Harborfreight, "Twin Hammer Composite Impact Wrench"

[Kirbot]

I was just wondering if anybody has any experience with this impact gun?
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-half-inch-twin-hammer-composite-impact-wrench-95098.html

I'm looking for one on a tight budget, and this costs less than half as the "Earthquake" guns, and a fraction of the cost of most name brand guns.

400 ft. lbs seems pretty good, has anybody actually used it though?
If so, what do you think of it?

 

[pipsters]

You can walk out with a 1/2" earthquake for $71.99 until March 31st w/ the 20% off coupon.

Spend the extra $40 and get a gun that will do pretty much anything you need it to on a car.

The Earthquake took the 30mm crank pulley off my car (Volvo inline 5) in under 3 secs.

 

[Danglerb]

Two reviews on the HF site, one says its weak, one seems ok with it. I would go with the Earthquake.

Bought for changing out to 4 snow tires and rims. Reverse would not break free any of the existing lug bolts. Forward on low setting delivered around 90 lb-ft and then I hand-torqued to 96 as recommended. Had to break bolts free prior to that by hand. I bought the tool to avoid that!

(Posted on 1/15/11)
Worth every penny! Review by 1/2" Twin Hammer Composite Impact Wrench


Bought this along with some impact sockets, to do some front end work on my car. Couldn't have done the work without it and cost too much for someone else to do the work, even when considering the cost of this tool. Works very well, no issues, other than having to let my little HF 3 gallon air compressor build pressure back up. Absolutely worth the money. Looking forward to getting more air tools from HF. For the home mechanic, these are perfect tools.

 

[chewy7]

If it were me, id get the earthquake model based on the more plentiful reviews. Even though i never used ether one unless you want this cheaper one for looks lol.

 

[budk]

Ditto on the Earthquake. You can always use more torque, might as well get as much as you can afford.

I bought one 2 weeks ago. Works great.

 

[LEVE]

The tool you reference isn't bad. I just used one yesterday to remove studded tires and reinstall the non-studded tires. I've had it going on 2 years with only one problem, the little ring that keeps the socket on.

 

[Kirbot]

The earthquake one would be nice, but I won't be able to get it in time for the sale price.
One nice thing about this one over the earthquake, is that it's about 3 pounds lighter.
I guess I'll just take a look at them side by side in the store and decide then.


I've been wanting to find a good used impact at a flea market or auction like I buy most all of my tools. But in the two months or so that I've been looking, I haven't seen a single decent looking one.

 

[tonydanzah]

The earthquake one would be nice, but I won't be able to get it in time for the sale price.
One nice thing about this one over the earthquake, is that it's about 3 pounds lighter.
I guess I'll just take a look at them side by side in the store and decide then.


I've been wanting to find a good used impact at a flea market or auction like I buy most all of my tools. But in the two months or so that I've been looking, I haven't seen a single decent looking one.

seriously 3lbs would push you to a considerably weaker gun

 

[Kirbot]

Composite Wrench, shipping weight, 4.80 lbs, Max Torque: 400 ft. lbs.

Earthquake wrench, shipping weight 7.00lbs, Maximum torque: 625 ft. lbs


So It's not quite 3 pounds actually, it's 2.2 lbs now that I look closer.


It is considerably weaker, but 400 ft lbs isn't all that bad either.

 

[xdeeman]

I know I am reviving an old thread but thought it would be better than a new thread.

I have a front sprocket nut on an ATV that seems to be welded on, lol. I've done lots of research and this nut is very well known to be stubborn. The threads are standard (not reversed/ left handed).

I purchased a HF basic 1/2" impact with a max Ft. Pounds of 550lbs. The nut didn't budge. I went back to HF to get the 1/2" Professional Earth Quake impact with 500lbs ft/lbs torque. It gets great reviews and thought this would be it.

Well, this impact only has ONE reverse speed and 3 fwd speeds - wth??
The nut still won't budge. I can't help but think the one and only reverse setting is not a very high torque - can anyone confirm this???

I can't heat the nut since it has rubber o-rings sealing the shaft and there is a sensor near the shaft. I have applied PB Blaster for a week and nothing.

I wonder if I need a more powerful impact wrench with equally impressive REVERSE specs.

Anyone have this impact wrench who can comment?

Thanks!

 

[lightning02]

could be your air supply and not the tool itself. something to look into.

 

[SMKS]

I know I am reviving an old thread but thought it would be better than a new thread.

I have a front sprocket nut on an ATV that seems to be welded on, lol. I've done lots of research and this nut is very well known to be stubborn. The threads are standard (not reversed/ left handed).

I purchased a HF basic 1/2" impact with a max Ft. Pounds of 550lbs. The nut didn't budge. I went back to HF to get the 1/2" Professional Earth Quake impact with 500lbs ft/lbs torque. It gets great reviews and thought this would be it.

Well, this impact only has ONE reverse speed and 3 fwd speeds - wth??
The nut still won't budge. I can't help but think the one and only reverse setting is not a very high torque - can anyone confirm this???

I can't heat the nut since it has rubber o-rings sealing the shaft and there is a sensor near the shaft. I have applied PB Blaster for a week and nothing.

I wonder if I need a more powerful impact wrench with equally impressive REVERSE specs.

Anyone have this impact wrench who can comment?

Thanks!

A single reverse speed is common. Impacts like this only offer full-on max power in reverse because there's not much reason to need reduced removal power.

At this point it's clear you need to look at the rest of your system, the hoses and connections. What size compressor are you using.

 

[xdeeman]

Thank you guys for the response. I have a 4hp 11 gallon compressor.

The manual for the impact wrench indicate 90psi max. Is it a big no-no to bump it to 100 or 110 to make sure I am truly getting 90psi to the wrench?

Thanks again fellas!

 

[lightning02]

Thank you guys for the response. I have a 4hp 11 gallon compressor.

The manual for the impact wrench indicate 90psi max. Is it a big no-no to bump it to 100 or 110 to make sure I am truly getting 90psi to the wrench?

Thanks again fellas!

turn that ***** up all the way it can go. get some high flow fitting and let it eat. i have the same impact and it sees 160psi at the gun.

if your using 1/4in hose thats a problem as well.

 

[cheechi]

Regarding the original topic of this thread, I have one of them, as well as the second gen (the current being third gen) Earthquake and can compare them directly.

The earthquake is much better, much more of what a pro could get and use daily. The 'lesser' one is still good and may very well live up to its specs. It is smaller and much lighter and if you don't need as much power it could do a lot of things very well. By today's standards, only looking at the current earthquakes, the composite impact is outclassed even by the 3/8 guns. But it didn't cost as much new and I think it was good value for the money before I got the earthquake ones.

 

[Skin]

Thank you guys for the response. I have a 4hp 11 gallon compressor.

The manual for the impact wrench indicate 90psi max. Is it a big no-no to bump it to 100 or 110 to make sure I am truly getting 90psi to the wrench?

Thanks again fellas!

Biggest issue with most "impact is worthless/weak/has no power" complaints is the users ignorance of pneumatic tools. At least a third are probably trying to run it on some tiny piece of junk, the other 2/3 don't understand that 90PSI is working pressure, which means pressure with the trigger pressed. To achieve that you need 130-150 or more static pressure depending on whats between your impact and compressor. You also basically cant use 1/4" hose that comes with most small homeowner compressors because the pressure drop is enormous comparative to 3/8" hose.