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Best reasonably priced impact wrench?

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Greg85mcss

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I picked up an ir2131 a few years back when it was still a current model on ebay for $75 & it's still going strong. Another option is the napa 1123 like this https://www.ebay.com/itm/182198159448
I've used a few earthquakes & they have plenty of power but are hard to use at part throttle like running off lug nuts.


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Redwolf947

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Harbor Freight Earthquake!! I have a smaller compressor than you and it works Great. I've used it mainly for lug nuts on my 2003 f250 and 2012 stang. Think I got it for $89 thru Amazon of all places..
 
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gdocktor3

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anndel said:
If I had only $100 to spend I'd get the HF Earthquake.
Click to expand...

I'd buy the Aircat 1055-TH. It's compact design will fit anywhere, lightweight and it makes 617 ft lbs working torque. The HF torque range is 50-500 ft lbs with 700 ft lbs max. Which means the Aircat is more powerful since the 700 ft lbs is only achieved for a second or two. The Aircat will put out over 600 consistently and can be had for under $110.

Here's a thread I made on compact impacts. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=323116
 
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bcradio

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gdocktor3 said:
I'd buy the Aircat 1055-TH. It's compact design will fit anywhere, lightweight and it makes 617 ft lbs working torque. The HF torque range is 50-500 ft lbs with 700 ft lbs max. Which means the Aircat is more powerful since the 700 ft lbs is only achieved for a second or two. The Aircat will put out over 600 consistently and can be had for under $110.

Here's a thread I made on compact impacts. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=323116
Click to expand...

And I'd buy the HF Earthquakes.

I have the 3/8" and 1/2" Earthquakes as well as the IR 2235 and 2115 impacts. After using them all a good bit, The HF guns are pretty darn close to the IR guns with respect to performance. The IR impacts are certainly a lot lighter and slightly better feathering on the trigger, but other than that they perform very close to the HF impacts.
 
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bubinga

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Greg85mcss said:
I picked up an ir2131 a few years back when it was still a current model on ebay for $75 & it's still going strong. Another option is the napa 1123 like this https://www.ebay.com/itm/182198159448
I've used a few earthquakes & they have plenty of power but are hard to use at part throttle like running off lug nuts.


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Click to expand...
The earthquake s you are referring to,are they the 1st. Generation, or the 2nd.
I never noticed that issue so much,but I generally zip the nut loose, back off,and hit it again,and let it spin down.
Seems to work OK for me.

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bubinga

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bcradio said:
And I'd buy the HF Earthquakes.

I have the 3/8" and 1/2" Earthquakes as well as the IR 2235 and 2115 impacts. After using them all a good bit, The HF guns are pretty darn close to the IR guns with respect to performance. The IR impacts are certainly a lot lighter and slightly better feathering on the trigger, but other than that they perform very close to the HF impacts.
Click to expand...
First or 2nd.generation?

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JohnnyK8

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My brother has a compressor similar to yours and went from a Bostitch (or whatever it came with) to a swap meet find Snap-on compact impact and the difference was very noticeable.

He couldn't get lug nuts loose with the old one but the snappy does the trick.

But if you can't find a good used I etc... Get the that Earthquake, a 3/8" hose and move along.

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Greg85mcss

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bubinga said:
The earthquake s you are referring to,are they the 1st. Generation, or the 2nd.
I never noticed that issue so much,but I generally zip the nut loose, back off,and hit it again,and let it spin down.
Seems to work OK for me.

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Click to expand...



One of each. 2nd is definitely better but I still had to chase a nut across the shop. You probably acquire a feel for it after a while though.
 
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chansta

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aircat 1150. if you're going to spend 100 bucks on a tool you might as well spend a little bit more and get quality.

this thing puts my snap on mg725 to shame.
 
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bubinga

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I do have a 2nd hand IR 231 clone here, I may try it out, and send that to him.
If it don't seem too, powerful,l may go with the HF earthquake maybe around $80.00 with coupon.
My money is pretty tight, and not getting any side work these days.

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bubinga

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chansta said:
aircat 1150. if you're going to spend 100 bucks on a tool you might as well spend a little bit more and get quality.

this thing puts my snap on mg725 to shame.
Click to expand...
Think I mentioned, l have a 3/8" air cat, not sure of the model number,but it kicks ***!
It will snap 3/8 muffler clamps if you hammer on them too much.

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Jim Diesel

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Brisbane, Australia
I agree with the comments above, spend that little bit more and buy a quality gun. It will be cheaper in the long run. Plus it will generally have more working torque, therefore ultimately more useful.

I personally run IR 3/8, 1/2 and 3/4 inch. I know they cost a lot more then the cheaper brands, but I stand by there quality and power output. Been using IR exclusively and the brand has never let me down.
 
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FergusonTO35

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Tractor supply has a very nice USA made Ingersoll for $169.95 right now. Don't remember the model number but it has a blue plastic housing and seems to be the current version of the 2131. For home use, it might be better to worry more about your compressor than your air gun. To get the most out of any 1/2" gun you need shop air, meaning something like a 230 volt 60 or 80 gallon compressor. None of them are going to be very powerful with a 110 volt 10-20 gallon compressor. I have a 40+ year old Sanborn 110 volt oil lube single stage with about a 20 gallon tank. With my Matco MT1758A (same as IR 232) I can do lug nuts and suspension bolts that aren't too terribly seized and that's about it. Back when I was at the dealership that gun was always one of the strongest in the whole shop.
 
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CobraRed

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FergusonTO35 said:
Tractor supply has a very nice USA made Ingersoll for $169.95 right now. Don't remember the model number but it has a blue plastic housing and seems to be the current version of the 2131. For home use, it might be better to worry more about your compressor than your air gun. To get the most out of any 1/2" gun you need shop air, meaning something like a 230 volt 60 or 80 gallon compressor. None of them are going to be very powerful with a 110 volt 10-20 gallon compressor. I have a 40+ year old Sanborn 110 volt oil lube single stage with about a 20 gallon tank. With my Matco MT1758A (same as IR 232) I can do lug nuts and suspension bolts that aren't too terribly seized and that's about it. Back when I was at the dealership that gun was always one of the strongest in the whole shop.
Click to expand...

*Assembled in the USA

IR hasn't made an impact in the USA in a long long time.
 
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WhiffySpark

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I brought the 1055 th 3/8 version. It'll be gone In a couple days. The trigger is a joke
 
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stikman56

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There's so many good strong, good quality 1/2" impacts that can be had for that price, it would be hard for me to choose.
 
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magicrat

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aircat from tooltopia....109 closeout.....best deal around.....i dont even need an extra but ive thought about it just because of the price
 
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bcradio

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FergusonTO35 said:
Tractor supply has a very nice USA made Ingersoll for $169.95 right now. Don't remember the model number but it has a blue plastic housing and seems to be the current version of the 2131. For home use, it might be better to worry more about your compressor than your air gun. To get the most out of any 1/2" gun you need shop air, meaning something like a 230 volt 60 or 80 gallon compressor. None of them are going to be very powerful with a 110 volt 10-20 gallon compressor. I have a 40+ year old Sanborn 110 volt oil lube single stage with about a 20 gallon tank. With my Matco MT1758A (same as IR 232) I can do lug nuts and suspension bolts that aren't too terribly seized and that's about it. Back when I was at the dealership that gun was always one of the strongest in the whole shop.
Click to expand...

Home compressors are perfectly fine for use with impacts. You will want to make sure you have good quality fittings and good sized hoses.

The gun is very important in a home setup.
 
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gdocktor3

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WhiffySpark said:
Yeah 1075 sorry. There's no feather it whatsoever. I'll be ordering the baby IR
Click to expand...

I never noticed that, but after reading some reviews on other models, they also say it's on or off with little trigger feather. I have the 3/4" 1600-th and only use it full on in reverse anyways. Maybe that's why they have the power selector at the trigger instead. Are you looking to sell the 1075?
 
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WhiffySpark

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gdocktor3 said:
Well other then the trigger, how did it perform?
Click to expand...

It did lug nuts fine. Did my 5.0 crank bolt. Caliper bracket bolts. It isn't bad power wise. But **** gets slung everywhere. Especially if you're using impact swivel sockets like I do for brake jobs lol.

It seems to be a common aircat complaint. We couldn't order the IR until the day after I ordered the aircat :lol:
 
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