Best impact wrenches for the money?

[dulmer]

Looking to purchase a 1/2 inch gun and a 3/8 air ratchet...any suggestions?

Thanks,
Denny

 

[TAMPAGT07]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..............Not another best impact wrench thread.............(Sorry, I just had to get that out of my system...)

 

[countryroad82]

Can't go wrong with anything from Ingersol imo. But I have an old Chicago Pneumatic 746 (I might be off could be a 749, it's a 74... something lol) that hasn't failed me in years. My Snap On MG325 is the berries for a 3/8 but kinda spendy if you don't use it all the time.

 

[billymade]

Heavy IR 231C, light IR 2130; 3/8" air ratchet, snapon FAR7200 , FAR72C really shines as a heavy duty and quick air tool!

 

[aaron h]

ive been looking at the aircats but it seems like they fall apart after a year of use. comparing specs from aircat and IR I wanna lean aircat but reliability and proven dependability of IR is hard to argue

 

[dulmer]

thanks for the help

Denny

 

[kunkernator]

I just purchased an Aircats 1150. After using it a little bit, it is very durable, powerful, and is not an air hog. I am loving it, only cost $160, assembled in USA, and has a 2 year warranty.

 

[dsmnickk90]

For the money aircat

 

[ianguilly]

Harbor freight earthquake impact.

 

[jacked_72]

I've picked up two used Cornwell guns that are rebranded Ingersoll Rand in the past six months from pawn shops. They are great and it is not obvious that they are a "Truck Brand" because they have a logo of a little guy and a "C" and the pawn shops don't seem to know what that means. They have so much more power than anything I've used before, including my 1/2" CP and my 3/4" HF gun. The model number is IR-C232A. I'm very happy with them.

 

[Trey T]

I like my HF earthquake. I'm a hobbyist and owned it for over 5yrs now. It's my to-go impact wrench for popping the tough Honda crank-bolt.

Let me take that back, it's my only to-go 1/2" air impact wrench bc my old Snap-On crapped out on me, maybe due to too much moisture in the air line. I believe it's important to have a clean air line or else any "BEST" impact will just **** out.

 

[pipsters]

HF 1/2" Earthquake. If you have HF locally don't knock it, go pick one up, compare it to other higher priced guns. Yes it is a little heavier than the newer plastic type guns such as the 2135 but the power is there and it's 1/3 the cost. Really an excellent impact.

 

[morregerbert]

for the money HF or aircat

 

[jjjrmx5]

for the money HF or aircat

Yep. I agree.

For "big boy professional use" tools the Snap-On MG725 and MG325.

 

[dulmer]

Thanks guys! HF ratchets any good?

 

[dogmir]

+1 on the hf earthquake

 

[Thunderbisciut]

Chicago Pneumatic CP 7748. I bought it at the same time as an IR 2135QTIMAX, I returned the IR. It's much cheaper, more powerful, to me it feels nicer, and it matches all my other CP tools.

For a 3/8 ratchet, Chicago Pneumatic CP 7830Q. Powerful, comfortable, quiet, what else do you need? I have the 1/4" version, and it's awesome. If you don't want to deal with a ratchet that puts out 90 ft/lbs, then a CP828. That's what I use for a 3/8 and it's great.

 

[sberry]

I will use then both but I am a CP fan here too. The sales flyer from my auto parts isnt all that bad for off the shelf. I am sure you can get a premium air ratchet even if you got to mail order around a hundred bucks, seems the last gun I got was around 200 for their top of the line but thats been 15 yrs ago and it still works flawless., Not all fussy about care and feeding and its got a fair amount of use.

I will go for the "feel" of it also, its got a smooth 4 speed. Its like its got a little bit of torque vs all out rpm. I

 

[sberry]

I wore out a 3/8 CP ratchet so I got IR, its ok, wasn't the same tool, for the same price I give the edge to the CP which still works, just retired it to a service truck, same with the 1/2 gun. I have a 1/2 CP ratchet that is good too, I think the 1/4 is great and I picked one of the cheaper ones at 70 or so as I recall.

This is an area worth a bit of investigation, over my career used a couple and would look for the name brand near the top of the line model, buy new, wear out. retire it before it breaks and buy a new one. To me its not worth fixing a ratchet if it has been worked hard, put 3/4 of the money into an old one for another 25$ buy a new one.

Replace a time or 2 over a career bought right is no deal breaker. Its a wear item like a truck.

 

[sberry]

I have a 7 inch sander, first one in my career I ran hard, paid 60 for a clone of a 400$ unit. 10 years, the second one (70$,,, maybe 80) another 10 before I spot fixed it with a bearing I had and its ran 10 more now,,, a bit less use that first one but still works. Dont give it a second thought.

 

[pipsters]

Thanks guys! HF ratchets any good?

The 3/8" earthquake ratchet is an impacting ratchet. Not your traditional air ratchet. I haven't used it. I do have the 1/4" when they were still selling them, personally I really dig it. Great for hard to reach areas. I do not use a 3/8" air ratchet at all.

 

[sberry]

I have a 7 inch sander, first one in my career I ran hard, paid 60 for a clone of a 400$ unit. 10 years, the second one (70$,,, maybe 80) another 10 before I spot fixed it with a bearing I had and its ran 10 more now,,, a bit less use that first one but still works. Dont give it a second thought.

 

[sberry]

Yes, its like the 749 , I believe it looks like that Snappy that is the rave? At the end of the day you can only get so much out of the wall. There is a near limit. The CP is twice the money which isnt bad of a good 150$ gun that is about 2% less, so what if it only lasts half as long?

I like the CP, the only drawback is no regulation in reverse, its not a deal breaker.I dont care for the thunder thing, I want slow and smooth, be able to feather on the trigger, the 4 speed is easy.

I like bright light for installing wheels, ideal is a stipe on the socket to gage rotation. Lightly oiled nut spun on to snug slowly (not like bat out of hell) and then tightened in a couple quick passes with gun on right setting with correct pressure by experienced hand.

 

[MG44]

i have been using a campbell hausfeld air ratchet that came with a compressor i bought over 15 years ago. Its actually a nice air ratchet, about 40ft-lbs or so of torque it tightens things down to. Enough to where I won't snap any bolts, and I can finish off by hand.

I have the new Cornwell 1/2" impact and a Harbor Freight Earthquake (old style). The earthquake is my everyday impact wrench, it does 95% of what I need to remove. If it won't take it off I use the Cornwell (PTP makes it). The cornwell trigger could probably easily be broken if you slide the impact under a car etc... to reach the other side which is the reason its my gun in the box for tight bolts. The earthquake is durable as hell for $80. I believe I paid around $275 or so for the ******** one.

 

[sberry]

I got a couple battery impacts, they have their place but they aint for everybody and every task. I really like my trusty air gun for tire and wheel work.

 

[MG44]

As far as I am concerned the Cornwell 3/8 impact wrench is the strongest 3/8 out there. I have techs with the SnapOn one, and every one of them mention how much power my Cornwell one has.

 

[Danglerb]

HF 3/8 impacting air ratchet is really nice, power with no kick back.

 

[Puckett_k]

I've never used one of the HF impacts but as far as IR and Snap-On... Don't even consider the Snap-On! IR guns are less expensive, have more power and last longer. I also like the two push buttons for your directional control with the IR over Snap-Ons sliding spool.

 

[braol]

For a 3/8 air ratchet I would go with the Mac AR778, plenty of power and low profile head. Probly 1/2" smaller than my SO FAR72B

 

[greasemonkey44]

i like my HF 3/8 air ratchet
it has pretty good strength to it; and if it gets stuck it doesnt smash your hand

as far as a 1/2 " gun; i used to recommend the klutch super short
but i replaced my old one with a new one and its having issues

 

[belvedere]

I've had my CP 1/2" impact and 3/8" ratchet since about '95 or '96 and have been happy with them.

 

[Jawn]

For something on the cheaper/smaller end of a 1/2" impact, take a look at the "Klutch" compact impact from Northern... catch it on sale for $69.99. Tiny little ******, shorter than many 3/8" impacts but is rated 400ft-lbs.

 

[hamilton1]

depends on how often you use them.