Can the New Ingersoll Rand 135MAX Air Hammer Dethrone Snap-On? 

The 135MAX has been added to our list of tools that don't suck: www.amazon.com/shop/torquetestchannel but the 119MAX remains a better buy we feel: amzn.to/3Lq1ZvW Hardware store air hammers next? You tell us! As always, the creator of this channel works in product development for Astro Tools who also make air hammers, though not currently a .401" shank. Always consider multiple sources when looking at a tool!

A note on the MAC and Chief air hammers- Over a year ago, I purchased one of the MAC long barrel hammers. Shortly after, I was upset to find the nearly identical chief for a fraction of the price. Some months later, my employer purchased the Chief air hammer for the shop. At first, it was as expected- the Chief was nearly identical to the MAC in use, but with a worse trigger. However, after a few months of use, the Chief hammer has become noticeably weaker. It struggles to drive out pins that the MAC blasts out effortlessly. Even after flushing with a mild solvent and light tool oil mixed together, the Chief can't be brought back to life. So, while this is a sample size of one, I suspect there might be internal materials differences between these two tools as one is still working well, with nearly 2 use of heavy industrial use, and the other is nearly worthless after just a few months.

I watch all your videos because of the quality in every aspect, whether or not I need the information being presented.

i have the 119 max and it's been a lifesaver at my shop. The trigger control is what sets it apart from all the others. Can't wait to add this new 135max to the mix. Tried the highly recommended Chicago pneumatic Monster, but the trigger was basically and on/off switch, Horrible.

Always a great moment, getting a notification of a new TTC video.

Thanks for the video I was just talking about how I liked the IR with the guys at the shop. Wasn't sure on model number but now I know and it seems to be solid tool for the money.

I've got the snap-on ph-3050 or whatever the part number is. It's by far the nicest and baddest air hammer on the market, still. With the nice variable trigger I had to let a Matco air hammer user borrow my snap on a couple weeks ago because he couldn't feather the Matco to softly put in solid rivets in a Peterbilt door. Yet My Snap-on was much easier to put them in. Seems as the Matco hits as hard but it's all or nothing at nearly the same price. Glad I have the Snap-on.

I had a IG hammer a crew years back and the tool rep promised it would hold up to knocking teeth out of milling drums but it lasted just over a month. Snapon came in and said try it and went over a full year , it’s still my go to now , it gets rebuilt every year and zero issues.

Thanks dude! I've been thinking about getting an air hammer for some time and I just ordered a 119Max thanks to your review! I can live without the smaller size to save $100.

My first Snap On 3050 was bought in early 2000s, and I replaced it in 2016. I normally won't pay for their tools, but it was, and I guess is, the strongest one I could get. I broke the new one in less than 60 days and had to be sent off for repair! Worked fine since, but I wouldn't spend the $ again. Great video!!

I have the 114GQC in my box at work, it's absolutely mental how good that thing is.

I almost bought one a few weeks ago. Now I'm glad I just replaced the retainer on my 20yo matco! I definitely referenced TTC's other impact hammer videos and since this new IR wasn't tested by TTC, I didn't buy it!

The Snap-off is wonderful, it drives a ball joint out like butter, I had a Mac and an IR, both weren't suitable for semi heavy front end work. I just use the chipping hammer I pulled out of the trash it blows out Subaru wheel bearings in less than a minute. Here in NE Ohio, everything is rusty in 3 years.

I use the Astro 4980 and it does the job but it feels crude and unrefined in my hands. My Snap-on PH3050 feels comfortable and always gets the job done from punching out salt water rusted ball joints, wheel bearing races and LCAs.

Ordered the snap on a few weeks back in hi viz yellow mostly for the color and the good talk I've heard on it. The IR are nice but have fun with warranty. Tool truck is nice shows up every week.

BPM usually tells the beans vs. the stroke to me? Longer throws do help, but the valving can change things in a shorter barrel/stroke I'm assuming? Good job guys, keep up the good work!!!

The most powerful. 401 shank hammer I had ever seen was a Rodac long barrel that was nearly worn out, I bought it off the guy, and every time I've used it, I get a sharp pain in my wrist, so ... I generously offer to let whoever I'm working with on the project to see how powerful it is by allowing them to run it until the stuck part flops free to the ground ... if it fails, next step, play crack the whip with a log chain ...

Great I've been looking for this vid

I love the sound of air tools.

I have no idea the model number but about 17 years ago I bought a ingersol rand long barrel air hammer for $60 American and that hammer brought the beans only bested by the CP 717 in my professional shop I worked in with the bigger shank. It broke multiple snap on hammer bits over the years. I bought it specifically because it was a long stroke hammer and it definitely brought the beans for a small shank hammer. Back the the CP was 700 dollars and two of my coworkers had the 717 so I just borrowed it if my hammer wouldn’t do the job which did happen occasionally. But not often

Call it a 119MINI and the name would have stuck, they missed an opportunity to make a selling point on the size, as you said. Still a good video that reinforces what a deal the 119MAX really is! Thanks again! 🐺🔧

I currently have the top matco and it’s amazingly, only complaint is the size and weight, the IR being shorter I think is a big advantage

You should throw in a ph3050A test just for the hell of it. I’m super curious to see real difference between A and B models

Awesome video. Please test more cordless rotary hammer drills!

I think given your knowledge of these air hammers. A cool video would be how to take a Chief air hammer and modify it to handle less violently at the lower blow levels, so it’s not like an on and off switch.

I have the snap on one it’s a beast. My work bought the long barrel ir but they broke it in less than a year but my snap on I’m going on 3 years still strong

The air hammer is without a doubt my favorite power tool. Such a simple operating principle but effective I don't have a compressor at home for lack of a place for it. The tool equivalent of a a110 warthog brrrrrttt😅

Thank you for the informative video! Will you guys be testing the Mueller-Kueps EQ-290 300 at any point in time?

own both of the Chief models and they are awesome

Would love to see what the Chicago pneumatic cp714 and the aircat 5250 do on the Dino..

I've been using the Matco for a while and I'm quite pleased with it. It will either move or cut whatever you put it against.

Recently picked up a 119 so just seeing the thumbnail had me pissed.. Feeling better now that I watched though.

Thanks for the video, I now have proof 3” is enough

Im a heavy diesel mechanic and bought the chief last week. My buddy has the snap on and everything compared so far the chief pretty much matches anything the snap on can do for way less money. Well see how it holds up over time but it hits really hard for the price.

It would be interesting to see you port out the older IR and see how it compares.

I have both the ingersoll and the snapon long barrel air hammers. In real world, I feel they are almost the same. I mostly use the ingersoll and keep the pricey snapon as a backup to keep it pristine. The ingersoll haven't died on me yet. Still works the same from the day I bought it almost 10 years ago. The only problem with ingersoll is the chuck, which gets loose, and you have to tighten from time to time. If its not properly put it wont hammer nice and just spits air. I dismantled, check, found and corrected the IR problems. I replaced too the fastener that hold the chuck. Internals are very basic. Maybe they have improved their manufacturing on the newer units. But after small modification mine has been okay for several years. Its not that I use it everyday but from time to time in the shop.

Beast of a impact gun

First time I’ve heard someone say you should advertise mine is shorter. 😮😮. We don’t always reach the top of your charts but I have a lot of faith in our Snap-on air hammers.

I have the 135 max its great was waiting for you all to test it i have looked around whats the best mid size half inch air impact and will you all text 3/4 and 1in air impacts ive been needed to pick one up but i have no idea what one

What about the 401k air hammer from Astro? Isn't that .401"?

I havent found a single video on youtube that showcases the CAT branded air hammer. Pretty sure its made by snapon since most all of CAT branded tools are made by snapon. The specs are pretty much the same between the CAT air hammer and the Snapon 3050, except the CAT air hammer is advertised as having almost 1000 more BPM's than the snapon counterpart. Really curious if its true or not. I personally own one of these CAT air hammers and I've had a lot of luck with it so far. Would love to see you test it and compare it to the others. The part number for the air hammer is 222-3080. There isnt a cat branded short flat bit for it so unless you can fit one from another hammer youre gonna need the long straight punch, part number 226-0124. I dont know if youve tested other CAT tools before, but CAT has a lot of pneumatic and torque tools thats specifically made for their specs and needs, many times manufactured by snapon. So would be cool to see more CAT products.

I like to make handpans out or 55gal barrels and The harbor freight is the bomb for under 150$ its so strong it can sink a food grade 55gal (16gauge steel) barrel bottom like its made for it! Way more affordable then the normal saned tamper that handpan makers normally use which cost over 400$ depending on the size and brand

I would like to see how Aircat compares to the IR and snap on regarding long barrel air hammers

I have Milton H Style air fittings on my service truck, which have a 3/8" internal diameter. Our shop uses Milton Type F fittings, which have a 1/4" internal diameter. Both are being used on 3/8" air hoses, so obviously the set up on my truck will provide more air flow than our shop at the same pressure. I am curious if the extra flow from the 3/8" fittings will translate into more power from air tools. Could you please do a test/video on the power difference, if any, between the 3/8" diameter fittings and the 1/4".

The matco is a beast!!

Should i get the Astro 4980 or the 119max? I’m not sure which one i should get. I work at Stewart and Stevenson a heavy duty diesel shop

LOVE LOVE LOVE the stuff you do. What I want to know is how do air hammers compare to the hand welded hammer. I realize that under a automobile where there is no room the huge advantage of the air hammer. Out in the open what are we looking at? Are we humans more capable of destruction and what size hammer do we need to beat the air hammer. What's the rest of the story so to speak?

You should use and adapter on for a flex battery to a milwaukee impact wrench to see if it will improve it and other brands as well

I didn't buy much off Snap On as a mechanic, but when it comes to air tools I won't buy anything else. They are worth every penny no matter what anyone else or any test says. In some way shape or form whether a measurable metric or just overall long term use they will come out ahead.

I like your videos and generally appreciate your rigorous testing methodology. Your air hammer testing rig seems well designed and effective, but I think you might have overlooked a significant variable in these tests. Specifically, I think the amount of force applied to the tool by the user may affect the data measured. If you were to measure this variable, you could also calculate the user efficiency of force applied to work delivered for each model.

Can you compare air hammers to an SDS hammer drill in hammer only mode?

I've always been cautious of IR air hammers, my dad was a diesel tech for many years and has had the worst luck with IR hammers, I think he's on his 6th or 7th one at this point and he just now bought a snap-on

I’ve got the IR 119 Max and I freakin love it, and my wallet does too…

Have u played with porting on the 119max? I'd like to see that and do the upgrade to mine if it does help

Would love to see the Harbor Freight Chief medium barrel.

Be nice to see what the old snap on ph 2050 does

I do hvac and a guy that works at IR doing air compressors he said I should work for them, do any of y’all know what it’s like to work for them?

I love my 119max

15% more beans !! Is that pinto or or Lima? Does that include cornbread ?!?

Try taking the cheaper options and giving them an HF high flow fitting and turning the regulator up to see if we can get our $$$ worth with some cheap tricks more or less

Here's my question: do you think you could fabricobble a FrankenHammer? I wanna see if 10k PSI is within reach. Lemme get that 8-inch barrel longboi.

My only problem with this format of testing is the whole “ feathering “ the trigger. Why measure how little a monster air hammer can deliver ? It’s equivalent to saying how well can you shoot a rabbit with a abrams tank. If you don’t need the big guns then just use a smaller one. I just don’t understand rating a tool with a metric that’s opposite of its intended purpose and it stinks of foul play. But that’s just my opinion. Would like to know who else agrees with me on this? Love the channel anyway and please keep it up!

astro 401k..... did you do testing on that one ?

Have you tested st louis pneumatic

Have you ever tested the ingersol 121?

I would love to see the $40 dewalt air hammer up against these, it’s a short stroke and super cheap, I wanna see if it can actually hold its own at all

Are you going to test the mass fabricator ar500 wrenches?!

Not sure if you guys would be interested in subjecting your test rig to one this big but I have been dying to see someone test a Mueller-Kueps EQ-290 300, everything video I can find of it last I looked were nothing videos saying "look at this, it exists" and pretty much just copy pasting Mueller's product brochure. I've been debating one for a while now for heavy diesel and yellow iron but have been hesitant to gamble half the years tool reimbursement on it without seeing one used / compared.

You know you're doing something right when all the big tool manufacturers wanna copy you😊

Can you swap the barrel of the 119 to the new 135 hd?

CP 714 is the best 401 as they have tremendous control then when you want something to happen 498 shank for the win

I've always bought ar tools I know some are stronger ext but the cost is a big deal!

Unless I read the chart wrong there's only 1/2 inch difference between the 119 and 135. Not really a factor imo. The better trigger control on the 135 is a big deal to me.

The 135 max kit is 221 beans now.

Please I wanna see a CP 714 im not sure if I'm ready to spend that much and I wonder how weak it is compared to the 717

3 inches of stroke, I feel that

I'd rather pay the little extra for the ol USA 🇺🇸 made Snap-On then save 60 bucks on the matco made in Chinaiwanese. They are both beast mode. Just saying

did i miss something or the list didint show 1-3th places.

Great video! So... is the Astro 4980 not in this league??

You should check out the aircat 5250, curious about it.

Try a made in USA 401 shank Honsa HTOP38 13T with tungsten piston. .401 shank 9/16" Bore 4" Stroke 1,725 Blows Per Minute 3lbs 8oz Tool Weight

123MAX Has the Best Trigger! Its Powerful and fits everywhere the SnapOn can't fit. Just throw out the free chisels the kit comes with they are JUNK!. Buy some MAYHEW chisels never broke 1 yet.....

This is always that "15% more than what"? They normally don't define "than what" so they really aren't outright fibbing. I'm sure that somewhere there exists a tool that is 15% less than this new tool at something kind of performance metric.

Goofy question, does anyone know of a mini air hammer, maybe about 1/3 the size of a normal one?

Could you realistically build your own? (for science!) I wonder if you could put a larger/longer barrel and a huge hammer in it

Can anyone with any kind of experience tell me what the difference is between the basic $15/$30 hammers and whichever is the best on these charts? I've absolutely zero use for any of them, I just can't see why the cheaper, less powerful tools are less favourable. What kind of work requires the power of the Snap On hammer versus the Harbor Freight hammer?

What about the 123max

In Europe we have just HAZET or KSTOOLS

Never had luck with IR tools, either broke or just didn’t have the power 🤷‍♂️

What about the astro Eric o uses

Yeeeeeeeaaaaaa!!!!

Where's "Big Nasty"? Isn't Eric O's Astro 4980 in this category? Yes, it's higher on the chart, but I wanted to see it!

Every air tool by ingersoll will win

I have a 119 max that I can slow down better than the snap on

Off topic Q: As a YT Premium subscriber I don't get ads so how does the content creator get paid from this? The equivalent of an Ad view?

been a tech for 38 years and although snap -on air tools for the most part are way to expensive for what you get , i swear by their air hammers! they are beasts . 1/2 guns are not very good they lose power after the first 6 months. I prefer my ingersol titanium.

You said Long Tool.

Astro 4980 for $250 = mic drop

How about the cp 717?

Why didnt you compare it to the Astro, is it because the Astro is too difficult to feather the trigger?