Air Impact Wrench

OkieG · May 20, 2003

...they manufacture their own tools in Asia and they are sold under several labels.


Hi John,
When you say "they", do you mean IR? If IR manufactures their own tools overseas, that would probably give them the most control over the finished product.

OkieG

Bird · May 20, 2003

( heard they're spec'ed out overseas and imported, but don't know for sure )

I'm afraid that's true of just about all the air tools. All the later model IR, CP, Snap-On, MAC, Matco, etc. have something somewhere that says "Made in Japan" or just "Japan" on them. Some of the cheaper tools may say "Taiwan" instead. Last I knew, Sioux tools were about the only ones made in the USA (great tools, but expensive). I've noticed some of their prices have come down a bit; don't know whether they've started having them made in Asia or not.

And I don't know who made your particular Craftsman. It "appears" much like some CP models. I didn't like to work on Craftsman air tools simply because I had to order parts directly from Sears, pay retail price for the parts, wait too long to get them, and sometimes had orders messed up. For instance, rotor blades are generally sold in sets of 4, 5, or 6 depending on how many the tool uses. The first time I ordered a set from Sears (and listed on their price list as a "set of 6"), they sent one, but charged for the 6, called them, they agreed it was a mistake and sent one more; 6 phone calls to get one rotor blade at a time. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

There are many many air tools that you can take apart, look at the parts, and swear two tools are the same thing, but then find that one or two pieces that are only 1 or 2 mm difference in size means the parts are not interchangeable and will not work. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Anonymous Poster · May 20, 2003

OkieG

When I said "they" I was referring to my conversation with Alltrade. Wouldn't doubt that IRs are made in Asia also.

Now days, more and more manufacturing is being moved from the USA to Asia and Western Europe. What is scary is that even sensitive hi-tech devices are now manufactured in China and other Asian countries. Before long we will lose our technological advantage and our capability to manufacture. In a short period of time those hi-tech devices will be reverse engineered eliminating our technological advantage.

John

Pacesetter300 · May 20, 2003

I bought an IR air drill through a tool catalog and it was made in China. I wrote with the warranty card that I would check in the future and if an IR tool I was interested in was made there, I would not buy it. If enough people do that, they will get the message.
Pacesetter

jmattox1 · May 20, 2003

JWE,

An extended anvil or long anvil is where you attach the socket to. It is like the impact has a built in extension. It offsets far enough when unbolting most wheels you will not need an extension.

Jon

Anonymous Poster · May 20, 2003

Thank you okieg,I was just at a welding supply place today,been there before but never had air sockets on my mind,the got all kinds of them,if any body out there knows what size the kingkutter takes let me know,I bet its also a 1 11/16",I will call kingkutter. RICHARD GAUTHIER

Anonymous Poster · May 20, 2003

I belive thats what I'll get,the IR-2131,with the 2" extended anvil,that and a torch. RICHARD GAUTHIER

BillyP · May 20, 2003

Richard, I'm not tryin to tell you what to buy but there might come a time that those 2 extra inches might keep you from getting to where you need to be.

On the torch thing, be careful. You wouldn't want to ruin a seal by heating too much.

Anonymous Poster · May 20, 2003

Thanks Jon... I always thought an anvil was a big hunk of iron that you used to beat metal on. Guess there is more than one meaning.

I always learn something here!

John

Bird · May 20, 2003

( thought an anvil was a big hunk of iron that you used to beat metal on )

I did, too, until I started working on air tools. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif