Physics, mechanics, tools: loosening ability of an impact wrench

Self-tutoring about the physics of tools: the tutor mentions some torque numbers of impact wrenches.

It’s common knowledge that impact wrenches can have amazing functionality with loosening stubborn fasteners. How they work is for another post; the loosening capability, as a number, is the topic of this one.

I am looking at an impact wrench with stated torque of 1500 inch*pounds. Since there are twelve inches in a foot, that leads to 125 foot*pounds.

Not surprisingly, impact wrenches are available with significantly more torque than the one I’m looking at; this one here seems to report 2000 inch*pounds, or 167 foot*pounds of torque.

For perspective, the lug nuts of the jeep I currently work on are meant to be torqued to 100 foot*pounds.

Of course, in the mechanical context, one should never use an impact wrench to tighten, only to loosen.

Source:

sparkyx.ca