I have to say my IR 2131QT is definitely a "Quiet" impact.... Even next to my ear. The Craftsman I have is just way too loud for my for may ears!

Slightly off subject... but relevant to this discussion:

What's up with the ratings for some of these impact drivers? Take that Harbor Freight tool that was referenced earlier in the thread. It says "max torque is 625 ft/lbs." Then states its torque range is 40 - 400 ft/lbs. -- what the heck does that mean? If I'm loosening a bolt, how much torque is it going to give me?

jp

Nazrat - you mention Aircat.

Aircat is one of the brands I am considering and their 1/2 inch. their 1404 can be found for about $120 and rates at over 600ft/lbs. But I know nothing about the brand. What do you know about them?

Thanks

I can't comment on the whole brand, but the Aircats that I've used (3 of them) are VERY nice. My buddy has a 3/8" aircat that hands-down is a much better tool than any of the no-name 1/2" impact wrenches. I think it is around 450ft-lbs, vs the 250 (max!) of the no-names.

$120 isn't bad. The Snap-on ones are more than that, and the Husky/Craftsman/etc pro-sumer wrenches are in that range.

I bought my composite Husky when it was on sale because I thought that I needed another impact wrench (another story). I'm sold on the composite name-brand wrenches. Having a light weight tool is very nice. That's one reason that my buddy's 3/8" aircat is so nice. It is small and light compared to the majority of the 1/2" impacts, of which it is the equivalent.

Btw you'll find that you will want to get a set of "impact sockets." Using the chrome ones is considered dangerous and if nothing else the chrome will start to flake off. I've had good luck over the years with the HF impact sockets, having broken only two. Both cracked on their sides after working for a long time trying to loosen suspension bolts. By a long time I mean hammering on the bolts with the impact wrench for minutes at a time.

-Tad

P.S. the story about why I needed another impact wrench is that I was having trouble loosening nuts that I knew were not over-torqued with my old impact wrench. I finally broke down and bought the new wrench which made things better but not what they should have been. Finally I discovered that my regulator had blown it's little diaphragm inside and that caused the flow rate to be reduced significantly. It still had the correct pressure but without flow your air tools will be neutered.

in all the high end shops i have been in the guys who do the job every day own snap on guns, but you will pay for them -- nothing in the past 40 years works better that i have used -- just traided in and they took money off the new gun i bought from snap on guy, and it was 25 years old bolted to an overhead air hose in the shop between 2 lifts -- your choice -- copys are just that -- jz