air impact wrench power question

[jproaster]

Greetings all.

Looking for my first 3/8 air impact wrench; seeking quality hobbyist level tool.

Looking at various tool's torque power led to me wonder if some tools are too powerful. Meaning, for example, "will a 700# aircat wrench break bolts too easily vs a another's 300#?"

Eventually will obtain a 1/2". Presently looking for a 3/8.
Work mostly on motorcycles.

Thanks
John

 

[maxpower_hd]

I generally only use the heavy impact when I have too anyway so breaking a bolt isn't an issue by the time I decide to use the impact gun. If I can do it with a wrench or ratchet then I'm not going to break it anyway. And I would probably just use my cordless impact. I have a Milwaukee and Ryobi 1/4" impact that can take a 3/8 adapter in the chuck.

 

[dacan23]

For hobbyist I would think you would go battery cordless. Air impacts are air flow & trigger control for power. Battery ones like the Milwaukee M12 & M18 Fuel have 3-4 quick power modes via a button.

 

[General Geoff]

Looking at various tool's torque power led to me wonder if some tools are too powerful. Meaning, for example, "will a 700# aircat wrench break bolts too easily vs a another's 300#?"

I've never once thought to myself "Damn, this impact wrench is too strong."

 

[ItsNemo]

I find in the 3/8" world I almost never grab my air powered one...it's always my cordless. I have the IR 3/8" QTiMax air impact and rarely use it. It doesn't have enough power more than the cordless so if the cordless doesn't work I'm bumping up to 1/2" drive anyway.

 

[Mr_B]

Astro 1828 will do you .
compact and light, pretty powerful, good throttle control and power setting lever .
Well liked impacts at good value and good company support .

 

[Mr_B]

It ain't the impact that breaks the bolts it the guy pulling the trigger hog wild

 

[jproaster]

I've never once thought to myself "Damn, this impact wrench is too strong."

I was talking with a friend last night, who owns a mechanic's shop. He's a pro...but the young ones he's training are not. They break stuff all the time. This he said after saying you'll need a really good tap and die set if you don't watch what you're doing.

So, as I'm shopping for an impact, wondering if people break studs/bolts with impacts. And, if so, "what do I look for in an impact."

John

 

[OHMS LAW]

Agree with ItsNemo up there. I’d shop for an electric batt 3/8a impact. IMO the Milwaukee 3/8 midtorque is the way to go. M18 of course

 

[Mr_B]

Good power adjustment, using the power adjustment and learn the power ranges of it quick before you fubar things .
We all have the odd accident with impacts but if you wrecking lot of fasteners it purely operator issue

 

[Road Wrench]

If you use an impact with higher dynamic torque, than the amount of torque it takes to twist or shear off a fastener and that fastener is frozen in place you are more than likely going to be practicing your drilling and extracting skills. There are times where a 1/4" hex impact driver with a nut driver bit can rattle on a frozen fastener for 10-20 seconds and overcome the corrosion with the multiple shocks, without shearing the bolt off. Where as a stronger impact would just twist the bolt off. As you work on things, you get a feel for what might be frozen or stuck, and how much torque can safely be applied before the **** hits the fan. As for working on motorcycles, keep the 3/8 impact away from it. Maybe a 1/4" impact used carefully on those 8mm headed steel bolts going into aluminum which love to weld themselves in from dissimilar material reaction.

 

[Professional Tool User]

Air impacts, especially the smaller ones usually have power settings. I don't see my stubby air cat breaking anything if it is on the first or second power setting.

 

[jproaster]

Thanks for the good words fellas.
Should be enough info to make a decision.

John

 

[General Geoff]

I was talking with a friend last night, who owns a mechanic's shop. He's a pro...but the young ones he's training are not. They break stuff all the time.

Young gorillas will figure out how to break stuff even without an overpowered impact wrench

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I've never once thought to myself "Damn, this impact wrench is too strong."

If the bolt is stuck, breaking it off by hand is just extra work.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Astro 1828 will do you.
compact and light, pretty powerful, good throttle control and power setting lever.

Concur !

 

[ttpete]

I've done motorcycle work for years, and I think you're going to get in trouble with a 3/8" impact wrench. I use 1/4" M12 hex drivers. One is an impact, the other is a non-impact driver. Newer machines use either Allen or Torx head fasteners and the drivers work well for up to M8 fasteners. Anything larger can best be done with hand tools. I have several T-handles in both square drive and 1/4" hex. Motorcycle work is more exacting and it's a lot easier to do damage to them than if you're working on a car.

 

[TwoInch]

For the hobbyist looking for value. The HF earthquake impacts are great. I have both the 1/2" and 3/8" standard red earthquakes in my garage shop. They are very powerful for the money compared to others in the price range. With a good coupon they are a super value. My 1/2" is probably about 6 years old, used at least weekly, usually 3 or more days a week. 3/8" is probably 4 years old, used about half as much. They both are beat up, show heavy use... Both still run perfectly, still as powerful as they were when new. I think the 1/2" is rated at 800ftlbs, it seems maybe a tad more powerful than my IR-231c, very close anyway. The 3/8" is rated 400 or 450ftlbs I think.

I am absolutely satisfied with them, they are easily worth what they cost.

Still like my IR stuff too tho.. Just depends on what you want to spend.



Sent from my LGLS676 using Tapatalk

 

[RedneckWelder]

Don’t focus too much on the power ratings they are largely marketing ********. If a claimed 1300 ft lb 1/2 impact actually put out 1300ft lb in the real world I’d have to grab my 3/4” impact a lot less

I typically recommend a good 1/2 gun for the heavy stuff and a good 3/8 compact for tight quarters. Lots of people like the HF Earthquakes. I don’t work on bikes so I don’t know if you could just get away with a 3/8 for everything

 

[jproaster]

Thanks again fellas.
Probably start off with a 1/4 hex and 3/8 ratchet to start.

I seem to sliding toward using cordless for these the more I think on it.
These tools would be so helpful in many applications beyond the (physical) reach of my air comp (not mobile).

John