Impact preference: Pneumatic vs. Battery

[sam_i02]

Shopping for an impact wrench for medium-duty home-garage automotive work. The heaviest use it will see is suspension work on my vehicles.

Was originally inlined towards a pneumatic gun, but once I started comparing torques between pneumatic and 18V battery operated units, the battery option seems like better value. Not to mention being small than the pneumatic ones

It is common for battery impact guns to have torques from 1200-1600 ft-lbs, while the 1/2" pneumatic ones I have seen are at 800-1000 fl-lbs.

Which type do you prefer and why?

 

[denis4x4]

There's a third option; corded impact wrenches. I have a Makita and a DeWalt. The Makita is a tad lighter and easier to handle. Recently used it to rebuild the suspension on a 1946 Pontiac wagon.

 

[sam_i02]

There's a third option; corded impact wrenches. I have a Makita and a DeWalt. The Makita is a tad lighter and easier to handle. Recently used it to rebuild the suspension on a 1946 Pontiac wagon.

True. lets add the third to the mix as well. Another feature is the noise levels. Air impacts are loudest too at ~110db.

Looking for preferences from experienced users, to get the best bang for my buck

 

[Tim-Bob]

While air impacts are loud, cordless are not a lot quieter when actually impacting.

Air impacts are generally very durable and the venerable IR231 can be had for under $200 CAD.

Also, most cordless are not as powerful as the air jobs, and if they are, they are pretty pricey.

If you have a compressor that can keep up, go with air.

 

[sam_i02]

While air impacts are loud, cordless are not a lot quieter when actually impacting.

Air impacts are generally very durable and the venerable IR231 can be had for under $200 CAD.

Also, most cordless are not as powerful as the air jobs, and if they are, they are pretty pricey.

If you have a compressor that can keep up, go with air.

Yes, have a compressor that can keep up. But here is my concern. You mentioned the IR231. The specs on it 425 ft-lbs of torque.
http://www.tptoolbox.com/Ingersoll Rand IR231.htm

Here is a battery operated Makita, which I saw on sale last wk for $69 and it claims a torque of 2800
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/18v-lxt-1-4-brushless-impact-driver-tool-only/965067

I agree with the reliability factors, but am I missing something on the torque ratings? Or are the torque numbers on the battery guy exaggerated?? I would think 2000+ ft-lbs of torque would be enough to bust a human wrist up pretty good!

 

[chris142]

1600 ft lbs from a battery operated impact? are you sure it's not inch lbs?

 

[waterboy12]

Are you sure that's not 2000 inlbs? 2000inlbs is basically 167ftlbs. There's in no cordless 1/2 impact that delivers 2000ftlbs. Not that I have seen anyways.

 

[chris142]

2800 has to be inch lbs. works out to 175ft lbs.even hf's cheapest 1/2 air gun will blow that out of the water

 

[waterboy12]

2800 has to be inch lbs. Works out to 175ft lbs.even hf's cheapest 1/2 air gun will blow that out of the water

exactly!!!!!

 

[sam_i02]

Decision made. Pneumatic it is.
The battery ones are all listed in in-lbs. Notice that they do not list the units or torque, bastards!
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/18v-...ol-only/965067
Called Makita and asked. I knew something did not make sense.

Thanks everyone

 

[skyking]

That would break your wrist .

 

[bts]

It has to be inch -pounds.
No 1/2" impact electric or pnumatic will produce 2800 ft/lbs of torque. That 1 1/2" drive figures.
Best bang for your buck over a lenght of time is pnumatic.

 

[theoldwizard1]

1/2" drive - air or corded electric

3/8" drive - battery

Don't blow off a good 3/8" battery. It will handle most of a DIYers needs. If not you will probably need a 1/2" breaker bar and a cheater.

 

[sam_i02]

1/2" drive - air or corded electric

3/8" drive - battery

Don't blow off a good 3/8" battery. It will handle most of a DIYers needs. If not you will probably need a 1/2" breaker bar and a cheater.

LOL! yes, I have lived with a 1/2" breaker bar + cheater so far (Have rebuilt motors, replaced clutches, swapped transmissions, installed truck lifts...), but now that I finally have compressed air in the shop, looking to get one or those new fangled pneumatic air impacts

 

[KinzeMech]

The best solution is one of each.

If you have to choose which one, or which one first, getting the other later, then it breaks down like this.

Do you have air? If no, are you willing to get air? If no, go battery.

If you have air, are you satisfied being able to use the tool only where your air is at? If not, go battery

How much power do you need? If a lot, go air.

How much continuous run time? If much, go air.

If you are adding air to run a gun, air complements many other tools. Air hammers, inflators, angle and die grinders, blowguns, etc.

Battery guns can share batts with other tools. circular saws, recip. saws, drills, etc.

There's no one right answer, you have to assess your whole situation.

 

[Boomer343]

If you are doing suspension work then get a strong air gun and high flow quick connectors and large diameter hose. Keep the hose short, just cranking up the air pressure only compensates so much. Always gives me a laugh when guys will spend money on one part but not the other....

I have been quite impressed with my $75 dollar 1/2'"electric impact although it is heavy and one speed only....be ready when you pull the trigger. LOL

 

[icecactus]

That battery operated makita you posted is def in in-lbs. I have one. Its more for driving screws...

I also have this one
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014YVA1O/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Love that thing...thats more comparable to your air impacts. It feels more powerful then my $20 harbor freight impact

 

[megalo]

I haven't actually used my air impact for a while - it's too much of a pain to fire up the compressor and hook up the hose. I usually just grab my 1/2" drive DeWalt battery powered impact, and if it doesn't have enough power, a breaker bar to help it out. Still saves a ton of time to not have to use a wrench to get the (sometimes long) bolts out of suspension, etc.

 

[sdguy55]

I started out using pneumatic 1/2 and 3/8 snap-on. Served me GREAT for 2 years. Hardly anything that a top of the line 1/2 impact wont remove (not saying snap-on is THE top one just merely making a blanket statement) advantages of air is that you have POWER and dont have to worry about losing power cause of a low battery charge. And you dont have to worry about switching batterys, or charging. They are generally smaller so you can get into tighter spots and on all my pneumatics i have a swivel adaptor that has come in handy more times than i care to count.

That all being said i recently pulled the trigger on the new 20v Dewalt line and got the impact driver. Not wrench, driver. And at first i was a bit skeptical about power but it does just fine the ergonomics of it are better than my snap-on 3/8 battery powered impact wrench or even any of the pneumatic ones. Its very well balanced even with the 3.0 a/h battery and i have the feeling that i could use it day in day out without alot of regret. Pro's of a battery? Mobility is the biggest one. And not having an air hose drooped over everything is nice. It and my snap-on battery impacts are not as powerful as my air ones but they will do alot without needing the power of air.

 

[sam_i02]

Thanks everyone. great knowledge on this site. love it!

 

[nehog]

delivers 1,460 in.lbs. of Max Torque

Divide by 12 for ft/lb, for a final figure of 121 ft/lb. I've never seen an electric (cordless) come close to a air powered tools. I don't think even corded ones will be competitive, but I've not checked the figures on them.

 

[Josh Kinzey]

I bought a Goodyear electric impact from Pepboys about 5 years ago for about $75. I don't know what the actual brand/manufacturer is, but it's been great. I take it with me to track and use it to change wheels.

I've done a couple transmissions with it and had good luck.

I also have air. Since I got the air, I only use the electric in a situation where I can't get an air hose. The track, inside the house, on the side of the road, etc... If I can use the air, I do.

Aircat is becoming a popular air tool, you might want to check them out:

http://www.aircat.com/

Also, there is a mistake in the Tool flier from CarQuest Auto Parts. They have a 4 lb. composite IR 1/2 drive for $140 or so. Pretty sure it's supposed to be $240.

 

[dslabuda]

I bought a Goodyear electric impact from Pepboys about 5 years ago for about $75. I don't know what the actual brand/manufacturer is, but it's been great.

They're made by Allied. Bought one too when I worked there before I went to the rr. There are two versions, they changed the battery colour from blue on the later one. It had a slight increase is torque.

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