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On Thu, 2003-03-27 at 04:16, Daniel Baum wrote: > Hi all, > > I've recently seen several different types of electric impact wrenches in > the hardware shops over here. > > They all appear quite similar. Apparently they all either connect to the > cigarette lighter or direct to a battery, and when you press the trigger > they wind themselves up and whack the bolt every two seconds or so. One of > them specifically claims to be able to open a bolt torqued to 230 ft. lbs. > > The prices over here range from $35 to $75(!) but they all appear to be more > or less the same, so I see no reason to buy the more expensive ones. They > all come with 4 metric sockets of approx 17-24mm. > > Does anyone have any experience with them? Could they open e.g. the top bolt > of the front shocks, or an overtorqued wheel bolt? What about the tranny > drain plug (using the correct socket on an adapter) which I've been trying > to open without success? > I have owned about every type of impact that they have built. I personally own at this time an OLD 1/2" Chicago Pnuematic Model 734 (Made in USA not Maylasia). This one is airand will do/undo about 300 ft lbs. I also have a Craftsman 1/2" electric that will do/undo about 250 ft lbs. Also there is a 3/8" Chicago Pnuematic Model 721 that I recently purchased off Ebay. It is a little tired, but will take and engine apart except for the flywheel and crank pulley bolts. Then there are the 2 3/8" air ratchets. one does about 65 ft lbs, and the other does about 9 ft lbs. The small one is great for spark plugs in Type 1's. Personally, there is a place for impacts and a place to leave them in the tool box. The advantage to a house current (120V in the USA) electric, is the portability. You can use it even if you don't have an air compressor available. I do not have any experience with the battery/cordless ones. -- Russ Wolfe '66 FB MT '71 FB AT '65 Bug (not running) russw@classicvw.org http://www.classicvw.org ------------------------------------------------------------------- List info at http://www.vwtype3.org/list | mailto:gregm@vwtype3.org