Air Impact (help me decide)

[pcpro15]

Alright... plenty of threads out there on mg725 and 2135qtimax.... and that is just the problem. After reading the pro's and cons of both, stories of both, ... I really don't want either . This gun will be for home use, but rather buy something once, and do it right.

My buddy has the 2135 (older black model) and there has only been one bolt it really couldn't handle. We always work on stuff at his place so I've personally used that gun for the past 5-6 years. Love the size, weight, reverse/forward buttons, and power selector. I really like it! But since joining this forum I have new appreciation for tools made in USA (which pushes me to SO). The grease fitting is also a thorn in my side. While my buddy hasn't ever greased his, it is a hidden cost, and something else I have to control. Buy the gun for $275, add in the boot $15, and now a "grease kit", ... along with repetitive costs and availability of IR grease. Doesn't add up quick, but over time, it does add up as I would expect to grease it every 2-3 months.

I had the 2135qtimax in my cart & boot. Ordered it... and canceled it a few hours later. As much as I like the gun, the grease really does bother me Seems silly you might think, but the fact that any other impact you can toss some oil in and go... its more of an inconvenience. I can choose to neglect it like my buddy... but that just isn't me.

Mrshaun had brought up before about IR not standing behind their warranty if there was any water damage. I do have a water catcher so I wouldn't intentionally have water enter the gun, but... you never know. Humidity is bad up here, everything rusts lol

Price of mg725 isn't an issue so much. I see guys getting cash deals on them. I like that the hammers don't need grease. Down falls I read are weight, balance, size, etc.. Then there are the stories of them losing power and needing rebuilt under warranty.

I am still on the fence, and no amount of searching and reading is really going to help as that is what got me into trouble. I wish SO would release a revised gun... and may just hold out for that day Anyway, here are two questions.

1. How many years until a new SO gun is normally released?
2. What was the deciding factor when you bought your 2135 or mg725?

Thanks in advance

 

[pdizzleinmt]

the new snap on impacts dont need grease as far as i know

 

[pl_silverado]

the xt7100 was the predecessor to the MG725, and it was a pile of junk that lost power after a year and needed rebuilding. i traded it in on an mg725 and couldn't be happier.

the mg725 is light years ahead of what the xt7100 was. i have two (one actually for sale in the classifieds). I havnt had a single issue with mine in the last two years...note i only used one of them, the other one basically sat in the box as a backup (which i've never needed)

get the mg725, you won't regret it.

 

[tehfade]

For a long time, I'd been using an old Campbell-Hausfeld that came with my air compressor. I'm 23 and for me, something as expensive as a nice impact gun is a major purchase, so I tried to make do with the cheap one I had for a couple years. I've been lusting after the 2135timax for a long time, and finally, I broke down and bought it. So far, I'm absolutely amazed at the performance. I've yet to find a bolt that it won't take out with ease and it's stupid fast. It's also lightweight, where my old one was a boat anchor.

I'm really not sure what more you could ask for in an impact gun. If you're worried about water, go get an air dryer at Harbor Freight for like $15. As far as grease goes, is there any reason why you need IR's grease that I don't know about? FWIW, I read the manual that came with mine, and I don't recall anything at all about greasing it.

Lastly--and this may get me flamed--I see no reason to pay more for a Snap-On gun. I am so pleased with my 2135 that I can't imagine a SO being any better, and even if they are better, I doubt it'd make a difference for a non-professional.

 

[Takashi]

I'm personally a fan of the 2135, the greasing is just one of those costs of having a great tool. I feel like your argument of "buy once and do it right" and "added cost of greasing every 2-3 months" are a bit contradictory.

I rarely use the air impact anymore because I purchased a cordless for all but the most stubborn of bolts.

 

[Marlin]

Alright... plenty of threads out there on mg725 and 2135qtimax.... and that is just the problem. After reading the pro's and cons of both, stories of both, ... I really don't want either . This gun will be for home use, but rather buy something once, and do it right.

My buddy has the 2135 (older black model) and there has only been one bolt it really couldn't handle. We always work on stuff at his place so I've personally used that gun for the past 5-6 years. Love the size, weight, reverse/forward buttons, and power selector. I really like it! But since joining this forum I have new appreciation for tools made in USA (which pushes me to SO). The grease fitting is also a thorn in my side. While my buddy hasn't ever greased his, it is a hidden cost, and something else I have to control. Buy the gun for $275, add in the boot $15, and now a "grease kit", ... along with repetitive costs and availability of IR grease. Doesn't add up quick, but over time, it does add up as I would expect to grease it every 2-3 months.

I had the 2135qtimax in my cart & boot. Ordered it... and canceled it a few hours later. As much as I like the gun, the grease really does bother me Seems silly you might think, but the fact that any other impact you can toss some oil in and go... its more of an inconvenience. I can choose to neglect it like my buddy... but that just isn't me.

Mrshaun had brought up before about IR not standing behind their warranty if there was any water damage. I do have a water catcher so I wouldn't intentionally have water enter the gun, but... you never know. Humidity is bad up here, everything rusts lol

Price of mg725 isn't an issue so much. I see guys getting cash deals on them. I like that the hammers don't need grease. Down falls I read are weight, balance, size, etc.. Then there are the stories of them losing power and needing rebuilt under warranty.

I am still on the fence, and no amount of searching and reading is really going to help as that is what got me into trouble. I wish SO would release a revised gun... and may just hold out for that day Anyway, here are two questions.

1. How many years until a new SO gun is normally released?
2. What was the deciding factor when you bought your 2135 or mg725?

Thanks in advance

The 2135 is assembled in the US with a large portion of the parts made in the US. All you need to grease the mechansim is a pin tip for your grease gun. Greasing is not something that is needed often, for home use I would bet you could go over a year without greasing. Ingersoll Rand stands behind their 2 year warranty. If a tool has been submerged in water and then allowed to sit until the motor has rusted solid it may be considered abuse but that would hardly seem like a defect in the product. They are both quallity tools, the performance is very close depending on your air supply. The 2135 will be lighter, smaller, better balanced, less expensive and quieter. Make sure you hold each in your hand before deciding. In the interest of full disclosure I work for IR. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[pl_silverado]

one thing to watch out for i suppose, is the made in usa stamp if it matters to you. sometime along the way they stopped writing that on them, my other one does not have it.

 

[pcpro15]

pl silverado

Stamp isn't an importance to me, so long as it is made in USA. Let me talk to my local dealer first and go from there. I may be interested, but in the mean time if you find a buyer, go for it.

 

[srmofo]

It takes about 2 minutes to grease an IR gun. I just use whatever I have laying around in my tube at hand.I do it once every 2 months if that. I use it 10 hours a day, 5-6 days a week.

At my last job they had a major water issue with their lines and every once and a while it would blow water through my gun like a water hose. Literally, it would dump at least a gallon of water down the first line. I used that gun for 7 years before replacing it and it wasnt because of water issues. The thing had been dropped so many times from carelesss people using my gun that the buttons didnt stay in very well and I could tell the gun was getting tired. Besides its all plastic on the inside on the air side.

make it easy on yourself,IR for air tools

edit- both of those guns are going to last a home hobbyist the rest of their lives if they are not left in the yard. One small tube of grease will last several years. they only take a couple of shots, you dont fill it up
$15 for 1lb. That should last you forever
http://www.toyourdoortools.com/product/IRT100-1LB
and a mini grease gun
http://www.google.com/products/cata...&sa=X&ei=azEVTuLXB8eqsQLlq40z&ved=0CGwQ8wIwAg

 

[diesel research]

As much as I like the gun, the grease really does bother me Seems silly you might think, but the fact that any other impact you can toss some oil in and go... its more of an inconvenience. I can choose to neglect it like my buddy... but that just isn't me.

You are right, it is in fact quite a silly notion. The TI max did not suddenly invent a desire for lubricated hammers. There is nothing special making it require lube and no others requiring it. That is simply not true.

Had you been paying attention, many impacts have had grease fittings for YEARS. Almost every other IR you have used, I bet had a grease fitting on the rear cover.

Some don't have fittings. That just means you get to tear them apart in order to grease it. I can't remember if my HF earthquake had a fitting or not. If it did, I didn't know it at the time, and had to disassemble the gun to grease the hammers.

Some people don't ever grease their guns, and don't know what those fittings are for.

Snap on doesn't need grease, BUT it does need redline synthetic racing oil for the hammer case.

 

[pcpro15]

Thanks for the info guys. Still have plenty of thinking to do... :/

As far as SO time line goes, is this right? Am I missing any? Couldn't find any dates pre im6500hp online for release date

im6500hp dec 1 03
xt7100 July 18 05
mg725 may 19 08

 

[tankboy_taylor]

IR Titaniums are the best gun out right now my Snap ONs where all sent home for occasional use. Snap On guns are nice but overpriced and not as durable as the IR guns in my experience and I put them through extrme abuse for long hours.