Works great even with low CFM, June 26, 2009

I purchased this at the recommendation of a friend with the same model. I have a small IR compressor that spits out 5.3 CFM @ 40 psi and less at 90. Most of the wrenches needed more CFM but this one was on the low side. I am very happy to report that it gets the job done for me even with the low CFM. I am not using the gun @ NASCAR but for odd jobs around the house, it works fine. Could it work better with more CFM? Absolutely but if you use it in bursts, it works well. Construction is solid and it feels like a tool that will last for a long while.

Helpful? :: My father has had basically this same impact wrench since he was my age. They've changed the designation a little, but it's still the ol' CP734, and I KNOW I was using his 25 years ago (and it's still torquing). The thing I like about the CP is that it's light. Don't get me wrong, the Ingersoll-Rand Model 231 (also labeled as Matco and Snap-On, and probably a half dozen others) 1/2" impact is the industry standard, but you'll notice a REAL difference after about 4 tire rotations. The IR is heavy. It feels close to double (~8lbs vs. ~5lbs), and what it buys you is about 100ft-lbs of torque (this is not as advertised, but I'm telling you ... that's the way it is). However, unless you're working on heavy equipment, the CP is more than adequate to properly torque, if not wring off lug nuts.You don't usually need the added torque of the IR, and you definitely don't need a tool that works you harder. The lighter weight makes work faster and...

I like this wrench because its not too powerful so its a little easier on the hands, but it has enough power to do pretty much everything the $200-$300 wrenches can do. A lot of IR wrenches vibrate and are very clangy, while CP guns feel stable and the noise is muffled.