Looking for new /2" drive impact wrench

[LD1]

So what did you end up getting?? Or are you still trying to decide??

 

[sixdogs]

So what did you end up getting?? Or are you still trying to decide??

Well, I got sidetracked and confused and stayed with my Harbor Freight 1/2" "Earthquake" for now. I just don't use it enough for the desire to buy another impact gun that I won't use sufficiently. What I could really use is an electric one so I don't have to start the two-stage compressor just to pop off some lug nuts.

For the infrequent user, the HF earthquake is plenty of power and pretty hard to hurt. I have broken loose things and big nuts that should never have come loose.

So there I am, probably ready to buy a quality electric impact--maybe Makita--when the mood of the moment causes me to buy it.

 

[LD1]

Well, I got sidetracked and confused and stayed with my Harbor Freight 1/2" "Earthquake" for now. I just don't use it enough for the desire to buy another impact gun that I won't use sufficiently. What I could really use is an electric one so I don't have to start the two-stage compressor just to pop off some lug nuts.

For the infrequent user, the HF earthquake is plenty of power and pretty hard to hurt. I have broken loose things and big nuts that should never have come loose.

So there I am, probably ready to buy a quality electric impact--maybe Makita--when the mood of the moment causes me to buy it.

I see.

I dont have any experience with the electric ones. So youre on your own there. But the makita cordless ones i have used were top notch.

 

[Bird]

I've no experience with the battery powered electric, but have owned a Black & Decker and a Craftsman corded electric in years past when we were full time RVers. They worked well, but not as powerful as my pneumatic impacts, and they were big and heavy.

 

[PhysAssist]

Well, I got sidetracked and confused and stayed with my Harbor Freight 1/2" "Earthquake" for now. I just don't use it enough for the desire to buy another impact gun that I won't use sufficiently. What I could really use is an electric one so I don't have to start the two-stage compressor just to pop off some lug nuts.

For the infrequent user, the HF earthquake is plenty of power and pretty hard to hurt. I have broken loose things and big nuts that should never have come loose.

So there I am, probably ready to buy a quality electric impact--maybe Makita--when the mood of the moment causes me to buy it.

I bought a HF electric (Chicago Electric 1/2" corded) 15 years ago with a coupon for around $30, it's not the mad torque of these high end air guns people
are talking (boasting) about, but it gets the job done day in and day out without needing a big a** compressor to use it, and I have found that extension cords don't take as much effort to run out to where Imight use it.

I also bought one of their long 1/2" breaker bars to use both for final torque and to break nuts/lugs loose where people have overtorqued them.

It is a pain to use only because the ball os long gone from the hub, and now the cord is getting loose, but I feel that I've gotten my $30 worth and then some. It doesn't get used every day, but 4-5 times a year, it gets heavily used on at least 4 sets of wheels.

Thomas

 

[crazyal]

I use the torque limiters, what kind of issues did you have? Does the more powerful gun negate the twist in the sticks? Thanks for pointing out the IR2135, I did not notice it when I was looking. The only problem I have is the price, I want a good gun, but I am just a tinkerer and use it to maintain my equipment.

I was in the same boat. I wanted a nice gun and as I started looking I realized that if I was going to spend the money then I might as well get as much power as possible since I'm buying a gun that should last me a lifetime. After plenty of research I decided to go with the AirCat. My AirCat is a twin clutch design and doesn't have the same "hammering" action that the twin hammer models have. It's more of a smooth constant force. I think the torque sticks need the hammering action. AirCat also makes a twin hammer impact that's pretty much equal to the twin clutch model I got. Mine is a 1200k while the twin hammer version is the 1150. Either can be found on-line for well under $200.

 

[crazyal]

I've no experience with the battery powered electric, but have owned a Black & Decker and a Craftsman corded electric in years past when we were full time RVers. They worked well, but not as powerful as my pneumatic impacts, and they were big and heavy.

I've owned a sears crafstman for 15 years or so now. My experience is pretty much the same. Good for lug nuts and driving lag bolts into wood but once it came to doing serious vehicle work it was out of it's element. Between the weight, it's bulk, and it's limited power it didn't work well.

For Christmas I got a milwaukee 18v 1/2" impact. It's got noticeably more power than the Crafstman but it's still bulky. Since getting it my corded Craftsman hasn't been used. Now the Milwaukee does almost everything and if it can't then I fire up the compressor and get the AirCat.

 

[crazyal]

Apologies to sixdogs for taking over his thread but at least we were talking about 1/2" air guns. I bit the bullet and ordered the IR 2135TIMAX. More than I wanted to spend on an impact wrench but decided in the long run I would be better off. I am not a daily user but I do use one a couple times a week. The biggest selling point was the reduction of weight in the gun and the smaller size to allow better access. Thanks for all the advise!

I think you'll be happy. I would upgrade to a 1/2" air hose and either the V style or P style Milton connectors. The powerful guns really like to have good air flow to get the most out of them.

 

[Guesseral]

I have a IR 1/2" and the snap ring fell out of the drive the sockets will not stay on, it still works but it is a pain nice unit. The only think I couldn't loosen up with it was the bolts on my brush hog blades not even when I heated them. I borrowed a really old 3/4" from a friend (not sure what brand) and it took them right off, this thing hit really slow but when it hit it was like some wound up with a sledge hammer man did it hit hard but it worked like a charm, I think he got it at a garage sale. Why can't I go to the garage sales that have good deals!

 

[Bird]

I have a IR 1/2" and the snap ring fell out of the drive the sockets will not stay on, it still works but it is a pain nice unit. The only think I couldn't loosen up with it was the bolts on my brush hog blades not even when I heated them. I borrowed a really old 3/4" from a friend (not sure what brand) and it took them right off, this thing hit really slow but when it hit it was like some wound up with a sledge hammer man did it hit hard but it worked like a charm, I think he got it at a garage sale. Why can't I go to the garage sales that have good deals!

I got my IR231 at a pawn shop a few years ago. Incidentally, you can buy that socket retainer ring and the rubber ring that goes on first (under the metal ring). I found even a lot of mechanics had trouble putting those rings on, and it's actually very quick and simple. Put the rubber ring on first of course, then lay the metal ring on a very hard surface; I used the flat spot on the back of my 4" anvil. Then press the end of the drive (also known as an anvil) straight down into the ring and rock the tool around to move the ring up, or while holding the tool down firmly, use a screwdriver blade to move the ring up into the slot.