Air impact wrench

It seems like lately this site is down more than it is up but it's up right now, so I have a question. I love tools and anytime I can come up with an excuse to buy one, I take it.

I need to replace both sway bar links on my daughter's 2000 Infiniti G20. Sway bar links are pretty cheap so it's a small investment since my labor will be free. Since she is a poor college student, this is a good thing. I am sure I could remove each of the existing sway bar links with a typical ratchet wrench, cheater bar, and PB Blaster but that's pretty boring. I do not have any air tools. Maybe that should change. An air impact wrench has more muscle than me even with a cheater bar. It is also an "impact" wrench so there is more to it than muscle. Have you found the impact aspect of an air wrench helps you out a lot with projects?

If I do get an air impact wrench, I know the prices vary widely. I will definitely not buy any crap from Harbor Freight but on the other hand, I can't justify a $500 tool either. I was browsing Amazon. This DeWalt would probably be sufficient for the infrequent use I would give it.

https://smile.amazon.com/DEWALT-DWMT...+impact+wrench

What are your thoughts?

Air impact -> big ass compressor + thick hoses.

Have to say I've had good luck with harbor freight stuff. Yes it's not designed to last forever but I bought a 10 inch sliding miter saw last year, paid the extra for the warranty, cut a ton of stuff with it and then tried to get fancy and do notching I should have done with a hand circular saw anyway and broke the guide. Took it back, they looked up the warranty, gave me a brand new one and I paid $35 to put 2 year warranty on that.....Brand new saw with 2 year no questions asked warranty....I really can't complain.

Remember DO NOT USE standard sockets with an impact. You must use impact sockets. Standard sockets will break apart rather dangerously. Factor a good set of impact sockets into your price

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Originally Posted by 74AD

Have to say I've had good luck with harbor freight stuff. Yes it's not designed to last forever but I bought a 10 inch sliding miter saw last year, paid the extra for the warranty, cut a ton of stuff with it and then tried to get fancy and do notching I should have done with a hand circular saw anyway and broke the guide. Took it back, they looked up the warranty, gave me a brand new one and I paid $35 to put 2 year warranty on that.....Brand new saw with 2 year no questions asked warranty....I really can't complain.

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Interesting. Out of curiosity what did you pay for that saw? I needed a new one and just bought a 10" sliding last week at Home Depot. We just got a Harbor Freight in my town about 5-6 months ago and I've never been in it.

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Originally Posted by Pinnacle-Project

It seems like lately this site is down more than it is up but it's up right now, so I have a question. I love tools and anytime I can come up with an excuse to buy one, I take it.

I need to replace both sway bar links on my daughter's 2000 Infiniti G20. Sway bar links are pretty cheap so it's a small investment since my labor will be free. Since she is a poor college student, this is a good thing. I am sure I could remove each of the existing sway bar links with a typical ratchet wrench, cheater bar, and PB Blaster but that's pretty boring. I do not have any air tools. Maybe that should change. An air impact wrench has more muscle than me even with a cheater bar. It is also an "impact" wrench so there is more to it than muscle. Have you found the impact aspect of an air wrench helps you out a lot with projects?

If I do get an air impact wrench, I know the prices vary widely. I will definitely not buy any crap from Harbor Freight but on the other hand, I can't justify a $500 tool either. I was browsing Amazon. This DeWalt would probably be sufficient for the infrequent use I would give it.

https://smile.amazon.com/DEWALT-DWMT...+impact+wrench

What are your thoughts?

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Another thing is check craigslist, ebay, etc. Might find a decent used one or a set for a good deal.

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Originally Posted by 3fingersalute

Interesting. Out of curiosity what did you pay for that saw? I needed a new one and just bought a 10" sliding last week at Home Depot. We just got a Harbor Freight in my town about 5-6 months ago and I've never been in it.

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$95 on sale then $35 for the warranty.
Got almost a year out of it.....then warrantied it.

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Originally Posted by 74AD

$95 on sale then $35 for the warranty.
Got almost a year out of it.....then warrantied it.

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That's awesome. I went with a Roybi which is Home Depot's cheaper brand (like Kobalt for Lowe's) and it was on sale for $169 and I had a 15% off coupon so I got it for $144. Guess I should have checked Harbor Freight... :(

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Originally Posted by Pinnacle-Project

https://smile.amazon.com/DEWALT-DWMT...+impact+wrench
What are your thoughts?

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Needs 5.9CFM@90PSI. You'll be like this guy. http://www.funny.com/funny?fn=CBQ2E

(and no, the regular compressor won't do, I have to put both mine in parallel to get the flow and drops the pressure in no time from a single nut or bolt).

My buddy uses electric impact wrench. He swears it does just as good as air and you just plug it in and go.

He also has some torque extensions when putting stuff on then uses a torque wrench to make sure everything is right.

I dont know what brand he uses, but we used it on my truck. Something like on this page. But get a real one, not an impact drive, an impact wrench. https://www.sears.com/search=electric%20impact%20wrench

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Originally Posted by Overdrv

Remember DO NOT USE standard sockets with an impact. You must use impact sockets. Standard sockets will break apart rather dangerously. Factor a good set of impact sockets into your price

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I only have standard sockets so my plan is get some impact sockets at the Amish auction I go to twice a year. The auction is not until September 8 but that's okay because I will be out of town on vacation for half of August and I am busy now. I will do this project in early to mid-September.

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Originally Posted by CeeBee

Needs 5.9CFM@90PSI. You'll be like this guy. http://www.funny.com/funny?fn=CBQ2E

(and no, the regular compressor won't do, I have to put both mine in parallel to get the flow and drops the pressure in no time from a single nut or bolt).

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Yes, the compressor is important. I would consider mine to be a medium size. It's an old Sanford twin cylinder from Minnesota. It has a 22 gallon tank and tops out at 150 psi. Not as nice as my dad's and far from professional level but I think it will work. If I was doing a lot of sanding or grinding, I think it would be a problem because the air compressor would cycle on and off too much.

Funny story by the way.

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Originally Posted by 74AD

Have to say I've had good luck with harbor freight stuff. Yes it's not designed to last forever but I bought a 10 inch sliding miter saw last year, paid the extra for the warranty, cut a ton of stuff with it and then tried to get fancy and do notching I should have done with a hand circular saw anyway and broke the guide. Took it back, they looked up the warranty, gave me a brand new one and I paid $35 to put 2 year warranty on that.....Brand new saw with 2 year no questions asked warranty....I really can't complain.

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I did not know they had actual stores. I went by one over the weekend but was on my way to a car show so I did not stop.

IIRC they used to go from town to town with a semi trailer full of tools and catalog sales?

Either way, for tools I wont need very often or once, it seems like a good deal. If I hang drywall in my basement it will only be once so I won't need top shelf tools

If you've already got Ryobi batteries, I would think this sucka would work. It can remove lugs on wheels no problem:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ryobi-Too...&wl13=&veh=sem

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Originally Posted by Semper Fi

If you've already got Ryobi batteries, I would think this sucka would work. It can remove lugs on wheels no problem:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ryobi-Too...&wl13=&veh=sem

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Thanks but no Ryobi batteries. I only have two battery operated tools (a drill and a screwdriver). Generally speaking, I avoid them because once the batteries wear out, you might as well toss the tools because buying new batteries almost costs as much as new tools.

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Originally Posted by Larommi

I did not know they had actual stores. I went by one over the weekend but was on my way to a car show so I did not stop.

IIRC they used to go from town to town with a semi trailer full of tools and catalog sales?

Either way, for tools I wont need very often or once, it seems like a good deal. If I hang drywall in my basement it will only be once so I won't need top shelf tools

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that's exactly my thought process. I don't use tools a ton so the quality is fine for me. If after 2 years my $14 angle grinder dies I'm not really upset and going and getting another $14 one still has me way ahead of buying a top shelf one for $50 or more.....

Harbor Freight sells impact sockets. I bought a full set of metric and standard sockets for under 40 bucks total. I don't use them for much, mostly just getting the lugnuts off. Best money I've ever spent. I can rotate my tires in about 10 minutes total. Second best money I ever spent was the low profile jack from harbor freight. Much better than the normal 2 1/4 ton jack I used to use. Three foot long handle makes a world of difference jacking the car up. I use craftsman for tools that I use a lot, but for things that you rarely need, you can't beat harbor freight prices.

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Originally Posted by imarolan12

Harbor Freight sells impact sockets. I bought a full set of metric and standard sockets for under 40 bucks total. I don't use them for much, mostly just getting the lugnuts off. Best money I've ever spent. I can rotate my tires in about 10 minutes total. Second best money I ever spent was the low profile jack from harbor freight. Much better than the normal 2 1/4 ton jack I used to use. Three foot long handle makes a world of difference jacking the car up. I use craftsman for tools that I use a lot, but for things that you rarely need, you can't beat harbor freight prices.

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word!

Also, I bought an electric impact gun from them about 15 years ago. Cost was maybe 25 bucks. It's probably not quite as powerful as an air impact gun and doesn't sound as cool. It was worth the money for the first time I used it getting a rusted oil drain bolt unseized from my 83 Datsun 280 ZX back in the good old days. Still works great and has never seen a bolt yet it couldn't get loose, although I mostly just use it for lugnuts now. It's nice being able to rotate your own tires in under 10 minutes total time. We are lucky to have three different harbor freight stores in the city.

Those new Ryobi batteries are amazing. Lasted 4-5 years now, and I can still leave them in the cabinet for 4 months, and have a full charge with full torque.

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Originally Posted by imarolan12

It's probably not quite as powerful as an air impact gun and doesn't sound as cool.

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That's a deal killer. I love the sound of air tools. :)


As it turns out, I am going to have a chance to use my new air impact wrench before I work on my daughter's car next month. Earlier this summer, I did some exhaust work on my 2003 Tundra. The only portion of the exhaust that is still original is the driver's side catalytic converter. As I was pulling out of my neighborhood yesterday, my truck suddenly got loud. When I got to work, I looked under my truck and saw an oxygen sensor hanging on its cable. The bolts holding it onto the pipe next to the catalytic converter rusted away and it popped off. I suppose an exhaust shop could have welded on new bolts but why bother with a 16 year old cat? I will replace it this weekend. The bolts up by the exhaust manifold should be a good test for my new tool.

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Originally Posted by Pinnacle-Project

That's a deal killer. I love the sound of air tools. :)


As it turns out, I am going to have a chance to use my new air impact wrench before I work on my daughter's car next month. Earlier this summer, I did some exhaust work on my 2003 Tundra. The only portion of the exhaust that is still original is the driver's side catalytic converter. As I was pulling out of my neighborhood yesterday, my truck suddenly got loud. When I got to work, I looked under my truck and saw an oxygen sensor hanging on its cable. The bolts holding it onto the pipe next to the catalytic converter rusted away and it popped off. I suppose an exhaust shop could have welded on new bolts but why bother with a 16 year old cat? I will replace it this weekend. The bolts up by the exhaust manifold should be a good test for my new tool.

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If you can access it easily, it might be a good idea to soak it overnight with some PB blast. When my buddy replaced my exhaust, even with the air impact gun the exhaust bolts gave it quite a bit of trouble. The ones I was able to reach and hit with PB blast beforehand came out much much easier.

Just buy one of these :)

https://www.amazon.com/Bolt-Buster-B.../dp/B00ATSL7VE

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Originally Posted by Larommi

Just buy one of these :)

https://www.amazon.com/Bolt-Buster-B.../dp/B00ATSL7VE

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Maybe for Christmas.

On the other hand, I am not sure I have been good enough this year to get something that expensive.

I got the three bolts off up by the manifold earlier today. They came off fairly easily but I did learn in the process.

In the past, I would have soaked something like this in PB Blaster or Deep Creep ahead of time. Today, I just assumed the power of my new tool would make these penetrating oils unnecessary. The first bolt came off pretty easy. The second was firmly stuck, so I skipped it and went on to the third. The third started to come off okay but about halfway, it got stuck. I started to go back and forth between loosening and tightening. I hoped this would work but the bolt end up breaking about halfway down the length of the bolt. It is still long enough to be usable but ideally I would not have done that. Having learned my lesson, I returned to the remaining nut and soaked it with Deep Creep. I kept myself busy with something else for a couple hours and then came back to this. When I did, the previously stuck nut came off easily.

I am very happy with my new purchase.

https://i.imgur.com/Sd283MX.png

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Originally Posted by Overdrv

https://i.imgur.com/Sd283MX.png

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LOL!

that's hilarious!!!!!