About two years ago we went to a tool event & saw a PB Blaster booth. Aside from their well-known PB Blaster spray (that breaks free rusty bolts), they also make a wide range of other specialty products for a wide range of applications. One such product is the Air Tool Conditioner. It comes in a standard aerosol spray bottle, and is designed solely with air tools in mind.
While we were at the event, the PB rep explained at-length the positive features of the Air Tool Conditioner — and claiming that it could not only completely clean the motor/interior of an impact wrench — but that it could also restore torque that had lowered overtime (due to dirt, grease, debris, etc).
He went on the explain that a certain manufacturer of impact wrenches actually used this product when warranty claims came in. Rather than opening the problem impact up & working on it, they would soak the inside of the tool with the conditioner, let it set, & then re-run the tool. He said “most of the time” it brought the tool back into torque specs & no further repair was needed.
Recently we found this in-stock at a local farm supply store, so we bought a can & decided to see if it actually works. To verify the results before & after, we used the following setup :
- Skidmore-Wilhelm Model T-3000
- Ingersoll Rand 231H 1/2″ Impact
- 1/2″ Flexzilla Air Line
- 3/8″ Air Fittings
- 80-gallon Air Compressor
- 90 PSI Working Pressure
Using the Skidmore, forward & reverse peak dynamic torque was verified. The test was ran in 3 separate 1-second bursts to prove “how hard” the impact was hitting (in both forward & reverse). The forward torque measured was 301 ft-lbs & the reverse torque was measured at 339 ft-lbs.
After the initial testing, using the PB Blaster is about as easy it as gets —- turn the tool over & spray it in the air plug and exhaust. You then let it set for 10-15 minutes. Now reconnect the air line & pull the trigger — the PB Blaster, oil, grease, dirt, and debris will shoot out the exhaust. (Be sure to put a rag/towel under it, or it will soak you). We repeated the soaking & after a total of 3 times, the exhaust spray came out basically free of discoloration.
Now that the impact was clean, it was time for torque test #2. With the exact same setup as our initial run, we repeated the steps over again & the torque specs did improve — VERY slightly. The forward torque was now topping out at 303 ft-lbs & the reverse at 348 ft-lbs.
This equaled a minimal increase of 2 ft-lbs in forward & 9 ft-lbs in reverse. In reality, there is no way that you would “feel” a difference before & after the PB treatment. This was not a lightly used impact…..nor was it brand new. I can only assume that due to the tool being well-oiled over it’s life, the PB didn’t have much to remove that could have effected its performance.
Some people have reported a noticeable increase in speed/power of their air tools after using the PB Blaster — however, we did not. Our testing has proved one thing — PB Blaster Air Tool Conditioner is NOT a miracle cure for your old & under-powered air tools. It did show some increase in power, but not much. In reality, a few drops of oil and/or a shot of WD-40 may have made the impact increase with the same amount of torque.
- It did remove a lot of dirt/grease/oil from the impact.
- It did lubricate the interior of the impact.
- It worked quickly & was easy to apply.
- It did not cause a noticeable increase in power.
If you have older air tools that need a rebuild, are sluggish, or you would like them clean & running at max performance — check out the PB Air Tool Conditioner. But, if you are looking for some magic to bump your power levels up — this isnt going to be it.