Impact survay

aka rotten · Mar 3, 2012

Well my 30 year old chicago pneumatic bit the dust yesterday.After 2 rebuilds and some gaskets replacements anvil is gone and just not worth messin with.I .Only requirment i have is 1\"2 drive.Used this impact for 30 years doing small engine and marine engine repairs.Now just want your opinions,going to get another want a 1/2 in and only will use it few times a month,so going with something of flea bay or here if i see one.Looked at reviews about craftsman ,colbalt ,seem to be junk from what i read.Lookin at used snap on or another cp brand also used .Dont want a $200. job as i dont need one that good anymore.What do yall suggest?

hammergodthor · Mar 3, 2012

Ingersoll Rand 231C, or its reverse engineered ******* child Chinese cousin from Harbor Freight. :spit:

http://www.amazon.com/Ingersoll-Rand-231C-2-Inch-Super-Duty-Impact/dp/B0002SRM3I

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-half-inch-twin-hammer-air-impact-wrench-94803.html

5lima30 · Mar 3, 2012

I have the above described HF model and it hasn't failed me yet! Was about $40 w/ coupon!

waterboy12 · Mar 4, 2012

Another vote for the 231c. Mine was $149 from tractor supply. I beat on it daily. Still fels as strong as the day i pulled it out of the box.

wreckerman5357 · Mar 4, 2012

I don't have any experience with thwm, but I hear the HF Earthquake guns are pretty damn stout and they only cost like $90.

ptschram · Mar 4, 2012

Snap-On or Matco for me. Probably rebadged IR but well worth it for me.

shampoop · Mar 4, 2012

Honestly even the worst brands are really good now. For your uses (a few times a month) probably anything will work great. Go with whatever one you like, weight, shape, button placement, price.

I have IR guns and love them, but I use them every day and plan to for a very long time.

aussiek2000 · Mar 4, 2012

Snap on MG725.

Sincitymetalworks · Mar 4, 2012

aussiek2000 said:
Snap on MG725.

i second that the 725 i love mine

kartracer55 · Mar 4, 2012

aussiek2000 said:
Snap on MG725.

Respectfully of course, If the OP got by with a 30 year old impact gun, which was probably nowhere close in power to even a 231C, it sure seems like a $422 snap on impact gun is a bit overkill for his needs.

jtfc · Mar 4, 2012

I recently bought a 1/2 earthquake from harbor freight. I got it for $70 something. It runs like a raped ape it is heavier then other guns but not terribly so. I've only had mine for a short while but other members here have reported owning them for years with daily use/abuse.

nehog · Mar 4, 2012

waterboy12 said:
Another vote for the 231c. Mine was $149 from tractor supply. I beat on it daily. Still fels as strong as the day i pulled it out of the box.

The 231c is also what I use, so it must be good, right? :lol_hitti

Best one I've ever had, too...

Rogue1987 · Mar 4, 2012

HF 1/2" Earthquake Impact. Stronger than a MG725, and only $70 bucks. Heavier than a MG725, but for the cost difference, I can live with it.

plinker · Mar 4, 2012

I have a 231 clone Napa branded. If I were buying new I'd look at a IR 231HA (it has handle exaust instead of front exhaust).

greasemonkey44 · Mar 4, 2012

i have a klutch super short from northern; 70$ and takes and gives out a beating
i also have a nitrocat 1200k but it costs 180$; it is one seriously beefy impact though
and i have a ir231; old ugly beat to hell and durable; i keep it at a friends shop and if they havent killed it yet; it is really really durable, i paid 30$ at an estate sale; 140$ new

1967lemans · Mar 4, 2012

I got a 1/2 drive Earthquake from HF. Love it. So far it has held up well and was around 70 some bucks with coupon.

mrpizza · Mar 4, 2012

I paid 70 for my earthquake and it rules.

WV Hillbilly · Mar 4, 2012

I ended up buying on of these, NOS IR231 http://www.ebay.com/itm/320786314340
got it for $97 & shipping

trboxman · Mar 4, 2012

The new style 1/2" Earthquake is a workhorse. Lots of grunt.

Dick in Wisconsin · Mar 4, 2012

I've used the Craftsman C3 Cordless Impact for two seasons of racing and love it.

http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10...word=C3+impact&prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=L2

Use it primarily to bust the wheels off and back onto the Heilig-Meyers Ford. I torque the wheels to 90# and most of the time if the battery is half charge or better, the torque wrench doesn't move before it clicks. On sale now for $89.99+tx & maybe shipping (no battery). $152++in a kit with two Ni-Cad batteries and bag. Unsure it the kit includes a chargers, be careful. I see a few poor reviews on the Craftsman web site, but I don't have any of those problems. The only time I can't get a lug nut off the race car is because the battery is down. Put in a fresh battery and the lug nut zips right off.

I bought a HUGE box of Craftsman C3 Cordless tools when I started racing in 2006 and love them. The Ni-Cad batteries seem to last a reasonable amount of time, they recharge quickly, and the tools work great. Since then I've added a second light, leaf blower (jury out on that right now), drywall rotor zip cutting tool (worked great the one time I needed it and it stands ready for the next time), the impact wrench, and a hedge trimmer. The hedge trimmer is the best powered (corded or cordless) one I've ever owned. As the batterires drain down, I completely drain them, I put in a fresh one and charge (I think I've got four now) the down ones. I've never gotten ahead of the batteries, they are always waiting for me. None of the Ni-Cads have crapped out on me yet; I keep waiting so I can justify buying Lithium Ion.

I see this impact wrench being used more and more at the race track. Highly recommend.

billymade · Mar 4, 2012

At this point; I'm sure a lighter impact would be a nice change for you... the IR231 is a classic but it is heavy compared to the composite models of today.

I have a older used IR 2131 that someone gave me; it has excellent performance, lightweight, and powerful. IR has a number of composite impacts now that range from the $150 to $350 price levels. Having used this light impact with great power; I can't see myself going back to the older heavy units. Something to think about.

https://www.google.com/webhp?rlz=1C...e0c184e1b271b11&ix=seb&ion=1&biw=1280&bih=937

https://www.google.com/webhp?rlz=1C...e0c184e1b271b11&ix=seb&ion=1&biw=1280&bih=937

$100 to $200

https://www.google.com/webhp?rlz=1C...e0c184e1b271b11&ix=seb&ion=1&biw=1280&bih=937

over $200

https://www.google.com/webhp?rlz=1C...e0c184e1b271b11&ix=seb&ion=1&biw=1280&bih=937

Used; is always a option; ebay has allot of the IR's used and I see pawn shops, flea markets have them all the time, certainly a gamble but all the impacts I have bought used, have been fine. Good luck!

chris142 · Mar 4, 2012

hammergodthor said:
Ingersoll Rand 231C, or its reverse engineered ******* child Chinese cousin from Harbor Freight.

http://www.amazon.com/Ingersoll-Rand-231C-2-Inch-Super-Duty-Impact/dp/B0002SRM3I

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-half-inch-twin-hammer-air-impact-wrench-94803.html

I've got both of those and the HF one isn't perfect. Sometimes it will just hiss instead of spinning. Give it a twist and a 2nd squeeze and it works.

4x4gearhead · Mar 4, 2012

For someone like you who got away with the same old impact for 30 years, I would also suggest the IR231C, it is not only a cost effective option, it is legendary.

m151 · Mar 5, 2012

You said marine and small repair- the regulated reverse of the
IR 231 will be better for the smaller bolts. I have both the
231 (bought 1974) and the composite 2131. The 2131 is great for
tire work but has full power on reverse. The 231 is much more
versitile. How about a 3/8th like the IR 212?

Impact survay

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