A pneumatic wrench is one of the most powerful and widely used tools in most automotive shops. Pneumatic wrenches with the use of compressed air have the ability to remove almost any fastener they come across. They can be very handy for old rusted nuts and bolts that would be almost impossible to remove by hand. This can be very common in colder climates and also around the coastal areas. Air impact wrenches don’t just remove nuts and bolts they also have the ability to torque nuts and bolts down with and extreme amount of torque.
There are many brand names of air impact gun on the market to choose from, I will cover some of the most popular models. Ingersoll Rand is probably one of the most well known air
INGERSOLL RAND THUNDER GUN 1/2" AIR IMPACT WRENCH
tool manufacturer around. Some of there models can do over 1000 ft/lbs of torque. They have also incorporated a built in power regulator. This helps prevent a couple things. One of the most common thing people do is drive a bolt in to far and this will help prevent that. Next it will also help in adjusting the torque level. While you are removing a bolt that might be seized this will help it from snapping and falling into the hole.
First thing you need to think about is finding the right size of impact air wrench. They start as small as 1/4 and go all the way up to 1 inch for industrial use mostly. The most popular size is the 1/2 air impact wrench they come in a large variety of torque outputs and can handle most jobs you can throw at them. Some of the smaller 1/4 air impact wrench can be great for small jobs and hard to reach spots that you dont need all the power of the larger impacts.
When looking for a new air impact wrench one important thing to consider is the weight of the tool. There are all kinds of sizes available and materials used that help with keeping the weight down. Some of the more expensive brands tend to be quite a bit lighter than the cheaper models. You may want to keep this in mind when you are looking for your new impact wrench and decide how important this is to you. Also making sure the forward and reverse buttons are easy to reach and clearly marked for ease of use. Also make sure the tool fits comfortably in your hand with your finger on the trigger.
Ingersoll Rand impact wrenches are a little more expensive but worth the price. Another very known maker of pneumatic wrenches is Chicago. The are very widely known for there air powered tools. One of the wrenches is a DYNA-PACT oil clutch which has a very smooth operation and a longer life. It has a push-button forward and reverse power switch. It has four torque settings, with full power in reverse. This is mainly in model CP734H. This model offers full power when going reverse and in normal mode. This model can also be used in many different environments. For general repair, exhaust systems and transmission work body shops. These wrenches start somewhere around 85.00
If you are looking for a little more inexpensive pneumatic wrench than Northern Tools also carries them. The Northern Industrial impact air wrench will have a little less torque than other name brands but can still manage for small jobs around the house.They are made using cheaper materials to cut cost so the life span of the tool may not be as long as other quality air impact guns. Almost as important as the impact gun itself is having the proper sized air compressor. You will want to make sure the compressor can handle the cfm of the tool. If you already have a compressor than you will want to make sure the 1/2 air impact wrench you choose will work properly with it.
Its also important to use the proper sockets with your new impact. Special impact sockets are designed to take the abuse of these powerful tools. Your average socket will not last long under such high torque conditions. I always recommend you try to purchase the best air impact wrench and compressor you can afford. You do not want to regret spending money on a tool that doesn’t have the power output you require. You can also count on the higher quality tools lasting for years to come.