Pneumatic Impacts vs Li-ion Impacts

[45cole]

I've often wondered and have been in the discussion a few times where somebody claims huge torque values from their Milwaukee/Dewalt/Makita that seem much more than my IR 261 3/4" impact wrench. The IR 261 is rated at 1200ft/lbs and the ir 231 1/2" impact is rated at 600ft/lbs. The 18V tools claim around 1500ft/lbs on 1/2" tools!!! My 231 has removed everything except a crank pulley and a 1-1/2" tractor nut, which the 261 did with a couple hits. I think that maybe the 18V tools can keep with a 231, but has anybody really matched (and then topped!) the 261 performance?

Can anybody verify that the 18V tools really can outdo the hardest hitter I have (ir 261?)

 

[Tramway Guy]

Are you sure that wasn’t 1500 inch-lbs?

 

[Steve@Advance]

I can't verify anything scientifically, but I can't imagine a 1/2" square of the finest tool steel really handling 1500 lbs without breaking!

 

[Jeff NWOH]

My dewalt will run circles around both my IR 1/2" air impacts, but i don't think it will outdo my 3/4" drive(old Chicago Pneumatic).

 

[45cole]

(quoted from post at 10:29:53 08/14/20) Are you sure that wasn t 1500 inch-lbs?

I thought that, but 1500in/lbs is only 125ft/lbs so that doesn't make sense.

Steve - I've had my IR 261 (3/4" impact) split and break a 1/2" 19mm impact it hit so hard, so I don't see how the 18V tools are made to use 1/2" impacts regularly.

Jeff - This is where I'm at, probably about the IR 231 or maybe above, but not up to the 3/4" pneumatics (so maybe 800ft/lbs)

 

[Hobo,NC]

My 1/2" Milwaukee with a fully charged battery will compete with any IR 1/2" are 3/4 I own if you can keep the socket from vibrating off the bolt head...

Any of these tools are work up if you use a thick as you can get impact socket that fits snug. When the battery gets low its like working with 90 PSI air pressure it will not get'er done : )

 

[Hobo,NC]

Woke up

 

[funky_g00]

I would say if your air system is set to factory specs and a fresh battery in the 18v, then yes it would be possible for the 18v to out due your ir 261. Most impact manufacturers offer a 1/2" air impact rated for 1200 ft-lbs of torque, so a 1200ftlb version in electric 1/2" should be doable. Keep in mind you are not really comparing apples to apples. I believe most if not all air tools are rated at 90 psi. I have not seen a shop yet that runs that low of pressure, the shops I have worked in all ran 125-150 psi at the compressor. Size of air line and hose varies the performance of the tools as well. I know my 1200ftlb 1/2" snap-on air impact will out do a snap-on 900ftlb 3/4" air impact. I also have a cheap (Walmart brand) air impact rated for 120 ft-lbs @ 90psi that will remove nuts torqued to 200ftlbs when the air is turned up to 125 psi. Duration of test matters also my 900ftlb 1/2 can remove the same as the 900 ft-lb 3/4 but it takes much longer to accomplish the same task.

 

[moresmoke]

I have a 1/2 Milwaukee Fuel that is the
latest high power model. It will take the
nuts off a semi wheel, which are torqued
to 450-500 ftlb. That is about its limit.
It would probably do a bit more if I had
1/2 sockets and didn't use a 3/4 adapter.

Milwaukee also makes a 1" battery impact.
I would put money on it vs your 3/4 air.

Now if you break out the old CP 1" that
sounds like a Harley, there ain't no
battery tool that will touch it.

 

[CenTex Farmall]

I also have a Milwaukee Fuel impact. I know manufacturers like to put outlandish claims and use tricky and carefully selected data
points to promote their wares, but with a fully charged 9AH battery that Milwaukee is surprisingly strong no matter what the
actual numbers are.

It is definitely stronger than any pneumatic 1/2 inch that I have. It is not stronger than the 1" impact however.

 

[Sprint 6]

My M18 Fuel high torque 1/2 impact runs
circles around any air impact I have ever
owned. The air tools stay in the tool box
now. The only down side to the cordless
is they don't react fast enough to the
trigger to spin a nut on a moving shaft,
like a shock or strut. That is the ONLY
thing I use air impacts for now.

 

[Zeke Boniface]

My 261 at 90 psi is about even with my early model M18. At 125, the IR walks away from the Milwaukee.

Zeke B.

 

[MJMJ]

I cant imagine much my 3/4 Milwaukee couldnt remove. BTW, they make several 1/2 impacts so theyre not all rated the same. What makes you think you pneumatic impact ratings are more truthful than those of battery powered tools? You dont think people verify the claims? But like others said, the answer is yes. They can out perform you air tools.

 

[45cole]

Sounds like the jury is in: the battery impacts can really outdo or at least keep up with some of the pneumatics out there. Also sounds like I should be running the pneumatics at a little higher pressure than the recommended 90psi.

 

[Goose]

I have a Ryobi 18v, 1/2" cordless impact wrench.

I went with Ryobi 'cause I have an assorted bunch of Ryobi tools that all take the same battery. This impact wrench is rated at 300 Ft lbs, and when I bought it I said I didn't expect it to compete with my 1200 ft lb air impact wrench.

I haven't used an air impact wrench since I got this Ryobi cordless.

 

[Hobo,NC]

(quoted from post at 22:41:50 08/15/20) I have a Ryobi 18v, 1/2" cordless impact wrench.

I went with Ryobi 'cause I have an assorted bunch of Ryobi tools that all take the same battery. This impact wrench is rated at 300 Ft lbs, and when I bought it I said I didn't expect it to compete with my 1200 ft lb air impact wrench.

I haven't used an air impact wrench since I got this Ryobi cordless.

My air tools are rusting : ) I wager my power bill is down 15 to 20 a month... Milwaukee has made a believer out of me I never thought I would shed my addiction to a hose...

 

[moresmoke]

Huge difference between the early M18 and the latest ones. I have a wore out early one sitting on the shelf. May use it on a trade in sale.

 

[Dusty MI]

Many years ago I went to see my neighbor. He was getting ready to combine wheat, and had clamped the sickle bar from his combine head, to a couple of saw horses and he and his son was using a 4-1/2 electric side grinder and an air side grinder. The air was coming from a 3hp compressor. The air compressor could not keep up with the pneumatic grinder, but that electric just keep going.

 

[V35B]

My Milwaukee 1/2" Fuel High Torque is a great tool. It is way more powerful than I would have thought it would be. With that being said, my IR 244 1/2" impacts will wear it out on tough bolts. I run 140 PSI air pressure. Just yesterday, I was removing a 3/4" nut that had probably been on the Case LA since 1948. The Milwaukee wouldn't touch it, and it took some doing, but the IR eventually broke it loose about one turn before it galled up. Both are great tools, I like having that Milwaukee in the toolbox ready to go, would be a great help when yo have tire trouble on the road or for whatever else you need and don't have your compressor with you.