shopping for an impact wrench - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DuckMuck · #1 03-01-2003, 04:28 AM

...was installing a set of new rear shocks in a friend's car last night, and noticed that an impact wrench would be a great tool to have in the garage...I don't think I will be using it too often, so I can't justify gettin' something expensive...I just need a nice, reliable, solid performing impact wrench to do some general work on the car ever so often...

...so I was just browsing around, and found this corded electric impact wrench bein' sold at Canadian Tire...it is an internal brand, Mastercraft...

the specs are:
Powerful 7.5-amp motor
228 ft-lbs of torque
2,700 bpm, 2,100 rpm
Cast aluminum housing
Hardened hammer plate
½" square drive
Rocker switch for single handed forward/reverse
Used for installation and removal of nuts and bolts
Three-year warranty

Lookin' at the specs, and for those in Canada who may have used it or have experience with the brand, what do some of you guys think? It is only $119CAD (around $80US)...decent enough for some work on the car ever so often? Thank you for any input...

leathermang · #2 03-01-2003, 08:37 AM

Do you have an air compressor ? If you do you can get a pneumatic one for about half that cost.

And just for the record.... never use an impact Tightening LUg nuts on wheels....always hand tighten....

DuckMuck · #3 03-01-2003, 02:17 PM

no...I do not have a compressor...but a compressor is quite a bit of money for a decent one, isn't it?

leathermang · #4 03-01-2003, 03:36 PM

Well, yes, but you might find a used one... and they are sure handy for a lot of stuff...My $200 Sears has lasted since 1979 with only one motor replacement.

kip Foss · #5 03-03-2003, 04:27 PM

The problem with using pneumatic tools is that regardless of how small the job you have to fire up the compressor and wait to fill the entire tank. Regardless of how well you seal the system it will bleed down. I will admit that a little 3/8 in. air ratchet would be handy from time to time but I can't figure out what I would do with all the time I would save by having one. I'd also have to listen to that damned compressor cycle on and off all the time.

I use an electric impact wrench and it works fine for everything I use it for. In my normal mechanicing I don't need 3-1200 lbs. of torque. My electric wrench will do everything on a car, save removing the crankshaft dampener, that I need. If you get one, get a name brand for which you can get parts. Stay away from Harbor Freight impacts. Try the Great Western catalog. Look up their 800 number on the net.

leathermang · #6 03-03-2003, 06:37 PM

Gee Whiz Kip,, I am betting you have never owned an air compressor...

First, my 20 gallon tank fills up in about 12 minutes...

Yes, it leaks some when I am not using it and restarts at 80 psi to take it back to 120 psi ... this takes about 8 minutes and happens about once every four hours if I do not unplug my compressor....

The number of inexpensive tools which can be run with air is amazing.... and some I have never seen made in Electric because of safety problems....

Wet sanding... you CAN do it with air tools.... very dangerous with Electric...

Wet sanding on cars is the only way to go for several reasons... it is much much cheaper than any other way... and the only way to get stuff really smooth..before painting (using your compressor).

MAGIC TOOL ... the air chisel... for rusted bolts, sheet metal, and any other really tough situation...

High speed air saw for sheet metal work on the car... amazing...

Combo sheet metal flanger / hole cutter.... this is an amazing tool which bends the metal in the car so you can put a sheet metal patch in the hole and place it flush with the original metal... it also pops the hole you can use for 'spot welding' or brazing through...

Many people don't have a garage to place equipment like this... but if you do have it I don't know how anyone gets along without air...

kip Foss · #7 03-03-2003, 07:25 PM

Leathermang.
You are certainly right about many air tools being the only answer to a certain type of repair. I don't do any paint and body work so I have never had a need for these tools, but I certainly would hate to try to work in this medium w/o them. I live in S.Texas where the Mexicans do that work far better than I could ever hope to, and a hell of a lot cheaper than I could buy the tools.

I have a 25x35 ft. workshop attached to a 3 car garage and have every tool that I could ever use, incl. an a large air compressor, but since most of my work involves steel fabrication and mechanics rather than body work I use an oxy torch where most would use a saw.

Duck Musk sounded as if he/she were just starting out and perhaps did not have either the money of facilities to have a compressor. If I were just starting out and committed to making a proper w/s and knew that I would do paint and body work I would invest heavily in air.

Ashman · #8 03-03-2003, 10:00 PM

I want an air compressor/impact wrench/salvo of air tools, just to say I have them, but more importantly to use them.

Can't you use an air compressor with a spray gun attachment for painting?

What about after washing the car? using the air compressor to blast out the water form allt he nooks and crannies is a great thing.

And what about keeping the tires full of air? an air compressor can do that too.

mmmmmm need air kompressor and tools... Its on the wish list.

Alon

leathermang · #9 03-03-2003, 10:32 PM

AShman, Of course you can.. but my post was getting long and I hated to look like I was beating up on Kip....
Those are excellant uses for compressed air.... since I usually use phosphoric acid to prep metal for painting... and it needs to be washed off (the way I do it) the air allows me to dry it immediately and spray it... just like you would do if you sandblast... which also needs to be air cleaned to get all the dust off before painting....

tvpierce · #10 03-03-2003, 10:44 PM

Your compressor shouldn't leak if you use teflon tape when sealing the outlet joint. (and disconnect the hose when your not using it)My Craftsman compressor comes up to 130 lbs in about 5 minutes and doesn't lose any -- even if I let it sit for over a month.

Jeff Pierce

240 Ed · #11 03-03-2003, 10:48 PM

I think that the electric one is perfect for the rare job you would be doing.

hill · #12 03-03-2003, 11:59 PM

I found the electric impact real handy for building decks and indispensable for getting euro bumpers and such off of cars that are being parted out. Look around they run in price from $50 to $300. The only big difference in how long they will last under heavy usage. The one you showed has the same specs as my BD pro at 1/3 of the cost.

DuckMuck · #13 03-04-2003, 03:30 AM

Thank you all for the input...I just need the impact wrench to remove tires probably like three/four times a year to adjust coilovers, maybe use around the house for some odd repair, or lend to a friend ever so often if they need it...I think it would probably see use for less than 20 outta 365 days of the year? I was just browsing through the isle at the local Canadian Tire while I was there and noticed this cheap one...I was more curious in respect to the specifications/features...if they were adequate or some important/useful feature was missing...

I can see some of the many wonderful uses for a compressor and the possibility for various attachments, but I don't think I will use any of the other tools...so it is kinda overkill...