air tool recommendations
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 0
From: Remsen, NY
Craftsman professional 1/2 impact is an IR2131A with a different sticker. It's about $190. This is the one with the black plastic body with the four position dial and the two buttons on the back of it. I've been very happy with mine.
Tuned
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 317
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
I would also go with Harbor Freight air tools with maybe the exeption of the 1/2 impact guns and even then HF lists one rated similar to the IR 625 Lb. "ThunderGun. Knokoff is called "Earthquake and lists for $99.00
Chet
Chet
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 482
Likes: 2
I just posted this bit for another thread:
"I have an import cheapie impact that would not always do the job of getting the nuts off. I got an IR 2131Q that is a dream. Last time I used it, it took a bit longer to get the nuts off. I found out my compressor had tripped off and was down to 50psi. Half air pressure and still working. I was impressed. "
The china cheapie served me OK for quite a few years. It was OK. But there were many times my life would have been a lot easier if I had the IR then. If you can afford it, get the IR. If you can't afford it, get it anyway.
"I have an import cheapie impact that would not always do the job of getting the nuts off. I got an IR 2131Q that is a dream. Last time I used it, it took a bit longer to get the nuts off. I found out my compressor had tripped off and was down to 50psi. Half air pressure and still working. I was impressed. "
The china cheapie served me OK for quite a few years. It was OK. But there were many times my life would have been a lot easier if I had the IR then. If you can afford it, get the IR. If you can't afford it, get it anyway.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 799
Likes: 0
From: State of Misery (Missouri
74hiboyboy question about Aircat
I have used Chicago Pneumatic, Ingersol Rand, Campbell Hausfield, Mac tools, Sears, harbor freight specials, and can say for most, for home use you can get by with cheapies except for , Impact guns and Air ratchets. IR makes stuff for a lot of people (craftsman, snap~on, mac ) but several manufacturers do this. I believe Aircat got started this way. Chicago Pneumatic tend to be the Cadilac of air tools (from everything I've seen, they provide the highest torque). Fine for breaking things loose, but it agravates me when people tend to tighten eveything on the max settings ( there are torque values and I get tired of replacing broken bolts). sorry vent
74hiboyboy have you tried the Aircat impact guns? It's stats match the IR but it is a lot less, I just hate to be the first one to try something.
74hiboyboy have you tried the Aircat impact guns? It's stats match the IR but it is a lot less, I just hate to be the first one to try something.
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
I have a Ingersol Rand 1/2 drive impact and 3/8 air ratchet. A Blue Point 3/8 drive impact. One of the most handest air tools in my CP 3/8 drive butterfly impact.
Last edited by D305; Feb 17, 2005 at 06:31 AM. Reason: spelling
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New User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1
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Air Tools
As a Heavy Duty Mechanic for the past 28 years I have seen lots of different air tools. For the home shop, I would definitly stick with the lower priced tools. On a whim about twenty years ago I picked up a 3/8" air rachet at Costco for $29, it is the exact body style as the $250 Snap On one except it is not chromed.All the guys in the shop laughed at me, it still works and it cost me about a buck and a quarter a year to own so far.
I now work at a College for Heavy Duty Mechanics and two years ago we had to replace a die grinder that was worn out. As we were on a tight budget I picked up 2 from Princess Auto for $9 ea. To be honest I did not think they would last, but two years later and daily abuse by students they still work fine.
If a person goes out to Costco or Walmart and buys one of those combo air tool kits for 150 bucks, it will do them just fine if the keep the clean dry and oiled. I have recommended them to our students, and they are working well busting bolts off on Cats, so Im pretty confident they will work for home. No use falling in to that Brand name trap unless you have money to throw away.
I now work at a College for Heavy Duty Mechanics and two years ago we had to replace a die grinder that was worn out. As we were on a tight budget I picked up 2 from Princess Auto for $9 ea. To be honest I did not think they would last, but two years later and daily abuse by students they still work fine.
If a person goes out to Costco or Walmart and buys one of those combo air tool kits for 150 bucks, it will do them just fine if the keep the clean dry and oiled. I have recommended them to our students, and they are working well busting bolts off on Cats, so Im pretty confident they will work for home. No use falling in to that Brand name trap unless you have money to throw away.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 799
Likes: 0
From: State of Misery (Missouri
Talked the other day to a machinist/ hotrod builder buddy of mine, he went to some auction and bought a table full or "worn out" air tools. I need to find out where all he went, but he rebuilt almost everyone and even gave some away, by the time he was done he said he had some good air tools and even made $10.00 to boot. (only 10 cause he knows all of the people he sold them too and they always swap help back and forth).
One of the mechanics at work bought/buys high dollar Mac and Snap~on stuff and has it rebuilt about once a year. When it came time to do stuff at his house, he "borrowed" my lower priced IR's,"because they were smaller". He never seems to learn about value shopping, I should sell him stuff and make money. He bought a Jeep because he liked it; I was at his house when he opened up the envelope to see what his payments were, and for how long. Just signed the paperwork and drove off, no clue how much he spent.
One of the mechanics at work bought/buys high dollar Mac and Snap~on stuff and has it rebuilt about once a year. When it came time to do stuff at his house, he "borrowed" my lower priced IR's,"because they were smaller". He never seems to learn about value shopping, I should sell him stuff and make money. He bought a Jeep because he liked it; I was at his house when he opened up the envelope to see what his payments were, and for how long. Just signed the paperwork and drove off, no clue how much he spent.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,439
Likes: 6
From: Spokane WA
Just buy the cheap airtools. buy a better impact gun than the 250ft/lb gun that comes in most sets, but a $75 Harbor Freight gun is just as good as an IR impact gun (the new IR stuff is made offshore now too)
