What is new in the world of impacts?

[lonesome7.3]

I want to get a couple of new impacts when I get home, but I have been out of that world for so long I do not know what kind of new models are out there. I used an Ingersoll that I really liked not too long ago, but I am not fond of plastic casing. I do not really want to drop Snap On kind of money, but I do not want cheap ones either. I need a new ½ inch and a new ¾ inch. Any ideas?

[Whiskyb]

I have a blue point (snap-on) that is a huge dissapointment. Dealer has checked it several times and says it is up to snuff. My old Chicago Pneumatic is one of the best I have ever used. Not sure what the new ones are like, if their like the old ones they are well worth the money. I also have a Snap-on 3/8 which is really nice.

[lonesome7.3]

I am not really concerned with it being new or not. I am not above buying a couple good used ones. I never thought about Chicago tools.

[nealson]

Chicago really? Are we talking Harbor Freight Chicago? Pneumatic or electric. I have a 1/2 inch Dewalt electric I have used for 10 years driving lags in logs and posts and has never quit. Has taken quite a beating. Only yellow tool in my arsenal.

[lonesome7.3]

I am looking for air power impacts. I have the smaller cordelss Dewalt and I plan to buy the larger one when I get home.

[Whiskyb]

Good catch, their are two Chicago's. The original that I know of is Chicago pneumatic sold as CP. The knock offs are as you mentioned sold as chicago tool or something like that and we all know what to expect from them

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by Whiskyb

Good catch, their are two Chicago's. The original that I know of is Chicago pneumatic sold as CP. The knock offs are as you mentioned sold as chicago tool or something like that and we all know what to expect from them

I have been using the 1/2 drive and 3/4 drive air driven from Harbor freight for the last 10 yrs. and I have been known to drop them. NO problems....kind of like a timex watch, inexpensive but it takes a licking and keeps on ticking....Since I am in the "underground economy" my tools are used more than the average DIYer.

[lonesome7.3]

I have had some good luck with cheap tools in the past. But the bad luck I have had with them was bad enough to make me stop buying them.

[nealson]

Originally Posted by lonesome7.3

I have had some good luck with cheap tools in the past. But the bad luck I have had with them was bad enough to make me stop buying them.

Ditto that. I determine if I am going to use a tool more that a dozen times ever I will buy a good one regardless.

[Packard8]

Originally Posted by nealson

Ditto that. I determine if I am going to use a tool more that a dozen times ever I will buy a good one regardless.

Unless you really, really use them. Some friends operate and build dredging equipment and buy Harbor Freight angle grinders by the case when they are on sale for $10. When they die they toss 'em in the trashcan and pull out another. They have in the past bought Bosch, Milwaukee, Makita etc and have found that 5 cheapies will last longer than one good one for the same price.

They have even had some of the El Cheapos last for a year or two of daily use....

[H71993IDI]

My dad use to own a tire shop and sold out about three years ago The best impacts we ever had were Chicago Pneumatics well worth the money and worked good even though we put them through hell

[lonesome7.3]

I have been hearing form other people that CP may be worth a look.

[Kanman]

I junked all of my air impacts (except one) in lieu of the Snap-On 18v cordless. I will put it up against any 1/2" drive impact out there. The one I kept is the BIG BAD 3/4" gun, it'll bust loose anything on our trucks, and I mean anything.

The Mother of All Cordless Impact Wrenches

[lonesome7.3]

I did not know there was a cordless that powerful.