Air Impact Wrench

[LeakySeals]

Ok everything below is based on online reviews and your input, Please comment

This is my compressor. Brand new hiding under a cover.

I have a 10' hose that came with it, 3/8" I assume. Will go with that for now

Add Milton S-217 1/4" NPT V Style Coupler and Plug Kit - 6 Piece.
- The price was better with Trav's link, but I'm over the threshold for shipping so why not..

Add Astro 1828 ONYX 3/8" Nano Impact Wrench 450ft/lb . 3/8" because..
- its the same torque as the 1/2" ONYX Nano.
- don't need an adapter to use 3/8 tools, so it stays very short.
- 1/2 to 3/8 adapters snap and break pretty easily, 3/8 to 1/2 holds up better.

TEKTON 4957 Impact Adapter and Reducer Set, Cr-V, 4-Piece
- so I can use 1/2 extension and wont lose power.

Add Sunex 3301 3/8-Inch Drive Impact Universal Joint
- For hard to reach places

Anything else for a start?

 

[Trav]

Sorry, not to throw a wet rag over the whole idea but that compressor is more suited to nailers and real small stuff. The tool has 5.6 CFM @ 90 psi air requirement, that compressor wont run it for very long at full power before it runs out of wind.
It probably comes with a 1/4" hose not 3/8 and the Milton V wont help much over standard industrial fittings at 4 cfm.

 

[brages]

It will be fine - it will cycle a lot, but it will fill up quickly.

I run an impact from a little Hitachi ec119sa 4-gal compressor and it has plenty of power... it just cycles a lot, but it refills plenty quickly.

I think the 5.6 CFM figure is based on a 25% duty cycle, meaning the actual flow of the gun is 20+ CFM.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Sorry, not to throw a wet rag over the whole idea but that compressor is more suited to nailers and real small stuff. The tool has 5.6 CFM @ 90 psi air requirement, that compressor wont run it for very long at full power before it runs out of wind.
It probably comes with a 1/4" hose not 3/8 and the Milton V wont help much over standard industrial fittings at 4 cfm.


I agree. I have one that holds 10 gallons of air, it runs almost constantly if I use my 1/2" Impact gun. If I come across something really tight, it doesn't have the power to break it loose if I have more than 25' of hose on it. Sitting next to it I have a Kobalt that holds 60 gallons of air, the difference is night and day.

As far as being portable, it is but it has limitations. My buddy needed a hand to do brakes on his food trailer, I dragged my 10 gallon compressor over with my impact gun along with 25' of hose. We had to run 100' extension cord to it, we kept tripping his circuit breaker and had to resort to a breaker bar.

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: brages
It will be fine - it will cycle a lot, but it will fill up quickly.

I run an impact from a little Hitachi ec119sa 4-gal compressor and it has plenty of power... it just cycles a lot, but it refills plenty quickly.

I think the 5.6 CFM figure is based on a 25% duty cycle, meaning the actual flow of the gun is 20+ CFM.


Its not that it wont work and the mini guns are certainly more suited to smaller compressors there are limits. IMO this size would be the minimum for using common garage air tools and undercoating guns but not large spray guns for paint, air cutoff wheels or DA sanders.

http://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Quincy-Q12120PQ-Air-Compressor/p12332.html

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

Impacts no where near 100% duty-cycle... so you can get away with smaller compressors. Die-grinders, DAs, HVLP will deplete a compressor in a hurry. Eventually you'll want to upgrade the compressor if you use the tools often enough. A 30-60 gal would be better suited for the home-gamer.

 

[brages]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Originally Posted By: brages
It will be fine - it will cycle a lot, but it will fill up quickly.

I run an impact from a little Hitachi ec119sa 4-gal compressor and it has plenty of power... it just cycles a lot, but it refills plenty quickly.

I think the 5.6 CFM figure is based on a 25% duty cycle, meaning the actual flow of the gun is 20+ CFM.


Its not that it wont work and the mini guns are certainly more suited to smaller compressors there are limits. IMO this size would be the minimum for using common garage air tools and undercoating guns but not large spray guns for paint, air cutoff wheels or DA sanders.

http://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Quincy-Q12120PQ-Air-Compressor/p12332.html


I use it with a 1/2" Earthquake and I find that it has such an abundance of power that it never has to run long.

I'm not sure small compressors are better suited for smaller impacts -- if a small impact has to rattle awhile to crack a bolt loose, it might drain a tiny tank.

 

[krismoriah72]

Someone asked earlier what you are going to be using this setup for...i didnt see an answer..so.. i am going to assume that you are going to be using it to work on your own vehicles at home.

Truth is you dont need an air impact.

I have a cordless impact wrench 1/2 that has about 500 tire rotations, 50 brake jobs, axles, u joints..u name it. To be honest i have abused mine and pick it up over my air tools.

Maybe im getting older but i dont like to hear the compressor running and dealing with the lines as much as i used to.

From your post it looks like you are building around that compressor... So maybe think some on going the cordless route, get yourself a set of impact sockets. I wouldnt fool with those reducers.

 

[LeakySeals]

Yes thats right, work on the mounting Escalade problems and work on family vehicles. Tire rotations, brakes, suspension parts, some body work.

My neighbor has an expensive impact driver... its ok but the power just isn't there. Could not budge my lugs.. I'm looking forward to real air tools and all the noise they generate

 

[LeakySeals]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Originally Posted By: brages
It will be fine - it will cycle a lot, but it will fill up quickly.

I run an impact from a little Hitachi ec119sa 4-gal compressor and it has plenty of power... it just cycles a lot, but it refills plenty quickly.

I think the 5.6 CFM figure is based on a 25% duty cycle, meaning the actual flow of the gun is 20+ CFM.


Its not that it wont work and the mini guns are certainly more suited to smaller compressors there are limits. IMO this size would be the minimum for using common garage air tools and undercoating guns but not large spray guns for paint, air cutoff wheels or DA sanders.

http://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Quincy-Q12120PQ-Air-Compressor/p12332.html


I'm glad we are having this discussion because my GF went to Lowes and bought me the matching kobalt (according to Lowes staff) Impact gun and air wrench for Christmas. What I know now is both require more CFM with less torque (6.0 CFM/700ftlb, 7.0 CFM/50ftlb). My hope is this ONYX mini can replace both, and at 5.6 CFM its closer to the 4.0 CFM @90 compressor output.

The Kobalt compressor has 2 settings. One is tank pressure, the other hose. Can I manipulate those for more or less torque, more or less compressor cycling? maybe find what works for me?

 

[LeakySeals]

Originally Posted By: krismoriah72

I have a cordless impact wrench 1/2 that has about 500 tire rotations, 50 brake jobs, axles, u joints..u name it. To be honest i have abused mine and pick it up over my air tools.


What model cordless do you have? My birthday is just around the corner lol

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Originally Posted By: krismoriah72

I have a cordless impact wrench 1/2 that has about 500 tire rotations, 50 brake jobs, axles, u joints..u name it. To be honest i have abused mine and pick it up over my air tools.


What model cordless do you have? My birthday is just around the corner lol


Look at the Milwaukee M18 Fuel High Torque. Thats the one I have. Its specs rival most pneumatic ones.

 

[Trav]

The only problem with Milwaukee is their horrible CS and bum batteries they wont stand behind. No thanks, I'll pass.

 

[krismoriah72]

My air impact is the Harbor Freight Earthquake 1/2. I removed the muffler on it so its good and loud like you like them. My cordless is a Great Neck 1/2 that my buddy bought at autozone.. I gave him $50 for it years ago. He is a mechanic by trade and used it every day at work and abused it.


Here is a good video that uses my air impact and a very similar cordless impact to mine..

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: Trav
The only problem with Milwaukee is their horrible CS and bum batteries they wont stand behind. No thanks, I'll pass.


I have not encountered that. I definitely like the Milwaukee LiIon M18 batteries batter than the older Dewalt CBR 18 NiCad.

IR makes a high end cordless.

However for cordless to make sense you need a bunch of the same battery tools and 1 or 2 batteries.

 

[supton]

When I need an impact, I need power. 1/2" drive all the way. 3/8" in the future, maybe. I do have a 3/8 ratchet which is puny, but may be useful for doing FWD wheel bearings, maybe. I have the HF Earthquake and have been happy with it. But I'm no pro either. Cheapie compressor was a Christmas gift from the wife.

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Can I use something called torque sticks?


I love my HF torque wrench calibrator. Digital display. Once lugs are hand-tight, they don't turn more than say a quarter-turn, going from 30 to 120 ft-lbs. I put the calibrator on, leaving the face up. I can do a star pattern lickety-spit, stopping when I see 60-90-120-150. [My Tundra requires 150 ft-lbs. Ouch. 3' pipe over the standard breaker bar makes this trivial. Other vehicles need 90 and a standard 18" - 24" breaker is sufficient.]

 

[LeakySeals]

Originally Posted By: supton
When I need an impact, I need power. 1/2" drive all the way. 3/8" in the future, maybe. I do have a 3/8 ratchet which is puny, but may be useful for doing FWD wheel bearings, maybe. I have the HF Earthquake and have been happy with it. But I'm no pro either. Cheapie compressor was a Christmas gift from the wife.

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Can I use something called torque sticks?


I love my HF torque wrench calibrator. Digital display. Once lugs are hand-tight, they don't turn more than say a quarter-turn, going from 30 to 120 ft-lbs. I put the calibrator on, leaving the face up. I can do a star pattern lickety-spit, stopping when I see 60-90-120-150. [My Tundra requires 150 ft-lbs. Ouch. 3' pipe over the standard breaker bar makes this trivial. Other vehicles need 90 and a standard 18" - 24" breaker is sufficient.]


The ONYX mini just arrived. Much smaller than i thought it would be. Almost as small as the 3/8" air ratchet that was returned. I noticed ACdelco sells ACDelco ARM602-4 1/2" Digital Torqu...eries included which will cover the Escalade's 140lb wheel spec. Any good?

 

[HangFire]

Let me inject a little reality here.

First, the Onyx Nano 1828 is not bogus "nut busting torque" rated, it's the real deal. See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCoFh8K1Cb0
He got an average of 470 ft/lbs out of it.

Next, I own a new Onyx Nano 1828 (also an old IR 600 ft/lb 1/2" gun and a Sunex 3/8 Metric master kit.) I have an old 10 gal tank and an old oil filled 1 cyl 110V motor compressor. I replaced ALL fittings (including the one on the tank) with GuardAir High Flow's. These are compatible with Milton V, only difference is very slightly larger through-holes.

I knew it would work, but on a lark I used the Onyx to remove pickup truck lug nuts. No problem. I use my 2 impacts to work with some very rusty nuts and bolts, with complete confidence.

When you have a small tank/compressor, you can get good use out of impact tools if you remember the following:

1. Only one thing wrong will kill power. You MUST have ALL of your system fully sorted.
2. Replace all the Quick Release's with Milton V or other quality High Flow, not just the male jacks.
3. Lube with real pneumatic tool oil, never motor oil or other too-thick stuff.
4. Keep cord runs short.
5. When air pressure gets low, just free run the tool until the compressor starts another recharge cycle.

Don't mess with cheap (HF) high flows, as they Quick Release (females) are not very free flowing. You don't have to get the pricey GuardAir's like I did, Milton V is fine.

Here's a comparison of inner diameters. Keep in mind the other side has to be a quality high flow, or all that diameter is wasted.

 

[Trav]

The ONYX is no toy it has enough power, my new Hazet mini is a real nut buster, 10K rpm and over 600ft.lb of real torque. The first time I used it on a 200 ft.lb caliper bracket bolt it put a shock on me, it hammered once and spun the thing out so fast it spit it out on the floor.
I have been using impacts of every sort since 1971 and bought my first Blue Point in 75 and I never expected this little beast to have that sort of power.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Alright, after some research think I'm going with the Astro 1828 ONYX 3/8" Nano Impact Wrench 450ft/lb.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016Q4...QJ58CKCJJC8NSX3

It has the same 450ft/lb rating as the ONYX 1/2" version so I can use existing tools. But.. It was stated in this video that I can "lose power" with a 3/8" extension. True?



For under $100 shipped I bought one. It was the size that impressed me. It isn't the most powerful in the world, but for tight spots, availability to me, and price I thought it was a good deal. Time will tell.