[Irelands child]

My one and only impact wrench is a CP. It will do a good job (@ 90-100 psig) as long as the bolts/nuts aren't torqued in the +150 lb ft range like my F350's lug nuts - they have to be at least just broken loose. I had new tires installed by a home installer. He had a Snap-on. The difference in sound alone - a 3 to 4 oz tack hammer vs an 8 pound sledge. But I paid 50 bucks for the CP and it will do 90+% of what I need to do with it

Dave W

[sbchevfreak]

CP used to make a good gun, I had 3 of them and was satisfied for what I was doing then. I eventually found that they did not have the "oompf" of the higher end guns, and upgraded to a Snap On IM6100. Ireally liked this gun, but found it to be a tad heavy. Traded to a IMC5100 composite framed gun, and absolutely loved it. light, 550+ ft/lbs tq, well balanced. After my shop fire, I bought a used MAC/IR gun, and it was good, heavy but good. A few years later, I bought the new Snap on top end gun. Not happy, and $650 dollars?!! It didn't last 3 years before it crapped out, and would cost a small fortune to repair. Now I have a Mastercraft Maximum composite gun from Canadian Tire. Not sure who makes it, but it is fantastic! 550 ft/lbs tq, and light. Cost $180.00 CAD, and used hard every day.

[cobalt327]

My "go-to" 1/2" impact is a Blue Point AT 531. I had been using the IR, but when I hit a Ford F-350 wheel lug nut that wouldn't budge (w/o breaking it loose first- which kind of negates the impact wrench convenience for me), I broke them ALL out and went through them all. Blue Point for the win- in MY case.

The problem w/all this is these tools are all second hand, w/the exception of a cheap Chinese tool I got in a sale. So their performance probably doesn't reflect what these tools were like when new.

Still, based on what I have seen w/them, I wouldn't hesitate to get another Blue Point like the one I have now.

Oddly, NONE of these tools mentioned (IR, CP and BP) say "Made in USA" anywhere on them. Makes me think they're offshore, and had the import "Made IN *****" stickers on them that we all know and despise.

Same thing w/my daily use NAPA 3/8" air ratchet. Looks like another brand (do not recall which brand ATM), and doesn't say where it was made anywhere on it. I have 4-5 3/8" air ratchets, but use the NAPA. I don't even remember if there was a reason for that, or if it just fell to hand one day and stayed for the duration.

[MARTINSR]

DBM, there can be WORLDS of difference in impacts!

I have a "Mac" (Ingersoll Rand) like Cobalt shows, at least I think it is the same one. It is SOOOOOO Much better than other guns in the shop it isn't funny. I will be asked to remove nuts or bolts all the time that theirs won't do.

Brian