4980 0.498" Shank Super Duty Air Hammer/Riveter

I used a Mayhew Pro 32011 3/8 to 18-Inch Pneumatic Taper Punch to remove one of the two brake caliper carrier bolts, the ones with the trisquare heads, from a 2011 GTI rear axle housing with a Ingersoll Rand Model 123MAX Short Barrel Air Hammer. It was rusted in so badly, it had to be first drilled, which created a 13/16th hole bisecting the bolt to get around the axle hub (too hard for me to reinstall @ 120 ft/lbs + 180 degrees more). The last of the bolt came out but the I slammed the taper punch into its place before I realized it, my lack of experience rearing its ugly head. First, I put a 9mm 12 point box end on the taper to keep a second taper on the 3/8" diameter target of the woefully wedged original but that tore off the box end splines. So, I put a 3mm divot in the end of an 18" hammer bit so it would accomplish the same thing - stay in place while beating on the stuck 3/8 taper end but that puppy was in forever. So I went to Youtube University. Like a breath of fresh air, there was Torque Test Channel along with several opinions and perspectives from many videographers. I scrolled past those intent on comparing brands & sizes to SnapOn and Harbor Freight. I can't afford anything SnapOn more than a 7mm box/open and Harbor Freight is for those who know what's good and not so. I was interested in the Big Kahuna, a real mother, one dangerous to use. I had a vision of the one time I ran a jack hammer just long enough to learn when you weigh in at 160, you're just not going to make it. That's what I wanted now, but under a car. And there it was; two words, mean. The Torque Test Channel chart showed, the next larger I-R 135 was, for my purposes, no different in PSI impact. Welterweight. But the first entry, head and shoulders above, I mean, check your insurance policy, Top 'O the List was the Astro 4980 with 5,181 max PSI vs 3,946 for the I-R 123 or a 31% increase. The I-R 135 @ 4,989 is about the same price as the Astro Then the label: "Big Nasty," from a South Main Auto Repair video jumped right off my laptop screen. Seems the professionals in Upper New York run into similar situations on suspensions all the time. It took two days to get, unbelievable service from Amazon Prime (Imagine going thru all this using snail mail shipping as we all did 50 years ago), and a half hour to be successful. Why so long ? Hey, I have a Makita 5 gal compressor, a garage size, under the bench, unobtrusive, to change winter tires, change seasonal tire pressure and blow off lawn equipment. The "Big Nasty," is an air hog as one wag declared and followed with, ya gotta have at least 5cfms and this and that. My "Big Nasty," gulps air at the rate of 5 gallons/3-5 seconds, and then becomes ineffective. So it took longer that someone with a 30 or 60 or, "Oh ma gosh," an 80 gallon tank with a 2 stage compressor. But hey, those pauses allowed me to contemplate my learning. About a half an hour. When the stuck drift shot out about two feet and clanged on the floor, you can hear the sound, I smiled.

I am a mechanic in an iron foundry. I am constantly driving huge pins, I have several uses for this air hammer. I played with the idea of buying the snap on air hammer off of the truck truck, most of the guys I work with recognize that as the king when it came to a seized part, which some days is all you deal with. I watched a couple reviews I am very nerdy. Every review pointed at this being the best choice. It is. Today was my first day with it and the foundry I changed a link that was broken in a tumble blast removed some very large ductile iron parts that were stuck so badly that multiple hits with a 20 pound sledge did not budge them.. I am reluctant to write reviews this early on tools however, I am extremely impressed. The pins and the tumble blast link are usually not too bad, but sometimes you just give up and cut them out. Today would’ve been one of those days where I was searching for a torch in the fab shop to bring to the other side of the foundry further delaying the repair. Instead whenever I put this air hammer to the pin It shot out with enough force to leave a little welt on my stomach. Imagine my surprise. When I told a few of the guys in the fab shop about how the air hammer dealt with the repair I was immediately greeted with “it won’t hold a candle to my snap on” By two people at different times. To be fair, I don’t think it will hold a candle to the big D handle 1 inch air hammers we use to chip the iron out of the ladle, but it is a hell of a lot closer than that snap on will ever be. The best part is that it is the same size as other air hammers and hits way harder. Getting into places is the reason why I chose this style air hammer on my own dime opposed to using the 40 pound 1 inch shank air hammer.(Chicago pneumatic) The trigger, although touchy, does have a sweet spot for lightly, engaging the actuation. It was a good decision to buy this

Bought this after recommendation from South Main Auto (Eric O.) for stubborn half shaft removal when a .401 shank gun couldn't do the job, this .498 did.

I purchased this thing based on YouTube videos I've watched and wanted anything to make suspension work easier. I thought I'd try it out on ball joints on a 2009 Dodge Journey without having to remove the knuckle since trying to fit a press on it wouldn't work with no room. These were obviously original from the looks of the corrosion. The worst part of the job was removing the deteriorated snap ring with a couple taps of a chisel and pick. The rest wasn't work at all. With a 12 inch hammer bit this thing drove the ball joints out with barely any effort and using an oversized socket drove the new ones in place. Those were the fastest ball joints I've ever replaced and it was FUN. I also used this air hammer to remove ball joints on a 2004 Chevy Silverado and it knocked them right out in less than 10 seconds. It took longer using a press on my 2009 Silverado and fidgeting with the cups. I'm glad I invested in it.

Hard hitter....great quality

It's a junk. First time used not working at all. Waisted money.

As far as the overall tool id give it a five star rating in terms of reliability, power, and workmanship. I've used the tool on a few jobs especially some wheel bearings where other tools that snap-on, matco and Mac just couldn't measure up but I will say you don't need this tool in every occasion and the main tool trucks do supply decent air hammers. With all that said the reason I can't rate such a good tool five stars is the fact that you are so limited in finding bits for the tool. As far as I know I've shopped around and it seems grey pneumatic is the only brand that sells bits at a reasonable offfer. However, I've struggled to find many companies other than GP who even make, sell, or warranty the bits. Overall the tool is worth the money I'm glad I have one and I would recommend any mechanic to get one.

The one downside is the pneumatic bits that it uses they are expensive but it kicks the s*** out of snap-on's best The 3 things I wish that it came with a quick change bit The diameter of the bits are hard to get and expensive There is a better version of this out there but it is next to impossible to get people call it Big nasty Thor it is made by the same company and it is stronger but they're next to impossible to get Otherwise an absolutely great air hammer The snap-on fanboys will cry when they see this thing work Another downside of this air hammer is that it likes to launch things across the shop so when you're driving out pins make sure you have something to stop it on the other side

unbelievable very strong and it's never make me done.

hits harder than I can with a sledgehammer. Had a mini diggers boom pin seized and burred all over, with a 12" bit just rocketed it out. paid for itself already

ive had this gun for over year and half, it has more power than snap on, over numerous times and different guns ,,when they could not do it they would call me,,i got it not knowing ,take a chance, but im happy with it, and I never had issues yet

It's not often I write reviews for Amazon but this tool has lead me to do so. I bought this air hammer after seeing it used by Eric O on South Main Auto. He works hard on cars and pushes his tools as much as I do. I needed a new air hammer for persuading rusted, crusted auto components to come apart and this tool absolutely works. Yesterday I removed a wheel bearing hub assembly from a van that had 315,000 km on it. Before this air hammer I'd have had 20 minutes of manual hammering and likely oxy-acet heat plus lots of cussing. I'm not kidding when I say within 2 minutes the hub was out using this air hammer. Make sure you purchase the quick change retainer and get yourself some quality chisel and bits for it and wear hearing protection. Don't kid yourself with any other air hammer - this one is the way to go.