Air Impact Gun 1/2in or 3/4in

[cyanide786]

Hi Folks,
Looking for advice on which impact wrench to purchase. I do all my own auto work on a 3/4 ton pickup and cars. I've run in to issues breaking loose rusted exhaust bolts, axle nuts and such. I live in Alberta so the vehicles here experience quite a bit of rust.

Would you suggest getting a good 1/2in air impact or a good 3/4in air impact gun? If so any opinions/experiences on snap on or Ingersoll-Rand.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Raizinman]

IR makes the impacts for Matco, but either IR or Snap On are both good brands. Personally, I use my ½ inch impact about 95 percent of the time. It is the IR 232 Thunder Gun, with 625 ft lbs. Because I occasionally do truck chassis work and need more than 625 ft lbs, I purchased the Harbor Freight Earth Quake ¾ impact for $239 (and used a 20% off coupon, which brought the price down under $200) that has 1400 ft. lbs of torque at 90 psi.

The closest thing 3/4 inch IR has is their model 2145QiMAX which has 1350 lbs for $730. Big price difference!! The Snap On ¾ inch is about $730 also with 1100 ft lbs of torque. Now for someone who will only occasionally need that extra torque, which is the best deal?

I would recommend the 1/2 inch Harbor Freight (Earthquake) Impact for $99 that claims 700 ft lbs at 90 psi. To be honest, the Harbor Freight impact is a heck of a deal for $99, but use a 20% off coupon to drop price to $80. That is a great deal!! With 700 ft lbs of torque, you will find that on the highest setting it will likely just snap off any rusted bolts. That's a lot of torque!!

 

[master_shake_]

I use a nitrocat 1200k at work.

If it's really rusted on I break out the oxy-acetylene torch and heat it.

 

[Raizinman]

I use a nitrocat 1200k at work.

If it's really rusted on I break out the oxy-acetylene torch and heat it.

I will have to say that the NitroCat is a heck of high performer for the price. You can purchase this gun at Northern Tools and Equipment, but get this. It has a maximum torque of 1295 ft lbs. in its 1/2" drive. That more than many 3/4" impacts!! The price you ask? $189. It's also a quiet impact compared to many others.

Just so you know; NitroCats newest model is the 1250K that has 1300 ft lbs of torque. Price is $199 and it is also low noise. A heck of an impact!!

 

[leper84]

Keep in mind you are going to need some serious air to move a 3/4 drive gun, if you don't have a pretty impressive compressor and lines it may be best to stick with a 1/2 inch.

 

[Mandres]

1/2" should be fine for anything smaller than 18-wheelers or heavy construction equipment. I've yet to come across any bolt that my 10 year old Ingersoll 231 couldn't zip right off.

http://www.ingersollrandproducts.co...ce-automotive-impactools/1-2-drive/231-series

Even the Chinese copies of their design work pretty damn well. The Harbor Freight "Earthquake" series are well regarded and a great value.

 

[Greenman]

Go big or go home.

http://www.cpojettools.com/jet-5059...iKNl9B3lNvwmrVu9WE5KmpdqqU0SY2r4FsaAo5U8P8HAQ

 

[bruceb]

I would agree, for most normal cars and trucks a 1/2 inch impact will be fine. The 3/4 and 1 inch units are for when you get into the heavy duty world, like semis and small construction machines. And of course, the biggest issue is not the Air Pressure your compressor can supply. It is the amount of Cubic Feet Per Minute that will determine if your compressor can handle the air needs of the larger size impact guns. And of course, you need impacts sockets designed to work with the 3/4 or 1 inch guns due to the higher torque they make.

 

[Brian Stirling]

I have air tools but most of the time when I need an impact gun I use this:

http://www.tooltopia.com/ingersoll-...l-pXCxRU1prmqiKF4gYH7dGFyyhD8r2grahoCV3vw_wcB


It has more than enough torque to work on my car to change wheels etc and I don't have to wheel out the compressor or re-pressurize it which I have to do in the house.

I also have a lesser electric impact gun from Ryobi P260 when I don't need the torque the IR W7150 delivers.

I mostly use it for changing/rotating wheels on my car and usually the Ryobi is enough but if the lugs have been on for a long time and are harder to come off the IR gun is sure to make swift work of it.


Brian