Which cordless electric impact for lug nut use?

[bsaint]

I want to keep a cordless impact in my car when we go on vaca or trips if I get a flat. I think the new IR is overkill but if its not much more than an alternative then of course Id get the new IR. I probably won't use it much outside of changing tires but enough to cycle the juice in the batteries - most likely when I rotate tires on the cars or what not.

I tried searching threads but either I **** at searching or there is no topic on it.

 

[xurusaibobx]

personally if u only going use it for lugnuts and once in a great while that craftsman one isnt to bad at all

 

[Pinhook]

I have thought about the DeWalt 18V since I already have 2 18V batteries and a nice 18V kit.

But I want the IR. Overkill ? Absolutely.

I wonder if the DeWalt would break loose the lug nuts on my F250

 

[amolaver]

the dewalt is weak (the 18v version anyway). the milwaukee 18v is excellent (what i'm using currently). there is an 18v bosch that is also excellent, and the SO; all three seem to be extremely similar power-wise. the IR also appears to be excellent, but it is very new and not sure how much it costs.

the milwaukee is ~$360 for impact, charger, and 2 LiIon batteries from amazon. it handles my 1 ton dually lug nuts no problem.

ahm

 

[6-Speed]

My Craftman C3 19.2V 1/2" impact removes lug nuts with ease. I used it to rotate tires yesterday. I would avoid leaving the batteries in a hot car for long term.

 

[bsaint]

the dewalt is weak (the 18v version anyway). the milwaukee 18v is excellent (what i'm using currently). there is an 18v bosch that is also excellent, and the SO; all three seem to be extremely similar power-wise. the IR also appears to be excellent, but it is very new and not sure how much it costs.

the milwaukee is ~$360 for impact, charger, and 2 LiIon batteries from amazon. it handles my 1 ton dually lug nuts no problem.

ahm

Which milwaukee kit are you seeing? I only see the one for $439.

 

[O_M_Jeep]

My Craftman C3 19.2V 1/2" impact removes lug nuts with ease. I used it to rotate tires yesterday. I would avoid leaving the batteries in a hot car for long term.

any idea what kind of torque your seeing?

I was reading the reviews at CM site and they werent all favorable on how much torque it has, the website says 200 +/-

 

[theoldwizard1]

Stay away from anything with NiCad batteries. They go flat pretty quick (week or two) when stored.

NiMh are good and cheaper than LiOn

 

[metal1313]

i would go with milwaukee, since you can have lots of other tools that take the same batteries so you can easily rotate them

i have one and it works well but i havent really pushed it too hard yet

 

[bigenos]

I have a Milwaukee V28 and it can handle a tire rotation on my 3/4 ton Chevy with one battery no sweat. Disconnect the battery from the tool if you are going to store it and expect it to have a charge, though. I just leave one of my batteries on the charger. I like what another poster said about the fact you can buy other tools that use the same batteries with the Milwaukee.

The IR looks like a bad mutha, though.

 

[sberry]

Personally I am not nuts about these impacts for wheel work, they really hit and is easy to over tighten lug nuts, air can control the speed and feel. When is the last time you changed a road flat? Just more weight and stuff to carry for rare use.

 

[amolaver]

Which milwaukee kit are you seeing? I only see the one for $439.

thats all i see now too i swear i saw it the other day for $360.

that said, just did a quick search and see it at thetoolwarehouse for $380 - http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-1..._medium= Product Search &utm_campaign=Product

ahm

 

[Packard V8]

Of all the possible uses for a battery powered impact, keeping it in the vehicle in case of a flat is one I'd never consider. Just about guaranteed, the batteries will be down when months down the road you'd ever need it. (FWIW, back in the bad old days when I was a tire store service manager, most of the spares we checked every time we serviced a car were flat or dangerously low.)

Plus, JMHO, but that's like killing flies with a sledge hammer. I mean, a $250 tool to put 5-6 lug nuts on and off? And they still have to be torqued to spec.

I watch yard sales and pick up old beam 1/2"drive torque wrenches for $3-5 and put one of those in each vehicle equipped with the appropriate socket and extension, it breaks them loose and torques back to spec.

Your money, your decision.

 

[GSteg]

If you have to go with Craftsman, get the li-ion battery at a minimum. The nicad batteries **** and will not hold charge to too long, especially if you plan on keeping it in your car. I have the lithium-ion version and it's a good gun. Expect to pay around $170-180 for the gun + li-ion. For lug nuts, this is one of the better values. Anything else is overkill for your intended purpose.

 

[franzdom]

This does not sound like a good idea. They are ok for track use but for flats I would not count on one.

 

[chris6278]

I have an ir w7150 at work and thats things a beast but at home i have a dewalt 18v. I forget the model # but its their heavy duty one thats puts out over 300 ft. lbs of torgue and its pretty good for a Nicad. Takes lug nuts off my suv with no problems

 

[6-Speed]

any idea what kind of torque your seeing?

I was reading the reviews at CM site and they werent all favorable on how much torque it has, the website says 200 +/-

So far I've only used it to loosen lug nuts torqued to 80 lb-ft. However, it hammers and zips them off so fast that I'm confident the CM C3 will handle lug nuts torqued higher.

 

[6-Speed]

Personally I am not nuts about these impacts for wheel work, they really hit and is easy to over tighten lug nuts, air can control the speed and feel. When is the last time you changed a road flat? Just more weight and stuff to carry for rare use.

I only use the impact capability of the cordless for loosening fasteners, not to tighten them. I can easily control the speed of the wrench to re-install fasteners quickly, without tightening them; for that I follow up with a hand ratchet and a torque wrench.

 

[bsaint]

So you're saying that the impact gun will explode and the batteries will cause a fiery mess if I leave it in my vehicle the week we are on vacation. And storing it normally in my basement when not in use is not a good idea? Whats the different between changing a flat and retightening with a impact wrench and tighetening by hand with a tire iron? Nothing. They will both tighten down lug nuts unevenly. I have a 4 month old kid, if I break down, I wanna get the old tire off and the spare on F1 pit lane quick.

And I changed a flat 4 weeks ago.

 

[jamesc]

I have the millwaukee m18 I always take with me going camping with the trailer, I have a few jacks with the hex on them so I can lift the trailer quickly with the impact. I went out last week and while I was adjusting my towing mirrors I see a guy trying to change a tire he broke two studs already and is dripping with sweat telling his girlfriend the other two are siezed. My millwaukee zipped them off no problem. thankfully I have never had to change a flat on my own car with it yet.

 

[sberry]

Whats the different between changing a flat and retightening with a impact wrench and tightening by hand with a tire iron? Nothing. They will both tighten down lug nuts unevenly.

Not exactly. An impact (especially electric) is fast, hand is slow, doesn't heat the fastener and tightens slowly. Thousands of seized bolts every year from tire stores where the guys zip them on dry and fast with air guns.

They will both tighten down lug nuts unevenly.

I spose if a guy has never used a wrench before this is likely. The only thing a torque wrench does is tell how hard a bolt turns, on a lightly lubed good thread this is fairly accurate, about as good as we got for common work but with a dry thread the clamping power is really unknown. I can hit them within about 5 pounds with an air gun, the object isn't to get it as tight as the gun will go, I usually am watching the socket rotation, its a rare day I use a torque wrench and have compared many against my installs with air gun.
Have seen some wheels come loose, usually as the result of hot tightening with air guns at tire type stores, they really didn't come loose, the nuts quit turning due to seizure, never did clamp the wheel properly. Alum wheels are another matter, they have their own set of issues and most of the problems there again with dry threads. As for warped rotors etc not an issue, most of any damage comes from over tightening and ruining the seat on the wheel, with the stud going thru a rotor to a hub has no effect on the rotor no matter how tight it is.

I find a lot of working mechanics still do not have a real concept of how bolt/nuts work, it should be one of the first basics in schools. John Deere tech manuals have a good primer book on fasteners that should be a must read for anyone in this field.

 

[vgs8606]

So you're saying that the impact gun will explode and the batteries will cause a fiery mess if I leave it in my vehicle the week we are on vacation. And storing it normally in my basement when not in use is not a good idea? Whats the different between changing a flat and retightening with a impact wrench and tighetening by hand with a tire iron? Nothing. They will both tighten down lug nuts unevenly. I have a 4 month old kid, if I break down, I wanna get the old tire off and the spare on F1 pit lane quick.

And I changed a flat 4 weeks ago.

Are you thinking of using this *only* when you go on vacation for a week? What happens when you get a flat during the commuting?

I have Craftsman C3 19.2 NiCd and I leave it in the basement but after 6 months, it was completely dead when I tried to see if it was holding any charge.

BUT just like you, I have carried it in my trunk once on a vacation but it was more for bragging as I was visiting my brother. I carry AAA card

 

[pendragon1998]

1/2" harbor freight breaker bar ($10), socket and 3" extension, and a 1/2" harbor freight torque wrench ($12) is my truck tire change kit. Lots cheaper and gets the job done.

 

[PAPERMAKER]

I picked up this 3/8" at sears this weekend for $89.

 

[bsaint]

Are you thinking of using this *only* when you go on vacation for a week? What happens when you get a flat during the commuting?

I have Craftsman C3 19.2 NiCd and I leave it in the basement but after 6 months, it was completely dead when I tried to see if it was holding any charge.

BUT just like you, I have carried it in my trunk once on a vacation but it was more for bragging as I was visiting my brother. I carry AAA card

I dont commute at all beside vacation and day trips.

The cman is nice. Ill go check it out.

 

[bsaint]

Not exactly. An impact (especially electric) is fast, hand is slow, doesn't heat the fastener and tightens slowly. Thousands of seized bolts every year from tire stores where the guys zip them on dry and fast with air guns. I spose if a guy has never used a wrench before this is likely. The only thing a torque wrench does is tell how hard a bolt turns, on a lightly lubed good thread this is fairly accurate, about as good as we got for common work but with a dry thread the clamping power is really unknown. I can hit them within about 5 pounds with an air gun, the object isn't to get it as tight as the gun will go, I usually am watching the socket rotation, its a rare day I use a torque wrench and have compared many against my installs with air gun.
Have seen some wheels come loose, usually as the result of hot tightening with air guns at tire type stores, they really didn't come loose, the nuts quit turning due to seizure, never did clamp the wheel properly. Alum wheels are another matter, they have their own set of issues and most of the problems there again with dry threads. As for warped rotors etc not an issue, most of any damage comes from over tightening and ruining the seat on the wheel, with the stud going thru a rotor to a hub has no effect on the rotor no matter how tight it is.

I find a lot of working mechanics still do not have a real concept of how bolt/nuts work, it should be one of the first basics in schools. John Deere tech manuals have a good primer book on fasteners that should be a must read for anyone in this field.

Jesus Christ I was nitpicking for nit pickers. I didn't expect this response.

My torque chart has lubed and dry thread torque specs. Its a nice chart.

 

[sberry]

I really think they came up with torque values for dry threads due to the fact that no one oils them. Most lugs are fine thread but even on a good NC up to 40% of the torque value is use to overcome thread friction, I forget all the details but dry goes way up and becomes a total unknown resulting in lots of seizures.

I was somewhere the other day, the boss asked a guy to tight some big ole bolts, you could hear them scream, I spray a couple, said, isn't that easier, yes, went right back to doing them dry, I guess if it looks like you are busy that is good enough, accomplishment is another matter, ha.

 

[jakcamden]

I have the CM C3 1/2" and does of great job on tires. I have no problem controlling speed for install after I finger start and finsh with torque. Also used it to rebuild front suspension on '89 2500, '96 F150 and '92 Accord last 6 months. Have 4 batteries but also have the 1/2" hammer drill.

 

[shampoop]

For your uses, a 1/2" breaker bar with a cheater pipe will:

A: Produce the most power
B: Be the most reliable
C: Be the cheapest
D: Be the longest lasting

 

[bigenos]

Personally I am not nuts about these impacts for wheel work, they really hit and is easy to over tighten lug nuts, air can control the speed and feel. When is the last time you changed a road flat? Just more weight and stuff to carry for rare use.

I don't own an air impact and I can't judge them well at all. To me the trigger feels like an on/off switch. It's probably because I don't have the feel that you do from frequent use.

My electric has a variable trigger so it's very easy for me to control it. I change tires on my cars frequently (autocrossing) and I've never broken a stud with my Milwaukee.

I think it's what you're used to.

 

[GSteg]

Yep. If you're use to one of the other, you'll have more feel for the gun. I use both air and cordless, and I can control them easily. Of course, final torquing is with a torque wrench.