AIRCAT's 1150 Killer Torque 1/2" Impact Wrench features 1,295 ft/lbs of loosening torque, 1,400 Blows Per Minute and a torque range of 200-950 ft/lbs. Weighing 4.5 lbs, this tool features alightweight all-black composite body with a patented ergonomic handle. The impact wrech's patented tuned exhaust system gives this tool a low decibel level of 86 dBa, with no loss of power. The 1150 is assembled in the U.S.A. with a two-year Parts and Labor warranty.
The review
Lou Fort, the lead technician of K.A.R.S. Inc. in Huntingburg, IN, uses a 1/2" impact just about every day. When he received a new AIRCAT 1150 1/2", he was amused by the box, because it said "'Caution' Xtreme Power" on the front. Fort decided to find out just how extreme that power was.
The tool was tested on lugnuts, crank pulley bolts, suspension parts and other typical jobs that require a 1/2" impact. Immediately, Fort recognized the tool's brute power. "The massive amount of nut busting power, a cool 1295 ft/lbs," was so powerful in practice that he even used the tool to remove lugnuts on vehicles that "were formally reserved for the big 3/4" gun."
Fort thought it's low noise level was second only to the tool's power. He also thought AIRCAT "hit a homerun" by "figuring out how to send the exhaust out through the base of the handle and still keep such impressive, industry-leading power."
The tool's ease-of-use was also a plus. "AIRCAT made it easy to choose three different power levels in 'forward,'" Fort notes. "Weighing in at just a bit over 4 lbs doesn’t hurt either."
Even though Fort was enamored with the tool, he did have suggestions on how to improve its handle for users that have larger hands.
"The one feature I don't much care for has to be the base of the handle. I like the rest of it, just not the very bottom. I have an extra-large hand and the base of the 1150's pistol grip style handle doesn't fit perfectly," he observes. "Some of the other techs in our shop, with smaller hands love the handle design. Personally, I would like the handle to be about 3/16" longer or have less of a ridge at the base of the handle."
Fort admitted he was being picky as "the handle isn't going to keep me from putting the AIRCAT 1150 on my tool cart."
Overall, Fort rated the impact a "10 out of 10."
"Even with the handle base issues, the power output and incredibly low sound output combination are just too impressive not to make this tool a 10. Oh, and lets not forget about the two-year warranty or the fact that is assembled in the U.S.A."
Fort was so impressed, that he made clear that he anticipates purchasing AIRCAT equipment in the future. "This is the first AIRCAT tool I have ever used," he said. "If this impact survives the test of time it won't be the last."
