Now Christmas is over...

Nuru · Dec 31, 2001

Gee WDN I already bought the compressor, and I have an impact wrench but it is not as strong as the electric one you are describing. Looks like a i need a stronger wrench. i guess the Electric impact wrench is one the list now.

Nuru

Nuru · Dec 31, 2001

Bird, I think I need to get one that does 425 ft/lbs too (what brand are you using?). i do not think mine does, but I will have to check!. Last time I used it was with a different Air compressor than the one I have now, which can produce much more capacity than the older one - which I will probably get rid of this year (2002).

Nuru

ronjhall · Jan 1, 2002

Nuru
I have a Sears's electric impact wrench. It looks the same as the Dewalt only black. Check out the different models at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/228306/ref=br_bx_c_1_8/104-0659272-0977505> Amazon.com </A>. I use it instead of turning on the compressor and hauling out an air hose,
I have an Ingersoll air impact that is capable of 450 ft lbs. Wife bought it for me as a Christmas present at Lowes. I haven't had a chance to try it out yet. /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif

Bird · Jan 1, 2002

Nuru, my personal favorite is the Ingersoll-Rand line, but that's kind of like saying my personal favorite in tractors is Kubota. There's plenty of other good brands. What I have now is quite likely the most popular 1/2" impact wrench in existence (IR231). Most of the other companies do not make their own, they're made for them by Ingersoll, Chicago Pneumatic, etc. If you get one made by one of those companies, they come with an owner's manual that includes an exploded view and parts list, parts are readily available at reasonable prices if you DO break it (however, used properly and kept clean and lubricated, they'll probably last a lifetime with no repairs). The IR2131 (composite body - light weight - 450 ft/lbs forward and 600 reverse) has really gotten popular in the last few years as the most powerful 1/2" impact in the world, but like most products, they keep on coming out with new and better. I see in my new Craftsman catalog they have an "AIRCAT" that claims 640 ft/lbs (I never heard of them and don't know who makes them). Craftsman, MAC, Matco, Cornwell, etc. all have their own versions of the Ingersoll Rand with their own name and model number, but the parts are all the same (interchangeable). Snap-on makes some good ones, too, of course, but their parts are usually NOT interchangeable with the others, and are very expensive. When you shop for one, look at the ft/lb rating and the air consumption rating (scfm) to get one your air compressor puts out enough volume to handle. All of them I'm familiar with use 90 psi maximum. If you have an air compressor that puts out higher pressure, you'll get more power out of the impact wrench (and keep the air tool repair folks in business/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif).

MikePA · Jan 1, 2002

Bird, what's your opinion of the electric impact wrenches?

Bird · Jan 1, 2002

Mike, the electric impact wrenches are just as good as the air IF the torque they produce is strong enough for what you need to do. I've owned a Black & Decker and a Craftsman (210-240 ft/lbs) and I've no doubt DeWalt and others make good ones, too. That'll do most jobs, but sometimes lug nuts, blades on mowers, etc. are too tight for them to handle. The big advantage is that you can plug them in any almost anywhere; don't need an air compressor. The disadvantages are lower power and weight (they're a lot heavier than comparable air impacts).

MikePA · Jan 1, 2002

I checked the link Ron posted to several DeWalt electric impact wrenches and the 3/4" models have 300 or 350 ft lbs (forward and reverse) while the 1/2" models have 240 ft lbs. Think that'd be enough to get lug nuts as well as the nuts that hold the mower deck blades off? These would be my primary uses of an impact wrench.

Anonymous Poster · Jan 1, 2002

<font color=blue>...the 3/4" models have 300 or 350 ft lbs... Think that'd be enough to get lug nuts as well as the nuts that hold the mower deck blades off?...</font color=blue>

Mike,

On my Brown 7' rotary cutter... the blade bolts are secured with 700-900 ft. lbs. of torque... and the the blade bar holder is 1200-1400 ft. lbs. of torque...

My Craftsmen impact gun is about 500 ft. lbs. reverse and would sit there and "scratch its head"... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I use two extension "pipes"... a 3' and a 6' that manually does the job nicely...

DFB · Jan 1, 2002

Makes one wonder how well the one from <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=31877>Harbor Freight</A> compares in actual use.
In some ways it seems like the same tool.

DFB