Impact wrench air: 3/8 vs 1/2

[Jvvmusme]

I am thinking into buying an impact wrench and an air ratchet. Should I buy 3/8 or 1/2 ? What brands ? HF , Sears, etc ?
I would be an ocasional user not regular...
All ideas are welcomed....

Thanks

 

[Matt018]

3/8 vs 1/2 is all what youd use the gun for. If you need an impact for lug nuts and heavy duty suspension work and forlarger bolts get the 1/2. The 3/8 is great for zipping out bolts easily and running them back in. I have a harbor freight earthquake 3/8 and plan on buying the 1/2 soon.

 

[Cryptic1911]

grab one of the HF earthquake 3/8" impact air ratchets for normal bolts, and one of the 1/2" impact guns for heavy stuff

 

[ijroorda]

As mentioned above, 3/8 vs 1/2 is totally dependent on your needs; most 3/8 guns will not bust lug nuts or suspension bolts, but you don't want to be using a big 1/2 impact on little body and interior fasteners. I may just skip the 3/8 air impact and add a 3/8 impact to my DeWalt 18V kit - no hose to deal with.

As far as brand, I got an Ingersoll Rand 231HA for Christmas and I love it. Based on my experience with current Craftsman air tools, I would stay away from Sears - I had a Craftsman 1/2" impact that went on Craigslist the day after I got my IR. If I hadn't gotten the IR for free, I would probably have gone with an Earthquake from HF or a Klutch from Northern Tool.

 

[rayh91]

Start with a 1/2". That way you don't get the thought, "I wish I had something stronger."

 

[blue302stang]

It depends on the impact you buy and the torque rating it has. My 3/8" impact is a IR 2115TI and easily breaks loose any car or truck lugnut or suspension bolt I've needed it to and is nice and compact to get into tight spots. My 1/2" Impact is a aircat 1100-TC and will break loose damn near anything. I use it for most of the big suspension bolts and anything that is really rusty.

 

[GRX]

Far as 3/8 goes, I am partial to the butterfly-style. Ingersoll Rand # 216B would be a good choice.

 

[kartracer55]

Get a 3/8 and 1/2 and skip the air ratchet

 

[Gary S]

Start with a 1/2". That way you don't get the thought, "I wish I had something stronger."

Agreed. Start with 1/2". You can always move up to a 3/4" later.

 

[Jawn]

If you want something compact, go for something like the "Klutch" 1/2" compact impact from Northern Tool.

 

[tbobbo]

I think for occasional use a 1/2 impact gun is the one that will help the hobbiest the most. It will break loose bolts that will make a person strugle with. A 3/8 gun will not break loose stuff that you cant get with hand tools. Things like 3/8 guns and air ratchets generally dont do things you cant, they just get it done faster. Even a 1/2 impact is only somewhat more useful in that regard. I went back to pro wrenching a year ago and the first tool i bought was a 1/2 impact right away, and last week i bought a air ratchet, today i just ordered my 3/8 impact gun. The 3/8 gun is not really all that necessary for me, i do mostly brake and suspension work and really i get by just fine with only the 1/2 impact.

 

[Jvvmusme]

Will I always need special sockets ? Or can I use regular ones ?

 

[Jawn]

Will I always need special sockets ? Or can I use regular ones ?

I would recommend only using impact sockets.

 

[tbobbo]

As a pro, i use only impact sockets even with ratchets. I got tired of breaking chrome ones when i had tough bolts. Yes, the chrome sometimes are needed for better clearance, but i dont run into that much at all. Depends what you work on. But it is not recomended to use chrome sockets on impact tools.

 

[KX250Fmotoracer]

Get yourself an IR2135 1/2" impact and I bet you'll never need a 3/8". The trigger is so sensitive that you can be surprisingly gentile if you need to be. I can't remember the last time I used my 3/8" gun!

 

[shampoop]

I think for occasional use a 1/2 impact gun is the one that will help the hobbiest the most. It will break loose bolts that will make a person strugle with. A 3/8 gun will not break loose stuff that you cant get with hand tools. Things like 3/8 guns and air ratchets generally dont do things you cant, they just get it done faster. Even a 1/2 impact is only somewhat more useful in that regard. I went back to pro wrenching a year ago and the first tool i bought was a 1/2 impact right away, and last week i bought a air ratchet, today i just ordered my 3/8 impact gun. The 3/8 gun is not really all that necessary for me, i do mostly brake and suspension work and really i get by just fine with only the 1/2 impact.

I agree, a 1/2" is basically needed for many things. A 3/8" is never actually needed, just makes things a lot easier. I need it now as I'm now spoiled and don't want to imagine working without one.

Get yourself an IR2135 1/2" impact and I bet you'll never need a 3/8". The trigger is so sensitive that you can be surprisingly gentile if you need to be. I can't remember the last time I used my 3/8" gun!

Not needing to worry about breaking things is only one portion of the desire to have a 3/8" gun. The much smaller size gun and smaller sockets greatly increase your clearance and allow you to use it in many places a 1/2" won't work.

If you only use it occasionally, I wouldn't worry about using chrome sockets. Not worth the extra money. But if you ever start using it regularly, or use one sized socket a lot, get some impact sockets.

 

[Seanbev24]

Get yourself an IR2135 1/2" impact and I bet you'll never need a 3/8". The trigger is so sensitive that you can be surprisingly gentile if you need to be. I can't remember the last time I used my 3/8" gun!

That makes absolutely no sense to me. A 3/8" gun fits into smaller spaces and reduces fatigue because it's much lighter. For most automotive work, if you have a good 3/8" gun (mg325, IR2115) you'll rarely need the power (plus size and weight) of a 1/2" gun. Since I got my MG325, my 1/2" gun is only needed a few times per week.

 

[KX250Fmotoracer]

That makes absolutely no sense to me. A 3/8" gun fits into smaller spaces and reduces fatigue because it's much lighter. For most automotive work, if you have a good 3/8" gun (mg325, IR2115) you'll rarely need the power (plus size and weight) of a 1/2" gun. Since I got my MG325, my 1/2" gun is only needed a few times per week.

Eh, different strokes for different folks I guess. I use my 1/4" IR2101 for the real tiny stuff. Just about everything else I use my 1/2" gun and some swivel sockets if need be.

I have had my eye on this guy though:http://www.ingersollrandproducts.com/IS/Product.aspx-am_en-36545

 

[Seanbev24]

I just don't see the point of using a 1/2" gun to remove a caliper bracket bolt when a lighter 3/8" gun will do it. But you're right, whatever floats your boat. And yes, I've been meaning to buy one of those Hammerheads for a while now.

 

[pipsters]

Look into a 1/2" impact, and a 1/4" air ratchet. The 1/2" Earthquake is very good, as is the 1/4" Earthquake air ratchet. Both from Harbor Freight.

One thing about air ratchets is they SCREAM. They are very loud. In fact, the newer "quiet" impacts are actually considerably quieter than the smaller air ratchets. Harbor Freight's 1/4" Earthquake ratchet is quiet, only reason I bought it.

On my cars, I tend to find a lot of 8, 10, and 12mm bolts. Then a few 15, 16, and more 17, 18, and above on the drive train.

I bought the 1/4" ratchet specifically for working under the hood. I have the 1/2" impact for the suspension, wheel, and sub-frame stuff.

Yes a good 3/8" might replace the majority of the 1/2" impact. No argument there. But you still need a 1/2" impact. And the 3/8" impact won't do what the 1/4" air ratchet can do, and get in. I don't do this full time, just at home, so I wanted to minimize my investment and space that my tools take up.