Which air impact gun is better?

[d33pt]

I've acquired two of them. Only need one. IR 231G and Craftsman Pro 19864.

IR231G is spec'ed at 500lbs. It is made in China.
CM Pro is spec'ed at "over 700lbs". It is made in Japan.

CM is slightly lighter. IR is slightly smaller. My gripe with the IR is that the R/F selector and air regulator is really not intuitive to use.

Which one should I keep?

 

[DHS]

I would go with the CM pro. Japan made is usually pretty high quality. 50% more torque is also plus. I have CP impact and never needed another so I have no experience with either of yours.

 

[warpedredneck]

of those 2 the IR would be my pick
if you choose the CM let me know what you want for the IR
i could use another

 

[boogerboy72]

that ir will last long enough to give to your grankids.

 

[May Pop]

IR is the only way to go!

 

[back2class]

Craftsman. You buy an impact for power and there is too much difference to me to even consider the IR. I have several IR air tools and like them, but think when it comes time to get a stuck nut off if you keep the IR and it comes up short you will kick yourself and IT WILL HAPPEN.

 

[alamerang]

I would just keep them both. Use the Craftsman when you really need to loosen a stuck bolt and as a backup. Rebuild kits for that model IR are pretty common and they are really good guns.

 

[Art From De Leon]

Are the ratings for the Craftsman believable, after all this is the same company with the 5HP, 120V air compressors, the 6.5HP weedeaters, the 12HP walk behind lawnmowers, the 15HP vacuum cleaners, etc.

All HP ratings are fictitious, obtained using New York Times testing methodlogy, i.e. completely fabricated, yet believeable because the mainstream media says so.

 

[DHS]

Isnt some of CM Pro air tools made by IR? I have also heard Florida Pneumatic makes air tools for them.


Edit: I think that impact is made by Florida Pneumatic if so it would be top notch.

 

[Joe H]

Are the ratings for the Craftsman believable, after all this is the same company with the 5HP, 120V air compressors, the 6.5HP weedeaters, the 12HP walk behind lawnmowers, the 15HP vacuum cleaners, etc.

That is what I was thinking. My vote goes to the IR.

 

[daveblank]

IR wtihout a doubt. I would be willing to bet that it has more power than the Craftsman.

 

[Joelfke]

I've acquired two of them. Only need one. IR 231G and Craftsman Pro 19864.

IR231G is spec'ed at 500lbs. It is made in China.
CM Pro is spec'ed at "over 700lbs". It is made in Japan.

CM is slightly lighter. IR is slightly smaller. My gripe with the IR is that the R/F selector and air regulator is really not intuitive to use.

Which one should I keep?

I have that cman pro wrench. It IS ****! 700 lbs.....as in inch lbs? the gun barely puts out 100 ft lbs on a GOOD day.

id take the IR any day of the week

 

[d33pt]

Did some research and I think the CM is made by Florida Pneumatic. As for the power rating, I have no idea if it's accurate. That's why i'm asking the experts.

If the IR was made in USA, it would be a no brainer for me. The MIC label puts me off a bit, but people seem to swear by IR.

I would keep both, but I already have a Kobalt that I use normally, and the IR was my go-to when there was a stuck bolt. Don't really need THREE impact guns.

 

[Monte]

Craftsman - made in Japan !

 

[DHS]

d33pt you should try them both on some lug nuts/something and keep the one that seems the most powerful. I am curious now to which one is more powerful. Has the CM ever been used, it looks new?

 

[emeraldcoupe]

i'd keep the ir. the cm's are usually very weak even when new.

 

[bindernut]

I have an IR231. Used it for years at the mower shop. Bullet proof impact wrench!

 

[d33pt]

I will test out the CM. I just bought it. Haven't used it yet. There are a bunch of different IR231's. Mine is the G. Bindernut, is yours made in China too?

 

[crewchief888]

IMHO the IR 231 is the industry standard.
before you SO guys crucify me hear me out.
ive never had a SO impact, but 1 tech i know has one and liked it, another hated his.
ive tried many different 1/2 drives over the years, and the IR231 has been the best for the money
my current IR231 is going on 15 years old, never gets greased or oiled, freezes solid in my service truck. and still does the job. it needs an anvil again, and could probably be rebuilt, but has outlasted any other gun ive used