Impact wrenches are sturdy tools used to loosen rusted nuts and set fasteners. They come in various sizes and designs, made from high strength carbon steel or non-sparking alloys. Safety precautions must be taken when using them, and they have been largely replaced by torque multipliers and hydraulic torque wrenches. However, impact wrenches are still commonly used in industries such as oil and gas pipeline construction, shipyards, foundries, and machinery repair shops.
A wrench is a sturdy hand wrench with a heavy, square handle and reinforced walls. A mallet is used to strike the key handle. This provides a much greater amount of torque than manually turning the wrench. Impact wrenches are typically used to loosen rusted or otherwise frozen nuts and fasteners, as well as to properly set fasteners in cases where large amounts of torque are required. The compact design makes the impact wrenches ideal for applications where lack of space or space prevents the use of torque wrenches or other torque multiplying devices. They are commonly used in manufacturing areas, such as pipeline construction, shipyards and machine shops.
A well-made impact wrench must be strong enough to withstand repeated heavy impacts from a mallet without breaking. Most are forged from high strength carbon steel and heat treated. The heat treatment process is tightly controlled to achieve precise hardness. If the key is too soft, it may bend under pressure; if it is too hard, it may break during use. Special impact wrenches in non-sparking bronze and copper alloys are also available. They are typically used where combustible materials are present or where sparks from steel-to-steel contact could potentially cause unwanted damage. Non-magnetic keys are commonly used in power transmission plants or even other areas sensitive to magnetism.
Impact wrenches are available in both open and box designs, and in four, six, eight, or 12-point box models. Wrenches ranging from one inch (25.4 mm) to over nine inches (22.9 cm) are available. Stink wrenches are usually made with straight or offset handles. In an offset impact wrench, the box is offset from the line of the grip. The offset allows the impact wrench handle to eliminate adjacent fasteners that could interfere with a straight handle wrench.
There are several dangers when using an impact wrench; proper safety procedures must be followed and proper eye protection must be worn at all times. The wrench and mallet should also be inspected for cracks or damage before each use. Damaged keys or hammers should not be used and should be discarded, as the flying metal from a broken key can cause a lot of damage and even injury. Often, for safety reasons, a rope is used to apply pressure to the handle. This secures the impact wrench in place and prevents the wrench from slipping off the fastener. Also be careful when hitting the impact wrench handle with the mallet. The head of the hammer must strike the handle squarely to provide maximum torque and prevent damage from a grazing blow.
Torque multipliers and hydraulic torque wrenches have largely replaced impact wrenches in many industries. They are generally safer to use and, unlike impact wrenches, can achieve precise torque. However, impact wrenches have some advantages over their modern replacements. They are generally less expensive to purchase or maintain and are usually easier to use. Impact wrenches are still widely used in oil and gas pipeline construction for tightening large flange fittings. They are also commonly used in shipyards, foundries and machinery repair shops.
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