Reasonable ratings for a 1/2" impact wrench?

Technical aspects of automobiles, et. al., post #18,816
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 Calab
 2008-05-09 14:25:18
 Reasonable ratings for a 1/2" impact wrench?
I have an eight gallon air compressor... 4.3cfm @ 40psi and 3.5cfm @
90psi.

I've been looking at buying an inexpensive impact wrenche and notice
the different ratings on them, but many times they aren't rated the
same so comparison can be different.

For example...

For $29 I can get a no-name electric 1/2" impact wrench that plugs into
my cigarette lighter. It provides 250 ft/lb of torque. That's all I
have for specifications.

For $35 I can get a JobMate air powered impact wrench with the same 250
ft/lb of torque.

For $150 I can get a 120v impact wrench, but it only provides 228 ft/lb
of torque. Less than the cigarette lighter model? It runs up to 2100
rpm.

For $270 I can get a battery powered electric impact wrench that
provides 1050 ft/lb of torque! That's a lot more than the other
wrenches, but from a 14v battery? It's not a big unit either. It
specifies 0-2300 rmp.

What I'm hoping to use this for, besides lug nuts, is for the few odd
bolts on my car that I can't get loose and don't have room to get a
breaker bar for extra torque.

What should I really be looking at when checking out the impact
wrenches?

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Author:
Date:
Subject:
 Paul
 2008-05-09 11:47:43
 Re: Reasonable ratings for a 1/2" impact wrench?
Calab wrote:
> I have an eight gallon air compressor... 4.3cfm @ 40psi and 3.5cfm @ 90psi.
>
> I've been looking at buying an inexpensive impact wrenche and notice the
> different ratings on them, but many times they aren't rated the same so
> comparison can be different.
>
> For example...
>
> For $29 I can get a no-name electric 1/2" impact wrench that plugs into
> my cigarette lighter. It provides 250 ft/lb of torque. That's all I have
> for specifications.
>
> For $35 I can get a JobMate air powered impact wrench with the same 250
> ft/lb of torque.
>
> For $150 I can get a 120v impact wrench, but it only provides 228 ft/lb
> of torque. Less than the cigarette lighter model? It runs up to 2100 rpm.
>
> For $270 I can get a battery powered electric impact wrench that
> provides 1050 ft/lb of torque! That's a lot more than the other
> wrenches, but from a 14v battery? It's not a big unit either. It
> specifies 0-2300 rmp.
>
> What I'm hoping to use this for, besides lug nuts, is for the few odd
> bolts on my car that I can't get loose and don't have room to get a
> breaker bar for extra torque.
>
> What should I really be looking at when checking out the impact wrenches?

IMO, all the ones you suggested are junk.
Get a good one. Actually 2 of them.
Get a 1/2" trigger type and a 3/8" butterfly. You will probably end up
using the
3/8" a lot lot more than the 1/2".
Get IR or CP.
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 HLS
 2008-05-09 13:28:15
 Re: Reasonable ratings for a 1/2" impact wrench?
"Paul" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> IMO, all the ones you suggested are junk.
> Get a good one. Actually 2 of them.
> Get a 1/2" trigger type and a 3/8" butterfly. You will probably end up
> using the
> 3/8" a lot lot more than the 1/2".
> Get IR or CP.

I would tend to agree with Paul...
The cheaper units may take a lot of air and not put out much "grunt", and
they may not last long either. Ever notice how Harbor Freight sticks with a
30 day warranty?

I bought a 3/4 inch 115vac Hitachi unit via Ebay for less than a hundred
bucks.
It has done everything I have ever called on it to do. I went electric
because I
dont have compressed air yet (and have little space in my workshop to put in
what I would like to have.)
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 Mark
 2008-05-09 11:43:14
 Re: Reasonable ratings for a 1/2" impact wrench?
On May 9, 2:28 pm, "HLS" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Paul" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> > IMO, all the ones you suggested are junk.
> > Get a good one.  Actually 2 of them.
> > Get a 1/2" trigger type and a  3/8" butterfly.  You will probably end up
> > using the
> > 3/8" a lot lot more than the 1/2".
> > Get IR or CP.
>
> I would tend to agree with Paul...
> The cheaper units may take a lot of air and not put out much "grunt", and
> they may not last long either.  Ever notice how Harbor Freight sticks with a
> 30 day warranty?
>
> I bought a 3/4 inch 115vac Hitachi unit via Ebay for less than a hundred
> bucks.
> It has done everything I have ever called on it to do.  I went electric
> because I
> dont have compressed air yet (and have little space in my workshop to put in
> what I would like to have.)

I think the "catch" to the cig powered ones is the low number of beats
per minute. Yes each impact may be 250ft/lbs but due to the limited
power at 12V you don't get that many "hits" per minute. A real unit
will deliver 250 ft lbs each impact with many impacts per SECOND.
When you are removeing a stuck lug nut it may take many many impacts
at 250 ft lbs so it would take forever with the 12V unit.

I have a 1/2" 120V electric unit and it is OK for medium jobs, it can
take a minute or two of "hammering" to get a stuck lug nut off. If you
want it for those really stuck bolts, you should get a beefy unit.

If your compressor has a limited CFM rating then again that translates
into limited beats per minute and not limited ft/lbs.

Mark
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 sdlomi2
 2008-05-09 14:44:42
 Re: Reasonable ratings for a 1/2" impact wrench?
"Paul" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:_bydnSJH5_pb4rnVnZ2dnUVZ_qCdnZ2d@comcast.com...
> Calab wrote:
>> I have an eight gallon air compressor... 4.3cfm @ 40psi and 3.5cfm @
>> 90psi.
>>
>> I've been looking at buying an inexpensive impact wrenche and notice the
>> different ratings on them, but many times they aren't rated the same so
>> comparison can be different.
>>
>> For example...
>>
>> For $29 I can get a no-name electric 1/2" impact wrench that plugs into
>> my cigarette lighter. It provides 250 ft/lb of torque. That's all I have
>> for specifications.
>>
>> For $35 I can get a JobMate air powered impact wrench with the same 250
>> ft/lb of torque.
>>
>> For $150 I can get a 120v impact wrench, but it only provides 228 ft/lb
>> of torque. Less than the cigarette lighter model? It runs up to 2100 rpm.
>>
>> For $270 I can get a battery powered electric impact wrench that provides
>> 1050 ft/lb of torque! That's a lot more than the other wrenches, but from
>> a 14v battery? It's not a big unit either. It specifies 0-2300 rmp.
>>
>> What I'm hoping to use this for, besides lug nuts, is for the few odd
>> bolts on my car that I can't get loose and don't have room to get a
>> breaker bar for extra torque.
>>
>> What should I really be looking at when checking out the impact wrenches?
>
> IMO, all the ones you suggested are junk.
> Get a good one. Actually 2 of them.
> Get a 1/2" trigger type and a 3/8" butterfly. You will probably end up
> using the
> 3/8" a lot lot more than the 1/2".
> Get IR or CP.
Ditto on that, and my personal 1/2 is an IR--don't recall max torque,
but guessing around 350. Buy this quality ONCE and wear out the larger
compressors that you buy over the years. Should you opt even after these
advices for the cheapie, air-op'd. of course, be sure to wear safety
goggles--good idea even w/the good IR/CP! (I also have a no-name yet good
one, a gift, that I've used intermittently for 30 years, but it never had
the torque my IR has. Believe it is American-made as I got it in 1975.)
That elec. imp. for $150 will be too big and bulky. That cig-lighter one is
likely a gimmick. And why consider that over-rated 14-volt for $270 when
this known good IR/CP can be had for ~$125? Just fyi, most lugs only torque
to ~90 ft-lbs. s
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 HLS
 2008-05-09 15:09:29
 Re: Reasonable ratings for a 1/2" impact wrench?
"sdlomi2" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:iW0Vj.1818

> Just fyi, most lugs only torque to ~90 ft-lbs. s

Right, 75-100 pounds usually. But if I catch anyone on my lugs with an
impact wrench,
I will beat them in the ass with it. Even with Tork Stix.

Been there, done that, been bitten. Only a torque wrench for tightening my
lug nuts.
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 sdlomi2
 2008-05-09 16:17:47
 Re: Reasonable ratings for a 1/2" impact wrench?
"HLS" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:Xd2Vj.2901$17.1966@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net...
>
> "sdlomi2" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:iW0Vj.1818
>
>> Just fyi, most lugs only torque to ~90 ft-lbs. s
>
> Right, 75-100 pounds usually. But if I catch anyone on my lugs with an
> impact wrench,
> I will beat them in the ass with it. Even with Tork Stix.
>
> Been there, done that, been bitten. Only a torque wrench for tightening
> my lug nuts.

YEP! s