You may have noticed that pneumatic (or air-powered) tools are significantly cheaper than cordless electric ones if you’ve been recently bitten by the powertool bug. This is why?
Electric tools are really better than manual ones?
Are pneumatic tools really any good?
We will be focusing on the impact wrench and discussing the differences between air-powered and electric options. Here’s a video explaining what an impact wrench is and how it differs to an impact driver.
General Overview: Pneumatic Vs. Electric Impact Wrenches
Although pneumatic impact wrenches can be used for professional auto repairs, they are not very useful for everyday tasks around the house. Do you hear that high-pitched click-click-click-vrip sound from the mechanic when you visit them? These are powerful air wrenches that can quickly remove lugnuts. They are too powerful and overkill for woodworking and any other DIY tasks.
Pneumatic tools have their place in the world and have some distinct advantages over electric. They are also cheaper. You’ve probably already noticed this if you spend any time online shopping for tools and comparing prices. They don’t work without an air compressor, which can be quite expensive.
The weight advantage of pneumatic tools over electronic is also significant. Air impact wrenches are significantly lighter and more user-friendly than cordless ones. Although this may seem minor to professionals, it is a significant difference for professionals who use them daily.
Durability is also important. The batteries in the best quality electric tools today will last many years. However, pneumatic tools can last for decades if they are properly maintained and taken care of.
It is almost impossible to heat compressed air when it is cold. The more you use a pneumatic tool, the cooler it gets. This is in contrast to electric tools which can be damaged by overheating.
Furthermore, pneumatic wrenches are simpler to engineer, can withstand a lot of abuse and are easier to replace or repair parts if they break or get worn (unlike electric tools, which are almost disposable when something goes wrong).
The main problem with pneumatic tools is the fact that you are tied to a heavy, bulky air compressor. This is not a problem in professional shops that have hoses 6.1m long and compressors 1.8m high.
If you plan on using the small 91 Liters compressor in your garage to power an air impactor, don’t forget to recharge it every two minutes.
The greatest disadvantage of pneumatic tools being tied to an compressor is their inability to move freely.
Another plus is the fact that many cordless impact wrenches can be adjusted to suit your work. High-powered pneumatic guns can be used to do full-throttle or dead stop.
Electric tools have several disadvantages. They are more expensive than pneumatic and they are heavier. However, 95% DIYers will still be better off with a cordless wrench than a pneumatic.
Top Picks: The Best Pneumatic And Electric Impact Wrenches
These high-quality cordless tools have incredible specs. 1,61.0 m.lbs. How much torque is required for an 18V impact wrench Are you kidding? The good stuff, however, will cost you a lot. With cordless becoming more popular, pneumatic tools are getting less expensive.
The Best Pneumatic Impact Wrenches
These are very heavy-duty tools. If you don’t plan to rebuild a car in your garage, driveway, or garage, most DIY homeowners won’t really need a pneumatic impact wrench.
Ingersoll Rand 231C Impact Wrench
This shop classic is a true workhorse at a great price. It is a reliable, easy-to-use, and long-lasting air impact that can be trusted. However, it is only 129.5 m.lbs of torque which has left a lot of higher-quality cordless wrenches behind, power-wise.
Craftsman Pneumatic Impact Wrench
The best value purchase we’ve ever seen, it is dirt cheap. Craftsman’s 9-16882 is a great option if you want to add an impact wrench to your arsenal but don’t mind sacrificing a little quality in order to save some money.
DeWalt DWMT70773L Pneumatic Impact Wrench
This is the DeWalt standard and it delivers almost 243.8 mlb of torque. This would be the most important item in a shopping basket if we were to buy tools for an auto shop or home garage.
Impact Wrenches For Electric Motors
DeWalt DCF899B Cordless Air Impact
Another DeWalt stud. This cordless tool has insane numbers: it produces 213.4 mlb of sustained max torque and 1,61.0mlb of breakaway torque. These are incredible numbers, which were unheard of even a few years ago. The price of this wrench is not too high compared to other cordless tools.
Milwaukee 2763-22 M18 Fuel Cordless Impact
This tool is the envy of all automotive professionals and DIYers. Although it is a significant investment, it is worth it if you are serious about your tools and feel that you will get a lot out of it, and you know you have a need to purchase the best cordless impact wrenches.
Craftsman C3 19.2V Cordless Impact Hammer
A great value buy. This is a great value buy if you work on cars a lot or like to go to the junkyard. This will work well for occasional use. It is powerful enough to produce 61.0 mlb of torque and won’t break the bank.
The Bottom Line
Impact wrenches, whether pneumatic or electric, aren’t tools that you will use a lot around the house. A standard drill, or at most an impact driver, will suffice for general drilling, driving, fastening and other tasks. If youre an auto nut though (no pun intended) and are keen on adding an impact wrench to your arsenal, keep in mind the pros and cons of electric (expensive, heavy, super convenient, user-friendly) vs pneumatic (inexpensive, ultra powerful, durable/long-lasting, inconvenient without a good air compressor).
