What should I look for in an Air Impact Wrench and Compressor?

Question

I am looking to invest in an air impact wrench that I can use for removing lugnuts from my vehicles, since i do a lot of my own maintenance. I would like to start in the $100-$300 range for the wrench, and same for the compressor. What do I need to look for (I see 3/8, 1/2, 3/4 and twin hammer vs twin clutch and torque/free speed). Also what size air compressor do I need?

Answer 1

you are wasting your money.
in that price range go to pawn shops for a gun. buy only name brands, what they have at swap meets and harbor tool are not a name brands.
in air tools the number of vanes is the driving force.. it is not advertised.
compressors are rated by cubic feet a minute (cfm) of air they will deliver. horsepower does not mean a thing. ignore it.
a rattle jack needs 4 or more cfm to drive well. a da sander or air chisel needs about 9 or more.
look for tank capacity. a 5 gallon tank is useless except for air brushes. tools need air.
make sure u use quality couplings. the ones at harbor freight leak air and cause you to get under performance from the tool.
when you get done using your tool, put a couple of drops of marvel mystery oil in the inlet, run it for 10 seconds before you put it away. drain your tank every day. if you live in a humid area put an air water separator on line.
you will have 500 bux invested in a compressor rattle jack, host, couplings, and air water separator by the time you get done. BUT you will only buy them once. with junk tools you will keep buying them over and over.
i refuse to buy anything but top of the line tools. my brother buys junk, and he likes to borrow my tools because they work better.
there are no deals on tools unless they are hot. if you buy stolen tools, count on someone else to steal yours.

Answer 2

I do my own car maintenance and restore old hot rods as well. I have a 6 hp Craftsman compressor that runs a half-inch impact just fine, but runs out of air running a DA sander or long board sander.

I've been using a cheap chinese Chicago Pneumatic garage sale special half-inch drive impact now for 2 years. I got it in a box of other tools for $10, but even new they are only about $50. It does everything I need it to do, and even broke loose the 42 year old wheel cylinder bolts on my 64 Impala. It will crap out someday I know, but you can't beat the price I got it for.

I wouldn't mind having a nicer impact, but this one was cheap and works just fine.

Answer 3

Buy Impact Wrench

Answer 4

you will probaly want to go with a 1/2 inch impact wrench with a high amount of torque which is rated in foot pounds you will also want to invest in some impact sockets trust me they are different then regular sockets you will also want a compressor that is capable of sustaining at least 150psi while in use nothing bothers me more then ahving to wait for a slow compressor you will also want a compressor with a large resevoir tank at least 20 gallon so it doesnt always seem to be running sears has some pretty good ones and if you go and tell the guy what you are looking for they will probably steer you in the right direction

Answer 5

You want to get a 1/2 drive inpact get the Ingersoll Rand 2135ti .That will take anything you want to take apart .It is a grate I have one and they cost $269.99.For an air compressor you do not want to go any smaller than a 1hp 12 gal tank . I would get a compressor with a 60 gal tank so you don't run out of air .$479.99 the amounts I got from my sears catolog

Answer 6

ok if ur only useing it as a tire remover id save my money and invest into a electric inpact gun there good and about 50 bucks new but other then that id get at least a compressor that can produce 90 psi conston pressure 4 a min of 3 mins so at least u can use it also min of a 1/2 gun that is capible of at least 300 ft lbs torqe