Hey,

I'm looking to pick up an air impact wrench. I will be a light user so don't need top of the line. Any suggestions?

Anybody used this one?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=2623

I am normally reticent to buy from harborfreight but the cost is attractive. I'm looking for input on things to get or things to look out for. Thanks!

-Mike

AirCat 1/2. Strong, light, cheap, and durable.

http://www2.northerntool.com/product/200314927_200314927.htm

Cost attractive at those prices?!?!?

You can easily go to home depot and get their mid-range Husky 1/2 impact (500ft/lbs) for around $90ish? I think Craftsman has a similar one for the same price too. Believe me, once you hold Harbor Frieght tools in your hands, you'll regret the purchase...well, exception would be the aluminum jacks.

make sure you have a good compressor that flows enough CFM or you will just get pissed off.

make sure you have a good compressor that flows enough CFM or you will just get pissed off.

not just compressor, but hose diameter is important also.
i hate going cheap on tools. whatever you get, keep it lubed if it's not under constant use.

not just compressor, but hose diameter is important also.
i hate going cheap on tools. whatever you get, keep it lubed if it's not under constant use.


how dose hose diameter play a part and what size is best?

What it being used for?

If itsjust for wheels, definitely look into getting a half decent quality electric impact gun.

Extremely convenient and pays for itself very quickly :)

What it being used for?

If itsjust for wheels, definitely look into getting a half decent quality electric impact gun.

Extremely convenient and pays for itself very quickly :)

I second this. My cordless impact is actually better than my coworkers cheapo harbor freight air impact wrench.

I have the Husky 1/2" impact wrench, that was bought for @ $100. It was made in Japan and works very well. Just keep it oiled and it won't let you down.

Harbor frieght is not as bad as people think...but you get what you pay for.

Only time I order from harbor frieght is when I know i'll be throwing the tool away after the use I bought it for :)

Makita makes a 24volt Impact Wrench (BTW200) and an Impact Driver (BTD200) - the Driver has a small hex female socket end on it to take screwdriver bits. These wern't selling well so they were clearing them out a while ago for less than $200. It turns out that there are only about $30 in parts differences to turn that driver end into a real 1/2" impact wrench end. The Impact Wrench is still selling for north of $500!

It lasts me for multiple tire swaps all weekend, and also takes the nuts off my Suburban which are torqued to 135 ft lbs.
cheers,
bruce

I have a Harbor Freight rechareable 18 VDC unit. I also have a 1/2' Ingersol Rand pneumatic. Normally I use the battery powered wrench because it is more convenient.

Craftsman 1/2 inch rechargable. Good for 150 lugs per charge.

Thanks everyone - I already have the Snap-on 18v cordless and am looking for something with much more torque to break bolts in the garage. I'll check out the Husky at Home Depot today...

Now does anyone have a good opinion on a bigger compressor and air distribution in the garage? :)

-Mike

I'll check out the Husky at Home Depot today...

Now does anyone have a good opinion on a bigger compressor and air distribution in the garage?

I got a 13 gallon compressor, 5.5 cfm @90psi compressor on wheels from Home Depot (their "blue" house brand -- they seem to only show Husky on the web now). This is the low kind with one bigger horizontal tank. I like that it is on wheels, and I have wheeled it around my house quite a bit (blowing out sprinklers in the fall, inflating rafts, etc. It runs an impact wrench w/ no problem. I don't think you could spray paint with it, at least not continuously.

Maybe you want a really huge upright one -- don't know.

I have no advice for a permanent distribution system, but sounds like a fun project with lots of PVC glue. I'd think that 1/2" Schedule 40 supply pipe would be fine, no? It certainly would be easier and cheaper than sweating all those elbows in CU.

I also bought the cheapo Husky 1/2" impact wrench. Works fine. It is a bit heavy (which matters when I bring it to the track in my car), but other than that, it's fine. I'd also buy a 3/8" air wrench. Very handy for spinning off those long bolts that are just tight enough that you can't do it by hand.

Buy a package of accessories and you get an air chuck for filling tires and a puffer for blowing stuff out and pushing out caliper pistons.

You may know this, but there are two different standards for fittings. I don't know which one I have, but NHIS has both types in the garage, so you can't go wrong. I bring my air impact driver to the track and leave my cordless at home. That way, I have air and a puffer too, right in the bay.

Thanks for the advice Dan. I already have the accessories as I have the craftsman 3-gal compressor. I bring them up to NHIS as you do. I'll pick up the 1/2" air tool today and try it - if the compressor doesn't have enough flow I'll just have to get a bigger compressor!!

check this out

http://www.eppys.com/Shop/Product.cfm?Item=IR2135TI&CategoryID=12&SubCategoryID=11

Iggy w/ 1000ft lbs

Thanks for the advice Dan. I already have the accessories as I have the craftsman 3-gal compressor. I bring them up to NHIS as you do. I'll pick up the 1/2" air tool today and try it - if the compressor doesn't have enough flow I'll just have to get a bigger compressor!!

autocross97 asked how is hose diameter important. an air tool has a cfm rate it needs. at a given psi, an air hose can only flow a given cfm.at home a have a 20 gallon compressor with a thin hose. if i use a 1/2" drive gun in that thin hose, the pressure drops rappidly in the hose once the trigger is pulled. ideally you want the biggest fittings and hose you can stand using. it would be like hooking directly to the compressor tank.

you want the hose to flow more than the gun can use. this way you always have max available pressure. instead of max pressure for two hits of the anvil and low pressure as the tinny hose tries to empty the tank.

i have 1/4" ID hose if I remember correctly, 50 feet long and it powers my impact wrench just fine. and keep it oiled or it will go bad