Impact Wrench Question
- Thread starter Shel_B
- Start date
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Not positive on wrenches. Some guns have selectable torque ranges.
My Earthquake 1/2" shorty is like that.
My Earthquake 1/2" shorty is like that.
My sons Ryobi has 3 levels that are selectable. My older Craftsman has one and it is 150lbs. Perfect for my wheels.
Torque sticks would be needed to somewhat accurately tighten to a given torque with an impact.
However a quality torque wrench is really needed by everyone regardless of impact wrench or torque sticks.
However a quality torque wrench is really needed by everyone regardless of impact wrench or torque sticks.
I wouldn't trust a setting on an air powered impact wrench. Too many factors like air flow and compressor size. I would zip the nut/bolt down until the impact gun starts to slow down and then check the torque with a torque wrench.
Not sure about battery powered ones. I use my 20v DeWalt for tires and always use a torque wrench to torque to final spec.
Not sure about battery powered ones. I use my 20v DeWalt for tires and always use a torque wrench to torque to final spec.
Impact wrenches have selectable levels of power. Obviously there are many factors which can affect the outcome - air volume/pressure, battery size/SOC (for cordless), condition of the threads, how long someone holds down the trigger, how hard you squeeze the trigger (since some guns are variable), etc.
For an experienced user of a tool with minimal (controlled) background variables, you can get surprisingly consistent outcomes. I can get close to 80 ft lbs on most lug nuts with my Milwaukee mid-torque impact if I install them in a certain manner. But by no means can you accurately torque a fastener to a specific torque value using any impact.
For an experienced user of a tool with minimal (controlled) background variables, you can get surprisingly consistent outcomes. I can get close to 80 ft lbs on most lug nuts with my Milwaukee mid-torque impact if I install them in a certain manner. But by no means can you accurately torque a fastener to a specific torque value using any impact.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
For sure on that.
It's puzzling to me why they're even there. I've never used one not set to max beans. Like you say, by the time I factor in the pressure regulator on my air compressor, the length of air hose and all the fittings involved, my air tools are far from hitting max beans anyway.
There is definitely value in those settings.
My IR 2235timax runs on my home compressor. The compressor is a small 25 gal 200 psi unit with the regulator set to 110 or 120 psi with Milton high-flow fittings. If you use the gun's first setting with a 80 ft lb torque stick, lightly touching the trigger until the first hammer will tighten most lug nuts to almost 80 ft lbs. Any setting above that renders the torque stick completely useless.
Last edited:
The big thing for me with an air impact is removing the large bolts like strut bolts and crankshaft bolts. Especially in the rust belt.
So many different type of tools are called "impact wrench." Are we talking a pneumatic air gun or Wrench? Cordless impact? It greatly informs the answer, as well as possibly sufficient options to accomplish what you're hoping.
The simple answer is yes, you can set a torque output level. For example, my IR231 has a dial to adjust the level of strength however, I still need to measure the amount of torque applied using a torque wrench.
My ridgid battery impact has 4 modes - 1 2 3 and Auto. Auto stops when it impacts by itself and is generally around 50 ft/lb. I put the wheels on with "1" in a star pattern then hit them with Auto. Then when they're on the ground I'll torque them.
There are some, like the ones they use in F1 for wheels. They are REALLY expensive though.
I'm talking about what I know, which is what's used to mount tires and loosen and remove suspension bolts. I don't know if it's a wrench or a gun, and until just now, didn't know there were other types.
Harbor Freight calls them "wrench". Here is what I use for occasional lug nuts, but mostly to remove the 3 nuts holding blades on my pull behind mower. https://www.harborfreight.com/7-amp-corded-12-in-impact-wrench-61173.html
Conceptually, this is fascinating:
https://www.cp.com/en/tools/products/impactwrenches/cp7748tl
Full 960 ft lbs in reverse but torque limited to 66 ft lbs in the forward direction.
https://www.cp.com/en/tools/products/impactwrenches/cp7748tl
Full 960 ft lbs in reverse but torque limited to 66 ft lbs in the forward direction.
It sounds like you're talking about a pneumatic (air) impact a wrench, that is hooked up to a compressor, and looks like the pic I attached. If that's true, you can buy socket extensions specifically for impact wrenches that are set to a torque. Click here for an example. Click here for an example of sockets and extensions. (I am not recommending these items, I have no idea about them). I've seen them mostly at tire change locations, as they are a quick way to get the torque spec.
