What impact wrench and ratchet?

[kambites]

Finally getting to the point where my air lines are all in so now it's time to start thinking about tools.

What are a decent, reasonably cheap, 1/2 inch impact wrench and ratchet to buy? The compressor that will be driving it is 150PSI/14CFM. My experience of really cheap impact wrenches has not been good but are they all rubbish or have I just been unlucky with the ones I've used?

[ch427]

I bought some sealey stuff and its not too bad, when i did some research the names that sprung up for high end equipment were ingersoll rand and chicago pneumatic.

[static2010]

I have either a Sealy or Draper which does all I need.

Cant remember off hand, but it was less than £100, I know that.

Edit: Double checked, & mines a Sealy. £33 1/2" drive from tooled up.

Edited by static2010 on Thursday 3rd October 17:10

[sprocketman01]

Always buy the best you can afford,even if that means buying 2nd hand, CP or IR,Snap On or Sykes Pic,the cheaper stuff is just that,and when you've bought a decent tool after having the cheap stuff,you wonder why you didn't buy decent stuff in the first place.
To be honest I would buy a battery gun,I've had one for the past two years,saves on time waiting for compressor,and you can take it out on the road with you.... no pratting about with wheel braces at the side of the road. Bonus!!

[static2010]

sprocketman01 said:

Always buy the best you can afford,even if that means buying 2nd hand, CP or IR,Snap On or Sykes Pic,the cheaper stuff is just that,and when you've bought a decent tool after having the cheap stuff,you wonder why you didn't buy decent stuff in the first place.
To be honest I would buy a battery gun,I've had one for the past two years,saves on time waiting for compressor,and you can take it out on the road with you.... no pratting about with wheel braces at the side of the road. Bonus!!

I agree with this to some extent, but only for tools I use pretty much on a daily basis & especially when it cones to spanners & sockets.
You can't beat Snap-on IMO.

On the other hand, for me the Sealy rattle gun is enough as I'll only use it maybe 6 times a year.

[SpaceGhost]

I bought a 1/2" Sealey air impact wrench, around £45, circa 450 lb. It was ok, would spin nuts off but on quite a few occasions, they had to be loosened with a breaker bar first. I then went out and spent £200 on an Ingersoll Rand with 900 lb. The difference is night and day, well worth spending the extra. Buy once and buy right.

With regards to battery impact guns, I have a Techway, bought from my Durite supplier. It's basically a Sealey with a different label. Hardly ever use it but it's a handy tool to have in the boot.

An important thing to remember, 90% of tools are all built in the same factory, they just have different labels. A friend came round the other day showing off his £150 Bluepoint by Snap On brake rewind kit. I showed him the unbranded one I bought previously for £30. Same kit without the extortionate markup.