1/2 inch impact

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Mopar Tim

Mopar Tim

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Hey guys, just went thru my 1/2 inch impact tools, all of them shot. What tool do you guys use? I'm looking to spend a little as possable but prop. be in the 200.00 range. A good used tool is prob best, but what kind. thanks. And if you one for sale post here please. :burnout:MT
 
Ingersol used to be the chit. There are several new ones out now with the light weight body. I'm still using my old MATCO and it is a hoss.
 
Mopar Tim said:
How much for a new Mac light weight 600ft lbs or so tool? Got any good used ones?
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New ones are $3-500 depending on what model. The old AW234 was Mac's design and shared most IR231 components. There are a few parts not available for those old guns. The AW434 434A, and 434B were a great guns but most parts are not available for those. The 434m is a good gun and most parts are available. The later 4400's are good guns and most parts are available for those. All the guns I mentioned were made by Ingersoll except for the 434,434a, and 434b. Those were made by MAC at a manufacturing facility in St Louis. The plant has been closed for years and that's why most parts aren't available. They were great air tools and many of my customers still have die grinders that are still working good after 15-20 years. When they die they are gone! lol I don't have any good used guns around right now.
 
I use one of the MAC line of Impacts, but they are made by Aircat(Mac also has IR guns too). You can pick them up for ~150 in the Aircat branding(Maybe half what MAC charges). There is a large 1/2 and a 3/8 size small bodied 1/2 which is excellent and I recommend. I have both but the small bodied one is great for almost everything.

Note: My small Aircat did fail after tons of use but has been rebuilt, and it is not the newest model so it could have been improved since then.

Matco has an excellent line of lightweight impacts but they are pricey. Really the only guns that I have seen that are superior to the Aircats in performance and weight.
 
Bad Sport said:
Why not rebuild the ones you have?
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They were not very good when new. HF junk, or equivalent. I am going to fix what I can and give them with with some other tools, just like the rest of you I have lots of duplicates, to a 'At risk youth program". I will teach beginning auto Maintenance. In my "spare time". I need another gun for my use and this will be the last one I will ever buy. I'm only 55 so lots of wrench turning still ahead of me!
 
I've had a Chicago pneumatics for about 20 years and it's been a good one. We used them in an industrial application and they were rock solid.
 
CP used to be good, I too have an IR I bought in the early 80's. I would tear yours down first and have a look. Most air tools are easy to work on
 
The Ingersol 231. Badass and you'll have money left over.
 
I have both air and electric impacts. I use the electric more than the air. If I was looking for a new one I think that I would go with electric.
 
I have a Cornwell lightweight body and if you spring for one you will not regret it. I am not 55 but after the last time I did a major pull job on our antiquated frame straightner and had my old impact in my hand all day, I bought this. I love it and so far everybody in the shop has had to borrow it to bust something loose. That represents about every make that has had to go to mine to do a job. Scientifically there are a lot of variables to that statement but just sayin'.I think it is made by Ingersoll Rand and was around $265 Illinois price. Our local farm store has IR tools and they are decent quality. I have the air chisel in that line and while not as smooth as my old Snap on it is far better than HF or Equivalents.
Another aspect to consider that we normally don't is the violence of the cheaper guns. I have been to a surgeon to see about getting my hand repaired and he let me know that the most destructive action to your hands is banging on something. Not repetition but something like the jarring a impact does to them. Oh yeah, he said impact gloves are as effective as running into your head with a car and putting a pillow between them.
 
mguner is right in his Harbor Freight recommendation. I have had the Central Pneumatic Earthquake - item#68424 impact for several years now. It works great. I use it frequently. It may not be the best choice for a professional mechanic who will use it every day, but it works great for me. I don't buy many tools from HF, but I have had excellent lock with the pneumatic ones.
 
MY I.R. was purchased in 1976 and is still in service today.I still remember that purchase,the price was $46 from the Snap On Man......
 
Darter6 said:
MY I.R. was purchased in 1976 and is still in service today.I still remember that purchase,the price was $46 from the Snap On Man......
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And he sold you a IR gun because they were so good and the Snap On guns were not. LOL
 
Depending on what you're trying to do you might want a stubby impact. I picked up an AIRCAT stubby impact (linked below) and Have found it extremely usefully for things like taking stubborn brake calipers off or exhaust bolts. Now, while it can and will take tires off I wouldn't use it for doing that job on a daily basis. For my day to day tire changing and really stubborn bolts (where it can fit) I use an Ingersoll Rand.

AIRCAT
http://amzn.to/1lCrH0Y

IR
http://amzn.to/1lCrU4g
 
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