Recommend an impact wrench for father's day

[tmpenner]

Looking for recommendations on a 3/8 or 1/4 impact wrench for my dad for father's day. I personally don't like impact ratchets(knuckle busters). We have IR 1/2 and 3/4 for the heavy work, but for tight areas a 3/8 would be handy. Our cummins mech that ran the rack on our 855's has a 1/4 impact and swears by it for smaller things. I think it was a snap on with quite a bit of torque. What do you guys think as far as brand, model, and size? Your opinions and recommendations are greatly valued and appreciated.

Matt

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I swear by Ingersoll-Rand impact guns... . I have used a few of the Snap-On models, but the price does not justify the performance.



IR stuff is durable and doesn't cost an arm/leg.



Matt

 

[parcher]

The Ingersol Rand composite 3/8 gun is simply amazing! Enough grunt to remove the lug nuts from a passenger car!

 

[esommer2500]

Dad has a Chicago Pneumatic in 1/2" and a cheap Campbell Hausfeld (?) in 3/8". He's had the Chicago for over 20 yrs. and it is still the first gun he reaches for. The Campbell he just bought last fall, and it is OK, but if you are going to be using it all the time, I would vote for something of a little better quality, be it IR or Chicago, Snap-On, etc. FWIW.



Eric

 

[Rob Thomas]

Originally posted by parcher

The Ingersol Rand composite 3/8 gun is simply amazing! Enough grunt to remove the lug nuts from a passenger car!

I 2nd this gun, once you have it, it'll be the only one you use, very nice.



Later, Rob

 

[d90boy]

I'd go with the IR 2131 for a 1/2" and the 2112 for the 3/8". Both work very well. I've also got the Snap-On IM6100 1/2" and the IM31 3/8" and they don't work as well and are larger in size. There's a new titanium version of the 2131 that looks good. One bit of advice is to use the air fittings that have the large 3/8" inlet hole. Most 1/4 NPT ait fittings neck down to a 1/4" diameter hole for the air. The 1/4 NPT fitting i use are larger and have a straight through 3/8" hole for greater air volume. They will increase performance of your air tools.

 

[bmoeller]

IR is what I like best. My 1/2" impact is stronger than the 3/4" CP that my boss has. It'll take the dual wheels off the tractor.



I also have a 3/8" butterfly impact that I got from the JD dealer. Works great. Not 100% sure who makes it for them.

 

[cap-n-cray]

Cummins Pneumatic

About 10 years ago, I was at an equipment auction. They were auctioning off all sorts of machinery stuff. I bid on a couple of things... a small bench top ban saw in pieces (still is). They also auctioned off some new stuff. They were auctioning off about 30, 1/2 inch impact wrenches at a one each price. At the end when all the bids were in the last bid was the price each for the remaining. I thought $35. 00, I take one at that price. You needed to come back later in the day to pay for the tools and pick them up.



Later that day I paid for all my purchases and pick up the stuff. The impact wrench was in a new box. When I got home and started looking at my stuff mostly junk, I open the 1/2 inch impact wrench only to find a brand new 1 inch Cummins Pneumatic impact wrench. The auction was at a business that was closing that day. I have used it maybe a half a dozen times. I really need the 1/2 inch, but its a Cummins.



I just found that out it was a Cummins when I looked at it tonight. Boy was I lucky. Now I have too mighty Cummins or is that Cumminii? Oo.



Should I bomb it?



Cary

 

[Leewhiskey]

GO with the ingersoll composite 3/8. Owned one for 3 years and not regretted it at all, lots of power, high free speed, small and light.

 

[illflem]

Cary, sorry to pop your bubble but Cummins tools are just a Chinese ripoff, nothing to do with the engine maker.



I use a C-H 1/4'' drive ratchet style impact for the tight spots, wouldn't be without it. Doesn't have the torque to break nuts free but you can use it like a manual ratchet to break fasteners free then use the air to finish them off.

 

[tmpenner]

Thanks for your replies. We have a 1/2" composite IR 2131 and really like it. So I guess I am leaning toward the IR 2112 right now. Do you guys think it is really worth the extra money over the IR 212(-$45) or IR 215(-$68)? I have learned you get what you pay for, but was wondering if any of you guys use these for the lighter work and save the tough jobs for the 1/2" IR 2131.

 

[skobylenski]

The Cummins stuff if junk. They're the traveling tool sales people who come to your town for 2 days and set up in the local American Legion club or Army Reserve gym and sell junk for 2 days. I haven't found anything good that they sell. My dad bought one of those "knuckle-busters" and it has less torque than a regular ratchet and my arm

 

[HoleshotHolset]

The Cummins tool guy comes to my hometown every now and then too.....



I would never buy anything important like a torque wrench... . but there are some good deals on refurbed power tools.



I got a hankering for a good metal chop saw..... hope he comes back soon - he had a Milwaukee unit for cheap bread last time.



Matt

 

[Hohn]

I have the Gun for YOU!



It's the IR Thunder Gun! It's huge on the manliness factor.



In the end though, the composite IR guns are every bit as powerful, and much lighter. THe 3/8 composite will hang with almost any 1/2" gun.



BTW-- the Craftsman Professional composite 3/8'" gun is this exact same IR gun with a crapsman logo on it. Look at them both-- there's no way they are different. Same pushbutton direction changes and everything.



I would get either the Craftsman version or the real thing the IR composite gun. There's simply none better. They're also more efficient on air than a lot of larger guns in that power range.



HOHN

 

[Hohn]

BTW, TMP:



Where in ND are you from? I am a ND native myself... soon moving to Cheyenne (yeah, finally getting out of the South!)



Hohn

 

[tmpenner]

Hohn,



I hail from the metropolis of Marion-population 180 if you count the dogs and stray cats! Half way between Valley City and Jamestown, then south 20 miles.

 

[Hohn]

I know where that is. Had to go down to Linton for some football My Bro played f-ball @Jamestown when he was in college, and worked at Wahpeton canvas for a while.



I lived in Beulah, then Mandan, and then Bismarck. Loved my 7 years in ND. I am moving to Cheyenne, and that's closer to ND than I thought I would be able to get. Love ND!



Hohn

 

[Will24]

For an impact you CANNOT BEAT IR! I have had my new 1/2" 2135 Ti for abour 2 months now and it is the baddest impact I have EVER used! This thing kicks a$$!

 

[RPosey]

Has anyone tried the new 1/2" Titanium IR ? They are advertised as having more torque than the Thundergun.

 

[Will24]

The titanium one is a 2135Ti. I've had mine for a little over two months and it's AWESOME! I haven't had it completely stall out yet, including lifting my 10 year old never-been-apart toyota pickup (suspension and body)