Foo - air comp sizing for impact wrench

Sears had a 10 pc set that included an impact wrench, impact hammer, etc on clearance for $30 off. I only have a 6gal(+~) A/C at home and was wondering if it would be big enough to work the air tools? I'm guessing not since in the reviews ppl were saying this set came free with a 33 gal compressor. Thanx


http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00916852000P?prdNo=5

Tank size doesn't matter so much. The compressor has a rating, in cfm that you would compare to the amount of air the tool needs to operate. Your link didn't contain that info.

Although, generally speaking, the ones with larger tanks also have more powerful motors.

Here is an idea:
http://www.about-air-compressors.com/images/Air-consumption-chart.gif

A 6 gallon tank will give enough air for short bursts. You will just have to give the compressor 10-30 seconds to fill back up between tasks. It can be annoying but it's not the end of the world.

Now, if you're painting, this is a different story. You can't be pausing for long so you need a lot of air delivery.

For general mechanical work, a small tank and compressor can work... your work flow will adapt to the amount of air you have "on tap".

You will probably have a lot of cycling, with the compressor running much more often.

You'll get in the habit of hand turning the things that are easy, while grabbing the air when it does you the most good. And when you need max pressure (say loosening lug nuts or big rusted stuff) you'll just wait for the the compressor to shut off at max psi.

Of course, as mentioned above, don't even think about painting ;-)

I tried it, I returned the tool, the compressor just doesn't supply the required volume of air that is needed to make it worth while.

Another question:

-Do I need to use impact sockets or will regular sockets work? I imagine the only difference is the type of material used, in which the impact sockets are a stronger metal to take the "impact".

Any sockets will work, but regular sockets will eventually crack and break. Impact sockets have thicker walls to stand up to the impact/pounding better. Even my 33 gallon 6 HP 220V compressor is not enough to keep up with SOME tools. A die grinder for example seems to take a butt-load of CFM. It will work OK but the compressor runs constantly.

Well I finally managed to get my air line hooked up with a regulator and filter……..I’m NOT goin into the trouble I had with that! Anyhow, tested the impact wrench on the lug nuts of my truck, no go. Not powerful enough to break em loose or tighten down. A/C must not be large enough OR I have some other problem going on. Great, spent all this money and can’t even use it. Oh well, typical for me.


I wish they would fix that worthless ****n search engine!

If all you need it for is lugs, you might look into a telescoping lug wrench.

I bought one when a tire shop put my lugs on with an impact wrench and I couldn't get them off with the stock tool or a star wrench. Now it resides permanently in my truck tool kit. No compressor needed.

Get a half inch flex bar,short extention and a socket to fit your truck. Craftman is good enough for home work and the warrenty is there. Then do as Wordbiker does and put the set up in the truck and don't take it out then it will be there if you ever need it.

I personally wouldn't use regular sockets on an impact gun if I could avoid it-I have, of course, but I've also shattered a few.

I also firmly believe that everyone needs a big, bad ass compressor. You really cannot go too big IMO.

I was in Sears one day checking out their compressors and so forth. They had a chart that indicated their 33gal compressor as the minimum to operate their impact wrench.

I had a friend that uses one of the 110V impact wrenches to change wheels on his race car.

Also, most impact wrenches have a torque adjustment, usually a dial at the bottom near the air inlet.

Make sure it's turned to high.

You shouldn't need much air VOLUME to break a lug nut loose... 8 to 10 "chuck-chuck-chucks" should get it loose. But you do need MAX PSI.

the tools says 90psi max, but it either isnt enough or my a/c just simply does't have the volume. I get a few strong "chuck-chuck-chucks" (guess that works to describe it!) then it dies off. The regulator doesn't stay at 90psi when the tools are being used and once I let go of the trigger, it slowly climbs back up to 90 psi. I can get bout 2 or 3 pulls like this before the comp. kicks on. I'm goin to take the wrench over to a friends house that has a slightly larger a/c and see what it does.

Does the length of hose between the comp. and tool matters? I have a total of 75'+ of hose and many (mostly air tight) connections (4'~ of hose from a/c to filter/regulator, quick connect at regulator so I can use air tools at work bench, then 25' of hose to my reel which has 50' on it then a coil hose).

AHH the regulator. Regulators NEVER worked well for air tools for me, only for paint guns and blowers.

You should have two outlets on the compressor, one regulated, one direct. Try the direct unregulated line.