Will this compressor power a 1" impact?

[gsr46r]

Sup y'all,

I emailed CP and never got a response, so I need your help choosing a compressor for my service truck. I will be using the compressor to power a 1" impact to bust nuts- Lug nuts from 22.5 semi tires.

This gun specs says:
Average air consumption is 10 cfm
Actual air consumption 40.7 cfm

Does this mean at peak, or when it's operating, it ***** that much air?



The first compressor I am looking at produces 13.7 CFM @ 90 PSI and has a 20 gallon tank. I am hoping this is enough, but my next option is more money.

The second option is a beast. It produces: 24.4 CFM @ 90 PSI. It has a 30 gallon tank and no wheels- it bolts to the bed of the truck.

I am quitting the shop I work at to start my mobile business, so I am not dying to spend $2k on a compressor, but they do not accept returns, so I wanna get this right the first time.


Will the first one be enough or do I need to go beast mode?

Thanks
**Won't let me post photos

 

[nadogail]

1. Welcome to the Forum
2. An additional tank will allow you to store more air and provide a reserve to allow your Impact Wrench to run a little longer before sucking all the air out of the tank.

Allow your compressor to run and recharge between lug removals.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

When running it ***** 40.7 cfm. (Hold it on a nut for 1 minute it will use 40.7 CFM)
In actual use you will pause briefly (to pick up another nut or set one down and move teh tool). So average use will be about 10 CFM.

 

[98ssuck]

Does the compressor specs actually say they will supply the air you list? Most compressors are telling you the suction cfm (@14.7 PSIA) and the out put pressure in PSIG. Do a little math P1xV1=P2xV2

 

[theoldwizard1]

In both cases, the tank is small. Go with the one with the bigger tank ! What you really want is a VMAC PTO driven compressor and at least a 30 gallon tank. BIG $$$ !


Thought. Get a Milwaukee 3/4" drive M18 impact (2864 - 1500 lb-ft). If that does not work, a good 3/4" "torque multiplier" with a long 3/4" breaker bar will loosen those lug nuts up ! Now you can use the smaller air compressor.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Milwaukee now makes a 1" impact !

Extended Anvil! Can a 1" Milwaukee D-Handle Impact Bust 100 Nuts w/ 1 Battery?

Skip to 18:20 for a good summary of performance.

 

[James-W]

I suspect pretty much any compressor will power the impact tool, you just can't use the impact tool continuously. Unless you are using the impact on a regular basis you don't exactly NEED a super deluxe air compressor. But then again, this is the Garage Journal so you should get an air compressor powered by a jet engine with a 2,000 gallon tank and is capable of 10,000 CFM.

 

[Todd.Brock]

If this is the heart of the business, swapping semi tires in a mobile environment, the LAST thing id want is to wait for a compressor to spool back up so I can take off the remaining bolts.

I know you have to watch money going on your own but it has to make you money, not cost you money (time). I see service trucks around here are using gas powered 2 stage champion or IR compressors on what appears to be a 30 gallon tank or so. I d say go bigger than smaller.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Spareparts]

Get the big one, larger tank, 24.4@90 so you should get about 18.4 @ 150, plenty to run a 1" gun but you will need a 1/2" air hose. You do know busting tires is back breaking work. From experience try to get one with the Honda engine, they last a lot longer

 

[Gigem]

Milwaukee now makes a 1" impact !

Extended Anvil! Can a 1" Milwaukee D-Handle Impact Bust 100 Nuts w/ 1 Battery?

Skip to 18:20 for a good summary of performance.

That thing is a **** beast!

 

[Wrench97]

Get the bigger compressor and add a second larger air tank, the compressor will be running longer to fill both tanks but you should be able to get 10 off swap the tires and put 10 on without issue, be aware most large fleets are requiring you to torque the nuts now to 500 ftlbs.

 

[TractorJeff]

I believe my Construction Equipment Mechanic Buddy has that Milwaukee 1 inch Drive? If its the one he demo'ed for me, Its awesome!

 

[jubilee]

If they are unimount/hub piloted wheels ( 10 nuts), a good 3/4” air gun is all you need. 450-500 lb/ft. I only use my 1” when I run in to budd/stud piloted wheels (20 nuts) and then usually only to loosen the inner nuts.
3/4” much less air and way easier on body.

 

[Wrench97]

If they are unimount/hub piloted wheels ( 10 nuts), a good 3/4” air gun is all you need. 450-500 lb/ft. I only use my 1” when I run in to budd/stud piloted wheels (20 nuts) and then usually only to loosen the inner nuts.
3/4” much less air and way easier on body.

You are 100% correct, except too many tire guy are hammering them on with a 1" gun and they are closer to 700-800 when they get to the shop.....................

 

[Jlarson]

If you're gonna routinely run the 1" gun you'll want the big 30 gallon tank compressor.


In an ideal world you'd be able to just use the 3/4" but too many wheels get put on with the 1" turned to the max lol.

 

[gsr46r]

Thanks for the responses. I found a guy on marketplace who has the better one and it's 500 less than retail. It's not cheep- I'm not 100 percent sure my business will work- the start up cost is $5k- but I would hate to spend $1200 on the cheep one and have it not work right.

The milwaukee looks alright, but I already bought a CP 1"- it's the one the shop uses

 

[gsr46r]

Y'all are right- people overtighten the nuts btw. Is there a splitter that will work for this? I need a 1/4" female connection and the 1/2" connection

I'm not gonna lie- the new techs at my shop rack up debt on the snap on truck- as a comparison, i got my first snap on ratchet after i'd worked for 8 years. I am not cheap, but I don't like to get in over my head with stuff

Also, do you guys know anything about promoting business? Sounds like y'all are familiar with large trucks/maintenance. A driver told me he got his mobile business started by driving to truck stops and handing out cards. I will make $200 profit for each service call, but first I need customers.

 

[Wrench97]

Hit all the large fleets in your area and give the dispatcher a card, truck stops are a good idea too as long as they are not also trying to do mobile repairs.

You can run as many hoses as needed off the tank or use a 1/2" to 1/4" adapter to get to the 1/4" size off the 1/2" hose.

 

[gsr46r]

Appreciate it bro- I already got 1500 cards to pass out lol

 

[gsr46r]

Alright y'all- got an update. I bought the good compressor. I found a nutcase on FB marketplace who was selling one for several hundred below retail. To this date, this is the most expensive tool I've bought- Felt like I was gonna have a panic attack buying this, but now I can't wait to use it and make some money. People at the shop in which I work are scared to death of the manager and being fired, but I give no fucks, especially since I have the setup to do the repairs myself now.


I need help setting up the air hoses. The nutcase (this guy literally has a yard full of junk and **** he buys at auctions that he fixes, is obsessed with milwaukee, was paranoid I was trying to rob him (I drove my old, beat up truck to buy the compressor). He wouldn't include (or even sell) the air dryer or regulator, so now I gotta figure out how to setup the air lines.

My buddy gave me part of what I need. It's an air dryer and regulator like below- It doesn't have a air gauge.



Can you help me figure out what I need? Again, I need a 1/2" hose and either a 1/4" or 3/8" hose. Thus, 2 hoses.

The regulator has two holes (female outputs) so I was gonna connect an air gauge somewhere (maybe inline, or replace the regulator on the right with a regulator/air gauge combo), then attach an air hose to each one.

Also, the compressor has a 3/4" female output, so I was gonna buy a 3/4" to 1/2" reducer to accommodate the 1/2" dryer and lines.

Thanks again for the help. I will include more pictures once the site allows me.

 

[Bretny]

You dont need a 1in impact to remove lug nuts. You dont even need anything more than a 3/8 hose either. I use to work on a state plow trucks(talk about rusty junk) I never needed anything more than a 3/4 impact and 3/8 hose to remove lug nuts. With today's cordless technology and your being a mobile business i would only look at an air compressor to inflate tires or use a blow gun. The biggest hurtle you may have with those compressors is some large truck tires take 130psi. This means your compressor will need at least a 130psi cut IN pressure. Also airing up from 120psi to 130psi with a compressor only at 135psi can really take quite a while.

 

[gsr46r]

You're right- I probably can do it with less tools. The concern is busting overtightened nuts- many shops use the 1" impact and overtorque.


I already purchased the compressor- now I am trying to figure out how to setup the lines.

 

[gsr46r]

Here's a photo of what I got. The regulator has 3 female outputs. The middle one is 1/2"- I'm gonna use it for the 1/2 fitting air hose for the big impact.



It has two smaller (3/8 size i am guessing) on the side. One I am gonna use for a pressure gauge, and I want to use the other for a 3/8" hose. Will this work?

How tight do I torque these? I am scared to damage the fittings by overtightening, but there are air leaks.

 

[Wrench97]

You're not going to like that on your 1" gun, it loses too much flow..

 

[Jlarson]

What is that thing? lol

I don't know about everyone else's rigs but first thing we do to our compressors on ours is eradicate any trace of regulators and any other restrictions, plumb some 3/8 quick connect to the largest tank ports for our 1/2" hoses for 3/4" and 1" guns and then plumb our 1/4" quick connects and and 3/8" hoses off the smaller ports.

 

[Spareparts]

Jlarson has got it right, come directly off the tank with the 1/2" line, remove the regulator and fittings coming off the tank, replace with a ****** and a "T" come straight thru the "T" to your 1/2" air line. Now you can put the air gauge and regulator off the side of the "T". Now build a guard over the fittings and regulator to protect it from any object falling on them and ruining your day. What is the cut out pressure of the compressor, what is the HP on the compressor. Carry a spare 1/2" hose in case yours gets cut and ruins your day.

 

[gsr46r]

Appreciate it- I will get a 1/2 hose directly from the tank and connect it to a T fitting. It will it go directly to the 1/2 air line for the impact and put the regulator/dessicant on the other side.

Would I connect the smaller tools (1/4 fitting tools, grinding wheels, bottle jack, etc) to the other side of the regulator/dryer?


I agree- I don't know where to get the parts for a cage, but I want to protect the compressor. I've actually busted a hose mid repair before and it's not fun.

 

[gsr46r]

I'm not sure what the compressor cuts out at. The specs say the max pressure is 175 psi.

It's got a Honda GX390 with 12 HP.

 

[Spareparts]

Yes, mount the reg and filter off of the side of the "T", From the size of that motor it sounds like a Quincy with a 30 gal tank, whick is what I had on my service truck, plenty of air to remove tires, your only removing 1 at a time so plenty of time to recover. Our compressors had either Kohles or Honda engines, love the Kohlers but the Hondas live longer and start easier in all weather conditions, once you get your feet on the ground you can upgrade to bigger/better equiptment. Good Luck young Man

 

[Bretny]

I'm not sure what the compressor cuts out at. The specs say the max pressure is 175 psi.

It's got a Honda GX390 with 12 HP.

That sounds like a decent compressor for your needs. I would also remove any regulator. I have noticed that air tools really wake up at 155psi. I would imagine 175 would help even more. No need to regulate 175psi either. 1/2in line should do nearly anything your trying to do.

The only time I have ever needed a 1in gun I also needed a 1in air hose and a propylene torch. 4"x12" stuck loader pins on a loader that had been loading salt all winter. We welded a nut to the pin, heated for about 30min then spun with 1in gun. Not a fun job and not something I would do on the side of the road.

 

[Wrench97]

Appreciate it- I will get a 1/2 hose directly from the tank and connect it to a T fitting. It will it go directly to the 1/2 air line for the impact and put the regulator/dessicant on the other side.

Would I connect the smaller tools (1/4 fitting tools, grinding wheels, bottle jack, etc) to the other side of the regulator/dryer?


I agree- I don't know where to get the parts for a cage, but I want to protect the compressor. I've actually busted a hose mid repair before and it's not fun.

Great use for old spring ubolts you cut off while replacing springs?
Old fuel tank straps are a good source for flat steel, L brackets that come with R12/R14 valves and air dryer brackets. Basically any piece of steel you take off a truck can have a second use if you look at in rigth frame of mind

 

[gsr46r]

Thank you guys so much for the encouragement. I make $13/hour at my part time tire job, so to be able to buy the tools and do even one job a week will double my income from the repair industry.

I got a customer yesterday and did 4 drive tires. The guy from NY wasn’t kidding that the tools work better without a regulator- The impact was a beast at 155 PSI. I used the 1” impact plugged directly into the tank, and it works WAY better than the in house compressor in the shop and the shops 3k champion. Once the shop had to hire a mobile repair service because the shop air wouldn’t bust the nuts. His truck compressor ( prob similar to mine) ripped those suckers off

My next step is setting up the business aspect. I told the driver to pay with Zelle, but Zelle froze the transaction till Monday , so I’ll just take credit cards so I get the payment instantly next time.

Here are some photos. Was happy the **** I bought works, and works even better than the tools in the shop i spend half my time looking for lol. The bottle jack is an amazon special that works great. Surprisingly my pickup truck is a lot easier than a service truck with a lift gate and a million compartments. It was easier to get into, I could reach the compressor to shut it off when I didn’t need it.






I just need to get a lockbox for the tools and the t fitting.

Do you guys have any recommendations for lock boxes? I don’t want a full tool box, just a box where I can store hoses, jacks, the impact, etc.

 

[gsr46r]

Here is an update with tool p0rn, and i need help with my next steps

Next step/equimpent for mobile semi tire business (critique my setup and business plan)

I am not 100 percent sure this is ok to post here, but i received immense help last time I posted here. I asked what size compressor to get for my service truck, and y'all steered me into getting the better one. Good call- when I am on the side of the road, I do not want tools failing. At the...

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