What's the best 1/2" impact gun for the money?
 

I'm new to pneumatic tools, having changed out 6 or 7 rear ends over the years, motor jobs, etc., all with hand tools, but finally got a decent compressor and am dissappointed in my Harbor Freight air gun (supposedly does 250 lb/ft) which is good for lug nuts but not much more.

W/out spending upwards of $200, whats a really good, powerful model? I'd like to hear from folks who are not going to just throw brand names at me, but actually OWN and USE a particular gun. Rachets, too. How about ones under $100?

Thanks guys.

I started with Harbor Freight guns. I then bought Ingersoll Rand. They do cost more than your top price. But I picked up used ones at a swap meet for around $60. Best thing I did as far as impacts. Try finding a used one. Swap meet, E-Bay or Craigslist.

I used to be a professional truck mechanic (Kenworth). That was ten years ago and I still regularly use the two Ingersoll Rand impacts that I bought then (a 3/8" and a 1/2" pistol style). I have NEVER rebuilt either of them and they still work flawlessly. :)

At the same time, I had bought a Blue Point (Snap-ons "cheap" tools) 3/8" air ratchet. It crapped out after about 5 years of pretty regular use.

I replaced it with a Craftsman air ratchet which lasted about another 5 years until I just threw it away a few months ago. I just bought a Lowes Kobalt air ratchet because that's the best that I could find locally at the time (I was in a rush). It had the highest rating (60ft-lbs) of the cheaper air ratchets. It's been working good so far but it's a little larger than my past air ratchets which makes it difficult to use in tight spaces.

If I ever buy another impact, it'll be an Ingersoll Rand. :)

I work in an automotive plant and we use Ingersoll's. I've been using mine daily for 5 years now, and haven't broken one yet.

for air ratchets i like the snapon units. mine's just split the anvil after 10 yrs of hard use.

cp make a wicked 1/2" proseries impact. the ingersols are good units also. like compressors,you get what you pay for in air tools.

mike

I used to use Chicago Pneumatic but the last one I bought was an Ingersoll Rand. The IR is head and shoulders above the CP. Probably the last impact I will ever buy.

I have 2 ingersoll's have been using both daily for over 25 years never rebuilt either of them the only part that ever wears out is the o-ring for the trigger. clean and oil daily with a shot of air tool grease in the fitting every now and then. As far as air rachets go i've been threw many over the years as said above in other posts you get what you pay for. The cheaper ones dont last very long and loose power quickly

I have an Ingersoll and a Craftsman pneumatic, but I find myself using my 18V DeWalt 95% of the time. Don't know that it does a true 300ft/lbs as claimed, but I've yet to find anything it can't handle.

Also a Truck Mechanic,have an IR 231,25yrs old,rebuild twice.Damn good Gun.

Ingersoll is the only way to go! Might cost a bit more but will last 3 times longer than any other.

Thanks guys, I'm looking at the IR thunder Gun 232TGSL for about $200, unless anybody knows of a better model for cheaper.

CP is Harbor Freight's brand?

Thunder gun was the cheapest when I bought mine a couple years ago. I don't know if that's a "step down" model for IR or they just like to put it on sale but I've been very happy with it. Reason I went with IR is I still own one of their 1/2" electric impact guns from 1973. I used it for a year at a factory assembling boat trailers. When the company sold out, they let us keep the tools. I replaced the trigger ? yrs ago but the rest is original.

I was a MAC tools dealer in a former life. MAC and Matco use Ingersoll air tools. They just put their name on them. I feel the Ingersoll 1/2" guns are the best on the market. Snap on is decent, but the Ingersoll's are the best. The IR 2131 composite is a great gun (and light too). The IR Thunder gun is a also good unit. The IR twin-hammer design has been around for 25 years and still is hard to beat.
CP used to build a good gun, but now they're built overseas and not as good as they once were. However, the CP Turbo 1/2" gun is a good unit.

I bought a used Ingersoll Rand 3/4 drive. just use an adapter to 1/2.
OH YEAH..!!!!!

Has anyone heard anything about IRs? :D

Not to go against the tide but, I have been using a Craftsman 3/4" impact wrench for 25 years now and it is still truckin' along. I have worn out two sets of impact sockets with it and have never done anything to it other than oiling it before each use.

ASE master tech for twenty years,IR impacts and nothing else...

If it aint broke dont fix it,and them damn things never break,so they dont need fixing.

One less thing for a working mechanic to worry about.

Worth every penny.

:2cents:

I have 5 Ingersol's at work. 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 3/4 & 1" !!!!!! That is the only air impact brand I have used for over 40 years as a heavy truck mechanic!!!

The two IR impacts that I have actually came from the Matco truck and used to say Matco on the cover. I knew they were IR's when I bought them though.


BTW, to the OP if you buy ANYTHING other than an IR after this thread we will protest to have you removed from this board. :D

IR is the best I have used. IMO Snap-on ratchets