Old School Air Impact Guns

[goodfellow]

Here are a few of my 3/8", 1/2" and my former go-to 3/4" impact wrenches. It represents about 35 years of buying impacts. I particularly like the angle head impacts -- they are so ergonomic and fit my hand better than any pistol grip wrench I have ever tried. I sold all the pistol grip 3/8" drive models years ago.

Of particular interest are two 40 year old US models. One is the CP 723 3/8" impact in the upper left hand corner of the first pic. Super smooth and powerful American made air tool. I was told it was a rebadged Skil tool, but I also have evidence that it was sold by B&D. The others are 1970's vintage 3/8" models made in Japan --two Rockwell models , one Sun (Rockwell), and one Rockford (Rockwell) and an "Executive" Rodac Japanese Butterfly impact that I use mostly as a nutdriver and sheetmetal screw driver -- works great for metal fab work.

The other interesting impact is the "Red" US made 1/2" Rockwell impact with the "ultra-fine" pressure adjustment screw under the trigger. Most other 1/2" impacts of this type had a rather simple pressure adjustment on the bottom of the handle - like the "Black" US made Rodac in the other pic. Both were purchased in 1973.

The other 1/2" is a HF professional model that I really like -- never has failed to perform. Since purchasing the HF gun, I hardly ever need to use the 3/4" Generic Taiwan 1250ft/lb double hammer impact.

[wilbilt]

I have had many cheap 1/2 impacts over the years. Most of them got tossed pretty quicky, because they simply died.

I think the first one I bought was from Harbor Freight, back when they were known as "Harbor Freight Salvage Company" and were mail-order only out of Southern California.

It lasted about 3 days.

I always liked the IR 231 impacts, having used so many in the tire/brake shops where I worked. I could never afford to buy one for myself. They generally had the extended anvil for use with flip sockets.

Sadly, I have to admit my go-to these days is a Campbell-Hausfeld I bought at Walmart about 20years ago. It has the IR-style hammer mechanism and hasn't let me down.

I don't own any air ratchets, as I believe they make entirely too much noise for the amount of work they do. I can spin things down nearly as quickly using a speed handle.

That being said, I am invested in air and don't have any battery-powered tools other than a few cordless drills.