Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Air Impact Wrenches

As opposed to an electric motor, an air impact wrench is powered by compressed air so requires an air compressor. For this reason, it’s a much more substantial piece of kit. Here are the main advantages and disadvantages of using air impact wrenches over the other forms of impact wrench.

Air impact wrench advantages:

  • Smaller Wrench Unit: Because there is no motor, it means the actual wrench unit can be smaller and easier to handle. Obviously, as mentioned above, an air compressor unit is required, resulting in an overall pretty substantial piece of equipment, but the actual wrench unit itself is smaller.
  • Easy to Maintain: An air impact wrench is usually easier to clean and generally maintain, due to less moving parts and things that can go wrong. This is definitely worth bearing in mind and another key reason why this form of impact wrench is the one used by professionals.
  • Most Powerful: Air impact wrenches are generally the most powerful form of wrench. If you’re dealing with large sockets and need a large amount of force, then using a compressed air wrench will be the most suitable for you.

However, choosing an air impact wrench certainly has its disadvantages:

  • More Expensive: Due to them generally being the more substantial and powerful form of impact wrench, they can be the most expensive to buy. You’d want to ensure that you definitely require more than an electric impact wrench, as the initial investment will likely be considerably more.
  • Space Intensive: As mentioned above, although the actual wrench unit is smaller on an air powered wrench, the large air compressor that is required results in the whole piece of equipment being very substantial.
  • Not Mobile: Unlike a cordless impact wrench, an air impact wrench is definitely not portable. If you need an impact wrench for emergencies on the go, then an air powered one is not for you.

As you can see, air impact wrenches certainly have their advantages and limitations:

Much like any device, and whether they’re right for you will largely depend on your specific situation. If you’re a professional or at least will be getting a lot of use out of the impact wrench, and you have the budget and space to accommodate one, then an air impact wrench will likely be your best option. If, however, that’s not the case, then you’d probably be better off looking into the alternatives.

 Lastly:

Whatever you decide, when it comes to actually buying one, don’t base your decision on price alone. A good air impact wrench should be seen as an investment and getting a good quality one will result in it lasting you for years.

Safety First: 5 Things to Think About Before Remodeling

The time has come for the big renovation! While you’re probably deep in planning the new look of your house, there are some other things you should keep in mind. Safety! Some people opt for moving out while the renovations take place.  Ohers choose to stay at home and navigate the new circumstances in the best way possible. But a construction site is a place where a lot of dangers creep if you haven’t eliminated them on time. Here are 5 things to think about before remodeling to ensure the safety for yourself and your family.

Make It Well Lit

A lot of times accidents could have been prevented if only someone knew what they were stepping on or walking into. So to make sure none of such things can happen at your place, make the whole construction site well lit. This means installing lighting at night all around the place. Think: where are you usually walking coming home, or taking the garbage out? What about going to the garage or backyard to fetch something? The terrain can be bumpy, or there might be nails on the ground. By installing good lighting you’ll be able to see where you’re walking and avoid anything that can do you harm. Apart from that, good lighting is always a plus when it comes to potential burglars breaking into the house. The fewer shadows – the less chance for someone to hide.

Keep the Tools Away

Good construction workers will try their best to not leave anything behind, but mishaps can occur here and there, and this is especially dangerous if there are kids in the house. Children love toys, and above all, they are curious beings who love everything that looks like it could be used as a toy – so a tool poses a real threat, as it can seem interesting enough so they want to play with it. Tell the contractors to not leave power tools at your place overnight – or at least not plugged in and within reach, if it’s too much of a hassle to bring them and take them away every day.

If jobs are large and happening all over the place, a good idea is to have a tool gathering at the end of the day. If the tools are definitely staying at your place overnight, ask the workers to collect them and put them in one designated, secure place out of reach of the little ones. The workers themselves will benefit from this as there will be no issues over who left what where, but the more important thing is, no child will find a tool somewhere on the site and wonder what the button does.

Keep the Construction Site Isolated

This is an even better idea to prevent children and pets from rummaging around the rubble.  This will prevent them from accidentally hurting themselves, or running into a worker. Isolate the construction site by installing temporary barriers systems, or temporary fencing. These portable fence panels will prevent little ones from stepping onto the area where they might get hurt.  They also signal to everyone else that the area is shielded for public safety. Safeguarding the site, but also passersby, this is an ideal solution for ensuring safety, but also because it can be easily removed once the work is done.

Change Your Family’s Habits

This will require some planning and talking. What are the areas being renovated, what do you use them for, and how do you plan to replace them? Make sure everyone is on the same page and knows what they should be doing. You will obviously have to get used to changing the way you use your home and teach your children to follow in your footsteps. Sometimes this means teaching your spouse not to cut corners! If the remodel is focusing on an area you use every day, work together with the contractor to set up alternative areas that will fulfill your needs while the work is being done. Hopefilly, of it is a bathroom, you have anther to use. If it’s the kitchen, set up a temporary kitchen in an extra room, or a garage.

Make sure you always, always use it for everything you usually use your kitchen for. That means no going to the old kitchen to grab some tools! If you’re relaxed about it, kids will follow, and that’s the last thing you want them to do while the renovation is underway. Help them remember to stay out of areas where the work is being done. Lock the doors, put up physical barriers we’ve mentioned, or add signs if they can read.

Know the Dangers of Unfinished Areas

Even when the tools are stored safely, and there are no workers around, unfinished work area has a lot of potential hazards – especially to children, but also adults who are unaware that some things are off or malfunctioning. For example, sometimes the room looks done, but the wall socket covers are off. You most definitely don’t want your child examining this. And if there’s nothing that might physically hurt you, there can be things full of dirt and bacteria, or just being plain unsafe. When safety features are missing, the area is a hazard. Prevent unwanted situations by staying away from unfinished areas, and teaching children to do the same.

Renovating can be a daunting task, even when it’s the contractors doing all the work. And of course, it especially rings true when you’re on the site, trying to lead your life as usual. But if you take into account all the safety measures and mostly keep away, it gets a little easier. So take care, and have a lovely new home!

What You Need to Know Before Downsizing Your Home

Are you one of the growing number of people thinking about downsizing your home? Though moving into a smaller house sounds like an exciting endeavor, it is also a logical choice for most, especially money-wise. Despite its potentials, moving into a smaller space can be overwhelming, so knowing a few things beforehand can save you a headache.

For that purpose, we have set out a list of must-knows for all those who plan to live in a smaller square footage.

Know How Much Space You Actually Need

Downsizing is a great concept but it is important to stay realistic about it. In a moment of inspiration, you might want to get rid of all your things and belongings, but you should think about it clearly. For the new small house to become your new home, it ought to satisfy your needs and wishes, at least the most important ones.

Even after you have thought about how much space you need, sticking to an exact number of square footage might not be possible. Different homes will have different layouts, so be prepared that there may be a range of footage you ought to consider so as to meet your immediate needs.

Also, if you aren’t living alone, you need to find the compromise for all family members.

Decluttering Is the Hardest Part

You can start decluttering right away, like getting rid of magazines that keep piling up. However, you can start decluttering for real only after you have established the dominant aspects of your lifestyle you want to keep in your new home.

If you are afraid you might begin decluttering and never finish, create a list first. The list should contain the things you own and later on, you can update it with information on the new items you will need for your new home. Label every item with keep, donate, give to a friend/family, or sell. You can use sticky notes as additional visual aids to place on your belongings and each colour can reflect a particular category.

Downsize Your Appliances to Suit Your Small Home

Not every piece of furniture will have a place in your new smaller living arrangement, but another feature can make it more functional. You might want to replace a double door fridge freezer model for something not as overbearing. Also, consider getting compact washer and dryer, as they are designed to blend in. Though they will take on smaller laundry loads than the full-size ones, they will save quite a lot of living space.

An Organized Storage Room Saves Space

Although you might be a highly organized person, there will always be some knick-knacks that you need to keep but have nowhere to put. This is especially obvious when there is no extra space in your home.
A storage room can be a lifesaver in this respect as long as you maximize the space use. It is important to keep that space organized, so make sure that all the items, like your tools and your stock of home appliance supplies are easily stored and reached when you need them.

Clutter-Free and Smart Storage

Once you have got rid of most of your clutter, you will feel oddly liberated. But the trick is to keep up the good work and keep your home clutter-free. Each belonging should have its own place and you should make a habit of putting things away.

Moreover, a smaller space will inspire smart storage ideas. Try to combine them with your furniture, like under your living room sofa and bed. You can also hang some shelves and pots from the walls, both as a storage and a decoration idea. The important thing is to not go overboard, by creating only as much storage as you need and not closing up the space.

Use Color and Light to Your Advantage

Apart from the furniture and appliances in proper sizes, you can also use colors and light to give the illusion of more room and make the space airier. Light colors of walls and furniture can make a room look bigger even when there is a limited source of natural light. In addition, good lighting and mirrors can open up and brighten up the space.

Less Stuff, More Freedom

It might seem hard to go small, but it will give you the freedom you just can’t have in a large space. The financial factor is the most noticeable one, as having some extra cash can give you more opportunity to go out and about.

Also, a smaller home can mean moving into the heart of the city, consequently shortening your commute but also shortening the distance between you and the events happening downtown.

Taking a step towards being a small homeowner can be challenging but if you know all the facts, there is no reason to fear it. Free yourself from the stuff you don’t need and you will be able to have more room for things that matter as well as more time to actually enjoy them. By using functional pieces and light, you will make the space work even better than you might have believed it ever could.

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