Impact wrench – electric vs air – what is better?
You can select among so many impact wrenches that it is impossible to provide an answer to that, without going into further detail. That’s why we prepared this short guideline on how to choose an impact wrench and what is better – an electric or air one.
Impact wrench – operation principle
The unit is supposed to create high torque, without any effort on part of the user.
The tool accumulates energy and transfers it (impact) to the shaft.
Then, thanks to the air being transferred from the compressor, the shaft starts to spin.
Regarding the electric impact wrenches, there are two types:
- corded impact wrench – connect it to an electric socket,
- battery impact wrench – with batteries on.
How much torque do you really need?
This is one of the issues that you often query us about. There is no single answer to that, though. It all depends on the types of cars you work with everyday. A different wrench would be needed for a tyre service and a different one for a regular garage. Picture this – you’d need to unscrew a rusty bolt at some good old IVECO 🙂
Anyways. Here’s just a short and handy article on how to choose an impact wrench: https://redats.com/blog/2019/07/22/how-to-choose-an-impact-wrench/
Is the electric impact wrench better than the air one?
Many people say that electric wrenches are more practical. This makes sense, since it requires no air supply.
But. There is always a but! Is that really so problematic for you? In your everyday work? Obviously, if you work at roadside assistance, you won’t always have a compressor at hand. Yet, in other cases, you need a compressor, right? Even for a tyre changer.
As said above – electric wrenches could be more comfortable to use. For instance, if you work in the field and need to remove stuck lug nuts far away from a compressor. Yet. Does that really happen to you on a daily basis?
For many mechanics, an electric wrench is better because they don’t have to worry about cables on the floor. Yes. That’s a huge advantage when you use a battery-powered impact wrench. If you use a corded impact wrench, though, there are cables anyway!
Battery impact wrench – is that comfortable?
Yes. Theoretically this is the best solution. You don’t have to wait for a compressor to fill it up with air. You got power at hand. All the time.
There’s one problem, though. A battery impact wrench is heavier than a regular air wrench. Or even a corded one.
Just an example. Air impact wrench REDATS P-220 (2200 Nm torque) weight is 2.14 kg. A similar battery wrench would weight around 4 kilograms!
You might be saying “Whatever. 2 KG is not a lot!” 🙂
Well. Try to use it for a few days in a row. And you’re gonna feel the difference.
Plus to that. Battery powered wrenches may require frequent battery loading. This means, they won’t be the best choice for a long use at a tyre service, during high season for instance.
One more thing. The size. In most cases, air impact wrenches are smaller than their electric counterparts. This means, they won’t fit in places where space is at a premium.
Your tool lacks power
Many people complain about their impact wrenches losing power. Or not being able to reach the torque values provided by the manufacturer.
When we talk about pneumatics, pressure is important but it is not the most important factor to consider. Before you say that your impact wrench is low quality or doesn’t work at all, remember the drill:
- Pressure is important but compressor size + efficiency can work wonders – that’s why it is so important to choose the right compressor.
| HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT COMPRESSOR – check this short guideline |
- The right hose – even the most powerful wrenches won’t work if the hoses are not good enough! So be sure there are no air leaks there!
What is better?
There is no single answer. Both unit types are for different purposes. Air impact wrenches are the right choice if you look for a sturdy and reliable tool for hard work on a daily basis. At the same time, the electric impact wrench is a great choice when you got no compressor at hand.
Money matters, too. In that respect, air impact wrenches are a better choice, as they are usually cheaper. If you want to get a good brand and powerful electric wrench, you would pay a price – for which you would get a few air wrenches. And if you work with car/tyre repairs, you’re pretty much sure that having a few tools (even as a spare one) is better than having one tool.
Check impact wrenches here: https://redats.com/products/61/4/impact%20wrenches