Air Impact Gun

[Jsmith2211]

Hello, looking for suggestions as to what air impact gun to buy. I have a 9.6CFM compressor atm, will be upgrading that once the new workshop is built. I have a rather expensive set of 3/4" impact rated sockets i had to buy as i needed a 35mm socket... so my question is this, should i buy a 1/2" impact gun and use a 1/2 to 3/4" adaptor, or should i get a decent 3/4" and have the extra power to go with it? I was looking at one of these https://www.drapertools.com/product/48413/Composite-Body-Air-Impact-Wrench-(3-4inch-Sq-Dr-) as i have borrowed the half inch version and it was a very good tool. Only thing I'm thinking about going with a 3/4" is that it could maybe have too much power and end up snapping off more than it undoes? What impacts does everybody else have and use, and what would people recommend? And before anybody says anything, id rather go air than get a battery powered one, as the batteries are expensive and dont last all that long before they give up... i want to buy a decent tool now and have it last me 20 or 30 years.

Thanks

 

[David.]

I will say it. It's your choice of course, but I have never picked up my air rattle gun since I have owned a couple of 18v ones, and nor do I want to.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Personally I wouldn’t bother any more and just go for a 3/4 milwaukee for wheel nuts etc and buy a smaller 1/2 one for other things. If you go for the latest 3/4 one then an older model 1/2 will be more than enough for everything else bar tractor wheel nuts etc and a much more compact unit. You won’t miss dragging the air line around and listening to the pcl couplings hissing all the time!!!

 

[Mur Huwcun]

I think this is the latest now

Milwaukee M18ONEFHIWF34-0 M18 One Key FUEL High-Torque 3/4" Impact Wrench with Friction Ring

Milwaukee M18ONEFHIWF34. 18 volt cordless 3/4 inch impact wrench. One-Key bluetooth. FUEL brushless motor. 2034Nm nut busting torque. UK equivalent for US Milwaukee Tool 2864-20. Milwaukee 4933459729.

www.bigredpowertools.co.uk

shop around for best price if you have batteries or look for a kit with two batteries and chargers. Ideally you need minimum 5amp batteries but bigger is better if you’re on the job all day every day

 

[An Gof]

Same here, my Milwaukee impact gun has made the airline impact gun redundant. So much more convenient.

 

[colhonk]

I still use my 3/4 air rattle gun for tractor wheel nuts so that I do not over tighten them

 

[Phil P]

Milwaukee M18, next question?

 

[Lakesdigger]

As good as the cordless impacts are (I do have one) when you see my local tyre fitter taking wheel nuts off with a 3/4 air gun there is no comparison. I don't know what make he uses though. If you've got 3/4 sockets whatever you buy go 3/4 as any adapter or extension you add lose torque.

 

[ACEngineering]

As good as the cordless impacts are (I do have one) when you see my local tyre fitter taking wheel nuts off with a 3/4 air gun there is no comparison. I don't know what make he uses though. If you've got 3/4 sockets whatever you buy go 3/4 as any adapter or extension you add lose torque.

There's a cordless impact for every job now. absolutely no need to use air any more 99.9% of the time

 

[Jsmith2211]

i appreciate your recomendations to get battery tools, but id rather not have to put up that kind of an investment into a decent set of batteries, the charger and the tool etc. Also in my experience the batteries will loose their charge after a few years - a decent air tool should outlast the battery equivilent by a fair margin. Im planning to get a decent air setup in the new workshop, air tools are relatively cheap compared to the battery tools, and there is a huge selection. I already have an air grease gun and the air impact i borrowed was very good. So what air impacts do you have or did you have before you got a battery tool that you would recommend - prefferably not too expensive?

 

[ACEngineering]

i appreciate your recomendations to get battery tools, but id rather not have to put up that kind of an investment into a decent set of batteries, the charger and the tool etc. Also in my experience the batteries will loose their charge after a few years - a decent air tool should outlast the battery equivilent by a fair margin. Im planning to get a decent air setup in the new workshop, air tools are relatively cheap compared to the battery tools, and there is a huge selection. I already have an air grease gun and the air impact i borrowed was very good. So what air impacts do you have or did you have before you got a battery tool that you would recommend - prefferably not too expensive?

milwaukee batteries last forever, more or less! some of mine are 9 years old and nothing wrong with them.

 

[Lakesdigger]

i appreciate your recomendations to get battery tools, but id rather not have to put up that kind of an investment into a decent set of batteries, the charger and the tool etc. Also in my experience the batteries will loose their charge after a few years - a decent air tool should outlast the battery equivilent by a fair margin. Im planning to get a decent air setup in the new workshop, air tools are relatively cheap compared to the battery tools, and there is a huge selection. I already have an air grease gun and the air impact i borrowed was very good. So what air impacts do you have or did you have before you got a battery tool that you would recommend - prefferably not too expensive?

To be fair if you stick to the main brands batteries will last. If you're not a daily user the mistake a lot of people make is having too many batteries, you're better off sharing 2 batteries between many tools to make sure you're cycling them regular. I've still got 3 makita batteries in use from 2006, ok they don't hold as much charge as they did but still run a torch or radio for long enough.

 

[Hilly]

Air is outdated now big heavy restricted urgh .

 

[Kidds]

You are probably better asking a tyre fitter than a farmer.

 

[Hilly]

A 9.6 cfm won’t run many tools properly

 

[Jsmith2211]

A 9.6 cfm won’t run many tools properly

I know. I plan to get a bigger compressor when the workshop is built that will have more CFM and a bigger tank, if nothing else just for pumping up tyres and blowing out radiators, but air tools seem like a good idea to me. Definitely seem better built than the electric tools

 

[KennyO]

I have a Chicago pneumatic 1/2 stubby gun. It has been great and very reliable. It is powerful and a nice size.

I have a old Clark 3/4 gun which I got for doing powerharrow tines. It is rubbish but even if not the 3/4 size gun is very awkward. If I was only getting one it would be 1/2 size unless you only do big stuff.

I will be getting a 1/2" Milwaukee soon though to go with my 1/4" drive one.

 

[Classichay]

The air guns purely just don’t have the power a battery gun lays down, your going to spend 350+ on a decent air gun. Just nightmare enduring the noise they create too. The 1” guns do have big power but they are also too big other than for wheels.

 

[Andrew]

Wouldn't even consider air now, batteries are taking over so air ones are being made cheaper to compete. I reckon the top battery brands will outlast the air.

Even our local tyre fitting outfit uses Milwaukee kit now.

If you really have your heart set on air, go for Ingersoll Rand or Chicago Pneumatic. But to run it properly you will need a decent 3 phase compressor with big airlines (not 3/8" rubbish) and high flow couplers. You'll have easily spent 4 figures.

 

[Boomerang]

Wouldn't even consider air now, batteries are taking over so air ones are being made cheaper to compete. I reckon the top battery brands will outlast the air.

Even our local tyre fitting outfit uses Milwaukee kit now.

If you really have your heart set on air, go for Ingersoll Rand or Chicago Pneumatic. But to run it properly you will need a decent 3 phase compressor with big airlines (not 3/8" rubbish) and high flow couplers. You'll have easily spent 4 figures.

Had a stubborn car wheel nut I couldn't move ,it was the locking one ,so using the special bit , couldn't shift it with a long breaker bar , took it to tyre company who started
of with a breaker bar but longer, couldn't shift it, then tried air gun , still couldn't shift it .
Finally he tried battery impact wrench , it had it off in seconds, quite why he didn't use battery job to start with ive no idea.