Looking for new /2" drive impact wrench

[Mendonsy]

I have been looking at this gun for a replacement, Ingersoll-Rand 232TGSL 1/2-Inch Super-Duty. Anyone have this one, any problems, do you like it? Thanks!

Ingersoll-Rand 232TGSL 1/2-Inch Super-Duty Air Impact Wrench Thunder Gun - Amazon.com

I have an IR-2131 which i believe is the predecessor to the 232TGSL. I've been using it for about 15 years with no problems.

 

[MossRoad]

Chicago Pneumatic Pistol Grip Impact Wrench, 7 1/2"(L) | Staplesｮ

One of the best impacts is Chicago Pneumatic. This one is still made in the US too.

You linked to a printer at Staples.

 

[LD1]

If it was me I would spend a little more for this IR.

Ingersoll-Rand 2135TiMAX 1/2-Inch Air Impact Wrench - Amazon.com.

The 2135 is the gun that you'll find most mechanics have.

Thats the one I have.

Light and very powerful. I cant say anything bad at all about it.

 

[Turbys_1700]

About 15 years ago or so I bought a Cummins Tools truck 1/2" air wrench off their truck for $50...
I've owned it now for all those years and it has performed flawlessly...
If has 450 ft. lbs. of torque and works really well...
If I was in your shoes I would opt for the IR or look at the local Harbor Freight units...
They seen to have good reviews...

 

[Scooby074]

The IR TiMax as mentioned above is a solid unit.

personally I use a Mac AW434. Its been beat and still works good. Very strong for a 1/2. There is one on ebay currently for $50! its supposed to be new. Great price for a very solid, old school gun. Parts are still available. New Mac Tools Air Pneumatic 1 2" Impact Wrench AW434 Rated 625 ft lbs Torque EXC | eBay

 

[The Fred]

I am an automotive technician by trade. I have 3 IR 2135 TiMax guns. I use 2 of them every day all day. I love the lightness, just over 4 lbs.
I bought a spare just in case and it sits there because the first 2 haven't broken yet. I bought the first one when they just came out, can't remember maybe 5 years ago.

I have owned many over the years including Snap-On and Mac, cheaper IR models (#231 I think) but these 2135s are the cat's meow. Maybe you can find a refurbed or used one cheap, you'd love yourself for it down the road.

Fred

 

[Buckgnarly]

Love my 2135, great gun with lost of power.

 

[IXLR8]

I have the IR 2135 QTiMax gun, I'm very happy with it now. Reviews were great, it only seemed okay, it didn't seem to be the bolt buster that everybody talked about. I had used some Milton "L" QD fittings I had around to hook it up. Based on comments on the "Garage Journal" site I changed the fittings to the Milton high flow "V" fittings. WoW it is like a different gun!! Before I was tightening lug nuts feeding the gun at 90psi, that would torque the nuts to about 90 ft-lbs. With the change in fittings, anything above 60psi to the gun and I am over 90 ft-lbs on the nuts. What a difference better air flow to the gun makes. No matter what gun you get, make sure you have the best air flow to the gun that you can provide.

 

[Dozernut]

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!

 

[sixdogs]

No apologies needed. I actually forgot I started the thread and found the impact discussion very helpful.

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!

 

[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.