[TR] Recommendation for an impact wrench

[Jerry Van Vlack]

What are the recommendations on the electric impact wrenches. Who has a good 
one for a reasonable price?
JVV

-----Original Message----- 
From: Randall
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 5:45 PM
To: 'Triumphs'
Subject: Re: [TR] Recommendation for an impact wrench

> Can any one recommend one for the old job. Harbor Freight seems to
> carry
> inexpensive ones. What should I look for in one?

Main thing IMO would be a torque rating about 3 times higher than what you
actually need.  A cheap "250 ft-lb" model is fine for lug nuts and such, but
mine (from JC Whitney I think, many years ago) won't actually develop more
than about 100 ft-lb on its rated 90 psi.  The "450 ft-lb" model (same
source IIRC) will actually remove a nut that has been torqued to 150 ft-lb.

I haven't tried a regular impact wrench from HF, but I've been reasonably
pleased with their other air tools (including a 3/8" "Butterfly" impact
wrench).  Not perfect by any means, nor as good as an IR or Chicago
Pneumatic (as opposed to the "Central Pneumatic" with the same initials).
But considering that the entire lot cost less than one good one, I feel they
were reasonable value for the money.

-- Randall