Impact Gun, Looking At Buying

[meetthespeakers]

I have been wanting to get a impact gun for quite some time. Here's the question, should I got for a air impact gun, or a 24v one? I have a compressor, but I think any of the guns will want more than my compressor can put out.

I have a Craftsman 3 gal. Air Compressor, 1 hp, Horizontal Tank
Delivers 2.4 SCFM @ 90 PSI

The gun I was looking at is rated at:
4.2CFM @ 90PSI

Would that mean the compressor would just constantly run, or it just wouldn't perform that great?
Would the cordless be better to go with as far as portability, how long will a charge last (ie, change all the lugs before dying)? Thanks guys as always.

[tbhager94]

i have a 18v dewalt impact gun at work and it lasts a while before going dead, we have 2 batterys so theres alwase one charged.

[meetthespeakers]

Yea, I am leaning towards the cordless one. It's $145 shipped. 24V cordless impact wrench kit with 300 ft/lbs output. Features dual contact impact mechanism delivers a maximum 2,600bpm. Complete kit comes with 2 NI-CD rechargeable battery.

Specifications:

300 Ft / lbs with 2,200 RPM DC motor ( Reversible )
Durable all-metal transmission
0-2,600 BPM (Blows per minute)
Lightweight with cushioned non-slip handle
Rugged nose piece with electric brake
Includes "2" 24V NI-CD battery pack ( C-UL listed)
High impact blow molded case included

[dunedog]

Just buy an electric impact wrench.

[BLAZER]

I have a cheapo gun and a decent compressor and the impact is terrible. There isno way that compressor would ever be able to push that gun. Spend the money and get the electric. My brother in law owns a garage and now uses a cordless all the time, I was suprised how much butt it had.

[meetthespeakers]

By electric do you mean the cordless one? Or the kind you plug into an outlet?

[GEJ]

I owned for yrs a two stage 60 gal 220 compressor.It would cover most anything except some body tools.I worked up to that over the yrs with a compressor like you have and others.Here is the point I am making.Even thro a cordless might be cheaper in the short run,it will not cover other things you could do with a larger compressor.If in hind sight if bought the compressor I needed at first,I wouldn't have wasted all the money I spent on the other ones and let alone paying to have work done by other jobbers.I.E.:sandblasting,air hammers,painting,etc.When I moved out of my place and lost the shop I had for 18yrs,I traded off the compressor for a pro-series Craftsman tool box which I returned for a brand new one that is in my 12' trailer.Yeppers,came out money up.But man do I miss that compressor and all the things I got done with it.Might want to consider getting a bigger compressor for the long haul.

This edit is:Your going to say holy crow Gar,you know how much a decent 60 gal two stage is going to cost?.I do,but it only hurts for a short time and the wallet pinch fades in time.

[reaper]

Chicago Pneumatic Manufactures nice Air tools.
Be prepared to pay,But as the usual statement is:
"you always get what you pay for".
I personally preffer Air.

[justice]

don't forget to look at used tools as well. My compressor and impact tools have mostly come from pawn shops and cost about 1/2 of what it would have cost new. My dad got me the compressor and impact gun (plus a few other odds and ends) used from a pawn shop for less than $200 The comp is a Husky 150psi with wheels and stuff, the impact is a Cambell Hausfield. The compressor looked almost new. I got a basically new Craftsman air ratchet for $15 and a Husky 6" air orbital sander for $20 (also pretty much new)

[rlsllc]

Ingersoll-Rand. Best impact guns I've ever used.

[Smiliesafari]

In my opinion the Chicago Pneumatic air tools are the best money can buy. I have an impact wrench that's 30+ years old and still going strong. And that's commercial work. I wouldn't waste my money on an electric. Buy a bigger compressor. In a few years you'll be glad you did. The pawn shop idea is a good one.

[potskie]

Ingersoll-Rand. Best impact guns I've ever used.

For modern day oh hell ya!! I've got an IR impact that'll turn the earth if there was a big enough bolt siezed into it.
Cuz they don't build em liek they used to smilie! Wish they did tho. Got a few hand me down tools form my grand father when he passed away and I couldn't break em if I tried. I've broke 2 modern drills just putting up drywall

I've used some the husky pro series as well and man o man the one I had when I was a tire jockey would remove cross threaded lugs without you even noticing

IR also makes some damn good compressors. My personal preference there tho is the slow moving V twin conversions

Personally tho if your just removing tires and such get a decent cordless. Now if your going to work on the chassis and such and it's all rusty and such get yourself a 600+ FT/LB air impact and a compressor that can keep up and you'll thank yourself later when it's just pulling those bolts and nuts loose sans PB blaster whereas you'd have to revert to a cheater bar cuz the cordless wouldn't cut it. Plus the one main advantage of the bigger compressor / air impact is the other tools you can get in time. Sanders, Ratchets, Chisels, Hammers, drills and my personal favourite pneumatic jacks plus what ever else you can dream up.

One thing to watch for for sure tho is where you buy the tool. I kid you not the quailty of the same line of tool can be different depending on where you buy it. Like around here if you buy a Campbell-Hausfield anything at crappy tire it's sure to be broken quick but if you go into an actual tool supply place with lower volume sales that same tool will be higher quality. Mostly because they run 2 different lines the one that supplys the big box places and the one that they can take their time on for true professionals.

[meetthespeakers]

I would have gotten a bigger compressor, but it was a xmas gift from my pops. I bought a house 2 years ago, and so far all I have used it for is framing and finishing. It's worked great for that stuff, but as soon as I started looking at car air tools, than I was sad. Also I don't have a garage....yet... When I get a garage I probably will step up to a mans setup, but till then I am very limited to minimal storage space. Garage plans are probably 2 years out at least. Having a welder is a pain in the ass already wheeling it through the lawn, or carrying it from the shed to the driveway.

Decisions, decisions...

[GEJ]

Well it sounds like it's time for a good old (pole) barn raising.Alittle bit of beer,BBQ, a invite to some of the folks from here and boom.A shop.

Have you noticed how good I am at spending your money???.

[meetthespeakers]

I would love to do a barn raising, I have the beer, and most of the tools. But, it's gonna be a fairly big project. 2 car garage (attached hopefully), with a guest room above it (bathroom w/shower). Of course there would be room for a small workshop for my welding setup. The problem is meeting the setback requirements, and getting approved for the variation....oh and the little chunk of change to make it.