if you just need to use it once or for a short period of time, then a cheap one will do, but if you plan on using it reliably for over a month, then at least get a blue point, sold on cornwell trucks, decent quality. Ive had bad experiences with all of there air tools except the half inch impacts...

 

impacts are a huge part of my job. ( i do lift kits, big wheels and tires, major suspension work) i bought an s&k composit style for about 260. it was the cheapest on the market in that class and had a rating of 1200 ft lbs in reverse. its awsome and super light.


on another note. if you want the best on the market and by far the lightest with the most power it would hands down be an ingersol and rand titanium. they run about 375 or any ingersol impact will do you just fine. we have a guy here that has had in ingersol for over 21 years and still has a shitload of power and works great. you really get what you pay for when it comes to impacts.

 

800ft/lb and up

 

yea id say 400-500lbs or more at least those shity ones with like 165 dont bother. if you can do it with your hand and a socket wrench you can do 165lbs probably those suck. get atleast 400 no less but id aim at like 500.. I almost picked up a good 1000 for 125. that bitch was NUTSSSS

 

Ingersoll-Rand 2135TI 1/2' Impact Wrench Titanium

this is one of the best out right now. ive used one myself and they are kick ass. its really light and i think out-powers almost all on the market of 1/2 impacts.

Ingersoll-Rand 231C General Duty Impact Wrench

this one has plenty of power at a damn good price for the quality and can break loose just about anything you might come across. its pretty heavy but will last forever and can withstand some serious abuse. like i said earlier, i work with a guy that had this exact gun for over 20 years and still works perfect and has just as much power as new. (i think he had to change one o-ring but thats it)


sorry, im sure i seem like a tool salesman by now tools are just a big part of my job and have been for years. im on the tool truck that comes by my work every week and he always tells me about new products and what he thinks about everything.




:edit: this is the one i use now. i have had it for over a year now and still kicks ass and is really light. i haven't come across one bolt that i couldn't get off with this gun. it claims to have a 1000 ft lbs. the book that came with it says 1200. im sure its not either one of those but its not far off.i think its as light as the titanium at almost half the price. i would buy one again if i had to.



ok! im done talking about tools! hope i helped a little. if you have anymore questions lmk.