Impact wrench suggestions?

[BillG]

I got the first oil change in our Odyssey last week. Since it is so new, I took it to the dealer I bought it from.

As long as I was there, I also had them rotate my tires. They charged $40 just for the tire rotation. Ouch.

I usually don't want to mess with changing my own oil just to save $10, but $40 to rotate tires is steep. With two cars, I could see myself needing to rotate tires 5-6 times a year.

I was thinking about doing it myself and an impact wrench sure would make the job easier.

Anybody used an electric impact wrench on their lug nuts? I wonder if it would have the power to get the job done. It costs less than a compressor plus it would be easier to store.

I've never had air tools, but it looks like a pretty steep entry price. Sears has $300 model that comes with an impact wrench. Not sure I really need any other air tools other than using it as an inflator for tires, etc.

Any recommendations appreciated.

[Roger]

An electric will be ok for lugs, I used to use one before I got a compressor.

Now having said that BUY a compressor. You will not regret it and will be absolutely amazed at how much you use it. Wash the lawnmower, blow it off, computer power supply getting dirty, blow it out, keep a close eye on tire pressure (better mileage), dirty garage floor, blow it down, air cleaner a bit dusty, blow it off, windshield washer nozzles clogged, blow 'em out, you get the point. The more you use one the more uses you will come up with.

Roger

[rocky]

I've had one of these for years and used it to change tires over. 110v

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...8161_200318161

Heck, price is lower than I paid about 5 years ago....

[larrys]

Originally posted by BillG
I got the first oil change in our Odyssey last week. Since it is so new, I took it to the dealer I bought it from.

As long as I was there, I also had them rotate my tires. They charged $40 just for the tire rotation. Ouch.

I usually don't want to mess with changing my own oil just to save $10, but $40 to rotate tires is steep. With two cars, I could see myself needing to rotate tires 5-6 times a year.

I was thinking about doing it myself and an impact wrench sure would make the job easier.

Anybody used an electric impact wrench on their lug nuts? I wonder if it would have the power to get the job done. It costs less than a compressor plus it would be easier to store.

I've never had air tools, but it looks like a pretty steep entry price. Sears has $300 model that comes with an impact wrench. Not sure I really need any other air tools other than using it as an inflator for tires, etc.

Any recommendations appreciated.

I have an air impact wrench and never use it. For taking off the lugs I just use a deep-well socket on a breaker bar and, if needed, a longer pipe that fits over the breaker bar handle (for extra leverage).

When you own an air compressor, you're supposed to let out the air when you're done using it. For the time it takes to charge up the compressor and pull out the tools, I could have the tire already off using hand tools.

And, I would NEVER use an impact wrench to tighten the lugs. ONLY to remove them! I always use a torque wrench for tightening the lugs.

Good luck!
Larry.

[BillG]

Originally posted by larrys
When you own an air compressor, you're supposed to let out the air when you're done using it. For the time it takes to charge up the compressor and pull out the tools, I could have the tire already off using hand tools.

Yep. That is one of the things I was wondering about.

It seems like all of the compressors that are big enough to drive an impact wrench would probably take awhile to pressurize the tank.

Here is the one I am thinking about:

Craftsman compressor

Not sure how long that thing takes to pressurize, but I bet it would be a pain just to top up air in my tires.

[Roger]

Why on earth would you depressurize the tank? I have never heard of such a thing and have been working around air compressors for over 30 years.

[larrys]

Originally posted by Roger
Why on earth would you depressurize the tank? I have never heard of such a thing and have been working around air compressors for over 30 years.

I'm no expert on this (aside from reading the user instructions that came with every compressor I've ever owned) but, my understanding is that when you compress air, some of the moisture in the air turns into water in the tank and sits there. After a while (many years perhaps) that water will start to rust the tank from the inside. While pressurized, it could then explode. The instructions say I should depressurize the tank after each use and to also open the drain cock valve on the bottom too to allow that water to drain.

Later,
Larry.

[Roger]

Can't argue with that but it just doesn't make sense. The hose is connected to the tank with a quick disconnect so you can't just remove the hose and open the regulator to bleed the tank down. You would have to unscrew the air chuck. In the directions it even tells you to drain the moisture out of the tank daily (extreme but ok), why would you need to do that if you were emptying the tank after every use?

Look at the last step, "the air compressor can now be stored". What you're looking at there is for long term storage. I can see bleeding down the tank for that and actually I do when I go on deployment as my wife doesn't use it. You do not need to depressurise an air compressor after use.

Just bleed the water out of the compressor a few times a year and you will be fine.

How could the compressor explode due to rust? What would be the ignition source/fuel to cause an explosion. I could see a leak but an explosion?

[A6Pilot]

When you pressurize a tank with air (or a tire, for that matter) you are storing energy. A tremendous amount of energy, as it turns out. If the weld in an air tank were to rust through, the eventual failure could be catastrophic (sudden), releasing that energy virtually instantaneously. What you have is a bomb, complete with lethal shrapnel potential. Tire explosions with injury and death occur every year. Fatal air tank failures are not just the subject matter for ivory tower professors.

Kinda like seat belt usage, or even daytime running lights: We've learned the hard way that the subject deserves more respect than a loud discussion over a few beers, testosterone notwithstanding.

I guess that's the value of education, whether it be in the classroom, or in the University of Hard Knocks, or here.

Be careful out there, folks!

[larrys]

Originally posted by Roger
Can't argue with that but it just doesn't make sense. The hose is connected to the tank with a quick disconnect so you can't just remove the hose and open the regulator to bleed the tank down. You would have to unscrew the air chuck. In the directions it even tells you to drain the moisture out of the tank daily (extreme but ok), why would you need to do that if you were emptying the tank after every use?

There's actually a release valve by the on/off switch. Give it a pull and the air will release down to about 20psi.

Look at the last step, "the air compressor can now be stored". What you're looking at there is for long term storage. I can see bleeding down the tank for that and actually I do when I go on deployment as my wife doesn't use it. You do not need to depressurise an air compressor after use.

Just bleed the water out of the compressor a few times a year and you will be fine.

I really don't know if they're talking about long term storage or over night storage. This compressor is portable (on wheels) and I usually tuck it into a corner of the garage when it's not being used.

I should drain it after each usage but I find that I actually only drain it once very few months. I don't use it daily either though. I probably charge it up about once very 2 - 3 weeks for some use (Adjust tire pressure, nail guns, blow some dust off of my work, etc). When I do open it to drain it out (again, once very few months) I only get a small amount of water out of it (maybe a puddle about 3" - 5" around). But, the water is rusty looking. I wouldn't doubt that there's some surface rust in there.

When I buy my next compressor I may try a trick a friend suggested. Before the first usage, disassemble the whole thing and open up the tank. Poor in some rust preventing paint (like Rust-Oleum) and let it stay open while the paint dries. Once it's dry, reassemble it and use normally. I don't know if this would prevent the rust but it sure could slow it down .

Good luck!
Larry.

[Roger]

Your directions (which are exactly the same as mine by the way!) say to operate the regulator to bleed the air down, not to pop the safety valve.

Anyway, I'm pretty confident that my compressor (or anybody eles for that matter) will not explode if left pressurized.

[Roger]

Originally posted by A6Pilot
When you pressurize a tank with air (or a tire, for that matter) you are storing energy. A tremendous amount of energy, as it turns out. If the weld in an air tank were to rust through, the eventual failure could be catastrophic (sudden), releasing that energy virtually instantaneously. What you have is a bomb, complete with lethal shrapnel potential. Tire explosions with injury and death occur every year. Fatal air tank failures are not just the subject matter for ivory tower professors.

Kinda like seat belt usage, or even daytime running lights: We've learned the hard way that the subject deserves more respect than a loud discussion over a few beers, testosterone notwithstanding.

I guess that's the value of education, whether it be in the classroom, or in the University of Hard Knocks, or here.

Be careful out there, folks!

Can you show a single instance of a HOME air compressor tank EXPLODING (that wasn't overpressurized) and killing or even hurting someone? Popping a seam yes, exploding and releasing shrapnel??? I'm not taking about 4500 pounds here, we're talking about 135 maybe 150.

What are these tire explosions that you are referring to? Blowouts leading to crashing or overfilling truck tires and the split rim comes apart? Just curious.

[A6Pilot]

I realize how skeptical you are, but check out a few sites below for some clues. As I said in my original post, it's absolutely incredible how much energy is contained in a tire at 50psi, for example. As noted below, a 20" tire inflated to 100psi contains over 40,000 lbs of explosive force!

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owad...SES&p_id=12082

http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/-osha-...13/2243729.htm

http://www.labour.gov.sk.ca/safety/b...explosions.pdf

Try this study:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington 40536.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate injuries from tire and wheel explosions that occur during servicing. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of all injury reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. RESULTS: For the period of 1978 through 1987, there were 694 reported injuries from explosions during tire servicing; 143 of them were fatal.

https://www.rma.org/getfile.cfm?ID=469&type=publication

[Roger]

Not skeptical at all about split rims letting go. Read my last post (I specifically mentioned them as they are very dangerous). Very common occurrence and I've seen the results of that in my stepfathers garage (damaged ceiling when one let go while inflating). Yup, lots of energy and when they let go you better not be anywhere near them. We used to put them under the truck when inflating and no one was allowed anywhere near it. We also had a clip on air hose and a remote valve to fill the tire, these tires are no joke.

Those are nice links but read my last post more carefully, I asked for examples of home air compressors exploding.

Exploding home air compressors, that's what I'm skeptical about (and was also the original topic). Just don't think it to be a problem. Pressurize your compressor, leave it pressurized, drain the water periodically and sleep well at night, no worries.

[mriley]

To the original post...

One word of advice... torque wrench. Ok two words.

Don't rely on the impact wrench to give you accurate torque settings on the lug nuts. If you over torque the nuts, you will warp the rotors. If you under torque, you run the risk of loosing a wheel.

I use the lightest setting on the impact wrench and then follow up with the torque wrench.

And I always rotate my own tires because I don't trust the tire monkeys to accurating torque the wheels.