Impact Wrenches - How do they work?

AmDaMan · 21 May 2006 at 15:22

How are these things different from drills? A drill will not stop if it catches on to a nut and will rip the drill out of your hand but how is an impact wrench different?

Especially when they are torquing to 150 ftlb+ How exactly could you hold it wile it was spinning that off?

Heliospherez · 21 May 2006 at 15:28

Do you mean an Air wrench (as in the ones used for wheel nuts) or an impact wrench (as in the type you hit with a hammer to get the nut turning)

I only use impact wrenches primarily to get very tight or nuts / bolts / screws loosened - and these types of wrenches transfer the power (using gears) of the hammer hit to a vast amount of rotational energy in the socket.

norm · 21 May 2006 at 15:46

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_wrench

Lashout_UK · 21 May 2006 at 15:53

I like using impact wrenches. Was using one to thoroughly round off some screw heads recently

AmDaMan · 21 May 2006 at 15:58

Yeah I mean the wrenches, How does it not take the tool out of your hand when trying to undo a really tight nut?

cheers for link.