For the home mech who will use it primarily on wheel lug nuts.

Anyone had any experience with Craftsman 1/2 pneumatics? (I know its not an IR or SK) but.....

 

Well I had a Craftsman 1/2" impact once, til it was stolen. I don't remember what model number it was, but it's 625?foot pound torque. I think I paid around 275.00 for it a few years ago.Anyways, it was a great gun. I used it on the job, and at home in the shop. I wish I still had it.

 

this is the impact i got from amazon. amazing power. Im a med duty mechanic and it takes off everything on a 5ton dump truck. I only had to bust out the 1" IR once for some rusted on lug nuts.


Amazon.com: Ingersoll-Rand 2135TiMAX 1/2-Inch Air Impact Wrench: Industrial & Scientific

 

Don't know if it's the same one, but mine has three impact adjustment and 450ft.lbs torque. I've had it for about two years, paid maybe $125 and has done well. Just look at the spec's to see the torque rating. If it's around 225-250 stay away from that one. I had the lower rated one and it didn't last long.

 

Forget the Crapsman get the best gun on the market. I love my old Craftsman stuff but the new stuff is China crap.

AirCat Air Impact Wrench — 1/2in. Drive, 6.4 CFM, Model# 1404BG | 1/2in. Drive | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

Found this Craigslist ad in a search:
Snap-On MG725 Air 1/2" Impact Wrench - $250 (sells new for $400+)
MG725 Features:
• Unit delivers an outstanding 1,190 ft. lb. (1,613 N•m) of Bolt Break Away Torque!
• 810 ft. lb. (1,094 N•m) of Recommended Working Torque

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/tls/1502252183.html

 

I forget what numbers they where, but when looking for my new impact gun, I went to the local Sears hardware store. For a cheaper price, but more powerful gun, I bought an Ingersol Rand impact. Love it. Dont take much to loosen lug nuts, or some heavy rusted nuts.

 

Yes, you gotta have a good impact gun. There's nothing worse than when you go to loosen a stubborn lug or bolt, and the panzy gun just sits there, "tappety tap tap" and nothing else happens.. You might as well tap on it with a butter knife.

 

A good penetrating oil also will take the teeth out of any rusted nuts.

Spray them hit the stubborn ones with oil then hit them for a second with the impact. Let them sit & have a pop it takes 5 min to soak in all the way.

 

340 ft lbs isn't a heck of alot, but for $40 you can't complain. Everybody has let you know how great IR is which they are but they are gonna cost you. I supose the sears model is ok for removing lug nuts. If you get it home and it sucks just take it back, I've done that wit a small air ratchet. The guy didn't even open the box to check if it was there. I think the best gun for a resonable price would be a IR 231.

 

Thanks everyobe for the FYI-

Yeah, 340 lbs wasn't a lot but my inlaws got me one (surprise) for x-mas (haven't opened the gift yet) and they got it on sale for $20....

IR is no doubt the king, just wanted an FYI/opinion so I could decide if I should keep it 9how can you go wrong for $20) or immediatly return it for ?

Thanks,

Jeff

 

Finally got a chance to use it and......

While it doesn't have enough torque to bust the lug nuts loose (100 lbs tq setting on lugs)..

for $20 you can't really go wrong because I break the lugs loose by hand & use the gun essentially as a star wrench to remove and then re-install the lugs- then torque down the rest of the way.

For a real tq wrench, yes, go with IR.

 

wow it's rated at 340 yet couldn't handle 100? What do you have the air pressure set at? I would crank it up max.

 

It was set at 100psi at the gun....much more and I might bust something loose in the Chinese tool

 

Don't bother these guns are junk. Guy I work with is on his second in 2 years and my IR which I got before his has never broke. I'm not impressed with any guns Snap-off makes