Teardown: Harbor Freight Earthquake XT vs. Aircat 1150 - Impact Wrench review

[@magmomwise]

I have always been impressed with the Aircat impact wrenches. My in shop experience has been they are a cut above most other air impact wrenches. Your tear down was a good reveal why they work so well.

[@JsGarage]

Scored my aircat with protective boot on Amazon for $140. Watch out for sales! Love my aircat tool.

[@blakehendrickson3977]

Thanks for the video. I appreciate your attention to detail and extensive knowledge on internal tool terminology. Please continue to do videos. I especially appreciate harbor freight reviews and tear downs.

[@kellyhahn6145]

Aircat's and Nitrocats are actually Kevlar housings. Both of those impacts are made by Florida Pneumatic, as they bought Aircat a while back. Florida Pneumatic makes most of Harbor Freights air tools. One more thing, I didn't see you take the inlet valves out. The Aircat's have one piece cast inlet valves that never seem to fail, unlike most of Ingersoll Rands impacts that are a metal rod pressed onto plastic and they will break and the rod comes loose as well. Haven't had any of the new style Earthquakes, so I don't know about that area of them. Good review.

[@bbstacker70]

Great review. Thanks for taking the time to compare these two. This was exactly the two I am looking at to purchase.

[@jerseyneil1]

I was going back and forth on these two. You sold me on the Aircat. Thanks

[@bobbarnhill8557]

The HF is $114.00 right now. To check the veins you have to measure exposed surface area. The Artic veins were longer to match the longer rotor but do not stick up as high. The HF rotors were taller.

[@carlosmorales1515]

I owned a snap on 1/2 inch impact but it was far too loud! I purchased an aircat 1150 and it has amazing power and much quieter. After hours the noise reduction really makes a difference! So good i purchased a stubby 1/2 aircat impact aswell. Small package lots of power and mobility

[@theomnipresent1]

If you @ 5:53 you will see that the aircat has a physically larger bearing (ID/OD) and has 9 balls vs 8 in the harbor freight.

[@joserios2609]

That’s what she said lol

[@DS-ss396]

Do a comparison on the HF (red) Earthquake Composite 1/2 dr Impact vs the HF (orange) Earthquake 1/2 dr Impact.

[@wcjcnc]

I have the Harbor Freight XT. Paid $130.00 for it. Use it every day in a professional shop. I haven't found anything it won't bust loose and 1,000 pound forward torque is plenty for anything I'll ever do.

[@tedcrum]

I notice that Amazon sells the service kit for the Aircat (vanes, paper and rubber gaskets, o-rings and a couple of hard parts) for $26.60. That may count in its favor.

[@jamesgrossmann371]

Yes, do a comparison of earthquake stubby and the aircat stubby. Thanks for testing these products.

[@Justicejamesb]

Fantastic comparison. I would really like to see a video where you get a H/F or Aircat, then upgrade the parts, like the bearings, fins, etc. to see what type of power you'd get.

[@johnnyjoseph4879]

So long as you're on a half inch impact kick you should tear down a mg725 snap on being that that is the gun Harbor Freight goes after in their advertising. A comparison between those two would be interesting.

[@ToolTeardowns]

+Johnny Joseph I've thought about it and I've been keeping my eyes open for a good deal on a Snap-on mg725.

[@philkraemer3927]

+Tool Teardowns I hope you get a good deal for the MG725, it's now $525 .....OMG. The air cat looks well made and it's an air tool company with experience. ...........Maybe the best tool for the buck?........

[@omenofseverah]

Dont waste your time on a mg725. I bought my 1st off the rape van. It became apparent by the end of the day something was wrong with it. My snap on guy exchanged it for a new one. Same thing happened. Exchanged it for a 3rd one. Yup same thing. At least my snap on guy gave my money back. I bought the cornwell super duty blue series and 10 years later it is still my go to 1/2 in. I will say that the super duty blue forward/backwards selector sucks but even so is a far better tool.

[@dwightrobinett1825]

Tool teardowns unless you just want to see first hand I wouldn't come out of pocket on a Snap-on gun AvE channel has already compared the earthquake with the Snap-on. It was great to see this comparison though, seeing as how both guns are tiawanise made, it really shows why one gun is higher priced because of both materials used and the engineering involved with the aircat, but the earthquake is a much better gun than the cheaper guns harbor freight was selling.

[@RoloisRight]

Thanks for the comparison.

[@danedewaard8215]

I have been enjoying your videos! You asked if there are any tear downs we'd like to see, and yes there is one! The Harbor Freight 1/4 In. Reversible Air Impact Screwdriver # 90059. This thing is great for removing stubborn screws during tear downs and want to preserve the cross point or slotted heads. Thanks for all the time and effort in your videos!!!

[@chrisboggs8627]

I just bought the earthquake XT with extended warranty seems to be working great for the money

[@snbtools4428]

Phenolic rotor blades can swell when exposed to certain lubricants/chemicals where the 'plastic' type blades are much more resistant to these chemicals. Had that problem back in about '06, the manufacturer slipped in some cheaper vanes on the Aircat during production. They had problems with them. I remember the guys taking brand new guns off of the pallet and replacing the vanes with the plastic style.

[@gabeborscheid3828]

air cat is far better. most torque for the money leading 1/2" torque.

[@Womackhomesteadandranch]

I used the AirCat today for the first time on my 1989 Dodge Ram 4X4. I was very impressed with the weight and power. Would definitely recommend the AirCat!!!

[@levipankey]

You should tear down the flexzilla pro impact wrench 1/2" mini. Dying to see what's really going on there haha

[@jamman012]

I would like to see a complete teardown . You left out the handle . The biggest failures are with the triggers and screen getting clogged . Would like to see what's in it and how well made it is .

[@robertf1720]

Fantastic videos. Hope your channel can grow.

[@ToolTeardowns]

Thanks

[@EltallerdeJeffer]

Incredible comparison. Aircat isn't well known here in South America. Greetings!!!

[@c230benzito]

Really good video, i enjoyed that.

[@wormer66]

thats what she said

[@matteaspennachio6547]

Great comparison, I learned a lot.

[@erandy0240]

I honestly feel the plastic vanes wear faster but they don't wear the cylinder finish. I have a dewalt that lost power after a year or so. I replaced the plastic vanes and the power is back

[@s123fro]

You should do a teardown of the new matco MT2779

[@joesmith2654]

You mentioned that the Aircat is more expensive but at this date that is not accurate. The HF Earthquake XT is 150, and sometimes they get it down to 129.99 , but if you want the 2 year warranty you have to pay more than 20 dollars which put it near the 150 dollars mark or more. I have seen the Aircat 1150 in Amazon for 132 and already comes with a 2 year factory warranty. So the Aircat is not only a better built but also a better price.

[@ToolTeardowns]

You have a sharp eye. The Aircat was on some kind of sale when you made this comment. Now, it's back up around $165 at most places I see. Generally, the Aircat will be more expensive when you consider that HF frequently has the Earthquake impact on sale and always has coupons that can significantly reduce the price.

[@mustangtyson]

Do a tear down on the Ingersoll Rand (2235TIMAX)

[@ToolTeardowns]

That is a good suggestion. Thanks.

[@wormer66]

Tool Teardowns please do one on the 2235 ti max im considering purchasing either the aircat or the IR and would like to see how they compare

[@OleFrogMan]

Have been using a nitrocat 1250k thats very similar to the 1150 for several years and it has never let me down, everyone at my job is always grabbing it from my toolbox lol

[@dchawk81]

That's the one I have. When I needed a 1" I stayed with the brand. If they made an electric, I might have bought one instead of my IR. It would have to be called a BattCat though.

[@OverKillPlusOne]

The aircat clearly had far far better finishing on all the air porting on the motor. The earthquake has vane chewing and air turbulence inducing sharp edges all over where the aircat they chamfered all that.

[@johnkirkland621]

Good video man. Thanks!

[@ToolTeardowns]

Thanks for the kind words.

[@herb2241]

higher end guns use plastic veins lighter, grease doesn't stick as easy, also they usually have a lip or cup along bottom edge to catch air better. (spin faster) As to the comparison aircat is built like IR inside. earthquake built like crap on.

[@jackwoods2891]

Hands down artic cat!. I will never buy another air tool at HF!!.

[@raredesign]

Phenomenal review!!!! Thank you!

[@L35inColorado]

What a cool video! Thank you!

[@pospc2]

I have been looking at the green impact from HF and the aircat. Will be keeping an eye out for the air cat to go on sale. I currently have an impact but it's starting to show it's age and wear but I can wait for a sale. If my current impact fails before I catch the aircat on sale than to harbor freight I go 😂

[@abdonrodriguez3586]

i can see the EarthQuake being improved in a few years giving the Air cat a better run for the money.

[@macdude3585]

you can get warranty on the air cat too

[@monkkeye]

Epic Garage You can on both

[@Denkha94]

great video man. do you recommend oiling the air tools with transmission fluid?

[@ToolTeardowns]

Thanks. I just use Marvel brand air tool oil.

[@Denkha94]

thanks

[@aptiva4]

Ive been doing this for 35 years and trans fluid cleans and lubricates. Dont fall for air tool oil scams.

[@bradleypearson2437]

I’ve received had and issue with my aircat 1150. Cleaning due to water intrusion. My trigger stays in and doesn’t spring out.

[@45AMT]

This is a really great channel.Subed and I'll be sharing on all my social media!

[@ToolTeardowns]

Thanks for the kind words.

[@biggysground]

The Aircat chews the drive end of sockets as the anvil is not square cut but tapered, This tends to deform the drive end of sockets over time. Not good.

[@pablissimus]

HF Earthquake is Taiwan crafted too!

[@eas900s]

can you do a teardown on the Matco MT2769Y

[@alexmaclean1]

In the event that 3 years later you still care, the reason better air motors use plastic vanes is because phenolic vanes are abrasive and sixne the better ones also tend to use aluminum vs steel, they don't want abrasive vane materials riding against soft metal casings for longer life. That's why good ones DON'T use phenolic, but I'm not 100 percent sure why cheap ones do. I can't imagine its much of a cost savings.

[@brooktech7869]

You can also rebuild the Aircat for like 20 dollars which is nice.

[@mr.nobody9630]

Harbor Freight's pushing its new Earthquake XT 1/2 in. Stubby Ultra-Light Extreme Torque Air Impact Wrench. Item # 63534. Excellent video A Rated.

[@joshmaier18]

That air cat is Craftsman's cousin, made by florida pneumatic

[@hedrick5286]

Check out a nitrocat 1250. The hammer design is totally different

[@chuckfinley3152]

My stubby aircat is a beast

[@md123420]

would roller bearings be better?

[@mikegrant5721]

One question who sponsored you

[@stacieodstacieod9555]

How long have you had the Aircat 1150?

[@briansefring4981]

Thank you!

[@markkrause3569]

-The big difference is parts. I don't think you can get parts for the HF and AC is no problem!

[@techwiz2410]

Love this :)

[@johncooper6322]

I want to see the Mac aw612q versus the aircat teardown they say they're the same I own the Mac and it's more powerful than the Matco and quiet with a different nose cone than the aircat

[@qball3834]

A beefier shaft is always better...

[@Patstar777]

The Aircat cost is like 2 times the Earthquake impact. I don't see the Aircat being twice the tool .

[@rogermurph101]

Patstar777 $165 is twice as much as $129? That's some interesting arithmetic there.

[@johnsonferrufino5568]

Check the vibrotherm model

[@justinbustin677]

Aircat is most powerful 1/2 drive available beside ingresolls compareable model.

[@KiloWattRC]

Wrong the Nitrocat 1/2" 1250k is more powerful then Aircat 1/2" 1150 I own both. Nitrocat removes transit bus 33mm wheel fasteners all day long for me the Aircat 1150 I use for automotive use. Both great guns

[@escortgt1988]

They're both made by Florida Pneumatic.

[@papabits5721]

Air cat has good customer service,

[@yuralien4219]

Plastic does not shatter, other composite will shatter after some time,

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

How do you oil and grease the earthquake xt line I have 1/2 in mini impact I have the full size 1/2 and I have the full size 3/4 now I'm assuming you take the 3/4 and 1/2 full size apart to grease but how do you take apart the mini 1/2 to grease and oil why would you put oil in a tool that is slathered in thick ball joint style grease

[@ToolTeardowns]

Air tools are oiled by simply adding air tool oil through the air intake. A lot of impacts also have a port on the front to add grease for the impacting mechanism. I don't know if the Earthquake mini impact has that.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Tool Teardowns none of the earthquakes have a oil port only hole any of them have is the air hole nothing for impact hammers

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

None of the earthquakd have a oil filler hole and no grease filling hole only hole is the air pressure line hole can you do a video on the earthquake mini 1/2 and maybe a video on the full size ones on how to oil and grease

[@keithpepper340]

My earthquake Xt 1/2 has a grease port in the top housing also just oil in the air chuck port

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Keith Pepper how do you get that top grease port hole open looks like a medal screw with no head on mine

[@manuelleos1007]

Tear into the new kobalt 1000 impact.

[@mrdeplorable953]

I was going to buy HF air gun now I won't buy Artic cat.

[@bobbarnhill8557]

The bearings are just matching shaft size and have nothing to do with strength or longevity. The real test is to put both guns to work and find out torque numbers. This video has very little merit other than how to take an air gun apart.

[@DumbCarGuy]

I have the 1250 aircat. do i like it? Yes. What I hate on all the Aircats I have. The TRIGGER. Its balls to the wall or off. Very difficult to just back out a lugnut just a bit if you don't want the lugs off. I wish the triggers on these aircats were "softer and mushier" instead of "firm and stiff". There almost is no babying the trigger. Let me know if your aircat is the same way.

[@stevenerpelding1946]

Air cat made in America.

[@knockywigglesworth1909]

Yeah, try to find repair parts for horrible Freight tools. N/A nobody knows who made them, I'm sure they're clones of some Taiwan or China manufacturer. They make another tool under different brand with the same parts. But HF won't sell them to you. After 90 days you're out of luck...