Impact wrench

[Doozer]

Anyone know a place that rents impact wrenches (with the air compressor)? Better yet, does anyone feel like having a beer with me while I use theirs?

I just found out that one of my coils is on upside down, so I need to flip it. It's a quick job, but I have 1 damn bolt on my car that would go a lot easier with an impact wrench. I could probably do it manually, but it might make my arms fall off ...

[eglove]

i have a portable one, whereabouts do you live?

[Doozer]

PM'd, thanks!

[climer]

In the worst case, you can drive your car to U Wrench and rent theirs.

[frozenrice]

Portable as in cordless impact or portable compressor? Some of those cordless electrics don't have enough torque to get the job done in some cases. Nice alternative if you don't have a compressor is a plug in electric impact.

[Doozer]

Much thanks to eglove. He brought over his battery-powered unit and it seemed to do the trick. It probably helped that I had those bolts undone only a week ago to do the original installation, but the impact tool definitely helped. Especially for the part I wasn't even planning on using it for - with the lug nuts that Nissan tightened way too tight (I snapped a ratchet trying to get one of the lugs off).

However, I'm keenly interested in a portable impact wrench now, and a straight plug-in electric unit might be just the ticket.

[eglove]

> Link to Impact gun < (http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443303343&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396673423&bmUID=1208404874436&deptid=1408474396672839&ctgrid=1408474396672841&subctgrid=1408474396673423)


that's the new model, but exactly the same as last years. it's saved me in alot of situation, it has enough grunt to get the job done. sure it doesn't have the testicle tearing power of a compressed air impact gun, but it works!

especially when you get it on sale for half price!

nice meeting you doozer!

[frozenrice]

Impacts are handy (and addicting?) once you've gotten used to using them. I have an electric, air and a cordless. I've seen one's now that you can plug into your car's lighter outlet.

Every so often I see the electric one that I have on sale at Crappy Tire for around $75. It's a bit bulky but has lot's of torque. If you have a stack of CT money you can get it for pretty cheap. I got the cordless one above as well when it was on sale for $99, with my stack of CT money it only cost me $75.

Plug-in impact (http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396674301&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441895979&bmUID=1208405454684&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true)

[canuckcarguy]

When I wanted a cordless impact driver, I turned to eBay. Since I already had some Dewalt cordless tools, I simply bought one without a battery. There are lots on there that are for sale without the battery, I think it's when people buy a tool package but don't want certain tools. If you've already got a decent cordless drill, it's one way to go...

I paid $75, delivered, for an 18-volt Dewalt. Plenty of torque, though it'll never match a proper air set-up.

[whiskas]

Princess auto had one for sale last week for $68, same specs as the cdn tire one.

[topmade]

^^^ For the price of that 3K0 one and a bit more, you can get a 18v lithium Ion Makita impact that has more torque + another drill for $299 at HD. It comes with a high speed 15 minute charger and 2 batteries. I bought mine a while ago, and am not sure if it's still for sale, but it's an awesome deal.

And for the plug in impact, wait for a sale, I bought the exact same one + a complete impact socket set for $49.00

[Doozer]

Originally posted by topmade
^^^ For the price of that 3K0 one and a bit more, you can get a 18v lithium Ion Makita impact that has more torque + another drill for $299 at HD. It comes with a high speed 15 minute charger and 2 batteries. I bought mine a while ago, and am not sure if it's still for sale, but it's an awesome deal.

And for the plug in impact, wait for a sale, I bought the exact same one + a complete impact socket set for $49.00
That's interesting ... I might have to check out the kits, because I was going to buy myself a new drill this summer anyway. I have $130 gift card for Home Depot, and I'd pretty much decided on going and getting the DeWalt 18V cordless drill. If I can get a similar drill with an impact wrench for a few more bucks, that would definitely be worth it.

Do you have a link to that package? I took a quick look on the website and couldn't see any kits.

[The Cosworth]

Princess auto was where I bought my $60.00 electric impact with imperial sockets. Then bought metric for $9.99

Was powerful enough to do my springs

[topmade]

Originally posted by Doozer

That's interesting ... I might have to check out the kits, because I was going to buy myself a new drill this summer anyway. I have $130 gift card for Home Depot, and I'd pretty much decided on going and getting the DeWalt 18V cordless drill. If I can get a similar drill with an impact wrench for a few more bucks, that would definitely be worth it.

Do you have a link to that package? I took a quick look on the website and couldn't see any kits.
Here you go: http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogSearchResultView?D=971140&Ntt=971140&catalogId=10051&langId=-15&storeId=10051&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntx=mode+matchall&recN=0&N=0&Ntk=P_PartNumber

I bought it for $299, but I think $349 is still a good deal. It packs quite a punch for a compact drill and pretty much every time I use it everyone wants to try it and they think it's awesome. I went on ebay and got some bigger 3.0a batteries for like $60 to my door and basically this thing will last all day on one charge, but don't take me wrong, the batteries they come with are fine, I just wanted something that lasted longer.

[Doozer]

^^ Thanks, I think I'll go take a look at that set this weekend.

[Doozer]

Originally posted by topmade

Here you go: http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogSearchResultView?D=971140&amp;Ntt=971140&amp;catalogId=10051&amp;langId=-15&amp;storeId=10051&amp;Dx=mode+matchallpartial&amp;Ntx=mode+matchall&amp;recN=0&amp;N=0&amp;Ntk=P_PartNumber

Picked that set up today. I wanted to try out the impact driver soon, but not like this - putting my winter tires back on tomorrow. :cry:

[frozenrice]

Good stuff.
Just one tip if you're new to owning/using an impact. I was told to always hand thread the nut/bolt as far in a possible before hitting it with the impact. This will reduce the chances of cross threading and damaging anything. It's also a good idea to hand torque afterwards as well.

[Doozer]

Originally posted by frozenrice
Good stuff.
Just one tip if you're new to owning/using an impact. I was told to always hand thread the nut/bolt as far in a possible before hitting it with the impact. This will reduce the chances of cross threading and damaging anything. It's also a good idea to hand torque afterwards as well.

:thumbsup: Thanks for the tip....

[canuckcarguy]

Just thought I'd let you know, Princess Auto has their electric impact driver on sale from April 22-26, $58.88 and comes with 4 sockets.

[RickDaTuner]

The master craft one is only about 80 ft/lbs capable, some of the corded electric ones can go anywhere from 150-600ft/lbs typically for most light mech jobs you only need about 120 ft/lbs, anything above 300ft/lbs and an inexperienced user will result in many broken, snapped, stripped and cross threaded bolts... really though an impact gun is only usefull for chassis bolts, and other above 100 ft/lbs rated fastners, everything else can be removed with a breaker bar, and a heat gun.

[Weapon_R]

Originally posted by canuckcarguy
Just thought I'd let you know, Princess Auto has their electric impact driver on sale from April 22-26, $58.88 and comes with 4 sockets.

Do you know how many ft/lbs its rated at?

[Doozer]

Originally posted by RickDaTuner
really though an impact gun is only usefull for chassis bolts, and other above 100 ft/lbs rated fastners, everything else can be removed with a breaker bar, and a heat gun.
Agreed - when I changed my suspension, which was the first time I'd ever used one, I think the max torque of any bolt was 100ft/lbs. Although this new driver definitely helped with the over-torqued lugs that Nissan left me with last week.


Originally posted by Weapon_R
Do you know how many ft/lbs its rated at?
I just downloaded the flyer, and it looks like there's a few in there, but the one he mentioned is rated at 185ft/lbs.

The cordless one I bought is 1280in/lbs, so if the inch/foot conversion is 12:1, then mine is about 106ft/lbs. Which is fine for me, since most of the chassis bolts (like the suspension) that I would be touching max at around 100ft/lbs. And I sure as hell don't want to 'accidentally' be putting 200ft/lbs on a bolt that is supposed to max out at 100. Plus the cordless factor is huge for me, when you've got stuff spread out all over the garage floor...

[Weapon_R]

Originally posted by Doozer

Agreed - when I changed my suspension, which was the first time I'd ever used one, I think the max torque of any bolt was 100ft/lbs. Although this new driver definitely helped with the over-torqued lugs that Nissan left me with last week.


I just downloaded the flyer, and it looks like there's a few in there, but the one he mentioned is rated at 185ft/lbs.

The cordless one I bought is 1280in/lbs, so if the inch/foot conversion is 12:1, then mine is about 106ft/lbs. Which is fine for me, since most of the chassis bolts (like the suspension) that I would be touching max at around 100ft/lbs. And I sure as hell don't want to 'accidentally' be putting 200ft/lbs on a bolt that is supposed to max out at 100. Plus the cordless factor is huge for me, when you've got stuff spread out all over the garage floor...

I saw that one too. There's also a cheaper one claiming 280lbs, but I'm not so sure about that.

As for 106ft/lbs, I think you might be disappointed. I've got a dewalt cordless rated at over 300lbs, but it runs out of juice really quickly and it's no where near as capable as an air/corded model.

[Doozer]

Oh, I agree that a cordless one isn't meant to even compare to a corded/air tool. No question in terms of power. But this set is the 18V kit, with the 15-minute charging lithium-ion battery, so while it's not going to compare to a corded tool for overall power, it seems to be probably one of the best cordless ones out there.

[vtec96]

so the 185 ft-lbs one should be able to remove the lug nuts for changing wheels...right?

[Weapon_R]

Originally posted by vtec96
so the 185 ft-lbs one should be able to remove the lug nuts for changing wheels...right?

Doubt it.

[adam c]

Originally posted by vtec96
so the 185 ft-lbs one should be able to remove the lug nuts for changing wheels...right?

gonna need at least 300lbs/ft to remove lugs

[vtec96]

Originally posted by adam c


gonna need at least 300lbs/ft to remove lugs

really?? I thought most cars max torque for wheels are around 95~105:dunno:

[Doozer]

300lbs? WTF? Maybe if you're only thinking of the track and have an air tool for every time you're changing them. But think about this ... any lug that can't be loosened by hand is going to leave you stranded the first time you get a flat, so you can be damn sure I'm not tightening lugs to 300lbs.

I used my cordless driver this weekend for changing the lugs that Nissan overtightened. I actually snapped a ratchet trying to loosen them, yet this new cordless impact driver got every lug off no problem.