Air vs electric impact gun

[number9]

I have an even cheaper CH from WalMart, it's a million years old and it still will break a bolt if it can't free it.

Most of the time it's your hose limiting flow. Run a long 1/2" hose and you'll probably notice a huge performance gain. Makes a big difference for me.

Thanks, I'll give that a try. I've got a 3/8" hose that's older than John McCain.

[TheIglu]

3/8" hose

Well thayers yer prablim.

[number9]

Well thayers yer prablim.

I guess I didn't realize that it's so bad for relatively light-use tools. It's not like the gun is rated at 50cfm or anything. Is it a huge difference?

[ZX-12R]

But even with a full tank at 120psi, the gun sucks.

I think mine was the $34.95 model or thereabouts. I feel like it has the same amount of torque as my 3/8" ratcheting air wrench

I guess I didn't realize that it's so bad for relatively light-use tools. It's not like the gun is rated at 50cfm or anything. Is it a huge difference?

I'm more inclined to say your problem is with your cheap rattle gun. In the low price segment, quality varies widely from somewhat decent to barely useable. As you break the $100 barrier, you start getting into the much more substantial tools. I have an all metal Craftsman that's about 9 years old and it's a beast. I looked at their site but it apparently isn't made anymore in favor of the lighter composite models but it was in the $150 range with a rating over 500ft/lbs. In any case, my 3/8" hose with 1/4" fittings feed it just fine.

Many people swear by the "Earthquake" model from Harbor Freight for $99 but I have no direct experience with it: 1/2 in. Professional Air Impact Wrench

[TheIglu]

Bring it somewhere that has a compressor/hose with no issues on a similar gun. Try it there. Then you'll know for sure.