A mechanic must possess a number of essential tools in his toolbox and an air impact wrench is one of those tools.
With an air impact wrench, lug nuts can be both tightened and loosened, which makes it a tool that is very important for car mechanics and repair professionals.
However, choosing an air impact wrench in today’s times may be difficult, as there are so many options to choose from. There are many variants that are extremely powerful that may not be ideal for car owners who simply want to perform repairs by themselves.
To help you out, we have compiled a list of the best air impact wrenches that DIY users should consider buying.
Campbell Hausfeld TL140200AV
If you are looking for something lightweight and affordable, then the Campbell Hausfeld TL140200AV is the perfect air impact wrench for your needs.
This air impact wrench features a selection dial, which you can use to choose from low, medium, or high speeds, giving you greater control over the lug nut tightening and loosening processes.
The average air impact wrench weighs around 10 pounds, but this one weighs much lesser, which makes it a great tool for beginners.
The only major downside is that this air impact wrench cannot be used for very heavy-duty applications, as its torque is only 550 foot-pounds. However, that is enough power for most situations that require the use of air impact wrenches.
Advantages
- Speed selection feature
- Extremely lightweight
- Affordable
- 1,200 impacts/minute
Drawbacks
- Limited power makes this unfit for extremely heavy-duty applications
Craftsman 9-16882
The Craftsman 9-16882 is a pneumatic impact wrench that will certainly appeal to people looking for really cheap air impact wrenches. However, if you need a really powerful air impact wrench, it’s best to steer clear of this particular product.
The major strength of this wrench is its sound level during operation, which is stunningly low, making it perfect for completing work without having to deal with a lot of noise.
As far as downsides go, the only major drawback of this particular air impact wrench is its inability to loosen or tight rusted bolts due to its low power.
A lot of users have also complained about the product’s durability. So, if affordability is your only priority when purchasing an air impact wrench, then you should definitely consider buying this. But if you have money to go for a higher-quality model, you should steer clear of this.
Advantages
- Works quietly
- One of the cheapest air impact wrenches
Drawbacks
- Low power
- Unable to work with rusted or stuck bolts
- Has durability issues
Ingersoll Rand 2145QiMax
The Ingersoll Rand 2145QiMax may feel really heavy as it weighs over seven pounds, but once you get the hang of it, it is very easy to use.
One of the most powerful air impacts wrenches available in the market today, this product boasts of 1350 foot-pounds of power. So, even the most rigid and rusted of bolts can be loosened/tightened easily using this tool.
Even though the Ingersoll Rand 2145QiMax is expensive compared to the previous air impact wrenches mentioned in this list, it surprisingly falls short on the durability front. The two-year warranty provided by Ingersoll thankfully comes in handy.
Advantages
- Powerful
- Can loosen/tighten rigid and rusted bolts
- Two-year warranty period
Drawbacks
- Not durable
- Can seem heavy to beginners
- Pricey
Neiko 30128A
For basic requirements, the Neiko 30128A is a quite solid air impact wrench. It is on the smaller side and also weighs less than the average air impact wrench. Its design allows users to access really tight working spaces with it.
However, if you want to buy an air impact range for heavy-duty applications, you should consider something else, as is only features a meager 600 foot-pounds of torque.
The Neiko 30128A is also ineffective when it comes to loosening extremely corroded bolts. Even moderate corrosion levels are something that this product fails to deal with effectively.
Advantages
- Reasonably priced
- Compact shape allows it to reach tight workspaces
Drawbacks
- Ineffective for removing moderately or extremely rusted and rigid bolts
- Limited power makes it unfit for heavy-duty work
DEWALT DWMT70773L
DEWALT is one of the leading power tool producers in the world and the company’s offerings rarely disappoint.
The same can be said for the DEWALT DWMT70773L, a small air impact wrench that is a powerful little tool that can benefit both professionals and beginners. The compact design of this air impact wrench allows users to use it with a single hand.
The controls have been placed keeping the single-handed use in mind and you can easily reach them all when you are using just one hand to use it.
However, the major drawback of the DEWALT DWMT70773L is its low power, which is disappointing considering its price.
Offering just 650 foot-pounds of maximum power, it is not ideal for heavy-duty applications and fails to loosen even moderately rigid and rusted bolts.
The yellow casing of the wrench attracts a lot of grime, which can make it look bad after just a few uses. Overall, the tool makes for a great pick if you want something lightweight that is easy to use and delivers efficient results.
Advantages
- Perfect for one-handed use
- Controls are placed keeping one-handed use in mind
Drawbacks
- Expensive
- Attracts dirt and grime
- Ineffective for loosening moderately rusted bolts
AIRCAT 1150
If you want to loosen or tighten even the most rusted and rigid bolts very quickly, the AIRCAT 1150 is the perfect air impact wrench.
The AIRCAT 1150 comes with a whopping 1,295 foot-pounds of power and considering its power and the fact that it generates 1400 blows every minute, it is a relatively quiet machine, producing only 86 decibels of sound when operating at full-thrust.
The one disadvantage of using this air impact wrench is the fact it generates a lot of vibrations, especially when operating at full power. These vibrations may make this a difficult tool to use for beginners.
The company provides a two-year warranty, which is good enough to cover buyers in case there are any technical difficulties with the tool.
Advantages
- Incredibly powerful
- Two-year warranty period
- Relatively quiet
Drawbacks
- Vibrations when used at full power
So there you have it, a list of the best air impact wrenches for DIY purposes. If you want to check out some more alternatives, click on this link: https://www.thewrenchguy.com/best-air-impact-wrench/