Tools & Fabrication Hand | Power | Hydraulic | Pneumatic | Welding | Painting

pointers for a new, midrange 1/2" impact gun?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-12-2008 | 01:14 PM
  #1  
Blorton's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: Hotlanta
Default pointers for a new, midrange 1/2" impact gun?

From searches, I see a lot of people are fans of the IR guns. (Edit: Has anyone used the IR 2132g?)

I'd like to spend a little less than that without getting into the crap ones. I'd rather avoid the used market and fleabay "refurbs".

Would the $100 craftsman be good enough for hobby use? Or if someone knows a reputable source for an IR, I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks,
Dan

Last edited by Blorton; 12-13-2008 at 11:34 AM.
Old 12-12-2008 | 02:58 PM
  #2  
06sierra5.3's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 757
Likes: 0
Default

snap on, mac, matco all slap their own labels on IR. you can get a blue pont one for a decent price.

as a matter of fact i have an extra blue point if youre interested. used it professionaly for about two years with not a single hiccup. oiled every morning etc. i bought the titanium one a few months before i left the trade, so for wrenching at home now i dont need two.

if not interested i would definitely recommend a husky from home depot. i started out with a few husky tools and they are still running today 8 years later.
Old 12-12-2008 | 03:41 PM
  #3  
adrian87camaro's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Default

Craftsman has excellent homeowner quality impact wrenches. Customers usually never have problems with them. But, IR has some badass impacts.
Old 12-12-2008 | 04:39 PM
  #4  
blazin's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 637
Likes: 0
From: Nebraska
Default

I heard the earthquake from harbor is a hell of a impact. Never used one though
Old 12-12-2008 | 11:09 PM
  #5  
MonteCarlo31's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 547
Likes: 0
From: Wesley Chapel, FL
Default

Originally Posted by adrian87camaro
Craftsman has excellent homeowner quality impact wrenches. Customers usually never have problems with them. But, IR has some badass impacts.
I'm with him, I had a crapsman, it worked ok till I got a truck and the lugs were torqued to 140 or 160 ft lbs and then I had some frozen bolts, I upgraded to a 1/2 IR and it works ok. I've only had one issue where I had to go to 1 incher to take a lug off that broke off.
Old 12-13-2008 | 07:32 AM
  #6  
99345hp's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,516
Likes: 0
Default

I think a craftsman impact will be ok for home use. You might find some bolts it wont loosen, but the only thing a stronger impact would do to these is snap off the bolt. Trust me ive done it too many times. I bought one of the older design IRs from sears many years ago and it wasn't that expensive. Now I have the titanium.
Old 12-13-2008 | 08:21 AM
  #7  
Hilton's Avatar
Tough Mudder
iTrader: (36)
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 992
Likes: 0
From: Shreveport, LA
Default

I have 2 IR. One is the "extended anvil" the other the QT (quiet tool). They both do what I expect them to do.
Old 12-13-2008 | 09:43 AM
  #8  
01ssreda4's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (96)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 24,241
Likes: 83
From: Turnin' Wrenches Infractions: 005
Default

i have a stanley and it works fine. bout 75 bucks new.
Old 12-13-2008 | 09:51 AM
  #9  
Transamman25's Avatar
TECH Regular
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 469
Likes: 0
From: Memphis , Tennessee
Default

Listen , all tool guys accept trade-in's .... They send them in to be rebuilt --- That how i bought my IR231 that puts out 450lbs of tq --- plenty enough and yea i paid 125 for it !
Old 12-13-2008 | 11:42 AM
  #10  
Blorton's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: Hotlanta
Default

Sorry guys, I'm a dummy. I saw the IR Thunder gun at Northern and assumed all the IR guns were $200+.

Has anyone used the IR 2132G? I see a lot of new ones on that auction site for around a hundred bucks with shipping. I like that it has the quiet tech and variable setting and could care less about a metal body.

Thanks everyone for the opinions. Much appreciated.

Dan
Old 12-13-2008 | 02:53 PM
  #11  
Daryn's Avatar
Formerly darynC-10/23/10

iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,301
Likes: 0
From: gonzales louisiana
Default

any ingersoll rand "twin hammer" or craftsman will do the job!!!
Old 12-13-2008 | 09:45 PM
  #12  
99345hp's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,516
Likes: 0
Default

if your not doing too much heavy work with it, then I would recommend a 3/8" impact. They are a lot lighter and if you get a decent one they still have enough kick to loosen lugnuts and pretty much every other bolt on your car. The only thing it probably wont loosen is the balancer bolt. A good one will, but not a cheap one.
Old 12-13-2008 | 09:54 PM
  #13  
BADD SS's Avatar
10 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 1
From: Baldwin, NY
Default

I bought the 2132g as a secondary to my 2135 a while ago. It is a great impact for the $$$. Very quiet, pretty powerfull..
Old 12-13-2008 | 11:45 PM
  #14  
MrElectric03's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (71)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,885
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
Default

My dads craftsman impact will barely handle lug nuts let alone anything else. I bought my IR Titanium brand new on ebay well over 2 years ago for $160 shipped and it hits hard i=and is very durable. Ive dropped it off of a couple machines(anywhere from a 5-20ft drop and its still going strong.
Old 12-30-2008 | 03:38 PM
  #15  
badpewter-z's Avatar
LS1TECH Sponsor
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,650
Likes: 0
From: RI
Default

IR's are well worth the little extra and will last a lnog *** time just remeber to oil them once in a while. IR's are the only ones that have lasted for me . shop use and my personal garage. snap on and mac are IR's with a respective case and heavier price tag. i have the new titanium IR and it will break bolts if your not carefull. but if it wont come off anyway id rather havea gun that can break it off atleast
Old 12-30-2008 | 09:48 PM
  #16  
Loadre's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
From: Kingsport, TN
Default

I have the titanium IR 2135 i believe is the part #. Bought it rebuilt off a board member for 70 bucks. Badass gun
Old 12-30-2008 | 10:32 PM
  #17  
Blorton's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: Hotlanta
Default

Originally Posted by Loadre
I have the titanium IR 2135 i believe is the part #. Bought it rebuilt off a board member for 70 bucks. Badass gun
Congrats on the hella deal! I would jump on one of those.
Old 12-31-2008 | 01:48 PM
  #18  
crashinaz's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (35)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
From: Chandler, AZ
Default

The IR stuff has been flawless for me... The Air Cats are a nice cheaper alternative to IR. Got a friend that manages a "Brakes Plus" and they run them day in and day out with no issues.
Old 01-02-2009 | 03:44 PM
  #19  
01cherryreds10's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 698
Likes: 0
From: IL
Default

My dad got me an IR 2131QT gun, and it's a really nice impact. I've only got to test it out once so far, but the thing is a total sleeper of an impact. It's super quiet and will pull off lug nuts with ease at the second setting out of 4. I think it's rated at 800ft. lbs reverse torque. Good enough for a car, anything more than that it needs replacing.
Old 01-10-2009 | 07:40 PM
  #20  
LS199CAMAROZ28's Avatar
Launching!

iTrader: (32)
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 225
Likes: 0
From: Va
Default

ir 231c. used 6 years professionally and never once had a problem. also has out performed many other guns


Quick Reply: pointers for a new, midrange 1/2" impact gun?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:04 AM.