Wanting first impact wrench

[kude]

Chalk another vote up for the IR2135TImax

I have one and wouldnt be without it.

You asked the question "what can a 3/4" do that a 1/2" wont do"

Well that is a hard question to answer because they are all different.

The 1/2" can be had from a low as 100ft-lbs to 1000ft-lbs
The 3/4" can be had from ~600ft-lbs to over 1500ft-lbs

So I guess if you have a 1/2" with 1000ft-lbs and a 3/4 with 600, the 1/2" can actually do more.

And as far as sockets sizes go, I personall have a 1/2" set AND a 3/4 in set And use adapters for the 3/4. My 3/4 set is 7/8 up to 2-1/2 and my 1/2" set goes up to 1-5/16.

So I guess to sum it up, for a home shop (unless you are a trucker or big farmer) get a 1/2". They are a lot lighter, they are faster (3/4" are SLOOWW), and even the good ones are usually cheaper.

And DONT get the $30 ones at walmart or a-zone. I have had a few of them and its a 50/50 shot as to wether they will even break a lug-nut on a car loose:confused2: There have only been a few times my 2135 has let me down. And both times required the use of a 24" pipe wrench and a 4' bar as still a lot of grunt.

If you have a big tractor or equipment a 3/4 might be nice. I have a 3/4 socket set but only use it once in a blue moon on the equipment I have.

 

[whistlepig]

I have used several name brand air impact wrenches over the years. Got tired of dragging the air hose around and went with an 18 volt Milwaukee model 2662-22 M18.

This thing has all the torque I could ask for. Very portable.

Just sayin....

I am a big believer in cordless tools. I went cordless grease gun because of the hose issue. On impacts I think air impacts are the way to go. The Milwaukee 2662-22 M18 puts out 450 ft lbs of torque. My Ingersoll 2131 puts out 602 ft lbs of torque.

 

[k0ua]

I will throw in my 2 cents. I have a old "5 hp" Campbel Hausfeld compressor direct drive noisy, piece of junk, probably about really 1 to 1.5 HP. my impact is a $25 old Campbel Hausfeld Wal-Mart 250 ft lb 1/2 inch. I have used it maybe 20 years now, and it has broken loose hundreds if not thousands of nuts thru the years, and driven more Lag bolts than I could count, and twisted off a few, when I wasnt carefull. Yes it is junk, but the junk has lasted many years, still works well, and has helped me on more projects than I can count. So the moral of this story is even a cheap junky impact on a "big box store highly overated" compressor can enrich your life a lot. I highly recommend getting as much impact and compressor as you can afford, but if all you can afford is the budget items, then even they can work.

James K0UA

 

[LD1]

I am a big believer in cordless tools. I went cordless grease gun because of the hose issue. On impacts I think air impacts are the way to go. The Milwaukee 2662-22 M18 puts out 450 ft lbs of torque. My Ingersoll 2131 puts out 602 ft lbs of torque.

And as long as your power aint out and you air compressor is on, you never run out of juice in that IR 2131

I think that is a similar to the 2135???

I really wish I knew what mine (2135TI) was actually rated at. Sometimes I see them listed AT 1000ft-lbs, sometimes 800ft-lbs, sometimes the list them at "over 700" etc.

I do thin the owners manual list it @ 780 reverse and 600 forward and something like 1000 peak??? Who knows

I think The CP2.0 Turbo is anther one with a high rating, as well as aircat????I think

 

[cowski]

1/2 ingersol rand titanium best one i have had. i have 1/2 sockets as big as 1.25.i also have a ir 3/4,way more powerful.

 

[crazyal]

I would look at the Aircat 1100-k. It's assembled in the USA and will give you tons of power. It's got the same power as the IR 2135 (another beast) but at about half the price.

 

[whistlepig]

My compressor is an Ingersoll Rand 5.5 HP, 11.8 CFM At 90 PSI (Honda motor) My line is 3/8. What size gun will do well with this setup? thanks

11.8CFM AT 90PSI is a pretty hefty compressor. The manufacturers of the impact guns specify what CFM at what PSI is required. Different size guns have different needs.

 

[LD1]

11.8CFM AT 90PSI is a pretty hefty compressor. The manufacturers of the impact guns specify what CFM at what PSI is required. Different size guns have different needs.

I know they spec the CFM requirements, but I think that is what the tool actually consumes as it is RUNNING. with an impact, it is such intermitten use, I dont think the CFM is too terribly important for home garage use.

As long as you have 10gallon or bigger air tank on the compressor, and 90PSI, ANY of these good impacts we all are talkinga bout should have no trouble at all zipping off all the lug-nuts on a car or truck. And then while you are rotating the tires and starting the lignuts back on, you air-compressor has done recharged and ready to zip them back on:thumbsup:

 

[Scooby074]

US made? Theres only one manufacturer left AFAIK. Snapon.

The MG725 is a HOG.MG725, Impact Wrench, Air, Heavy Duty, Magnesium Housing, Standard Anvil, 1/2" drive Absolutely the best out there in 1/2. It WILL take the place of a 3/4. Magnesium housing too so its light. I dont own one but tried one several times, I had an older snappy that died and the MAC guy made me an offer on a package of stuff i couldnt refuse.

In my deal with the MAC guy, i got a older version of this : https://www.mactools.com/shoponline/product/tabid/120/p-318395-12-impact-wrench.aspx Which is essentially an IR 231. Its been a very good gun, used commercially by myself. However it isnt even close to the MG725. Cant speak to the COO of the current one, but mine was made in Taiwan i believe.

Your compressor and air line are fine for any of the 1/2" guns for your use. However if you step up to 3/4 or 1" you should increase your hose size.

 

[Bird]

US made? Theres only one manufacturer left AFAIK. Snapon.

You might be right . . . now. I've been out of that business now for nearly 10 years, but when I was repairing them, Snap-on impacts were made in Japan just like Ingersoll-Rand and Chicago Pneumatic. MAC & Matco were just re-badged IR or CP. Parts were interchangeable. But not Snap-on. Their tools were generally no better, no worse, than IR & CP, but parts cost 2 or 3 times as much.

My brother was a Matco distributor, but was friends with his Snap-on competitor so they both sent me their air tools to repair, so I worked on lots of Snap-on and Blue Point tools, too.