The Don Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 Just tried the air impact wrench that I bought from Aldi (along with the compressor a few weeks back) on some wheel nuts and am rather disappointed that it doesn't have the grunt to shift them. They were tight but not ridiculously so, having tightened them myself my hand this afternoon, and being able to loosen them by hand too. One thing - I haven't got any thread sealant so the air hose attachment on the gun leaks a bit of air constantly. Would this be enough to undermine it's torque or have I got a dud? Thanks, Howard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bricol Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 You have got it adjusted to full welly? There is a knob under the handle. You do need a decent compressor to supply enough air flow - not just enough pressure, although if you have it wound down to one bar . . . Any air leaks are performance losses/cost money. Bri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slipper man Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 As implied, most compressors have an adjustment by the pressure guage. You need to turn it up I suspect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Don Posted April 19, 2007 Author Share Posted April 19, 2007 Thanks - I've set the compressor's outlet pressure to 6.2 bar, as the wrench's manual states but maybe it's not enough taking the air leak into account. Is it OK to increase pressure to say 7, or do I risk damage and/or personal injury? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweeky Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 try P.T.F.E tape on the air conections Mark C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beelzebub Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 Might be a bit unsafe to increase the pressure beyond the recommendation. That said my cheapo impact wrench required 10 bar to get the rear hub nut undone with no ill effect. I'd fix the leaks & max out the pressure 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grubbster Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 Also a better diameter hose makes a difference - 10mm usually recommended for impact wrenches. Roadsport build photo's here Le Mans 2004 photo's here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F355GTS Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 Is the gun set to number 4? Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickh7 Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 Try tuning it up to 11 😬 Its Yellow And Black and Makes me 😬here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Don Posted April 19, 2007 Author Share Posted April 19, 2007 11 😬 Mark - yes; I've tried it on 1-4 and there's a noticeable improvement on 4 but still not enough. I'll try sealing the connector properly and if that doesn't maybe use the excuse of needing a 10mm hose to get a more impressive looking yellow coiled version I don't suppose anyone has a spare coiled 10mm air hose they'd be prepared to sell? Cheers, Howard Edited by - The Don on 19 Apr 2007 21:57:36 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Locust Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 Have you oiled the tool (into the air connection). Ian Green and Silver Roadsport 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Don Posted April 19, 2007 Author Share Posted April 19, 2007 I'm afraid so... ☹️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F355GTS Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 btw my compressor (not an Aldi one) is set to about 8.4 Bar, has no problem undoing Wheel nuts oh and check the backplate of the Wrench is tight, the four Allen keys can work loose and it severly affects performance Mark Edited by - F355GTS on 19 Apr 2007 22:28:12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Don Posted April 19, 2007 Author Share Posted April 19, 2007 Ah - good thought, Mark. Certainly worth a try. Better leave it till tomorrow now - not sure the family will appreciate me firing up the wrench at this time of night Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Mupferit Posted April 19, 2007 Share Posted April 19, 2007 Not wishing to depress you but my recently purchased Aldi air impact wrench is excellent and will undo the most stubborn nuts in a moment. I have all manner of air tools in my factory (better quality than Aldi obviously) and they are very susceptible to internal corrosion and early failure from damp air if they aren't kept oiled. Brent 2.3 DURATEC SV Reassuringly Expensive R 417.39 😬 Edited by - Brent Chiswick on 19 Apr 2007 23:17:53 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Don Posted April 20, 2007 Author Share Posted April 20, 2007 All right, Brent, don't rub it in BTW can I use anything like bathroom silicone sealant to seal the thread (I don't have any PTFE tape at the mo) or must I use proper stuff? Edited to say... I've also got some lovely orange liquid gasket. Would that do the job? Feel free to add your view on whether I'm an utter bodger Edited by - The Don on 20 Apr 2007 08:17:44 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted April 20, 2007 Share Posted April 20, 2007 Bit of instant gasket won't hurt. It's only a screw thread. I would bodge it with a bit of me mum's cling film though. I think you need abetter hose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Don Posted April 21, 2007 Author Share Posted April 21, 2007 Bummer Tried all you suggest, including PTFE tape which sealed the leak beautifully I was with Adrian Rham today trying different sized wheels and used my wrench on his compressor. It was still feeble (Adrian verified that compared to his wrench it doesn't sound right). Sounds like a call to Power Craft customer service on Monday 😔 Thanks for your help. Howard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Walker Posted April 21, 2007 Share Posted April 21, 2007 Aldi give a no quibble 12 month warrenty. if your not happy take it back they will give you a refund no question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red One Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 I'm familiar with both the products you are discussing and in my experience the Aldi compressor is a first class product at a very fair price but is not up to the job of an air impact wrench (or a random orbital sander come to that). To give it any chance it needs to have all the air you can give it and more - they are very hungry. The impact wrench will drop the compressor's pressure in seconds and only the first few seconds will count. Larger bore hose is a step in the right direction but what is needed is more ccs and HP. Back to my usual theme - V8s are best. Dry-sumped Red Supersprint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 The Aldi one isn't far off the pace. It's 7 or 8 CFM (cu ft per min) and the biggest domestic comp will do 15 cfm. It doesn't have a big tank though so it will soon empty. I suspect the air guns are quoted on about 8 CFM *for their duty cycle* which is likely to be (say) 50% while you are actually unscrewing wheelnuts, so the instantaneous air consumption is likely to be 15-16CFM. As you say that will soon pull down a small tank and then the pump is on its own. A big pipe will help by having less pressure drop over its length while running. TBH the plastic spiral jobs are SFA use for any more than blowing up tyres and the like. OK with the little toytown spraygun in the kit though, I did a nice paint job on a wood lathe with mine recently. At the price 2 compressors wouldn't be a stupid way to get to 15 CFM 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S47zz Posted April 25, 2007 Share Posted April 25, 2007 Try using 3/8" inside diameter pipe, Coompressed air works like a car exhaust the larger the pipe the easier it is to traval through, so you'll have more grunt/torque on the air gun with a larger pipe coz more air gets through for any given pressure exerted by the compressor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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