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IR 2235TIMAX VS Nitrocat 1250k

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WhiffySpark

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Joined
Oct 22, 2009
Messages
6,252
It's an air cat advertisement what do you expect. I guarantee the ir will take things apart and last 10 years. I have yet to hear of an air cat lasting in a professional environment.

That being said, why are you so obsessed with cheap ****?
 

toddoky

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Joined
Dec 17, 2013
Messages
465
Location
Bowling Green, Kentucky
It's an air cat advertisement what do you expect. I guarantee the ir will take things apart and last 10 years. I have yet to hear of an air cat lasting in a professional environment.

That being said, why are you so obsessed with cheap ****?

It seems there are lots of guys here with the same mindset, meaning they base value determination on how cheaply the item was acquired. Anything expensive is just an example of the manufacturer trying to rip them off. I don't get it myself, but it seems to be the way things have become.
 

Mikerodrig27

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Oct 22, 2014
Messages
171
I'd have a hard time letting my 2235 go. It's a great gun. I haven't found a stud I couldn't brake with it so at this point it's a question of reliability over strength.
 

rlitman

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Oct 18, 2010
Messages
24,591
Location
Long Island
I have an Aircat 1000TH, which weights in at 4.5 lbs, and an IR 2135TiMax that weighs in at just under 4lbs, and while the Aircat is SLIGHTLY quieter, unless noise is my only concern, I'm reaching for the IR because it is lighter.

Looks like this newest generation of 1/2" impacts has gone up in weight. The IR 2235TiMax claims to be 4.6 lbs, and the Nitrocat 1250K is 4.7 lbs. I've had no issues with lack of power before, so I'm not upgrading any time soon knowing this.
 

CobraChevelle

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Nov 10, 2014
Messages
935
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Wisconsin
I have an Aircat 1000TH, which weights in at 4.5 lbs, and an IR 2135TiMax that weighs in at just under 4lbs, and while the Aircat is SLIGHTLY quieter, unless noise is my only concern, I'm reaching for the IR because it is lighter.

Looks like this newest generation of 1/2" impacts has gone up in weight. The IR 2235TiMax claims to be 4.6 lbs, and the Nitrocat 1250K is 4.7 lbs. I've had no issues with lack of power before, so I'm not upgrading any time soon knowing this.

Also the Nitro cat is longer I think.
 

dnschmidt

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Oct 3, 2014
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Location
Phoenix, AZ
I have the Nitrocats both 1200K and 1250K and I love them as well as the 3/8" version of the Nitrocat. They are great and they are quiet. I have nothing against I-R but who died and made them god.

Also, why the power war? I removed everything I ever did with an I-R 231. I now have guns with twice that power and nothings changed. They still take out whatever needs to be taken out. I suppose it's a **** thing.

I've been using my tiny ASTRO Nano for 98% of what I need an impact for and it's only failure to remove a bolt so far was a Honda Crankshaft bolt using a normal socket. When I used the massive Lisle Honda Crankshaft Bolt specific socket on the Nano it took that out too.

But we're Americans and bigger is better I guess.
 

woody 73

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Apr 14, 2009
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11,542
Location
The Great State Up North
Funny I own a lot of CP and that never gets talked about on the GJ. Then I started buying the IR air tools like the model above and now it is the Nitrocat that gets all the talk.

Sigh I can never win oh well tomorrow it will be something else!:lol_hitti
 

Loscaldazar

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Joined
Feb 23, 2013
Messages
2,385
But by the way so you have test to prove and back up that aircat's won't last? Or is it the he said she said?

Lots of members have owned Nitro or Air Cats and had them fail or have to be rebuilt (because of a loss of power) after a year or two of professional use. Others have had no issue for a few years. The main complaint is that the power tends to stop dropping off quickly in a professional shop.

Most of these members have had CP or IR guns that have lasted 10-15 years before having to be rebuilt.

For a homeowner, I'd say the Nitro/Air Cats are great bargains. Tons of power at a very cheap price. Professional shops, you might want to get something else...

For the record, I was originally going to buy an Aircat, but after reading about the number of problems on this forum, I was persuaded not to. I'll get a Proto or IR for my next impact.
 

woodstockva

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Apr 28, 2012
Messages
894
Location
USA
Hmmmm......guess who else has a Skidmore....

<----This guy

LOTS of actual torque testing coming up.......reverse, forward, and breakaway....stay tuned :)

FYI ---- I have a IR 2235, Nitrocat 1250K, CP 7748, Proto J150WP, & a bunch of stubby impacts here --- not even mentioning all the cordless units.....we will see very soon who ranks where.
 

stikman56

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Joined
Jun 12, 2014
Messages
3,127
It's an air cat advertisement what do you expect. I guarantee the ir will take things apart and last 10 years. I have yet to hear of an air cat lasting in a professional environment.

That being said, why are you so obsessed with cheap ****?

Have any data to back that statement up? I've used Nitrocat in professional environment with no issues and the guys I worked with ALL ended up with one simply because nothing they had was that strong. None of them failed either. I still work with one of the guys at this job and he still uses it and it's still fine. Weakest link to a Nitrocat are the pins for the hammers. They are also cheap to replace, and much smoother than twin hammers for the operator as well. IR also made some impacts with hammer pins.
IR made some changes inside over the 2135, and for the better( 2135 has it's issues) but they still use the same old fragile plastic inlet valve that you'll replace when it fails, I've found them to be not very good in that area.
I'm not obsessed with cheap ****, I just like impacts that kick some ***. My impacts do just that.
 

stihlntime

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Joined
Jun 2, 2015
Messages
603
Location
SW Missouri Ozarks
I've got a couple of IR impacts a 3/8 and a 1/2 that have lasted over 15 years of moderate use. I just picked up a Nitro Cat 1150 and love it. It's quieter and it has not failed to break anything loose yet. I took it apart when I first bought it. Looks like it would be an easy rebuild. Imho too many get the my **** is bigger than yours over brand names,especially the younger crowd. It gets old, IR and SO aren't the only good brands made. If your hung up on x brand makes me a professional at what you do you've got insecurity issues. I work with a guy who uses a 49.99 Puma brand impact , best mechanic I've ever been around, he has been wrenching 35 years lets his work speak for him not his tools.
 

woodstockva

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Joined
Apr 28, 2012
Messages
894
Location
USA
I'm with Stikman on this one.....I like the Nitrocat....VERY quiet compared to others & you dont get a headache using it. Also, it has a ton of power & a comfortable grip.
 

rlitman

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Oct 18, 2010
Messages
24,591
Location
Long Island
Everyone has their own needs. Once you acknowledge that, it should be clear that no single tool will be the best for everyone.

Aircat hands down has the best grip and sound level right now. Maybe someone will take that crown from them in the future, but I haven't seen anything better yet.
 

Marlin

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Joined
Dec 6, 2007
Messages
1,037

There are a lot of ways to influence a skidmore test with just how you hold the tool. If you watch the last several seconds of the 2235 test, the needle on the Skidmore is bouncing all over the place, this can be a result of how tightly you hold the tool, the force you apply inward on the tool and angle of the tool on the nut.
 

CobraRed

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Joined
May 30, 2014
Messages
670
I'm surprised you haven't already gotten death threats yet? Oh fan boys :dunno:

+1

And Woodstock, make sure you firmly caress and massage each impact just right so no one can claim you were "holding the tool wrong."
 

woodstockva

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Joined
Apr 28, 2012
Messages
894
Location
USA
+1

And Woodstock, make sure you firmly caress and massage each impact just right so no one can claim you were "holding the tool wrong."

Trust me.....no matter what I do, trolls still complain. :lol_hitti

That being said, Marlin is correct......just about everything affects torque. The way you hold an impact, the amount of grease on a nut/bolt, the condition of the socket, the time you are actually impacting (10 seconds vs 30 seconds).

I will be holding everyone to the same standard......same way of holding it, same time impacting, same amount of runs, etc.

I think it will be very eye-opening. Marlin's insights have been very helpful & I 100% appreciate him being here to help!
 
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gooseadrian

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Oct 28, 2012
Messages
158
Still stand by my ir. I have a 3/8 impact, a 1/2 impact, a 3/4 impact, a 1 inch tire gun, and the 118 air hammer. Also got some electrics on the way
 

Marlin

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Joined
Dec 6, 2007
Messages
1,037
Trust me.....no matter what I do, trolls still complain. :lol_hitti

That being said, Marlin is correct......just about everything affects torque. The way you hold an impact, the amount of grease on a nut/bolt, the condition of the socket, the time you are actually impacting (10 seconds vs 30 seconds).

I will be holding everyone to the same standard......same way of holding it, same time impacting, same amount of runs, etc.

I think it will be very eye-opening. Marlin's insights have been very helpful & I 100% appreciate him being here to help!

Thanks, my pleasure
 

dnschmidt

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Oct 3, 2014
Messages
7,270
Location
Phoenix, AZ
And exactly what tank ran over that. Is there a point to your post? If so please explain it. That wrench looks exceptionally beat (I have thirty year old impacts that look a hell of a lot better than that) and do you think that's the only impact that's ever had an anvil break off?
 

Ruger_556

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Joined
Dec 8, 2013
Messages
4,005
And exactly what tank ran over that. Is there a point to your post? If so please explain it. That wrench looks exceptionally beat (I have thirty year old impacts that look a hell of a lot better than that) and do you think that's the only impact that's ever had an anvil break off?

You have had a sheltered life if you think that impact looks beat... :lol:
 

stikman56

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Joined
Jun 12, 2014
Messages
3,127
And exactly what tank ran over that. Is there a point to your post? If so please explain it. That wrench looks exceptionally beat (I have thirty year old impacts that look a hell of a lot better than that) and do you think that's the only impact that's ever had an anvil break off?

I replaced many a broken anvil on Ingersoll 231's 2135's, 2131's, and on and on. They will all break. I've also replaced broken rotors on those same models.......yeah, broken rotors.:eyecrazy:
 

kdmoore

Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2015
Messages
21
It was to made so the ir fan boys feel justify, I have both brand of these very wrench, each have their strength and weakness. But I don't understand the mind set of a kool-aid drinker when it comes to tools and cars about where its made or by what company or price point, it's very patriotic but I know for DARN sure those very mind set people wouldn't give up their Glocks (Austria) & AK's (lost track) over their COLD DEAD HANDS!

Ha, gaston perfection :) Glocks have been made in the good ole USA for some time now. I always heard it was due to purchasing requirements of gov't institutions. Mil/LEO agencies often require it domestic manufacture.

AK's .... well a true AK is fully automatic and produced in Russia and can only be purchased following the ATFE directions (so called class III firearm) and will likely set you back well over 10K (last I checked). But an AK type firearm have been made EVERYWHERE .. China to Russia, Bulgaria to .... yup you guessed it, the USA .... so, that's not confusing at all, is it.

As for breakage ... accept that all tools fail (beloved glocks, AK's and IR's ... along with their counterparts ...) and anecdotal evidence really doesn't settle the debate on reliability .... it's the failure RATES that are of interest. But given these are difficult to obtain .... perhaps feedback from sites like Amazon and this site is a good start.

Back to topic. Would it add any value to measure sound with your torque readings. Mount a sensor a consistent distance? I'm sure it wouldn't be perfect, but I could sure hear a difference between the impacts on those videos. Perhaps something as basic as a smartphone app if you don't have a decimal meter.
 

kdmoore

Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2015
Messages
21
oops, video suggestion was for WoodstockVA as he does the comparison.

Century has such a bad rep, but it's cool they brought production stateside. AK - 12, is that the 12 gauge? I have one of the very early Saiga's and used it for 3gunnin, so I have a bunch of 20 round drums and tons of stick mags .... When my youngest daughter moves out in a few years I'll get back into the sport. I shot for years before it hit me how addicted I'd become to it ...
 

dsimatt

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Joined
Dec 9, 2012
Messages
6,454
Still stand by my ir. I have a 3/8 impact, a 1/2 impact, a 3/4 impact, a 1 inch tire gun, and the 118 air hammer. Also got some electrics on the way

I love my IR tools and pretty much am exclusive to buying just them, that said my 3/4 quiet impact I can not recommend as its gutless and the shop has the same one and its gutless to.
 

gooseadrian

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Joined
Oct 28, 2012
Messages
158
I love my IR tools and pretty much am exclusive to buying just them, that said my 3/4 quiet impact I can not recommend as its gutless and the shop has the same one and its gutless to.


Mine works perfectly fine. I had an issue with it a while back but that's when I found we didn't have a water separator or filter on our air system. After the company rebuilt it it work fine no more issues.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

dsimatt

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Dec 9, 2012
Messages
6,454
Mine works perfectly fine. I had an issue with it a while back but that's when I found we didn't have a water separator or filter on our air system. After the company rebuilt it it work fine no more issues.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I bought it used off the snap on truck and it was just rebuilt before I got it and the shops one has been rebuilt a couple times and the snap on dealer told me we aren't the only ones with this complaint. My buddy has a older loud one and it will easily spin the bolts these other ones stop turning, today I had a cylinder head that was torqued 105ft-lbs and with a adapter on the gun to 1/2 socket it barely turned them the 90* needed.
 

JKady

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Joined
Jan 3, 2012
Messages
349
Location
Spanaway, WA
It's an air cat advertisement what do you expect. I guarantee the ir will take things apart and last 10 years. I have yet to hear of an air cat lasting in a professional environment.

That being said, why are you so obsessed with cheap ****?

Mine (1200k) has been just fine for 5 years in a professional environment. Used daily, oiled rarely. Nose cone was broken once when I loaned it out, I have yet to cause it any harm and I regularly drop it or slide it across the floor under cars at work.
 
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86k10

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Jan 29, 2012
Messages
1,045
Location
Colorado
I love my IR tools and pretty much am exclusive to buying just them, that said my 3/4 quiet impact I can not recommend as its gutless and the shop has the same one and its gutless to.

My 2145 qimax is strong. I had a HF Earthquake 3/4 and it is stronger than that one also. I like it.
 

XxToolAholicxX

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Joined
May 28, 2014
Messages
1,449
Location
SF **** Bay Northern California
The IR 231 is probally the best impact gun ever made.. Better then both of these and Snap On any day.. I seen some over 15 to 20 years old and still working like a champ.. IR is a better product then the rest hands down period...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am a ToolAholic, Sometimesi regret it, especially when the Toolman won't give me no credit
 

Finky198

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Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
2,120
Location
North East
I think have to agree it does not look like it's set to full power ^^^
but I will let you guys make your own minds up

2lxbfnm.jpg
 
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stikman56

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Jun 12, 2014
Messages
3,127
I think have to agree it does not look like it's set to full power ^^^
but I will let you guys make your own minds up

2lxbfnm.jpg

The most power in reverse with these is with the regulator set all the way down. Don't take my word for it, ask Marlin....
 

Skin

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Feb 24, 2010
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11,713
Location
Boston
Last discussion I remember the impact actually bypasses the regulator entirely in reverse.
 

stikman56

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Jun 12, 2014
Messages
3,127
I am pretty sure that this is correct. power is not regulated in reverse to allow for maximum torque and air flow. :thumbup:

Yes it does, however...like I was saying ask Marlin, he has the explanation as to why you get a touch more torque with the regulator set all the way down in reverse.
 
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