I've been looking at battery powered 1/2" impacts. Very costly. Could I take a high pressure air cylinder (like used for welding and holds thousands of PSI), put a regulator on it and then power a traditional 12" wrench. Would come in handy at a salvage yard to remove control arms.
Pneumatic Tool Idea
- Thread starter kjohnson1
- Start date
koditten
Well-known member
Done all the time. Most use co2, it's one of the cheapest bottled gas.
rlitman
Well-known member
Yes. Though the CFM requirements would run you out of air pretty quickly.
People use CO2 tanks for this all the time. Because CO2 is liquid in the tank, you'll get many more cubic feet of gas out of a smaller cylinder than you would if you were using compressed air.
People use CO2 tanks for this all the time. Because CO2 is liquid in the tank, you'll get many more cubic feet of gas out of a smaller cylinder than you would if you were using compressed air.
sberry
Banned
Most of this is done where cost isn't an issue along with moving all the equipment, get battery gun.
crewchief888
Well-known member
anything is possible,
many things are improbable.
unless you already have everything you need, and want to lug it around in a junkyard, along with the rest of your tools, and whatever parts you're pulling..
buy the cordless
li-ion batt and brushless motor.
many things are improbable.
unless you already have everything you need, and want to lug it around in a junkyard, along with the rest of your tools, and whatever parts you're pulling..
buy the cordless
li-ion batt and brushless motor.
I've got all of the equipment except for a single bottle sized dolly. However, you're correct....lugging that beast around (if I'm even allowed) the yard would be a giant PITA. I got plenty of funny looks the last time I went out there with an umbrella (it was 100 degrees that day)...I'm sure I'd get more of the same with a giant tank.
Sticks McGee
Well-known member
I have been turning wrenches for a living since 1986. I have always had air impacts and balked at the need or cost of a battery impact. A few years ago on a whim I got a 3/8" drive Dewalt. I absolutely use the HELL out of that thing. Tool guys kept asking about the 1/2" but I did not want to spend the money especially with having air readily available and a very nice stout 1/2" impact. I finally bit the bullet about 2 months ago and bought the Mac one(1/2")..All I can say is I use it daily. Mostly for lug nuts on and off and heavier work. I have the Snap-on 3/8" and use it too almost daily. The dewalt one went home (3/8")for use there. A word of advice. DO NOT buy the 1/2" drive Dewalt as it is weak in comparison. I have the Dewalt 1/2" at home and it works decent for most of the small car lug nuts but anything that is overly tight or pick-ups and bigger it will not work well on. In those cases I end up firing up the compressor. The torque and run time on the Mac 1/2" is most impressive to me and I use it a LOT
Beemer533
Well-known member
I've heard these are pretty good, but they aren't cheap...
http://powertank.com/
For the price and convenience, I'd go with cordless personally.
For about $300 you can get a kit; http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BWFILCQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20
or if you already have any batteries, you can just buy a bare tool:
Dewalt 18v (300ft/lb) for $129- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002VWK5R8/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Milwaukee 18v (475ft/lb)for $160: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002AKKJAY/?tag=atomicindus08-20
http://powertank.com/
For the price and convenience, I'd go with cordless personally.
For about $300 you can get a kit; http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BWFILCQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20
or if you already have any batteries, you can just buy a bare tool:
Dewalt 18v (300ft/lb) for $129- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002VWK5R8/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Milwaukee 18v (475ft/lb)for $160: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002AKKJAY/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Get a cordless. Buy it used, look on ebay. Deals are there. You'll never look back,once you do.
I have taken a rig with CO2 to a junkyard. Added a 20 gallon air tank with overpressure release from a dead air comp. and a loop of copper to help get heat into the gas as it expands, otherwise it is very cold and does not contain the maximum energy. Strapped everything to a big blue HF dolly, front and back. Used on reg on the CO2 bottle and a second one on the air tank output.
Worked great for me, I already had all the stuff, CO2 from beer making.
Nice to have an air hammer with a ripper for getting sheet metal off.
Also gives street cred with the counter staff.
Worked great for me, I already had all the stuff, CO2 from beer making.
Nice to have an air hammer with a ripper for getting sheet metal off.
Also gives street cred with the counter staff.
lowes used to sell a kit to do this. IIRC, it just used regular paintball tanks and adapter fittings. you could do this yourself as used paintball tanks are cheap as kids get into it then out of it and ditch the equipment at yard sales all the time... I've got over 20 of them in various sizes.
Also, they make similar sized air tanks just for paintball They need to be filled at dive shops or paintball shops with special compressors, but hold like 3500-4500 psi of air. Advantage is they don't freeze in sub 40 degree weather as CO2 will.
fittings are available as well as bulk fill kits if you already have a big co2 tank. in my case I have a couple old soda machine tanks I bulk fill off of...
unless you are into paintball and/or already have the equipment, it would probably be cheaper in the long run to just go electric.
Also, they make similar sized air tanks just for paintball They need to be filled at dive shops or paintball shops with special compressors, but hold like 3500-4500 psi of air. Advantage is they don't freeze in sub 40 degree weather as CO2 will.
fittings are available as well as bulk fill kits if you already have a big co2 tank. in my case I have a couple old soda machine tanks I bulk fill off of...
unless you are into paintball and/or already have the equipment, it would probably be cheaper in the long run to just go electric.
Farmall 1066
Well-known member
Uncle does this all the time, to change center pivot irrigation tires. Even has a Honda self propelled wheelbarrow thing, on rubber tracks, to cart things in and out, since it can be 1/4 mile or more in and out.
QwikKotaTx
Well-known member
The Makita 1/2" impact is pretty badash. If you already have the LXT batteries it's a no brainer. The 1/4" impact driver is also great for screws and drilling wood.
http://www.amazon.com/Makita-XWT04Z-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Battery/dp/B00K194N1C
http://www.amazon.com/Makita-XWT04Z-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Battery/dp/B00K194N1C
The PowerTank setups are pretty cool, but their market is one where money isn't much of a concern.
For $375 (from amazon) you can buy a IR W7150 impact that will give you up to 1100 ft-lb of breakaway. Seems like by the time you mess about with tanks and refills and all that you'd be better off spending the $375...
For $375 (from amazon) you can buy a IR W7150 impact that will give you up to 1100 ft-lb of breakaway. Seems like by the time you mess about with tanks and refills and all that you'd be better off spending the $375...
Beemer533
Well-known member
I bought one of those Loews kits when they were clearancing them.. They are awesome for portability for quick projects that require a pin or brad nailer, but I don't think they would fare to well or last long enough with something like an airgun...
Yeah, they are definitely not cheap.
devinchi
Well-known member
I have both an SCBA tank to run with an air impact, and a 19.2 craftsman 1/2" impact (often on sale for $99). For going to a junk yard, I would take the electric. For other adventures, where air could be handy (filling tires, etc.) it's the tank.