Electric vs Air Impact Wrench: Which One To Choose?
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Pete Ortiz
- Last updated:
Wrenches are some of the most essential tools that any craftsman, automotive mechanic, or home repairman needs to have in their toolkit. While they’re standard tools, manual wrenches can be challenging to use on tightly installed nuts and bolts.
This is especially true when performing maintenance or repair work on vehicles or larger structures. Sometimes, nuts and bolts are installed so tightly that it’s impossible for you to loosen or remove them using muscle power alone. Even when you encounter regular nuts and bolts, using a power tool is often easier instead of undoing all the bolts by hand.
Enter impact wrenches. They provide the same fast response and excellent performance as electric drills. Although all impact wrenches are useful, it’s important to know the difference between electric and air impact wrenches so you know which one you should choose.
Quick Overview of Impact Wrenches
An impact wrench looks similar to an electric drill, but it’s designed for specific tasks. An impact wrench uses a power source to drive a hammer hidden in its interior, which strikes an anvil connected to the impact wrench’s square driver. The hammer causes the driver to turn and applies force to the nut or bolt that the wrench is attached to.
The impact wrench can perform the same function as a regular wrench but with more force and without requiring muscle strain on your part. Most impact wrenches can turn nuts and bolts in incremental bursts of power with each pull of the tool’s trigger.
Electric Impact Wrench Overview
Power Source
An electric impact wrench, as the name suggests, is powered by electricity. Electric impact wrenches come in either corded or cordless models. Corded electric impact wrenches provide more power than their cordless counterparts, and they remove larger sizes of bolts, nuts, and screws. However, corded electric impact wrenches are a little more cumbersome.
Portability & Power
Cordless electric impact wrenches are portable and smaller. Thus, they’re ideal for carrying from worksite to worksite or using in hard-to-reach places. However, cordless electric impact wrenches can run out of power quickly and are usually not as powerful as the other types.
Trigger Type
Both types of electric impact wrenches can come with variable triggers, which offer you greater control over the turning speed of the tool. This makes electric impact wrenches better for precision work, especially for beginners.
- More portable than air impact wrenches
- Many models come with variable triggers
- Easy to use
- Better for use in cramped or narrow spots
- Not as powerful as air impact wrenches
Air Impact Wrench Overview
Power Source
The big difference between air impact wrenches and electric impact wrenches is that air wrenches use compressed air to power the internal hammer and turn the driver. Compressed air does all the work rather than relying on a motor, but pneumatic impact wrenches need a powerful air compressor to function.
Portability & Power
Air impact wrenches are usually better for stationary work or use at a single worksite. Auto mechanic garages and manufacturing plants often use air impact wrenches instead of electric models. Although air impact wrenches are more cumbersome than cordless electric impact wrenches, they usually deliver more power. So, they’re better for taking care of larger nuts and bolts.
Trigger Type
While air impact wrenches don’t usually have variable-speed triggers, they’re pretty easy to operate, and you can adjust the power by adjusting the air compressor.
- The most powerful type of impact wrench
- Great for stationary work or garages
- Never runs out of power in most cases
- Can be bulky/difficult to move
- No variable triggers
When to Use an Electric Impact Wrench
All types of impact wrenches can be used for various construction or repair tasks. They’re most commonly used in the automotive industry. However, there are times when it’s best to have an electric impact wrench compared to an air impact wrench:
- For multiple worksites (i.e., when you need portability)
- For indoor repair work
- For working in cramped conditions
- When you don’t have space for an air compressor
- If you’re a beginner
The last condition is vital since electric impact wrenches are easier to use than air impact wrenches. You must only learn to use a single tool instead of the wrench and compressor.
Another Great Electric Impact Wrench
- COMPLETE DEMANDING JOBS WITH EASE: 7-1/2 Amp motor built for intense work
- EASILY INSTALL AND DETACH HEAVY FASTENERS with 450 ft-lbs of torque
- HIGH OUTPUT AND SPEED: Up to 2,200 RPM and 2,700 BPM for enhanced efficiency
When to Use an Air Impact Wrench
Thanks to their superior power, air impact wrenches are considered workhorses. Here’s when you should prioritize using them over their electric counterparts:
- When you have seized nuts and bolts to remove
- In an automotive repair shop/garage
- In a home garage with plenty of space
- At a long-term worksite
- When money isn’t an object
While this last case isn’t universally true, air impact wrenches are almost always more expensive than electric impact wrenches. This is doubly true if you don’t already have an air compressor and need to purchase one to go with a new air impact wrench.
Another Great Air Impact Wrench
- RELIABLE AIR TOOL: Delivering a maximum torque of 600 ft-lbs, the 231C features an adjustable power regulator for precise power control...
- CONVENIENT IMPACT DRIVER: This air wrench boasts exclusive features such as an adjustable power regulator and pressure-feed lubrication...
- HEAVY-DUTY CONSTRUCTION: Built to withstand demanding environments, our 1/2-inch-drive air hammer features a lightweight design. The...
Conclusion
The question of electric vs. air impact wrenches is somewhat straightforward: Do you need portability or power? If you need to move your wrench from place to place, use an electric tool. If you only need an impact wrench at a single location, an air impact wrench is your best bet.
Utimately, both types can make your repair or maintenance work much faster and easier. Remember to consider your budget and experience level before making a final decision, and you’ll be set!
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay
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