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I need a new 1/2" Gun...

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grec-o-face

Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2011
Messages
7
Location
South Shore, MA
Alright guys/gals,

I'm looking to replace a VERY old (non-name brand) impact gun. It's gotta be 1/2". I have a pretty sweet 3/8ths gun already.
I am restricted by budget - like most. I need something I can rely on for weekend wrenching... not an everyday tool.

What are some options?
Thanks :thumbup:
 
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D

diesel research

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 12, 2010
Messages
5,440
Location
gulf coast, TEXAS
Same discussion different week.

I will say IR.
Next guy says snapon MG725.
Next guy says new earthquake from HF just as good.
Next guy says he had old earthquake for 6 years and suggests you buy that, but he didnt know they are out of production.
Next guy says nitrocat/aircat.
Next guy says klutch.
Then a few mention tooltruck rebrands.
Then a few mentions from home improvement/autoparts store house brands.

Then a quarrel about I had to use[low priced] ___ because a coworkers/or my high priced ___ has no balls. (the low priced one always seems to come out supreme in these stories)
 
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purplezr2

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 1, 2010
Messages
5,292
Location
Central MN
I have had my IR 2135TI for Ten years, still hammers like a champ, to me that is 20 dollars a year for it, if it last another 10 years its even cheaper.
 
W

woody 73

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 14, 2009
Messages
11,542
Location
The Great State Up North
diesel research said:
Same discussion different week.

I will say IR.
Next guy says snapon MG725.
Next guy says new earthquake from HF just as good.
Next guy says he had old earthquake for 6 years and suggests you buy that, but he didnt know they are out of production.
Next guy says nitrocat/aircat.
Next guy says klutch.
Then a few mention tooltruck rebrands.
Then a few mentions from home improvement/autoparts store house brands.

Then a quarrel about I had to use[low priced] ___ because a coworkers/or my high priced ___ has no balls. (the low priced one always seems to come out supreme in these stories)
Click to expand...



Wow I like that reply:thumbup:

See if this approach will work for you, I try and find a good tool shop/store that can give me good service when the need arises; for the last 20 or so years I have bought CP air tools (what the shop sold) and when they need to be repaired I have the best service with no questions asked from that store.
 
T

tbobbo

Banned
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May 19, 2011
Messages
248
Location
Bismarck, ND
In a hobby type use I would vote aircat. Cheaper and powerfull. If money is no object ir 2135. It also depends on how much powef you need.
 
C

crewchief888

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
13,744
Location
NW indiana
Paco Pena said:
Best bang for the buck is an IR 231C.

Paco
Click to expand...

i agree :thumbup:

probably all the gun a DIY'er will need, ive been using them (professionally)on const eq for 20 years.

i just bought one from summit racing last month. ordered on sat night, shipped monday, arrived tuesday.
$138.** to the door.

:beer:
 
OP
G

grec-o-face

Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2011
Messages
7
Location
South Shore, MA
I guess I should've known better ---

But I do like to hear peoples opinions on tools. Maybe I'll check out the HF guns. Can't be too expensive if it's coming from them, right..
 
J

Jwrightkustomz

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 18, 2011
Messages
94
Location
Salt Lake City, Utah
diesel research said:
Same discussion different week.

I will say IR.
Next guy says snapon MG725.
Next guy says new earthquake from HF just as good.
Next guy says he had old earthquake for 6 years and suggests you buy that, but he didnt know they are out of production.
Next guy says nitrocat/aircat.
Next guy says klutch.
Then a few mention tooltruck rebrands.
Then a few mentions from home improvement/autoparts store house brands.

Then a quarrel about I had to use[low priced] ___ because a coworkers/or my high priced ___ has no balls. (the low priced one always seems to come out supreme in these stories)
Click to expand...

AGREED

:lol_hitti:deadhorse:+1:
 
G

greasemonkey44

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 30, 2011
Messages
1,625
Location
memphis
diesel research said:
Same discussion different week.

I will say IR.
Next guy says snapon MG725.
Next guy says new earthquake from HF just as good.
Next guy says he had old earthquake for 6 years and suggests you buy that, but he didnt know they are out of production.
Next guy says nitrocat/aircat.
Next guy says klutch.
Then a few mention tooltruck rebrands.
Then a few mentions from home improvement/autoparts store house brands.

Then a quarrel about I had to use[low priced] ___ because a coworkers/or my high priced ___ has no balls. (the low priced one always seems to come out supreme in these stories)
Click to expand...

lol; im the klutch guy
although i have an ir 231 as well, but its lent to a friend
 
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G

GoBlue

Well-known member
Joined
May 10, 2011
Messages
1,070
Location
Under a car...swearing
If money is an issue get the Earthquake. It hangs with the most powerfull guns on the market and thats from first hand experience. If you can swing a little more get the Snap on. While the Earthquake is just as powerfull, its heavy and hard on the wrists when used a lot.
 
Y

Yojinbo

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 14, 2010
Messages
628
Location
Oklahoma
IR 231C is good advice. I actually thought mine was broken yesterday - it was a complete shock because I don't expect that tool to break (air supply was shut off).
 
J

JWink

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 16, 2009
Messages
96
What Monte said. When I bought my first impact I new i needed something decent but I was almost broke. I picked on of those up and I love the thing. Every now and then I have needed something with a little more "balls" but usually only on something rusted to all get out and tight as a MF'er. Never on lug nuts or anything like that.
 
T

trboxman

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Joined
Dec 21, 2011
Messages
679
Location
North Bend, WA
GoBlue said:
If money is an issue get the Earthquake. It hangs with the most powerfull guns on the market and thats from first hand experience. If you can swing a little more get the Snap on. While the Earthquake is just as powerfull, its heavy and hard on the wrists when used a lot.
Click to expand...

This.

It's not just an upfront money thing with me. I'm a hobbyist, I don't make a living with my tools...while I'd love to have top of the line IRs and SnapOns it just doesn't make sense to purchase a professional tool with a 100% duty cycle for occasional use.
 
P

pipsters

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USA
K

kapster

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Joined
Dec 14, 2011
Messages
517
Location
Wooster, Ohio
I'm saying its pretty easy for a new gun to beat used guns. They do lose steam after some use, just saying.

I bought the new HF earthquake and took it back.Wasn't putting out the power it should have been but was decent. Theres lots of comments on hf website that people take them back and eventually get a powerful one. One guy said he took it apart and it was something with the regulator. I didn't care for the reverse lever either.

Now have the nitrocat 1100k. Havent used it much but love it so far. Very powerful, much more then earthquake. VERY quiet and lightweight. I like that it has oilbath for the clutch. Reversing isn't as nice as 2135 but it works one handed unlike earthquake.

Check out the nitrocat vs mg725 and 2135qtimax on youtube. Very interesting.
 
F

fm2176

Well-known member
Joined
May 30, 2011
Messages
456
Location
Down South
Yojinbo said:
IR 231C is good advice. I actually thought mine was broken yesterday - it was a complete shock because I don't expect that tool to break (air supply was shut off).
Click to expand...

I'm jumping on the IR bandwagon. I bought my IR231 when I was eighteen and worked for Great Dane Trailers. It was used constantly for the next five or so years until I joined the Army, including taking some heavy-duty use as a forklift mechanic. I'm 33 now and just used it over the weekend to rotate my tires. It hasn't seen professional use in the past ten years, but it doesn't lie idle either.

One thing I like about it is the grease zerk on the back of the gun. I just located the tip to my impact grease gun last year and greased it for the first time in years. That tightened it up greatly, and my neighbor plans to buy a similar one before long (he's tired of borrowing mine to do more than light duty stuff as he only has the cheap CH-style).
 
P

pipsters

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Joined
Sep 1, 2010
Messages
4,899
Location
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kapster said:
I'm saying its pretty easy for a new gun to beat used guns. They do lose steam after some use, just saying.
Click to expand...

Sure but all my guns were brand new. The 2135qtimax came from The Tool Warehouse, 2135timax from Sears, Nitrocat 1100k from Tooltopia, and the Earthquake from you guessed it, HF.

***** about your Earthquake something must have been messed up. For $100 difference I would've exchanged it first before spending another $100 on an Aircat but that is just me!

Don't get me wrong the 1100k had *almost* as much power but for the $100 difference, and my prior experience with the older Earthquake (which was very reliable) I went with the HF one. Honestly when operating correctly both guns are really good. The 1100k was nicer to hold and use as well, being a lot lighter. I would've kept it over the HF Earthquake had they been closer in price.
 
G

GoBlue

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Joined
May 10, 2011
Messages
1,070
Location
Under a car...swearing
My findings mirror pipsters 100% I have had one of the new Earthquakes in service profesionaly since their debut. It has been flawless (except when i over greased it...wich was an easy fix). Ill keep everyone posted about its longevity but there is nothing a Snap-on, I.R, or Aircat/Mac will do that this will not. I just wish it was lighter. It feels like my old school I.R 244's
 
B

bsaint

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 26, 2010
Messages
5,109
Location
Manchester, CT
diesel research said:
Same discussion different week.

I will say IR.
Next guy says snapon MG725.
Next guy says new earthquake from HF just as good.
Next guy says he had old earthquake for 6 years and suggests you buy that, but he didnt know they are out of production.
Next guy says nitrocat/aircat.
Next guy says klutch.
Then a few mention tooltruck rebrands.
Then a few mentions from home improvement/autoparts store house brands.

Then a quarrel about I had to use[low priced] ___ because a coworkers/or my high priced ___ has no balls. (the low priced one always seems to come out supreme in these stories)
Click to expand...

Copy to Clipboard for next gun thread.
 
P

pipsters

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Joined
Sep 1, 2010
Messages
4,899
Location
USA
Danglerb said:
I bought one of the originals on clearance for something like $42 out the door, beat that with a stick. ;)
Click to expand...

I had one for ~$50 but decided to sell and buy a new model. I'm glad I did, personally. Much nicer piece of equipment. Although the old one was definitely tough as nails.
 
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