1/2 vs. 3/4 Impact Wrench: Picking an Ingersoll Rand by Drive Size
Drive size alone doesn't tell you an impact wrench's power. Here are Ingersoll Rand's torque figures for the 1/2 in. 231G and cordless W7152, the 3/4 in. 2145QiMAX-6 and the 1 in. 2146Q2MAX, and how much air the three air tools use.
In this guide
Choose a 1/2 in. or 3/4 in. impact wrench by the torque your fasteners need, then by your air supply. In Ingersoll Rand's range, the 1/2 in. 231G air wrench has a recommended forward torque of 25–300 ft-lbs. The 3/4 in. 2145QiMAX-6 and the 1 in. 2146Q2MAX both have a recommended forward range of 200–900 ft-lbs, and the 1 in. tool has more top-end reverse torque for stuck fasteners: 1,450 ft-lbs max. against 1,350. The cordless W7152 has a 1/2 in. drive but reaches a max. forward torque of 1,000 ft-lbs, so drive size alone doesn't tell you the power.
Task, drive and model
| Job | Drive | Model |
|---|---|---|
| Garage and farm work, recommended forward torque of 25–300 ft-lbs | 1/2 in., air | 231G |
| Tire changing, fleet truck maintenance, cradle bolts, away from a compressor | 1/2 in., cordless | W7152-K12 |
| Machinery, heavy equipment and vehicle service, recommended forward torque of 200–900 ft-lbs, with a 6 in. extended anvil | 3/4 in., air | 2145QiMAX-6 |
| The same recommended forward range with the most reverse torque, up to 1,450 ft-lbs | 1 in., air | 2146Q2MAX |
The jobs come from Ingersoll Rand's own use lists for each tool. The torque figures are from its spec sheets and product information manuals. For the torque a specific fastener needs, go by the vehicle or equipment maker's spec.
1/2 in. air: the 231G
The 231G is an EDGE Series pistol-grip wrench with a twin hammer mechanism and a 6-vane air motor. Ingersoll Rand gives it a recommended torque of 25–300 ft-lbs forward and 25–350 ft-lbs reverse, with a max. reverse torque of 500 ft-lbs. Free speed is 8,000 RPM and it weighs 2.63 kg (about 5.8 lb).
It's the lightest on air. Average consumption is 142 L/min (about 5 cfm), with a 1/4 in. NPT inlet and a recommended hose of at least 3/8 in. (10 mm). A power regulator with settings up to 5 (full power) and a variable-speed trigger reduce its power for smaller fasteners.
1/2 in. cordless: the W7152-K12
The W7152 runs on Ingersoll Rand's IQV20 20 V platform with a brushless motor. It has a max. forward and reverse torque of 1,000 ft-lbs and a nut-busting torque of 1,500 ft-lbs. Four power modes cover the range:
- Hand tight: 4–10 ft-lbs at 600 RPM.
- Wrench tight: 35–110 ft-lbs at 1,000 RPM.
- Half power: 530 ft-lbs forward.
- Full power: up to 1,000 ft-lbs.
It weighs 7.6 lb (3.4 kg) with the BL2022 battery. The K12 kit comes with the wrench, one BL2022 5.0 Ah battery, a charger and a carry bag. Ingersoll Rand lists cradle bolts, tire changing, fleet truck maintenance, and industrial and MRO work as its uses.
Tip The trigger is variable speed only in Half Power and Full Power. In Wrench Tight and Hand Tight, the mode sets the torque and speed.
3/4 in. air: the 2145QiMAX-6
The 2145QiMAX-6 has a recommended forward torque of 200–900 ft-lbs and reverse torque of 200–1,000 ft-lbs. Its max. torque is 1,100 ft-lbs forward and 1,350 ft-lbs reverse. The -6 has a 6 in. extended anvil. A four-position power regulator dial sets forward power. The manual says it doesn't affect reverse power.
It needs more air than the 231G: 8.5 cfm average and 32 cfm at load, through a 1/2 in. (13 mm) minimum hose. The 2145QiMAX flyer shows the series on machinery and heavy equipment, vehicle service and equipment maintenance.
1 in. air: the 2146Q2MAX
The 2146Q2MAX has the same recommended range as the 2145QiMAX-6: 200–900 ft-lbs forward and 200–1,000 ft-lbs reverse. The difference is at the top. Max. torque is 1,300 ft-lbs forward and 1,450 ft-lbs reverse, and Ingersoll Rand gives a nut-busting torque of 2,000 ft-lbs. It weighs 8.0 lb (3.6 kg).
It also uses the most air: 14 cfm average and 36 cfm at load, at a recommended 90 psi, with a recommended 1/2 in. (13 mm) hose. A built-in inlet pressure gauge shows green at 90 psig, yellow when the pressure is low and red when it's high.
Warning The 2145QiMAX-6 and 2146Q2MAX use 32 and 36 cfm at load (8.5 and 14 cfm on average). Check your compressor's output before you size up from the 231G.
Picking one
- Garage and farm fasteners, the lowest air use of the three air tools: the Ingersoll Rand 231G.
- Tires and fleet work without an air hose: the Ingersoll Rand W7152-K12.
- Heavy equipment work that calls for a 6 in. extended anvil: the Ingersoll Rand 2145QiMAX-6.
- The most breakaway torque in this group: the Ingersoll Rand 2146Q2MAX.
More tools are in Power & Air Tools.
FAQ
What size impact wrench do I need?
Start with the torque your fasteners need. Ingersoll Rand recommends the 1/2 in. 231G for 25–300 ft-lbs forward, and the 3/4 in. 2145QiMAX-6 and 1 in. 2146Q2MAX for 200–900 ft-lbs forward. Then check your compressor: the 231G averages about 5 cfm, the 2146Q2MAX 14 cfm. Without a compressor, the cordless 1/2 in. W7152 has a max. forward torque of 1,000 ft-lbs.
What size impact wrench do I need for lug nuts?
Go by the lug nut torque in your vehicle's specs. Ingersoll Rand lists tire changing and fleet truck maintenance among the uses of the 1/2 in. W7152, which has a max. forward torque of 1,000 ft-lbs. The 1/2 in. 231G has a recommended forward torque of 25–300 ft-lbs. The 2145QiMAX series flyer pictures vehicle service among its uses.
What are the Ingersoll Rand 2145QiMAX torque specs?
For the 2145QiMAX-6, Ingersoll Rand gives a recommended torque of 200–900 ft-lbs forward and 200–1,000 ft-lbs reverse, with a max. of 1,100 ft-lbs forward and 1,350 ft-lbs reverse, at 1,150 blows per minute.
Specifications come from Ingersoll Rand's documents: the product pages for the 231G, 2145QiMAX, 2146MAX and W7152, the 2145QiMAX flyer, the 2145QiMAX and 2146MAX product information manuals, the 2146MAX and W7152 flyers, and the 231G product information manual.