Exactly How Powerful is a $14 Harbor Freight Air Hammer?
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- čas přidán 10. 05. 2021
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Link to the IR: amzn.to/2OJMCDx The Central Pneumatic Medium barrel air hammer from Harbor Freight costs less than lunch, but can it serve the comparably expensive best selling Ingersoll Rand 114GQC medium barrel a hot slice of humble pie? Let's find out.
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If you're not used to using an air hammer, you might be thinking the quick change retainer we used on the harbor freight somehow boosted its scores? A retainer does just that, it stops the bit from coming out when you slip off something or carry the tool around. It's 3-4 ball bearings that catch the bit. When the air hammer is pressed up against and working on something it does nothing as just the bit and piston are interacting then. Now that we have this tube collar, we could actually run these without any retainer. It's simply a matter of convenience and provides no performance difference.
Our SKU was 61244. So yours may die after a few months of use either way, no way for us to know yet, but at least with a 61244 you have a good chance of it making the power we show here out the box.
would you like to test a Chicago pneumatic 7X and Astro big nasty?
i hav a mac i can send as well.
@@chrishella4233 A man of taste, I see. Shoot us an email! We have 1 or two of those covered, but not all! TorqueTestChannel@gmail.com
Did you need a snap-on air hammer for your test ? because I got the PH3050BG
@@TorqueTestChannel when did y’all test the MG725?? I tried searching for the video and can’t find it.
It's hard to believe they can make something metal with moving parts that works for that price.
Actually, they make a decent profit at that price. What's more amazing is that we Americans are willing to pay 5 to 10 times that price for brand name stuff that's also made in China. Makes you realize just how much profit you're really paying for. It also makes it obvious that the only reason stuff isn't made in the US any more is pure greed, not the cost of US labor.
@@aaronbritt2025 exactly
@@aaronbritt2025 underrated comment of the century....
The use the filling from political prisoners so the metal is practically free.
@@lelenbates3367 the US incarcerates more people than China, India and Russia combined. There are hundreds of people facing 20+ years for being at the capital riots. Why don't you email Ed Snowden about political prisoners, and his only crime was warning the American people about ILLEGAL covert monitoring of AMERICAN CITIZENS, IN AMERICA.
Let us all send a prayer for the dyno before Big Nasty gets tested 🙏
It will seem that the cheap air hammer will rank better. I have had cheap air hammers and they are just not worth the money. They can't really do the job either. I was so happy when I bought a better air hammer.
Chicago pneumatic 7X or 9X would destroy big nasty.
Strongest air chisel I ever used were the shop ones at Sears back when I was a mechanic there in 1978-79, never knew the name of them but they had a dimpled aluminum exterior and could handle just about anything.
That's not even his most powerful air hammer anymore. It's been replaced.
This is actually quality content. Hard to find these days.
Looking forward to seeing the Astro Pneumatic aka “big nasty” per SMA. 💪
I have both a snapon and a Matco air hammer. Both seem to be not nearly as powerful as big nasty. I love that thing.
I look forward to all these air hammer tests!
Can't wait to see the HF Chief.
Me too. I have the medium HF hammer in this video and the Chief. The Chief is worth every penny I spent on it and it has paid for itself many times over at this point in rust filled Buffalo.
I think for the 3 times I'll ever use an air hammer in my life the HF unit will do just fine, haha.
The fact that you can even buy this much steel and aluminum with something moving inside of it with any effect is impressive
@@TorqueTestChannel Seriously.
Thanks for all the tests. I'm just a take-care-of-it-myself kind of dude so I do most of my own car/house/land work, but that's it. Turning wrenches isn't my job. So *most* of the time HF stuff will work for me. But it's still fun to watch all of your tests and comparisons. Especially if it reveals that the HF or other cheap options is just total garbage.
even in a professional setting you price the tool for the job. It's always the artist and never the brush.
@@jeffhooper3447 That's right. For the few times a year I need a 5/8" socket at work, my HF ratcheting wrench does the job. For the approximately 1 million times a day I am using a #3 Phillips, it's gunna be a good tool, Klein in this case.
I can't offer anything other than my subscription (been subscribed since I saw you got talked about by Eric O. of SMA), but I extremely appreciate what you guys are doing and I know it is not easy (nor cheap). Keep up the great work and hope this channel reaches many more people.
Careful shopping and videos such as this allows you to have a decent enough tool collection and save a lot of money overall. I had all my tools stolen while I was away with the military, but working as a civilian mechanic meant I had to replace them as soon as I got home. Without the budget I had spent over the last 10 years accumulating tools from the big 3 tool trucks I went to Harbor Freight. It's been 10 years and I still have some of those in my box that I haven't needed to replace.
Just remember: after the second step of the tool van, it’s consensual.
I have the HF air hammer with a quick release chuck added to it. I’ve used it to jack hammer asphalt, among other things. Still works great.
The added cost to not have to deal with that spring is worth it alone! Also with the IR, you can turn it into a needle scaler by changing out the collar.
HF offers a quick change chuck for $5 on the side.
The moment you mentioned harbour freight a prada cologne commercial came on. Priceless.
German spec "gut´n´tight". Greets from a German :)
Another german spec bast wackeld und hat luft
I actually own that HF air hammer and have used it a dozen or so times and it hasn't failed me. I has worked great. I got it on sale for 9.99. You just can't beat that
I have the Harbor Freight air hammer and it's great value. Does the job and low cost. Great for occasional home use.
I use mine all the time
Ive got one too, absolutely worthless
Thanks for the vid! I've got an IR 122MAXX. I do not get into heavy jobs that often and I find this unit easier to finesse than the big ones. One thing I can say for sure is if you push on it hard it gets a lot more powerful. It's also more dangerous to push hard because if you slip off you can get hurt or damage some other component very quickly.
I've got a harbor freight air hammer I paid $10 for that I've been using for 14 yrs and it still works great. Not the most powerful but it was $10 well spent.
Can't wait to see the big dogs on this test and see what's what, Keep up the great work boys!
Yeah, I have that air hammer and it's actually pretty decent for what it cost me at the time. It acts a bit funky sometimes, almost like the mechanism is being allowed to stroke past where it's supposed to and leak instead of applying the hammer. I'm not sure why/what would cause that, but I definitely need to try oiling it the next time I pull it out
A quick change collar is available at Harbor Freight for around $5 and works great on these cheap little air hammers. I'd also like to see the Chief long barrel (Harbor Freight's "Big Nasty").
I've been on your channel since the beginning. You guys just keep getting better and better. You will be at 100k subs before you know it. All it will take is one of the other big guys to throw a mention of you out there into the etherwebs. Excellent work dudes!
We'd be nowhere without the early guys like you. And we don't need 100k subs, if we never gained another subscriber we'd still be making these for you guys!
@@TorqueTestChannel Your dedication shows in your work ethic and commitment to fairness and accuracy. People who reveal the real truth are in short supply these days. We are duly impressed. Always a joy to watch you.
My co-worker has the Harbor Freight Chief long barrel and that thing is crazy powerful. I've seen it outperform snap-on and matco. It's insane...
We'll find out!
I got one of those HF air hammers a few years back to use at the house. I couldn't for the life of me get it to work. Would have returned it but I live 2 hours from the closest HF. Got a Matco air hammer at work and it is a beast!
I’ve got an IR and love it. I had a coworker that had an older HF air hammer and it worked for what we did, but I wouldn’t trust it at my job now. It put up good numbers for the price, but I’d have to question the durability in the long run. It may be fine, but I KNOW IR will last me (already had it almost 5 years).
I have the HF, paid $9.99 ... it's still in the box 🤣
Love the new series!
The medium or the short barrel? These things have no business being as good as they are (but still not "high" power so don't expect it to do everything)
@@TorqueTestChannel Ah, fuzzy memory. Just walked out to the garage to check, it's item #92037 -- the short barrel. As a data point for you -- while it's not listed anywhere on that product's page, either, the box says "up to 4500 blows per minute."
@@PhillyFixed This episode is the medium barrel, but we'll be doing the one you have as well since you can save a whole $2-4 with a few less inches! (that's what she said)
@@TorqueTestChannel lmao 🤣
I’d love to see some more of these. Harbor freight has a Chief Pro Long Barrel air hammer I’d love to see tested, mostly because I own one.
I have that HF Air hammer. I was wondering if I was missing out and thought about upgrading, but probably not anymore.
Depends on your goals, we expect this to get dusted by tool truck long barrels.
I really want to see the Cornwell air hammer get after it. We use those at work and they are beasts
I love this channel. I love the vids. I’m really glad I found this channel.
Man I loved this! I am a heavy repair diesel technician. Can't wait to see you run the new hf Chief!!
I'm excited to see more air hammer testing. Also from harbor freight I would like to see you guys test the two chief brand Air hammers. I have Both of them if you would want to borrow them for some testing. Only used probably a dozen times so far
We'd take you up on that since we have purchased it yet! TorqueTestChannel@gmail.com !
That HF hammer is more than adequate for weekend warriors. The main thing I need it for is to shake loose rust. The short stroke is useful in certain situations. I.e. the pressed in splined exhaust bolts on Honda's. The rubber exhaust hangers actually absorbs the heavier and slower hits of CP717 perfectly, making it useless.
Really? I had a harbor fright air hammer once. It wasn’t worth 14 cents! I’m surprised it lasted through the test!
I have the I R model and I love it. Absolution love it. I have had the harbor freight ones before, that's why I went to IR.
Neat, you used the cup idea
Could you test SDS hammer drills in hammer only mode with this method?
You guys do such a wonderful job.
Nice, this is the content I was waiting for!
It’s been 2 years since this video had come out and I’ve been considering an air hammer to split corroded bolt heads (that not even a fluted socket could save) in an engine bay, and pretty much every review I saw of this tool on the HF site was now 5 stars, one even mentioning this exact video and how the HF tested at 90% of the IR’s capacity
I’m an inside track club member and I bought this till today and spent the additional four dollars for a two year free replacement warranty so I reckon it’s gonna be all right I’m going to use it primarily for cutting bolts/nuts
You rock! Picked up a sub from me. Can’t wait to see this play out
i have one of these i use it all the time for breaking rust
I had a IR air hammer once, it only lasted 3 months until it seized...been running a Matco since then hits just as hard as when I first bought it.
I'm glad you're trying these tools at the higher pressure, I don't know anybody who uses a regulator on their air tools . How about trying everything with a high flow fitting and a 1/2 inch hose. I have a sunnex long barrel air hammer that the bigger hose makes a big difference .
You guys should definitely try out the sunex sx243. I’ve been using one for 2 years and it’s been a great budget friendly long Barrell hammer.
Hey, if it can knock off an early 2000's Silverado front wheel hub, it can't be THAT bad :D
Seriously, though. I bought one of these for another project and while it's nowhere near top of the line, it's worked just fine for me. I'm not using it for hours on end every day. When Harbor Freight DID have the coupons, I got the price down enough that I bought the additional quick change collar and it came out to about the same price as just the hammer by itself, so I'm not complaining.
Can't wait to see more!
I have the HF one and have for years. It really is a stupidly good value for a tool that sees use once or twice a year. Got it on coupon for $10. Obviously if I needed it regularly, I would agree quickly that its value drops real fast.
This channel is awesome!
3:26 I would have tested with the spring, as that's what it comes with
See pinned comment
I have that air hammer and I have for like 5 years. biggest thing is the black sleeve loosens and itll leak air and drop the power you don't always notice but if you snug it back up it works like a charm that's probably where the bad press comes from. I didn't know how badly i needed an air hammer til I got one and I was shocked at how much I use it and how well it works. Sure there's bigger and better out there but 15 dollars for 5 years of reliable use sits right with me. I do hate the spring retainer but its small potatoes once its worn in a bit its not that bad. ( Mechanic 8 years)
I have the Mac Tools AH9110 and it hits like a truck, they aren't available anymore but love to see it
I've got an old IR 6 in. bore riveting hammer with a 4 in. stroke, it had a reputation for knocking guys of the scaffold, lol. Uses a massive amount of air, empties the 80 gal. tank in a minute or so.
I carry the HF air hammer in my concrete pump because it's cheap and disposable. They sell a quick connect for the bits in store, a coworker swears the quick connect robs power from the hammer. He prefers the spring.
Id love to see big nasty vs cp 717 vs the aircat variant
I have an older Matco air hammer that is absolutely wicked. It’s trigger is on/off so you better hold on!
Requesting power comparisons of SDS hammer drills and if they can be used for applications where an air hammer can would be used on a car.
The quick connect adapter puts additional weight on the end where it is least desired. I'd be curious to see if it makes a difference in hammer performance in these mid length models. A test with and without?
"German spec of gutentite" omg that killed me!
My IR will do most of what I need an air hammer for...but my Snap On CH3050(1st gen) has the rest handled....
they've optimized it ...the newest SO is a really nice all-round hammer.....
I have that hf gun, mine rocks
Looked like the trigger was let go early on the HF tool..
Could you test the Milwaukee M12 Palm Nailer on this thing? Lol. I know it’s not an air hammer, but it can basically function as one.
Thanks for the video
Makes sense to me. Good job.
Own the IR you tested here, used it professionally as a technician for about 10 years? Recently transferred back to a technical repair position and frankly I dont want to bring my *nice* tools in. So I bought a bunch of HF tools and air tools. So far, they are working fine. Nice part if they break of fail? Im back in business for under $30 for most of it. Cheap is a quality all its own.
You should test to see if there is a difference in using a quick change retainer and if different brands work better.
Theoretically it shouldn't, because the bits float around in the collar, but you never know until you know, right?
@@ForfeMac When pressed up against something the retainer isn't actually "working" - you could use an air hammer without a chuck if you're using it firm against something. It stops it from coming out when you come off the thing you're rattling.
how do these dyno numbers work if you aren't regulating the pressure you are applying to the tool? Seems like to be more consistent you would have to have a fixed force holding the tool against the wedge.
I would be quite interested to see how aircraft style rivet guns would compete. I have always heard they make great air hammers.
They do
Perfect timing I'm in the market for an air hammer don't know if I'll go ingersoll snap on or matco
i have this tool and like it for a medium stroke hammer.
I have a Matco MT2816 long barrel I'd lend to TTC. I'd love to see it on the dyno.
That was my first air hammer. It was pretty decent but the trigger snapped off the 3rd or 4th time I used it
You're doing God's work here gentlemen.
How are you getting the data off the little pressure sensor/display thing onto the graph?
This is a great test. You need to test the Astro Tools long barrel air hammers. They have a new one that is a extra power long barrel one too.
What model is that?
@@TorqueTestChannel The one I have is a model # 4980 with a .498 shank. It's a freaking beast. It will break stuff if you're not aware of just how hard it hits. I think its the same one Eric has on The South Main Auto channel. He calls it "Big Nasty". But I think he reciently got the new one by Astro thats supposed to be even stronger. I frankly don't know just what you would do with one stronger than the 4980 but they made it anyway. LOL
Make sure you get the Campbell Hausfeld GSD line as well as their basic line... Also, where did you get that chuck instead of the spring retainer?!
Definitely diving into Campbell at the prices we've seen! Each air hammer will use the same type of quick chuck, to keep things even - since chuck types are easily switched out if you own one of these.
@@TorqueTestChannel I'm saying the Hobo Freight ( thanks AVE) brand had a spring attachment for .401 shanks, but you had the end cap on in the video when testing it out .. Where did you get that retainer to fit the spring attachment end for the HF brand?! I have a mix bag of pneumatic air tools, mostly Campbell Hausfeld GSD, along with IRs composite impact and CH GSD XT series both are 1/2" I never get stuck on anything...
@@dragontalontsiawd Harbor Freight's cheap version (Sku 66621) or really any quick retainer chuck for a .401 shank air hammer will thread onto the end of any of these tools.
@@TorqueTestChannel I just found a set online from eBay, it says universally fit for .401 and .498 shanks... $25 seems reasonable, and I only need 1, says it fits all models with spring retainers for .401 shanks...
I wonder if you could set up a test rig for pneumatic cut off tools. Being an auto tech I’ve had a few different brands and notice drastic differences in each. Maybe a kind of dyno using an electric generator and load tester? Just a thought…
I had to rewind a bit because I was getting a good laugh out of the struggle with the spring retainer and had no idea what you were saying. We've all been there, those things are awful.
If the stroke length is the same, is the diameter and weight of the pistons inside each tool different?
Does the amount of force your hand pushes on the air hammer effect the results? Light push or full body weight lean? Could you test if there really is a huge difference in effort and performance?
We can try to bust that myth in a video, sure thing
I own the HF hammer and with my smaller compressor I can stop the hammer if I press hard enough. So I'm sure if you have a large compressor, it'd be harder to stop it.
@@cujoedaman It doesn't depend on the size of the compressor, but the PSI.
Don't push hard; let the hammer find the sweet spot for you.
Without testing it how it came (with the spring instead of the slide collar from the IR), how is this still considered $14? And how do we know the spring isn't a determent to performance? I also have an Astro 4980 myself, and I have not used it in the spring because I like the slide collars better (mine is setup just like SMA's), but it would be interesting to see if the spring changes the performance vs a collar.
All the CP tools I've bought from HF are full of metal shavings.
If you clean them out with brushes they are just about the same as the IRs in the garage i worked for.
Cranking up the pressure may help this stuff but quality air tools have a built in blow out disc in the air flow and will render them inoperative untill sent in for repair, the higher the priced the tool the more important it is to regulate it to the correct cfm ( 90 PSI )!
Thank you for the video!
I would like to see if the new Makita 40v XGT 3/4 impact wrench can take down Milwaukee 3/4 impact wrench.
Thank You!
Need a test on the Ingersoll Rand 119 Max. Widely believed to be the meanest .401 air hammer.
Having used both of those models, I'd say the big difference is the wear and tear. The Central is a tough unit for the price, but they start to have issues after awhile. Granted, you can buy a few for the price of one IR, but my IR never let's me down and is much more comfortable to use. But the central is a good tool if you're not usually them all the time professionally.
That's why I grab HF for intermittent stuff. I got 2 rooms to break tile out of. HF is fine. If I did it daily I grab something better. But no need to have an expensive tool in my garage
Im in trouble with this thing already, how do you put the spring on the end of it??? Force it on?
One thing I've read in regards to central pneumatic air hammers is that when used with quick connect adapters it moves the bit away from the hammer diminishing how hard it hits. To be fair i saw it mostly on the smaller air hammer but I'm wondering if it's a theory you'd be interested in testing on various hammers to see if there's any significant power loss with a quick disconnect vs the crappy spring we all hate
The retainer does just that, it retains the bit from coming out. When in use hammering against something, unless it's an indexing chuck like on a chisel with slots, it's not actually doing anything - but does a whole lot if you slip off the hammering surface. We could probably run theses tests without any chuck at all now that we have the locating cup thing. The ball bearings of the retainer don't do much while hammering on most bits.
Hey! The ring around the rosie was what I commented on the previous video 😃
'ppreciate you!
Can I suggest a test of the GOODYEAR RP7621 air hammer from Walmart? Seems like a reasonably accessible model that's probably in the running for 'most likely to be purchased' by budget-oriented tool consumers. Especially at its $20 price point.
Unbelievable. How does it not feel like this when you have these two different toolsnin your hands while working…
Would like to see big nasty stacked up against all the other 498 shank air hammers
It looked like some of the tests where you were testing the HF you had thr IR gun in the picture. Not sure if the correct gun was being tested.
Please test the Snap On PH3050B
PH3050B next please. I'll even send you mine if you need one
i have a cp that is 20 years old, for the cash its hard to beat.
I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SAY THIS ABOUT THIS CHANNEL BUT,,,,,,,,,WE NEED MORE MORE MORE PLEASE I AM SO SORRY FOR SAYING IT !!!!!!!!!!!
I would like to see Chicago Pneumatic brand tested