Hey guys I am wondering what are the advantages between electric and air driven impact wrenches? I assume air is better cause its seems allot more widespread. I am looking at purchasing an impact wrench soon, if I can get away without having to buy a large compressor by going electric I will. I would think routing an electric cable/extension cord is allot easier than air hoses.

Also anybody know where to get a quality set of long allen/hex sockets?

 

Can I ask you to expand this question to include cordless as well?

I have been considering a cordless impact to change tires before and after AutoX.

 

I used to have a Sears electric impact wrench. It was good and suited my needs. I sold it when my wife bought me a compressor.

The air impacts are more compact, allowing you to get into tighter places, are lighter, and are available with greater power.

If you don't have a compressor and don't have a need for a comperessor, by all means, I recommend a good electric impact.

 

is it you geo with the 1000 (edit: ft*lb) pneumatic impact wrench? or was that someone else?

 

Geo thanks for the response.

What’s a good electric one? How much smaller is an air impact vs. the electric? I know that the air ones are about the size of your hand, what about the craftsmen? I read somewhere that the electrics pump out 1000+ ft/lbs whereas the air driven ones are in the 250 ft/lbs on average… I thought it sounded fishy cause if the electrics were that good, wouldn’t everybody be using them?

 

I have a Snap-On 14.4v and an air compressor w/ air tools. For anything the air tools can't take off, the Snap-On has been able to (220 ft/lbs). If I had to make a choice between the two, I'd keep the Snap-On.

 

Are you sure you're talking ft lbs, not inch lbs units? An average cordless unit is about 300-500 inch lbs only.

P.s. The unit of torque is: ft*lbs, not ft/lbs, :-)

 

Not me.

But it sounds like a tool I'd like to have.

 

I've never heard of an electric with that much torque.

The one I had was somewhere around 180 - 250 lb/ft IIRC.

 

It's Frank in L.A. that has the Ingersol-Rand 2135ti Titanium air impact-wrench with 1000lb*ft rating. I've used that tool, lightweight and powerful! The tough part about electricity is that you lose some of the power in the conversion to mechanical energy and to get equivalent torque-ratings, the electric impact wrench has to be a lot bigger and heavier (carries part of the air-compressor onboard).

 

Most of the guys at the toyota Dealer I work at Have the Snap -on cordless and air guns, The cordless they use is the 18volts, It works good and has ***** and its easy to get inot places because the air hises isnt getting caught on everything. Sometimes the cordless wont take some nuts and bolts off so then its airgun time. For me I like the air impact, feel stroger and it hits harder, but for quick things and tires the 18v snapon will do the job

 

Hmmm, I'm a big DeWalt fan and I can now see why.

Snap-On 18volt impact. 1 battery, 210ft.lbs, $469.95...

DeWalt 18volt impact. 2 batteries, 300ft.lbs, $290-320 - shop around.

Snap-On specs.

DeWalt for $289.95.

DeWalt for $318.99 at an actual store you may have in your town.


Of course the corded counterparts are slightly cheaper. Me personally, I prefer my air compressor and it's wide range of accessories.

 

I'm a snap-on **** but the 18v DeWalt impact sits on my shelf, I got it free with my new radial chopsaw and I havn't stopped using it since. However i also have a silent compressor (I made a tank with refridgerator compressor's on it) and I use air pretty much all the time just for the convienence of it.

 

AIR!!

 

adie just out of curiosity how did you make an air compressor with a refrigerator compressor? I'd really like to see that sometime if you have pics of it.