Wanting first impact wrench

pharmvet · Aug 14, 2011

Im in the planning phase of purchasing my first impact wrench. I want a good one made in the USA. Im considering an Ingersoll Rand. I dont know much about impact wrenches and dont know whether to get a 1/2 or 3/4. Looks like the diameter line you use may make a difference here. My compressor is an Ingersoll Rand 5.5 HP, 11.8 CFM At 90 PSI, Question is:

What will a 3/4" do that a 1/2" will not. When do you need the added "power" of a 3/4? Also, what is the upper limit "nut size" that can be had in a 1/2 " socket.

thanks guys

Bird · Aug 14, 2011

Ingersoll-Rand is my preferred brand, but if you specify "Made in the USA" you may have a problem. Sioux tools used to be made in the USA, but out of most folks' price range. However, the Sioux brand now belongs to Snap-On and their impacts, as well as those of Ingersoll-Rand and Chicago Pneumatic, have been made in Japan for many years.

Some 3/4" impacts have more power than some 1/2" impacts, but you need a bigger air hose and bigger quick couplers, etc.

As for the sockets, I don't remember the exact sizes, but I could not find a 1/2" drive socket big enough for the blade bolts on my Bush Hog rotary cutter a few years ago, even though my brother was a Matco Tool Distributor. But I did find a 3/4" drive socket big enough, and a 1/2" to 3/4" adapter so I could use it on my 1/2" IR231 impact and that worked just fine.

If you really think you need that much power, you might consider the 2135TiMax Ingersoll-Rand. You might find it cheaper somewhere else, but I just used this link to show you the tool.

cisco · Aug 14, 2011

1/2" is very good for most tasks, such as changing out a trailer or truck tire, lawn mower blades (including my 60" zero turn commercial unit) and the like. However, for "big stuff", which hadn't occurred to me until I tried to change the blades on my medium duty 72" rotary, one needs more power. Purchasing the socket was a bit of a challenge (1 11/16") so I ordered one on line for a 3/4" impact plus a 1/2" to 3/4" cheater adaptor, and was disappointed to find my 1/2" impact insufficient regardless of pressure (21 gallon tank, 6hp compressor, 3/8" ID hosing) - got off one nut but not the other. So, lesson learned - if a socket size is only available in 3/4", there's probably a good reason...... OK, understood, finally, so an Ingersoll-Rand 3/4" was purchased and works great though I'd hate to have to hold it above my head all day. Note there are some rather expensive impact drivers on the market, with I.R. in the medium/low range, but in the past 5 years I've had no issue with the driver. Indeed my 1/2" impact is over a decade old, an I.R. also, and no troubles.

George2615 · Aug 14, 2011

1/2" will be very useful as mentioned for most jobs you are going to tackle. Unless you do a lot of heavy equipment work I doubt you would need a 3/4" gun. Besides, most people's home garage / shops don't have 3/4" drive socket sets but do have 1/2" drive. I have two 1/2" drive impact wrenches and a 3/4" gun. One 1/2" is a Chicago Pneumatic (That I've owned since 1970 and its Made in USA) that has about 380-400 ft.lb. of torque. The second 1/2" is a Harbor Freight (Made in China) unit with 650 ft.lb. torque. The third is a 3/4" impact gun (Made in USA) I use for heavy equipment. I can't recall the torque rating of that gun.

I bought the HF unit a couple years ago when I needed an impact wrench with more torque. I tried my CP but it wouldn't budge a stubborn lug nut. I tried heating it, then a breaker bar and pipe extension which also failed. The 3/4" drive gun would have taken off the lug nut but I didn't have a 3/4" drive socket small enough to fit the lug nut.

I was about to torch it off when I decided to check a high torque gun at HF. I bought the gun and it took that lug nut off with no problem. I've been using it for over 2 years it has worked very well.

deereman75 · Aug 14, 2011

I have a CH serious duty 1/2 inch that I got on clearance at home depot for $30, about $70 off. If I was going to get another one, it would be an IR or CP, I have too many chineese air tools now, and the only air tools I will buy now are industrial replacements for the ones I wear out.

radioman · Aug 14, 2011

hmm, pretty tough question I'd say. nothing last long anymore for the homeowner unless you spend big bucks for commercial stuff. Do you already have a air compressor? I had a cheap campbell impact and it didnt last. Got a husky from hd that was nearly twice in price and it still going strong and love it. I guess the saying is still true, you get what you pay for. I'd shop around in your area and compare prices and capabilities and go from there.

gordyy · Aug 14, 2011

for my two cents worth for just personal use. for the price get the hi torgue that Ingersol rand makes. Make sure its at least 475 ft lbs but learn to use the torque control, too many people that start using them turn em to the highest setting and leave then there, then wonder why things don't come apart when you try and take them apart over torqueing a bolt stretches it weakens it and makes it torch material.
also look into a kit, home depot lowes fastenal acme where ever you shop. trust me you do much mechanical work the impact wrench pales in terms of usage when you start getting air rachets those are the biggest time saver of all IMHO. now Ingersol and snapon are making an angle drive impact but like everything new the $$ is high for a new tool thatone will wait a yr or two before it finds its way into my box.
Also my son got a snap on impact a couple yrs ago 1/2 drive with 1000 lbs of torque only problem is nobody not even snap on sockets hold up to that thing but it sure is a nice gun when you need the torque its got more than most 3/4 drive units. but you really need to have one if your going to fork out that much$ for it I think it was around $350

Bird · Aug 14, 2011

I think the vast majority of users leave the torque control on the highest setting. On all the ones I know of, that torque control only lowers the power in the clockwise direction: i.e., tightening. Even turned down, they still have the same power in the counterclockwise or loosening direction. What that torque control does is partially close an air passage to cut down on the volume of air flowing through the tool. So the only reason for turning it down is to prevent over tightening a nut or bolt. And you can also do that by turning the trigger loose when it starts to hammer instead of letting it keep on hammering.

That adjustment is great for assembly line work where you want all the nuts and bolts to be tightened the same. They use a special valve on the air line that lets full air flow through for a predetermined length of time, such as 3 seconds or 5 seconds and then cuts off the air, so holding the trigger will not over tighten something. Then there exists some pretty expensive calibrating equipment to measure the torque output, so they can adjust the torque setting on the impact wrench, then check it periodically to be sure it's still putting out the same torque. I'm pretty sure places that use such equipment also have in line automatic oilers so their tools consistently get the same amount of lubrication.

If you're not working an assembly line, as mentioned above, then the only reason I can imagine for turning the torque control down would be if you only want to "snug" up the nuts or bolts, then do the final tightening with a torque wrench.

5030 · Aug 14, 2011

I'm with Bird on IR. I have a Thundergun 1/2" impact, had it for years of hard use now and it's ran flawlessly. Just needs ocassional air tool oil and a squirt in the rear lubrication fitting.