1/2" Drive Air Impact Wrench Suggestions??

[RamThatStroker]

Looking for good 1/2" impact wrench. Pretty new to world of air tools and will be using the wrench to remove lugs from truck and general mechanic work. Need some suggestions that won't break the bank...



Thanks,

Joe

 

[JFaughn]

For tool usage my experiance is buy the best 1st and ***** once insted of tring to get by on the cheep and ***** every time you try to use it. I would get the more powerful snapon there still quality and some service , being that its home use and you do not plan an seeing the truck the same time every week.

 

[05mxdiesel]

exactly what he said, I went through so many cheap impact wrenches I could of bought 2 of the best. When I broke the last one I changed my direction on tools.

 

[Turbo Thom]

The best I've use to now, is the ones off the Cornwell truck. I was told they made their own. I don't know but I don't know but I do know they are strong and dependable.



. . Preston. .

 

[Johnstra]

What CFM rating is required on a compressor to run a good 1/2 impact wrench?

 

[DieselTweaker]

Ingersoll Rand!



IR2135Ti Im pretty sure that's the half inch gun it's an OX, spend the money on it once and you wont have to worry about another gun, just keep it oiled and greased and your fine.



I hardly use mine becuase the 3/8's version dose everything I put it up to, I use it for lug nut's all the time, my snap-on man cant understand how i break a 21mm 3/8dr deep well all the time.



AND PLUS YOU CAN USE THIS GUN ALL DAY LONG AND NOT GET TIRED OF HOLDING THEY ARE VERY, VERY LIGHT WEIGHT!

 

[Dl5treez]

I have four 1/2" air guns--yea sounds ridiculous but hey, I'm a tool guy.



IR 2131 composite

IR 2131-2 composite w/ 2" extended anvil

MAC AW434B

Brunnhoelzl



The composites are from the first couple years of production and have done well.



The MAC AW434B is a beast--very heavy, but very strong.



The Brunnhoelzl is... . well... . actually it's a stupid toy, but fun stupid toy. It has a niche purpose and really isn't practical (or safe for that matter) for doing anything other than tire changing. Ever watch NASCAR? Then you get the idea.



The new IR titaniums are pretty nice; I may have to look at one if my current guns ever die.

What CFM rating is required on a compressor to run a good 1/2 impact wrench?

A good quality 1/2" impact wrench in decent shape will run well with ~5cfm of ~90psi air, but they'll take as much as you can give them, and a large tank with a compressor that recovers quickly is always a plus.



I prefer to have more compressor than I need; the extra capability can come in handy. JMHO

 

[JoshPeters]

I'm with Dl5treez and Partsman... . The IR Composite body guns are the best out there. I have 2 of the 3/8 drive, one for home and one for work. I also have a Titanium 1/2 drive at work. The only time I use the 1/2 drive is on lug nuts on my truck! The 3/8 drive does everything else!



Josh

 

[Will24]

I use an IR2115 composite 3/8 gun (well, it says matco on it, same gun) for most work, and a 2135Ti composite/titanium 1/2 gun for the big stuff. Guys in my shop laugh when I use the 2135 for truck tires, but it works better than the shop 3/4 gun... That 2135 RIPS, it will destroy even the $400 snap on guns some guys have, there is simply not a comparison.



This gives you an idea how durable/powerful the 2135 is...



I use it for...



Head bolts (isxs, N14s, m11s etc)

Main Bolts (ISX, N14, M11, L10, you name it)

Truck lug nuts (yeah... big truck lug nuts)



It is almost too powerful for small work, I think I need to add a separate regulator to make life a little easier.



Anyway, any of the IR composite line, you CANNOT go wrong with!



-Will

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I'll also put my vote in for the IR2135. In my case I bought the Qti which is a quiet version of the 2135Ti. It's an awesome impact gun. Compact, lightweight, and rate at 1,000 ft/lbs of nut busting torque (insert toolman grunt here). You can get them online for around $216 - I bought mine from this guy http://cgi.ebay.com/Ingersoll-Rand-...tcZphotoQQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem . The quiet version doesn't lose any power and only costs a slight bit more and it shocks people how quiet it is.

 

[Matt400]

Before I had a Snap On Dealer I broke my favorite 1/2" impact and needed something right quick so bought

one of these#ad
and have worked it hard everyday at work with no trouble.



Now that Brandon comes by, next time I need one I would have to go with this one#ad




Dang Steve, that ebay price on the 2135 is good!

 

[BarryG]

I posed this question a year or so ago and got most of the same type responses. I ended up going with the IR 2135 as many have mentioned. That thing just plain rocks. It made my old one look like a piece of junk (ok it really was anyway) I didnt know what I was missing until. Honestly couldnt believe the difference in performance over my previous now only used for a doorstop cheap pos impact.



When I bought it I searched the web. Even Sears had a good price on it at the time but I found it at MAXTOOL.com for 225. 00 and free shipping. DO search for it as I found a 100. 00 difference on the unit from highest price to the lowest price I found.

 

[JLEONARD]

You have to go with an IR for sure. My son has a shop, and the IR wrenches have easily outlasted the Mac and the Snap on.

Jay

 

[RamThatStroker]

Thanks, guys for the advice. Will be looking around the net to find the right price...



Joe

 

[CyberRanger]

I have a Snap-On IM51 I bought new about 1984/5 & is still runnin' strong, although I'm not a professional wrench anymore. I've never found a fastener it couldn't take off or break off. We used to use it to remove Dayton wheels from logging trucks when our shop 3/4" IR wouldn't cut the mustard.



I keep it oiled (probably why its lasted so long) every time I pick it up (3 or 4 drops). It doesn't eat a lot of air & is light enough that I've never bothered w/ a 3/8" drive.



Other guys went thru 2 or 3 IRs or CPs while I owned my Snap-on. Wouldn't have anything else.

 

[Pmaloney]

I agree with the IR composites being nice but Northern tool has the IR "Thunder Gun" for 179. 99 right now. I own that gun and love it (everyone in the shop hates it because it is LOUD) but it is strong. I have not been very impressed with Snap-On's newest offerings, overpriced and underpowered compared to IR.

 

[MMiller]

I have an IR, its not composite, but it works well. My service truck compressor kicks out at 150 psi. The impact works much better off my truck then in my garage. I firmly belive that the impact gun is only as good as the air. 90 psi an impact is weak, 150 it moves parts. Many times my 1/2 gun will run with most peoples older, 3/4" impacts. Now I do have a composite 3/4" IR impact. That one just flat out rocks.



Also, I buy my impacts off the snap on truck, I know I probably pay more, but he lets me make smaller payments, specially on a $600 impact.



Michael

 

[DieselTweaker]

Michael,,, you must be speaking of the all mighty 2141( I think that's the part #)3/4 composite your right that gun flat out ROCK's and it's as light as most 1/2 guns

 

[MMiller]

That could be it, I'll look later. I think its right around 1000 ft lbs of torque for removal, and 900 or so on tightening.



With the 1/2", and the 3/4" I have, there has only been one bolt I could not take loose. We broke my 3/4" breaker bar, with a long pipe, welded the breaker bar, and broke it again and then ended up torching the washer out from under the 1 1/2" bolt head. Then I could screw it out with my hands. The pin retainer had broken off, and the pin in an articulation pivot had twisted in the bore, tighening the bolt with the hydralic steering of the machine.



I have a blue point 3/8 composite gun that always impresses me. I do believe it works better then my first 1/2 impact. I have used it to r&i wheels on my pickups before.



Michael

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Believe it or not the Thundergun isn't rated as strong as the 2135. The Thundergun has a max torque of 625 ft/lbs in reverse - the 2135 has a max torque of 1,000 ft/lbs. It also weighs 50% less and is a lot quieter (especially if you get the QTI version). A friend is a professional mechanic and uses a 2135 and has busted loose nuts that the tech next door can't break free with his thundergun.