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I am currently in the market to buy some air tools (impact, grinders, etc) and I am not sure what brand(s) to go with. Are there certain brands that I should spend the extra cash on or are there brands that I should stay away from at all costs? I basically dont want to buy any of these things twice.
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i think Ingersoll Rand is about the best out there. Chicago Pneumatic is also a respected name in the biz. stay away from the harbor freight "cental pneumatic" brand unless its a air tool you only plan on using once in a while. i have some of these "cheap" air tools andf they work fine for light to moderate use, but if its gonna get used alot and frequently spend the extra doe and get an IR. and i think that even the Snap On air tools are made by IR also..........
Depending on the size, IR is usually a safe way to go.
If you are looking for big impacts 3/4", 1", 1 1/2"----then cleco is the way to go if you really want good impacts.
Shrek
i have had excellent luck with ingersal rand products and the price seams reasonable compared to snap-on,matco etc. stay away from the discount tool market pnematic tools thay suck!!
I've had the IR231 1/2 dr impact for almost 20 years fantastic tool. My 3/8 and 1/4 dr impacts are Snap-On never had a problem but if you do your dealer can get parts, service. As far as pneu grinders, Dotco is the one to invest in. But here's what I did several years ago, I bought 4 angle high speeds and 4 straight ones from harbor freight, (all total cheaper than my Dotco) and set each one up with a different tool, 2in disk 3in disk, cut off wheel, drum sanders, rotary files, etc. then just grab the one you need and plug it in no changing arbors. Happy air tooling
i have one of the plastic hsg IR impacts. it was suposed to be the best when i got it 2 years ago. it still looks like brand new because no one will use that piece of junk! i just stocked the toolbox with all chicago pneumatic stuff and i love all of it. their "bad boy" impact will spin an IR backwords with ease. i have their 3/8" impact and it's got a truely impressive amount of torque. we use the CP 1/2" electric impact almost exclusively at the track and it's great also. these new tools fit in right in next to my 15 year old CP air grinders so i expect them to last as well. like all air tools keep them oiled and use dry air.
good luck.
www.rosshoek.com
Chicago Pneumatic. We're still using a 3/8" impact gun my dad used when he was a mechanic and it's 20 years old...Curt
we use airtools like crazy at deaver. the best ones we've had were the snap-on (ingersoll-rand). our newest is a 1/2" with 650 lbs torque. its nuts. if a nut jams on, say a 1/2" ubolt, keep on it for a little bit, and the bolt will snap. the chicago models we had didnt last at all, maybe they were crappy lower models or something, but the IR's have been good to us. remember just as important as the gun is the air supply given to it. all that power and quality is useless if your compressor cant give it enough air. we also have a water trap in line, and im working on getting a self oiling unit, as well. those are some good accessories. i dont recommend getting the IR through a snap-on dealer. we paid like 600 (if my memory serves me correctly), when we could have gotten it from sears for 300.
erik
Thanks guys, it basically sounds like I cant really go wrong with either of the two brands I was looking at.
most of my stuff is snap on and IR, alot of people don`t like those lightweight plastic impact guns but i`ve been using the same 1/2 inch matco one for years and its never failed despite its lack of maintenance.
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