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Impact Wrench Advice

Bert

By Bert
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Bert

Bert

Posted
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When I am doing auto details, I generally remove the wheels to make cleaning the wheels and the wheel wells easier. Loosening lug nuts with a socket wrench (even with a breaker bar) can be a pain in the rear when those lug nuts were tightened with someone using an impact wrench so I have been thinking about buying a cheap one.

 

Originally I was planning to get a 110volt one but noticed some air imact wrenches at Harbor Freight in the $20 range (I know, Harbor Freight sells low quality stuff but that is really all I need). I already own a compressor but it is a smaller one, 26 gallons, 1.8 horse power, 150 psi, 4 cfm @ 90 psi, 6 cfm @ 45 psi (see link)

 

26 gal. 1.8 HP 150 PSI Oilless Air Compressor

 

and I know you need to be careful to match your air tools to your compressor. I think it is you want the air tools' ratings to be less than the air compressor's? Is that correct? Is the compressor I own simply too small for any Impact wrench or would it be ok for the less heavy duty one's.

 

Here are the one's I am considering:

 

1/2 in. Air Impact Wrench

 

1/2" Air Impact Wrench With 2" Extended Anvil

 

3/8" Impact Wrench

 

Thanks for any advice anyone can offer.

JDEaston

JDEaston

Posted
Posted

An air impact will drain a tank rather quickly. I wouldn't count on the compresser you have to do much with an air impact. Though it may work for you considering I'd imagine your pulling one wheel, then detailing before pulling another, allowing the tank to refill. Still though, an air impact will empty a 26 gallon tank pretty quick. Have you looked into the cordless options? They will pull lug nuts as well, but will give you another tool you can use at home, etc.

Bert

Bert

Posted
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An air impact will drain a tank rather quickly. I wouldn't count on the compresser you have to do much with an air impact. Though it may work for you considering I'd imagine your pulling one wheel, then detailing before pulling another, allowing the tank to refill. Still though, an air impact will empty a 26 gallon tank pretty quick. Have you looked into the cordless options? They will pull lug nuts as well, but will give you another tool you can use at home, etc.

 

Cordless options? Ones that look like a cordless drill?

Bert

Bert

Posted
  • Author
Posted
An air impact will drain a tank rather quickly. I wouldn't count on the compresser you have to do much with an air impact. Though it may work for you considering I'd imagine your pulling one wheel, then detailing before pulling another, allowing the tank to refill. Still though, an air impact will empty a 26 gallon tank pretty quick. Have you looked into the cordless options? They will pull lug nuts as well, but will give you another tool you can use at home, etc.

 

Yes, one wheel at a time so the tank would be able to refill. Also, the guy who sharpens my lawn mower blade never remembers my request to no use an impact wrench when putting the blade back on so when I need to take it off, it is one heck of a task. Having an impact wrench to take it off would be nice. Saying that, could you talk about matching tools to compressors.

JDEaston

JDEaston

Posted
Posted

Yes. I have a Dewalt 20 volt that I use regularly to pull wheels when doing auto work for myself or helping a friend out. Haven't ran into anything it won't remove yet. To me an air impact would likely be oveekill for what your wanting to use it for and I imagine you would have to invest in a larger compressor to be happy with it. I'm not sure what harbor freight return policy is like, but I guess you could give the air impact a try and if your compressor isn't up to the task you could return it.

 

Air impacts are certainly stronger than the cordless options, but in most cases a cordless option will handle most anything you or I would use it for. Not to mention its cordless and there are a ton of attachments for them.

JDEaston

JDEaston

Posted
Posted
Yes, one wheel at a time so the tank would be able to refill. Also, the guy who sharpens my lawn mower blade never remembers my request to no use an impact wrench when putting the blade back on so when I need to take it off, it is one heck of a task. Having an impact wrench to take it off would be nice. Saying that, could you talk about matching tools to compressors.

 

Funny you mention the lawnmower blades, I have a landscaping business and that was the main reason I bought a cordless impact driver. It was a pain in the rear to get the blades off, even if hand tightened, because they actually tighten themselves when turning. What was a 15 minute job removing three blades has turned into a 1 minute job.

 

Honestly I don't use air impacts so I don't know about matching impacts with compressors. But I seriously doubt your gonna get much done with a 26 gallon tank. It may be able to pull one wheel before needing to refil, but I certainly wouldn't promise that. A lot of it depends on how stubborn the lug nuts are. You could drain a 26 gallon tank pulling one stuck lugnut.

JDEaston

JDEaston

Posted
Posted

@Bert with a quick glance at a Google search most recommend 5hp motor and a 40+ gallon tank for running an impact. But your situation is different, considering you will only be removing around 5 lugs at a time. What you have would probably work since you won't be using it continuously.

Bert

Bert

Posted
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@Bert with a quick glance at a Google search most recommend 5hp motor and a 40+ gallon tank for running an impact. But your situation is different, considering you will only be removing around 5 lugs at a time. What you have would probably work since you won't be using it continuously.

 

I think I will give the $20 air wrench a try. I looked at cordless ones and even the Harbor Frieght garbage ones were expensive, this will just be a $20 risk.

 

I have also been thinking about getting a bigger air compressor. While the one I have makes car interiors much easier, I still have to periodically wait for the tank to refill. Also, spot wet sanding paint is not too bad. Having to wet sand entire panels is a pain in the butt. Being able to use an air sander would be so much quicker and easier on my arms and shoulders and I doubt my little 26 gallon, 1,8 compressor would get the job done, probably need a 5 hp, 40 gal one like you mention.

JDEaston

JDEaston

Posted
Posted
I think I will give the $20 air wrench a try. I looked at cordless ones and even the Harbor Frieght garbage ones were expensive, this will just be a $20 risk.

 

I have also been thinking about getting a bigger air compressor. While the one I have makes car interiors much easier, I still have to periodically wait for the tank to refill. Also, spot wet sanding paint is not too bad. Having to wet sand entire panels is a pain in the butt. Being able to use an air sander would be so much quicker and easier on my arms and shoulders and I doubt my little 26 gallon, 1,8 compressor would get the job done, probably need a 5 hp, 40 gal one like you mention.

 

I would give it a try especially if your thinking about getting a larger compressor. After all it's just $20, even if you can't return it. A cordless would do what you want, but they are more expensive. Makes sense to give the $20 air tool a try, then upgrade your compressed if needed since you mentioned the other things you use it for.

Bert

Bert

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I have a craftsman air impact. My friend has a dewalt cordless impact. I'd prefer the latter.

 

Could you give a compare and contrast as to why?

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