I'm in the market for both of these items, but haven't really found anything locally other than Craftsman. I have a great IR impact that I love - are the other IR tools decent? Any other brands I should be looking at?

IR. Don't even look at anything else.

X2, sorta.

I have a MAC 1/4 drive air ratchet that is THE FAWKING SHIZNIT! No really, it's practically orgasmic :D

I think it's a re-branded IR though, and the newer IR plastic-handled version is even better.

So, IR or off a truck, and don't even look at anything else.

Unless you have a BIG compressor forget about a grinder. Unlike impact guns etc. that you use intermittently a grinder is used continuously. I have a 4.5" IR that our 10HP/120gal in the shop won't keep up with for more than 4 minutes.

Jason, i think he was talkin about a 90 degree die grinder, not an angle grinder, because he said "mini."

IR builds a great tool. My Ir impact is amazing. Most Ir tools are made in china, but in an IR owned plant, so its a few steps above contracting it out to the mushu pork mfg. company. There is a company out called Viking air tools, and they mainly make auto body stuff, like sanders, and people swear by them. their products are made in USA, and Have a 1 year warantee. They are also priced similar to IR. They sell Full size, medium and mini die grinders. MAybe worth checking out. IR makes very good ratchets as well. Id avoid craftsman air tools. Some are made by IR, but others are not.

Here is a viking dealers website.

http://www.contractorstools.com/viking.html

Check out thier grinder kits, they include some good stuff, for less than similar IR kits.

Jim

Jason, i think he was talkin about a 90 degree die grinder, not an angle grinder, because he said "mini."


I did mean 90 deg die grinder. These will be used on a big shop compressor. (7hp 2 stage 80 gal).

Thanks for the tips guys. Keep the info coming. I want to order something by Monday morning unless I can buy something locally. Does HD or Lowes sell IR stuff? I didn't think to look there when I was out earlier.

I have a Chicago Pneumatic 3/8 drive ratchet from Harbor Freight. It had the highest torque specs by a pretty wide margain over anything else when I bought it. I am pretty dam amazed at its power. It was around 130 bucks IIRC and has worked fine for me for about 5 or 6 years

I would get an IR impact and IR or Snap On 90 degree angle grinder. I have the Snap On grinder and it works great. You do need a big compressor to run the thing though. The HF air tools work fairly good for the price - we have some of those that work well. If I were to use them day in and out I would go with something else. Just my $.02.

I would get an IR impact and IR or Snap On 90 degree angle grinder.

I have an IR Impact already. I'm talking about an air ratchet.

Like this:

http://www.etoolcart.com/ProductImages/airtools/IRT1107-L.jpg

I have an IR mini die grinder (straight) that has way more power than other guys big HF ones. I am on my second angle die grinder after the first, a CH, loosened up at the head and wouldn't stay tight. I bought a Blue Point to replace it, and has been go so far, but then I welded some aluminum on the CF one and welded the head solid. Been using that for the more rough work, like routing aluminum or steel. My opinion is, if I was going to buy my first, I would get one that does not have a removable head, just a one piece body.

I have an IR air ratchet, just the standard no frills one - works OK but it's slow as all hell and kind of flaky sometimes. I love my IR2112 3/8 impact with an 18" "whip" and use itmuch more often than my ratchet for small stuff. I have definitely gotten my money's worth out of it... But it will snap small bolts if you get ignorant with it on full power. Some guys I've worked with prefer the butterfly 3/8 impacts - They'll fit most places an air ratchet will and are usually a lot faster. I've used the Snap-On reactionless 3/8 air ratchet and it works AWESOME, but it's pretty spendy. I've never used IR's version (the super duty 3/8 ratchet).

Sears sells some IR stuff rebadged as Craftsman professional - might save you some dough if you catch a sale day and they have what you want.

For the angle die grinder, I got an no-name one from a repo box my Tool rep had on his truck for $20. It's been 4 years and it still works great. The only thing I use it for is gasket removal using Roloc pads. I don't need a Snap-on grinder to take old gasket crud off. Spend your $$ according to the what you use it for.

Don't forget the Aluminum IR guns take grease in the back (no offense, most ppl never grease them) and air tool oil is cheap. You might want to invest in a water seperator and put a nipple on it if the shop you work at has crappy air lines so "your" air is dry.

I have an IR air ratchet, just the standard no frills one - works OK but it's slow as all hell and kind of flaky sometimes.Same here, I NEVER use it, it's a slow clunky pig, those things are a waste of money IMO.

Hell, they are great if your gunna be doing things like taking oil pans off, and other repetative jobs that make you want to castrate yourself. I am going to buy an IR ratchet, but its gunna be one of the 270 or 300 rpm ones. I am also gunna get a 3/8 butterfly,(eventually of course) an I am goign to get one of those mini regulators, youknow, the ones that are just a small piece of brass with a valve in it. This will keep the power down for removing bolts.

Jim

I have an IR 3/8" ratchet, seen a snap-on thats exactly the same thing, I use it a lot. it's fast enough, and puts out 75 ft-lbs. Lots of ratchets are weak good-for nothing tools. If you want one get one with some guts.

I also have a IR mini die grinder. It was less than $40 at www.toolparadise.com and I've used the shit out of it and its doing great.

I recently got an Aircat 1/2" composite impact. Its awesome. I'd look into other Aircat tools after getting this thing. I just had a 1/2" diameter grade 8 bolt that wouldnt loosen for anything, the Aircat twisted it in half...

I really don't understand how people get away with only one die grinder.

To me they're just like electric 4" angle grinders - you need several for various attachments.

I've got 4 die grinders right now and it's not enough. Two straight and two angle.

What's my point? If you want IR for all this stuff it gets spendy. I've started stocking up on cheap HF die grinders, just like people get several 4" HF angle grinders.

I hate to say it, but IMO the HF die grinders have just as much power as my Craftsman heavy duty die grinder (which I swear is re-badged Chicago Pneumatic) and my right angle IR (IR301 IIRC).

So, my vote is go buy a bunch of cheap HF die grinders and have fun! Keep a 3" cutting disc on one, various grinding attachments on the others, surface prep disc on yet another. It's so nice to just pop a different grinder in the air chuck rather than fumbling with the stupid chuck keys for grinder collet.

And I'd load up more on the right angles; I use those much more than straight.

This goes on sale for $17 all the time and is a great deal considering you get the surface prep discs included:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=41655

Got my ratchet today...

IR1200

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/ir1200.html

Nice. You gotta tell us how it performs.

Jim