[Partsman]

You want to get the rest of the story so to speak. I would recommend a long whip hose with a swivel at the gun. Put a coupler on the air feed hose that has a guard to prevent it from being un-coupled if it catches on anything. Rule one .... don't lend it. Rule two .... keep it clean. This means oil it with a quality air tool oil EVERY day and keep moisture out of it even if you have to buy your own water trap. Rule three ... don't crank it up to the max unless the fastener just refuses to move. Fast Orange made a great point...You might be side of the road trying to get it off. As 302/Z28 observed not everything should be driven down with an impact. You can tighten lug nuts with an impact provided you use a torque stick and set the impact to the proper setting. ( bet most techs have no idea what is involved in doing that) But if you don't want to spring for the expense of the torque sticks you will need a good torque wrench any way (be sure to buy wisely there also). Hope this helps.

[junckhead]

Originally Posted by oldschoolrods

I am looking at buying an impact gun, it will eventually be used everday as I will be graduating school in a year, but what size drive should I get for use in a heavy truck garage, some say 3/8 some say 1/2 some say 3/4, really looking for a gun i can use for most jobs. Thanks.

i always use 1/2 aruond my place,if you need bigger or smaller,just buy the
adapters they work for me a long time,still do....rodhead

[TwistedTrbl]

From the point of view of working in a heavy duty truck dealership, I would buy a 3/8 and a 1/2" impact. All the heavy truck shops that I have seen
provide 3/4 and 1" impacts. There is no way you can get away with a 3/4 or just a 1/2 and adapt it down. Now let me explain. There are too many places on a truck that are close quartered with the new emissions engines and aerodynamic body styles that a 1/2" just will not fit in. Heck, you can pretty much put a Detroit series 60, Cummins,Cat etc........back together with a 3/8 drive impact.

A lot of good info has already been posted by others here! I would buy these two and stick with a good known brand. You will develop your own opinion after working with tools day in / day out.

[oldschoolrods]

I realize this is an old thread but after working with my new Matco MT1769 for a while I will post my review, for the money this gun is awesome, I have not had a bolt yet it would not break loose, soon I hope to try it on some head bolts to really test it out. But if anyone is looking for a good light 1/2 impact this is a good one. Thanks again

[oldred]

May be an old thread but that is fresh, and good, info

[Fast Orange]

I'll add some more info too-
Since I last posted in this thread,I bought a Chicago Pneumatic 724 3/8" impact. I've used it on a few jobs and I'm wondering why I waited so long to get it. The gun is compact,light and has plenty of power. I used it once to pull SBC heads off a few dead soldiers trying to find the best cores for rebuilding. The gun did this task well,had plenty of power and saved a lot of time. For anyone considering a 3/8" gun,put this one on the list to check out.

George

[lwgreen]

Hi,
I don't know if you have bought an impact, but I have the IR twin hammer 1/2 in. impact with 450 ft.lbs forward and 730 ft.lbs reverse .I work in a machine shop and have used it almost daily for about 4 years . Its small , lite weight and does a great job. Would not go to work without it. It will cost a little more but its worth it.
If I get another one I would go to the next level up, it has 1000 ft. lbs in reverse.
another thing, only use a good air tool oil in it and use it ofter. Always lube your tool.....
lwgreen

[Partsman]

Hi!
Yes, A very good point...Buy the better unit. Everyone makes a generic air gun, but if you depend on your tools to put food on the table then buy the best you can afford and upgrade when you can afford better. Then take care of them and they will give you the service you want.