Any opinions on these? From northern tool $70
http://m.northerntool.com/mt/www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200266574_200266574
http://m.northerntool.com/mt/www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200266574_200266574
50pc northern industrial air tool kit
- Thread starter TWC
- Start date
Shadowdog500
Well-known member
Probably an OK starter set for a weekend mechanic, but you would be better off buying these things individually.
If you look at the question and answer section someone asked the max torque for the impact and air ratchet. The answer was 230ft-lb for the impact and 50 ft-lb for the air ratchet. I had one of these 230 ft-lb impacts when I started out and got tired of still having to dig out a breaker bar and a pipe to free tight rusted on hardware. I would recommend getting a Harbor Freight "Earthquake" impact when it goes on sale. It has 700 ft-lb of torque and I haven't found anything that it won't zip right off. The torque rating on an air ratchet only tells you how hard your fingers get squashed when they get caught between the ratchet and something else. You usually break and tighten the hardware by hand and only squeeze the trigger to spin the hardware on and off.
That air hammer is a little more than a noise maker that massages your hand. I have one. I'm sure there is a low cost long throw HF type of air hammer that really works, but I eventually broke down and bought a rebuilt Snap-On 3050 air hammer out of the bargain bucket for a little over $100. (Whenever you go onto a snap on truck always look in the bargain bucket, I've bought more than a few tools out of the bucket and was always happy with my purchase) My 3050 air hammer kicks harder than my 44 Mag, and I literally have to put gloves on to use it. If you really need a good air hammer, save up and get a good one.
That set does not include a full set of sockets, so you will need to fill in the set piecemeal. Just get the impact socket sets from HF. They are cheap on sale and hold up well.
I don't do cheap air fittings like the ones included in that set. I've had friends who used them and heard more than a few stories about the male connector breaking in half. I've been using Milton connectors since Reagan was president and am still using the same exact connectors. Napa sells them and they aren't a lot of money.
Hope this helps,
Chris
If you look at the question and answer section someone asked the max torque for the impact and air ratchet. The answer was 230ft-lb for the impact and 50 ft-lb for the air ratchet. I had one of these 230 ft-lb impacts when I started out and got tired of still having to dig out a breaker bar and a pipe to free tight rusted on hardware. I would recommend getting a Harbor Freight "Earthquake" impact when it goes on sale. It has 700 ft-lb of torque and I haven't found anything that it won't zip right off. The torque rating on an air ratchet only tells you how hard your fingers get squashed when they get caught between the ratchet and something else. You usually break and tighten the hardware by hand and only squeeze the trigger to spin the hardware on and off.
That air hammer is a little more than a noise maker that massages your hand. I have one. I'm sure there is a low cost long throw HF type of air hammer that really works, but I eventually broke down and bought a rebuilt Snap-On 3050 air hammer out of the bargain bucket for a little over $100. (Whenever you go onto a snap on truck always look in the bargain bucket, I've bought more than a few tools out of the bucket and was always happy with my purchase) My 3050 air hammer kicks harder than my 44 Mag, and I literally have to put gloves on to use it. If you really need a good air hammer, save up and get a good one.
That set does not include a full set of sockets, so you will need to fill in the set piecemeal. Just get the impact socket sets from HF. They are cheap on sale and hold up well.
I don't do cheap air fittings like the ones included in that set. I've had friends who used them and heard more than a few stories about the male connector breaking in half. I've been using Milton connectors since Reagan was president and am still using the same exact connectors. Napa sells them and they aren't a lot of money.
Hope this helps,
Chris
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I ordered one. It will do for now I think. Got compressor for Christmas and all I had was nail gun from doing some molding in the house. I'll upgrade later but I'll make do with it for a while. Thanks for the advice. Will definitely have to keep eye out for HF "Earthquake" impact. Why strain when u can just squeeze a trigger. 
Shadowdog500
Well-known member
It will more than do to start out. I used a set like this for a few years, and still have the air hammer. Don't go nuts with the impact when installing lug nuts, I just run mine in until it hammers a few times, then use a torque wrench to take it that last little bit. If you just run them on at full torque it will be a royal pain to change a flat on the side of the road. And it can warp your rotors.
Enjoy your new tools,
Chris
Enjoy your new tools,
Chris
Over torquing (or under torquing for that matter) the lugs can also cause the wheel studs to break off at a very inconvenient time (like when you are driving).
OldracerJones
Well-known member
My set has been okay with the torque limitations mentioned but the air hammer will no longer work after cutting one lug nut off. The ratchet has been great.
pattenp
Well-known member
I started with that same set. Got tired of the weak air impact wrench. Then I bought the Harborfreight EarthQuake and was not satisfied because of the weight and how loud it was. I bit the bullet and bought an Ingersol Rand 2135Ti. The other two air impact wrenches are now just collecting dust.