WHATS A GOOD IMPACT WRENCH?

[PoorMansCat]

And if that chrome socket breaks, it might become the hand grenade KOUA mentioned.

On the weekend car shows (off-road, extreme 4x4, hotrod tv, etc.. ) you always see those ya-hoos using a brand spanking new 1/2 impact with no dirt on it along with a shiny new chrome socket...
Good thing they aren't really using them... A chrome socket cracks and splits up the chrome plating it will fillet your hand!!!.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

Bird,
Thank You. Your info saved a couple of my old impacts. When they got week I replaced them and threw them in a box. After reading this thread I dug them out and looked for the lube points you pointed out. Sure enough there they were. A little lube and they were running like new again. I always thought when you added oil through the line you were lubing every thing. I guess it's a guy thing.I don't need to read the instructions I know how to run a impact.
Bill

 

[Scotty370]

Besides the lubrication issue, I suspect that the 'pressure/volume drop' over your long run of air line/pipe, is adding to your grief! Lube them up and run them right at the compressor. I think you'll see a marked improvement. ~Scotty

P.S.-I didn't read all 90+ posts, just about 1/2 of them. Sorry if this is duplicate info. ~S

 

[automech]

Every shop I've worked at had unregulated air. The big compressors come on at 125 and run to 175. There is a difference in power when using the higher pressures. Most guys will let the gun hammer away for a while on the stubborn stuff in hopes of saving a trip back to the toolbox. I'll usually go 30 seconds or so just to see what happens, and sometimes will wait for the compressor to come on and build up to full pressure before a final attempt. If that fails, it's off to the toolbox for a manual setup or a bigger gun. Since I am working on mainly cars and pickup trucks my old IR doesn't fail me too often though. I think maybe 4 or 5 times this year I had to break out the 3/4" gun. My old CP 3/4 was only rated for 700 ft pounds but it sure does hit harder than any 1/2" gun in our shop. Oh, and the tighter the socket fits on the fastener the better for power purposes. A loose fitting socket absorbs some of the hammer blows

 

[escavader]

BUMP,
Ifinally got time off from work,and ive been to hd and bought some 1/2 pipe and fittings,and im gonna attempt a system.Id like to post photos along the way and get your input.
First question ,I noticed in KEVEN JS photos a short jumper hose between the compressor and first pipe.Im assuming that direct hookup of the iron isnt reccomended because of vibration? OR NOT?
Gonna try to draw a pic of my proposed system,scan it and show it stand by
ALAN

 

[escavader]

see if my scan pic works ,if so input please
ALAN

 

[IXLR8]

Alan,
Pic came through, although it would have scanned better in black rather than blue, it is a bit tough to read. Yes, you want a flex between compressor and pipe due to vibration.
Did you ever try to hook up Impact Wrench directly to compressor rather than through all that tubing?

 

[escavader]

no i never tryed direct ,i think id need at least75 feet to have enough operating length.im trying to hard pipe everything ,having valves to close branches that im not using ,having drains,and a designated branch off the main just for the impact,with just a short operating hose.Ihad no tubing,it was all hose

 

[Chilly807]

Another way to improve wrench performance at the end of a long run of pipe/hose is to have a storage tank, say 20 gallons right at the beginning of your "impact only hose". Any stored volume of air is a plus, and the closer to the gun the better.

Sean

 

[nickel plate]

I've been out of the air tool repair business now for nine and a half years, but until then, the most popular half-inch impact wrenches for professional mechanics were the Chicago Pneumatic CP734 and the Ingersoll-Rand IR231. They were entirely different styles and designs, but both produced the same amount of torque; i.e. 425 ft. lb. MAC, Matco, and Cornwell all had versions with their own names on the tools, but they were just Chicago Pneumatic or Ingersoll-Rand so the parts were interchangeable.. Snap-On has very similar impacts, but just different enough that if you ever need parts, they have to come from Snap-On at much higher prices.
Incidentally, my own current half inch impact is an IR231 that I gave $40 for at a pawn shop.

Bird,
I've read a lot of your comments on various subjects and found them reasonable as per different subjects so when you mentioned that you were in the air tool repair business, I purchased an IR231C and you should see the grin on my face..... The best 1/2" impact wrench for the money-buy it once!