Is there an air hammer you want to make sure we don't miss? Let us know. Torque, who started this channel, is working in product development for Astro Tools who also make this very air hammer. So obviously there's no way to divorce all bias from this sort of thing. Always consider multiple sources when looking at a tool. That's the beauty of youtube!
Twas what i was able to convince my boss to get one for the shop! That beastly airhammer gives Zero hecks against any and all things presented for hammering/chiseling. Its a badass. It does have its own locked up cabinet space, labeled Big Nasty. You dont always need the biggest baddest tools, but what's the point of having the balls of a bull moose if ya dont swing em around once in a while.
I am heavy duty truck mobile road service. This tool transcends from being a tool into being a literal human body saver!!! I can push out truck drag links, with out having to beat out with the BFH. I have worn out shoulders from replacing Budd wheel studs. I no longer have a fear of replacing brake disc's. I no longer have to swing a BFH on my back under a truck. At 76 years old it has made possible extended work years. Every service truck needs this tool, along with a .401 shank as this tool literally has the power to decrease wear and tear on the body!!!!
@@blackscotydog Alimony. Check out my Service Truck tour if you want to see what76 looks like. I did a piece on Big Nasty in my u joint video. Thanks for comment
Absolutely my go to. I have the finesse air hammer. The one a screw bit got stuck in so now its a single tool air hammer. the matco air hammer i use for most, and big nasty that every comes to grab when theirs won't get ut done.
I have a 4980 and that thing has saved me some big headaches working on my and my families' cars. Been in a few "No going back" spots where I needed to remove a part as reassembly was not an option and Big Nasty was able to "negotiate" acceptable terms.
As an Ironworker I would love to see you guys get ahold of a Hell dog rivet tool. Its the grand daddy of these tools but requires alot of air and a 1" line. It would probably break the tester though
@@PictishPrince it really doesn't take that much air, a 5 gallon tank with 3/4 hose works great for around 10 seconds. It certainly takes less air for the same job than a .401. 1 second will do more than a 401 in a full minute. They can be had cheap used, the chisels are a fortune once they are shipped to Canada.
@@5002strokeforever Agreed on the power , as for the price a used one may be gotten for under $2000.00 USD however the need for it in automotive is not there even on the heavy truck side, I can see it used for construction and train repair work but it is just a great tool for setting during construction of iron framing, and as the other person mention it would destroy their test rig in the first few seconds.
@@PictishPrince I use mine all the time on anything that is stuck that I want to move. Once I needed to get an injection pump off a dead motor where access was tight. Shove the rivet buster in there and blow the block apart where the pump bolts in, fast, easy and kind of fun.
I’ve been a truck mechanic 50 years and no question, my favorite labor saver is my Chicago Pneumatic CP-717 .498 I got when I was a little 20 something getting started. I wish newer tooling held up the way tools from the ‘50s and ‘60s does! Oil before and after use and it’s lasting a lifetime.
@@TorqueTestChannel Thanks for finally making this video. I'm not sure if you've heard of it (you probably have) but is there any chance you could get your hands on a 498k special edition? Summit racing has more than 10 available. Not sure if it's in the budget or not but I'm curious how much stronger it is over the 4980. Thanks
Love my CP717. If my 401 doesn't do anything after a few seconds, then I get out the big boy. Most of the people I offer the 717 to say "nah, I got the tool truck long barrel. It'll get it". I tell them my 498 will get it faster, & nope, they're too proud of their investment.
I've never broken any .401 chisels but I've broke about ten .498 chisels with my CP-717. It's an absolute beast, on another level and well worth the money.
You are not wrong. My 10 year old CP717 has broken 2 smoothing bits. The new longer ones may last longer. This thing is so strong it makes me rethink how the tool can be used. Like at work I use it on the alignment rack to rattle out the upper ball joint eccentric bushing on Ford trucks using sympathetic vibration.
Unfortunately the newer.498 bits are made from Chinesium. I’ve still got a half dozen.498 bits with the Chicago Pneumatic logo stamped on them, I’m thinking they may have a couple of years on me!
Mine paid itself off in about a week in just time saved. I love my 717, the thing has yet to be beaten by any other in class air hammers in actual use.
@@duanedragon2I've lost count on broken bits, I have the IR 119MAX @175psi on 3/4" line with high flow fittings and 6ft 1/2" whip 1/4" chuck. Heavy equipment technician
How crazy it is, you this started off as a hobby and now your helping revolutionize the industries your looking at, filling in niches that the large companies seem to have either ignored, or simply didn't realize existed
I own a CP717. Out side of the cheap noise maker .401 i acquired it was my first air hammer and have now owned it for about 10 years. I would be willing to bet that it will win the minimum beans test, the trigger control is better than any other air hammer i have used.
I can practically get single hits out of my 717. That thing is so smooth to use, you can ramp from nothing to full bore and not slip off the work piece.
I've seen some shockingly loud rivet guns in the aircraft industry. Like, they rattle your soul when they're going off and they're almost intolerable to be around without both earplugs and ear defenders on and even then it's pretty harsh. I'd love to see them tested here as I have no idea what kind of power they actually make. They rate them as 2X, 4X, 8X, etc with larger # meaning more powerful. They're not cheap though, we're talking 1500 bucks for the big dogs like 8 and 9X. No idea what the X is all about though.
ive got an ancient cp717 thats been passed down for years. it still rattles out ball joints, wheel bearings and my fillings daily. i call it big bertha but big nasty is a good one too.
Big Nasty is on a roughly par with a 10lb. sledge with a 14" handle. The hammer with a uninhibited vertical swing can generate more impact, with a descending energy curve relevant to the amount of work needing to be done. The tool life time is measured in shoulder rotator cuff tissue. Big Nasty can deliver more energy in horizontal work, both with the work person in standing, kneeling but especially when lying on your back under a piece of equipment [ear protection suggested] positions. This has been field tested. Samuel Colt is said "to have made all men equal", just with the pull of a trigger. Astro has made possible big hammer work possible in tight, cramped, awkward positions.
I would be curious to see how these would compare to just swinging a normal hammer and maybe a small short handle sledge as well. Obviously air hammers are better but just how much better? Also maybe only allow yourself 12 inches or so of swing room since most of the time were swinging in confined spaces lol keep up the great work and information!
There are give and takes in your idea. An air hammer is typically used to either speed up a process or to apply a hammering force in a confined area where you can't swing a hammer however there are parts of the heavy equipment industry where the force of impact is everything and I have yet to find an air hammer that can outperform a 4 lb matco mini sledge with about a 10" handle and a punch.
If I was flogging up heavy pump flanges I would not want an air hammer ! If I was working on a vee-hickle I would not put a heavy sledge anywhere near it !
My go-to air hammer is an old large-caliber rivet gun I found in the scrap yard and modified the nose on to use the common larger diameter bits years ago. I don't even have to run it on its designed 1/2" air line to knock out or bore a hole in pretty much anything.
Thanks so much for testing this!! I was really excited to see it! I had been asking for this for a long time and was super interested to see it! I bought one of these a few years ago and have used it to do anything from taking down chimneys to breaking big concrete pads. Also use it for removing the dreaded Audi pinch bolt that the shop couldn’t get out. It’s a beast, wheel bearing presses not required. Lol this was my first air hammer,…
Got a .401, didn’t have the beans, got a 1990s UT498, absolute weapon. Ruins everything it touches, and the trigger is pretty controllable. Thanks for the video!! Always interesting.
As someone who works on beat up and rusty buses, I think I may have to look into one of these. Can't tell you how long I've spent trying to smack out drag links and tie rods with my snap on air hammer or a BFH. Plus telling people you're gonna bring out the 50 to take care of something will always be entertaining.
I have had an Automotive shop for 44 years. We use the Ingersoll Rand AVC26B1 far and away the most powerful .498 gun made. (It is actually classified as an industrial riveter) Best $$ money we ever spent on a tool. Removes stuff that no snap-on would touch. Yea its $1000 and worth it! It has a .8 in bore and a 6 in stroke, and a very controllable trigger. In comparison the Astro 4980 has a .75 bore and a 2-11/16" stroke.
I have the Thor version and I’ve used my boss’s Chicago 717 in the past, I can tell you from experience that the CP has a MUCH better trigger control. Thor’s trigger is just an On/Off switch.
@@greod1006 I never got a chance to find out, I used the CP in a shop that had dual 80 gallon air compressors, so it was operating at maximum power. Unfortunately,I received the Thor 3 days after that shop closed down, my new work place only has a single compressor, so I can’t give a decent comparison. Both are great at separating highly corroded wheel hubs from steering knuckles.
I got Thor through Summit Racing, which I think is a 9X riveter. And a 7X riveter, which has about 1 inch longer barrel. My experience is the riveter has really good trigger control. Because you don't want that to slip off the rivet and damage the aluminum skin. Nowadays with proliferation of carbon fiber, a lot of new aircrafts are going to the glue route. I got a bunch of 50 BMG rivet bits with different tip configurations.
I was afraid you weren't going to have Astro tools in the videos anymore. I'm thrilled that you do. Extra cool to see Eric's nickname on the box. I ended up getting an I.R. instead of the .401 Astro only because I couldn't find one. I really appreciate your videos. I don't always get the top one, but it really helps my buying decision. Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing 😊
I used a CP717 in a truck/heavy equipment shop for many years. As you say, finding .498 bits was a bit of a challenge back then and still seems to be a problem today. We had an even larger CP hammer that was called a rivet buster and had a 1/2 pipe air inlet that was even more of a beast.
I spoke to a few OEMs to figure out how to get different flavors and gathered some local distributors. Shipping time for single orders isn't zippy. I found wacky guns nine and longer. I found one Aircraft Tool Supply where you can use the sign on coupon with the current sale to have one very generously equipped for 300. I managed a seven inch (like Thor) with a full kit, case, powder coat, feathering trigger, and comfort grip. It even comes with a clever solution to the .401 adapter issue that seems to work quite well....
Rivet Guns, those are the controllable beasts. I remember researching the crap out of these while removing powder charge nails from angle iron in Jackson Hole. Was taking apart a rock climbing wall to put it back up. (Successful business now: The Edge Climbing Gym in Ammon ID)
Ive actually been waiting for this because i can only afford to get one air hammer eventually and Big Nasty didnt disappoint. Ive used the IR .401's but have been let down a few times needing more power. A premium model with a good modulating trigger would be cool though.
7:35 it looks like its resting on the axle and when he switches to the other gun it was a lil longer so it wasn't getting stopped by the axle holding it.
This test confirmed what I thought about my snapon. I am NOT a snapon fan. In fact I'm a little upset with them over some of my other tools breaking way too easy. But my snapon air hammer is a beast with my compressor setup. I can only imagine what big nasty could do!
I have a .498 from air craft tools. It's a 7x model. Definitely longer and slower hitting. I believe the power is supposed to be more. Be nice to get it tested and see how it compares to the one you just tested
Can you please test those reversible flip sockets for lug nuts. I have some in the half sizes for swollen lug nuts, and i notice a MASSIVE power decrease from them compared to regular sockets.
@@TorqueTestChannel yes but since the extension goes up inside the socket they are in theory the same length. And i swear i notice a wayyy bigger difference than using a regular socket even on an extension, like these things straight up murder torque to the point my matco 2779 and milwaukee high torque struggle to get lug nuts off. it's nuts.
Length doesn't matter though. A deep socket makes the same or sometimes a touch more than a shallow. It's about the ability of the length to efficiently transmit torsion. A socket is borderline ideal for transmitting torsion, and an extension is about worst possible.
@@TorqueTestChannel Right but I swear I have more torque with a 6"+ extension and a normal deep socket, than I do with a flip socket on a 3". There is some torque killing black magic going on inside these flip sockets. Maybe it's the weight because most of the half sized ones tend to be thinner. Idk. But I know it's my experience and it would be cool to see some real data on it.
@@kyle.2344 Test it! like they do here. Tighten a lug with a torque wrench, and time how long it takes to loosen it with each setup. Video it with a stopwatch (timer), running in the background so you can figure out the time after the fact.
Thanks man! I was waiting for my TTC Friday video! Thanks to you guys I also picked up the 40v 3/4 Makita impact wrench from acme tools! It’s a beast! Also I ordered some stuff online and got a discount using your channel name - I think it was OPT or Acme tools …can’t recall.
THIS! I love these things, one of my go-tos, they're so damn handy! Realized that I needed a set about 7 years ago when I was working in HVAC, dealing with all thread regularly, been using them on everything else since. Just haven't pushed them real far, torque wise, not sure how strong these things are - would be interesting to find out. Definitely underrated tools, everyone should have a set even if it's just a $15 HF set
I have one. The foreman has the "big air hammer" in his tool box that everyone grabs. Then they all come to grab big nasty when that one doesn't get it. It feels like using a machine gun, there is absolutely no finesse in it's ability range.
I have 2 Chicago Pneumatic CP717 Zip Guns. One of them is unused and recently purchased. If you pay shipping and handling I can send it to you for testing.
You need to find a APT American Pneumatic Tool model 800 not sure if it's considered a air hammer or a rivet gun but whatever it is it hits extremely hard. I bet it could take the throne easily. They run about $200 on eBay if there's one available, they're few and far apart and are very desirable.
Atlas Copco makes some of the best rivet guns for aircraft manufacturing. I used a 10P large bore push to start recoilless for years. It smacks hard and is easier for both the bucker and shooter. It probably compares to these. I’d have to pull up the specs from them and do a spec chart comparison.
I use big nasty to remove rear shackle bolts that are rusted and bent in place. Only 1 time did it struggle to knock them out, whereas my IR didn't even make them budge
CP (Chicago Pneumatic), along with the 'sister' companies (Desoutter, Atlas Copco, etc.) does provide energy ratings in joules. Although the Desoutter and Atlas units are sold as rivet guns, the CP models (from which the clones such as the Astro is based) are marketed as "air hammers" - difference being in the trigger feathering ability needed for rivet guns. I have an old CP 9x gun (the Astro 4890 is a 5x) from which the Astro Thor is modeled, and also a Michigan Pneumatic 7x clone, which because of historical changes in CP's lineup is MORE powerful than the "9x" clones, but it's LONG (about 12 inches).
Yes! My Big Nasty has absolutely humiliated some coworker's Snap On air hammers. I am soooooo glad they're making new size bits! It's hard to get it into some places! You were spot on with all of my criticisms though, especially the trigger being all or none. It's funny now linear the power was over the better 401 hammers. 20% bigger shank and 20% more power.
I would change your low high power to a percentage. I.e., if it does 5000 max and 100 min, then 98% of it's theoretical range is usable, so it gets 98 points. This way, guns with poor range but huge power don't get rewarded yet again. To me having one gun that can do most everything is pretty valuable.
The issue with a % as you want is that not all tools have triggers that offer wide variability. Tools with crap triggers might have the widest spread, but only be able to achieve min and max and nothing in between.
So here's something oddball I'd like to see tested, if possible. Try case hardening the air hammer bits in used motor oil. I got tired of my pointed punch going dull on my .498 Jiffy #600 gun so I got the end glowing red and quenched it in oil. It hasn't deformed one bit since then. I intend to do a couple cutting chisels too when I have the spare time. Would also be nice to see a durability test of different brands like Mayhew, Ajax, Grey, etc. Would be cool to see if you can 'tune up' a cheaper air hammer to perform with more beans like when someone ports out an air impact for more go. If you want trigger control in .498 look for air rivet guns, they'll have tease in triggers for setting rivets. My Jiffy can tap away like an 8oz hammer or go like a jack hammer with full range in between if your finger is delicate enough. It's a supposed 6X rated riveter. I'd love to send it in for you to have some fun with but I'm afraid you won't want to send it back after using it.
Not a healthy idea. Case hardened bits shatter like glass under impact loads. Yea the .489 bits are a bit soft for my liking too, but they tend to not throw sharp pieces if they fail.
@@willgallatin2802 I've been using it a bunch since then, I only hardened it in motor oil so I doubt I did a professional job. It's hard enough to keep it's shape when I'm digging into cast iron hubs but I'm sure up against a 10.9 bolt it would deform. I'm not looking to make my Ajax chisels hard like a cold cut chisel but just harder than cast iron.
Those lower ball joints he was air hammering out, I usually just flip around my BFH to the ball end and relieve some stress in the process. After 25 years on the job, I got good aim.
I've wanted a bigger hammer. Anyway, Ive had the Snappie hammer for well, over a decade. Thought I'd put this out there for the pros, ever removing t-case or pinion seals? Well, confident use of an air hammer and chisel bit saves quite a bit of time and besides the old seal causes zero damage.
Those big tools love big air hoses. Like at least a 1/2. It may be psychosomatic but I think a 3/4 and 1” really open up a 7x and 9x rivet gun. Not to mention the bridge builder rivet gun. Would like to see some big bore rivet guns tested and maybe compare air hose sizes at constant psi.
@@TorqueTestChannel The bridge builder had a 1”. And the biggest my 7x could take is 3/4 unless adapted up. But even adapted up it seems like it still gains. I work in a big facility though and don’t have control over psi. It’s constant at around 100. So volume is the only thing I can change.
My friend has a 3' millstone that is bolted to a rusty axle - that is his challenge piece. Unseat the nut without breaking anything is the challenge. Finding the tool that will do it is the most difficult part.
Thank you for doing this testing this answered so many questions that couldn’t previously find could you test all of the 498hammers. It would help me drastically as I use air hammers almost everyday to drive pins like stuck hydraulic cylinders among others. Thank you !!
Thanks, guys, I'm in the market now, so I'll be getting Big Nasty, and a smaller one to boot. Tore apart my little HF to make it into a planishing tool.
Any chance of disassembly of this beast? Would be interesting to see how the hammer (the actual metal puck that does all of that hammering on the inside) compares to a typical 401.
I would be interested to see a comparison between air hammers, and rivet guns made specifically for aircraft manufacturing. Particularly the ingersoll rand AVC line of guns vs air hammers.
Please test the Chicago Pneumatic CP4289. This looks to be a beast. I have the CP717 and it is crazy powerful. I would like to know how Both of these compare to Astro Tools 498K.
I have a Cornhole air hammer and it's weak sauce the barrel won't stay put and needs constant tightening and it's far too long for what I need it for! Worked great when I got it in the body shot to peel door skins! But not so much as I'm moved back to mechanics
As a fabricator sometimes needing to remove aluminum parts from steel parts that have chemically bonded through corrosion, sometimes I want what I am hammering to turn to dust, I want this...
That cp 717 will blow big nasty out of the water. It’s super controllable and a strait beast of a hammer. Although it does look like big nasty is kinda the stolen idea of the 717. But I’ve used the 717 and its like a browning machine gun when you need it to be but like a precision instrument when you need that. Imagine a power lifter that is also a skilled violin player. It just works in every way
Cheese and crackers, that thing has some beans. I own a snap-on, because 6 years ago I bought the best, it's cool that there are some more serious options these days.
Is there an air hammer you want to make sure we don't miss? Let us know.
Torque, who started this channel, is working in product development for Astro Tools who also make this very air hammer. So obviously there's no way to divorce all bias from this sort of thing. Always consider multiple sources when looking at a tool. That's the beauty of youtube!
Mueller Kueps Heavy duty vibro impact hammer #EQ-290 300
I believe the aircat 5300B is a 498 with for sure a different trigger. I'm guessing a bit better control although it appears similar to the 4980 astro
CP717 the air hammer ASTRO copied.
Aircat, mueller kuepps, cp717 are the most interesting I think
CP 714 and 717
Hat’s off to Astro for putting “Big Nasty” on the box!!! That’s hilarious.
Twas what i was able to convince my boss to get one for the shop!
That beastly airhammer gives Zero hecks against any and all things presented for hammering/chiseling.
Its a badass. It does have its own locked up cabinet space, labeled Big Nasty.
You dont always need the biggest baddest tools, but what's the point of having the balls of a bull moose if ya dont swing em around once in a while.
Yes it is lmfao 🤣😂but it really is Big Nasty 😳
I am heavy duty truck mobile road service. This tool transcends from being a tool into being a literal human body saver!!!
I can push out truck drag links, with out having to beat out with the BFH. I have worn out shoulders from replacing Budd wheel studs. I no longer have a fear of replacing brake disc's. I no longer have to swing a BFH on my back under a truck. At 76 years old it has made possible extended work years.
Every service truck needs this tool, along with a .401 shank as this tool literally has the power to decrease wear and tear on the body!!!!
Bill you are the MAN!! still wrenching on trucks at 76....My hat is off to you my friend.
@@blackscotydog Alimony.
Check out my Service Truck tour if you want to see what76 looks like. I did a piece on Big Nasty in my u joint video.
Thanks for comment
Absolutely my go to. I have the finesse air hammer. The one a screw bit got stuck in so now its a single tool air hammer. the matco air hammer i use for most, and big nasty that every comes to grab when theirs won't get ut done.
So true. Spring pins and seized anchor pins jump out in fear!
Salute to you for keeping the work going strong, reminds me of my grandpa. Can’t keep him down lol
I have a 4980 and that thing has saved me some big headaches working on my and my families' cars.
Been in a few "No going back" spots where I needed to remove a part as reassembly was not an option and Big Nasty was able to "negotiate" acceptable terms.
“Automotive diplomat” I like that.
Yes, we need ALL the .498" bits! Pickle forks, drifts, medium and long length, shake and break bolt breaker! Make it happen!
I'll try
We need all the .498 bits! Absolutely agree!
I know where to get .498 sets for $8 a lb
Agree
@@z50com где?
As an Ironworker I would love to see you guys get ahold of a Hell dog rivet tool. Its the grand daddy of these tools but requires alot of air and a 1" line. It would probably break the tester though
It would definitely break the rig, I like having the extra jam.
that is a near $2000.00 USD tool and needs a lot more cfm of air than their compressor provides.
@@PictishPrince it really doesn't take that much air, a 5 gallon tank with 3/4 hose works great for around 10 seconds.
It certainly takes less air for the same job than a .401.
1 second will do more than a 401 in a full minute.
They can be had cheap used, the chisels are a fortune once they are shipped to Canada.
@@5002strokeforever Agreed on the power , as for the price a used one may be gotten for under $2000.00 USD however the need for it in automotive is not there even on the heavy truck side, I can see it used for construction and train repair work but it is just a great tool for setting during construction of iron framing, and as the other person mention it would destroy their test rig in the first few seconds.
@@PictishPrince I use mine all the time on anything that is stuck that I want to move.
Once I needed to get an injection pump off a dead motor where access was tight.
Shove the rivet buster in there and blow the block apart where the pump bolts in, fast, easy and kind of fun.
I’ve been a truck mechanic 50 years and no question, my favorite labor saver is my Chicago Pneumatic CP-717 .498 I got when I was a little 20 something getting started. I wish newer tooling held up the way tools from the ‘50s and ‘60s does! Oil before and after use and it’s lasting a lifetime.
Love Eric and South Main Auto channel!
"Not a sponsor" :D
@@TorqueTestChannel Thanks for finally making this video. I'm not sure if you've heard of it (you probably have) but is there any chance you could get your hands on a 498k special edition? Summit racing has more than 10 available. Not sure if it's in the budget or not but I'm curious how much stronger it is over the 4980. Thanks
EVERYONE loves Eric O!
@@RainmanRaysRepairs You are just as good ,keep up the good videos.Ray
Love SMA.
Love my CP717. If my 401 doesn't do anything after a few seconds, then I get out the big boy. Most of the people I offer the 717 to say "nah, I got the tool truck long barrel. It'll get it". I tell them my 498 will get it faster, & nope, they're too proud of their investment.
I've never broken any .401 chisels but I've broke about ten .498 chisels with my CP-717. It's an absolute beast, on another level and well worth the money.
btw, I'm a heavy duty diesel mechanic so I need all the power I can get.
You are not wrong. My 10 year old CP717 has broken 2 smoothing bits. The new longer ones may last longer. This thing is so strong it makes me rethink how the tool can be used. Like at work I use it on the alignment rack to rattle out the upper ball joint eccentric bushing on Ford trucks using sympathetic vibration.
Unfortunately the newer.498 bits are made from Chinesium. I’ve still got a half dozen.498 bits with the Chicago Pneumatic logo stamped on them, I’m thinking they may have a couple of years on me!
Mine paid itself off in about a week in just time saved. I love my 717, the thing has yet to be beaten by any other in class air hammers in actual use.
@@duanedragon2I've lost count on broken bits, I have the IR 119MAX @175psi on 3/4" line with high flow fittings and 6ft 1/2" whip 1/4" chuck. Heavy equipment technician
How crazy it is, you this started off as a hobby and now your helping revolutionize the industries your looking at, filling in niches that the large companies seem to have either ignored, or simply didn't realize existed
I own a CP717. Out side of the cheap noise maker .401 i acquired it was my first air hammer and have now owned it for about 10 years. I would be willing to bet that it will win the minimum beans test, the trigger control is better than any other air hammer i have used.
I can practically get single hits out of my 717. That thing is so smooth to use, you can ramp from nothing to full bore and not slip off the work piece.
I've seen some shockingly loud rivet guns in the aircraft industry. Like, they rattle your soul when they're going off and they're almost intolerable to be around without both earplugs and ear defenders on and even then it's pretty harsh. I'd love to see them tested here as I have no idea what kind of power they actually make. They rate them as 2X, 4X, 8X, etc with larger # meaning more powerful. They're not cheap though, we're talking 1500 bucks for the big dogs like 8 and 9X. No idea what the X is all about though.
That would be fucking awesome, so interesting
it means times
@@FloorItDuhI know it means times.... times what??
@@ourkid2000 I think the prior gun so a 4x is 4 times more powerful than a 2x. I think, I'm not sheetmetal.
I understood the original meaning was stroke length. A 4x is 1inch longer than a 3x.
ive got an ancient cp717 thats been passed down for years. it still rattles out ball joints, wheel bearings and my fillings daily. i call it big bertha but big nasty is a good one too.
Big Nasty is on a roughly par with a 10lb. sledge with a 14" handle. The hammer with a uninhibited vertical swing can generate more impact, with a descending energy curve relevant to the amount of work needing to be done. The tool life time is measured in shoulder rotator cuff tissue.
Big Nasty can deliver more energy in horizontal work, both with the work person in standing, kneeling but especially when lying on your back under a piece of equipment [ear protection suggested] positions. This has been field tested.
Samuel Colt is said "to have made all men equal", just with the pull of a trigger. Astro has made possible big hammer work possible in tight, cramped, awkward positions.
I would be curious to see how these would compare to just swinging a normal hammer and maybe a small short handle sledge as well. Obviously air hammers are better but just how much better? Also maybe only allow yourself 12 inches or so of swing room since most of the time were swinging in confined spaces lol keep up the great work and information!
Yes! Great idea…
There are give and takes in your idea. An air hammer is typically used to either speed up a process or to apply a hammering force in a confined area where you can't swing a hammer however there are parts of the heavy equipment industry where the force of impact is everything and I have yet to find an air hammer that can outperform a 4 lb matco mini sledge with about a 10" handle and a punch.
The difference is measured in shoulder surgeries.
It’s kinda situational, when you need a heavy sledge nothing else works and when you need an air hammer nothing else works.
If I was flogging up heavy pump flanges I would not want an air hammer !
If I was working on a vee-hickle I would not put a heavy sledge anywhere near it !
My go-to air hammer is an old large-caliber rivet gun I found in the scrap yard and modified the nose on to use the common larger diameter bits years ago. I don't even have to run it on its designed 1/2" air line to knock out or bore a hole in pretty much anything.
Thanks so much for testing this!! I was really excited to see it! I had been asking for this for a long time and was super interested to see it! I bought one of these a few years ago and have used it to do anything from taking down chimneys to breaking big concrete pads. Also use it for removing the dreaded Audi pinch bolt that the shop couldn’t get out. It’s a beast, wheel bearing presses not required. Lol this was my first air hammer,…
Got a .401, didn’t have the beans, got a 1990s UT498, absolute weapon. Ruins everything it touches, and the trigger is pretty controllable. Thanks for the video!! Always interesting.
As someone who works on beat up and rusty buses, I think I may have to look into one of these. Can't tell you how long I've spent trying to smack out drag links and tie rods with my snap on air hammer or a BFH.
Plus telling people you're gonna bring out the 50 to take care of something will always be entertaining.
I have had an Automotive shop for 44 years. We use the Ingersoll Rand AVC26B1 far and away the most powerful .498 gun made. (It is actually classified as an industrial riveter) Best $$ money we ever spent on a tool. Removes stuff that no snap-on would touch. Yea its $1000 and worth it! It has a .8 in bore and a 6 in stroke, and a very controllable trigger. In comparison the Astro 4980 has a .75 bore and a 2-11/16" stroke.
I have the Thor version and I’ve used my boss’s Chicago 717 in the past, I can tell you from experience that the CP has a MUCH better trigger control. Thor’s trigger is just an On/Off switch.
I also have the 498k. Any comment on the power difference between the cp717 and the 498k?
How do the Thor and CP717 compare to each other on power?
@@greod1006 I never got a chance to find out, I used the CP in a shop that had dual 80 gallon air compressors, so it was operating at maximum power. Unfortunately,I received the Thor 3 days after that shop closed down, my new work place only has a single compressor, so I can’t give a decent comparison. Both are great at separating highly corroded wheel hubs from steering knuckles.
@@jheissjr I like CP rivet guns, they're easy to fix and parts are available.
I got Thor through Summit Racing, which I think is a 9X riveter. And a 7X riveter, which has about 1 inch longer barrel. My experience is the riveter has really good trigger control. Because you don't want that to slip off the rivet and damage the aluminum skin. Nowadays with proliferation of carbon fiber, a lot of new aircrafts are going to the glue route. I got a bunch of 50 BMG rivet bits with different tip configurations.
I was afraid you weren't going to have Astro tools in the videos anymore. I'm thrilled that you do. Extra cool to see Eric's nickname on the box. I ended up getting an I.R. instead of the .401 Astro only because I couldn't find one. I really appreciate your videos. I don't always get the top one, but it really helps my buying decision. Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing 😊
Love my Astro .498. It comes out when something needs to come lose, and you are ok if it destroys it in the process
I used a CP717 in a truck/heavy equipment shop for many years. As you say, finding .498 bits was a bit of a challenge back then and still seems to be a problem today. We had an even larger CP hammer that was called a rivet buster and had a 1/2 pipe air inlet that was even more of a beast.
Was Waiting to see this one. Would like to see it up against Chicago's pneumatic cp717 .
Looks like a cp clone to me.
As a new Matco Tools distributor, I recently discovered you channel and love it
I spoke to a few OEMs to figure out how to get different flavors and gathered some local distributors. Shipping time for single orders isn't zippy. I found wacky guns nine and longer. I found one Aircraft Tool Supply where you can use the sign on coupon with the current sale to have one very generously equipped for 300. I managed a seven inch (like Thor) with a full kit, case, powder coat, feathering trigger, and comfort grip. It even comes with a clever solution to the .401 adapter issue that seems to work quite well....
You should compare this air hammer to the original the Chicago Pneumatic CP717.
I'm from uk, paid 400£ for big nasty and 5 pcs chisel/punch/hammer attachment.... and boy that gun delivers 🥂🥂🥂
Rivet Guns, those are the controllable beasts.
I remember researching the crap out of these while removing powder charge nails from angle iron in Jackson Hole. Was taking apart a rock climbing wall to put it back up. (Successful business now: The Edge Climbing Gym in Ammon ID)
Ive actually been waiting for this because i can only afford to get one air hammer eventually and Big Nasty didnt disappoint. Ive used the IR .401's but have been let down a few times needing more power. A premium model with a good modulating trigger would be cool though.
AJAX has some great bits! Run them in my .401 and .498s!
Atlas Copco RRH12 and RRH14 with trigger control!
RRH06P, 08P,10P Same
7:35 it looks like its resting on the axle and when he switches to the other gun it was a lil longer so it wasn't getting stopped by the axle holding it.
TTC Friyay. Awesome stuff. What a treat.
When you use your first air hammer you like. "Air hammer you my only fren"
Before I got a Big Nasty, I didn't think much about air hammers, they never seemed to work. Now I worry about breaking things.
This test confirmed what I thought about my snapon. I am NOT a snapon fan. In fact I'm a little upset with them over some of my other tools breaking way too easy. But my snapon air hammer is a beast with my compressor setup. I can only imagine what big nasty could do!
I have a .498 from air craft tools. It's a 7x model. Definitely longer and slower hitting. I believe the power is supposed to be more. Be nice to get it tested and see how it compares to the one you just tested
Second that. I have the same one. Don't know any numbers, but it's the hardest hitting hammer I've ever used.
What’s the brand name? thanks
@@istvanmeissler2238 ats 7x rivet gun from aircraft tool supply.
@@dogzilla1212 Thank you.
@@dogzilla1212 Great Quality gun I've sold dozens of them, but not as hard hitting as a APT 800
Can you please test those reversible flip sockets for lug nuts. I have some in the half sizes for swollen lug nuts, and i notice a MASSIVE power decrease from them compared to regular sockets.
Its probably the 3" extension needed no?
@@TorqueTestChannel yes but since the extension goes up inside the socket they are in theory the same length. And i swear i notice a wayyy bigger difference than using a regular socket even on an extension, like these things straight up murder torque to the point my matco 2779 and milwaukee high torque struggle to get lug nuts off. it's nuts.
Length doesn't matter though. A deep socket makes the same or sometimes a touch more than a shallow. It's about the ability of the length to efficiently transmit torsion. A socket is borderline ideal for transmitting torsion, and an extension is about worst possible.
@@TorqueTestChannel Right but I swear I have more torque with a 6"+ extension and a normal deep socket, than I do with a flip socket on a 3". There is some torque killing black magic going on inside these flip sockets. Maybe it's the weight because most of the half sized ones tend to be thinner. Idk. But I know it's my experience and it would be cool to see some real data on it.
@@kyle.2344 Test it! like they do here. Tighten a lug with a torque wrench, and time how long it takes to loosen it with each setup. Video it with a stopwatch (timer), running in the background so you can figure out the time after the fact.
that is a beast. I love it that you keep upgrading your tests. Great Video TTC
I'll hold out for the 3/4 model.
This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for! Thanks!
Thanks man! I was waiting for my TTC Friday video! Thanks to you guys I also picked up the 40v 3/4 Makita impact wrench from acme tools! It’s a beast! Also I ordered some stuff online and got a discount using your channel name - I think it was OPT or Acme tools …can’t recall.
Could you test pass through socket ratchets?
THIS! I love these things, one of my go-tos, they're so damn handy! Realized that I needed a set about 7 years ago when I was working in HVAC, dealing with all thread regularly, been using them on everything else since. Just haven't pushed them real far, torque wise, not sure how strong these things are - would be interesting to find out.
Definitely underrated tools, everyone should have a set even if it's just a $15 HF set
Thank you everyone at TTC for making the powertool market a little better.
That surpassed any results I would have ever guessed. I’ve never used one though so maybe that why, but holy moly, that’s insane!
I have one. The foreman has the "big air hammer" in his tool box that everyone grabs. Then they all come to grab big nasty when that one doesn't get it. It feels like using a machine gun, there is absolutely no finesse in it's ability range.
I have 2 Chicago Pneumatic CP717 Zip Guns. One of them is unused and recently purchased. If you pay shipping and handling I can send it to you for testing.
Yes, of course we provide a shipping label. Please hit us up! Torquetestchannel@gmail.com
How about the 498K?
love your content super helpful! please next do a impact socket brand comparison!! I think a lot of us would really like to see it! thanks
You need to find a APT American Pneumatic Tool model 800 not sure if it's considered a air hammer or a rivet gun but whatever it is it hits extremely hard. I bet it could take the throne easily. They run about $200 on eBay if there's one available, they're few and far apart and are very desirable.
That was impressive keeping it on that wedge
Atlas Copco makes some of the best rivet guns for aircraft manufacturing. I used a 10P large bore push to start recoilless for years. It smacks hard and is easier for both the bucker and shooter. It probably compares to these. I’d have to pull up the specs from them and do a spec chart comparison.
Rrh06p ❤
RRH14P BOSS
Has Eric O not got an even nastier big Nasty now? thanks for your vids as a Mechanic I love watching them.
He sometimes uses THOR the 498K
I use big nasty to remove rear shackle bolts that are rusted and bent in place. Only 1 time did it struggle to knock them out, whereas my IR didn't even make them budge
Wow. I learned A LOT about air hammers I didn’t know. Interesting stuff.
the housings on those are so beautiful. i love American made , when its well made, since one doesnt automatically mean the other.
CP (Chicago Pneumatic), along with the 'sister' companies (Desoutter, Atlas Copco, etc.) does provide energy ratings in joules. Although the Desoutter and Atlas units are sold as rivet guns, the CP models (from which the clones such as the Astro is based) are marketed as "air hammers" - difference being in the trigger feathering ability needed for rivet guns.
I have an old CP 9x gun (the Astro 4890 is a 5x) from which the Astro Thor is modeled, and also a Michigan Pneumatic 7x clone, which because of historical changes in CP's lineup is MORE powerful than the "9x" clones, but it's LONG (about 12 inches).
Thier joule ratings are all over the place. They don't seem to connect to reality
Kind of disappointed we weren't treated to Eric O's excellent sound effect when he gets out his Big Nasty!
Yes! My Big Nasty has absolutely humiliated some coworker's Snap On air hammers. I am soooooo glad they're making new size bits! It's hard to get it into some places! You were spot on with all of my criticisms though, especially the trigger being all or none.
It's funny now linear the power was over the better 401 hammers. 20% bigger shank and 20% more power.
I would change your low high power to a percentage. I.e., if it does 5000 max and 100 min, then 98% of it's theoretical range is usable, so it gets 98 points. This way, guns with poor range but huge power don't get rewarded yet again. To me having one gun that can do most everything is pretty valuable.
I like this idea. I'd still like to have the number displayed if it fits, though. a percentage fits well into their scoring system, too.
The issue with a % as you want is that not all tools have triggers that offer wide variability. Tools with crap triggers might have the widest spread, but only be able to achieve min and max and nothing in between.
8:00 Snap-On guy "I must've loosened it for you!"
I couldn't think of any use for it in my life but every time I watch one of these vids I want an air hammer.
Mueller Kueps Vibro Impact EQ-290 300 is a 15mm or .590 shank air hammer, id like to see that tested out
This is the video I have been waiting for for so Long!!!
All your descriptions of it make me want it
So here's something oddball I'd like to see tested, if possible. Try case hardening the air hammer bits in used motor oil. I got tired of my pointed punch going dull on my .498 Jiffy #600 gun so I got the end glowing red and quenched it in oil. It hasn't deformed one bit since then. I intend to do a couple cutting chisels too when I have the spare time. Would also be nice to see a durability test of different brands like Mayhew, Ajax, Grey, etc.
Would be cool to see if you can 'tune up' a cheaper air hammer to perform with more beans like when someone ports out an air impact for more go.
If you want trigger control in .498 look for air rivet guns, they'll have tease in triggers for setting rivets. My Jiffy can tap away like an 8oz hammer or go like a jack hammer with full range in between if your finger is delicate enough. It's a supposed 6X rated riveter. I'd love to send it in for you to have some fun with but I'm afraid you won't want to send it back after using it.
Not a healthy idea. Case hardened bits shatter like glass under impact loads. Yea the .489 bits are a bit soft for my liking too, but they tend to not throw sharp pieces if they fail.
@@willgallatin2802 I've been using it a bunch since then, I only hardened it in motor oil so I doubt I did a professional job. It's hard enough to keep it's shape when I'm digging into cast iron hubs but I'm sure up against a 10.9 bolt it would deform. I'm not looking to make my Ajax chisels hard like a cold cut chisel but just harder than cast iron.
Those lower ball joints he was air hammering out, I usually just flip around my BFH to the ball end and relieve some stress in the process. After 25 years on the job, I got good aim.
I've wanted a bigger hammer. Anyway, Ive had the Snappie hammer for well, over a decade. Thought I'd put this out there for the pros, ever removing t-case or pinion seals? Well, confident use of an air hammer and chisel bit saves quite a bit of time and besides the old seal causes zero damage.
Another quality vi-j-oo fellas. Thanks for posting.
Those big tools love big air hoses. Like at least a 1/2. It may be
psychosomatic but I think a 3/4 and 1” really open up a 7x and 9x rivet gun. Not to mention the bridge builder rivet gun. Would like to see some big bore rivet guns tested and maybe compare air hose sizes at constant psi.
Was 1/2" hose 3/8" hi flo fittings on this guy
@@TorqueTestChannel
The bridge builder had a 1”. And the biggest my 7x could take is 3/4 unless adapted up. But even adapted up it seems like it still gains. I work in a big facility though and don’t have control over psi. It’s constant at around 100. So volume is the only thing I can change.
@@TorqueTestChannel honestly I’ll only use 3/8 on my little 5x and other pneumatic tools. The big guns get the big hoses.
My friend has a 3' millstone that is bolted to a rusty axle - that is his challenge piece. Unseat the nut without breaking anything is the challenge. Finding the tool that will do it is the most difficult part.
I feel like Cornwell's air hammer is a hidden gem, mine is amazing and does anything I need it to and then some, with ease
Thank you for doing this testing this answered so many questions that couldn’t previously find could you test all of the 498hammers. It would help me drastically as I use air hammers almost everyday to drive pins like stuck hydraulic cylinders among others. Thank you !!
how about testing one brands impact wrench using an adapter for the battery wile using another brands battery to see if there is a power lose
Thanks, guys, I'm in the market now, so I'll be getting Big Nasty, and a smaller one to boot. Tore apart my little HF to make it into a planishing tool.
Ok but what about the 498k Thor?
Any chance of disassembly of this beast? Would be interesting to see how the hammer (the actual metal puck that does all of that hammering on the inside) compares to a typical 401.
Eric is going to owe you after all that coverage showing his use of Big Nasty. LOL Although we would all rather see Mrs. "O" running that hammer. LOL
I would be interested to see a comparison between air hammers, and rivet guns made specifically for aircraft manufacturing. Particularly the ingersoll rand AVC line of guns vs air hammers.
Wish they had these back when I was turning wrenches 😂👍👍🇺🇸
This will be my first purchase of one .
Please test the Chicago Pneumatic CP4289. This looks to be a beast. I have the CP717 and it is crazy powerful. I would like to know how Both of these compare to Astro Tools 498K.
Have y'all tested manual impact drivers that you smack with a hammer?
I have a Cornhole air hammer and it's weak sauce the barrel won't stay put and needs constant tightening and it's far too long for what I need it for! Worked great when I got it in the body shot to peel door skins! But not so much as I'm moved back to mechanics
Could you test big nasty against aircats .498 shank model
As a fabricator sometimes needing to remove aluminum parts from steel parts that have chemically bonded through corrosion, sometimes I want what I am hammering to turn to dust, I want this...
Please test a 9x .498! I use one daily and really want to know the difference of a readily available x1 air hammer.
Oh man can’t wait to get long bits
I wish we could get more of these tools in England.
Perhaps you could find a way to measure the torque produced by a heavy pipe fitter with his favourite sledge hammer !
Can you test soldering iron brands? Electric vs butane too.
Love this channel
That cp 717 will blow big nasty out of the water. It’s super controllable and a strait beast of a hammer. Although it does look like big nasty is kinda the stolen idea of the 717. But I’ve used the 717 and its like a browning machine gun when you need it to be but like a precision instrument when you need that. Imagine a power lifter that is also a skilled violin player. It just works in every way
The Big Nasty looks like the Chicago Pneumatic CP717 . Are they the same air hammers?
The Chicago pneumatic is the original
Cheese and crackers, that thing has some beans. I own a snap-on, because 6 years ago I bought the best, it's cool that there are some more serious options these days.
Great video.
Id be curious to see how my .498 APT 7X rivet gun compares.
My apt 8x is the most powerful one I have encountered. I rarely use it because it breaks bit. The astro appears to be a CP clone.
@@robertrathbun5799 Can't say I've ever broken a set with mine but i only use it for shooting rivets and knocking out big hi-loks.
I use mine for rusted front end parts on cars, wheel bearings, axle shafts, ball joints, etc.
Ha, Big Nasty is what they called me in high school, or also “Hey you behind the bushes!”