Posted it in the Integraum and didn't get any rseponse....Posting it here assuming that auto-x/race crowd are more familar with the tools and working on the cars

I got a "Fancy" looking Good year Racing ' 1/2" air impact wrench for X'mas. Rating on that is 400 lb/ft (it sells for around $80).

I just saw a another decent 1/2" impact wrench at Harbour Freight for $19 or. Rating on that is 250 lb/ft.

Assuming a decent build quality, how much power is needed for an Air impact wrench to do regular works on the car? I mean, to take the tough bolts and nuts not the wheel nuts.

Any good deals that is going on now? btw any one using battery operated wrenches?

Thanks

 

do a search there is a thread about the harbor freight and goodyear impact wrench

 

i wouldn't bother with anything less than 600 ft-lbs for pneumatics.

for the cordless impacts, the ~240 ft-lbs trackside is great for misc. but not for really stubborn stuff.

i love my HF cordless for convenience but when there is something tuff, i set it down.

 

I just purchased an Ingersol Rand gun, and even with that I've experienced a tough time getting an axel nut and suspension nuts off. (That one has a max 1,000 ft-lbs.) eBay sells guns at pretty darn low prices. I paid just under $200 for mine. I know, not the answer you wanted but this way you'll buy once and won't be wondering what gun you should be purchasing next year.

 

My Milwaukee has taken off everything on the car I have given it. Downside to these things is they don't fit into a lot of places.

http://www.northerntool.com/we...0Page

They have a 24V model as well now.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by granracing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I just purchased an Ingersol Rand gun, and even with that I've experienced a tough time getting an axel nut and suspension nuts off. (That one has a max 1,000 ft-lbs.) eBay sells guns at pretty darn low prices. I paid just under $200 for mine. I know, not the answer you wanted but this way you'll buy once and won't be wondering what gun you should be purchasing next year. </TD></TR></TABLE>

which ir gun?
your experience sounds weird. maybe it's b/c you're in ct and have rust.

have you tried oiling your gun? or turning up the regulator for more psi? maybe the compressor is lacking?

 

a bunch of us east coast track jerks have the goodyear electric impact. so far the thing is mint. took my rear suspension appart and took Z's rear suspension appart and reassembled it when it got bent at the enduro. as long as you dont drop it (off the top of the car) it will work just fine and get most hardware off.
a friend of mine has a craftsman that was much more money than the goodyear and it works just as good. sure it may last longer but that is yet to be seen.
as far as air powered impacts i have an old IR 231c. have had that gun for years and used it daily at work for 2 years before replacing it and bring it back home. although its getting tired it still works awsome and gets everything off. i bought one of the new SK 1/2" Drive Pro-Gun Impact Wrench ( http://www.skhandtool.com/pc_s...C=E81 ) . Snap-On had them on the truck and the deal was too good to pass up. the new gun is much lighter (which is key when you use it all day long) and is quieter. according to the numbers it makes ore power and from what i have seen it does.


Modified by Lo-Buck EF at 6:55 PM 1/3/2007


Modified by Lo-Buck EF at 6:55 PM 1/3/2007

 

Just bought a 120v corded harbor freight gun. Don't have a compressor at home and I figure 120 is better than 24. I have a big inverter with alligators that should work with a car battery.

Have not tried it out yet. It was 50 bucks and its rated at 240ft/lbs, but how much merit do those rating really have?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">which ir gun?
your experience sounds weird. maybe it's b/c you're in ct and have rust.

have you tried oiling your gun? or turning up the regulator for more psi? maybe the compressor is lacking? </TD></TR></TABLE>

The gun is brand new, so it should be working properly. I brought it over to my father's house who has a larger compressor, and cranked the psi up further but still wouldn't take the axel nut off. (Also tried heating it, soaking it in PB Blaster...) The gun is the IR 2135 Ti.

Another option is a good cordless impact gun such the DeWalt units.

 

I still love my cordless HF gun, rated to 220ft/#'s but I dont think they make/sell it anymore. Its made short work out of nearly every job I've used it on so long as the battery is freshly charged. I mainly use it for powering off lug nuts, makes tire changes at autocrosses and home so much easier.

 

don't bother with the HF one. the old one that skierd has (as do I) is great, but the new one can't get lugs off consistently. my HF does axle nuts and most other nuts pretty easily.

i hear the goodyear is the best cheap cordless impact out there in the 100-ish price range. i doubt it's actually 400 ft-lbs, but it's enough. fwiw, my gun is rated at 220.

 

It's all about the air pressure in the tank.

I think I have a husky brand air gun. It does everything I have ever thrown at it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crazydave &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It's all about the air pressure in the tank.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I've never thought about the cordless being so strong..

can a cordless do engine mount bolts / suspension bolts with ease?

so anything with over 200 ft tq is good?

 

My friend has not had a prob yet with an 80 gallon tank, 125+ psi, and the ingersoll-rand 2135Ti; its a very good 1/2" impact wrench for the size and money. For bigger jobs, like axle nuts, nothing imo beats a 3+ foot breaker bar or a 3/4" impact wrench.

 

just about any gun will bust off axle nuts with 140psi

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">can a cordless do engine mount bolts / suspension bolts with ease?
so anything with over 200 ft tq is good?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Engine mount bolts, yes. Suspension bolts - well it depends. Have the bolts been loosened recently or are you talking about bolts which have been on the car for a while? Then the answer is probably not. I went out and bought a DeWalt DW059 cordless and then got frustrated with some of the bolt it had issues getting off and bought the IR air gun.

Breaker bars are great and inexpensive.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by granracing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The gun is brand new, so it should be working properly. I brought it over to my father's house who has a larger compressor, and cranked the psi up further but still wouldn't take the axel nut off. (Also tried heating it, soaking it in PB Blaster...) The gun is the IR 2135 Ti. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Good gun, this is the most common impact I see at the dealers up here in Canada. It's light, compact and very powerful. Yes it will have trouble with stubborn nuts and bolts but when it doesn't crack it you know you have to get out the torch.

 

the 2135ti is rated at 1000ft/lb

what kind of things are u guys having trouble with, is this gun worth the 250?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .:Reza:. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've never thought about the cordless being so strong..

can a cordless do engine mount bolts / suspension bolts with ease?

so anything with over 200 ft tq is good?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Most of the engine mount bolts are only supposed to be 37ft/lbs or so.


I bought a new MAC 3/8 gun and it rocks. My big compressor broke, so i have been using it on with my smaller/weaker one. And it still kicks butt. Much better then the cheapy Craftsmen 1/2 i have.

The Ingersol Rand guns are some kick butt guns. From the older 3/8 i used, which i feel in love with. To the Modified Thunder gun i use. Quality guns from IR.

I would defently say there is something up with your compressor, not the gun.

 

I'm also using the IR 2135QTi (yes the quiet model because I use it at home and my neighbor hates me enough as it is )

I run it at 120psi currently but am thinking of throwing another 20psi for a total of 140psi, my compressor is an EDIT: 33 gal 150psi max unit from Sears.

I'm working on a pacwest local car with its rear suspension that has never been removed before (can still see some of the OEM grease pencil marks on certain bolts)

The gun won't move several of them...cheater bar and 1/2in ratchet broke/snapped the seized ones....but either way, this particular IR gun is great!



"2135Ti & QTi

1/2" Titanium Duty
Air Impact Wrench

The Titanium 2135Ti delivers 1,000 ft.-lbs. of Nut Busting Torque in a gun that weighs just 3.95 pounds! The 7-vane power plant drives enough torque to break away a nut tightened to over 1,000 ft.-lbs. in under six seconds. "


Modified by RagingAngel at 9:34 AM 1/14/2007

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by granracing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

The gun is brand new, so it should be working properly. I brought it over to my father's house who has a larger compressor, and cranked the psi up further but still wouldn't take the axel nut off. (Also tried heating it, soaking it in PB Blaster...) The gun is the IR 2135 Ti.

Another option is a good cordless impact gun such the DeWalt units. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Dave thats funny that you say that because as we speak I have matt making me a custom like 6-8 ft long axle nut wrench where he is going to use rollcage tubing as the arm to get off my damn axle nuts. I as well, have tried absolutely everything with no avail.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by VTECAcuraGSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Dave thats funny that you say that because as we speak I have matt making me a custom like 6-8 ft long axle nut wrench where he is going to use rollcage tubing as the arm to get off my damn axle nuts. I as well, have tried absolutely everything with no avail.</TD></TR></TABLE>

be careful with what ratchet/breaker bar you use. might want to get a 1" drive. cause i snapped FOUR 1/2" drive ratchets using a 4 foot breaker bar on my 1/2" ratchet from craftsman.

 

thanks for the info on the 2135Ti ragingangel.