Looking for a pneumatic 1/2" impact

[TractorJeff]

What about the guy in another Thread last week where he was told to get a bigger compressor?
I said for what as I thought most guys were going electric?
All I know for sure is that Air on an Impact gets the first few hits at full flow.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I guess I'm the outsider here. No cordless wrenches. Only a 1/4" M18 impact driver. All my pneumatic impacts and wratchets are super el cheapo stuff in a 100 piece kit from Costco.
I do almost all my stuff by hand. I can't say why, either. Probably because I'm not bering paid to do what I do at home and I don't mind taking my time with things. I do use the 1/2" impact for taking wheels off, but not to put them back on.

Tommy

 

[roc_on_the_rocks]

Just a hobby/fixer-upper guy here, I'm very happy with my AirCat and often need to tune it down to not break/strip bolts. Air compressor is a 25 gallon 175 psi max, 5.1 SCFM @ 90 psi. If I was a more frequent user, I'd go electric without a doubt. I often visit dealerships of class 8 trucks, I rarely hear an air gun anymore.

There is no impact gun on planet earth that requires a 25cfm @ 100+ psi to operate

What about... in the International Space Station?

 

[Farmall450]

You might have better luck in Gen Tool

Your budget is very generous...seems you can easily afford a 2235TiMax

That's my thought, too. King of air AFAIK

 

[Farmall450]

I cannot imagine why anybody would buy pneumatic these days, unless it’s for some specialty application.

Louder - check
Heavier - check
More powerful - nope

More than anything else, electric is so much nicer for getting in tight spaces since that damn air hose always gets in the way.

Lighter and smaller.

I don't disagree with you, but it's silly to think a cordless with battery is lighter. And they're wayyyy larger.

 

[Farmall450]

IR 2235ti for air

That said, I have used the Milwaukee cordless on bolts that the 2235 couldn't bust loose. It got them, those things are no joke.

My experience has been literally the opposite.

Mac Tools 1/2 wouldn't bust it, either. 2235 did though.

 

[jpaw]

There's one thing that everyone overlooks with cordless tools, their inability to hold up to chemicals and oils.
As a professional I don't want to have to replace my tools every few years because they are falling apart from brake clean and oils. I would love to use cordless tools for transmission work but they would never survive.
Though doing interior work is where I feel cordless tools really excel.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I have one of the first HF Earthquake rattle guns. I use it pretty frequently, and it's given nothing but yeoman service. It barely clatters and bolts are loose. It replaced my dying Craftsman, which I don't think was ever as torquey as the HF one.

 

[bzinsky]

Lighter and smaller.

I don't disagree with you, but it's silly to think a cordless with battery is lighter. And they're wayyyy larger.

I realize that now

I have both, and with the weight of the hose and how it always gets in the way, it just feels like the cordless is lighter and smaller.

I never used my air gun on a swivel hose, I don’t know why it never occurred to me that it might solve a lot of my clearance issues.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Then I got a Chicago Pneumatic rated for only 325ft lbs, it was like 3x stronger.

"Back in the day" CP was the "go to" gun ! Not sure they are "Made in the USA" anymore.

 

[Den69rs96]

I have one of the first HF Earthquake rattle guns. I use it pretty frequently, and it's given nothing but yeoman service. It barely clatters and bolts are loose. It replaced my dying Craftsman, which I don't think was ever as torquey as the HF one.

I have one of the regular HF earthquake1/2 guns too. I got mine about 7 years ago. I don't use it often, but I have the same experience. I find it pretty powerful for its size. I use mine on a craftsman 150psi 30gal compressor with 6.5scfm at 90psi. Most of the time I use my craftsman impact(approx 500 lb ft), but use the HF when I think I 'll need the extra power.

I have a Dewalt mid torque and with a 5ah battery its bigger in size than the air impacts I have. Using it in tight spaces is an issue. I realize the bigger ones have around 1200 lb ft of torque, but I see the size a problem in many situations like suspension work.

 

[theoldwizard1]

All my air tools are at least 20 years old, used daily professionally...Where's your electric impact going to be in even 5 years?

Plus, quality air tools CAN be rebuilt !

 

[Mr_B]

facom ns1600f, can find it under mac brand too .
This my most used impact ever .
With your ratchet you want move forward to reactionless as they game changer .
Kuani make these, Astro (AP) have one rebadged and very affordable .
Lot of innovation in air tools and taiwan producing some very good patents and air tooling .

 

[Mr_B]

I cannot imagine why anybody would buy pneumatic these days, unless it’s for some specialty application.

Louder - check
Heavier - check
More powerful - nope

More than anything else, electric is so much nicer for getting in tight spaces since that damn air hose always gets in the way.

Air impact is lighter
better power to size ratio and better power in general.
They also far more durable and far less cost .
In a shop where you got air already I see minimal advantage of battery over air .

 

[richfinn]

I cannot imagine why anybody would buy pneumatic these days, unless it’s for some specialty application.

Louder - check
Heavier - check
More powerful - nope

More than anything else, electric is so much nicer for getting in tight spaces since that damn air hose always gets in the way.

More compact for automotive applications

Cost efficient (I think mine is over 20 years old and has outlived all my cordless impacts)

If you work in a shop with a decent air supply of course

 

[Fordguy1964]

facom ns1600f, can find it under mac brand too .
This my most used impact ever .
With your ratchet you want move forward to reactionless as they game changer .
Kuani make these, Astro (AP) have one rebadged and very affordable .
Lot of innovation in air tools and taiwan producing some very good patents and air tooling .

Thanks. Now I am curious because I have never heard the term "reactionless". What does that mean? What makes that so much better? I have owned the air ratchet for over 20 years and it is now getting long in the tooth. Time to move on.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Looking for a pneumatic 1/2" impact

There's one thing that everyone overlooks with cordless tools, their inability to hold up to chemicals and oils.
As a professional I don't want to have to replace my tools every few years because they are falling apart from brake clean and oils. I would love to use cordless tools for transmission work but they would never survive.
Though doing interior work is where I feel cordless tools really excel.

Exactly this here, I have a coworker who let the magic smoke out of his Milwaukee for dropping it in coolant. At least you can use your electric on interiors though at my shop we can’t use them on interior, spark plugs, brakes or oil pans or anything plastic, also no axle nuts either have to use hand tools for those. No power or air tools for those.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[rlitman]

...What about... in the International Space Station?

They've been cordless for 20 years now. Though they defeat the purpose of cordless by using a tether.

Thanks. Now I am curious because I have never heard the term "reactionless". What does that mean? What makes that so much better? I have owned the air ratchet for over 20 years and it is now getting long in the tooth. Time to move on.

A standard air ratchet turns the shaft, and all the torque on the fastener (the action) comes from your hand pushing on the handle (the "reaction"). When the fastener breaks loose, your knuckles start to bleed.

A reactionless "ratchet" using some sort of impact mechanism where your hand doesn't need to impart all that much force to move the fastener.

 

[richfinn]

Thanks. Now I am curious because I have never heard the term "reactionless". What does that mean? What makes that so much better? I have owned the air ratchet for over 20 years and it is now getting long in the tooth. Time to move on.

Basically it impacts like a pistol style impact wrench

This prevents it trying to tear your wrist off your arm
Like my old school Snap-On FAR70, you did get used to it eventually but it was a bit of a learning curve

 

[Mr_B]

As above but other advantages of reactionless is rpm speed and power supplied torque .
Kuani do standard size and nano version.
In a busy shop air is quite simply not replaceable and if you not making most of modern air tool advancements your work effort and profits will be paying the price .

I really like battery tools too but when in a shop environment I not going use a battery tool if I got a better air tool for the job and the small and light and high powered modern air tools make work faster and less fatigue and less damage risk as less of a struggle getting tool fastener alignment in situ due to small sizes .
durability another big issue .
we go through lot of battery tools, milwaukee good as warranty decent but snapon and matco been silly money if review it over 5-6 years cost .

 

[bcschief]

I will argue for air tools on this basis how many of these battery impacts will be around and working in 20 years ? I have an IR244 that is about that old not pretty but still works good.

 

[setfocus]

For a good high end rebuildable air impact, I'd suggest an IR 2235timax or a good aircat like the 1150

The tool truck impacts are good and rebuildable but you'll pay more for them with no real added benefit

IR 231c is a great mid level impact. Bigger, heavier and weaker but can last forever and enough power for most jobs

With an air ratchet, kinda depends on what you use it on. I've got a snap-on far7200 and it has some balls (70 ft/lbs I think) and has run out rusty/loctited bolts a cordless wouldn't touch, but equivalent snap-on new is like $400. The other half of the time I don't need the power and think about adding a cordless ratchet

Seems to be alot of hate towards air tools lately. Only 2 areas I've seen cordless beat air is convenience of no air line/compressor and noise

air is still more powerful, lighter, smaller, spins faster, and can take more abuse

as an auto tech that works in a shop with supplied air, air still wins over cordless, for 1/2" impact. The high torque units are just too bulky and heavy IMO. I do have a cordless 3/8 impact and an impact/driver that are used frequently

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

I use cordless and air, but if i had to pick one it would be air for sure. Only in the last few years have the 1/2 battery impacts become good enough for service calls. Before that, you needed a 4wd service truck with 100 feet of hose to reach equipment that was out on a muddy site but we were always able to get by. Still, when im on a service call the compressor is usually running anyway for something so its just as easy to grab an air tool as it is a battery. Same thing in the shop, the air compressor is already there ready and waiting, so no advantage for me there either.

With your budget, a 2135 or 2235 IR would leave you money left over and you couldnt ask for a better gun. I have a few snap on 1/2's and a CP 7748 as well, all are affordable for $400 but the only gain i see with the snap on is that its all metal so handles long distance drops better, but for most folks thats not needed. The cp7748 is a good gun too, but i think the ir has a slight edge power wise, but i like the rubber grip on the cp more.

 

[Fordguy1964]

facom ns1600f, can find it under mac brand too .
This my most used impact ever .
With your ratchet you want move forward to reactionless as they game changer .
Kuani make these, Astro (AP) have one rebadged and very affordable .
Lot of innovation in air tools and taiwan producing some very good patents and air tooling .

Is this the one you are talking about?

https://www.astrotools.com/3-8-mini-impact-ratchet-wrench.html

Are all "impact" ratchet wrenches considered reactionless?

 

[Ign]

I don't perceive hate toward air tools...it's just the times they are a changin'.

It's not happening overnight and air tools will still be around in 30 years just like some guys still prefer to drive carbureted vehicles...but the only constant is change

 

[richfinn]

Is this the one you are talking about?

https://www.astrotools.com/3-8-mini-impact-ratchet-wrench.html

Are all "impact" ratchet wrenches considered reactionless?

The "reaction" happens when the fastener suddenly stops turning and the torque starts to turn the tool body instead of the fastener!!!

This can result in trapped/skinned knuckles

With an impact mechanism the tool will just start hammering internally and the tool will stay in whatever position your hand holds it

 

[Rinspeed]

Very happy with my Aircat 1150 but I only use it two or three times a month.

 

[Mr_B]

Is this the one you are talking about?

https://www.astrotools.com/3-8-mini-impact-ratchet-wrench.html

Are all "impact" ratchet wrenches considered reactionless?

here links to the oem range

3/8
http://www.kuani.com/ugC_ShowroomIt...hidShowTypeID=21&hidShowCatID=9&hidShowID=108

http://www.kuani.com/ugC_ShowroomIt...hidShowTypeID=21&hidShowCatID=9&hidShowID=110

http://www.kuani.com/ugC_ShowroomIt...hidShowTypeID=21&hidShowCatID=9&hidShowID=111

http://www.kuani.com/ugC_ShowroomIt...hidShowTypeID=21&hidShowCatID=9&hidShowID=112

1/4
http://www.kuani.com/ugC_ShowroomIt...&hidShowTypeID=21&hidShowCatID=8&hidShowID=96

http://www.kuani.com/ugC_ShowroomIt...&hidShowTypeID=21&hidShowCatID=8&hidShowID=97

1/2
http://www.kuani.com/ugC_ShowroomIt...idShowTypeID=21&hidShowCatID=10&hidShowID=122

http://www.kuani.com/ugC_ShowroomIt...idShowTypeID=21&hidShowCatID=10&hidShowID=123

http://www.kuani.com/ugC_ShowroomIt...idShowTypeID=21&hidShowCatID=10&hidShowID=124

http://www.kuani.com/ugC_ShowroomIt...idShowTypeID=21&hidShowCatID=10&hidShowID=125

 

[Monte]

 

[Mr_B]

 

[setfocus]

interesting, mac has an impact that looks exactly the same except the color, it's metallic red and says Mac on it. I wonder who actually makes the tool...

 

[richfinn]

interesting, mac has an impact that looks exactly the same except the color, it's metallic red and says Mac on it. I wonder who actually makes the tool...

Same parent company, there is probably a USAG version too

 

[Fordguy1964]

Thanks all. There is a lot to absorb here. Many here seem to love the IR guns. Nothing wrong with that. I want something that a lot of people seen to have no complaints about. Maybe I will end up with something that I can hand down to my grandkids. I need to look them over and see which of the quality tools listed I like the feel and operation of the best. I appreciate the time and all of your feedback.

 

[jptbay]

I vote Proto J150WP titanium.

 

[Toyo72]

Same parent company, there is probably a USAG version too

Yep.

 

[Mr_B]

^
yes they are an in house design and very nice impacts, the ns2500g is the compact version with around 800ft.lbs

Only downside is they only have one setting in reverse, for that reason my favourite all rounder is still the ns1600f .

I wouldn't waste money on snapon air tool, too expensive purchase and service and warranty ***** .
Likes of IR AP ACT Kuani Aircat Facom/Mac offer better air tool design and value .

 

[JohnD2]

635 ft lbs.

https://www.acmetools.com/shop/tool...BF_c01v3GKz8WMJfKyCr_88jbUaAtEaEALw_wcB#specs

 

[midorix]

Thanks all. There is a lot to absorb here. Many here seem to love the IR guns. Nothing wrong with that. I want something that a lot of people seen to have no complaints about. Maybe I will end up with something that I can hand down to my grandkids. I need to look them over and see which of the quality tools listed I like the feel and operation of the best. I appreciate the time and all of your feedback.

You can add me to the IR fan boy. Been using IR 2135QXPA for about a year and love it. Very quiet and powerful for my use (primarily taking off lug nuts that are not torqued more than 100ft-lbs). Can wait to try to see if it will take off the famous Honda crank bolt when I have to do the timing belt change.

 

[bcschief]

If I was in the market right now for a 1/2 inch air impact I would get the IR Thunder Gun

 

[Ign]

If I was in the market right now for a 1/2 inch air impact I would get the IR Thunder Gun

Just curious...why?