Accessories
Best Air Impact Wrench
Air impact wrenches have been around for a long time and are not really new. Basically, they are an air-powered, large-sized socket wrench with huge air-pressurized power for tightening and loosening nuts on just about any kind of car. They work much like nutcrackers because the big boom that drives them open has a lever that opens it by air pressure pumping in along with a crank that closes it back. So basically the key to this tool’s power lies in the air pressure that they use as their leverage.
- There are many advantages to using these wrenches. First, there is no need to use ratchets or tension straps because these air impact wrenches have a large crank and knob that can exert incredible torque. Second, the large size of the wrench means that it can be used to tighten bolts that are very hard to tighten with standard wrenches. Third, they have a wide range of torque so that you can use them on a variety of equipment without worrying about making a mess. Finally, because they use air compression to generate the power behind the wrench, they can operate in extreme cold and extreme heat. This means that you can tighten your bolts in the middle of the summer and in the dead of winter if you wanted to.
- One of the main downsides to these wrenches is that they do not work well with smaller or shorter items because the larger crank and knob are just too cumbersome to handle. This is especially true when there is only a small hole to tighten the nut or bolt and you need to go through the length of the entire length of the HVAC duct to do it. The solution to this is to get a variable-speed air impact wrench. These are basically a belt clip air impact wrench that uses variable-speed motors to run the wrenches instead. Because there are separate belts for each of the wrenches, you can move it around easier to tighten the bolt without changing the rotation speeds. However, the downside to this is that it does not provide as much torque since the motor has to use much more air.
- These type of air impact wrenches also have the benefit of being very portable. Even if you have to carry a regular hammer in your car, sometimes it is still a good idea to use one of these because they are more convenient and safer than the regular ones. The primary reason why they are safer is that they do not use regular air pressure. Instead, the air comes from compressed CO2 and is expelled through a plastic hose that goes into the tool. The pressure from this actually keeps the air traveling faster, which makes it safer because it slows down or stops the impact more quickly.
- On the downside, an air impact wrench does cost more than its corded counterpart. This is because you need to have an air compressor in order to use one of these, which is an investment. You also need to make sure that you have a good compressor for your needs so that you don’t end up wasting your money on something that will just break. The air compressor takes up space, though, and some models are rather large, so you may be restricted where you can place them in your car. Also, it can take up a good amount of room on your trunk, or even inside your glove box so you may want to choose one with a cord if you don’t have a lot of space.
The last option for choosing the best air impact wrench is to go with the cordless variety. They are incredibly convenient and allow you to use your impact wrench whenever you need to because they always have a charge. However, they are not as strong as their battery-powered cousins and it is important to make sure you have a strong battery backup if you need it. They also require the use of a regular power source and they are far less portable since you have to use a cord for them to work. They do allow you to loosen bolts much easier than a battery-powered model and the price difference is not very significant, but they both are worth a look in order to decide which would be best for your needs.