The nightmare of loosening and tightening lug nuts day and night can be turned into a simple task if you are holding the perfect impact wrench in your hand. It makes a person wonder what size impact wrench is ideal for lug nuts.

 

There is no doubt that the performance of an impact wrench depends highly upon picking the right size. Especially, when it has to be used for removing lug nuts. For these nuts specifically, you need to have an impact wrench of the perfect size which is the ½ inch impact wrench.

 

There is a list of reasons why this size is the most perfect. Lucky for you, I did extensive research on it, and everything that I have found in my quest has been shared in the article below. So, instead of blindly purchasing an impact wrench for lug nuts, read the article below and go for the perfect size.

What Size Impact Wrench For Lug Nuts

The ½ inch impact wrench is the perfect size for lug nuts. You will find more information in the article below.

Ideal Size For Lug Nuts

There are a ton of different sizes when it comes to impact wrenches. You can find a ⅜ inch impact wrench as well as a 2 ½ inch one. However, when you are focusing on lug nuts only, then purchasing just any size based on the features of the tool is a grave mistake. When it comes to lug nuts, the size is of the utmost importance and the rest of the features of the tool fade into the background. Therefore, an impact wrench of ½ inch is the most ideal size for lug nuts.

Reasons Behind ½ Inch Being The Ideal Size

Torque

The ½ inch impact wrench is the most suitable for a couple of reasons. The torque of the tool is the first highlighting feature. The torque of a ½ inch impact wrench is at least 300 ft/lb. There are a few models that even offer more than 500 ft/lb of maximum torque. High torque is needed for fastening and loosening lug nuts. An impact wrench of ⅜ inch size will bring low torque on the table, while that of a 1-inch impact wrench will be higher. Therefore, ½ provides just the perfect amount of tightening and loosening torque.

Fits Lug Nuts Of Almost Every Vehicle

The major reason that I uncovered in my research is that a ½ inch impact wrench fits the lug nuts of many vehicles. This is the real incentive for why most mechanics choose to go for this size. They can work on multiple vehicles with a single impact wrench. Therefore, if you are a mechanic, then you really need a ½ inch impact wrench in your garage.

 

Battery

Similar to the torque, the battery of a ½ inch impact wrench lasts longer than a ⅜ inch model. Along with a wider lifespan, the bigger batteries accompanying a ½ inch impact wrench also increase their torque.

Motor

The motor of a ½ inch is powerful enough to take care of stubborn lug nuts. It provides the required amount of power, neither less nor more. Opting for an impact wrench of ⅜ inch size will not provide enough power. Similarly, the motor of a 1-inch impact wrench will provide an increased amount of power that will be more than what lug nuts need.

Best ½ Inch Impact Wrench For Log Nuts

Now that you are familiar with what size impact wrench is ideal for lug nuts, let’s talk about the best ½ inch model for lug nuts. There are countless ½ inch impact wrenches in the market. However, there is only one model that is top-rated.

Porter-Cable PCC740LA

This model is a cordless impact wrench, which comes with a motor that provides 260 ft/lbs of torque. With a maximum of 1650 RPM, it takes off lug nuts pretty quickly. In addition to that, the lithium-ion batteries accompanying the tool will last longer than any other ordinary battery.

Conclusion

Fastening lug nuts manually with a wrench will not only take hours but will also leave your arms aching. Therefore, invest in an impact wrench that is perfect for lug nuts and save yourself from trouble. Read the article above to know what size impact wrench is suitable for lug nuts and why.

 

Tightening screws and bolts with manual wrenches will have you exert so much energy; hence making even the simplest tasks turn into a nightmare. This will never happen if every beginner is aware of the magic tool called the impact wrench.

 

If you are wondering what is an impact wrench, then let me enlighten you in layman’s terms. An impact wrench is a small hand-held power tool that provides users with torque output which is then used for tightening or loosening nuts. Thanks to the high amount of torque output, even the most stubborn lug nuts can be taken care of with ease.

 

Using an impact wrench may not be a difficult task, but for a seamless job, you first need to know the tool inside out. Therefore, instead of jumping to using it right away, spare a few minutes and read the article below to understand what is this tool.

What Is An Impact Wrench

The points listed in the article below will answer your question what is an impact wrench?

An Impact Wrench

An impact wrench is basically a power tool which is used to tighten or loosen nuts and screws. Thanks to its small design, using this hand-held tool in tighter spots is easier. Therefore, even you can work on nuts present in every nook and cranny of the house. The tool uses either electricity or energy stored in its rotating part to function. The tool has a small motor present inside which powers it. When the switch is turned on, the motor starts working and the head rotates rapidly. It starts tightening or loosening the nut, which totally depends on the direction of the rotations.

When Was It First Made?

An impact wrench was first introduced in Evansville, which is a town in Indiana. The invention was done by Robert H. Pott. The first model was a corded impact wrench. However, in 1961, a cordless impact wrench was also introduced by Black & Decker. Years after that, different companies invented their own models of impact wrenches of various sizes. Today, there are a ton of different manufacturing companies that design their own impact wrenches.

Types Of Impact Wrenches

Even though there are multiple different brands on the market offering impact wrenches, the major types are the most common among all. Impact wrenches come in two major types; a corded impact wrench and a cordless impact wrench. As their names indicate, a corded model comes with a wire, which is plugged into an electricity output for the tool to operate. On the other hand, a cordless model comes without a wire and has further two types, battery operated impact wrench and an air-operated impact wrench. These are the two major types of impact wrenches that are common in every manufacturing company.

Do Impact Wrenches Come In A Single Size?

Despite a common belief among novices, impact wrenches do not come in a single size only. This tool comes in various sizes, for nuts of different sizes. The most commonly available sizes on the market include an impact wrench as small as ¼ inch to as large as 2 ½ inches. In addition to that, the size of an impact wrench does not denote the size of the tool itself. Instead, it means the size of the head of the tool or the driving anvil, which is the part that goes into the nuts. Therefore, if you are a novice, it is really important for you to familiarize yourself with this tool to know which size is the best for you.

Conclusion

When you step foot in the realm of power tools, you often hear different terms and words being thrown around that you have never heard of. One of them being an impact wrench. Instead of getting intimidated and quitting, find out what this tool is and how it works. For that, you will need to read the article above as it has a clear answer to what exactly is an impact wrench.

 

Trying to loosen a lug nut with an impact wrench, only for the tool to tighten it further is a result of not knowing how the tool works. If you pay close attention to how every part of the impact wrench works during learning, you will never be stuck in such situations with stubborn nuts.

 

There is no doubt that using an impact wrench is a very simple and straightforward task that does not involve any complicated steps. However, you still need to know precisely how the tool works and which parts are responsible for its seamless operation to use it properly.

 

Before you jump onto YouTube and start spending hours watching videos on how to use an impact wrench, I’m gonna stop you right there. I have written the whole procedure of using this power tool in simple steps. Therefore, you will be able to use your impact wrench around the house with ease in no time.

How Does An Impact Wrench Work?

With the following steps, you will easily learn how an impact wrench works and use it for various projects.

Knowing The Types Of Impact Wrenches

The first step is to know which impact wrench you are going to use. If you are using a corded impact wrench, then it will be convenient if you find a workplace near an electrical outlet. Otherwise, you will have to drag extension cords around. On the other hand, if you are using a cordless impact wrench, then you can use it anywhere without worrying about finding an electrical outlet.

Understanding Its Parts

An impact wrench comes with a small button which is normally present near the handle grip. This is the trigger button which is also known as the power button of the tool. Near this button, there is another small button which controls the direction of the rotations. It is responsible for turning the chuck in a clockwise or anti-clockwise motion. When the power button is pressed, the motor of the impact wrench roars to life and the chuck or the anvil starts rotating in the direction that the user has picked. Another important thing to understand is that the head of an impact wrench does not twist continuously for as long as you hold the power button. Instead, it twists for shorter periods that last 4 to 5 seconds with a break of a few seconds in between.

How Does An Impact Wrench Work

A rule of thumb for using impact wrenches is to never power the tool first and then place it on the nut afterwards. You always place the anvil or the chuck on the nut that you need to tighten or loosen first before turning the tool on. When the user presses the trigger button of their impact wrench, the electric motor of their power tool comes alive. The motor forces the spring present on the gear box to move in the selected direction. When the spring moves, it pushes the anvil of the impact wrench to move as well.

 

Here comes an interesting part, every model of an impact wrench has a rotating hammer present behind the rotor. When the impact wrench makes contact with a stubborn nut that won’t budge when the anvil is rotating, the hammer of the tool kicks into motion. It forces the anvil to move at a higher speed, with a higher force to unscrew the tight nut. If the nut loosens immediately, the rotating hammer goes dormant. However, if the stubborn nut does not unscrew, the hammer keeps adding more force to the rotations till it unscrews. The high force and speed are basically how an impact wrench easily tackles lug nuts that are hard to loosen with manual wrenches.

Conclusion

Understanding how a power tool, especially an impact wrench, works is a critical part of knowing how to use it perfectly for your projects. The knowledge also comes in handy when something goes wrong, and you need to change a part. Therefore, if you want to know how every part of the tool operates and how an impact wrench works, read the article above.

 

Spending hundreds of bucks on an impact wrench only to find out that you have no use for it is a whole new level of frustration. Especially, if you are a novice, then this frustration hits you quite often. To save yourself from wasting time and money, you need to understand what an impact wrench is used for.

 

As handy as impact wrenches are, if you are not aware of their proper use, then owning them will become impractical for you. If you are aware of the uses of this power tool, only then will you be able to find out whether you need it or not. Furthermore, being aware of the uses also helps in utilizing this power tool the proper way.

 

I am quite aware of the frustration of every beginner as I have been in that boat as well. This is why I am listing every situation where an impact wrench can come in handy. So, without wasting any more time, let’s dive right into what we can use an impact wrench for.

What Is An Impact Wrench Used For?

You will find the answer to the nagging question ‘what is an impact wrench used for’ in great detail below.

What Is This Tool Used For?

An impact wrench is a power tool which is most commonly used to deal with nuts and bolts. The users can take the help of this power tool to tighten or loosen lug nuts in mere seconds. An impact wrench comes with a small button near its power button. This button controls the directions of the turns; therefore, if you wish to turn it in an anti-clockwise direction to loosen the nut, then pick that setting. For tightening, you will need to select the clockwise direction of rotations.

Does It Only Work On Nuts?

Most users, especially novices, are under the impression that impact wrenches can only be used on nuts. However, the truth is far from it. This handy power tool can be used on any type of nuts, bolts, screws, and fasteners that need a bit of tightening or have to be loosened. The only thing the users need to make sure of is that the impact wrench they use should have a chuck which is of the exact size of the nut or bolt they are working on. For instance, if the bolt is ½ inch in diameter, then using an impact wrench of a 1-inch diameter chuck will not do the job. They need an impact wrench of ½ inch chuck for a flawless job.

Most Common Uses Of Impact Wrench

Most commonly, an impact wrench is used during a tire change of any vehicle. Every vehicle comes with nuts on its tires that hold it in its place. As these nuts are wounded quite tightly in their places, loosening them with a wrench manually requires a lot of time and energy. With an impact wrench, all the nuts present on a single tire can be removed in less than a minute. You just need to place the impact wrench on the nut and press the power button. In a few seconds, the nut will come off.

 

Impact wrenches are also suitable for many other projects around the house. They are perfect for removing and then tightening the nuts of your furniture, and machines. However, these uses are on a smaller scale. This tool is also used on an industrial level. On a larger scale, an impact wrench can be used for construction projects and the assembling of heavy machines. They also come in handy in automotive repair, and basically any type of job that involves fasteners, nuts, or bolts.

Conclusion

With an abundance of power tools on the market, it has become a bit difficult to keep track of what they are all capable of. However, take it from me, it is quite critical for you to know what every tool is used for. Otherwise, you will be struggling to use an impact wrench for projects that require a drill, and vice versa. The article above will help you stay away from such scenarios as it sheds light on what an impact wrench can be used for.