3/8 IMPACT needed

SHINTON

SHINTON

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2005
Location
Triad area of NC
Ok...short story is, I am looking for a GOOD ($100ish) 3/8 impact 'gun' for my dad for his Christmas present.

Longer story....dad has a snap-on he bought in the 60s that has finally given up the ghost and we assume it cannot be rebuilt and time for it to retire. He does not want a 1/2" (too big)....and has a good air compressor that is set for about 175psi, but we also have a regulator we can adjust that down to an appropriate amount.

So...this is what I "was" looking for, Craftsman PRO Series, they have a graphite version that sells for $190, and they USED to have the exact same gun in a "aluminum" type housing for $89. That one appears to have been discontinued, not at the store, catalog or their website.

The PRO series has like 250lbs torque Sears PRO Impact 3/8 going fwd, 230lb backwards and my uncle used it at the dealership, lasted him about 3 years. (Pretty hard use...he really liked it, figured it was last dad another 40 years, heh)

So...the question for the tool fetish fellows, what is out there that is comparable, back in the $100ish range? (I suppose I may break down and just get him the graphite one...but we hate to spend that kinda cash on something that is used once/twice a month)

Personally, I just use a cheapie 1/2" from Harbor Freight and a 3/8 air rachet made by Cambell Hausfield. Would like to get dad a nice one (he was gonna just get a cheapie at HF too...)

Thanks in advance!
Sam
 
ingersoll rand is the best bang for the buck in my opinion. unless you want to get into mac and specialty stuff...
 
I work for ingersoll-rand here in NC. Sears carries "craftsman" impacts that are just relabled IR products for a lot less $$
 
I would think snap-on would rebuild it, just ask the dude on the truck, or i guess call.

But why not go for the graphite, its a bit (ok a lot) more expensive, but saying your father is getting "older" the extra loss of weight might really benefit him. you gotta splurge for Xmas!
 
Flipper said:
I work for ingersoll-rand here in NC. Sears carries "craftsman" impacts that are just relabled IR products for a lot less $$
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nice thing to know.... :beer:
 
You want the IR 2115ti. It's the 3/8" version of the 2135ti.

It can be had for ~$200 online (check Amazon). The closest thing that Craftsman makes (er.... rebadges?) is $190, but it doesn't spec the same.
 
Yea, the new IR Has a titanium case, and is a lot lighter than the others on the market. They seem to be pretty bulletproof. But then again for a use once or twice a month, Sears is probably fine.
 
Oh, yeah... didn't notice the $100 number. In that case, there are a couple of other good IR and Craftsman guns that'll do for the price.
 
Craftsman as far as I know does not carry the TI impacts, they use an older version of the IR gun w/ the cast case.

You do get what you pay for in air tools. Part of my job is competitive benchmarking other manufacturers products. An IR impact, screwdriver, sander, etc are designed for 100% duty cycle (air tools are inherently 100%, but most in actuality are not), whereas a comparable sears brand, campbell hausfield, etc, will not hold up under everyday usage.

Our primary market is not the shadetree mechanic, but large factories that use our tools to assemble products 24 hours a day. That being said, an off brand impact will usually be fine for most people as long as it makes the power you want. Some people just have to have the best.
 
No Question, Ingersoll Rand is an outstanding impact wrench. I have a 3125TI and it is NICE. ( But $250 ). I beleive the guy is right about the Craftsman impact wrenches. I noticed that the cases looked nearly the same. I wondered just didn't know. Keep your eyes open for a good sale at sears after Thanksgiving ( 10 -20 % off ?? ). If you do go with a higher end impact wrech they sometimes have a gease fitting in front of the hammer case. It's about another $30 to get the special grease gun if doesn't already have one. Harbor Freight Tools has a nice selection of Cheapos and Higher end Impacts.
 
look into the aircat ones. northern carries them, and they seem like their specs are better than many competitors. you can find them on ebay too, if you dont feel like driving around looking for them.
 
I've been pretty happy with my Husky 1/2" impact. It started leaking air after a while. Performance wasn't hurt, probably just need to disassemble it and replace an o-ring. Anyway, I called a tool repair man Husky reccomended to do warranty work, and he remarked on the quality build of the Husky tools. He said that for the money their hard to beat. Get them at Home Depot. That's two cents for you, take it how you want.
 
I was eyeballing the IR at Northern Tool this morning, and they had the nice graphite, 280 lbs for about $250. THEN...I noticed over on the far right, there is a "Northern Tools" that is rated for 260ish lbs and they are nearly identical?

Does IRand make the Northern version too? (I talked with the tool guy and he said same person that does Craftsman does the Northern ones.)

If so..the "graphite" Northern Tool version, almost same specs is $99 (vs $250)

Right now that is the ONLY 3/8" impact I have seen that is rated for 260ish lbs torque for $100.

(Earthquake model at Harbor freight is pretty close I think)

Flipper? (I think you are our IR spy?)
Sam
 
this might not apply, and flipper will certainly have better answers, but...

i have owned maybe 5 or 6 air guns in my short life. they were all pretty good, with a mac and ingersoll rand being the best, the absolute worst was a northern tool gun. this was all in the 3 years i was working in a shop. the northern gun lasted about 3 months, and was weak. i can't imagine they are ALL made by ingersoll rand, b/c the performance and longevity was not even similiar.
 
Buy a good IR I have one that I've used here at the shop for 15 years, it won't die. several years ago I bought a snap-on with a muffler on it (the hot new tip several years back) it's garbage, it won't pull a greasey string out of a cats ass and it was over $400. You can't beat the IR for the $$$.
 
BIGWOODY said:
several years ago I bought a snap-on with a muffler on it (the hot new tip several years back) it's garbage, it won't pull a greasey string out of a cats ass and it was over $400.
Click to expand...

Sunofabitch.. I nearly choked on my lunch.. fawker! :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
Maybe Ingersoll Rand does manufacture them, but doesn't put in the good internals. Dude I'm sorry I just don't think you'll find a good Impact wrench for $100. If he doesn't use it a lot (not every day) then a cheaper one might be OK. Maybe it's possible to replace the hammer mechanism in his old one, but I have no idea how much that costs.
 
Without seeing it, the best way to tell is really to just hold them side by side. Look at the "power" switch, the case, and especially the locations of the fasteners. If the fasteners aren't in the same locations it isn't the same tool.

To respond to BIGWOODY, those external mufflers were pretty dumb, IR tools have mufflers built in, usually in the handle. The best deal on an impact in my opinion is the IR Street Legal Thunder Gun. It's an older case but has very beefy internals. It is the fastest on the market and offers 625 lb-ft. It is commercial grade and is definately the best sounding (kinda loud) impact. List is 339.0 but HINT they are on EBAY for $150!! PN 232TGSL
 
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