Do you work with bolts or lug nuts on a regular basis? If so, then you probably use a socket wrench to fasten and unfasten them all the time. People usually use a socket wrench to remove the lug nuts from the tires of their vehicles. It is much easier to use a socket wrench than lug wrench for this purpose.
However, a lug wrench or socket wrench still requires you to use a certain amount of physical force. If you’re someone with a physical disability that prevents you from removing lug nuts manually, then you’ll need a more powerful wrench that relies on an external power source to operate it.
Pneumatic impact wrenches are the perfect solution because they use air power to generate the force needed to fasten and unfasten lug nuts and bolts. Sometimes these wrenches go by other names, such as a torque gun, windy gun, or air gun. If you want to take the stress and physical anguish away when working with lug nuts and bolts, then you’ll need to shop for an excellent pneumatic impact wrench.
Best Air Impact Wrenches under $100 and $200
You don’t need to spend a lot of money on expensive air/pneumatic wrench. There are pneumatic impact wrenches on the market for under $200 and even under $100. These wrenches will do just as fine a job as the more expensive wrenches. Below, you can find a list of the top 10 best and cheap air/pneumatic impact wrenches (price range $90 – $199):
1) AIRCAT 1150 “Killer Torque” 1/2-Inch Impact Wrench, Medium, Black
The AIRCAT 1150 is a powerful tool for any heavy-duty application, especially automobiles. The AIRCAT brand has been known for over three decades by automotive engineers and professionals for its quality and performance.
This latest version of the AIRCAT impact wrench has significantly reduced sound levels and increased strength and power. It was built with a patented exhaust muffler, which enables the tool to prevent back pressure while the air gets discharged. That is how it can generate more power with less noise. It also has a twin hammer mechanism as well.
You will also feel comfortable holding the AIRCAT 1150 because of its ergonomic design and lightweight housing. You won’t feel tired or stressed out from operating the tool like you would with previous versions. It is very convenient for people with weak wrist or arm strength.
2) Ingersoll Rand 231C Super-Duty Air Impact Wrench, 1/2″
The Ingersoll Rand 231C is one of the best pneumatic impact wrenches you will ever purchase. The brand name is known by mechanics and anyone familiar with power tool manufacturers. The Ingersoll Rand 231C is reliable and made to offer superior performance compared to other wrenches on the market. Its specifications include a speed of 8000 RPM, a torque of 600-foot pounds, and a drive size of 0.25 inches.
Its twin hammer mechanism is why the wrench can provide so much torque. If you have a lug nut or bolt that you cannot remove with a lug wrench or socket wrench, then you will have a lot better luck with the Ingersoll Rand 231C. It is designed to remove rusty or difficult bolts and lug nuts that cannot be removed manually. The wrench even includes an adjustable power regulator, so you can control how much power is delivered.
The wrench is comfortable to hold in your hands because of its small and ergonomic design. You will have total control over your wrench with virtually no chance of slippage. Even though the wrench is rather loud, all of its other features make up for it.
3) Astro Pneumatic Tool 1822 ONYX 1/2″
The appearance is a little bit short. However, you don’t need to worry about its performance. First of all, it produces a very high torque level. at maximum level, this air impact wrench can produce 450 lb-ft of torque. That alone will finish the entire installation job within a second.
The short design, especially on the socket driver, also won’t give you any problem to install or remove any lug nut. This design allows it to produce more power because the power source aka the machine core is much closer to the lug nut. And, this short design also affects its weight (only 3.0 lbs). Compared to other products, this one is lighter. It is comfortable to use and won’t give you any problem to move it around.
Furthermore, Astro also put an innovative twin hammer design inside. It produces more power, which makes you easily remove the tighten lug nut in no time. It also has different settings you can choose freely (3 forward and 3 reverse option). With those kinds of performance and features, it’s a perfect option for you who are looking for the best and cheap pneumatic/air impact wrench.
4) Astro Pneumatic Tool 1828 ONYX 3/8″
Astro also makes another series of its Nano Air Impact Wrench. The 1828 model has a similar performance and y feature as 1822 above. So, we can expect a good thing from this product. Furthermore, the design that also uses the short profile type design, give you more room to use it in the small space. So, if you want to remove the lug nut of an engine, suspension, or transmission, this one is a good choice. It is also compatible with 3/8” impact sockets for better maneuverability.
The other specification you need to know is it produces 450 lb-ft of max torque. And, it produces that amount even though it has a small and compact design. It also has 3 forward and 3 reverse settings, which you can choose and change easily. More importantly, the short profile also makes it lightweight (3lbs). It doesn’t matter which one you choose, 1822 or 1828, both of them will give you the best pneumatic impact wrench to use, with a lower budget.
5) Ingersoll Rand 2115TiMAX 3/8-Inch Impactool
The Ingersoll Rand 2115TiMAX weighs under 2.5 pounds and is under 6 inches in length. However, don’t be fooled by the small and compact nature of this tool. It is a very powerful pneumatic impact wrench.
If you need to work inside of tight or narrow spaces, then you will appreciate the small size of this tool even more. It can help you access areas where bigger impact wrenches could not typically fit. Meanwhile, this wrench is still powerful enough to do a good job. Its twin hammer mechanism and enhanced airflow can deliver the kind of power you need in your impact wrench.
6) Chicago Pneumatic CP7748 1/2″ Composite Impact Wrench
The Chicago Pneumatic CP7748 is another lightweight impact wrench with composite housing. It delivers 922-foot pounds of torque when you set it to reverse. The tool is so lightweight that you can control it with one hand. You won’t even hear that much noise in this version either.
There is a comfortable grip on the contoured handle, so there is no chance of slippage. The forward setting has three positions; Low at 180-foot pounds, Medium at 480-foot pounds, and High at 730-foot pounds. One of these settings should be strong enough to fasten your bolts or lug nuts without any setbacks.
7) AIRCAT 1076-XL 3/8″
We can easily call this product the best air impact wrench you can find in the store. One of the reasons is it has many innovations and patented features. First of all, it has a unique F/R switch and power management system. This patented system allows you to use it easily with just one hand.
Then, for your convenience, it also has a patented grip. The grip is not only comfortable when you hold it in your hand. The grip also gives it anti-slip properties, which improve the safety feature. And, with its compact design, it only has 2.5 lbs of weight. The combination of this unique grip design and its lightweight give you a peaceful mind when you use it. Your hand won’t have too much burden to carry it around and the grip will keep it in your hand.
However, the best feature that you will love from this product is its silencing technology. This is also another patented feature by AIRCAT. This technology reduces the noise level a lot. When you use it, even at the max torque level, it only produces 85 dB. Overall, this product gives you not only performance but also comfort.
8) AIRCAT 1057-TH 1/2″
AIRCAT make it as the lighter version of its super 1076 model. However, the performance is not that different. The mechanism core is similar. Therefore, it also can produce high torque levels, at 500 lb-ft. the design is compact, and the weight is only 2.75 lbs. With this kind of design, you can easily reach all places in the restricted area, such as engine or transmission.
AIRCAT also uses its patented silencing technology for this product. When you use it, you almost don’t hear any noise coming out from this pneumatic impact wrench. It only produces 89 dB of noise. This is one of this product’s amazing features. It is because it uses a very powerful jumbo hammer mechanism. So, AIRCAT did a very great job to design it like this.
Overall, this unique and compact air impact wrench will become one of the best tools you can have in your garage. It helps you a lot to do the job related to engine, car and such. Plus, with its high performance, it feels like you have a professional helping you at home.
9) Chicago Pneumatic CP7732 1/2-Inch Stubby Impact Wrench
The Chicago Pneumatic CP7732 is a powerful and compact pneumatic impact wrench. It only weighs 2.9 pounds, but it has a torque of 450-foot pounds. The length is incredibly short, at only 4.4 inches.
You could use this wrench to work in very tight and restricted applications, such as in the engines and transmissions of vehicles. Its pistol grip will give you total control over it too. If you don’t have this wrench in your tool kit, then you better add it immediately. It comes in handy whenever you work on the internal areas of your automobile.
10) TZTool 1200 All new Diesel 1/2″
TZTool creates this air impact wrench to assist all kinds of works you want to do. First of all, this is a set of 21 sizes of PC deep impact sockets. With this many options of socket size you have, you can easily use it for any lug nut and bolt that you want to install and remove. The best of all, you also can get a very nice storage case to keep all the sockets. Then, it also has an extension bar, if the position of the bolt is difficult to reach. This is the main factor that makes it become the best pneumatic/air impact wrench under $100 you can choose.
The feature is also amazing. First of all, it can produce 875 lb-ft of torque at the max level. It is very fast for the reversing or forwarding process. The size is small. This compact design helps you to use it easily. And, it is not that heavy as it is only 4.65 lbs. The best of all, the noise is not that high. It only produces 93 dB of noise. Ensure to oil it before and after you use it, as the important treatment to keep its performance.
Read also:
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Tips to Choosing Best and Cheap Air Impact Wrench for your Automotive Work
Before you buy an air impact wrench for your automotive work, you may want to consider a few factors that can guide you in getting the best. If you are keen, you will not only find the best air impact wrench but also a cheap one. Getting the best and cheap air impact wrench for your automotive work can be easy with the following tips:
Things to Look for when Buying Air impact Wrench:
Torque
This is considered the most important factor when buying an air impact wrench. You should target an impact wrench that has the torque to remove a fastener. The higher the torque the more efficient an impact wrench. Your minimum target should be 150 ft-lbs
Weight
Another important factor that you need to keep in mind when choosing an air impact wrench for your automotive work is the weight. This factor becomes an issue if you have a longer project. If you are doing short projects, the weight won’t be an issue. A heavier impact wrench is not ideal for longer projects as fatigue will make it difficult for you to control it.
Size
A smaller size is always admirable as it is easy to use. However, you must also consider torque when choosing based on size. As a tip to get the best option, look for one that has an excellent tradeoff between torque and size.
Impact per minute
You must also consider the number of times in a minute the hammer strikes the anvil. The higher the number the better the impact wrench for automotive work. Therefore, go for one with a higher impact rate per minute. However, you must know that this may attract a higher price, thus, the need to balance it with other features.
No-load speed
This is the impact wrench’s turning speed when there is no load present. Of course, a higher speed will help you fasten more screws. However, you should know that this heightened speed will also reduce the torque. Therefore, you must balance the two. If you don’t know how to balance the two features, stick on torque as it carries more importance.
Warranty
There is nothing as important as the warranty if you are looking to get value for money when buying the best and cheap air impact wrench for your automotive work. Ensure your impact wrench has a decent warranty.
Above all, consider mixing all these factors to get the best and cheap impact wrench for your automotive work.