axle nut vs. breaker bar + worst repair nominations

[gatesj at mailblocks.com (John Gates)]

And then it's one of those things where if you use your tools for a 
living you're planning on replacing them periodically, it's part of 
business.  If I spend $200+ of my personal money on an impact wrench I 
want it to last.  Maybe 120+ is fine but a quality wrench does great at 
90 so there's no need to turn it up...

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Ruffi <sciroccos@earthlink.net>
To: John Gates <gatesj@mailblocks.com>; scirocco-l@scirocco.org
Sent: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 10:52:44 -0400
Subject: RE: axle nut vs. breaker bar + worst repair nominations

You are completely correct.  We used to have the compressor cranked way 
up
in our old shop, but I'm sure that was potentially dangerous.  Plus, 
those
wrenches have probably gotten more efficient.

That said, I'm sure 90psi is recommended by the manufacturer to keep
everybody out of trouble, but ask any mechanic and he/she will tell you 
they
use 120-180 psi to get more punch out of their tools...

I just called my friend who runs a shop and he said his is set to 175

But I'm not recommending that....

>-----Original Message-----
>From: John Gates [mailto:gatesj@mailblocks.com]
>Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 10:24 AM
>To: sciroccos@earthlink.net; scirocco-l@scirocco.org
>Subject: RE: axle nut vs. breaker bar + worst repair nominations
>
>
>My $0.02, others on here have far more experience than me, but I've
>been doing this for a few years...
>
>I would NEVER put that much air to my wrench.  Most of them have a
>maximum inlet pressure of 90psi, anything more than that causes damage
>and excessive wear to the tool.  If I had a $30 Harbor Freight wrench I
>would do it but not with my $200 IR 2131A...
>