Aircat Vibrotherm Drive Impacts

[spike95]

Hi Guys,
After a year of wrenching professionally, I’ve gotten tired of my cheapo hand-me-down 1/2” air impact. After reading a $h!7load of posts here and elsewhere, I think I’ve decided to get the Aircat 1150.... but now, while searching through Tooltopia, I came across this Aircat 1178VXL. I’ve never heard of it before, and can’t seem to find much about it other than the manufacturer’s description. Sounds like it might even be a bit nicer than the 1150, has similar power ratings, and looks really cool (not that important to me, but a bonus). Says it is smoother and easier on the hands.

Does anyone have any experience with it? Or know anything more about it than the manufacturer’s spec sheet?

https://aircat.com/vibrotherm-drive-1-2-impact-wrench

 

[lanet2436]

Looks like something that's brand new, in fact I'm having a hard time actually finding places that have it in stock. But if its anything like the rest of the Air cat stuff its probably amazing!

 

[spike95]

Tooltopia shows it as being in stock. I’m tempted to try it out, but can’t afford to buy extra tools just for the fun of it when I already know the 1150 will do the job. Damn the timing! Haha.

 

[anndel]

I have a 5 year old 1150 Killer Cat and it still rocks. The 1178VXL must be awesome.

 

[spike95]

Anybody else know anything about these?

 

[spike95]

Ok, well I couldn’t help myself. Just pulled the trigger on the 1178vxl. Being almost 2 inches shorter than the 1150 was my final deciding factor. . I’ll let you guys know how it is.

 

[Tonyuk]

We have a few people with nitrocats at work, they're very good.

 

[Ron Swanson]

I have 3 different nitrocats. They have been strong and reliable. These days they just sit in the drawer because cordless impacts are so good now.

 

[spike95]

OK I just got it in my hands this evening along with a brand new set of GearWrench Impact sockets. First impression, it is nice looking and compact. It has two settings going forward and one in reverse. It is pretty comfortable in the hand.

I decided to run some oil through it and put it to the test right away. I tried breaking loose some lug nuts on a big rig trailer. I figured if it’s rated for 1300ft/lbs it shouldn’t have a problem... no dice. I broke them loose with the big 1 inch impact (rated at 1400ft/lbs) with it turned to its lowest setting. Not scientific, but I am guessing that the lowest setting on that 1 inch is less than 1300 if it’s max is 1400...

I torqued them back on to spec (475 ft/lbs). Then it would break them loose without a problem. We will have to see how it performs going forward. Hoping I don’t find myself wishing I had bought the Aircat 1150 or Nitrocat 1200 like I had originally planned to...

 

[Marlin]

I decided to run some oil through it and put it to the test right away. I tried breaking loose some lug nuts on a big rig trailer. I figured if it’s rated for 1300ft/lbs it shouldn’t have a problem... no dice. I broke them loose with the big 1 inch impact (rated at 1400ft/lbs) with it turned to its lowest setting. Not scientific, but I am guessing that the lowest setting on that 1 inch is less than 1300 if it’s max is 1400...

I torqued them back on to spec (475 ft/lbs). Then it would break them loose without a problem. We will have to see how it performs going forward. Hoping I don’t find myself wishing I had bought the Aircat 1150 or Nitrocat 1200 like I had originally planned to...

How long did you let it impact? The rating game with impacts has kinda jumped the shark, starting back when IR first used "Nutbusting Torque" which meant if you tightened a bolt to a given torque, it could loosen it. That value is actually higher than the torque which the impact is actually capable of i.e. if you tightened a LH thread bolt using the impact and measured the final torque. When IR first did this they used a reasonable amount of impacting time, like less than 10 sec (they may have abandoned this recently) however, others such as Aircat seemed to have let that run-time go on for 30+ seconds (per testing I was a part of) so it kinda turned into the Wild West with respect to ratings because very few publish what bolt size, socket mass, run time, etc are.

 

[spike95]

How long did you let it impact? The rating game with impacts has kinda jumped the shark, starting back when IR first used "Nutbusting Torque" which meant if you tightened a bolt to a given torque, it could loosen it. That value is actually higher than the torque which the impact is actually capable of i.e. if you tightened a LH thread bolt using the impact and measured the final torque. When IR first did this they used a reasonable amount of impacting time, like less than 10 sec (they may have abandoned this recently) however, others such as Aircat seemed to have let that run-time go on for 30+ seconds (per testing I was a part of) so it kinda turned into the Wild West with respect to ratings because very few publish what bolt size, socket mass, run time, etc are.

I did it for approximately 15-20 seconds. When I had the lugs torqued to spec (475 ft/lbs), it took probably 3 seconds to break loose.

I will have to get our biggest adjustable torque wrench out and do some testing when I have some free time at work.

 

[spike95]

Marlin,
Just curious, since you’re obviously an expert on this subject, do you think it would make a really big difference that I was using a 1-5/16” socket on a 33mm nut? It fit pretty well. It’s only .33mm difference (so 1% oversized) but maybe that makes more difference than I’m thinking?

Do you think I’d lose more torque by using the 1-5/16” (very slightly oversized) or by using a 1/2 to 3/4 adapter and a 33mm socket? I know adaptors and extensions eat a bit of torque.

 

[Marlin]

Marlin,
Just curious, since you’re obviously an expert on this subject, do you think it would make a really big difference that I was using a 1-5/16” socket on a 33mm nut? It fit pretty well. It’s only .33mm difference (so 1% oversized) but maybe that makes more difference than I’m thinking?

Do you think I’d lose more torque by using the 1-5/16” (very slightly oversized) or by using a 1/2 to 3/4 adapter and a 33mm socket? I know adaptors and extensions eat a bit of torque.

You would definitely lose more toque using the 1/2" to 3/4" adapter. You may lose a little from the slightly oversize socket but I doubt it would make the difference in being able to remove the nut.

 

[spike95]

OK I just tried it again, this time with the adapter and a 33 mm. I pushed harder on the impact though. It broke every one of them in 3-5 seconds. I’m thinking part of the problem is that I just was not pushing hard enough on the wrench. I am definitely feeling better about it now.

 

[Olafur]

Food for thought:
I can't remember ever seeing a ratchet or breaker bar destructive test where the 1/2" square drive survived 800 lb/ft. Most snap at considerable lower torque value. In the rare occasion one sees recommended torque rating for 1/2" drive stuff like for example reducers it's something like 600-650NM if memory serves me.

This is the reality of 1/2" drive, the best of them can survive perhaps 7-800NM few times but not in prolonged usage, and certainly not in impact wrenches. To get higher torque ratings something else is going on to get higher torque. My quick and dirty explanation is the socket acts as flywheel and the gun is accelerating it. Obviously several factors come into play as how well this works. Socket weight and size (think rotational inertia) and so forth. Good example are the extra thick and heavy sockets sold for crank bolts in some cars.

So under optimal conditions the results is guns capable of driving the proverbial nut to torque equivalent to over 1000 Lb/ft. Unfortunately the other side of it is the gun isn't pumping out more than perhaps 5-600 lb ft and if you add flex into the equation like extensions or the bolt you are trying to remove is a long one it can go way lower. Something frequently experienced when you remove something with breaker bar with relative ease when even the best of guns can't.

Moral of the story: Torque ratings for most impact wrenches do not translate into real world scenarios. Rule of thumb - divide by two and you get much closer to reality. Even then you are still on the high side.

 

[RedneckWelder]

OK I just got it in my hands this evening along with a brand new set of GearWrench Impact sockets. First impression, it is nice looking and compact. It has two settings going forward and one in reverse. It is pretty comfortable in the hand.

I decided to run some oil through it and put it to the test right away. I tried breaking loose some lug nuts on a big rig trailer. I figured if it’s rated for 1300ft/lbs it shouldn’t have a problem... no dice. I broke them loose with the big 1 inch impact (rated at 1400ft/lbs) with it turned to its lowest setting. Not scientific, but I am guessing that the lowest setting on that 1 inch is less than 1300 if it’s max is 1400...

I torqued them back on to spec (475 ft/lbs). Then it would break them loose without a problem. We will have to see how it performs going forward. Hoping I don’t find myself wishing I had bought the Aircat 1150 or Nitrocat 1200 like I had originally planned to...

1/2 gun torque numbers are vastly inflated across the board. Big rig tires can easily challenge a 1” impact. I’d imagine your impact is just fine and no weaker than any other given 1/2 impact.

The thing that does help air impact power is turning up the compressor and using larger lines and high flow couplers. You still aren’t going to match the big guns but you can really wake up a 1/2 gun.

 

[Marlin]

Food for thought:
I can't remember ever seeing a ratchet or breaker bar destructive test where the 1/2" square drive survived 800 lb/ft. Most snap at considerable lower torque value. In the rare occasion one sees recommended torque rating for 1/2" drive stuff like for example reducers it's something like 600-650NM if memory serves me.

This is the reality of 1/2" drive, the best of them can survive perhaps 7-800NM few times but not in prolonged usage, and certainly not in impact wrenches. To get higher torque ratings something else is going on to get higher torque. My quick and dirty explanation is the socket acts as flywheel and the gun is accelerating it. Obviously several factors come into play as how well this works. Socket weight and size (think rotational inertia) and so forth. Good example are the extra thick and heavy sockets sold for crank bolts in some cars.

So under optimal conditions the results is guns capable of driving the proverbial nut to torque equivalent to over 1000 Lb/ft. Unfortunately the other side of it is the gun isn't pumping out more than perhaps 5-600 lb ft and if you add flex into the equation like extensions or the bolt you are trying to remove is a long one it can go way lower. Something frequently experienced when you remove something with breaker bar with relative ease when even the best of guns can't.

Moral of the story: Torque ratings for most impact wrenches do not translate into real world scenarios. Rule of thumb - divide by two and you get much closer to reality. Even then you are still on the high side.

I agree partially, if you look at the peak torque levels of each blow that an impact mechanism makes on a strain gaged shaft, the top performing impacts will reach 450-500 ft-lbs. You then need to consider that the same impact mechanism is hitting a 1200 blows per minute, so there is a cumulative affect on a threaded fastener.

 

[Marlin]

OK I just tried it again, this time with the adapter and a 33 mm. I pushed harder on the impact though. It broke every one of them in 3-5 seconds. I’m thinking part of the problem is that I just was not pushing hard enough on the wrench. I am definitely feeling better about it now.

Getting peak performance in a lab situation can definitely be affected by how an impact is held but it is typically affected by getting better axial alignment with the fastener and not pushing in on the impact. My guess is that pushing in had more influence on taking up any play between the square drive, adapter and socket. Once that you did that the added mass of the adapter with the socket probably helped to remove the nuts like the Powersockets that are on the market.

 

[Olafur]

I agree partially, if you look at the peak torque levels of each blow that an impact mechanism makes on a strain gaged shaft, the top performing impacts will reach 450-500 ft-lbs. You then need to consider that the same impact mechanism is hitting a 1200 blows per minute, so there is a cumulative affect on a threaded fastener.

Very informative, thanks. And I agree, my "quick and dirty" explanation is just that. The whole scenario is complex engineering situation.

 

[spike95]

1/2 gun torque numbers are vastly inflated across the board. Big rig tires can easily challenge a 1” impact. I’d imagine your impact is just fine and no weaker than any other given 1/2 impact.

The thing that does help air impact power is turning up the compressor and using larger lines and high flow couplers. You still aren’t going to match the big guns but you can really wake up a 1/2 gun.

I only have the recommended 3/8” hoses and 1/4” inlet fitting, but this is all on a really large compressor that runs our whole shop at 120+ psi.

 

[spike95]

Here’s a shot of it in hand to get an idea of how compact it is. It is very small for a “full sized” impact. Should definitely come in handy in some tight places.

 

[spike95]

Just wanted to give an update on my thoughts after using this impact for a few months of professional use. It has worked out really well for me when I’ve needed it, and I think it is definitely a good bang for the buck. It is strong enough that I can use it for changing big rig tires at times when the big 1” shop impact is ******* elsewhere. I had lamented its struggle to break some lugs loose before, but I think those had been massively overtorqued by someone going at them with the 1”. It hasn’t had any trouble breaking them loose since. My one complaint is that the switch to change settings is made of plastic and is a bit too easy to move/bump. I have accidentally switched from forward to reverse on several occasions. I wish I could change it, but still not a deal breaker for me. So as an overview...

Pros -
-strong
-lightweight
-comfortable
-relatively quiet
-compact for a full size 1/2 impact
-nice price (think I paid $195)

Con
-the setting switch is a little loose for my taste

 

[bpankratz]

I didn't really read everything here but I will say this. I bought a Nitrocat and it worked great, used it occasionally for about a year. One day I grabbed it and it wouldn't impact worth a darn. No power at all, it would spin though. I tossed it and haven't looked back. I now own 2 IR guns and wouldn't even consider an Aircat anything.

 

[spike95]

Just an update after having this thing for a while...
It is plenty strong for anything that I ought to be doing with a 1/2” impact. I do have a gripe with it though. The switch to go from forward to reverse is extremely easy to bump accidentally with your trigger finger, and it moves more easily than I’d like. You move your hand from one bolt to the next, or you’re working in a tight space where the switch bumps against something, and don’t realize that you’ve set the tool to forward and you’re tightening instead of loosening or vice versa. I’m used to it now, so I constantly check that it is still in the correct position, but I wish that I didn’t have to. That part of the gun just feels very cheap and loose to me. Also, the plastic trigger kinda feels cheap to me as well, but that is of far less concern. I kinda wish I would’ve bought one of their other models that has a rotating switch on the back where it would be harder to turn on accident. If this one weren’t so easy to turn, then it wouldn’t bother me, but it does. For the money I spent, I could’ve spent $30 more and had an ingersoll or $40 less and had a proven model like the 1150.