Air tool?

[jvencius]

Sorry for the vagueness of this question, but what features/brands should I look at if I were shopping for a 3/8" impact driver? The station has a couple of 1/2" impact guns, but I have a specific need for a 3/8" gun and so I figure I'll buy one, provided that they're not too terribly expensive (although I don't mind paying a little extra for a quality tool that will last a while).

 

[Tbar]

For industrial use get a name bard like IR.

For home owner/occasional use any of the imports will be fine.


Tbar

 

[F350R]

I have had a CP 3/8 drive for many years I got it when I was a wrench for a John Deere dealer. I used it more than my 1/2 drive as it is lighter and easier to use in many cases. Of course we had many uses for the 3/4 drive as well and a 3/4 drive 4Ft breaker bar that came in handy from time to time.

 

[powerboatr]

i have an inexpensive C/H model with some chiesel tips . works great for 1/2 and 3/8 work.
HOWEVER it wont break my lugnuts loose, makes pretty quick work of everything else

 

[BJS]

I picked up a cheap as in $15 for the 1/2 & 3/8" impacts from BigLots about 5 years ago and much to my surprise they still work and work well. Neither will break lugnuts on the diesel but that's what the big 1/2" drive or the 3/4" drive is for...

A good name brand IR is good, if you can find a deal on snap-on/bluepoint they are good and hold up well.

The best thing for occasional use is oiling them well when you finish working before you store them. I run an oiler on one hose of my compressor to help and I compusively take them apart and clean them up & oil the daylights out of them.

 

[Crumm]

I have a Craftsman 3/8" impact and it has worked great for years. I use it more than the 1/2". I also have some IR guns and they hold up well. I have not had good luck with Chicago Pneumatic, they always give up on me when I need them most.

 

[HCAbowman]

Ive got a 1/2" CP and it does ok, I think its about worn out-But it does ok! I think I am going to find a decent CH and get one and a 3/8" also. Im with powerboater, the average home mechanic would be good with any of the CP, CH or IR, just depends on how much ya wanna spend!

 

[jvencius]

I ended up buying a Husky 3/8" impact gun from Home Depot today. It seemed like a decent balance of price/quality for the amount and type of usage I plan on putting it through. If I were making a living with my tools, a Matco or Snap-On might be worth it, but since I'm not using the driver to put food on the table, I couldn't justify that kind of dough. Besides, it's got a lifetime warranty, so that's a nice bonus, especially considering that the tool and a connector plug only ended up costing me $55 or so.

 

[HCAbowman]

Thats awesome, I did aquire a 1/2" Snap on 60-375Ft# tourque wrench. It is called the "butus".

 

[dmftoy1]

You've probably already bought by now, but my advice would be to spring for the extra $ to buy a quality tool. (IR, CP, even the "high end" craftsman stuff). I initially bought a CH impact wrench when I bought my compressor 10 years ago because I didn't know dick and it help up ok for what it was but never had the power. About 3-4 years ago my wife got me an IR impact wrench and it is SOOOOOO nice. It gets a rub down everytime I finish using it and sometimes when I'm in the shop we cuddle. (ok, just kidding . . . kind of . . . ).

It's a night/day difference. I don't currently own a 3/8, but it's on my wish list and when I do I'm going to buy one of those high end light weight jobbies with the heavy torque rating.

Just my .02

Regards,
Dave