Why the Impact Wrench is a Toolkit Essential

Why the Impact Wrench is a Toolkit Essential

Impact wrenches are fast becoming a toolkit essential. Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or you’re a bona fide motor mechanic, a cordless impact wrench is an easy to use and versatile piece of kit.

What is an Impact Wrench?

Impact wrench’s are designed to loosen or tighten lug nuts, bolts, and fasteners quickly and easily. Impact wrenches deliver enormous amounts of torque along with bursts of hammer-like impact. This means that even rusted, oversize, or difficult to turn nuts and bolts can be removed.

Common Uses

Impact wrenches are commonly used in the motor industry. And they’re most likely used to remove lug nuts when car tyres are changed. Given that the average age of cars in the UK is 8 years, an impact wrench will most definitely be required.

But it’s not just in car garages and in the assembly of heavy equipment and manufacturing where you’ll find an impact wrench, they’re also great for household DIY projects. They’re ideal for erecting patio furniture and other jobs that require a wrench with some power behind it.

What’s the difference between an impact driver and am impact wrench?

It’s not uncommon to be confused between an impact driver and an impact wrench. The main difference between the two is that an impact driver will often have a ¼ inch hex opening, whereas an impact wrench can be fitted with different size sockets making it a truly versatile piece of kit.

Types of impact wrench

Impact wrenches are classified according to their power source. Electricity and compressed air are the most commonly used, which is why corded and cordless impact wrenches are most commonly found in toolkits.

Corded impact wrenches tend to have better speed and torque control and are much easier to carry around, however they are more expensive when compared to air tools. If you’re using one for a long time they also have a tendency to overheat.

Cordless impact wrenches are highly portable and are ideal for working in tight spaces. However, they too are often expensive and continuous use can drain the battery.

Pneumatic impact wrenches use compressed air and are most commonly found in car repair garages and in assembly lines. Compared with electrical impact wrenches they’re inexpensive and have a longer tool life, however, in order for them to work effectively they require an uninterrupted supply of compressed air. There is also limited control over speed and torque.