Chicago Pneumatic Classic

[Mustang88]

Hi I've recently got into automotive trade and looking to buy tools and chicago pneumatic has a classic line (made in japan) and i also have Ingersoll in mind. I would like to buy tools that are not made in taiwan or china.

Does anyone have experience with there line up of tools from die grinders,cut off grinders,ratchets and air drills?

I understand that the new line up of CP is made in taiwan just need to know if the classic models made in japan models are superior, as I am buying a few air tools this week.

Thanks for any help!!

 

[mikehaugen]

I can't answer your question directly, but will mention that most ingersoll tools are made in China or Taiwan. The high end impacts are "assembled in USA." Since you mentioned ingersoll.

If you want American, check out sioux (at least some of their stuff).

 

[woody 73]

Funny all of my cp tools are old and they look just like the "CLASIC" style bought in the very early 1990's and all made in Japan. Today they all look to be coming from China, not sure about where the Classic line is being made?

 

[Marlin]

I can't answer your question directly, but will mention that most ingersoll tools are made in China or Taiwan. The high end impacts are "assembled in USA." Since you mentioned ingersoll.

If you want American, check out sioux (at least some of their stuff).

The IR composite impacts that are labeled assembled in USA actually have a substantial amount of US made parts but is not "all or virtually all" as dictated by the FTC.

 

[Ruger_556]

CP's Taiwan line seems to be fine from what I have and have used

 

[Herod]

You cannot go wrong with Chicago Pneumatic or Ingersoll Rand. I own several cp and ir impacts, die grinders, and air ratchets. The IR "Edge" stuff isn't so great, but I have no complaints about the rest. The CP angle die grinder is just as smooth as when I bought it in 1999. The heads burn up in those and I've fried an Astro and Florida Pneumatic, already. Kept them oiled and greased up, too.

 

[bobcatdan]

I have a cp 715 zip gun air hammer. Do not know COO, but it is one hard hitting gun, very comparable to my big Mac air hammer. Also I have cp "classic" straight die grinder. I was little no excited about $130 for it, but compared to the $20 junk next to it, I bought it. For cut off wheels and carbide burrs I used it for, it got the guts to handle the task with ease. Both are good buys in my books.

 

[Herod]

Interesting that a thread about good tools.....Ingersoll Rand and Chicago Pneumatic......doesn't get many answers.

But you mention harbor fright, china craftsman, and let's bash Snap on.......then everyone has an opinion.

 

[Ruger_556]

I have their cut off tool and a snubby impact, both have some guts and seem well made

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Interesting that a thread about good tools.....Ingersoll Rand and Chicago Pneumatic......doesn't get many answers.

But you mention harbor fright, china craftsman, and let's bash Snap on.......then everyone has an opinion.

It's sad, but true.

I have a made in Japan CP 1/2" impact that I bought used about 6 years ago and it's been great. It's on the smaller side of the ratings at just 400 ft lbs, but it has always got the job done. I have a made in Japan CP air ratchet that has been great as well. I dont use it often, but when I do it never lets me down.

If I was going to be making my living with an impact, I'd buy an IR and not look back.

 

[Steevo]

My Chicago Pneumatic is a "real" classic.

I bought it new in teh late 1970's:

How is that for a COO?

Oh, and it still performs flawlessly.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Funny all of my cp tools are old and they look just like the "CLASIC" style ...

Same here. I bough mine in the late 70s or early 80s. No COO, but I am guessing USA !

I would love a CP723 (3/8" impact) to "round out" my collection.

 

[merbie]

My Chicago Pneumatic is a "real" classic.

I bought it new in teh late 1970's:

How is that for a COO?

Oh, and it still performs flawlessly.

Haha no way made in England! That's pretty cool my grandfathers fathers tools were always either made in England or made in Germany he had taste in my opinion, also not to high jack but I'm in need of a die grinder 90 deg are the cp ones good then? I can get them through my mac guy


Sent from the sticks

 

[Herod]

Haha no way made in England! That's pretty cool my grandfathers fathers tools were always either made in England or made in Germany he had taste in my opinion, also not to high jack but I'm in need of a die grinder 90 deg are the cp ones good then? I can get them through my mac guy


Sent from the sticks

That England one is cool. I am an air tool junky and I have never seen that before.

And yes, CP makes fine air tools. Look inside any old timer's box....you'll probably see Chicago Pneumatic. Older people know a thing or two. So I always pay attention.

Not to be confused with harbor fright **** brand "Central Pneumatic".

My mini 45º die grinder.....can't kill it. Smooth. Almost 15 years old, still no grinding bearing noise.

The little 1/2" impact fits good in my hand. 1/2 the width as any other gun. Claim to fame is tearing down engines for rebuild. Great impact. Used it for years. Only took it apart check the anvil for wear once. Anvil tip is worn a bit, but inside still good as new.

 

[rtole]

I have always used cp air tools, most were shop supplied. No stores in my area ever has them on the shelf. I did buy a 734 as my first 1/2 impact. It was flawless as far as it always worked. I ended up getting an ir with more power, so the 734 went to home use. Then my uncle borrowed it and never gave it back. Of all the air tool brands I have used cp is one I regard as one of the most reliable for average priced tools. Not often the most powerful...... But very reliable. They have a great air hammer. I just don't own any cp right now. I would recommend them to anyone however. In the tire industry their 1 inch impact is the longest lasting impact I have seen. I did buy a ton of cp for the truck tire shop I managed for 5 years. Just never bought much for my personal tools.

 

[theoldwizard1]

As far as I am concerned, the CP717 is the KING of air chisel/hammers ! The downside is that it takes .498 tools.

 

[Mustang88]

Japan cp tools include:
Cp861 cut off tool
Cp881 air saw
Cp785s shear
Cp835 nibbler,
Cp828, 828h, 825 , 825t, 826, 826t, 7830q, 7830hq ratchets
Cp 734h, 772h, 797-6, 7778-6, 893, 894, 796 , 5000 impacts
Cp860, 860es, 854, 857 grinders
Cp785, 789r26, 789r42, 785h, 789hr drills
Cp714, 717 air hammers
Cp858 belt sander

 

[Schurkey]

Interesting that a thread about good tools.....Ingersoll Rand and Chicago Pneumatic......doesn't get many answers.

But you mention harbor fright, china craftsman, and let's bash Snap on.......then everyone has an opinion.

Define "good tools".

The company I worked for between 1990 and 2003 used to supply plain ol' ordinary CP and IR die grinders. I bought my own, and I wasn't the only one. The CP and IR were total junk. Gutless wonders. Noisy as hell until you started "working" them, and then nothing but "hiss" because the motor stalled. Those tools were an excellent way to get nothing accomplished.

If they were giving away the ordinary CP or IR die grinders for free, I wouldn't walk across the street to claim one. If either company has a "real" die grinder--one that competes with my half-horse Mac or Snappy units--I don't know about it.

 

[stikman56]

Define "good tools".
The company I worked for between 1990 and 2003 used to supply plain ol' ordinary CP and IR die grinders. I bought my own, and I wasn't the only one. The CP and IR were total junk. Gutless wonders. Noisy as hell until you started "working" them, and then nothing but "hiss" because the motor stalled. Those tools were an excellent way to get nothing accomplished.

If they were giving away the ordinary CP or IR die grinders for free, I wouldn't walk across the street to claim one. If either company has a "real" die grinder--one that competes with my half-horse Mac or Snappy units--I don't know about it.

Yeah, and plenty of Snap-On air tools are garbage IMO too. Good tools work well, have power and last. That leaves out Snappy impacts. Poorly designed, heavy, loud, maybe they will stay working without issue, maybe not.Total hit and miss on those things. I can't count how many MG725's I've had through here that are mint on the outside and some almost new (made this year) already having issues. Same for the XT7100.
I don't own any CP stuff, BUT I'd spend my money on a CP impact and NEVER on a Snap-On one. Every manufacturer has good and bad air tools, Snap-On is NO EXCEPTION here.

 

[Herod]

Define "good tools".

The company I worked for between 1990 and 2003 used to supply plain ol' ordinary CP and IR die grinders. I bought my own, and I wasn't the only one. The CP and IR were total junk. Gutless wonders. Noisy as hell until you started "working" them, and then nothing but "hiss" because the motor stalled. Those tools were an excellent way to get nothing accomplished.

If they were giving away the ordinary CP or IR die grinders for free, I wouldn't walk across the street to claim one. If either company has a "real" die grinder--one that competes with my half-horse Mac or Snappy units--I don't know about it.

"Good tools"......anything NOT craftsman or harbor fright.

And what exactly do you think your mac and snap on tools ARE?........alot of mac and snap on is rebranded CP and INGERSOLL RAND.

Sounds like bitter grapes. A die grinder develops power through rpm and not torque, anyway. It's not a Milwaukee hole-hawg. You shouldn't base an opinion for a company off one tool used. Maybe your employer cheaped out. I see poor boy drilling outfits buying cheap china stuff now. Used to only see proto in the oilfields.

I bought a new mg725 for axle nuts........and I am a snap on guy. I hated it. Sold it to a transmission installer. I've mentioned it before.

The old "snappy" airguns you use....you'd be surprised who makes them. And it's not snap on.

 

[mikehaugen]

I think most of the snap-on air tools are made by sioux and dotco (or copco, I can't remember).

 

[stikman56]

I think most of the snap-on air tools are made by sioux and dotco (or copco, I can't remember).

Most are made by Sioux, Snap-On owns Siuox. Most mac impacts are Nitrocat, some are IR, some were Professional Tool Products (awqp120). Very few Snap-On guns I can think of were from IR, the Blue Point At123 is an IR 231, the Snap-On race gun is an IR Thunder Gun(232tgsl) and is a rare gun, I just had one of those. Only one I've ever had come my way. With the way their impacts work, they should have hired IR to make them IMO.

 

[Herod]

How bout snap on air ratchets? Push button one looks alot like IR 109xpa. Air hammers look like cp. Body saws look like ir......

I will tell you...I bought that mg725 fresh off the website. A little more than $400. I really did not like it. Goofy feeling. Top heavy. Awkward. It wasn't the "beast" everyone bragged about it being. My IR 2131 has every bit as much power as mg725. I was glad to be rid of it.

 

[DodgeMech]

I'll kill a man if he takes my mg31...but I can't stand the feel and noise of the 725...I'll take my loud, heavy(but balanced), metal 232c over it any day

 

[stikman56]

How bout snap on air ratchets? Push button one looks alot like IR 109xpa. Air hammers look like cp. Body saws look like ir......

I will tell you...I bought that mg725 fresh off the website. A little more than $400. I really did not like it. Goofy feeling. Top heavy. Awkward. It wasn't the "beast" everyone bragged about it being. My IR 2131 has every bit as much power as mg725. I was glad to be rid of it.

Yeah, the MG725 is a turd and your neighbors will wish for your death when you use it. I don't care for them at all, very problematic as well. Haven't looked at all their air ratchets, but many look to be their own. Most are very big and bulky, too big for my liking. You're right, their body saws look like an IR offering, their air hammers are their own from what I have seen, but many Matco's air hammers are Chicago Pneumatics and their impacts are IR and PTP. Many Matco air ratchets are IR's. Many Cornwell impacts are IR and PTP as well and some of their air super duty ratchets are Florida Pneumatic and they are the same as the Earthquake ratchets from HF like the CAT4000SD and CAT8000SD, those are just Earthquakes with blue sleeves. At least Snappy does make a lot of their own though.

 

[Kracin]

Japan cp tools include:
Cp861 cut off tool
Cp881 air saw
Cp785s shear
Cp835 nibbler,
Cp828, 828h, 825 , 825t, 826, 826t, 7830q, 7830hq ratchets
Cp 734h, 772h, 797-6, 7778-6, 893, 894, 796 , 5000 impacts
Cp860, 860es, 854, 857 grinders
Cp785, 789r26, 789r42, 785h, 789hr drills
Cp714, 717 air hammers
Cp858 belt sander

my 3/4 and 1/2 CP 734 and 772h are both made in japan. they perform real well, and i know they held up better to dirty air lines and abuse better than 3/4 aircats did at least.

 

[Schurkey]

Sounds like bitter grapes. A die grinder develops power through rpm and not torque, anyway. It's not a Milwaukee hole-hawg. You shouldn't base an opinion for a company off one tool used. Maybe your employer cheaped out.

If you could compare the dogshit CP and IR die grinders to the Mac or Snappy die grinders I have, you wouldn't think it's "bitter grapes". OF COURSE my employer cheaped-out. They bought junk that wouldn't do the job...over, and over, and over; even after the other employees complained that I could get things done, and they couldn't because their company-provided die grinders did nothing but stall.

Does that mean that CP and IR make nothing but junk tools? Where did I say that?

 

[Herod]

If you could compare the dogshit CP and IR die grinders to the Mac or Snappy die grinders I have, you wouldn't think it's "bitter grapes". OF COURSE my employer cheaped-out. They bought junk that wouldn't do the job...over, and over, and over; even after the other employees complained that I could get things done, and they couldn't because their company-provided die grinders did nothing but stall.

Does that mean that CP and IR make nothing but junk tools? Where did I say that?

You mad much, bro ?

Check your blood sugar. Have a snack.

What you say is boo-boo. I own ir and cp and florida pneumatic die grinders. You need to get your thing up to rpm for it to work. I've never stalled mine. Unless I shoved down on it hard and hung off it like a chimpanze.

 

[Chuck122]

i got an 860 die grinder and it is outstanding