Is 3/8" Pneumatic Impact Still Relevant?

[cjarvis]

I did a quick search and didn't find anything specifically addressing this, so here goes...

With the advent of compact, and what I would consider full-power, 1/2" drive pneumatic impact guns; Is there really much of a place for the 3/8" impact guns and sockets these days?

Since I picked up my Aircat 1055-TH, I almost never touch my 3/8 impact gun any more, and mostly use it out of nostalgia when I do.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Marlin]

Mid-torque cordless offerings have done more to kill the 3/8" air market than anything else. The cordless options out there are closer in size and weight for the same or more power of the air 3/8". Compare that to the full size 1/2" market where there is still a decent size /weight advantage with air, so people continue to buy 1/2" air impacts.

 

[Packard V8]

I just used my old MAC 3/8" air impact yesterday while doing the spring tuneup on the ZT mower.

FWIW, I was offered another 3/8" air impact for free because a rich friend just spent $450 on a Milwaukee Fuel Kit. When I asked him why that was a good investment? "Well, now I don't have to drag the air hose around." I said, "But you only use it in your garage and the air hose is right there." "Well, everyone's going battery impact and air just seems old-fashioned."

jack vines

 

[mike93lx]

Dragging a hose around when options as small as the Dewalt dcf923 and Milwaukee m12 stubby exist? No chance for me, but maybe in a high volume shop.

At high torque levels, the tools are quite heavy, but the compacts are very light.

Battery is a lot quieter too

 

[zmotorsports]

I still use my Snap-on MG325 almost daily. One of my favorite impact tools in my arsenal. Along with my Cornwell semi-deep impacts or wobblies.

 

[dnschmidt]

To answer the question: NO. I have six of them, or maybe seven or eight, who can keep count, and I never use them. For me it's the Milwaukee compact, Stubby or Mid-Torque and my Astro, I-R and Aircat 3/8" air impacts sit in storage. 3/8 drive impacts are the nuts due to their size and weight advantage and unless I need total ball busting torque (time for THOR or the Aircat 1250K) that's all I use.

 

[308guru]

I grab my Dewalt DCF921 for most tasks now. I've been using it for lug nut removal during tire rotations and it works perfect for that. Before purchasing it I was concerned it wouldn't have enough beans, but it certainly does. The 921 is 1/2" drive, but you can get the DCF923 which is the same thing with a 3/8" anvil.

The mid torque cordless impacts are a game changer. Yep, no hose to drag around and I love it.

The IR 2135TI impact still has a home for the big jobs. I can't justify the cost of a high torque electric and those things are stupid heavy in comparison to my air impact.

 

[Packard V8]

The mid torque cordless impacts are a game changer. Yep, no hose to drag around and I love it.

Yep, there's that benefit; also, at $450 for the kit, one no longer has to drag around that heavy wallet.

jack vines

 

[308guru]

Yep, there's that benefit; also, at $450 for the kit, one no longer has to drag around that heavy wallet.

jack vines

Not sure where you shop, but you're paying too much. Interesting that you quote $450. Every store is 1/2 or less that much currently.

I bought the kit (tool, battery, charger, bag) for $139. I thought it was a bargain.

We're all free to spend our money as we wish.

 

[Benito]

Sometime you need mid-torque level power with barely enough room for a compact, then the nano comes out

 

[larry_g]

Being one of those old people who still has a big compressor, checkbook, and a landline the pneumatic tools work for me. If the pneumatic tools I have fail and wear out then I would have to make decisions but at this point in life I no longer need to have the latest and greatest if the existing stuff I have gets the job done for me. At my age I don't need to upgrade for the small amount of work that I do.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[2ndGearRubber]

All the time.

 

[Jswain]

This with a swivel = gold. I'm not dragging an air hose around it's mounted on a reel on the wall, no batteries to charge or replace and 99.999% of the work I do is contained in those walls.

I also don't throw out my wardrobe yearly to keep up with the Kardashians

 

[vwpieces]

the 3/8in... use it all the time and I have all the red cordless.

 

[ZRX61]

I have a 3/8 IR Titanium, use it all the time.

 

[jsaw]

I use a DCF903 3/8 cordless impact a lot, but last week there was a bolt or 2 that it would not loosen, so I had to use My pneumatic 3/8 impact.

 

[Lwel9226]

I am slowly going back to using my air tools.... I have them and a 5hp 80gal. compressor....
I am not replacing any batteries.... when they die the tool goes away....

LynnW

 

[Walkers]

This with a swivel = gold. I'm not dragging an air hose around it's mounted on a reel on the wall, no batteries to charge or replace and 99.999% of the work I do is contained in those walls.

I also don't throw out my wardrobe yearly to keep up with the Kardashians

No arguments from me, I love my Aircat!

 

[Walkers]

I have a 3/8" butterfly impact that I use from time to time. Nice and compact, easy to change direction. Most of the time now I reach for battery ratchets though.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Dragging a hose around when options as small as the Dewalt dcf923 and Milwaukee m12 stubby exist? No chance for me, but maybe in a high volume shop.

At high torque levels, the tools are quite heavy, but the compacts are very light.

Battery is a lot quieter too

Battery sounds soo much worse with that brbrbrbrbr sounds while it fails to remove a fastener. That or I've lost the tone pneumatics make in my hearing completely.

Pneumatic is louder, but the electric pin hammer design for the impacts is awful to listen to. I have an m12 stubby, and it's a decent toy for m8 and some m10 hardware. Fast and convenient. But a Pneumatic 3/8, in my experience, laughs at it. For me electrics are about convenience and to avoid switching the air hose too often. I do like the settings they have for applied torque, like the 3/8 stubby on 2 with a swivel socket is 20-25 ftlb I'd you just snug it up. Very nice for m8 hardware.

 

[cherokee]

Dragging a hose around when options as small as the Dewalt dcf923 and Milwaukee m12 stubby exist? No chance for me, but maybe in a high volume shop.

At high torque levels, the tools are quite heavy, but the compacts are very light.

Battery is a lot quieter too

But that sound (IS) the sounds of a shop. I admit I use the battery stuff most of the time, and once and a while I will dig out the air tools. 1/2 impact to take off wheel nuts....that sound is just the sounds that come out of a shop....same with air ratchets, it is just the sound shops are to make.

I have a feeling air days are numbered. But there is nothing like that sound.

And as far as things like nailers, so much more easy not having to fight that hose.

 

[Marlin]

Pneumatic is louder, but the electric pin hammer design for the impacts is awful to listen to.

You mean Ball and Cam mechanism. The pin design was used in many air impacts like the CP734 prior to the twin hammer dominating the garage market.

 

[dnschmidt]

To me the only excuse to use air is size. I've got two 3/8" drive Aircats, one Husky and one I-R normal 3/8" drive impacts that are physically larger than the M12 stubby so why would I use them. The butterfly impacts that I have (AirPro and Rodac) are crippled by the need for an air hose negating the size advantage they have. The Astro Nano on the other hand has more power and is smaller than the M12 right angle impact so there are real reasons to use this air tool instead. If you see what Astro Pneumatic is now releasing it's obvious that small is where they need to go to fill a need the cordless haven't been able to fill yet. Conventional air impacts are dead or at least dying. Specialty air impacts still have some life left in them.

 

[jpmidwest]

its relevant but the category isnt as big as other category's like the 1/2 high torque impacts, and day by day people are buying less and less 3/8ths pneumatic impacts and buying cordless 3/8ths impacts like the m12 milwuakee stubby, m18 milwaukee mid tourque, snap on ct761, dewalt DCF932B

 

[Packard V8]

Not sure where you shop, but you're paying too much. Interesting that you quote $450. Every store is 1/2 or less that much currently.

I bought the kit (tool, battery, charger, bag) for $139. I thought it was a bargain.

We're all free to spend our money as we wish.

All I know is this is the one my neighbor bought from Northern Tool:

Milwaukee M18 FUEL Mid-Torque Impact Wrench with Friction Ring Kit — 3/8in. Drive, 600 Ft./Lbs. Torque, Model# 2960-22R $479.00​

jack vines

 

[Garcky]

I have a 3/8" butterfly impact that I use from time to time. Nice and compact, easy to change direction. Most of the time now I reach for battery ratchets though.

Yeah, I have a lot of affection for butterfly impacts. Especially for disassembly and assembly. They just work. Lightweight, fast, and just damned handy. Nobody seems to use them any more, though.

 

[Blueshound_GJ]

They're relevant to me because it's what I have and it still works perfectly. I changed careers 15 years ago and still have all my air tools, including my beloved 3/8 drive Ingersoll Rand impact gun. All those air tools still function as designed when I take them out of the toolbox, even when they've been sitting for up to 15 years. For my home shop use there would be absolutely no benefit to going to battery powered. The hassles of keeping them charged would far outweigh the inconvenience of the air hose. I'd like to see any of these battery powered tools work out of the box after 15 years (or even 1 year, really) sitting in a toolbox untouched.

But if I was still fixing cars for a living I would definitely make the switch.

 

[428PI]

I have a 3/8" butterfly impact that I use from time to time

I have my CP butterfly impact I bought probably 40 years ago. Extremely fast that it's almost uncontrollable at times. I have an IR 3/8 impact that will walk circles around my Milwaukee fuel impact but which do I use-the battery Milwaukee. Really need a 1/2 Milwaukee as my air tools don't work that great at home with my smaller lines and less air pressure. Air tools probably get gummed up with time if not used weekly or so. At least with the mystery oil I put in them. Haven't used the butterfly in years.

 

[jonesg]

All I know is this is the one my neighbor bought from Northern Tool:

Milwaukee M18 FUEL Mid-Torque Impact Wrench with Friction Ring Kit — 3/8in. Drive, 600 Ft./Lbs. Torque, Model# 2960-22R $479.00​

jack vines

looks like $200 in batteries right there, tool alone would be cheap if batteries and charger are on hand, which most people have.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I use both battery and pneumatic 3/8" drive impacts regularly. I cannot cost justify adding battery powered 1/2" thru 1" drive impacts at the moment, but there are definitely times their presence would be welcome.

 

[308guru]

While I enjoy the freedom of the cordless tools they are definitely loud. My 1/2" big pneumatic impact is a lot quieter than the high pitched ring of the mid torque cordless. The cordless has a very high pitched ring to it that I don't like at all.

 

[ronr80]

AW170 Mac 3/8 impact , great little rig use it all the time for small stuff, I'm really hating the electric garbage specially Ridgid. this thing is always ready to go.

 

[setfocus]

I've got a CP 3/8 stubby impact cp7731 that I did use alot doing alignments on econoline vans and trucks for the clamps. Now that I'm not the alignment guy, doesn't get used alot. I also broke the end of the anvil that holds the hog ring, so no socket retention.

These days the cordless M12 stubby is used most of the time for 3/8 impact and the snapon ct4410 that I had before the M12 stubby.

If I bought another small air 3/8 impact, I'd get the astro nano... but probably won't happen unless the CP completely quits

 

[Lwel9226]

I have had some of my air tools for 50+ years and they still work good.... Cordless tools won't last one tenth of that time.....
They also don't cost as much.....

LynnW

 

[dnschmidt]

I have had some of my air tools for 50+ years and they still work good.... Cordless tools won't last one tenth of that time.....

LynnW

Perhaps true but so what. If you're using them in a professional setting and they are saving you time the price of the tool is irrelevant. Refreshing your power tools every ten years seems completely reasonable to me. I did that when the change from NiCd to Li-Ion occurred. I know several professional mechanics that have gone cordless and use air only when they absolutely must.

 

[Packard V8]

looks like $200 in batteries right there, tool alone would be cheap if batteries and charger are on hand, which most people have.

He didn't and I don't either, so with state sales tax, to lay aside the 3/8" air costs $522.11. Your money, your tools, your decision.

 

[ecotec]

Yeah, I have a lot of affection for butterfly impacts. Especially for disassembly and assembly. They just work. Lightweight, fast, and just damned handy. Nobody seems to use them any more, though.

I don’t really use mine anymore, either. It has not been used in a decade. I doubt that I would get rid of it. The same with my regular 3/8” pneumatic.

 

[Fedwrench]

I think a 3/8 drive pneumatic is still relevant in today's fast paced cramped engine compartments. I don't use mine as much as I used to because, of the dewalt atomic and Milwaukee M12 compacts but, it still get used. It's especially great to have in a particularly dirty environment when it might get covered in coolant or ATF.

 

[Garcky]

I don’t really use mine anymore, either. It has not been used in a decade. I doubt that I would get rid of it. The same with my regular 3/8” pneumatic.

I suppose it's all what you get used to using. There weren't any cordless tools when I was working in a shop. For things like removing or installing things like pan bolts, the butterfly impact was the fastest possible tool for that job, as well as any job where you had multiple fasteners to remove or install. I never had much use for a 3/8" traditional impact wrench, though. I just grabbed the 1/2" one.

These days, there's no shop air in my garage. If I have to remove stuff like pan bolts, I use a 1/4" drive speed handle. I don't have any cordless drivers or ratchets. Old school still works. I still have the pneumatic tools, though. Nobody wants them, so I hang on to them.

 

[dnschmidt]

The greasy and oily complaint about cordless is legit. I agree taking apart transmissions all day will destroy the rubber overmolds on cordless tools relatively quickly. For purposes like this the air impacts are clearly superior. Even Garcky's butterfly impact is a great way to go if removing 30 bolts from valve bodies all day.