I recently wrote a rather (embarrassingly) sterling review for Central Pneumatics new compact composite 1/2" impact wrench... before I looked at the competition. The bottom line is this thing is just plain LOUD and for the same or similar money I could get an Astro or NitroCat which are both more compact and come in 3/8 drive with great power. I'm leaning towards the NitroCat 1076-XL however the website specifies a need for 8 CFM where the Astro Nano only asks for 5.6 CFM. My compressor only does 5.8 @ 90 PSI. Should I let this stop me from getting the NitroCat? I mainly work on cars under the hood and pull lug nuts. I'm planning on running 3/8" fittings. What do ya'll think? Btw I'm just a shade tree guy working on projects.
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Impact wrench CFM question
- Thread starter JorWood
- Start date
anndel
Well-known member
I have a Snap On MG725, IR 2235 QTi and Astro Nano 1/2. All removed lugs, frame and engine bolts/nuts etc., with no issues. On frame bolts I had to run the Astro Nano longer than if I used either the SO or IR. I'm running a 30 gallon Husky oil pump compressor putting out about 5.8 cfm @ 90 psi. You can't go wrong with either the Astro or NitroCAT but if you're looking at removing bolts/nuts torqued down to 300 ft-lbf or more than the NitroCAT would be a better option.
And, no matter what you use the hose, couplers, and plumbing back to the compressor should be no smaller than the inlet to the wrench. Any reduction in size reduces the volume flowing to the wrench and reduces the performance.
I guess most everyone already knows this but I thought I would post it anyway.
I guess most everyone already knows this but I thought I would post it anyway.
lazer50
Well-known member
Buy the tool that matches your air compressor specs the closest.the only way the nitro cat will perform better is if its matched with an air compressor.
lazer50
Well-known member
The air tool will only perform as good as what your compressor delivers.so i would buy the astro if the specs match closely to your compressor!
dnschmidt
Well-known member
That compressor will work with an impact due to the nature of how impacts are used which is very intermittently. A die grinder will kill a small compressor, an impact wrench typically goes buzz buzz, and then isn't used for another minute or two this gives a smaller compressor time to catch up. The Nano is great but we're at the point now with air tools that just about any are good enough.
md21722
Well-known member
That compressor will work with an impact due to the nature of how impacts are used which is very intermittently. A die grinder will kill a small compressor, an impact wrench typically goes buzz buzz, and then isn't used for another minute or two this gives a smaller compressor time to catch up. The Nano is great but we're at the point now with air tools that just about any are good enough.
^^ This. Consider that generally any rotary air tool that says <10 CFM is an "average" number and must be multiple by about 4X to get its true CFM. Some brands publish both the "average" CFM and the true CFM. The Snap On MG725 uses 37CFM but works fine on a 2HP 30 gallon tank. Why? Because the air is only used for short periods of time so the tank can provide the air.
bcradio
Well-known member
It sounds like a refresher on air compressors is needed first.
Your compressor now will put out 100+ cfm if needed.... all the way up to the point where your pump/motor kick on. The only function of your pump is to fill the tank. Your tank is what supplies the tool.
Think of it like a water heater. Lets say you have a 50 gallon water heater and you are about to jump in the shower. Do you care how fast that water heater heats up the water at that time? Probably not, because you already have 50 gallons in the bank (so to speak) that you can use before the heater even kicks on. 50 gallons allows for a nice long shower typically.
Now back to the compressor. If you have a decent sized tank, there is no need to worry about cfm of the pump vs cfm of the impact. The exception to this would be if you had a tiny 2 gallon compressor (same would hold true for a 5 gallon water heater and your shower).
In summary: get the tool you want and if you have too small of a compressor tank, you will want to upgrade that too.
Your compressor now will put out 100+ cfm if needed.... all the way up to the point where your pump/motor kick on. The only function of your pump is to fill the tank. Your tank is what supplies the tool.
Think of it like a water heater. Lets say you have a 50 gallon water heater and you are about to jump in the shower. Do you care how fast that water heater heats up the water at that time? Probably not, because you already have 50 gallons in the bank (so to speak) that you can use before the heater even kicks on. 50 gallons allows for a nice long shower typically.
Now back to the compressor. If you have a decent sized tank, there is no need to worry about cfm of the pump vs cfm of the impact. The exception to this would be if you had a tiny 2 gallon compressor (same would hold true for a 5 gallon water heater and your shower).
In summary: get the tool you want and if you have too small of a compressor tank, you will want to upgrade that too.
Thanks guys, I'm pretty new to all of this (and I have tried to research). So the CFM rating on my tank is regarding what my pump is putting out while it's turning, right? And if I'm understanding this right then the CFM coming out of the hose is based on the PSI at the regulator and the hose size and this is what makes up the peak CFM delivery?
Loscaldazar
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2013
- Messages
- 2,385
PSI determines power.
Tank capacity determines how long you can run that tool without the pump turning on.
CFM determines how quickly the tank refills and, if it's CFM is high enough, whether or not the compressor can run a tool indefinitely.
Therefore, CFM (or average CFM of the tool) isn't important for intermittent use tools like impacts. You run the tool for a few seconds, then put it down while removing the part you just unfastened and the compressor can replenish during that. Means you can run a air hungry impact on a small compressor.
As far as your two choices for nano impacts, Astro is a better bet. It's more compact by a fair amount. The air cat is more powerful, but it's also like 5 inches (not too much shorter than a full size impact). I'd also look at the M7 NZ-4630q. Same size as the Astro (technically 1/16" smaller) and more powerful than the Astro. Only comes in 1/2 drive though. The shorter length of the M7 and Astro are useful.
I have an IR2235, the M7 NC-4630q, and will be buying an Astro nano in 3/8 drive. Probably one of the best combinations of impacts available.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Tank capacity determines how long you can run that tool without the pump turning on.
CFM determines how quickly the tank refills and, if it's CFM is high enough, whether or not the compressor can run a tool indefinitely.
Therefore, CFM (or average CFM of the tool) isn't important for intermittent use tools like impacts. You run the tool for a few seconds, then put it down while removing the part you just unfastened and the compressor can replenish during that. Means you can run a air hungry impact on a small compressor.
As far as your two choices for nano impacts, Astro is a better bet. It's more compact by a fair amount. The air cat is more powerful, but it's also like 5 inches (not too much shorter than a full size impact). I'd also look at the M7 NZ-4630q. Same size as the Astro (technically 1/16" smaller) and more powerful than the Astro. Only comes in 1/2 drive though. The shorter length of the M7 and Astro are useful.
I have an IR2235, the M7 NC-4630q, and will be buying an Astro nano in 3/8 drive. Probably one of the best combinations of impacts available.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk