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snapon vs matco air hammer

smothers33

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Mar 16, 2012
Messages
355
im looking to get a new air hammer and im looking at these 2. the matco mt2816k and the snapon ph3050b
http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/MT2816K/LONG-BARREL-AIR-HAMMER-KIT/
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=682048&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
ive used the matco and i was impressed
but i generally like snapon better especially air tools because i know matco rebrands alot of their air tools and i dunno whether or not the matco is a rebrand and can be had elseway for cheaper or not. either way which of these would you say is the stronger gun. im not too worried about price i just want the strongest one
 
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shurik06_83

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Apr 1, 2012
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136
LOOK INTO THE MAC its only 260$ from the truck i asked my mac guy last week and its just as bad *** as any of the 2 ur looking at
 

jcbarry

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Oct 27, 2011
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South Jersey
While I dont have experience with the Matco, I recentlypurchased the Snap On hammer. It's a beast, very strong. Don't have a single complaint and love the quick release.
 

66dave

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Nov 28, 2010
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Boise!
I have the Snap-On, and I have to agree with jcbarry.

What ever you choose do get a quick disconnect for the bits, it will make any air hammer you buy a true pleasure to work with.
 

shurik06_83

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Apr 1, 2012
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136
the mac and snappy hit harder then the ir 118 max i donno how but they do
cool things working in a shop with lots of tecs is everyone has different tools
one guy has a 118 max it hits harder then my old junky ir but the mac is a beast the snappy is about the same as the mac but cost more but the ir max is the best deal so its how much u can spend
 
OP
S

smothers33

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Mar 16, 2012
Messages
355
LOOK INTO THE MAC its only 260$ from the truck i asked my mac guy last week and its just as bad *** as any of the 2 ur looking at

we dont have a mac guy only snappy and matco. thats why im between those 2. i dont wanna buy online and i wanna buy off the truck so i can make payments
 

bobcatdan

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Jan 4, 2011
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Kaukauna,WI
I have the matco and it works very well. I bought it when my mac died. After I bought the matco, I saw the same hammer eles where. Cornwell has the same one and for the six month SK offered air tools they too had. I recently was able to get my good old USA made mac rebuilt and the matco has come home.
 

wannab20hatch

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Sep 11, 2011
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329
Location
Gainesville, Ga
For me it depends on what you need it for. As a mechanic breaking ball joints and tie rods loose Id say get the SO one. Im in a body shop and it has a ton of power sometimes to much. So for more delicate stuff I like the CP 714 the trigger is lighter giving me a little better control.
 

Seanbev24

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Mar 25, 2010
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1,000
Location
Lynnwood, Wa
LOOK INTO THE MAC its only 260$ from the truck i asked my mac guy last week and its just as bad *** as any of the 2 ur looking at

So the Mac guy, trying to sell you a Mac tool, says it's as good as the Snap-on. I haven't tried the Mac, just think that's pretty funny. :lol:

OP, for general automotive use, the PH3050B is by far the best air hammer I've used.
 

amlv20

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Nov 6, 2012
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CEN-CAL
I have the Mac one its good for what I need it for, I am hinting my snap on guy for the green air hammer.
 

devilsnight

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Nov 4, 2012
Messages
181
The matco hammer is excellent, it's probly cheaper from ingersoll-rand though. I hate the snap-on hammer, its loud as hell, with no more power. The only thing I don't recommend is the matco bits, I'd just buy the hammer rather than the kit.
 

JeepsAreBuilt

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Nov 24, 2006
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The Beautiful NorthWest
You might want to take in consideration that the SO 3050 design is unique(unless other started to copy). It has a "t" design making the gun more balanced. Supposedly it has a vibration/impact reduction feature making it less hard on your hands/joints. I've heard the 2050 was more powerful than the 3050.. but I think the new features makes up for it.
 

66dave

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Nov 28, 2010
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Boise!
My dad had the 2050, and I have the ph3050B. I asked my (and his) SO deal about the difference in the feel. I thought the 2050 felt like it might have more power. He mentioned that there is vibration damoners in the ph3050b, that is why it feels different. He also mentioned that the 2050 is prone to cracking in the back becasue of the lack of dampening.

To see if there was a difference we ran them side by side in a stump, the 3050 was significantly more aggesive.
 

Skin

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Feb 24, 2010
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11,713
Location
Boston
My 2 cents, for all the praise on here the 3050A I got doesn't really impress me. Just incredibly loud and the trigger is basically full bore or nothing. The latter is a big killer for me as I find teasing an air hammer trigger makes it far more useful at random tasks like knocking fasteners loose or getting stubborn components apart with minimal damage. My 3050A takes one wack before it flies all over the place so I don't even bother anymore after trying that a couple times. If I were to do it over again i'd get a 118. The trigger feel is night and day, you can tease the 118 all day long, hits plenty hard for just about anything you'd encounter in the world of automotive repair, and costs around a quarter of the price of the snappy.
 
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mattmankow

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Dec 31, 2012
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Westminster, Maryland 21158
I have the Mac and SO ph3050. Bought the ph3050 when the Mac died and didn't have a Mac man. Finally sent it in for rebuild. Now the Mac is regulated to backup duty, probably never use it since its backing up the ph3050.
 

Skin

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Feb 24, 2010
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What is the difference between the 3050 and the 3050B?

i believe its only been cosmetic changes. The PH3050A differs from the 3050 by the introduction of a rubber grip, and the B differs from the A by making the quick release standard.
 

mikebramel

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Apr 7, 2010
Messages
510
Location
WI
Look up Superior Pneumatic. Will put both of these to shame and has a controllable trigger
 

Rezeppa

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Sep 23, 2012
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Location
Newport, MI
I work on concrete pumps, gunite rigs, and shockcrete pumps. I use my air hammer more frequently than anyone I know. It gets on average an hour of usa every day. I went from a really nice CP with a larger shank size to the Snap-On PH3050. I will never buy another air hammer besides SO. There is no comparison in my opinion. Mine has been through the ringer and back I have dropped it off cat walks with no problems. When I bought it I did my research too and everyone I had talked to said SO or CP. after I had so much success with the air hammer I bought the MG325 and was highly disappointed I am not a huge advocate for Snap-On air tools but they hit a home Run on the PH3050. There has been no other to hold up as well to the abuse I put mine through. I have destroyed about ten fittings in it from use but it just keeps ticking.
 

Rob Cornwell

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Nov 17, 2011
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Naptown
Just speaking price here, but Cornwell has the IR118 kit on sale for $199 and their 250mm kit on sale for $229. I have always had good luck with IR, and the Cornwell (I believe) is the same as the Matco, just branded for each co.
 

SKAutomotive

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Oct 6, 2012
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Location
Rhode Island
And I to, 2 joints on wrangler 3 weeks ago.

You use your air hammer 3 days a week. I use mine 3 times or more a day. You and I are on whole different planes of experience.

I will and have put my PH3050 up against any air hammer and I will win. I know this, because I am constantly loaning it out to guys who thought their 118 was the balls.

Sorry, you don't want to accept it. The PH3050 is just better.
 

Djstorm100

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Nov 8, 2010
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589
Location
Raleigh NC
You use your air hammer 3 days a week. I use mine 3 times or more a day. You and I are on whole different planes of experience.

I will and have put my PH3050 up against any air hammer and I will win. I know this, because I am constantly loaning it out to guys who thought their 118 was the balls.

Sorry, you don't want to accept it. The PH3050 is just better.

Point is it's your opinion usage doesn't mean jack, it's about getting the job done. I haven't had a case where mine didn't. If you ever worked on 4x4 that are beat to hell and back know how hard the drivetrain and suspension suffers.
 

SKAutomotive

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Point is it's your opinion usage doesn't mean jack, it's about getting the job done. I haven't had a case where mine didn't. If you ever worked on 4x4 that are beat to hell and back know how hard the drivetrain and suspension suffers.

My SO PH3050, will succeed when other air hammers won't. What are you not getting? In 7 years of professional wrenching, in New England, do you think I haven't dealt with beat to hell and rusted suspensions?

You buy what you want. For everyone else actually interested in what is the best, despite brand loyalties and desperation to validate a purchase decision, the PH3050 is king.

Oh, and for the record, most of my air tools are NOT Snap On.
 

jjb

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Feb 13, 2012
Messages
51
Location
Minnesota lakes country
SKAutomotive is right about this. The majority of auto technicians (who use these every day) will also agree with him. The Snap ON PH3050 is a great air hammer.
 

ncautoshop

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Aug 22, 2011
Messages
252
Yea the snap on is a bad mother. Tried a matco and a few other brands. Don't fool yourself, nothing compares to it.. I'll post a picture of mine, its been abused, thrown, driven over and much more. Still just as stout as the day I got it.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
 

Rezeppa

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Sep 23, 2012
Messages
444
Location
Newport, MI
Maybe I didn't say this I have 3 IR air hammers I have two CP and a Michigan pneumatic. The best by far no comparison is the Snap-On PH3050. This topic can be beaten to death but. the proof are the results and no hammer produces like the Snap-On. Buy a SO and don't look back. If it doesn't do what you need it to do buy a rivet buster.
 
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