1/2 air powered impact wrench

[scuncio]

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-...gaAjVFEALw_wcB

I love this one from HF. It's a beast.

[67since67]

I preferred the CP (Chicago Pneumatic) 734 because it was lighter and more compact compared to others. Better torque finesse with the trigger also. Wore out one and replaced with this one probably 45 years ago.
In 20 plus years of cars and light trucks never found any need for something bigger.

[Too Many Projects]

Lynn, I'm with ya and have used air tools for over 50 years, BUT I now have a Milwaukee 1/2" 18 volt brushless impact and haven't pulled my Ingersol Rand air gun out of the drawer for over a year. This is THE best upgrade in a tool I have done. I've since bought their 3/8 gun, speed ratchet and 1/2" capacity drill too. I still use air for many things, but not for basic wrenching anymore. These tools are far more powerful than my old air tools and no compressor running. Consider it... Otherwise, I would look into another Ingersol impact for air. Yes, they are spendy, but quality still counts for strength and dependability.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ingersol...231C/323818880

[69M22Z]

Originally Posted by Too Many Projects

Lynn, I'm with ya and have used air tools for over 50 years, BUT I now have a Milwaukee 1/2" 18 volt brushless impact and haven't pulled my Ingersol Rand air gun out of the drawer for over a year. This is THE best upgrade in a tool I have done. I've since bought their 3/8 gun, speed ratchet and 1/2" capacity drill too. I still use air for many things, but not for basic wrenching anymore. These tools are far more powerful than my old air tools and no compressor running. Consider it... Otherwise, I would look into another Ingersol impact for air. Yes, they are spendy, but quality still counts for strength and dependability.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ingersol...231C/323818880

What Mitch said. Bought same tools Mitch listed. Don't really use air tools anymore.

[67since67]

Originally Posted by Too Many Projects

Lynn, I'm with ya and have used air tools for over 50 years, BUT I now have a Milwaukee 1/2" 18 volt brushless impact and haven't pulled my Ingersol Rand air gun out of the drawer for over a year. This is THE best upgrade in a tool I have done. I've since bought their 3/8 gun, speed ratchet and 1/2" capacity drill too. I still use air for many things, but not for basic wrenching anymore. These tools are far more powerful than my old air tools and no compressor running. Consider it... Otherwise, I would look into another Ingersol impact for air. Yes, they are spendy, but quality still counts for strength and dependability.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ingersol...231C/323818880

I guess I don't peek out from under my rock often enough, I didn't know IR made that small of impact!

Lots of good input here, I admit that I do use a battery driver for some small stuff, but battery weight can be annoying too.

[Lynn]

Originally Posted by 67since67

I preferred the CP (Chicago Pneumatic) 734 because it was lighter and more compact compared to others. Better torque finesse with the trigger also. Wore out one and replaced with this one probably 45 years ago.
In 20 plus years of cars and light trucks never found any need for something bigger.

Appreciate all the input.

I started out with a CP that looked just like yours, except it had the long shaft so I could use a reversible 3/4 one end, 13/16 on the other end socket. Back then that was about it for lug nuts. The SnapOn I have was a definite upgrade at the time. That CP was used when I got it, and could have already been near the end of its life.

I posted this same thread over on GJ. One of the guys just posted that he ordered a ThorG2 1895 yesterday. So, I will wait until he reports back (hopefully).

I have always liked Ingersol. Had a really good little portable IR compressor back in the 80s that was stolen one night. Still have the pocket knife that came with it, although it ended up all rusty. Don't remember where I left it that it was exposed to moisture. I have a year old HD gift card, so maybe that will give me an excuse to use it. Will be at HF tomorrow picking up some lift straps for the Museum project, so can look at the gun Tony posted. $119 looks pretty darn good.

Tony: Read this online: "The Earthquake XT is all or nothing. It is great for ripping tires off and doing front end work. Just don't try to start any lug nuts with it or use on torque sensitive fasteners." Have they remedied it on the new one? IIRC, it has the same innards as the Thor. May be thinking of another one. That used to be the beef with the Thor; the trigger only had two stages, and could not be feathered. The one I posted has a fully progressive trigger now.

One of my beefs with electric is that the ONLY time a battery decides to quit is when I am in a hurry. I realize I could avoid that just by switching out batteries more regularly. I also realize that if I ate less and exercised more, I would already be down to my ideal weight (BTW, I only have 8 pounds to go). Knowing doesn't always translate to doing. I have never had an air powered tool run out of air, and certainly won't now that I have a one man shop and a 15 HP compressor.