Harbor Freight Reviews

Link: http://www.HarborFreightReviews.com

Item: Air Impact Hammer
Item number: 92037
Retail price: $9.99
Frequent sale price: $6.99 (without chisels)
Target price: $8.99 (including chisels)
Best price: $5.99 (including chisels with coupon)
Item Link

Not exactly industrial quality, but at $5.99 how can you loose with an air tool that actually works? This air impact hammer pounds away, chipping and churping chips and the occasional chuck of brick, motar, or even concrete. Runs well with a medium size air compressor, although for only a minute or so before requiring time to rebuild air pressure in the tank (or make sure your compressor can sustain the nominal 90 PSI at a minimum of 4 CFM) -- Harbor Freight's $99 model can't sustain the action long without a short break to reload the air tank. And oh yes, it is probably useful for the metal work for which it is actually intended (see below) according to their description.

Instructions are minimal, but assembly and operation are easy once you understand the principle. The chisel inserts into the air hammer and the spring/spiral retainer is threaded onto the body. Add a few drops of air tool oil and you're off and running. Spending a minute to clean up and oil the retainer and its connection on the tool is worth the investment for smooth operation.

Important pricing note: Last year this item was regularly selling at the target price with the full 5-tool complement. The cost ("regular sale price") has been kept down but at a loss of three of the five chisels). Expect to pay as much for the 5-chisel replacement set as for this tool, but then if you're going to wear out the chisels with regular use this is a do-not-buy item (unlikely to hold up to sustained use).

Note that the 3" high speed air cutter (ASIN 47077) is a much more effective tool for the removal of rusted bolts and most other metal parts and has the advantage of doubling as a cutter for various other materials as well. Usually selling (on "sale") for around the same price, if you can only afford one of these two tools then buy the air cutter. But then if you could only afford one of these two tools selling for around $5.99, you couldn't afford the air compressor required to use them!

Bottom Line: Not top quality but adds some impressive weight to the tool box. A good buy for those not requiring this tool often or for sustained work. (I own two of these.) Happy Hammering!