. That's like for making an ad that shows Chevy has more power

 

[Greg85mcss]

I have an older ir composite (2131) & it's held up great to regular shop use. I've used the 2235 & the snap on at work. Both are fairly heavy & fatigue you to use regularly. I have the 3/8 version of the cornwell 4150/napa 1123 & have used the 1/2 before. Very light & powerful guns. If you're going to be using it frequently I would look at one of those. Otherwise I prefer the buttons on the ir to the snap on.
I haven't used a nitrocat or aircat but have heard good feedback from a guy I worked with. One thing that kept me from buying a particular one is that supposedly torque sticks don't work with twin clutch guns. Not sure if that's true but I didn't want to find out the hard way.


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[gdocktor3]

It's been posted before. That style impact doesn't work right with the machine. Ir is twin hammer nitrocat or whatever is twin clutch or something. Idk but it's on here somewhere.

I'm just telling you from real world experience. I wish Marlin was still around

Which impact doesn't work right on the machine and what is the reason?

 

[derosa]

Can't help with the impact, mine's a cheapy kobalt, however
http://tradetoolsupply.com/Catalogu...archID=26644176&ObjectID=774227&ObjectType=27
And
http://tradetoolsupply.com/Catalogu...archID=26644156&ObjectID=774236&ObjectType=27
With shipping you can have a 15" ratchet and 18" breaker bar for about 100 and some change shipped. When I ordered the ratchet yesterday they claimed to have 2 in stock.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Which impact doesn't work right on the machine and what is the reason?

Something to do with it being twin clutch. I don't remember I don't pay much attention to that stuff. I'm deaf as well so that doesn't help trying to watch videos

Unless it got deleted it's on here somewhere. Marlin replied In thread I think