I know this isn't really a wrangler question. But curious what you all own for air tools specifically impact wrench and air compressor. Finally able to buy air tools so just trying to make sure I go with a good set considering the prices
Also curious what you all feel is a good max torque rating. Most of the higher ones seem to be between 700 and 850.
You can get away with inexpensive tools for pretty much all of the air tools you'll need except for your 1/2 drive impact wrench. Be careful because many manufacturers over state the torque that their tools deliver. I am totally satisfied with my Aircat 1150 impact. Excellent value and tons of actual torque. I don't know if it really delivers the claimed 1250 lb/ft of torque as advertised, but it is a great tool.
I lost all of my pneumatic tools in Hurricane Sandy and it was a mixed set from various manufacturers, after the Insurance kicked in I shopped around and looked at a lot of reviews and finally purchased all Ingersol Rand tools. That was almost 2 years ago and I have been very pleased with there performance. As far as compressors go I have an Emglo which is one of the better compressors on the market. For durability an oil bath compressor is favored over an oiless unit.
For your main 1/2" impact wrench, make darned sure you buy a double anvil model. Single anvil models don't put out nearly as much power and aren't up to some common jobs. My first impact wrench was a single anvil, before I knew better, and couldn't figure out why it wasn't performing as well as I needed it to. Ingersoll Rand is a good brand that isn't super expensive, I really like mine, and parts are easily obtainable for it. And surprisingly, Harbor Freight Tools air tools are actually very good and hold up well so long as you get the double anvil version for the 1/2" model impact wrench. My HFT air tools have been going strong for 12-14 years, I'm very happy with how well they work.
Oh the hypocrisy. Chinese made tools from the guy that beats the flag about buy American. LOL
but on a more serious note...I use my Dewalt 1/2 impact for almost everything on my jeep or doing other stuff for friends. Back in my trucking days, used to use Ingersoll 3/4" air off the truck air supply to change tires when in remote locations rip rapping the levee on the Colorado river.
Please someone call me out on this and explain why......For the amount of wrenching I do that requires an IMPACT, and the cost of said impacts, and the compressor, and KNOWING I will never mix and paint in my garage....I went with Dewalt electric 1/2 inch Impact and added a drill/ driver set also De Walt. so got 4 batteries 2 chargers and bags. can run grinding stones and sockets easily and TOTALLY portable..... and If truly needed could do the 110 inverter in case of real bad issues/ run battery dead and need a charge.....so far not needed that. No air line to drag around either...just a thought. Always ready when I need them.
Not sure if this applies to the cordless impact you have, but my corded DeWalt electric impact is "ok". However, as soon as you put an extension on it becomes useless. I don't know much about its internal design, but it feels as if the hammer/anvil stroke on it is really short, so by the time you absorb the slack between the socket and extension you've exhausted all of the travel of the tool. I've tried 3 different ones and they all act exactly the same.
With that said, it just buzzed off all of my rear suspension bolts without any issues at all and those are supposed to be 175ft-lbs from the factory before 16 years of chassis rust (though they really weren't that rusty).
The up side of the "weird" performance issue with them is that I don't think most guys figure it out, so they end up in pawn shops for like $40 all the time. For $40 its worth it to have one just take places that won't have air available and you don't have to worry about charging a battery up before use.
As far as air, I agree that IR is the way to go these days. Saving my pennies up to get one after using several friend's guns and researching the market.
While not always proud to display, however my HF 1/2 earthquake impact wrench has held up well for several years now. Can't say the same for their 3/8 ratchet, which completely fell apart in my hands, but the Earthquake has been solid.
while not always proud to display, however my hf 1/2 earthquake impact wrench has held up well for several years now. Can't say the same for their 3/8 ratchet, which completely fell apart in my hands, but the earthquake has been solid.
Air ratchets are far easier on the bolts; I use an impact only when really needed. When choosing a compressor, make sure the cfm or scfm is more than needed. Some air tools are surprising in how much airflow they need, even something as simple as an air sander or grinder or saw.
granted it is not the same as an air ratchet...but there is where I use the 1/4 inch drill driver set.....sometimes you just can't get into it (the bolt) without a ratchet...and that is where I have to go "old school" regular ratchet or wrench
Thanks everyone for the input! I am probably going to end up going with the Aircat for the impact driver just not sure for the compressor.
Problem is that I don't have enough space yet to allow for a large tank (20 gallons or so) compressor so I am looking at the smaller ones. Alot of them don't pack that much punch from a cfm rating unless I'm spending a whole lot for it. Or at least I'm not coming across one. took at look at harbor freight and came across one that has 4.5 cfm @ 90, not sure that is enough? Any advice on that?
For an impact tool, SCFM of the compressor isn't all that critical, max pressure stored in the tank is. You can have a compressor that has a low SCFM, but pumps up to a fairly high pressure, and it will work fine with an impact. Recovery time of the tank between attempts will be longer with a low SCFM compressor though. If you have to trade one for the other due to budget, go with higher max pressure if using an impact is your primary goal.
With that said, I have a cheap HF 21 gal that pumps up to 130-135 psi with around a 4.5 SCFM rating and it works alright for most things, including the times I've needed to borrow a high quality air impact gun. Using something that is really air hungry for long periods of time, like a die grinder or a DA, is a bit of a pain (work for 5 minutes, wait for 5 minutes). You can forget about sandblasting or painting with it, but it sounds like you don't want to do that anyhow. I have actually toyed with the idea of buying a 2nd cheap HF compressor to run in tandem as I save my pennies for the $3k Quincy I REALLY want...
That thing sounds like a monster for its size of tank (small tank might be why it has such large compressor). What model is it? That would be the perfect thing to boost my current compressor since I'm happy with my tank volume.
Mine is only an 8 gal with 125. For what I do it's fine. If I were twisting wrenches every day then yes I'd want to upgrade, but for rotating tires, breaking tough bolts, etc. It does the job. Recovery time isn't the greatest, but I'm not making my living at it.
Milwaukee Fuel.
I've worked on tractor trailers for almost eleven years doing drivetrain/suspension work. Once you go cordless you never want to go back. Last year I bought a Fuel kit with a 3/8 and 1/2 and havent pulled an air impact out of my box (save for my 3/4) since. My cordless get used and abused, six days a week, and have never missed a lick. Most of guys I work with have went cordless as well. Milwaukee imo has the market with a five year tool warranty and the amount of stuff they support. I own a floodlight, two worklights, a 1/2 drill and two impacts that use the same battery (which I own five of the high capacity models). Step down to the 12 volt side and you can get a 3/8 and a 1/4 ratchet, plus a smaller impact, hex driver, drills. From what Ive seen, the cheaper cordless are junk. Everyone I know buys Milwaukee or Snap On. Our Cornwell dealer doesnt even push his brand cordless, he sells Milwaukee.
I use Snap On for my cordless impact. I don't use my air compressor for impacts anymore. It's just too noisy and the cord is a hassle.
I bought a 4x torque multiplier and use it half the time instead of the impact. I prefer cheater bar + penetrating oil over impact. I need to feel when the bolt is going to break.
My most use "impact" is the 12 volt Milwaukee mini impact. It's low torque so I use it as an ratchet to first put the bolts/nuts on - significantly save time with very low noise, no kick. It's around 20 ft-lb or something in that range.
Have yall looked into matco? I have spoken with the regional manager in person and he told me that their silver eagle line is made in china, but their matco tools are made in the usa with us steel. They are pretty big about that. I have a lot of tools and half are from matco. Those are my go to tools and they make up the kit i carry around on trips and to work when asked to. They have a half inch drive impact on their website for $300. And like you jerry, i preach buying american!
Apparently preach and follow through don't go together. Some people buy what they need and can afford. Some people talk out of both sides of their mouth.
What part of my "When you have a choice, Buy American", don't you get? At least I care about buying American when I can, something you constantly remind us that you don't.
And just to clarify something Jer, where have I "constantly" reminded everyone that I don't buy American. I don't shop at HF like you. I just deleted the rest of my reponse because it serves no purpose. If you want to wave the flag and buy from a store that is probably 100 % chinese made products, that is your business. Talk the talk but at least walk the walk.
Like I said earlier, we buy what we can afford.
Dude...Lay off the jerk store rhetoric. Ole Jer Bear has done more round these parts to help fellow jeepers than most of us combined, & even coughed up to a few misconceptions. Save your cherry picked read-between-the-lines BS for another forum.
My pneumatic impact is an IR 2135Ti that I've had for about 12 years now. I've used it working on forklifts, aerial lifts, Bobcat equipment, and aviation ground support equipment, and I can't remember the last time I had to drag out my IR261 3/4" gun and the 1/2" hose for it because the 2135Ti will loosen just about anything. (I think it was when I had to change tires on our early 1960s Michigan loader.)
My cordless gun is a 1/2" Matco Infinium, and it has a lot more power than the Snap-on cordless 1/2" that it replaced (the Snap-on was stolen from my truck.) I'd say it's adequate 75% of the time. Its portability and freedom from an air hose is offset by its greater size & weight and lower power. I eventually plan on replacing it with a more powerful IR cordless and using it as my home gun.
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