Air tools question...

After having to do some work on my Suburban last month that required me to remove the wheels and tires, I'm thinking it might be a good idea to invest in an air impact wrench. Can anyone recommend a good one that isn't crazy expensive? I'm pretty much an amateur so I couldn't see doing much more than using it to take wheels off and put them back on, remove shock bolts or sway bar bolts, etc.

Also, currently I have a compressor that is about a 6 gallon, "pancake" type like this: https://www.lowes.com/pd/PORTER-CABL...SABEgKqVPD_BwE

Probably 1hp or less. Am I right in thinking I'd need a bigger/more powerful compressor to run air tools?

I guess a follow up question would be whether an air impact wrench would be the right tool for the job or if a casual user like me might be better off suited with a battery powered or electric impact wrench. Any thoughts on that?

I am thinking about getting a 1/2" Milwaukee M18 Fuel impact. Not cheap but much more portable than any pneumatic.

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-...rdless/2763-22

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Originally Posted by cstone

I am thinking about getting a 1/2" Milwaukee M18 Fuel impact. Not cheap but much more portable than any pneumatic.

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-...rdless/2763-22

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For the price of a 'decent' air impact, you could be a nice electric one.

https://www.amazon.com/Ryobi-3-Speed...s=1%2F2+impact

The biggest hesitation I have on any battery tool is choosing which battery system. The second question is how many tools do they offer that I might one day use. There are many good choices but I would not want to get into multiple battery systems.

The biggest issue you are going to have is a lack of volume from a pancake compressor.

+2 on the electric.

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Originally Posted by BPTactical

The biggest issue you are going to have is a lack of volume from a pancake compressor.

+2 on the electric.

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+1, for light use go electric.

Another vote for electric.
But if you dont use the impact wrench too often get the impact driver and a socket adapter. Break by hand, drive with the driver, torque by hand.

The Ridgid 1/2" 18v impact I bought on here pulls lugnuts with any issue.

For your use case, if you decide to go with air, I'd go buy one of the Earthquake impacts from harbor freight. They're cheap, they produce a lot of torque, and they hold up just fine for home and lite business use.

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Originally Posted by Erni

Another vote for electric.
But if you dont use the impact wrench too often get the impact driver and a socket adapter. Break by hand, drive with the driver, torque by hand.

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Even with a big impact, one should always torque lugnuts with a real torque wrench.

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Originally Posted by HBARleatherneck

I have that impact. It is nice. ...

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Have you had a chance to determine how long the battery holds a charge while just sitting in vehicle before needing a recharge? One of the reasons I like that impact is it would be nice to throw it in the truck during the week and swap batteries when I get home.

Having a 1/2" breaker bar and the correct socket makes lug nuts easy to crack but the impact sure would cut the time on taking them off and getting them snug. Jack legs or an awning on a truck camper would really benefit from a nice portable impact with good battery life.

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Originally Posted by cstone

I am thinking about getting a 1/2" Milwaukee M18 Fuel impact. Not cheap but much more portable than any pneumatic.

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-...rdless/2763-22

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Here's a good teardown...

https://youtu.be/Ev7--VXfD_Y

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Originally Posted by cstone

I am thinking about getting a 1/2" Milwaukee M18 Fuel impact. Not cheap but much more portable than any pneumatic.

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-...rdless/2763-22

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I have this same one if you plan on using it a lot get the 9.0 MAH Battery if it is for once in a while the 5's are fine. I use mine for work HVAC commercial on pumps chillers flanges mostly 1" + stuff and it works great a 9.0 Battery will last me a couple of day use no issues and holds a charge very well in the van even in the winter

[Awesom] [Thanks]

Maybe an early Christmas present.

I am fully invested in both the Milwaukee and snap on cordless line snap on at the shop and Milwaukee for the side job. I use them hard and If I would do it again I would go all Milwaukee fuel with duplicate tools for both the batteries are beasts my snap on ones are crapping out and double the price of the Milwaukee. Picked up the m18 weed eater last week and the 9.0 ah batteries are amazing

I've got a husky air impact I used once I'd let go cheap. $20

I replaced it with electric Milwaukee 18v

To answer the OP original question, one of the best buys in air impact guns that is adequate but definitely not state of the art is the Ingersol Rand 231. This was a staple in auto and tire shops for over 20 years. Amazon has them for $99 w/ shipping. For personal use it will probably last a couple of generations. You will need at least a 10 gallon compressor at 100 psi to run it at full power to run it for at least one tire removal.

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Originally Posted by cstone

Have you had a chance to determine how long the battery holds a charge while just sitting in vehicle before needing a recharge?

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Can't speak for the Milwaukee but I have a bunch of 20v Dewalt batteries and they last for at least several months between uses. They can sit all winter in the shop and still work for long periods in the spring without another charge. Milwaukee should be just as good. The DeWalt impact driver I have has been up to every challenge I've handed it. It's nice not being tethered to a hose. I have a pneumatic impact tool (probably Chinese) and never use it. It'll last forever I guess.

I've got all Ryobi stuff and have the same experience with batteries, even down to having an extended battery that is great for the sawzall and weed whacker. The thing that seems to wear them down the fastest is using a hole saw.

I have a Kobalt 20v Impact, I got it before I got my 60gal compressor, it is a beast and the batteries stay charged for months at a time.

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Originally Posted by Colorado Osprey

To answer the OP original question, one of the best buys in air impact guns that is adequate but definitely not state of the art is the Ingersol Rand 231. This was a staple in auto and tire shops for over 20 years. Amazon has them for $99 w/ shipping. For personal use it will probably last a couple of generations. You will need at least a 10 gallon compressor at 100 psi to run it at full power to run it for at least one tire removal.

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Thanks. It's been so long since i needed an impact gun, i forgot my CP from 73 finally crapped out.

Harbor freight electric impact has served my general use needs for years

Until now I really liked Ryobi. First set of 18v nicads lasted 10 years. Second set is dead within 4 years. Next batts will be lipo or variant, and brushless motors. Ryobi still has a good range of tools for the homeowner but they are falling behind fast.

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Originally Posted by BPTactical

The biggest issue you are going to have is a lack of volume from a pancake compressor.

+2 on the electric.

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Even with my 33 gallon tank, it seems like it is running nonstop when using the impact wrench and really doing car work.

I think a lot of it depends on your long term tool strategy.

If you plan on acquiring multiple air tools, your first purchase will be a larger compressor, then begin acquiring air tools as you need them. This is a long term strategy for heavy duty work.

If you're a weekend warrior who occasionally needs an impact wrench, without the need for several hundred foot lbs., it makes more sense to get an electric impact wrench.

The choice becomes corded or cordless. I have a corded Porter-Cable impact wrench from the mid-90's and use it for tire rotation, and other small quick jobs.

I have an air compressor and impact wrenches for high-torque, heavy automotive jobs.

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Originally Posted by Duman

If you plan on acquiring multiple air tools, your first purchase will be a larger compressor, then begin acquiring air tools as you need them. This is a long term strategy for heavy duty work.

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And hardened sockets, which is the real expense.
Being honest, I never did complete my set, particularly for lugnuts. That said, I'm not really running anything super high-torque compared to what I'd do by hand.
Still, not the safest situation.

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Originally Posted by DFBrews

I am fully invested in both the Milwaukee and snap on cordless line snap on at the shop and Milwaukee for the side job. I use them hard and If I would do it again I would go all Milwaukee fuel with duplicate tools for both the batteries are beasts my snap on ones are crapping out and double the price of the Milwaukee. Picked up the m18 weed eater last week and the 9.0 ah batteries are amazing

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As this guy knows I'm fully invested in the snappy boat bc I already had tons of batteries and chargers but I'll be replacing them with MW as they go tits up as well. Not only are they half the price, but they're warrantied for 5yrs compared to the 2yr from Snap On. We have a few guys in the shop beating on their Milwaukee stuff, only downside I've noticed for the micro lithium line is how the battery covers like to pop loose for hard use...but that still won't affect function.

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Originally Posted by Duman

If you're a weekend warrior who occasionally needs an impact wrench, without the need for several hundred foot lbs., it makes more sense to get an electric impact wrench.

The choice becomes corded or cordless. I have a corded Porter-Cable impact wrench from the mid-90's and use it for tire rotation, and other small quick jobs.

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Yeah, I'm pretty much a duffer when it comes to any kind of mechanical work and I don't see that changing much soon, so no point in investing in lots of high dollar tools I wouldn't have the know-how to use anyway.

I'm leaning towards the corded 120v electric impact wrench like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/VETOMILE-2-In...F2+impact+120v

Main reason I'd go for corded vs cordless is that I'd hate to be in a position where I'm in the middle of working on something and have the battery die on me and have to wait to recharge it. Given that any work I do is going to be at home and I have plenty of extension cords, I think that may be the way to go. (Wife bought me a DeWalt 20v Cordless drill for a Christmas present and I was thinking of getting a matching 20v cordless impact wrench that would be able to use the same batteries, but at $200+I can't see that as being the best way to go given the limited use it would have.)

The one weird thing about the corded vs. cordless is how much longer, front to back, the corded impact wrenches are. That could be the one thing that makes a cordless or air wrench worthwhile, the fact that you can fit it into tighter spaces.

Funny how having batteries keeps you in a brand of tools. I have so many DeWalt 18v tools that I'm reluctant to change. The Milwalkee has crazy big batteries. And have lots of good reviews. Probably the brand I'll switch to when my Dewalt batteries run out. They're old enough that I'm loosing one every few months.
For the OP. The big battery powered impacts are sweet. They have as much power as my air tools.

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Originally Posted by Martinjmpr

Main reason I'd go for corded vs cordless is that I'd hate to be in a position where I'm in the middle of working on something and have the battery die on me and have to wait to recharge it. Given that any work I do is going to be at home and I have plenty of extension cords, I think that may be the way to go. (Wife bought me a DeWalt 20v Cordless drill for a Christmas present and I was thinking of getting a matching 20v cordless impact wrench that would be able to use the same batteries, but at $200+I can't see that as being the best way to go given the limited use it would have.)

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I don't think you're looking at this the right way. Once you are set on a brand, you'll get batteries with purchases of new tools. As a home owner, you really only need two batteries and one charger. Most decent brands should come with a quick charger, and even going full blast with a tool, the fresh battery should last you long enough for the dead one to charge. Corded tools do have an advantage as far as raw power and staying power, but don't completely write off the cordless stuff. I started out by buying a drill + impact driver set with two batteries and a charger. I often use both at the same time where I make pilot holes with the drill, then sink screws with the impact. It's probably overkill on some of the stuff I'm doing, but certainly not when finishing or working with smaller material. For example, I did that on every fence I've ever built, and having to drag an extension cord all across my yard with a split head and two corded tools would be a major pain.

When I built my chicken coop I was using my impact, drill, sawzall, compound + miter saw, radial saw, a jig saw, and at one point I even brought out the Dremel. That's up to seven power tools, and would have been a lot of cords around. I had enough trouble with the cords of the two big saws and the jig saw. Just something to think about.

I run Ryobi stuff, and while that's probably not a brand anyone was considering I can comment on the battery life. I don't have issues with the batteries not being charged when I need them, with the exception of using a drill or impact several times for small tasks over months, then having batteries die quickly when I start a big project. At the same time, I've got four batteries and two chargers so batteries never slow me down. My batteries are years old and the normal sized battery will get me through about two full sheets of 19/32 subfloor (6' around the perimeter and 8-12" in the field) worth of screws. The big battery about five full sheets worth of screws. It doesn't sound like much when put into that context, but driving 1 5/8" screws continuously, either size battery will last long enough for the other battery to fully charge.

Long story short, you should be able to work yourself to exhaustion and never run out of tool power as long as you have one more battery than tool you are using.