Air Tool suggestions

[505090]

So after years of wanting a compressor and air tools I stumbled across a 11.3 scfm @ 90 compressor on sale for $430 at sears. After several weeks of research and searching for deals I picked up a 3/8 hose reel from menards $40 and two 1/2 piggyback regulators from http://shop.ingersollrandproducts.com/index.aspx at $16 each. So now I just need to pick up some milton "v" fittings and pipe to set all that up.

Now I'm looking at what air tools to get. Not a professional by any stretch of the imagination. But i do end up spending a lot of time in the garage as it is, so I'm figuring the upcoming ranch with it's tractors and such is going to have me in there even longer.

Looking for quality at a reasonable price, and this is what I've come up with so far.

IR 231HA for $116
1/2 impact for lugs, axles, brakes, suspension work, used tractor(don't know what it'll need yet) want something to last and not leave me staring at a bolt my new $1100 system wont take off. (might cause my head to explode)

and

IR 2102XP for $102
3/8 mini impact for general wrenching, intakes, radiators, exhaust, wanting something that will replace my 3/8 ratchets, it's light at 1.4# and reasonably quite at 82DB and has 50# torque (to much, to little, just right no idea) I usually just pull about "this" hard for this and "that" hard for that

Looked at air ratchets but the mini impact seemed like a better idea, easier on my knuckles anyway. Not sure how convenient it or a ratchet will actually be (don't want a $100 tool collecting dust unused) or if I should just spend that money on a new air hammer and grinder that will only get used bi-monthly at best.

So any ideas, suggestions, or recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[Arbybe]

So after years of wanting a compressor and air tools I stumbled across a 11.3 scfm @ 90 compressor on sale for $430 at sears. After several weeks of research and searching for deals I picked up a 3/8 hose reel from menards $40 and two 1/2 piggyback regulators from http://shop.ingersollrandproducts.com/index.aspx at $16 each. So now I just need to pick up some milton "v" fittings and pipe to set all that up.

Now I'm looking at what air tools to get. Not a professional by any stretch of the imagination. But i do end up spending a lot of time in the garage as it is, so I'm figuring the upcoming ranch with it's tractors and such is going to have me in there even longer.

Looking for quality at a reasonable price, and this is what I've come up with so far.

IR 231HA for $116
1/2 impact for lugs, axles, brakes, suspension work, used tractor(don't know what it'll need yet) want something to last and not leave me staring at a bolt my new $1100 system wont take off. (might cause my head to explode)

and

IR 2102XP for $102
3/8 mini impact for general wrenching, intakes, radiators, exhaust, wanting something that will replace my 3/8 ratchets, it's light at 1.4# and reasonably quite at 82DB and has 50# torque (to much, to little, just right no idea) I usually just pull about "this" hard for this and "that" hard for that

Looked at air ratchets but the mini impact seemed like a better idea, easier on my knuckles anyway. Not sure how convenient it or a ratchet will actually be (don't want a $100 tool collecting dust unused) or if I should just spend that money on a new air hammer and grinder that will only get used bi-monthly at best.

So any ideas, suggestions, or recommendations would be appreciated.

I think that E bay will show you that ingersoll rand is a very popular and reliable tool.
Not to pricey for the 212 (3/8) 231 (1/2) and parts are reasonable.
I've seen them go a lifetime when cared for.
I would ask a pro rebuilder like EMERALDCOUPE. I look forward to his comments.
His opinion would carry a lot of weight.
IMHO

 

[505090]

Thanks arbybe. How would i go about asking emeraldcoupe directly.

 

[032484]

you can always try craigslist. I got my IR impact for $60 and a new IR air ratchet for $40. Those air tools were one of my best buys ever. I used them so much and saved me so much time and effort working on my cars.

 

[Frosthy]

I'm a "semi-pro" but I would tackle things the same way in my home garage, provided I had a compressor that could support the gun:

Main Impact: IR 2115TiMax.
At 300ft/lbs, it's enough to do lugs and most suspension work... And it's fricken' light. Much less strain on my hands and much easier to work with. If you need more than 300ft/lbs working on your own car, well, get out the breaker bar and pipe... The only time I reach for a stronger impact when I'm in the shop, is when I need to literally break a bolt. And did I mention it's light?

Impact for engine-bay stuff: Any of the 18v 1/4" quick-change-chuck electric impacts. Makita, Milwaukee, Dewalt, take your pick. It's not always enough power to break some things loose (like the ocassional intake manifold bolt), but it's still much quieter and easier than whipping an air hose around the engine bay.

For interior work: Take your pick of the smaller electric impact. I use my M18 1/4" "quick chuck" for most interior work, but I'm rarely under the dash...

 

[skruft]

As a cheap person, I settled on using IR 230 and 231 1/2" impacts that I have found used. They do weigh a lot but they seem to work and not to fail. Once I found one where the splined internal shaft was actually broken in half but the working parts in the nose were still good.

I agree about the 18v electrics though I don't use mine much. I know boat mechanics who say they are great because they are always removing small bolts that are stuck.

 

[JimmyTheMonkey]

I LOVE the Aircat tools. Very quiet, highly reviewed on Amazon, and less expensive than IR. I have never had a problem with any of them.

I use this 3/8" ratchet
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OAHYKA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

And this 1/2 impact:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Q8A98M/?tag=atomicindus08-20

They have a bunch of other offerings. I found out about them from a friend who is a professional mechanic and uses them every day without issue.

 

[rlitman]

I have an IR 2135TiMax, and an Aircat 1100TH.
Power feels around the same.
The Aircat has a more comfortable grip.
The Aircat is quieter (but only a little, and both are far quieter than my Snap On, which tends to stay in the box because of the noise).
The IR is just a little lighter, so that's the one I reach for most (because the noise is not objectionable).
I feel that a good 1/2" impact is indispensible.

I have a SnapOn 3/8" impact that I almost never use. I have a Husky 3/8" butterfly impact that also never sees use. For 3/8", I use an adapter in my 18V 1/4" hex quick change cordless impact. If that doesn't have enough power, I'll generally just switch to the 1/2" impact.

I have a Mac 3/8" air ratchet. Hate the damn thing. Nothing against Mac, just against air ratchets.
There are times when an impact won't fit, and I'm turning a lock nut that I can't spin on with my fingers down an inch of threads, and don't feel like rocking a ratchet up and back for half an hour, that I'm happy I have it. Then when it grabs as the nut tightens, my bleeding knuckles remind me that the awful sound it makes isn't its only drawback.

Next on your list of air tools would be an air hammer. I've got a CP717, which has gotten me out of a few jams, but I'm not suggesting you go out and spend that kind of money (I got mine used). Just that an air hammer is a must have. I've also got an IR with a quick change chuck that I got at Lowes for $30-something that is not half bad. Not much less powerful than my SnapOn PH2050 was (I hear the 3050 is really much better).

 

[emeraldcoupe]

I think that E bay will show you that ingersoll rand is a very popular and reliable tool.
Not to pricey for the 212 (3/8) 231 (1/2) and parts are reasonable.
I've seen them go a lifetime when cared for.
I would ask a pro rebuilder like EMERALDCOUPE. I look forward to his comments.
His opinion would carry a lot of weight.
IMHO

thanks, i think we got off on the wrong foot Arbybe, shouldn't have jumped your **** like i did.

anyway if your sticking with IR, can't go wrong with the 231, cheap and powerful. as for a 3/8 gun i'd skip over the 212 and go with a 2112. using them at home they should last a LONG time. parts are readily available and cheap.

i'd stick with the twin hammer guns over the twin clutch guns. the clutch guns hit hard but the hammer pins tend to break quite often. i'd skip the ratchets. just put a few drops of air tool oil in the tools before you use them and you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[kythri]

I'll probably end up calling down the thunder for bringing it up, but, the HF Earthquake impact guns get pretty consistent positive reviews here, and are really great guns.

The older one, a copy of the IR Thunder Gun, was/is rock solid, and the new one seems every bit it's equivalent.

They're sub-$100 guns, and just really, really good. The new 1/2" gun is a fair amount lighter than the old one, too.

 

[mrjaw14]

HF EQ line isn't bad at all. They just don't last as long. I have a IR 231C that I just bought. went with the C over the HA because you loose some power in the HA model, all be it only 10ft lbs., but the ha is supposed to be a little quieter. Mine is just a home shop for occasional use so I went with more power more noise lol.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I think you will be disappointed in the IR 2102XP. 50 ft-lb is just not enough for the kind of jobs you listed.

One quality "high end" 3/8" impact gun maybe all you need instead of a 1/2" and a 3/8" gun.

Personally, I am still looking for a 3/8" ratchet with some guts, but I am not prepared to buy an IR 2015MAX.

 

[bcradio]

HF EQ line isn't bad at all. They just don't last as long. I have a IR 231C that I just bought. went with the C over the HA because you loose some power in the HA model, all be it only 10ft lbs., but the ha is supposed to be a little quieter. Mine is just a home shop for occasional use so I went with more power more noise lol.

You had an HF gun fail on you? First hand experience?

Otherwise it sounds like you are saying something just because. I have read of a good number of people using these guns professionally without issue.

 

[crewchief888]

i've been using IR 231 and 231C for many years.
typical lifespan for me is about 10 years. ( as a const eq mechanic, tools in general get the hell beat out of them)

by then they are low on power, and the anvils are chipped/worn/damaged. for under $150 new , i'm good to go again.

current 3/8" dr air impact is an IR212, but it's getting pretty well worn as well. i'll probably replace it with another IR212, previosly, i used bluepoint guns.

i'm really starting to like the 3/8" dr milwaukee fuel cordless i recently picked up.