walmart impact wrench?

[The_Jeff]

Looking at a campbell hausfield air impact wrench from walmart. Would use for spinning lug nuts on and off (but hand tightening for final torque.) Cheapie $26 model runs 250 lbs ft of torque.

Are these things any good, for the driveway hobbyist?

 

[sbc350gearhead]

CH airtools are fine for the backyard mechanic. I had a snap-on tool guy tell me that all US made airtools are made by ingersoll-rand, or chicago pneumatic............with the higher priced stuff being ingersoll-rand.

 

[mikep]

They will do just fine provided your compressor is up to the task. Those small, pancake or single tube portable jobs usually won't have the oomph or capacity to break loose lug nuts.

 

[sbc350gearhead]

I recommend a 20gallon or larger for typical garage work............unless you are painting alot, then you are better off with a much larger unit.

 

[JTK]

I'm with JB on that one. I had the cheapy CH 250ftlb unit years ago & gave it away! I could never get it to break loose even slightly stubborn lugs with the 30gal compressor I had at the time. IMHO- get a better quality unit for lugs.
G/luck

 

[darkdan]

If it is anything like the Husky my old roommate had you're better off not spending any money on it.

That thing wouldn't break anything free. It was always better to just use your hands.

I've got a 7 hp 150 psi A/C and we'd have to turn it up to 120 psi (even though it was rated max 90) to ever get the thing to work.

My other friend had a snapon and would bring it over when he'd work on his car in my garage. That thing worked great!

 

[DJ]

I have the cheap CH, 250ft.lbs. my rear. It won't break loose lugs torqued to 100ft.lbs., even at 120psi, spend the extra few dollars on something nicer wish I had.

 

[SteveD2]

I have a cheap impact wrench. I don't recal the brand, but I don't think it's CH. I've never had a problem with it, and frequently break off rusty bolts.

No lack of power...

 

[JohnBrowning]

If you are going to buy a Walmart CH impact gun get their Heavy Duty unit! I belive it is $39 and it is a lot better then the cheaper one!!! If youare just shade treeing it will last for years!

 

[bheinz57]

It may be fine, but like the others said, breaking free a 90-100ft. lb. nut isn't that easy all the time with an impact. And besides, many impact wrenches should not have more than 90psi supply air to them, some guys above stated 120 psi-that's not real safe in my mind. I have a nice Porter Cable adjustable torque and it still doesn't budge some nuts getting them off, but boy will it torque them back on. Brian

 

[Steve S]

From experience the Ingersol Rand holds up, has good power . At work the compressers in our vans were 10 or 12 horsepower? I ran the pressure at 175 psi for power and speed .The Snapon I have has been rebuilt 3 times and the Ingersol Rand is still running. The output of the compresser is also very importent I would say a 6 horse power eletric is the minimum because no matter what gun you get a small compresser won't turn the wrench. I have a 6.5 horsepower at home and if I were to do it again I would go for MORE POWER.

 

[Bret Chase]

a compressor with a true 1HP motor (where ie actually says 1 HP on the motor plate) will be just fine. I've always gotten a kick out of these so called 5 and 6 "peak" hp compressors... funny how their motor is about 1/5 the size of our 3HP (3phase) IR compressors that stand about 6 ft high.

-Bret

 

[JohnBrowning]

I bought my Dad the HD Campell Hausfield from Walmart like 5 years ago. He had no air tools at all and I was laid off so budget was tight. I know I spent less then $50 but more then $30 it might have been on sale or I might have had instore credits. It has performed flawlessly for him. I use it when I help him out. He has a 30galon 5HP compressor I sold him. I think we normaly keep it at around 90 PSI. It has never had any problems breaking loose anything I have tried to remove with it. I do not even keep the gun turned up all the way. I keep it at 3 most times.

I highly recomend it to any diy'ers not working on industrial equipment. If you need to work on Tractor trailers etc... get a rebuilt IR or a new CP! Sometimes you can pickup a nicely used one from your Snapon,Matco guy for cheap and a rebuild kit while you are at it. They take them in on trade all the time!