Impact Gun Question
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Club Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 4
From: Ponchatoula Louisiana
Impact Gun Question
I recently bought a pretty nice compressor and am gradually adding to my air tool inventory. I'm looking at some impact guns on e-bay and Craig's list. Is a 3/4 inch 700fp overkill for general auto/bike work? Would a 1/2 inch be better for all around use? Found some pretty good prices on a couple of Chicago Pneumatics (my preferred brand). Thanks for any input!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,208
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From: Central Illinois, Between I-80 and I-74
IMO 3/4" is overkill. A 1/2" should have plenty of power for most fasteners on a Car or pickup. The 3/8" Craftsman that came with my compressor is worthless.
I rarely use an impact on a bike, no room for it.
I rarely use an impact on a bike, no room for it.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,190
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From: Eastern Washington
Personally I don't like to use impact guns on anything other than car tires. Even on those you need a lot of air to get them on. It's ok to use for taking tough stuff off, but you can do more harm than good using it to put stuff on. An air ratchet would be better. But an answer to you question would be it depends on what size sockets you have. If you have mostly 3/4" then get that one and same with 1/2"
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,646
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From: Midtown Tulsa
3/4" is way, way over kill. A high quality 3/8" (Ingersol, etc.) are worth their weight in gold. They will perform much like a 1/2", but smaller in size.
Have had one 3/8" Ingersol (red bodied one) for a long time and man has to be the sweetest impact I have ever owned.
Have had one 3/8" Ingersol (red bodied one) for a long time and man has to be the sweetest impact I have ever owned.
Banned
Joined: Jul 2009
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The only time you'll find a use for the 3/4" impact is when you remove the compensator nut and/or (maybe) the rear drive pully. You can get a 1/2" to 3/4" adapter and use a 1/2" impact. Then you'll have much more use for the 1/2" impact.
Tourer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 329
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From: central Texas
size doesn't really matter in this case. You need to look at ft/lbs. On automobiles and pickups a half is fine, most of the time a 3/8" is ok. The cheaper the price, the less ft/lbs it delivers. I would say nothing less than 450 ft/lbs. I bought a used 1/2" CP for $20 10 years ago and it has served me well. I want to say it was a model 731 but can't remeber for sure. My shop burned down last year so I can't use it anymore. Anyhow be sure to look at the ft/lbs ratings. I work on big trucks and use a 1/2" I-R that has 1000 ft/lb rating. My 3/4" is ft/1200 lbs. My Snap-on 1/2" 18 volt cordless is rated at 450 ft/lbs. I use it probably 60% of the time.
Thread Starter
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Club Member
Joined: May 2008
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From: Ponchatoula Louisiana
Thanks a lot everyone! I thought the 3/4 was a little over the top. I really don't intend on using it on the bike, just the cages and lawn tractor etc. I don't own any impact sockets so I can start fresh with a 1/2 or 3/8.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Cypress, Tx
i was an auto mechanic for over 10 years in independent shops to dealer ships and only ever used 1/2 and 3/8 impacts can count the times on one hand i ever needed a 3/4 or 1 inch impact. Ingersoll impacts rock but you get what you spend. Also the electric impacts are getting pretty good.
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Club Member
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Port Charlotte, Florida
I agree with the rest of the guys in our home shop in the garage we have worked on about everything and never needed a 3/4 inch. I have worked industrial maintenance for long time and can count on one hand the number of time in industry that i have had to break out a 3/4 thats a big gun.
The 1/2 will do anything you need and like mentioned the 3/8 quality guns from ingersol are as good or better than most cheap 1/2 inch guns and small and compact.
The 1/2 will do anything you need and like mentioned the 3/8 quality guns from ingersol are as good or better than most cheap 1/2 inch guns and small and compact.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 209
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From: columbia sc
I personaly use a lot of 1/4 drive air ratchet stuff at work engine teardown build- up and some 1/2 but not much . 3/4 wow thats large for the house, but do what you need to. something else you might want to consider adding is a decent paint gun ( I also painted planes for 15 years) just buy good stuff so you do it once. check pawn shops you can see alot of snap-on stuff there - and oil your stuff every use !