Giving new life to my impact wrench

[cummins2k]

So I thought I would share for those of use who use an impact wrench to make life a little easier. My hands are shot so when I wrench on my cars I tend to use power tools where possible to lessen the strain on my hands.

I was using a Kobalt 350 ft/lbs wrench but the thing is fairly heavy and doesn't make that much power. Don't get me wrong it works well for it's intended purpose and actually is quite a bit better than any Campbell Hausfeld or Harbor Freight cheapies (i.e. $40 or less.)

So I purchased a composite NitroCat 1200k after reading some reviews on them. Ultimately I was shocked at how much power it had using an older 120v 20-gallon compressor. However there was still much to be desired on stubborn fasteners that I felt the 200-900 working torque would have no problem handing. I didn't feel the issue was with the compressor because it still would go some time without cycling. The hose is a 3/8" air hose with minimal coupling and the regulator is also 3/8" I.D. Pressure was maxed at 125psi.

Well on a trip to Homedepot to get some things for the house I went by the air tool section and found a 3/8 coupler kit. They were made to screw directly into the air tools 1/4 NPT threads, and best of all it cost $10. Part number is #HDA20700AV.

I figured for 10 bucks it couldn't be a huge loss and installed them the next day. The difference was night and day. It seems the wrench impacts a lot less and it takes fasteners off now that it would have struggled with before.

I really should have the gun on a leader hose but haven't got around to it yet. That is my next project lol.

So a heads up for anyone that is having issues getting power out of an air tool, it may very well be those cheap 1/4 couplers.

[dorkweed]

You do realize that it took a "college" edumucated engineer to reduce the size of the fittings so that they wouldn't work properly. You do realize now that you're possibly taking a job away from that incompetent engineer that doesn't deserve it if this gets out.......right??????? Just so you know what you're doing!!!:thumb1:Well done!!!!

[Mopar1973Man]

:banghead:I should really do this with all my air tools... It a good idea and I should of paid more attention to detail in the early years and I wouldn't be trapped with the restrictive air fittings today...

[cummins2k]

:banghead: I should really do this with all my air tools... It a good idea and I should of paid more attention to detail in the early years and I wouldn't be trapped with the restrictive air fittings today...

Well I don't know if you have a Home Depot nearby way out there but I have heard through the grapevine that Napa sells the individual parts to do basically the same thing. There are also 1/4" HVLP fittings meant for paint guns but they work equally well with other air tools, though I don't believe they flow as much as a 3/8" fitting.

[Mopar1973Man]

Well I don't know if you have a Home Depot nearby way out there but I have heard through the grapevine that Napa sells the individual parts to do basically the same thing. There are also 1/4" HVLP fittings meant for paint guns but they work equally well with other air tools, though I don't believe they flow as much as a 3/8" fitting.

There is nothing near me... Really... Napa is 52 miles 1 way... Nearest Home Depot is ~180 miles 1 way... Closest town to me with a population of about 300 people has a gas station, post office, grocery store, and 3 bars... Even Harbor Frieght is the same distance as HomeDepot... Everything is in Boise, ID... Just to give you a feel... Watch the vids... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPV0cnu7kdc and

[cummins2k]

There is nothing near me... Really... Napa is 52 miles 1 way... Nearest Home Depot is ~180 miles 1 way... Closest town to me with a population of about 300 people has a gas station, post office, grocery store, and 3 bars... Even Harbor Frieght is the same distance as HomeDepot... Everything is in Boise, ID... Just to give you a feel... Watch the vids...

and

Wow that is quite the trip. I have to say I envy you. I used to live in Iowa where it was quite the trip to the nearest town. Sure it made life a little more difficult since everything in the closest town closed at 7pm. I miss not being bothered and not having to worry about the neighbors because they were 20 miles away. Even though I live in a smaller town here in Colorado I am a mere 10 miles from a much larger town and 30 miles from Denver. I can't stand the traffic, smog, and politics. We used to go out in the backyard and practice shoot because we couldn't hit a neighbor not with anything in our arsenal at least. Seems here in Colorado you can't even scratch your own arse without a permit.