Torque is important, and it gets a lot of attention in the tool buying process, but torque isn’t everything. Durability, reliability, control and comfort are factors technicians should also consider when buying a tool.
A tool’s durability and reliability are influenced by the way a tool is designed and the materials that are used to manufacture it. The life of the impact tool is extended when the tool’s components are made with high-grade steel or heat-treated steel because wear and tear are minimized. Drop testing and rigorous cycle testing can be used to prove the durability and reliability of a tool.
The shell that houses the components should also be resilient. Ingersoll Rand exposes the housings on its tools to 17 different chemicals and fluids commonly found in the shop environment including lubricants, detergents and solvents, in order to ensure the materials will resist degradation from these contaminants.
An impact tool that is easy to operate and ergonomically designed makes a technician’s day-to-day work more enjoyable. The tool’s design should minimize sound pollution, vibration and temperature spikes, and be easy to operate with only one hand.
Information provided by: Ingersoll Rand
