Chicago Pneumatic Chipping Hammers and Air Hammers
Seventeen models across two very different Chicago Pneumatic families, $86 to $1,076. Heavy .580 hex and .680 round chipping hammers for concrete, scaling and demolition, and light-duty 0.401 in. air hammers and precision scalers for vehicle service, fabrication and foundry work.
The short version
The shank tells you which family a tool belongs to, and the two families do completely different work. Anything taking .580 in. hex or .680 in. round steel is a construction chipping hammer: 7 to 20 lb, 20 to 33 CFM, built to hit hard and move concrete, slag and heavy weld. Anything on a 0.401 in., 0.498 in., 3/8 in. or 1/2 in. hex shank is a light-duty air hammer or scaler: 2.4 to 4.9 lb, 6.4 to 25 CFM, built for cutting exhaust, splitting seized fasteners, panel work, deburring castings and taking weld spatter off finished surfaces. The steel does not swap and neither does the work. Not sure which side you are on? Jump to the comparison.
Construction Chipping Hammers — .580 Hex and .680 Round Shank
Eleven models, 7.4 to 20 lb, 20 to 33 CFM. These are the harder-hitting tools. They take heavy working steel, and they are what you use on concrete, masonry, refractory, slag and heavy weld. Most models are built in 2, 3 and 4 in. strokes in both shanks, which is why one model number can carry six or eight configurations: longer stroke means more energy per blow and a lower blow rate.
Concrete and masonry surface work
Chipping out damaged concrete, cutting chases, removing tile beds and thinset, breaking brick and block, and squaring up an edge a breaker left rough. This is what the 18 to 20 lb tools with a muffler and a 3 or 4 in. stroke are built for.
Scaling, slag and refractory
Taking slag off weldments, scale off castings, and refractory lining out of a furnace or ladle. Heavy repetitive removal where a light scaler would take all week. A wide chisel in a 2 or 2-1/2 in. tip is the usual choice.
Weld cleanup and gasket removal
Shorter strokes at 2,400 to 2,800 blows a minute on the CP 4123 and CP 9362. Fast enough to be controllable and light enough to hold against a vertical surface, but still on the big shank so one chisel rack serves the whole crew.
Why the CP 9362, CP 9363 and CP 9373 are in this section. Chicago Pneumatic catalogue those three under their industrial range, but all three run .580 in. hex and .680 in. round steel — the same chisels as the 4100 series and the CP 0012. Shank is what decides which rack of steel a tool draws from, so shank is the line we group on. The CP 9363 and CP 9373 are also heavy tools by any measure, at 15 to 20 lb on 28 to 33 CFM.
CP 4123 · 2, 3 or 4 in. stroke · part no. 8900 0001 04
25 to 27 CFM · 1,500 to 2,400 BPM · 13 to 16 lb · 12-7/8 to 15-1/2 in. · 3/8 in. air inlet · .580 hex or .680 round
More of these leave our dock than any other Chicago Pneumatic tool. Six builds across 2, 3 and 4 in. strokes in both shanks, with an oval collar retainer as standard. Longer stroke trades speed for energy: 2,400 BPM at 2 in. down to 1,500 BPM at 4 in., and 13 lb up to 16 lb.
CP 4125 · 2, 3 or 4 in. stroke · part no. 8900 0001 10
26 to 28 CFM · 1,500 to 2,400 BPM · 13 to 16 lb · 13-1/4 to 15-1/4 in. · 3/8 in. air inlet · .580 hex or .680 round
The 4123’s slightly longer sibling, an inch or so longer at each stroke and drawing one more CFM. Same six-build matrix, same oval collar retainer, same weights. Choose it when you want a fraction more reach without stepping up to the heavier 4130.
CP 4130 · 3 in. stroke · part no. 8900 0001 16
26 CFM · 1,920 BPM · 18-1/2 lb · 16-1/2 in. · 3/8 in. air inlet · muffler standard · .580 hex or .680 round
A heavier barrel at 18-1/2 lb with a muffler fitted as standard, which the 4123 and 4125 do not have. The extra mass is what lets it keep working on concrete rather than steel, and the muffler matters if the crew is near occupied space.
CP 4132 · 3 or 4 in. stroke · part no. 9245 9998 00
33.23 CFM · 1,800 to 2,200 BPM · 18 to 19 lb · 15-1/4 to 17 in. · 3/8 in. NPT inlet · muffler standard · oval collar retainer
Where the line steps up in air. 33.23 CFM and a muffler as standard, 18 to 19 lb, and the fastest of the heavy hammers at 2,200 BPM on the 3 in. stroke. A 3/8 in. NPT inlet, so a standard hose whip fits straight on.
CP 4133 · 3 or 4 in. stroke · part no. 9753 2195 84
33.23 CFM · 1,800 BPM · 18 to 19 lb · 17 in. · 7/8-24 threaded inlet · muffler standard · oval collar retainer
The 4132 with a 7/8-24 threaded air inlet instead of 3/8 in. NPT — the difference matters only if your hose ends are already threaded that way. Same 33.23 CFM, same muffler, same 18 to 19 lb, 1,800 BPM across both strokes.
CP 4134 · 3 or 4 in. stroke · part no. 9246 0208 64
1,900 BPM · 19 lb · 17-1/2 in. · 3/8 in. NPT inlet · thread-on ball retainer · .580 hex or .680 round
Fitted with a thread-on ball-type retainer rather than the oval collar used further down the line, which is faster to change steel with and holds better on overhead work. 19 lb, 1,900 BPM, on a 3/8 in. NPT inlet.
CP 4136 · 3 or 4 in. stroke · part no. 9753 2276 68
1,900 BPM · 19 lb · 17-1/2 in. · 7/8-24 threaded inlet · thread-on ball retainer · .580 hex or .680 round
The 4134 with the 7/8-24 threaded air inlet. Same thread-on ball retainer, same 19 lb and 1,900 BPM. Pick on which inlet thread your hoses already carry.
CP 0012 · 2 in. stroke · part no. 8900 0001 02
20 CFM · 2,600 BPM · 12 lb · 16 in. · 3/8 in. air inlet · muffler standard · ball retainer and spring
The lightest construction chipping hammer at 12 lb, and the fastest at 2,600 blows a minute on only 20 CFM. A ball-type retainer with spring, a muffler as standard, and the lowest air draw of any hammer on this page.
CP9362 · 1.73 in. stroke · lightest .580 or .680 shank hammer
23 CFM at 90 psi · 2,800 BPM · 7.4 lb · 12.6 in. · 1.73 in. stroke · 3/8 in. NPT inlet · .580 hex or .680 round
The odd one out on this page in the best way: it takes the same .580 hex and .680 round chisels as everything above, but weighs only 7.4 lb and runs 2,800 blows a minute on 23 CFM. A one-hand tool for overhead scaling, weld cleanup and finishing work where a 13 lb hammer is more than the job needs. Note the 32.8 m/s2 vibration figure — it is a burst tool, not an all-day one.
CP9373 · 2, 3 or 4 in. stroke · heavy-duty scaler
29 to 33 CFM · 1,700 to 2,600 BPM · 18 to 20.1 lb · 14.57 to 16.73 in. · 1.14 in. bore · 3/8 in. air inlet
Catalogued under the CP industrial range but built to the same weight and shank as the construction hammers above — 18 to 20 lb on .580 hex or .680 round, with a 1.14 in. bore and a 3/8 in. inlet. Longer in the body than the 4100 series at 14-1/2 to 16-3/4 in.
CP9363 · 1, 2, 3 or 4 in. stroke · widest stroke range
28 to 33 CFM at 90 psi · 1,600 to 2,750 BPM · 15 to 18 lb · 14 to 18.5 in. · 3/8 in. NPT inlet · .580 hex or .680 round
The widest stroke range in the line: 1, 2, 3 and 4 in., on the same .580 hex and .680 round shanks as the construction hammers above. Eight configurations spanning 15 to 18 lb and 14 to 18.5 in., so one model number covers everything from light scaling to real concrete work.
Light-Duty Air Hammers and Precision Scalers — 0.401 in. and Small Hex Shanks
Six tools, 2.43 to 4.85 lb, 6.4 to 25 CFM. Nothing in this section is a demolition tool. They are built for controlled removal on material you do not want to destroy: exhaust tube, sheet and light plate, seized fasteners, casting flash, weld spatter and thin sections. Two sub-families, and they are not interchangeable with each other either.
Exhaust, brake and suspension work
The classic 0.401 in. air hammer job. Cutting exhaust pipe and hangers, splitting seized nuts off studs, separating ball joints and tie-rod ends with a fork chisel, and driving out pins that will not press. The CP7110, CP7111 and CP7150 are the tools for it.
Panel, sheet and light plate
Cutting sheet, separating spot welds, shearing light rivets and trimming plate where a torch would distort the work or is not permitted. A short stroke at a high blow rate gives you a cut line you can steer.
All-day fabrication work
If one person is on the tool for hours, buy on vibration rather than on price. The CP7165 measures 10.7 m/s2 and the CP7160 14.3, against 19.7 on the CP7110 and 28.2 on the CP717. Hand-arm vibration exposure is cumulative across a shift, so the low-vibration pair pays for itself in hours worked.
Foundry and casting cleanup
This is what the RA1 and RA2 are for. Removing flash, gates, risers and parting lines from castings, and deburring machined edges, without the tool deforming the part underneath. The RA2’s 1/2 in. hex shank and 5.6 J blow handle heavier castings; the RA1’s 3/8 in. shank and 2.3 J blow is for finer work.
Weld spatter and thin material
The RA1 at 2.43 lb and 4,000 blows a minute on 6.4 CFM is the lightest and fastest tool Chicago Pneumatic build in this class. Fast, low-energy blows lift spatter and scale without denting the sheet or thin-wall tube behind it.
Heavier blows inside the light class
The CP717 runs a larger 0.498 in. shank at only 1,800 blows a minute on 12 CFM, which puts more energy into each blow than the 3,000-plus BPM tools. Reach for it when the light hammers are bouncing off the work but a construction hammer is still too much tool.
What these will not do. They will not break concrete, they will not scale refractory, and they will not drive a 9 or 12 in. moil point — the shanks are far too small to hold that steel. If the material is structural, go back to the construction section.
Chisel-shank air hammers — 0.401 in. and 0.498 in.
Vehicle service, fabrication and light demolition on metal. These take the standard 0.401 in. round chisel shank the whole automotive aftermarket is built around, so cut-off chisels, fork chisels, tail-pipe cutters, panel cutters and bushing drivers are all readily available.
CP7110 · 0.401 in. shank · 3.75 lb
14 CFM · 3,200 BPM · 3.75 lb · 9.06 in. · 2.64 in. stroke · 7.2 J impact energy · 0.401 in. shank
A 0.401 in. shank air hammer at 3,200 blows a minute on 14 CFM. This is the vehicle-service and light fabrication tool, not a demolition hammer — it is for cutting exhaust, splitting seized fasteners, panel work and light scaling.
CP7111 and CP7150 · 0.401 in. shank · 3.53 to 4.85 lb
25 CFM · 2,300 to 3,000 BPM · 3.53 to 4.85 lb · 6.73 or 8.86 in. · 2.64 or 3.5 in. stroke · 0.401 in. shank
Two lengths on one platform. The CP7111 is the short 6.73 in. tool at 3,000 BPM; the CP7150 stretches to 8.86 in. and a 3.5 in. stroke at 2,300 BPM for more energy per blow. Both on 25 CFM, and the 7111 is offered in hex as well as round.
CP7160 and CP7165 · low vibration · 4.14 to 4.83 lb
17 to 18 CFM · 2,500 to 3,500 BPM · 4.14 to 4.83 lb · 7.52 or 9.45 in. · 8 to 11 J impact energy · composite and steel body
The low-vibration pair, and the reason to spend more than the 7111. A composite and steel body brings vibration down to 14.3 m/s2 on the CP7160 and 10.7 on the CP7165, against 19.7 on the CP7110. If someone is on the tool for hours, this is the one.
CP717 · 0.498 in. shank · 4.74 lb · 1,800 BPM
12 CFM · 1,800 BPM · 4.74 lb · 7.48 in. · 2.68 in. stroke · 7.3 J impact energy · 0.498 in. shank
The slow, heavy end of the light range. A 0.498 in. shank and only 1,800 blows a minute on 12 CFM, which puts more energy into each blow than the 3,000-plus BPM tools. Note the 28.2 m/s2 vibration figure — the highest here, so it is not an all-day tool.
Precision scalers — RA1 and RA2
Foundry, weld cell and finishing work. Smaller shanks again at 3/8 in. and 1/2 in. hex, the lowest air draw on the page, and the highest blow rates. These are closer in duty to a die grinder than to a hammer — the job is controlled material removal, not breaking.
RA1 · 3/8 in. shank · 2.43 lb · 4,000 BPM
6.4 CFM · 4,000 BPM · 2.43 lb · 7.48 in. · 1.77 in. stroke · 2.3 J impact energy · 3/8 in. shank
The lightest and fastest tool Chicago Pneumatic build in this class: 2.43 lb at 4,000 blows a minute on only 6.4 CFM. A precision scaler for weld spatter, castings and thin material where a heavier hammer would deform the work.
RA2 · 1/2 in. hex shank · 4.41 lb · 3,500 BPM
9.7 CFM · 3,500 BPM · 4.41 lb · 8.27 in. · 2.28 in. stroke · 5.6 J impact energy · 1/2 in. hex shank
The RA1’s bigger brother: a 1/2 in. hex shank, 2.28 in. stroke and 5.6 J per blow at 3,500 BPM on 9.7 CFM. Still a precision tool rather than a demolition one, but with enough energy for heavier scaling and chipping on castings and weldments.
What Air Hammer Type Do I Need?
Almost every wrong purchase in this category comes from buying across this line rather than along it. If you are still deciding between the two families above, this is the table to read.
| Construction chipping hammers | Light-duty air hammers and scalers | |
|---|---|---|
| Shank | .580 in. hex or .680 in. round | 0.401 in., 0.498 in., 3/8 in. or 1/2 in. hex |
| Models | CP 0012, CP 4123, CP 4125, CP 4130, CP 4132, CP 4133, CP 4134, CP 4136, CP 9362, CP 9363, CP 9373 | CP7110, CP7111, CP7150, CP7160, CP7165, CP717, RA1, RA2 |
| Weight | 7.4 to 20 lb | 2.43 to 4.85 lb |
| Air at 90 psi | 20 to 33 CFM | 6.4 to 25 CFM |
| Blow rate | 1,500 to 2,800 BPM | 1,800 to 4,000 BPM |
| Stroke | 1.73 to 4 in. | 1.77 to 3.5 in. |
| Energy per blow | High — the whole point of the tool | Low and controlled — 2.3 to 7.3 J |
| Built to | Break, scale and demolish | Cut, split, deburr and finish |
| Typical materials | Concrete, masonry, brick, refractory, heavy weld and slag, large castings | Exhaust tube, sheet and light plate, seized fasteners, casting flash, weld spatter |
| Typical setting | Jobsite, demolition, plant maintenance | Vehicle service bay, fab shop, foundry, weld cell, shipyard |
| Working steel | Our own chipping hammer chisels, four shank and collar combinations | Chicago Pneumatic chisels in 0.401 and 0.498 in. |
| Price from | $585 | $86 |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
The one model that looks like an exception and is not. The CP 9362 weighs only 7.4 lb, which puts it in light-duty territory on the scale. But it takes .580 hex and .680 round steel, so it sits in the construction group and draws from the construction chisel rack. Think of it as the one-hand member of the heavy family rather than a big member of the light one — it will drive a 9 in. moil point, which no 0.401 in. tool will.
If the job is breaking slab or footings, neither group is right. A chipping hammer works surfaces. For structural concrete go to the CP paving breakers, and for shearing structural steel go to the rivet busters.
Compare Every Model
Factory figures from the Chicago Pneumatic chipping hammer brochure and the CP Industrial data sheets. Where a range is shown it spans the stroke or length options within that model.
Construction line — .580 hex and .680 round shanks
| Model | Air | Blows/min | Weight | Length | Strokes | Retainer | Muffler | Air inlet | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CP 0012 | 20 CFM | 2,600 | 12 lb | 16 in. | 2 in. | Ball and spring | Standard | 3/8 in. | $585 |
| CP 4123 | 25 to 27 CFM | 1,500 to 2,400 | 13 to 16 lb | 12-7/8 to 15-1/2 in. | 2, 3, 4 in. | Oval collar | Optional | 3/8 in. | $604 |
| CP 4125 | 26 to 28 CFM | 1,500 to 2,400 | 13 to 16 lb | 13-1/4 to 15-1/4 in. | 2, 3, 4 in. | Oval collar | Optional | 3/8 in. | $692 |
| CP 4130 | 26 CFM | 1,920 | 18-1/2 lb | 16-1/2 in. | 3 in. | Oval collar | Standard | 3/8 in. | $627 |
| CP 4132 | 33.23 CFM | 1,800 to 2,200 | 18 to 19 lb | 15-1/4 to 17 in. | 3, 4 in. | Oval collar | Standard | 3/8 in. NPT | $627 |
| CP 4133 | 33.23 CFM | 1,800 | 18 to 19 lb | 17 in. | 3, 4 in. | Oval collar | Standard | 7/8-24 thread | $627 |
| CP 4134 | — | 1,900 | 19 lb | 17-1/2 in. | 3, 4 in. | Thread-on ball | — | 3/8 in. NPT | $693 |
| CP 4136 | — | 1,900 | 19 lb | 17-1/2 in. | 3, 4 in. | Thread-on ball | — | 7/8-24 thread | $693 |
| CP 9362 | 23 CFM | 2,800 | 7.4 lb | 12.6 in. | 1.73 in. | — | — | 3/8 in. NPT | $619 |
| CP 9363 | 28 to 33 CFM | 1,600 to 2,750 | 15 to 18 lb | 14 to 18.5 in. | 1, 2, 3, 4 in. | — | — | 3/8 in. NPT | $778 |
| CP 9373 | 29 to 33 CFM | 1,700 to 2,600 | 18 to 20.1 lb | 14.57 to 16.73 in. | 2, 3, 4 in. | — | — | 3/8 in. NPT | $830 |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Blank cells are figures Chicago Pneumatic do not publish in the data we hold, not figures we have rounded away — we would rather leave a cell honest than fill it in from a neighbouring model. Call 1-888-883-5144 and we will get the missing figure from CP before you order.
The CP 4132 and CP 4133 are the same machine with different air inlets: 3/8 in. NPT on the 4132, 7/8-24 threaded on the 4133. The CP 4134 and CP 4136 pair the same way. Pick on the thread your hose ends already carry — and note that the inlet also decides which hose whip fitting you want.
Light-duty line — 0.401 in. and small hex shanks
| Model | Shank | Air | Blows/min | Weight | Length | Stroke | Impact energy | Vibration | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RA1 | 3/8 in. | 6.4 CFM | 4,000 | 2.43 lb | 7.48 in. | 1.77 in. | 2.3 J | — | $944 |
| RA2 | 1/2 in. hex | 9.7 CFM | 3,500 | 4.41 lb | 8.27 in. | 2.28 in. | 5.6 J | — | $1,076 |
| CP7110 | 0.401 in. | 14 CFM | 3,200 | 3.75 lb | 9.06 in. | 2.64 in. | 7.2 J | 19.7 m/s2 | $134 |
| CP7111 | 0.401 in. | 25 CFM | 3,000 | 3.53 lb | 6.73 in. | 2.64 in. | — | — | $86 |
| CP7150 | 0.401 in. | 25 CFM | 2,300 | 4.85 lb | 8.86 in. | 3.5 in. | — | — | $105 |
| CP7160 | 0.401 in. | 17 to 18 CFM | 3,500 | 4.14 lb | 7.52 in. | — | 8 J | 14.3 m/s2 | $246 |
| CP7165 | 0.401 in. | 17 to 18 CFM | 2,500 | 4.83 lb | 9.45 in. | — | 11 J | 10.7 m/s2 | $262 |
| CP717 | 0.498 in. | 12 CFM | 1,800 | 4.74 lb | 7.48 in. | 2.68 in. | 7.3 J | 28.2 m/s2 | $1,011 |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Chisels and Working Steel
Working steel splits the same way the tools do. The .580 hex and .680 round hammers take construction tool steel. The 0.401 in. and small hex tools take air-hammer chisels. Every tool below is offered in all four shank and collar combinations, so pick the one that matches the retainer on the front of your hammer. Click into any product to see the exact SKU for the size you want.
| Tool | Sizes | Lengths available | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moil point | — | 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 96 in. | $17 |
| Narrow chisel | — | 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 96, 120 in. | $17 |
| 1-1/2 in. chisel | 1-1/2 in. tip | 9, 12, 18 in. | $20 |
| 2 in. chisel | 2 in. tip | 9, 12, 18, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84 in. | $22 |
| 2-1/2 in. chisel | 2-1/2 in. tip | 9, 12, 18 in. | $45 |
| 3 in. chisel | 3 in. tip | 9, 12, 18, 24 in. | $53 |
| Clay spade | — | 10 in. | $133 |
| Bushing tool | Carbide or steel head | — | $80 |
| Ground rod driver | 5/8 or 3/4 in. rod | — | $111 |
| Blank tool | — | 8, 11 in. | $15 |
| Non-sparking chisel | 1-1/2, 1-3/4 or 3 in. tip | 9 in., round shank and round collar only | $116.50 |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
The four shank and collar combinations are hex shank with oval collar, hex shank with round collar, round shank with oval collar, and round shank with round collar. Every tool in the table carries all four, with one exception: the non-sparking chisel is stocked in round shank and round collar only, in a 9 in. length.
Collar type has to match your retainer, not just your shank. An oval collar steel will not seat in a round-collar retainer and the reverse is also true. If you are not sure which your hammer carries, look at the retainer on the front of the tool before you order a rack of chisels. Full range on the chipping hammer chisels page.
Light-duty line — manufacturer chisels
On this side we stock Chicago Pneumatic’s own steel. The Chicago Pneumatic chisel is available in both light-duty shank sizes: 0.401 in. for the CP7110, CP7111, CP7150, CP7160 and CP7165, and 0.498 in. for the CP717, from $105.
The RA1 (3/8 in. shank) and RA2 (1/2 in. hex shank) take their own steel again, and most of the CP7 tools are also offered as a kit with a starter set of chisels included. Call 1-888-883-5144 with the model and the work and we will match the set.
Retainer Springs, Hose Whips and Mufflers
Two things wear out on a chipping hammer faster than anything else: the retainer spring, and the tool itself when it is fed wet, unlubricated air. Both are cheap to stay ahead of.
Retainer springs — keep a pack on the shelf
The spring holding the steel in the front of the tool is the fastest-wearing part on any chipping hammer and the one most likely to strand a crew. We stock them singly at $2 or in a pack of 25 for $60, which works out at well under half price per spring.
Chipping hammer retainer springsA line-oiler hose whip on every tool
This is what we recommend with every chipping hammer we sell. A 6 ft whip with an integral line oiler keeps the tool lubricated continuously, and the short whip takes the shock and the twist off the main hose. Standard or metal-braided hose, and 2, 4, 11 or 16 oz oiler bowls.
6 ft hose whip assembly with line oilerWater separator ahead of the oiler
Compressed air carries water, and water plus concrete grit is what wears a hammer out. Put a separator at the compressor and the oiler at the tool, in that order. Putting the lubricator first just washes the oil back out of the line.
Which hose whip fitting do I need?
The fitting depends on the air inlet of the specific hammer, so this is the one choice worth checking before you order.
| Air inlet on the hammer | Models | Whip fitting |
|---|---|---|
| 3/8 in. NPT | CP 0012, CP 4123, CP 4125, CP 4130, CP 4132, CP 4134, CP 9362, CP 9363, CP 9373 | 3/8 in. MPT straight swivel |
| 7/8-24 threaded | CP 4133, CP 4136 | 7/8-24 bent swivel |
| Anything else | Older tools, mixed fleets, claw-coupled hose | 1/2 in. MPT bent swivel, 3/4 in. threaded, or crowsfoot |
All five fittings are options on the same hose whip assembly, so if you are not certain what is on the front of your compressor or the back of your hammer, call 1-888-883-5144 and we will get it right the first time.
Mufflers. The CP 0012, CP 4130, CP 4132 and CP 4133 ship with a muffler as standard. The CP 4123 and CP 4125 do not; Chicago Pneumatic list muffler assembly P 125052 for both, and we will source it with the tool. On any job with a noise ordinance, or with people working nearby, order it up front rather than later.
Retainers. The retainer itself is ordered by tool model and collar type rather than off a shelf. Tell us the hammer and whether your steel is oval or round collar and we will match it.
What Compressor You Need Behind Them
Air consumption at 90 psi, running continuously. Both families are cheap on air compared with breakers and rock drills, which is why a chipping hammer is usually the second or third tool on a compressor rather than the reason for buying one.
| What is running | Total draw | Compressor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| One construction chipping hammer | 20 to 33 CFM | CPS 110 (95 CFM) | A third of the machine at most. Runs alongside a breaker or a tamper. |
| Three construction hammers | 60 to 100 CFM | CPS 110 (95 CFM) | Three CP 0012s fit easily; three CP 4132s at 33.23 CFM each will not. |
| One CP 1260 breaker plus one hammer | 63 + 27 CFM | CPS 110 (95 CFM) | The common two-tool jobsite setup, right at the edge of a 110. |
| One light-duty air hammer | 6.4 to 25 CFM | Shop air or a small portable | The RA1 at 6.4 CFM will run off almost any shop compressor. |
| A five-bay service shop | 60 to 100 CFM | Shop compressor | 0.401 in. air hammers get used in bursts, so they rarely all draw at once. |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Longer stroke, harder blow, fewer of them
Within one model, going from a 2 in. to a 4 in. stroke takes the CP 4123 from 2,400 blows a minute down to 1,500 and adds about 3 lb. The longer stroke moves more material per blow. Short stroke for cleanup and finishing, long stroke for concrete.
Air draw barely moves across the construction line
From the 20 CFM CP 0012 to the 33.23 CFM CP 4132 is only 13 CFM. Do not pick a lighter hammer to save air; pick it because it is the right tool. The compressor decision is usually made by the breaker or the drill on the same line, not by the chipping hammer.
Lubricate them
A chipping hammer runs faster than anything else on the line and sees the same wet, gritty air. A line-oiler hose whip and a water separator ahead of it will double the interval between rebuilds.
Chicago Pneumatic Chipping Hammer and Air Hammer FAQ
What is the difference between a CP air hammer and a CP chipping hammer?
The shank, and with it the work. The construction chipping hammers take .580 in. hex or .680 in. round steel, weigh 7.4 to 20 lb and draw 20 to 33 CFM; they hit hard and are for concrete, masonry, refractory, slag and heavy weld. The light-duty air hammers take 0.401 in., 0.498 in., 3/8 in. or 1/2 in. hex steel, weigh 2.4 to 4.9 lb and draw 6.4 to 25 CFM; they are for cutting exhaust, splitting seized fasteners, panel work, deburring castings and removing weld spatter. The steel does not swap between the two families and neither does the work: a light-duty hammer will not break concrete, and a 19 lb construction hammer will wreck sheet metal.
Can I use a light-duty CP air hammer on concrete?
No, and it is the most common mistake in this category. A 0.401 in. shank will not hold a moil point heavy enough to break concrete, and the tool does not deliver the energy per blow to move it even if it could. For concrete surface work use a construction chipping hammer on .580 hex or .680 round steel; for structural concrete use a paving breaker.
Which Chicago Pneumatic chipping hammer is the most popular?
The CP 4123. More of them leave our dock than any other Chicago Pneumatic tool. It is offered in six builds across 2, 3 and 4 in. strokes in both shanks, all at the same price, which covers most of what a general contractor needs from a chipping hammer.
What chisels fit a CP chipping hammer?
For the construction line we stock our own chipping hammer steel rather than reselling Chicago Pneumatic ordering numbers: moil points, narrow chisels, 1-1/2, 2, 2-1/2 and 3 in. chisels, clay spades, bushing tools, ground rod drivers, blank tools and non-sparking chisels, from $15. Every one is offered in all four shank and collar combinations, and lengths run from 8 in. up to 120 in. on the narrow chisel. For the light-duty line we stock the Chicago Pneumatic chisel itself in 0.401 in. and 0.498 in. shanks from $105.
What is the difference between an oval collar and a round collar?
They are two different ways of holding the steel in the front of the tool, and they are not interchangeable. An oval collar steel will not seat in a round-collar retainer. We stock every chisel in both collar types on both shanks, so check what your hammer carries before ordering. The CP 4134 and CP 4136 use a thread-on ball retainer instead, which is faster to change and holds better overhead.
What is the difference between the RA1, the RA2 and the CP7110?
Duty, not just size. The CP7110 is a 0.401 in. chisel-shank air hammer for vehicle service and fabrication: cutting exhaust, splitting fasteners, panel work. The RA1 and RA2 are precision scalers on 3/8 in. and 1/2 in. hex shanks, built for foundry and weld-cell work such as removing flash, gates and risers from castings, deburring, and taking spatter off finished surfaces. The RA1 is the lightest and fastest tool in the range at 2.43 lb and 4,000 BPM; the RA2 adds energy per blow at 5.6 J for heavier castings.
What stroke length should I order?
Short stroke for speed and control, long stroke for material removal. On a CP 4123 the 2 in. stroke runs 2,400 blows a minute at 13 lb, and the 4 in. stroke runs 1,500 blows a minute at 16 lb. Weld cleanup, gasket removal and finishing work want the short stroke; concrete and heavy scaling want the long one. All six CP 4123 builds cost the same, so it is purely a work decision.
Which hose whip fitting do I need for my chipping hammer?
It depends on the air inlet of the tool. The CP 0012, CP 4123, CP 4125, CP 4130, CP 4132, CP 4134, CP 9362, CP 9363 and CP 9373 all use a 3/8 in. NPT inlet, so the 3/8 in. MPT straight swivel fitting is the one to order. The CP 4133 and CP 4136 use a 7/8-24 thread and take the 7/8-24 bent swivel. We also stock 1/2 in. MPT bent swivel, 3/4 in. threaded and crowsfoot fittings on the same whip. Call 1-888-883-5144 if you are not sure what is on your tool.
Do CP chipping hammers come with a muffler?
The CP 0012, CP 4130, CP 4132 and CP 4133 have a muffler fitted as standard. The CP 4123 and CP 4125 do not; Chicago Pneumatic list muffler assembly P 125052 for both and we will source it with the tool. If the hammer will be used near occupied space, in a trench, or anywhere with a noise limit, order the muffler with the tool.
Which CP air hammer has the lowest vibration?
The CP7165 at 10.7 m/s2, followed by the CP7160 at 14.3. For comparison the CP7110 measures 19.7, the CP717 28.2 and the CP 9362 32.8. If an operator is on the tool for hours at a time, the CP7160 or CP7165 is worth the step up in price, because hand-arm vibration exposure limits are cumulative over the shift.
How often do retainer springs need replacing?
More often than most crews plan for — the spring is the fastest-wearing part on the tool and a broken one puts the hammer down until a replacement arrives. We stock them singly at $2 or in a 25-pack at $60, which is the version worth keeping in the truck.
What about needle scalers and scabblers?
Different tools again, and they have their own page. A needle scaler drives a bundle of steel needles rather than a single chisel, which is what you want for stripping rust, mill scale and old coating off an irregular surface without cutting into it. A scabbler drives carbide-tipped pistons straight down to scarify a concrete floor before an overlay or a coating. Both are on the CP needle scalers and scabblers page.
Seventeen models in stock, same day shipping
Tell us the shank you already own or the job you are doing, and we will point you at the right hammer, the right chisels and the right hose whip fitting.