How to Use an Impact Wrench on Stainless-Steel Bolts
An air-driven impact wrench uses compressed air to turn a socket with repetitive ratcheting motion. These short bursts of motion quickly loosen stubborn bolts that otherwise would take a long time to remove with a standard ratchet. An impact wrench also works well for tightening bolts because it can quickly tighten a bolt to help save you time. Stainless steel bolts are harder than carbon-steel bolts. If you use stainless-steel bolts, you can use an air-driven impact wrench without any additional concerns about breaking the bolts. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Place two or three drops of air tool oil into the male hose located on the bottom of the impact wrench handle. This keeps the gears inside the air tool lubricated.
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Set your air compressor to 90 psi -- pounds per square inch -- and connect your air hose to the impact wrench.
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3
Thread the bolt head inward with your hand or a standard socket and ratchet until the bolt is threaded in completely. Place the correct socket onto the end of the impact wrench. Use the correct-sized socket for the head of the bolt to prevent rounding the corners of the bolt head. Place the socket onto the bolt and press in on the back of the impact wrench to steady the socket on the bolt head. Pull the trigger until the bolt stops moving in a clockwise manner.
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4
Place the correct socket onto the end of the impact wrench if you're removing the bolt. Use the correct-sized socket for the head of the bolt to prevent rounding the corners of the bolt head. Place the socket onto the bolt and press in on the back of the impact wrench to steady the socket on the bolt head. Pull the trigger until the bolt turns in a counterclockwise manner. Do not completely remove the bolt, just loosen it. Place the socket onto a standard ratchet and remove the bolt the rest of the way.
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