- Thread starter JOCCO
- Start date
This is just my opinion but I have never liked or had much luck on the bigger snap on guns, I do like the 1/4" impact and ratchets and other air tools. I know they are ok or good since a lot of people buy them though. I like the Ingersoll Rand "IR" guns, and use them professionally. I have had the old school ones (231,244) up to the composite/titanium models (2135TiMAX). The composite/titanium being the favorite for size, weight and strength.
Ingersoll Rand, I have others including Snapon, but for the money they are hard to beat. I broke some snapon sockets and the snapon man told me if I didn't quit using them on my Ingersoll Rand guns he would quit replacing them. I thought that wasn't a very good comparison with his tools.
Hobo,NC
Well-known Member
- Location
- Sanford, NC
Snap-on makes/imports the worst over priced air tools on the market...
This is what I use daily I can get 10 years out of one... The first one I brought in the eary 90's still will get'er done but the direction buttons will not stay in the plastic housing...
http://www.ingersollrandproducts.co...pactools/1-2-drive/2135timax-series/2135timax
The last guy that worked for me brought a Air Cat it seamed to work great but it was so quite It skeered me...
The weight issue is a big deal for a old tired mechanic...
Russ from MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Bemidji MN
I have an IR, I think it's a 2135, and it has been very good.
crawlerjohn
Member
I have a Ingersoll Rand that I like a lot. It uses less air than my CP.
Allan in NE
Well-known Member
Can't get much better than Snap On.
Allan
Allan
47farmallM
Member
a lot of it depends on how much u wanna spend. we use IR and corwell and mac. all are great but both are pricey. i personally like the cornwell 1/2 drive and the IR 3/4 drive.
Another vote for IR. 2135PTIMAX, light weight and powerful.
My favorite is a IR 2125PTiMAX compact and light at 2.5 pounds verses 2135 at 4 pounds and has enough power to do 95% of my jobs. I start with the 2125 and very seldom have to break out the 2135.
My favorite is a IR 2125PTiMAX compact and light at 2.5 pounds verses 2135 at 4 pounds and has enough power to do 95% of my jobs. I start with the 2125 and very seldom have to break out the 2135.
IR 231, if you go with an extended anvil you will wonder how you ever got along without it. We ran them at the tire store. We could get three years out of them before the first rebuild. Lots of water in the lines, never lubed like they should be, and worked hard 10 hr a day.
rusty6
Well-known Member
- Location
- East central Sask.
When I was shopping for my first air impact gun a few years ago a mechanic recommended an Ingersoll Rand. Can't recall the number now but he was right. It is compact and powerful, does everything I have asked it to without a problem. Got it on Amazon at what I thought was a good price.
I picked one up from western auto of all places, wasn't too bad around 300, but the thing has 400 ft lbs rated capacity! I doubted it when I bought it but it was the only one in town, but in the past 10 years it has removed the lug nuts from my kenworth truck countless times, and removed the bolts holding all the track pads on to a 325 cat excavator when we put new track chains and pads on that, so its stout!
Janicholson
Well-known Member
My ingersol rand (too old for any idea of model#)won a free set of screw drivers from the Snap-On distributor by twisting off a 5/8 hardened bolt that he tightened to a halt with his new wrench. We were at 110psi of dry air. I like it well enough to keep it. 35 years of service, 20 as a job. I do lube it with a continuous in line oiler (Marvel oil)
I also like CP air ratchet, and CP 3/8" flipper wrench and angle adapter. I also have a radically powerful Gardner Denver air screw driver that puts self drilling screws into sheet metal in .5 seconds. Jim
I also like CP air ratchet, and CP 3/8" flipper wrench and angle adapter. I also have a radically powerful Gardner Denver air screw driver that puts self drilling screws into sheet metal in .5 seconds. Jim
fixerupper
Well-known Member
How much do you use it and how much power do you need? Everyone talks about lots of power and sometimes more power than normal is indeed needed. If you only need average power but want an easy gun to use, get the good old CP 734. They've been made for many, many years. My 734 is ample for me 90 percent of the time. If you feel you need maximum power and speed for a 1/2" then judging from my limited experience you will like IR better. Most major companies have a lot of different choices.
I can't remember the number but I had been running one of the composite housing IR's on my service truck until the FWD/REV buttons started falling out while I was working. Unfortunately the man at the repair shop said the most common cause of this happening was that housing between the buttons cracked, and that was what had happened with mine. I changed it out with one of the multiple IR 231's from the shop.
That said I've got to second the 231 as a GREAT impact. True the Nitrocat mentioned below lists a peak torque nearly twice what the IR has, but for most fasteners you'll be using the gun for it's overkill to the extreme. Not to mention the 1/2 drive isn't designed to handle that much torque, so the life of the tool will almost surely be shortened as a result.
That said I've got to second the 231 as a GREAT impact. True the Nitrocat mentioned below lists a peak torque nearly twice what the IR has, but for most fasteners you'll be using the gun for it's overkill to the extreme. Not to mention the 1/2 drive isn't designed to handle that much torque, so the life of the tool will almost surely be shortened as a result.
waltdavies
Member
my daughter went n auction a while back they bidding on single IR and lost it to a guy who just wouldn't give up the next thing was an unopened box they got for a $1.00 when got it home and opened it up it had 9 IR impacts in it.Walt
Phil9N3667
Well-known Member
I've used in my short span of 37 years of turning nuts and bolts, a variety of 1/2" impacts. The CP 734 was my first (wore out three of them) and they're good for general automotive use, not a lot of peak torque, but small and light weight for their time. Got a 231 IR in the late "80's and am on my fourth one of them!! Kind of heavy, not too big as compared to the 1/2" Snap On MG 725 (model # ?), but has really good power for an old design!! I keep it greased at the rear fitting with a needle point grease gun and lube the motor with air tool oil on a semi-regular schedule. I've used other guys' Snap On, IR2135 (?), has a big body, Matco's composite (can't think of model #), Mac's version of the IR231 and a Nitro/Air Cat that one of my current co-workers has. The Air Cat surprised me, light/strong/fast and not that noisy!! I bought a rebuilt Snap On 3,8" last year from the dealer and as 3/8" impacts go, it's a good one. If you have good dealer support, either Snap On, Matco or Mac are good. I'm a little prejudiced toward the IR231 for everything but the weight, but you'll get a lot of good replies here!! Northern Tool has a good selection if you have a store close by to get your hands on. Sorry for the long reply, but that's my 50 cents worth!!
Hobo,NC
Well-known Member
- Location
- Sanford, NC
This is not my first rodeo I have owned my share of air tools and been suckered into buying Snap-on air tools 
On the IATN web site a snapper rep admitted snapper air tools were not up to snuff :shock: That's the only thing that saved his arse from the beating he was getting from the X snapper and now IR air tool lubbers....
"Gentlemen: as a operator of these guns in the 90's, as you
speak, i can share your concern. It could be said that this
was FIFTEEN years ago. the guys that designed those have
long ago retired. it could be better for you and your
therapist to let the baggage go"
Then he goes on and recommends we give a new snapper gun a try
:roll:
"in the event the products
do or do not work for you i will only recommend you give
them a try. all reps have demo units that are available to
use. they are usually very heavily worn and abused probably
not in the best of condition. (read really thrashed)a brand
new one is a more appropriate experience of course"
So a used one may not be up to par buy a new one for an appropriate experience :?
The proof is in the pudding you will find professionals prefer IR 10 to 1 over a snapper air tool... There will always be one are two snapper die hard's in mix.... I spec that would be rational that 1 out of 10 snapper air guns performed as designed... If you are stuck on snapper air tools then you will never experience the difference...
On the IATN web site a snapper rep admitted snapper air tools were not up to snuff :shock: That's the only thing that saved his arse from the beating he was getting from the X snapper and now IR air tool lubbers....
"Gentlemen: as a operator of these guns in the 90's, as you
speak, i can share your concern. It could be said that this
was FIFTEEN years ago. the guys that designed those have
long ago retired. it could be better for you and your
therapist to let the baggage go"
Then he goes on and recommends we give a new snapper gun a try
:roll:
"in the event the products
do or do not work for you i will only recommend you give
them a try. all reps have demo units that are available to
use. they are usually very heavily worn and abused probably
not in the best of condition. (read really thrashed)a brand
new one is a more appropriate experience of course"
So a used one may not be up to par buy a new one for an appropriate experience :?
The proof is in the pudding you will find professionals prefer IR 10 to 1 over a snapper air tool... There will always be one are two snapper die hard's in mix.... I spec that would be rational that 1 out of 10 snapper air guns performed as designed... If you are stuck on snapper air tools then you will never experience the difference...
Texasmark1
Well-known Member
I use the red and black one from HF. Advertises like 400 ft lbs or something like that. Have had it for about 10 years. Keep the sucker oiled.
Before I plug it into the air chuck I squirt the air inlet with a good dose of air tool oil. Plug it up and give her a couple of rumm rumm and good to go.
Just day before yesterday I was working on an old NH 404 crimper. Since MOCO's have been out since the early '60's this sucker is at least that old.
I shot a couple of 1 1/8 nuts good with Kroil penetrating oil and let her soak. Couldn't believe it but the little sucker grunted and groaned, but got them off and I had a boxed end wrench and 3 lb hammer and couldn't budge them.
Money well spent and it wasn't but about $80.
Mark
Before I plug it into the air chuck I squirt the air inlet with a good dose of air tool oil. Plug it up and give her a couple of rumm rumm and good to go.
Just day before yesterday I was working on an old NH 404 crimper. Since MOCO's have been out since the early '60's this sucker is at least that old.
I shot a couple of 1 1/8 nuts good with Kroil penetrating oil and let her soak. Couldn't believe it but the little sucker grunted and groaned, but got them off and I had a boxed end wrench and 3 lb hammer and couldn't budge them.
Money well spent and it wasn't but about $80.
Mark
Brad Buchanan
Member
Chicago Pneumatic CP734.
Have used that model since I was turning wrenches for a living when I was a young sprout.
Sold all my tools when I went into the service and bought another when I got out.
Not the highest torque rating but has been bulletproof for me for 40 years or so.
Also fairly inexpensive compared to other comparable units.
Brad
Have used that model since I was turning wrenches for a living when I was a young sprout.
Sold all my tools when I went into the service and bought another when I got out.
Not the highest torque rating but has been bulletproof for me for 40 years or so.
Also fairly inexpensive compared to other comparable units.
Brad
Blackhole49
Well-known Member
- Location
- White Lake MI
I second the most powerful IR you can get. I have 2 734s the won't hold a candle to the IR.
G1355 has it right, after wearing out or breaking about everything on the list the AirCats have bought have surpassed everything i had in the 1/2 and 3/4 size and cheaper.
I will also be swapping out the rest of my air tools for aircats in the next year as well.
Line them up and compare them...easy enough to do online
I will also be swapping out the rest of my air tools for aircats in the next year as well.
Line them up and compare them...easy enough to do online
I vote for the IR too, have 3 of them, 2 -1/2" and 1- 3/4". Love them. Used to repair heavy eq. undercarriage, would use the 1/2 to remove up to the 5/8 bolts (would take out larger bolts but it was faster with the bigger guns), use it 10 hours a day 5 days a week. The 1/2" I have are 244's cant remember what my 3/4 is, maybe 344? Regular dozer track has 37 links/pads, 4 bolts per pad, 2 tracks, thats just shy of 300 bolts, and thats only taking them out, then they had to go back in. Thats almost 600 bolts at least once per day, usually did a couple sets a day. Same deal with excavator tracks, except those only have usually 52 links/pads per track, and you only used the 1/2 to run the bolts in before torquing them with a 1 1/2 electric impact. Thats still over 400 bolts on one set. Had the same impacts for years, just rebuilt and replaced parts when they needed them. Kept rebuild kits on hand. Usually the shaft where the socket goes on would break in half or break the hammers. Sometimes I would break the air motor shaft or the hammer cage, those are the only parts not available separately. Then its time for a new one. But we were running 195 psi of air and running the tools to death, lol. I love my Ingersoll Rand air tools.
farmer boy
Well-known Member
I'd recommend an IR 2135timax. Light, powerful, reasonably priced compared to the Snap-On MG725. The Snap On is a hell of a gun but in dang expensive and heavier than almost every other comparable gun out there.
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