Hey guys,
I'm wondering what kind of impacts you guys use... Thinking about something for suspension work, and stripping down an engine. I've got an aircompressor so its time to finish the package!

And anyother must have tools might fit well in this question :jester

 

ingersol rand i have at work and at home,plenty of torque,also $300.00 too.

 

Yowtch!

300 smackers... wowza

Prolly would last for forever though :smash:

 

So another dumb question...

1/2 drive or 3/8ths... I'm thinking 1/2 just because of the extra wall thickness on the sockets... but probably need one of each

Santee Clawz where are you :D

 

My intersoll 1/2 inch impact is gray plastic case, has a hard rubber cover over it, and red direction push buttons on rear of case, just below an inch diameter pressure switch.....
it cost me 80 bux at a hock shop.....1/2 of which was paid for in an upgrade from another brand....CP--chicago phneumatic....
VERY pleased with the Ingersoll.....
I have a Snap ON 3/8 impact from the same hock shop.....another 60 bux or so.....

GENE

 

I have an Ingersol Rand at home and a cheap Northern Hydraulics one at work that works just fine just not as much torqure 35 dollars

 

If it's an impact wrench you want, you buy something that says Ingersol Rand on the side. Everything else is just a toy. I have the same IR 2131 half inch drive impact wrench that mrvette has and just love it. I religiously buy Snap On, Craftsman, and S/K tools, but wouldn't buy any other air tool than Ingersol Rand. I've thrown out too many others. FYI, the Ingersol Rand 2131 will run you about $200 after shipping from most places, but remember with tools the old rule of "you get what you pay for" is ALWAYS true.

-Justin

 

I bought my Chicago Pneumatic in 83 when I was working in a garage. Paid 240 for it. I have used the heck out of it and it is still going strong. Ingersol Rand is also very good. I have a 3/8 one of these. Good tools last a long time. I would get the 1/2 inch for heavy work. The 3/8 is a luxury to have for smaller work. Also have a drill, 3/8 ratchet, 2 die grinders and an air hammer.

 

I have a Snap-On, like all of my tools. It's a little more $$$ but I found out you get what you pay for when it comes to tools.
:cheers:

 

heres a good link for you to checkout http://www.irtools.com/auto/prod/2impact/2impact.htm

 

Ingersoll Rand for me as well. 1/2" drive. 3/8" sears craftsman air ratchet. Have have both for 10 + years - never any problems with either.

 

Anotherthing I noticed, when I first got a compressor, and air tools....the one thing I bought was a CP 3/8 drive ratchet, used hell out of it for a long time...but in fact as years went by, and more tools were added...I find I was rong in my purchase/tolerance for too long....

I think going back....I should have gotten that 1/4 inch Snap air ratchet, and then socket from zero to 9/16 same in metric...and had over with it....
it's the most popular tool in my box these days....does everything the 3/8 ratchet does, but with only 30% of the size/weight....
more torque is done with a hand ratchet in 3/8 drive IF NECESSARY....but in fact seldome needed.....

so the most often used tools are 1/2 INgersoll impact, 3/8 Snap impact...and 1/4 Snap ratchet.......

these days I find in most metric cars....90% FWD....they are so small and dinkey anyway....1/4 drive is my most popular used tool set....

then it jumps to 1/2 for lug nuts....

GENE

 

I have a IR 231.

It's the same gun that Mac Tools sells (or used to)
You can buy the Mac protective cover for it.
One more thing - The IR231 is the best sounding impact gun ever. They make that classic low freq growl. (everything else sounds whimpy next to it)
I think I paid $160 for it at Sears about 10 years ago.


[Modified by 71coupe, 9:58 AM 11/28/2002]

 

I use the cheap azz CP unit that I bought at Home Depot or Lowes, don't remember. But, I use it about once a month on average.

 

Wow a wide variety... I hear where your coming from Mr. Vette, but... I'm a tool guy, the person with the most toys wins :jester

Sounds like the IR's are the way to go, Sears is having a sale on the Thunder and lightning combo... "Thunder gun features twin hammer mechanism. 10,00rpm. Lightening ratchet with two-speed trigger. 270 rpm. #19949" Reg. 299.99 Member Price 279.99

I think thats what I'll go with.

That brings me to another question... Air compressors, i have an old twin cylinder belt drive in the Barn, but nothing in the garage, I'm guessing that you probably dont want to use something like that to paint with.

So... what kind of preasure/size ya think would be needed for a gear head where size matters, but not so huge of a budget :jester

(by the way guys, thanks for the help :cheers: )

 

Hi ZD75blue:

Buy a IR231, if it doesn't loosen it will break it. I think it is the best air tool value for the buck. You see it discounted for $130, try Harbor Frieght Tools. For chassis work it works great.

Chuck D

 

OH, I got a fair amount of tools, enough to full a Snap top box and an old green projection steel cart under it....2 more shelves....

No brag, but in fact, I do as much with MY paultry collection than guys with much better bigger collections....faster too, as I don't spend 1/2 a day looking for tools.....only thing that at all sloppy about organization is the combination wrenches in American/English....they are in a pile in bottom of the box....the metrics are all neat in a row right next to them....

now the box to the untrained eye will look like a mess...but infact all tools are in their drawers, and such....
I mark my stuff unusually too.....drawers marked, Pliars, CUT, screwdrivers, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, etc....
CUT means anything to do with cutting---knives, diagonal cutters, tin snips..etc.....Pliars covers anything similar.... the rest is obvious....
I dearly LOVE my magnetic/plastic socket organizers, one for metric, one for english, one for 3/8 drive.....leave 1/2 sockets in the metal box on shelf....
makes for easy transport in a bucket for roadside work.....
sometimes less is MORE, entirely possible to drive yourself crazy over tools instead of just doing the job at hand......

BTW, I"M a semi retired home improvement contractor, so have every toolk known to man....so it seems.....I"m speaking of car tools only in my comments here.....

GENE

GENE

 

I know it's not really the same thing, but some of don't have compressors that will do much more than pump up a tire. Has anyone tried a Makita cordless impact wrench??

 

I've got a CP impact at home, IR at work they both have given years of trouble free service. I do have a Craftsman electric impact that I take when I have to go where there is no compressed air available. The specs on it are 240 ft-lb torque it's handy but bulky. But beats busting a gut if you've got to work away from home or don't have a compressor with enough cfm to run a pneumatic wrench.

Scott

 

i personally want a snap-on electric. no hoses :D