Hi!

I need a middle of the road impact wrench for my 'home' garage. I just tried a CHEAPO and it wouldn't even budge the lugs on my truck so it's being sent back. I used a buddies 'Husky' and it whipped them off with no effort at all. So, I need one and I'm looking for suggestions.

Thanks in advance

 

I have a 1/2" Craftsman that came with the compressor I bought about 9 years ago.
Hasn't let me down once. Biggest nuts I've busted are lugs on my F250. Zipped 'em right off.

 

I will second the recommendation for a Sears Craftsman gun. I have something similar to
this, apparently this is what mine has evolved into since I got it (around 3-4 years ago):
http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_101...2_00919983000P

Hopefully, the site will remain available long enough for me to be able to post this....

 

IR2131 (lots of people here including me have them).

I just replaced it with a $150 1/2" 600 ft # AirCat from Northern Tools. Going to see how it handles spring bolts and nuts this weekend I hope.

 

The IR 231 is a classic and not too pricey. Works well, been around forever.

 

Yup, I have one that's branded for Mac tools. Nice, good power, and it's lasted almost ten years so far.

 

Not sure how the true torque value of an impact wrench is determined. Believe the cheapest Craftsman impact wrench has maximum of 340 ft. lbs torque yet when neighbor, who said he purchased the mid range Craftsman, needs to remove the lug nuts on his F150, torque of 150 ft lbs, he has to borrow my I.R. 231. Perhaps the tools cfm requirement is a factor, not sure. Having said that, I would probably look for one with the most torque and least cfm requirement I could afford.

 

Hmm... This the one?

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...4424_200124424

 

First rule of air tools.... run the shortest and largest hose you are comfortable with. I could not believe the difference when I went from 1/4" hose to 3/8" hose. If the air isn't available, nothing is gonna move.

A guy I worked with had a Craftsman 1/2" impact, and while there are a lot of Mac, IR, Snap-on impacts in the shop, that Craftsman was the hardest to hold a wrench on a bolt for. It had an odd impact rate that made it hit hard. When the going got tough though, my Snap-on came out, and when that didn't do it, the Titanium IR.

For the average guy, I wouldn't go all out for the Snap-on or Mac brand name, although I do think they are built better. Maybe hold out for a good used one. Otherwise, I've never had a problem with impacts unless I bought the absolute crappiest junk I could find. One cheaper impact that does stand out is a Cambell Hausfield that I took on trade for fixing a guys car.... half way through the job I had to use it to get a harmonic balancer bolt out when his new Blue Point replacement wouldn't... he wasn't happy about that.

The Titanium IR has/will take off lug nuts at work @ 500 ft/lbs. Hands down the evilest 1/2" impact I've seen.
If you ever get electric impact, Milwaukee 28V 1/2" has no equal IMO

 

IIRC, they calculate the torque from the clamping force of a tightened fastener.

 

The IR guns are really cool. I have the 1/2" and 3/8". Work like a champ. Got to find the grease kit for them so the last though. There are allot of variables to what these guns will do though. Compressor, hose diameter, hose length, quick connects.

 

IR 231 seems to be getting rare ( probably not made any more)

Any comments on this one -- IR231QT?

Ingersoll-Rand 1/2 in. Impact Wrench, Quiet Tool

 

Thats a good gun.

The 2115 and 2135 Qti Max are what I have.

 

> I could not believe the difference when I went from 1/4" hose to 3/8" hose

I agree, about the worse thing you can do is use those 1/4" yellow coiled drop lines.

 

I use a IR 2135Ti every day but other guys I work with still use a version of a IR 231. HF has made a copy of it but I have no idea how good it is.
Ingersoll-Rand IR231C 1/2" HD Air impact Wrench Gift - eBay (item 200402643634 end time Dec-05-09 12:35:03 PST)

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=94803