Air Impacts and Nostalgia; hose whips; souping them up

[Chipm]

I installed an air hose reel in the attic, so in order to get some use from it I pulled out the old air impact for doing some work on my personal cars yesterday. This is an old Campbell Hausfeld that got me through twenty years of DIY work before I took it up as a job. In fact, it isn't exactly - I sold my old air impact in a garage sale and regretted it, so I bought one just like it off eBay.

There is something about using air impacts that is subjectively better than the cordless tools. The noise, the feel, the smell... it just falls into that category of tool using that makes you think things were better in the old days; or if not better, at least more satisfying.

The old gun feels low on power though. It could be that I am just used to an M18 with three times the power.

Do you guys run hose whips on these? I always just connected straight to the gun.

I think I am going to pick up an old IR 231 with an extended anvil for wheel flip sockets. Part of me wants to tinker it up into a pre-Thundergun pit gun.

 

[Hakeem]

I run the Astro high flow swivels and connect directly to the hose. I, too, love air impacts. Smaller, smoother, more reliable/durable, and there’s nothing like the sound they make.

 

[danielbuck]

in the summer, it's nice that air tools get colder the longer you use them

 

[Beerhippie]

and there’s nothing like the sound they make.

Ah, that sweet sound as the high-school dropout at the tire shop cranks your lugs to beyond the yield point!

UGGA DUGGA!

 

[senlow]

Ah, that sweet sound as the high-school dropout at the tire shop cranks your lugs to beyond the yield point!

UGGA DUGGA!

Thanks alot, for that ugly mental picture.

 

[Beerhippie]

Thanks alot, for that ugly mental picture.

Hey, no problem!

 

[Jeepster04]

I've always used an air impact, thoroughly enjoy it... Never smelled it though.

Not sure if I'll ever own a newer cordless impact.

 

[NOEYEZ]

I installed an air hose reel in the attic, so in order to get some use from it I pulled out the old air impact for doing some work on my personal cars yesterday. This is an old Campbell Hausfeld that got me through twenty years of DIY work before I took it up as a job. In fact, it isn't exactly - I sold my old air impact in a garage sale and regretted it, so I bought one just like it off eBay.

There is something about using air impacts that is subjectively better than the cordless tools. The noise, the feel, the smell... it just falls into that category of tool using that makes you think things were better in the old days; or if not better, at least more satisfying.

The old gun feels low on power though. It could be that I am just used to an M18 with three times the power.

Do you guys run hose whips on these? I always just connected straight to the gun.

I think I am going to pick up an old IR 231 with an extended anvil for wheel flip sockets. Part of me wants to tinker it up into a pre-Thundergun pit gun.

The IR231 is a fine HD gun. Just bought a new one 1 year before I had to retire due to freak accident. It now sets in a drawer with several other IR and CP air tools.

 

[Beerhippie]

Not sure if I'll ever own a newer cordless impact.

Cordless is much easier to take on the road.

 

[AC-WC]

I have air, electric and battery, each has it's place. Battery has WAY more torque (650) than my air. Battery is much heavier, physically larger but I haven't found a bolt it won't take off yet and definitely more portable. The air is smaller, lighter but limited in torque (250) and portability. Electric is large, heavy and limited in torque (250). Great when you have no air, left the battery at home but power available.

Last week I used air and battery on a strut change. The axle bolt laughed at the air and cried for mercy with the battery. Even the caliper bolts shrugged off the air and there was no room for the battery. Back to really old school and a 3/4" drive ratchet w/24" handle.

I will need educated on what a whip hose will improve. My understanding is for hose kinks. All my air tools are direct connected to my hose on a reel. Yes, they do sound so much better than any battery or electric.

 

[jblnut]

Ugga Dugga Dugga. Let it eat. Air impacts rock.

 

[sparky 1971]

I have a 231 and tried a whip but didn't like it so I took it off. Two things I did that woke it and most of my other air tools up were 1) high flow fittings and 2) throwing the regulators away. I did break down and buy a M18 mid torque a few months ago. and can't say that I've touched the 231 since. I also have the M18 high torque but it's too heavy.

 

[woody 73]

Ugga,Dugga,Ugga Dugga,Ugga Dagga ya baby luv it, give me more Ugga,Dugga.

 

[Chipm]

...throwing the regulators away...

Uh, no thanks. The compressor runs at 175, but the nitrogen tank is about 1200...

 

[johninct]

I was too lazy to string out 150' of air line so I used my big cordless IR to take the fenders off a payloader and that cordless IR got heavy. I wish I used air.

 

[milkovich]

Honestly, with the price of batteries and how fast they $#!+ the bed, I'm all set with the pneumatic rig. I just did the brakes on my truck and zero drama so however much torque my 231C makes, it's enough for a rusty Ohio brake job. I have a dewalt 923b stubby 3/8 and I like it, but it runs fine on little 2AH batteries. The price of bigger batteries and tools have gone off the rails and my air junk keeps on chugging for free. The greenworks one on the review TTC did seem like a decent value and I like the USB charger since my streamlight and inspection camera run USB-C off the tool box but it's a "don't buy it till I need it" kind of purchase.

 

[danielbuck]

Honestly, with the price of batteries and how fast they $#!+ the bed, I'm all set with the pneumatic rig. I just did the brakes on my truck and zero drama so however much torque my 231C makes, it's enough for a rusty Ohio brake job. I have a dewalt 923b stubby 3/8 and I like it, but it runs fine on little 2AH batteries. The price of bigger batteries and tools have gone off the rails and my air junk keeps on chugging for free. The greenworks one on the review TTC did seem like a decent value and I like the USB charger since my streamlight and inspection camera run USB-C off the tool box but it's a "don't buy it till I need it" kind of purchase.

I would think almost any air impact gun should be able to take off lug nuts from a passenger vehicle. And I agree, batteries are $$ great having power tools on the road though.

 

[milkovich]

I would think almost any air impact gun should be able to take off lug nuts from a passenger vehicle.

About 600 ft/lbs on the TTC best case vs modern battery high torques which are up at 7-800 ft/lbs now but no, you'd have to get a decent air gun from Astro/Aircat/CP/IR etc. to hit those numbers vs. a no name air impact from harbor or walmart which would be terrible. When I was a teenager I had a Campbell that was awful and shouldn't even have been considered an "impact."
You also have to remove the caliper bracket from the spindle/knuckle with large bolts that are open to the elements on the thread side so it's more than lugnuts (although ford lugnuts present their own stupid challenges).

 

[Callelle]

I also have the M18 high torque but it's too heavy.

Maybe it's because I'm a 6'9" 350lb gorilla, but I don't think the high torques are all that heavy.

 

[danielbuck]

About 600 ft/lbs on the TTC best case vs modern battery high torques which are up at 7-800 ft/lbs now but no, you'd have to get a decent air gun from Astro/Aircat/CP/IR etc. to hit those numbers vs. a no name air impact from harbor or walmart which would be terrible. When I was a teenager I had a Campbell that was awful and shouldn't even have been considered an "impact."
You also have to remove the caliper bracket from the spindle/knuckle with large bolts that are open to the elements on the thread side so it's more than lugnuts (although ford lugnuts present their own stupid challenges).

when do you need 700-800 fltbs to remove lugnuts? Not talking about semi trucks here, regular passenger vehicles. Genuinely curious, I never have trouble taking lugnuts off, even when I get a project vehicle that probably hasn't had the wheels removed for many years, or off of my F250. I do properly torque my lugnuts though, I don't just blast them on. Guess I should be thankful I don't live in the rust belt, haha! I've never felt that my air tools weren't powerful enough, I use battery tools for the convenience when I'm not at home, or not in the garage area.

 

[Callelle]

when do you need 700-800 fltbs to remove lugnuts? Not talking about semi trucks here, regular passenger vehicles. Genuinely curious, I never have trouble taking lugnuts off, even when I get a project vehicle that probably hasn't had the wheels removed for many years, or off of my F250. I do properly torque my lugnuts though, I don't just blast them on. Guess I should be thankful I don't live in the rust belt, haha! I've never felt that my air tools weren't powerful enough, I use battery tools for the convenience when I'm not at home, or not in the garage area.

When a previous tech has cross threaded them, when corrosion likes to weld nuts to studs, when you just want to one tap zip something off and not hammer on it for any amount of time.

 

[Skellyii]

when do you need 700-800 fltbs to remove lugnuts? Not talking about semi trucks here, regular passenger vehicles. Genuinely curious, I never have trouble taking lugnuts off, even when I get a project vehicle that probably hasn't had the wheels removed for many years, or off of my F250. I do properly torque my lugnuts though, I don't just blast them on. Guess I should be thankful I don't live in the rust belt, haha! I've never felt that my air tools weren't powerful enough, I use battery tools for the convenience when I'm not at home, or not in the garage area.

Not necessarily lugnuts, unless you live in the rustbelt.

But don't forget the dreaded Honda crankbolt.

 

[sparky 1971]

Uh, no thanks. The compressor runs at 175,

My compressor tops out at 155; I don't remember exactly where the regulator had to be in order to get 90 psi at my IR231 when running, but it was really close to being maxed out. When the regulator came off I think I had about 96 at the impact running through 3/8 hose with standard 1/4 fittings. I didn't check after I went with hi flows, mostly because I don't care. This is just a guess, but you might be sitting at around 100-110 psi when your compressor has a full 175 psi charge in it and until it starts running, will only get lower at the tool. If I were to ever use a tool like a paint gun where pressure matters, I have a regulator made up to go at the tool but have never had the need to use it.

but the nitrogen tank is about 1200...

I've never heard of anyone using nitrogen to run an air tool, but whatever floats your boat. And if you don't, that part is completely irrelevant.

 

[Chipm]

I've never heard of anyone using nitrogen to run an air tool, but whatever floats your boat. And if you don't, that part is completely irrelevant.

Ah, the ol' Garage Journal False Consensus Bias - if I haven't personally seen it, the it must not exist. Nitrogen for air tools is a carry over from the racing world, and that is how we run air tools on the mobile van. Almost no use now that we have cordless tools, but if one were to use it he would absolutely need the regulator.

 

[sparky 1971]

^^^Admitting to never hearing about something and saying something doesn't exist are two completely different things. You might have noticed that nowhere in my post did I state there is no such thing. And, since this thread is about a whip hose, ebay impact wrench, and an old CH compressor, the nitrogen is still irrelevant; unless of course that compressor compresses nitrogen.

 

[Beerhippie]

unless of course that compressor compresses nitrogen.

For the most part, it does.

 

[Chipm]

^^^Admitting to never hearing about something and saying something doesn't exist are two completely different things.

You're right. I apologize.

For the most part, it does.

I use a custom blend of nitrogen, some oxygen, and a little bit of argon, neon, and some other exotic stuff.