Air Hammer Review and Buying Guide
Air hammer is one of the essential tools used in industries and sometimes, at home. The tool allows you to break and cut metal objects easily. 
It is also suitable for carving stones and other hard items.
Apart from these uses, the air hammer is also useful for other functions when you combine it with another tool. These functions include use as an exhaust pipe cutter, ball joint separator, bolt cutting, bolt shearing, body shearing, and universal joint tool. Lastly, you can use a standard air hammer to repair dome household gadgets and appliances.
There are many air hammers in the market at the moment, each with its peculiar features and capabilities. The purpose of this article is to help you select the best air hammer for front-end works among this multitude.
We shall examine five of the best air hammers for front-end works, discussing their features. We will also discuss some fundamental buying guides for air hammers.
Quick Comparison of 5 Most Powerful Air Hammers
| Air Hammer | Key Specifications | More Info |
|---|---|---|
 Ingersoll Rand Air Hammer 114GQC | BPM: 3500 Air Inlet: 1/4" Weight: 4.1 lbs Bore Dia: 0.75" Shank Dia: 0.401" | PriceDetail review |
 Chicago Pneumatic Air Hammer | BPM: 2100 Air Inlet: 1/4" Weight: 4.88 lbs Bore Dia: 3/4" Shank Dia: 0.401" | PriceDetail review |
 Sunex SX243 Air Hammer | BPM: 2200 Air Inlet: 1/4" Weight: 4.6 lbs Bore Dia: 3/4" Shank Dia: 0.401" | PriceDetail review |
 Ingersoll Rand 118MAXK Air Hammer | BPM: 2500 Air Inlet: 1/4" Weight: 4.6 lbs Bore Dia: 0.75" Shank Dia: 0.40" | PriceDetail review |
 Ingersoll Rand 121Q Air Hammer | BPM: 3000 Air Inlet: 1/4" Weight: 4.2 lbs Bore Dia: 0.75" Shank Dia: 0.401" | PriceDetail review |
Our Selected 5 Best Air Hammer Reviews
The following are the best five air hammers on the market. While these air chisels are ideal for front-end works, they are also useful for other functions as you will later see. These air hammers are:
1Ingersoll Rand Air Hammer 114GQC
- Blows: 3500 BPM
- Air Inlet: 1/4-inch
- Weight: 4.1 lbs.
Highlight Features
- Durable and compact
- Impressive ergonomic design
- Features a quick-release chisel retainer
- Deliver blows per minute 3500 BPM
- 2-5/8-Inch stroke length
- Include 3 Chisels (Tapered Punch, Panel Cutter, Flat Chisel).
This Pneumatic air hammer comes from a reputable name in the industry, Ingersoll Rand. Thus there is an expectation that the air hammer will be top-quality with the required features. Ingersoll Rand did not disappoint at all.
The Ingersoll Rand 114GQC lightweight design features a heat-treated piston to ensure that it is as strong as required. Also, you get a quick change chisel retainer and a long alloyed steel barrel. These components and others embody the ergonomic design featured by the pneumatic hammer. The strong components and ergonomic design of the air hammer make it easy to use.
2Chicago Pneumatic CP7150 Heavy Duty Air Hammer
- Blows: 2300 BPM
- Air Inlet: 1/4-inch
- Weight: 4.88 lbs.
Highlight Features
- Amazing power for delivering heavy-duty tasks
- Durable as it can withstand rugged use of lengthy periods
- Ideal for professional use.
- Deliver blows per minute 2300 BPM
- Comfortable pistol grip.
If you need a powerful heavy-duty air hammer, the Chicago Pneumatic is your best bet. The air hammer features an efficient spool valve, responsible for precise control and positive trigger action. To cope with its power, the Chicago Pneumatic CP7150 has a heavy-duty heat-treated piston with an impressive length.
Thus, you need not worry about your front-end work on automobiles and related equipment as the durable air hammer can deliver as much as 2300 blows within 60 seconds. Another impressive feature of the air-powered hammer is its lightweight despite its heavy-duty nature.
3Sunex SX243 Long Barrel Air Hammer
- Blows: 2200 BPM
- Air Inlet: 1/4-inch
- Weight: 4.6 lbs.
Highlight Features
- Powerful and durable.
- 250-Mm long barrel design
- Built-in power regulator and trigger control
- Ergonomic soft pistol grip
- Comes with a user manual that is accessible online.
This is another powerful air hammer, with the capacity to deliver about 2200 blows in a minute. It makes up for its power with its long barrel and an impressive ergonomic design that allows you to have a strong grip on the air hammer.
The Sunex SX243 also features an efficient control system with an in-built regulator. You also enjoy a great sense of flexibility with this air-driven hammer as it allows for spraying, bolt cutting, bolt shearing, body shearing, sanding, and other similar activities. Finally, the hammer is lightweight despite its power.
4Ingersoll Rand Air Hammer Kit 118MAXK
- Blows: 2500 BPM
- Air Inlet: 1/4-inch
- Weight: 4.6 lbs.
Highlight Features
- Features an anti-vibration mechanism, making it safe to use.
- Durable and compact.
- Ergonomic handle
- Quick change retainer for easy chisel swapping.
- Comes with 5 chisel set (Tapered Punch, Panel Cutter, Flat Chisel) and a protective case.
Another air hammer Kit manufactured by Ingersoll, the Ingersoll Rand 118MAXK, surpasses many air hammers in the market with various features. One of these features is the anti-vibration feature added to this powerful tool.
The operation of an air chisel hammer leads to the production of vibrating noise, which could have an adverse effect on the operator’s health. This Ingersoll Rand 118MAXK takes care of this issue with the anti-vibration feature. The feature eliminates about half of the vibration produced.
Another impressive feature is the power of this Ingersoll Rand air chisel. This air-powered hammer is one of the most powerful air hammers on the market. It combines this power with a quick-release chisel retain to ensure fast and efficient front-end work.
5Ingersoll Rand Air Hammer 121Q
- Blows: 3000 BPM
- Air Inlet: 1/4-inch
- Weight: 4.2 lbs.
Highlight Features
- Durable and easy to use.
- Quick change retainer for easy chisel swapping.
- 2.28-Inch stroke length
- Comes with 6 piece set (Tapered Punch, Panel Cutter, Flat Chisel) and carry case.
The last air tool on our best air hammer review is also from the stables of Ingersoll Rand. And this product is as strong as its counterparts from the same maker. The Ingersoll Rand 121Q can deliver as much as 3000 blows in 60 seconds.
This air hammer’s power doesn’t diminish its durability as it comes in a strong alloyed barrel. The barrel is also designed for easy usage and control. Unlike most air hammers, you get a protective case with this air-powered hammer. This Ingersoll Rand air chisel also possesses six chisels with appropriate attachments for them.
These five are the best and most powerful air hammers for front-end works. In the subsequent sections, we will discuss some important topics regarding the selection and usage of air hammers for front-end works.
Choosing the Best Air Hammer for Front End Works
As you may have noticed, numerous brands and air hammer types exist in the market. Even after shortlisting the five best air hammers for front-end works, you may find it a bit difficult to choose amongst them. After all, you possibly cannot buy the five.
This section will suggest some important considerations that you must make before choosing an air hammer brand or model. However, before examining these considerations, let us go through the reasons for using an air hammer kit.
Do you even need an air hammer? Why should you get an air hammer? This section will provide answers to these questions.
Why Should You Get an Air Hammer?
Air hammers are tools that make your job as a technician easier. Even if you are a non-technical person with a flair for DIY projects, you cannot go wrong with an air chisel hammer.
If you work with metal, then you will need an air hammer. It helps you shape and flattens metals of different sizes and types. The types of metals you can use an air hammer on include 10-gauge structural steel, aircraft-grade aluminum, normal copper, and many others. You can also smoothen and deburr a metal with an air hammer.
If woodworking or stone crafting is your specialization area, you cannot work efficiently without an air hammer. An air hammer is powerful enough to help with chiseling and carving on these materials.
A mechanical engineer working on cars and other automobiles also knows the importance of an air hammer. From cutting exhaust pipes to freeing frozen nuts and the likes, you can never go wrong with an air hammer in a garage shop.
Even on construction sites, air hammers are useful for removing building materials such as tiles, cement, and mortar.
Apart from all of these uses, air hammers are safer, more precise, and more productive when used on these different activities.
Considerations to Make When Choosing an Air Hammer
Choosing an air hammer can be stressful, especially with the number of quality products in the market. Below are some of the considerations and features you should look for in an air hammer before buying it.
Power of the Air Hammer
This feature is arguably the most important consideration you must make when buying an air hammer. The power of an air hammer determines its suitability for certain purposes. A light-duty air hammer works perfectly with light metal sheets and the likes. They allow you to cut and shape these metal sheets to taste and specifications.
However, this type of air hammer is not suitable for automotive works and likes. The ideal air hammers for this purpose are medium and heavy-duty air hammers. They possess the power and durability to work on heavy-duty tasks, metals, automotive, and trucks effectively.
As a rule, any air hammer with blows per minute (BPM) less than 2000 is a low-duty air hammer, while the ones with BPMs between 2000 and 3000 are the medium-duty air hammers. Those with over 3000 BPM are heavy-duty air hammers.
Barrel Length
The barrel of an air hammer plays a vital role in the operation of the air hammer. There are primarily two types of barrels in an air hammer; short and long barrels. Air hammers with short barrels are usually compact and lightweight. They deliver powerful punches with the least vibrations.
The short-barreled air hammers also have easier control and more precise functions. These air hammers are best used to strip, cut, scrap, and do other light and medium front-end work. The only drawback is that they are not suitable for working in tight corners and bends.
On the other hand, air hammers with long barrels fit perfectly for heavy-duty purposes. They are usually more powerful and heavier. You will most likely need these air hammer types in a professional setting, such as car shops, metal fabrication workshops, and the likes.
However, they are not without their drawbacks too. These long-barreled air hammers are usually noisy and difficult to control. You will also have to deal with great amounts of vibrations. Finally, their functionality depends on available chisel bits.
Type of Handle, Grip, and Trigger
Generally, it would help if you got an air hammer with a rubberized handle or grip. This feature limits the amount of vibration that gets to you during the use of the air hammer. It also reduces fatigue and provides room for better control.
However, effective control of the air hammer is not solely up to the grip type. The type of trigger also matters. Air hammers with progressive triggers are easier to than those without them. As a result, there are safer and easier to use.
Pneumatic air hammers are usually with a progressive air hammer. Hence it would help if you were careful when using them.
Size of Tank or Compressor
Remember that we said earlier that you could combine an air hammer with other tools or equipment for other functions? The air compressor is one such tool. As a result, the air compressor’s size also matters when choosing the air hammer you intend to use with it.
When getting the tank, you should look out for the air pressure and volume of air produced by the compressor. These two are the most important factors determining the suitability of an air compressor with an air hammer.
As a rule, the air compressor tank must produce a constant and unending air supply to the air hammer during operation. Thus, the air hammer’s power also matters as the higher the power, the more the air pressure is needed. So, if your air hammer requires 4 CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute), you should get an air tank that supplies over 4 CFM for optimum operation.
These are some of the important features you should consider before choosing an air hammer for front-end works. Other considerations include attachments, weight, stroke length, and noise.
Safety Tips for Using an Air Hammer
After getting the air hammer, it is important to ensure that you take adequate caution while using the air hammer. As you may know, the air hammer is a power tool, and as such, it is hazardous while used wrongly. Below are some safety tips that you should take seriously while using the air hammer;
- Read the user manual before using the air hammer. The manual contains vital information such as air pressure from the air compressor and the likes. Reading, understanding, and following instructions laid down in the manual will prolong the air hammer’s life and ensure that it works efficiently.
- As said earlier, the air hammer is a dangerous tool in the wrong hands. Never underestimate the pressure produced or exerted by the air hammer, especially when there is an attached chisel. Also, keep the air hammer in its case and out of the reach of children.
- There are mechanical parts in the air hammer, and these parts require regular lubrication and oiling to ensure adequate operation. Use approved lubricants for this purpose.
- Before connecting the air hammer to the air compressor, check for dirt and particles within the air hose. This step is quite easier than looking for these particles in the air hammer when they get stuck into the air hammer.
- Use ear protection, eye goggles, and gloves while using the air hammer. This is important, especially when working (chiseling and carving) with hard materials such as stone and metal. Also, avoid areas stuffed with combustible gas or suspended dust as a spark in these areas may lead to an explosion.
- Lastly, do not attempt to repair the air hammer if faulty, except you have the required technical know-how. Approach an expert if you need to repair your air hammer.
When you follow these safety and precautionary tips, there is a high chance of avoiding accidents and injuries when using the air hammer.
Final Words
Choosing the most appropriate air hammer depends on the adequate understanding of the project you intend to use it for. This knowledge will help you choose the best air hammer for your front-end works. While most air hammers have similar features, it is important that one conducts proper research before choosing.
Nonetheless, the five air hammers reviewed in this article remain the best in the market.
