Guide to Air Tools for Tightening

Across the many sectors within the manufacturing industry, there are a number of ways to secure parts together. However, the most popular method to do this is by screwing them together with a nut or directly to a threaded hole in one of the components.

This is the prevalent choice due to cost efficiency, productivity and simply ease of assembly and disassembly. In regard to assembly and disassembly, air tools can help by assisting with screw fastening and tightening.

Here is a guide to some of the most popular air tools used for screw tightening.

List of Common Tightening Air Tools

Impact Wrenches

Impact wrenches use the power of an air motor to build up torque impact by impact. It is simple to use and flexible in that the reaction torque is not greater than that needed to accelerate, however it can reach high torques with moderate accuracy requirements.

Used for a variety of applications, impact wrenches are commonly used for the loosening and tightening of large dimension bolts during maintenance. Especially rusty and stuck bolts in chemical plants, refineries and other heavy industries.

Hydraulic Pulse Tools

Similar to impact wrenches, pulse tools build up torque too, but via a hydraulic cushion. This provides pulse tools with more accuracy in tightening compared to impact wrenches and lower noise levels on application.

With high-speed power and lightweight construction, hydraulic pulse tools are another all-round top choice for many sectors within the manufacturing industry. A common use would be the assembly of machine screws in the motor vehicle industry.

Pneumatic Screwdrivers

Everybody knows what a screwdriver is, but the simplest form of a pneumatic screwdriver excels the basic form we know. It works so the applied torque is determined by how much the motor after gearing is capable of tightening before it stops.

Then, the adjustment of torque is made by regulating the air pressure that powers the tool. Pneumatic screwdrivers are commonly used for varying torque demand, such as sheet metal screws, or small screw assembly at low torque and medium to high accuracy.

Pneumatic Nutrunners

There are several different types of pneumatic nutrunners, but they are all designed to act as a lever to enable operators to hold the reaction forces. The main kinds of pneumatic nut runners are direct driven nutrunners, pistol grip nutrunners, straight nutrunners and angle nutrunners.

Their main applications include assembly of machine screws and nuts where accuracy requirements are high. This means bolts with limited accessibility or where the torque and / or angle must be monitored for quality control and certification.

Tightening Air Tools by Air Power East

These are only a list of the main types of air tools specifically used for tightening. There is a whole range of other air tools out there which are used daily within the manufacturing industry.

Did you know that we have our own product range of air tools, in addition to air compressors and other compressed air services? Get in touch with us today to discuss your air tool needs and requirements by filling out our contact form below.