EarthQuake vs. Aircat

[WolfDude]

Hey guys,

So I'm currently a diesel mechanic student at my community college and I've been building my tool collection, that being said I'm debating on which air impact I want to buy.

TL;DR
Which air impact should I buy
-Central Pneumatic EarthQuake (the red one)
-Aircat 1431

I'm buying my tools with my financial aid so I can't afford anything besides those. Thanks for the advice

 

[RedneckWelder]

I am a heavy equipment mechanic.

Most of our guys including me use Aircat 1200Ks and there are plenty of Aircat 3/4 and 1” guns in service too. Solid brand. I don’t know about that model though. Looks like an Ingersoll 231 clone. Those were good guns in the day but heavier and a little less power than newer tech composite guns.

I don’t buy HF air tools because every one I have had has laid down on me when I needed it but the Earthquakes get good reviews here

 

[Professional Tool User]

At least 2 people I know of love air cats and a lot of people on this forum like the Earthquake guns. I've got a 3/8 air cat stubby and it is currently behaving weird. Probably because I have dropped it a number of times. It is light and it definitely has got the power. I cannot comment on your model. For the Earthquake guns, be aware that they are heavy because of the all metal construction. If the packaging for both of them say made in Taiwan on them, they may be from the same supplier.

If supplying a gun is not mandatory for school, this can wait. You don't want to end up choosing something that is not compact enough. I was considering an Aircat 1250K until I realized that it was on the longer side of things. Ended up getting a rebuilt MG725 from my Snap on guy.

 

[Zewnten]

Save up some more, in school the impact isn't important, and buy an upper end aircat. Solid guns not overly heavy and can be rebuilt, the HF are good for what they are but you have to buy the warranty and plan on swapping it out before the warranty ends

 

[Ryan_340]

At work I have a 1/2 drive Air Cat 1000 TH & my 3/8 gun is the red Earthquake. I have had no issues with either and used daily for 3+ years now.

 

[Boneyard51]

I like my 1/2 inch AirCat. Cost me $100 after my $300 Mac quit, I think it has more power!





Bones

 

[kbeefy]

I have a couple aircats that do OK. Good value for the money.

I agree with a couple previous comments... save your money until you feel it is really holding you back then buy a quality gun you can depend on for a decade.

3/8 guns and cordless are so strong now days that we use them almost exclusively, outside of suspension and wheels. Light duty, up to 1 ton. For medium or heavy 3/4+ would be mandatory.

 

[Skin]

I don't think any of the posters so far actually looked at the Aircat model you mentioned. I'd get the HF over it no questions asked. In fact i'd probably try any number of the gibberish brands before i'd touch that old Aircat like

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SY8MCX8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Both HF and Aircat impacts are made by Florida pneumatic for what that's worth.

 

[outlawz2004]

I just bought an aircat 1150. I was impressed by its power over the previous brands that I own. I disassembled a chevy Silverado last weekend, and the Aircat busted bolts loose that my other two wouldn't budge.

 

[woody 73]

I know the op is asking about which of the two brands to buy, I get it but dang I hate when people give a state and no more information...Cali is a big place so just looking at Los Angeles for example just one of many examples came up on CL.

For example this one came up which is a very nice gun.

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/tls/d/toluca-lake-chicago-air-impasct-air-gun/7032531258.html

OP you ever thought about keeping an eye open on your local CL ?