Air Hammers

[dragonle87]

What are some good air hammers?
Matco was trying to sell me a long barrel air hammer MT1815

http://www.matcotools.com/Catalog/toolcatalog.jsp?cattype=T&cat=2244

What's the difference between short & long barrel?

Is there something specific that I would need for an air hammer?

 

[wafrederick]

The long barrels are great for suspension work,removing bolts when doing struts where the bolts holding the struts and spindle together.Plus you can get a needle scaler attachment to put on a dedicated air hammer which are worth the money.Air hammers are the best fan clutch wrenches and I was taught to do it this way

 

[DrkMtnDew]

Snap-On P3050 is what i've got and its been a good tool so far. got a HF one that i had to get mud off of filters and drain plugs on some haul trucks i worked on. that **** would bake on there and stick like concrete.

 

[duanedragon]

The Chicago Pneumatic 717 is a very nice air hammer. I just bought an Ingersoll Rand 121 and it is a little wimpy. I have used the Blue Point air hammer and my 121 back-to-back and the 121 is a little stronger. Eventually I will need to buy a 717 as my little 121 really labors to drive out Dodge Dakota lower ball joints.

 

[diesel research]

Been really thinking about this one:

CP-7150

Bore 3/4"
Stroke 3.5"
Chisel rivet set shank 0.401"
Weight 4.2
Length 8.9
Average air consumption 6.25 cfm
Actual air consumption 25 cfm
Air inlet thread size NPTF in. 1/4 NPTF in.
Most powerful hammer in its class
Longer piston stroke for more power
Integral muffler minimizes exhaust sound
Excellent power / weight ratio
Fast action and withstands rugged use
Ideal tool for heavy duty application
Power (Joules): 9.5
Blows per minute: 2300

Lotta sales fluff in that description, although with such a stroke, it's gotta be a heavy hitter?

Someone else mentioned the C717. It is supposed to be a bad *** in a class by itself. The $800 class. Uses a big 1/2" shank which makes tools a bit harder to come by.

Oddly enough, The 7150 is in a totally different class at around $75. Looking at the CP site, the power "joule rating" is higher than any of their other zip guns, INCLUDING the 717. I'm not sure how accurate it is to rate a hammer in joules or what that translates compared to other guns, but am intrigued that their "most powerful" cost 1/10 of some of their other guns.

 

[daveblank]

Ask your dealer if he has the demo MT1815. This will give you the chance to put it to work & see how you like it. Some dealers participate in the demo program & others don't.

 

[4x4gearhead]

Snap on PH3050A is the best air hammer Ive ever used my matco long barrel and IR's cant touch it, Like I always say, if it werent for the 3050 every other air hammer would seem ok.

 

[toolfreak]

Snap on PH3050A is the best air hammer Ive ever used my matco long barrel and IR's cant touch it, Like I always say, if it werent for the 3050 every other air hammer would seem ok.

I'm with you on this one, after I used the 3050' all the others didn't compare.

 

[Super Mech]

I have a Span On ph3050a It's pretty good. I got it to replace an old Mac Tools air hammer (Don't remember the number) that was hands down the strongest air hammer I have ever used. I swear that thing could put a chisel thru the side of a tank.

 

[wafrederick]

CP tends to overprice their air tools and watch out for this.Have a Snap On air hammer and it is not very powerful and it has been rebuilt once.Tried a Mac once,hit like a girl.Dealer took it back once and and the second time the dealer gave my father a credit taking the second one back.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The Chicago Pneumatic 717 is a very nice air hammer. I just bought an Ingersoll Rand 121 and it is a little wimpy. I have used the Blue Point air hammer and my 121 back-to-back and the 121 is a little stronger. Eventually I will need to buy a 717 as my little 121 really labors to drive out Dodge Dakota lower ball joints.

CP717 is the best HEAVY DUTY hammer out there !

The only downside is that it uses .498 round shank tools.

 

[str8axle55]

I'm with you on this one, after I used the 3050' all the others didn't compare.

I like mine too, hasn`t let me down yet.

 

[shampoop]

Hey, i'm still starting out as a tech and am looking to get my first air hammer. I was thinking about getting something similar to these two guns http://www.tooltopia.com/ingersoll-rand-121k6.aspx or http://www.tooltopia.com/chicago-pneumatic-7110k.aspx

I keep hearing that the snapon 3050 is much better but is it worth it for 3x the price for someone like me? Or am i better off buying something like the CP or IR and upgrading later on if i feel the need?

 

[Johnny chaos]

I like my ph3050.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Hey, i'm still starting out as a tech and am looking to get my first air hammer. I was thinking about getting something similar to these two guns http://www.tooltopia.com/ingersoll-rand-121k6.aspx or http://www.tooltopia.com/chicago-pneumatic-7110k.aspx

Costs less ! Longer barrel hits harder ! http://www.tooltopia.com/chicago-pneumatic-7150k.aspx

 

[bobcatdan]

The CP zip gun long barrel is a very good gun for $60. Bought one from fleet a couple years ago for home, I would put it right up there with my good old USA made Mac.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

I keep hearing that the snapon 3050 is much better but is it worth it for 3x the price for someone like me? Or am i better off buying something like the CP or IR and upgrading later on if i feel the need?

for a first gun IR or cp are better choices than SO. you may find that these are all that you'll ever need.

 

[shampoop]

Costs less ! Longer barrel hits harder ! http://www.tooltopia.com/chicago-pneumatic-7150k.aspx

sweet. looks good. What do you think about this one? The heavy duty one on the bottom.

http://www.sunextools.com/search.php?cat=air-tools&n=1&sunex1=air-hammer

http://www.americastoolwarehouse.com/automotive-tools/SUN-SX243.html

 

[oilslick]

buy cheap buy twice go with the snap on it has no equal in my workplace, in other words matco IR and Mac are good but this thing feels like an exstension of me great control and absolute power, wish I hadnt bought others first!!

 

[vssjim]

If you want to stay with the small shank A CP 714 is the top of the heap but look a Ebay before you buy a small shank one as I bought a CP 717 for $40.00 because the people didn't know what it was.

 

[blacK20]

Recently purchased a ph3050a as well. Like everybody else has mentioned, nothing else compares once you've used one.

 

[petefixer]

I reccomend a 3050 but whatever you buy put a quick change on it. The springs are ****!

 

[Joe H]

A snap-on ph3050 w/quick change chuck would be my choice. Well worth the extra money IMO.

 

[shampoop]

Unless i get lucky on ebay the snapon 3050 isn't gonna happen http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=19896&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Not interested in spending $500

 

[blacK20]

Don't buy the kit. Get just the hammer and chuck alone which can be had for just a tad over $300 right off the truck. Buy whatever bit you need seperatly. Bits can be had at quite a steal on ebay.

 

[shampoop]

Don't buy the kit. Get just the hammer and chuck alone which can be had for just a tad over $300 right off the truck. Buy whatever bit you need seperatly. Bits can be had at quite a steal on ebay.

What kind of bits are good? It sounds like some are super ****** and disposable and others are much higher quality. Are there any brands that are desirable because of a good balance of quality vs price?

 

[mrbreezeet1]

Costs less ! Longer barrel hits harder ! http://www.tooltopia.com/chicago-pneumatic-7150k.aspx

That's the one I have, It's been a good hammer.
Tony

 

[Farmrod]

What kind of bits are good? It sounds like some are super ****** and disposable and others are much higher quality. Are there any brands that are desirable because of a good balance of quality vs price?

buy the snap on bits they are the best ones i have used... also try to snap a 3050 like others have said theyre the best hammer out there

 

[00S4Boy]

Surprisingly enough I think my Ph2050 hits harder then a 3050, i had a 3050 loaner when mine broke, and one of my coworkers bought a 3050 for some reason my 2050 feels like it hits harder.

 

[sergeyvk]

Would any of you give me some advice?
IR 114gqc or Sunex SX243?

 

[gdocktor3]

While I like Sunex, I'd go with the IR in this case. On the other hand, I'd recommend buying a used truck brand before one of those. The two you listed aren't exactly "professional" grade and even though you may not be a professional, don't sell yourself short. For instance, I bought a Mac AH412B in case with chisels for $53 shipped off eBay as well as a Mac AH750B for $35 shipped off eBay because it didn't have a retainer. They were both used, but in excellent condition. I then added a NOS quick release retainer for $13 shipped on eBay. So for $101 I have two awesome hammers, one short and one long, that hit extremely hard.

 

[Cope]

Look at the Astro Pneumatic 4901.

 

[Olafur]

Would any of you give me some advice?
IR 114gqc or Sunex SX243?

What are you going to use it for?
Out of these two the Sunex has longer stroke and hits 2200 per min. The IR has shorter stroke and hits 3500 times per min. So the Sunex should hit harder and is better if you want to drive out bearings, tie rod ends or ball joints etc.

 

[WhiffySpark]

What are you going to use it for?
Out of these two the Sunex has longer stroke and hits 2200 per min. The IR has shorter stroke and hits 3500 times per min. So the Sunex should hit harder and is better if you want to drive out bearings, tie rod ends or ball joints etc.

Sometimes. The short repetitive vibrations works better sometimes. My own air hammer is a long barrel

 

[stikman56]

I believe CP will be the best bang for the buck.

 

[Olafur]

In other news:
Air Cat has come out with 0.498 air hammer model 5300-A-T seen on Amazon around $300.

And the price of the CP 717 seems to be coming down. Seen on ebay around $360..

 

[sevt_chevelle]

It really depends on what you are gonna do with the air hammer. I do collision repair, so what I use/need an air hammer to is different then the auto tech doing brakes, suspension work.

I have two air hammers, a Mac long barrel long stroke and a Snap on short stroke. I use the Snap on to rough cut out panels and install door skins. Doesn't hit as hard but doesn't need to, but it hits faster. I also have a brass air regulator on the snappy, when doing door skins you can turn down the air and the hammer just pecks.

Mainly use the Mac hammer when I run into clearance issues.

 

[Kenskip1]

Here is one that makes the grade. Astro makes great tools

 

[sergeyvk]

Thanks for all the answers guys. I'm working in a smash repair doing mechanical jobs, so mostly suspensions. Dealing with atuck driveshafts sometimes, or control arms and tie rods, replacing studs on the wheel hubs etc. just tired of smashing everything with a notmal hammer, plis sometimes you can hit a stud and damage it or that kind of stuff. Damaged a socket once when banging the driveshaft out of a rusted hub just to avoid the damage on the driveshaft thread. Let's say my budget is limited, sunex is $62 on amazon, ir is for $52 with chisel set.

 

[Olafur]

Google search "site:www.garagejournal.com air hammer" and you will find many threads here on the subject.

However actual comparison between models is difficult to find. Few members have many to compare.