Impact and Torque Wrenches

Bird · Jul 12, 2001

Larry, there are lots of 110/120 volt compressors that will last a long time and can do most jobs. And of course they have the advantage of being portable and can be plugged in almost anywhere. However, I don't know of any that will put out more than 5 to 6 cfm. That's just fine for your 1/2" or smaller impact wrenches and most other small tools, but if you try to run a sander, sand blaster, etc., you'll have to stop every few minutes to let it catch up. Sure is nice to have one that'll put out 10 cfm or better, but of course, isn't worth the extra cost for a lot of people; just depends on what you want to do with it and how much time you want to take. Kind of like whether to buy a big tractor or a little one./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif Of course, some the compressors, like that Craftsman John posted the picture of, come for 110 volt, but can also be changed to 220 volt.

Bird

Anonymous Poster · Jul 12, 2001

Cast Iron/Oil 2 Stage - 60/80 Gallon Units under $450.

I agree absolutely Bird... Go for a cast iron, oil unit...if I had to use it for my livelihood day in and day out, but those cast iron units are tough to move...

I like the portable, lightweight, transportable with wheels because I'm constantly moving it, from house to house, up and down stairways, to work sheds, outside on a generator, etc. { but use a pancake up on the roof}

About 10 years ago, I had one of those Craftsman compressors from haiti... probably the same model you had, but I think it was breaking {air piston connecting rod snaps in half} every 3 or 4 months... Webster would have loved me...NOT... I invented a whole generation of words over that thing... I even vowed never ever to buy another Craftsman, but...It had to be a lemon because the rest work just great...{Yes, all DeVilbiss for Sears, but that first unit was by devil..}

Unless you're running a full-time woodworking shop, a 60 gallon tank should meet your sanding needs... most finish sanding is done in short bursts and you'll have plenty of recovery time. I have a 30 gallon and it works fine.

I think an air compressor and air tools are mandatory equipment...everyone should own! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

glennmac · Jul 12, 2001

Jeesh, all I wanted to do was unscrew three lousy bolts on my mower and now I find out it's mandatory that I drag some sort of oily cast iron tank contraption all over my property.

My mower blades probably dont need sharpening anyway.

DFB · Jul 12, 2001

For anyone who's interested, here's a link to Craftsman's 120/240 oil lubed portable. 6HP Professional #19540 Sears.com

DFB

RobS · Jul 12, 2001

Don't be afraid to apply the KISS principle then Glenn. With three "lousy" bolts you can get at most, three decent box end wrenches (fewer if two or more of the bolts are the same size). Absolutely nothing wrong with turning a wrench by hand. Feeling a bit more luxurious? Spring for a ratchet and a couple of sockets to match. Big, ugly bolts? Get a breaker bar for those sockets. Really ugly bolts? Get a three foot length of iron pipe to slip over the breaker bar for some serious leverage. We're probably well under $100 so far. Still won't budge? Forget the trailer, ramps etc. DRIVE your tractor that five miles to the dealer /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

glennmac · Jul 12, 2001

Rob,

That's commonsensical. I was probably going to buy some cheap electric impact wrench this weekend, but your post reminded my that I bought a new ratchet set 2 years ago when I had my DR brushmower. Completely forgot about it. I bought these car ramps yesterday, so I'm just going to see if the ratchet will take off the mower blades. If it does, and I keep the underdeck reasonably clean and lubricated, I should be ok. Thanks.

I did drive my tractor back from the dealer last weekend after they told me the charges. Saved seventy-five dollars, the ride was quite pleasant, and I have proudly begun my new career as the old guy blocking traffic with a tractor.

Wheeldog · Jul 12, 2001

and I have proudly begun my new career as the old guy blocking traffic with a tractor.

Make sure you wear a hat, and leave one of your turn signals on for the whole five miles. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

glennmac · Jul 12, 2001

Good one, Rob. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

RPM · Jul 13, 2001

Always helps to have some nasty looking implement on the 3pt hitch when you're out for a drive. Bale spikes are cheap and tend to keep the cars back. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

s1120 · Jul 13, 2001

Maybe this dealer stuff aint so bad. No, I know, I'll save the delivery charge by getting my own trailer. Then I'll need ramps and chains and load binders ..... Agh. Does it ever end?!

No, but thats half the fun./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

RobS · Jul 13, 2001

Glenn, your outlook on tools and maintenance reminds me of a story a friend sent me. It's pretty funny. I'll post it under "off topic" /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

RobertN · Jul 13, 2001

The tank rusted out on my old 2hp compresser, so I bought a new compressor. I saved the "compressor-pump" though. I saved the motor too, using it for a bench mounted polishing/buffing motor. I still have the regulator stuff too...

What I have been toying with, is making a 3pt compressor. I could run the 2-cylinder cast iron pump I have off the PTO, what with a pillow block, and some pulley matching. I could mount a small tank on it. I figure it could all fit on a small utility box/frame, like you see in Northern and TSC.

Of course, I've been thinking about it for over two years /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif That would be cool though, compressed air anywhere the tractor could go...

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

Bird · Jul 13, 2001

RobertN, what would you do for a pressure regulator/pop off valve/cut out or something to keep it from just continuing to build pressure until it self destructs? Electric compressors have the pressure switch that shuts off the motor. Gasoline ones (that I'm familiar with) have a clutch that disengages the motor (or is that engine?). Hmmm, bound to be a way but like a lot of things, might cost more than just buying a rig.

Bird

RobertN · Jul 13, 2001

I found on my Rotary mower that it was next to impossible to hold the blade stationary while trying to break loose the nut holding the blade on, while trying to use a breaker bar.

The nut spun right off with a impact though. I am fortunate though, that the neighbor is very nice, and has a pretty well equipped shop for working on his big-rigs. He has 3/4 and 1" impacts...

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

DocHeb · Jul 13, 2001

To use a continuous power source on a compressor you need an external "bleed" unloader switch (rather than a motor cut-off). There are gasoline engine compressors available that would be a similiar situation as a PTO powered compressor. I'm not an expert, but I think searching for Grainger Item# 4TK14 will give the part you'd need.

http://my.grainger.com/Grainger/start.jsp

JonLeonard · Jul 13, 2001

I have a manual impact wrench around somewhere...if you are looking for an idea for something cheaper. Might be hard to find now a days though.

Cost me about $40, 15 years ago. Mine is about 8-10 inches long, and very heavy made. Basically you put a socket on it, put it on the screw, twist it 1/2 a turn, push it down onto the socket and then hit it with a small sledge hammer. Mine also came with some big screw driver bits for impact removing stubborn older screws.

Very effective and much cheaper than an air unit, but I rarely use it since I have air powered equipment now. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bird · Jul 13, 2001

DocHeb, you really caught me asleep at the switch that time. You're right; that's the item I had in mind; don't know why I said clutch, and it's not as expensive as I expected. RobertN's PTO compressor might not be all that hard to build.

Bird

jdkid · Jul 13, 2001

Hi ya's
like RobS i'd run with handheld tools i have 2 big sets one comes with me on jobs and the other lives in my workshop ,i have got a impact gun but only use it for striping down gear after i have cracked nuts with braker bar .they are OK i would never say great tho (ducking for cover on that note) good for wheels and bolts ya don't need to be fussie with but rebuilding motors ,gearboxs hand held spaners are the way to go ,ok other thing is i read about people useing torque wrenches for doing up blade bolts .sorry guys to me ya just have been con'd into buying new tools where they are not needed a head on a motor yep but wheel nuts ,blade bolts etc etc tight is tight end of story ..also if useing a impact gun for wheels always check by hand !!!!!! just cos the box states it will do things up to 100000000 foot pound don't mean it dose
catch ya
JD Kid

Bird · Jul 13, 2001

JD, I sorta agree and disagree. You only use your impact gun after you break nuts loose with a breaker bar?/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif That's the reason I want an impact wrench; so I don't have to strain something to get them loose. For putting most things back together, yes, I use my hand tools, and about the only time I've used a torque wrench is head bolts, but then folks like you and I have probably been turning wrenches most of our lives. If a guy isn't accustomed to doing so, he might be well advised to have a torque wrench so he knows how tight he's getting those nuts and bolts. And as for checking by hand after using the impact, good advice again for a novice. It may even be good advice for everyone, but I don't do it; I just run my lug nuts, blade bolts, etc. on there with the impact and go. I agree that just because the box says xx number of ft./lbs. doesn't mean it does; but I rebuilt my impact wrench myself so I trust it./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

jdkid · Jul 14, 2001

Hi ya Bird
i'll clear it up a bit i have a 1/2 inch impact gun but most nut's i crack with a bar i use 3/4 with 3-5 foot bracker on the end .i find the impact good on starter pawls ,chainsaw brake drums ,smaller things that spin and hard to hold, mass bolts ie my seed drill has 63 discs on it each one has 6 bolts thats where a impact gun comes into it's own class .
oh yea if my scanner was playing the game i'd send ya's something to read about CRC, WD40 etc etc they did a test and found better after 5 minutes than leaveing over night and also kero and diesel were not far behind the top of the line for freeing rusted nuts
catch ya
JD Kid