Impact Wrench Suggestions

[1972K20]

What's a good pneumatic impact wrench to look for when shopping around? I only plan to use to occasionally for hobby use. How much torque is needed when working on old rusty bolts and such?

[snj8198]

This one doesn't add up to the specs that they market it as, but based on your stated intended usage and the price, it's a good fit.

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-...nch-62891.html

Here's a really good analysis vid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmqKp6k9F-I&t=1s

And a comparison test vid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG8KU_ln77k

Get your hands on a 20% or 25% off coupon and for new it's a no brainer. If not, keep your eyes open on CL for a good used one.

[RIc10]

I have a snap on that is strong as hell. IR makes great impact guns too. The electric impacts have come a long way too. I have a makita one that takes off lugs no problem and even removed a subframe bolt once.

As far as rusty bolts go, heat and some PB Blaster help a lot. A nice breaker bar and a pipe for leverage will crack anything loose.

[Indian113]

Put a drop or 2 of air tool oil in it whenever you plan on using it. It will help the tool last longer. IMOP get the strongest one you can and Hope you never need All of The Strength.

[truckster]

I have had the Earthquake XT for a couple of months now, and I'm very happy with its performance. I just used it today to change a couple of CV halfshafts on 20+ year old Subaru, and it broke everything loose with ease.

[ElKotze]

Ingersoll-Rand's are very well made. But there is something to be said about electric impacts. We got a milwaukee electric impact for the shop and nobody is touching the pneumatic ones anymore.....

[rharris]

You mentioned pneumatic, but here is my $.02 - find a good battery operated impact. I bought a Milwaukee drill that came with an impact as 'free' and I use the impact for everything I can. I use it so much that what it wouldn't ratchet off I bought a 1/2" drive Milwaukee impact. If you don't have a cordless impact, I bet you will love it if you get one.

[snj8198]

I'm tooled up in the Milwaukee 18volt line up too. I've got the 1/2" brushless impact with hog ring and it breaks loose almost everything it touches. It truly is awesome performance from a cordless tool but I dont think this helps the OP as it's too expensive for occasional use.

1972k20: What size of rusty bolts are you typically working with? Something found only on a pickup frame and lug nuts or are you working on heavy equipment like bolts for a tractor bucket teeth? Most rusty hardware on a truck can be unfastened or broken off with most 1/2" impacts with a good working air supply.

[sevt_chevelle]

I worked with a guy in a professional setting, collision repair, that had nothing but Horror Freight pneumatic tools. They just didn't hold up, he had a angle grinder that would make 2-3 weeks before it would die.

I have a few HF tools that I bought and have served me well but they are limited use tools that don't get used on a daily basis or light duty usage.

This is what I have. Its a friggin beast.
https://www.ingersollrandproducts.co...2235timax.html

Another brand to look at is Aircat, they get very high remarks on a tool forum I visit were most of the members are pros.

The thing about cordless tools IMO, is in say 5-10 years are the batteries still gonna be good, can you buy new batteries? I've got air tools that are 15-20 years and still run like a top.

[faribran]

MIlwaukee, nuff said

[oldusafmsgt]

Occasional use ? Harbor Freight. It's a no brainer. Frequent, hard use, or making your living with it ? Anything but Harbor Freight.

[donut]

If your compressor isn't up to the job, it won't matter what you buy. That said, coming from the "rust belt", haven't had a tough bolt oxy/act couldn't remove.

[Dead Parrot]

HF tools are great for home/hobbyist occasional users. Wait until you anticipate needing the tool before purchasing, so if you get the early fail feature, it will still be under the normal warranty. Make sure your regulator and hoses are up to the task. For occasional use, you don't need a hi capacity compressor, but the air flow and regulated pressure do need to match what the tool wants. Usually only need a few seconds of air per use anyway.

As a hobbyist weldor, I have bought 5 of their small $10 angle grinders. 1 died after a few months, 3 are still going after several years and 1 is still in the box waiting for one of the others to fail. I have 1 with a cutoff wheel, 1 with a grinding wheel, and 1 with a wire wheel. Saves the hassle of changing wheels for $10 per grinder. Got $1.50 for the dead one at the scrap yard.

[1972K20]

Update:

I went with the HF impact-the Earthquake model. So far, I've been pleased.