I bought a Cambell Housefeld impact wrench a few weeks ago and never really liked it. It was like $58 and rated at around 400 ft lbs max torque. It just didn't seem to have the power that it should. I returned it and bought a Husky (home depot) 600 ftlbs max. It also seems kinda week. Both were/are oiled correctly. I'm using my Craftsman 30 gallon air compressor set at 90psi (max that both users manuals say to use). They just seem kinda week. For example, trying to take the wheels of my truck (torqued down with a torque wrench to 140 ftlbs) it takes some time to get the lug nuts off. Maybe 10 to 20 seconds. So is this normal. I've used impact guns in the past but never owned one. It doesn't seem right to me. If the thing is rated at 600 ftlbs in reverse, shouldn't it break loose a 140 ftlb nut pretty quick.

 

Most shop run there air up to 125psi.

 

Make sure the torque control is turned all the way up.

If you look closer you will see the gun actually has a max input pressure of 150psi, it's just rated at 90psi. Turn the pressure up to 125psi or what ever the compressor puts out.

 

what kind of air valve do you use the size will also lower the ammount of power that can be put out. I just bought an IR inpact gun. With the 3/8 valve that we use at my shop it can pump out 700 ft/lbs of torque on full reverse. But if I put a 1/2 valve it can do well over 1000 both using just normal 90 psi from our compressor. but busting up the psi of your air system can increase the power but make sure all of your equipment, tank compressor hoses air tools ect, can handle that much psi. And also did you oil your gun daily both the internals and hammering mechanisum. The hammer doesn't need to be oiled dily but does need some osacionaly TLC.

 

You need to look at the amount of air your air compressor is capable of supply vs. the amount of air the impact wrench needs. If the wrench needs 12scfm @ 90psi to operate at full potential, you will need an air compressor that is capable of supply that amount of air. A 30 gallon tank from Sears is probably only going to supply about 7scfm of air at 90psi.

Its not all about the pressure but the amount of air at that pressure.

The professionals will have 90 gallon air tanks set around 100psi. They don't need super high pressure, just lots of air at a certain pressure.

 

My step dad picked one from our local tractor supply store... it was one of the Farmhand models it was rated to 1200 Ft lbs max tq.. the thing was insane, I was using mine which is around 700 lbs I thinkg and the nuts that I couldnt get off, his would just blow them apart.. it was pretty cool.


-john

 

I've got a NICE I.R. 2131. Has the double hammer design rated at, I think 500 ft/lbs. W/ a nice grip. I love it, and it has torque to snap 1/2 inch bolts-easily. Otherwise, try running the line pressure up to 100 or so. Try oiling it, too.