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Air hammer

MarineScott

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Joined
Jan 23, 2016
Messages
531
Location
W. Pennsylvania
I am looking for a future purchase of the Ingersoll Rand 119 MAX air hammer. I currently have a Cornwell tools one that is pooping out. I will be using this professionally, and the IR is in my budget range. Does anyone have any experience with this tool ? My other IR tools have stood up well over time. I don't think my Cornwell air hammer has lived to it's full potential. Your opinions are welcomed.
 
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Professional Tool User

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Joined
Apr 9, 2018
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1,835
Location
BC
The higher end IR air hammers should be fine. I would have gone with IR if my Snap on guy didn't offer me a refurbished PH3050 at a reasonable price.
 

Wrench97

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Joined
Jun 23, 2018
Messages
12,372
Location
Southeastern Pa
I have a 119 max it's a good hammer, great for suspension work, but too much for roll up door rivets, I grabbed a short barrel Sunex for rivets.
Trigger control is ok but could be better.
 

isb cornbinder

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Joined
Nov 3, 2010
Messages
7,072
Location
Pacific South West, BC, Canada
I am looking for a future purchase of the Ingersoll Rand 119 MAX air hammer. I currently have a Cornwell tools one that is pooping out. I will be using this professionally, and the IR is in my budget range. Does anyone have any experience with this tool ? My other IR tools have stood up well over time. I don't think my Cornwell air hammer has lived to it's full potential. Your opinions are welcomed.
30 years ago, I bought what was said to be the big bad IR of that time. I have driven it hard and it has never failed. I have a quick tool release on my IR.
 

AA/FC

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Joined
Dec 9, 2010
Messages
2,080
The HF Chief is pretty good.
Agreed.... Especially for the price.

Edit: I now see HF has two Chief air hammers...... a long barrel, and a medium barrel. The long barrel is the one that I have and its pretty damn good. It's also the one that was tested and did well on the Torque channel on youtube. I don't know much about the medium barrel Chief air hammer but it's probably pretty good quality, just not a strong.
 
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GeoBruin

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May 5, 2018
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3,757
Agreed.... Especially for the price.

Edit: I now see HF has two Chief air hammers...... a long barrel, and a medium barrel. The long barrel is the one that I have and its pretty damn good. It's also the one that was tested and did well on the Torque channel on youtube. I don't know much about the medium barrel Chief air hammer but it's probably pretty good quality, just not a strong.
The HF chief did hit hard for its class in the TTC test, but the trigger control wasn't great. Kind of all or nothing. The IR the OP mentioned hit as hard as the chief but had better trigger control.

I have several of the HF chief air tools (which are identical to tools sold by other brands) and I like them but I think the TTC review had me leaning toward the IR on this one.
 

BarrelRoll

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Joined
Jan 10, 2006
Messages
415
Location
Alaska
I ended up with the snapon though haven't really put it through the test. It was on sale a couple weeks ago and I fell for it. If it wasn't on special I was looking at the IR. After having a cheap IR with the spring retainer I wanted one with a quick connect.
 

Iridium rand

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Joined
Sep 23, 2021
Messages
218
You’ll definitely love the 119, best you can buy for that price range in both power and trigger control. Out of curiosity, what’s wrong with your cornwell? Air hammers are one of the most durable tools known to man and that’s a brand known for quality too, would like to know what kind of failure modes are out there besides just having hardened grease gum up the piston
 

AA/FC

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Joined
Dec 9, 2010
Messages
2,080
The HF chief did hit hard for its class in the TTC test, but the trigger control wasn't great. Kind of all or nothing. The IR the OP mentioned hit as hard as the chief but had better trigger control.

I have several of the HF chief air tools (which are identical to tools sold by other brands) and I like them but I think the TTC review had me leaning toward the IR on this one.
Right, I watched the video, that's why I mentioned TTC in the first place. lolol

The IR is also more money than the HF Chief. That's why I agreed with theoldwizard1 when he said "The HF Chief is pretty good".... Then I said "Agreed.... especially for the price"

Generally, the Chief stuff from HF are pretty decent tools. Like you said, "they are identical to tools sold by other brands".... and usually at a far cheaper price, too.

If I was using air tools every day, for a living.... I would absolutely buy the best that money can buy. If I'm busting frame rivets once a year, or doing the occasional wheel bearing, I can live with a hard hitting air hammer with a bit less control. I usually don't have a problem running an air hammer, but I 'm also 6'4, 330 pounds so I have a fairly good grip on the tool. lol.
 

Steve_P

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Joined
Sep 15, 2010
Messages
5,233
The HF Chief long barrel gun is very similar to the Matco? (Or Mac, I can't remember) but not identical. The TTC test makes that very, very clear.
 
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