Should I swap my airchucks from general ones to auto ones?

[muddstopper]

I have several air options. I keep one of those 12v compressors in the trunk of my car and it has came in handy a few times over the years when I drove a lot every week. I''ll get it out every now and then when I need to blow up a lawnmower or trailer tire. Its slow but it beats turning on the shop compressor and then filling a air tank. I do have a air tank, but I cant even remember the last time I used it. My shop compressor is a homedepot portercable brand, what are those, 15gal? I also have a pancake compressor I am really starting to like. Builds 150psi and easy to carry where I need it. Hadnt thought about using it for a airtank, but I use the 12v most of the time for airing up flats. I also have a dewalt 20v battery impact. I find it will remove lug nuts on my car or truck and you cant beat it for portability.

 

[California]

I originally posted this in the HF Don't Suck thread:

I bought HF's cheapest impact wrench and wasn't satisfied with it. Their larger 'automotive' couplers made it notably stronger. 1/4" (threads) x 3/8" (I.D.) HF's #68187.

I measured 7.5mm ID for the Automotive Series air coupler vs 5mm for HF's common brass coupler. 2.25 x the cross section area.

I later replaced that impact wrench with their classic Earthquake. The 'automotive' couplers give it all the air it needs.

 

[sixdogs]

I originally posted this in the HF Don't Suck thread:

I bought HF's cheapest impact wrench and wasn't satisfied with it. Their larger 'automotive' couplers made it notably stronger. 1/4" (threads) x 3/8" (I.D.) HF's #68187.

I measured 7.5mm ID for the Automotive Series air coupler vs 5mm for HF's common brass coupler. 2.25 x the cross section area.

I later replaced that impact wrench with their classic Earthquake. The 'automotive' couplers give it all the air it needs.

Now that's a picture!

 

[milkie62]

To get more airflow I would jump up to a 1/2" air hose.

I understand moving up in hose size,but you still have a 1/4" fitting at the tool in most cases.

 

[ray66v]

I repaired air tools for a couple of years. We had different size air hoses at each repair station, and I can tell you for a fact, running a 1/2" impact on a 1/2" hose, vs a 3/8 hose, or even a 3/4" hose, isn't going to make it better.

We tested the impact wrenches that came in for repair, before and after, as well as the brand new units, on a Skidmore torque tester. It is 100% conclusive, as to how much power you gain, or lose, on a given hose size, or fitting.

If the tool has 1/4" threaded fitting on the bottom, running it on a larger fitting, or hose, is not going to make it work better, under normal conditions, (proper size air piping, and reasonable amount of hose). If it was that easy to get more power out of it, the manufacturer would have a bigger inlet on it.

I can also tell you that short restrictions do not necessarily have any real effect. A 90 pound jack hammer, which requires a 3/4" air hose, will run just fine, with a 3' long 1/2" whip hose attached to the tool.

 

[sixdogs]

I understand moving up in hose size,but you still have a 1/4" fitting at the tool in most cases.

Yes, you would have to change inlet at tool and end of hose.


ray66v--I'm the OP on this and from comments like yours, I 'm beginning to think I should just leave my air chucks alone.

 

[California]

ray66v, what about the difference in the quarter inch (thread) fittings illustrated in my photo above?

Seems to me high flow fittings at/near the compressor are the simplest way to improve performance, and as you noted down at the far end of the hose it won't make as much difference - but it seems to me it might help some. Comments?

 

[ray66v]

ray66v, what about the difference in the quarter inch (thread) fittings illustrated in my photo above?

Seems to me high flow fittings at/near the compressor are the simplest way to improve performance, and as you noted down at the far end of the hose it won't make as much difference - but it seems to me it might help some. Comments?

If the tool requires air volume that is at, or near the limit of what you are supplying it, like a decent sized air grinder, perhaps you could see a difference.
Most tools, that use 1/4" fittings, don't draw a lot of volume, so it won't matter.

If you are concerned about that restriction, eliminate the fitting. Connect the hose directly to the supply line. I would install a ball valve before the hose, so you can turn it off when you have a failure.

 

[Oldpath05]

I originally posted this in the HF Don't Suck thread:

I bought HF's cheapest impact wrench and wasn't satisfied with it. Their larger 'automotive' couplers made it notably stronger. 1/4" (threads) x 3/8" (I.D.) HF's #68187.

I measured 7.5mm ID for the Automotive Series air coupler vs 5mm for HF's common brass coupler. 2.25 x the cross section area.

I later replaced that impact wrench with their classic Earthquake. The 'automotive' couplers give it all the air it needs.

My Dewalt air impact came the fitting stile on the right as some other tools I have did, seems like it has plenty of power. All my air jingle jangles plugs into this> 3/8 in. x 5 ft. Retractable Hose Reel

My biggest complaint is the constant changing air chuck plug-ins to stop the the constant air plug-in leaking, every couple months I have to change the air plug-ins, why? is there a good brand, better than the HD ones, what are those stile air fittings on the right called? non auto motive......

 

[California]

That first cheap HF impact wrench that was improved by Automotive couplers used a huge amount of air. My compressor is the HF 10 gallon/125 psi model and the first two lugnuts removed would draw down the air tank and slow down the tool to half the torque.

Running the air hose straight from the ball valve at the compressor regulator, and using larger fittings halfway to the far side of the vehicle, exhausted the air supply even faster but the tool had more torque - for a moment - for breaking things loose.

I replaced that unsatisfactory HF tool with HF's classic Earthquake, it uses a lot less air and has a lot more torque.