Chicago Pneumatic Air Paving Breakers and Jackhammers
Four air breakers from a 30 lb trench tool to a 90 lb demolition machine, $1,231 to $1,836. Factory-documented weights, air consumption and blow rates, with silenced and vibration-reduced builds on every model above 30 lb.
The short version
Sizing a breaker is really sizing a compressor. The CP 0112 and CP 1210 draw 45 and 48 CFM, so a CPS 110 at 95 CFM will run either one with headroom. The CP 1260 at 63 CFM and the CP 1290 at 81 CFM want a CPS 185. Two operators on 60 lb tools is a 185 CFM machine at minimum. Above the air, the decision is mass: the 60 lb CP 1260 handles most slab, curb and light foundation work; step up to the 90 lb CP 1290 only when the 1260 starts bouncing off thick or heavily reinforced concrete, and down to the 30 lb CP 0112 for trench and overhead work. Every model here is in stock and ships the same day on orders placed by 4 PM Eastern.
The CP Pneumatic Breaker Line
Four machines, one air-line standard. Every breaker on this page runs a 3/4 in. NPT inlet and a latch retainer, so the hose, the water separator and the lubricator you already own carry across the whole line. Pick a configuration below and add it to the cart, or call for freight on multiples.
CP 1260 Pneumatic Paving Breaker
The 60 lb breaker that does most of the work on most crews. Factory weight runs 64 lb bare, 65 lb silenced and 75 lb in the silenced vibration-reduced build, all on 63 CFM. Enough mass to move 8 in. slab and footings, still light enough that one operator can reposition it all day.
63 CFM at 90 psi · 1,300 BPM · 64 to 75 lb · 27 to 29 in. long · 3/4 in. NPT inlet · latch retainer
CP 1210 Pneumatic Paving Breaker
The lightest of the three big breakers and the one to reach for overhead or in a trench. 44 lb bare, up to 55 lb in the silenced vibration-reduced build, on 48 CFM — low enough that a CPS 110 will run it comfortably.
48 CFM at 90 psi · 1,410 BPM · 44 to 55 lb · 21-1/8 to 25-1/2 in. long · 3/4 in. NPT inlet · latch retainer
CP 1290 Pneumatic Paving Breaker
The heavy breaker. 82 lb bare and 96 lb silenced with vibration reduction, on 81 CFM — enough energy per blow for mass demolition, thick footings and reinforced structures the 60 lb tool bounces off.
81 CFM at 90 psi · 1,150 BPM · 82 to 96 lb · 29 to 31 in. long · 3/4 in. NPT inlet · latch retainer
CP 0112 Pneumatic Paving Breaker
The lightest breaker CP builds, at 30 lb and 20 in. long. Extended-handle builds run 30-3/8 in. and 33 lb for trench work where you need to reach down without bending over the tool all shift. Kick-latch retainer available.
45 CFM at 90 psi · 1,620 BPM · 30 to 33 lb · 20 to 30-3/8 in. long · 3/4 in. NPT inlet
Compare All Four Breakers
Factory figures from the CP breaker datasheet. Where a range is shown, the low number is the bare tool and the high number is the silenced vibration-reduced build.
| Model | Class | Air at 90 psi | Blows/min | Weight | Length | Shank sizes | Retainer | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CP 0112 | 30 lb | 45 CFM | 1,620 | 30 to 33 lb | 20 to 30-3/8 in. | 7/8 x 3-1/4, 7/8 x 4-1/4, 1 x 4-1/4 | Latch or kick latch | $1,255 |
| CP 1210 | 35 lb | 48 CFM | 1,410 | 44 to 55 lb | 21-1/8 to 25-1/2 in. | 1 x 4-1/4, 1-1/8 x 6, 1-1/4 x 6 | Latch | $1,231 |
| CP 1260 | 60 lb | 63 CFM | 1,300 | 64 to 75 lb | 27 to 29 in. | 1-1/8 x 6, 1-1/4 x 6 | Latch | $1,320 |
| CP 1290 | 90 lb | 81 CFM | 1,150 | 82 to 96 lb | 29 to 31 in. | 1-1/8 x 6, 1-1/4 x 6 | Latch | $1,405 |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Reading the weight column. Chicago Pneumatic name these tools by weight class, not by actual weight. A “60 lb” CP 1260 weighs 64 lb bare and 75 lb once it has the muffler and the vibration-reduced handle on it. That 11 lb matters if the tool is going overhead or up a ladder, so the class number is a starting point rather than a spec.
Blow rate falls as weight rises, and that is deliberate. The 30 lb CP 0112 runs 1,620 blows a minute; the 90 lb CP 1290 runs 1,150. The heavier tool puts far more energy into each blow, which is what breaks thick and reinforced concrete. Faster is not stronger.
What Compressor You Need Behind Them
Air consumption is measured at 90 psi with the tool running continuously. Size the compressor on the total draw of every tool that will be running at once, then leave headroom — a machine running at 100 percent of its rating all shift will not hold pressure once the hose warms up and the filters load.
| What is running | Total draw | Compressor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| One CP 0112 or CP 1210 | 45 to 48 CFM | CPS 110 (95 CFM) | Roughly half the machine, so you can run a second hand tool alongside it. |
| One CP 1260 | 63 CFM | CPS 110 (95 CFM) | Comfortable on a 110, with enough left for a tamper or a chipping hammer. |
| One CP 1290 | 81 CFM | CPS 110 (95 CFM) | Fits, but with almost no headroom. Step to a 185 if anything else is on the line. |
| Two CP 1260s | 126 CFM | CPS 185 (180 CFM) | The standard two-operator demolition setup. |
| Two CP 1290s | 162 CFM | CPS 185 (180 CFM) | At the limit of a 185. Add a third tool and you are into a 250. |
| A breaker plus a rock drill | 63 + 130 CFM | CPS 250 or larger | A CP 0069 alone is 130 CFM. |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Hose size matters as much as the compressor
A 3/4 in. hose will starve a CP 1290 over any real distance. Run 1 in. hose to the tool and keep the whip hose short. Pressure lost in the hose is energy the tool never sees, and it shows up as slow breaking rather than as a warning light.
Water separator first, lubricator second
Compressed air carries water, and water plus the fine grit from concrete work is what wears a breaker out. A water separator at the machine and an in-line lubricator at the tool is the cheapest maintenance you will ever buy on a $1,300 breaker.
Do not size on the class number
A 60 lb breaker does not draw 60 CFM. The CP 1260 draws 63 CFM, the CP 1290 draws 81, and the 30 lb CP 0112 draws 45 — only 3 CFM less than the much heavier CP 1210. Air draw tracks bore and blow rate, not weight.
Muffler, Vibration Reduction, or Neither
Every breaker above 30 lb is offered bare, silenced, or silenced with a vibration-reduced handle. The three builds are the same machine internally — what changes is what is bolted to the outside, what it weighs, and what it costs.
| Build | What it adds | Weight penalty | Price step | Take it when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bare tool | Nothing. Open exhaust, standard handle | — | Base price | Open sites, short jobs, and where the tool gets shared around and abused. |
| Muffler | Silencer on the exhaust | 1 to 2 lb | About $108 | Anywhere near occupied buildings, in a trench, or on any job with a noise ordinance. |
| Muffler plus VR | Silencer plus a vibration-isolated handle | 10 to 14 lb | About $300 to $400 | When one operator is on the tool for hours at a time, day after day. |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
The VR trade is weight for hours. A CP 1260 goes from 64 lb bare to 75 lb in the silenced VR build. That is a real penalty when you are lifting the tool in and out of a trench. It is also the difference between an operator who can run the breaker all day and one who cannot — hand-arm vibration exposure limits are cumulative, and the isolated handle is what buys back the hours.
If the tool is going to be shared by a crew and used in bursts, the plain silenced build is usually the better buy. If it belongs to one operator who runs it as their main tool, order the VR.
Shanks, Steel and What Wears Out
Working steel is ordered by shank, not by tool model. Get the shank right and any moil point, chisel, asphalt cutter or clay spade in that size will fit any breaker on this page that takes it.
| Shank size | Fits | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 7/8 x 3-1/4 in. | CP 0112 extended-handle build | The lightest steel in the line. Trench and utility work. |
| 7/8 x 4-1/4 in. | CP 0112 | Standard for the 30 lb class. |
| 1 x 4-1/4 in. | CP 0112, CP 1210 | The common 30 to 35 lb size, and the one most rental fleets stock. |
| 1-1/8 x 6 in. | CP 1210, CP 1260, CP 1290 | The most widely stocked heavy shank in North America. |
| 1-1/4 x 6 in. | CP 1210, CP 1260, CP 1290 | The heaviest shank CP offer on this line. Longest life under abuse. |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Order steel in the shank you already own. On the CP 1260 and CP 1290 the 1-1/8 x 6 and 1-1/4 x 6 builds are the same price, so there is no reason to switch shanks and re-buy a rack of points and chisels. Pick the size your existing steel is cut for.
What actually wears out. Retainer springs and latches go first, then bushings, then the steel itself. Chicago Pneumatic recommend a water separator and an in-line lubricator on every hammer — in their words, these improve performance and extend tool life by reducing premature wear. We stock the CP water separator (8900 0050 01), whip hoses with and without integral oilers, and CP Airolene Plus tool oil by the gallon or the case. Call 1-888-883-5144 with your breaker model and we will put the right consumable kit together.
Chicago Pneumatic Paving Breaker FAQ
What size air compressor do I need for a Chicago Pneumatic paving breaker?
Match the compressor to the tool’s air consumption at 90 psi with headroom on top. The CP 0112 draws 45 CFM, the CP 1210 draws 48, the CP 1260 draws 63 and the CP 1290 draws 81. A CPS 110 at 95 CFM will run any single breaker in the line. Two 60 lb breakers together come to 126 CFM and want a CPS 185 at 180 CFM. Size on the total of everything running at once, and remember that hose diameter and length cost you pressure before the air reaches the tool.
What is the difference between the CP 1260 and the CP 1290?
Weight class and energy per blow. The CP 1260 is a 60 lb class tool weighing 64 lb bare, drawing 63 CFM and running 1,300 blows a minute. The CP 1290 is a 90 lb class tool weighing 82 lb bare, drawing 81 CFM and running 1,150 blows a minute. The 1290 hits considerably harder but cycles more slowly and needs more air. Most crews are better served by the 1260; the 1290 earns its keep on thick footings, mass concrete and heavy reinforcement.
Is a pneumatic paving breaker the same thing as a jackhammer?
In everyday use, yes. Jackhammer is the common name for a hand-held percussive breaker driven by compressed air; paving breaker is what the manufacturers call it. Chicago Pneumatic catalogue these four tools as paving breakers. If you are shopping for a jackhammer for concrete or asphalt, this page is the right one.
What does the VR option on a CP breaker actually do?
VR stands for vibration reduction. The handle is isolated from the barrel so far less of the tool’s vibration reaches the operator’s hands and arms. Every VR build on this line also carries a muffler. The cost is weight: a CP 1260 goes from 64 lb bare to 75 lb silenced and vibration reduced. If one operator runs the breaker for hours at a stretch, the VR build is worth both the money and the weight.
Which shank size should I order?
Order the shank your existing working steel is cut for, because on the CP 1260 and CP 1290 both shank sizes cost the same. If you are starting fresh, 1-1/8 x 6 in. is the most widely stocked heavy shank in North America and the easiest to buy points and chisels for. The 1-1/4 x 6 in. shank is heavier and lasts longer under abuse. The 30 lb CP 0112 uses the smaller 7/8 and 1 in. shanks.
Do you sell parts for Chicago Pneumatic breakers?
Yes. We stock retainer springs, bumpers, sleeves, mufflers, water separators, whip hoses with and without integral oilers, and CP Airolene Plus tool oil. Parts are ordered by tool model and serial where it matters, so call 1-888-883-5144 with the model off the nameplate rather than ordering blind.
How fast can these ship?
Same day on orders placed by 4 PM Eastern for the tools on this page. Freight on multiples and on palletised orders is quoted alongside the machines, so call if you are buying more than one or two.
What else runs off the same compressor?
The rest of the CP pneumatic line shares the same air. Rock drills run 19 to 130 CFM, chipping hammers 20 to 33 CFM, backfill tampers 18 to 38.5 CFM and rivet busters 44 to 45 CFM. Add up everything that will run at once before you pick the machine.
Need a breaker on site this week?
Every model on this page is in stock. Tell us the model, the shank and whether you want the muffler or the vibration-reduced build, and we will confirm freight the same day.