Chicago Pneumatic CP734H 1/2-Inch Drive Heavy-Duty Air Impact Wrench

4 Reviews

1. I bought this from Tooltopia, assumed shipping would be from Louisiana but it came from SoCal, which took a few extra days for delivery. They shipped by Fedex ground the day after I ordered.

   I was surprised to find that CP has not yet moved production to China. Mine was made in Japan in 2010, with excellent fit and finish.

   This is undoubtedly the smoothest and strongest 1/2″ impact wrench you’ll find for $100. At 425 ft-lb, it will handle all but the worst stuck fasteners. Mine easily spun out a crank balancer bolt that my 40 year old Craftsman couldn’t budge.

   The IR231 may be slightly stronger, but it’s also more expensive, louder, and vibrates more.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. [Helpful? Not? Please vote.] :: 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 easier, and the CP is also quieter by around half. I’ve had mine for over 10 years. I wouldn’t have any of the $20-specials out there either. They look like tools, but they’re really just toys. New guys in the shop would invariably chuck them ASAP once they had the $$ for a real wrench. The only “normal” automotive job I’ve seen the CP struggle with is the big CV joint nuts on Hondas … most everything else in my experience was faster and easier. There are easy rebuild kits (that’s how my Dad’s is still in service after 30 years) that will make sure your CP734 is going strong indefinitely. I think he’s put new vanes in his three times now … The light weight, industrial grade quality and overall performance make this my choice, and believe me, when I worked as a mechanic, I had plenty of tools to choose from. This is the impact I kept. Remember to put a drop or two of light air tool oil in the air inlet each time you use it, and I know for a fact it can last you a lifetime.