3/8 Impact Wrench has Big Power in a Small Package

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Bigger is not always better in the tool world, and while many of the jobs that you will carry out on a day to day basis are made easier by more power, some are made more difficult. When you need to be able to get your hands on a tool that deals will with precision rather than relying on brute force, you will find that a 3/8 impact wrench is the perfect partner.

Although you probably associate an air impact wrench with the kind of relentless power required to remove a wheel or tighten up a set of bolts on an engine block to a very high level, they also have a wide range of other uses, and many of these rely on the ability of the impact wrench to perform under many different circumstances. One of the big advantages of a 3/8” impact wrench is in its ability to get into smaller spaces than the larger systems. This coupled with the design of the tool, which holds the nut in place in the grip meaning that when you need to get into a smaller area, you will be able to do so without any problems.

There are numerous different occasions where smaller size is a useful feature. Imagine trying to force a larger tool into the confined space between an engine and the chassis of a car, or into a tiny space under an industrial machine in a factory. Sometimes it seems as thought there are as many small areas as there are jobs that need doing, and having tool that is too big to use with care in a confined space makes the job harder to do and means that mistakes are more likely.

There are both electric powered and air powered 3/8 impact wrenches available, and the exact model that you choose will depend on your needs. An electric wrench does not require connection to a compressed air supply for power, and can simply be plugged into the mains electricity supply. This means that it is a little more convenient in use, although you do tend to find a little bit less power and torque than you would get from a compressed air model, and obviously the devices a re a little heavier thanks to their electric motors.

With compressed air 3/8” impact wrenches, there are a number of different models available that have been specially designed to give the tool a much more streamlined shape, and ensure that it is ideally suited for getting into a smaller space.

One of these adaptations is apparent in the Chicago pneumatic 3/8 in Drive butterfly impact wrench, is to give a much more ergonomic butterfly throttle to control power. This ensures that the minimum width possible can be achieved without having to compromise on the level of control that the operator is able to manage. The CPT722 has been adapted to sit in the palm of your hand, dispensing entirely with the pistol grip that forms the basis for most impact wrench designs.

The most powerful 3/8 impact wrench that is currently available is the Ingersoll Rand IR 211. This high quality wrench from the leading manufacturer of air powered tools in the world features a number of refinements that allow operators to get the maximum from its huge 150lb/ft maximum torque.

One of the most immediately obvious design features of the IR 211 is that it is held in the palm of the hand. Like the CPT722, this wrench dispenses with a traditional pistol grip, however, unlike the Chicago Pneumatic model, Ingersoll Rand have developed a special palm grip that allows you to deliver a measured response when loosening or tightening a bold into place.

Delivering up to 1,500 blows per minute in order to get the best response from a fixed nut, and using the smoothest possible forced pressure lubrication system, along with a rear facing exhaust port, the IRT211 gives you the kind of precise positioning to allow you to tackle almost any tough job.

One of the main advantages of smaller impact wrenches in the 3/8” range is that you can extend the tip of the tool to get deeper access into a confined space. The only thing to bear in mind when using a locking impact extension set is that you have to be a bit more careful in controlling the rotation speed as you are so much further away from the bolt.