Cordless Impact Wrenches - Any good?
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Mickey O
Well-known member
Yes, no.
MattPersman
Well-known member
depends what you are using it for. what size? what are you trying to accomplish with it? where are you going to be using it?
chadster1
Well-known member
I sell more cordless impacts than I do air impacts.
The Critic
Well-known member
My new IR W7150 kicks @$$.
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Agreed. Luv that thing! Its stronger than most air 1/2" impacts
crewchief888
Well-known member
only cordless impacts i have are a 3/8" dr snapon, and a 3/8dr bluepoint.
they work fine for what i need them for,
removing 3/8" bolts from frame covers on const eq. without having to drag out an air hose, and fire up the compressor for 8 or 10 bolts
they work fine for what i need them for,
removing 3/8" bolts from frame covers on const eq. without having to drag out an air hose, and fire up the compressor for 8 or 10 bolts
shoturtle
Well-known member
In most regards they are as good for some application, and better for others, and not as good for some.
Big torque cordless are bigger you are looking at 500-700ft/lb of torque, the smaller sizes ones do not have much torque, but are great for application needing less the 130ft/lb. And they get into places the big cordless can not or a line holes would be cumbersome. Air still has a power lend over cordless, you can not going to find to many 800ft/lb or higher cordless right now.
Big torque cordless are bigger you are looking at 500-700ft/lb of torque, the smaller sizes ones do not have much torque, but are great for application needing less the 130ft/lb. And they get into places the big cordless can not or a line holes would be cumbersome. Air still has a power lend over cordless, you can not going to find to many 800ft/lb or higher cordless right now.
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The Frisco Kid
Well-known member
yes and possibly yes, depends on the air and the cordless models.
They're not just as good, they're more gooder!
Seriously, though, "good" is a vague term. Which is better depends on the which parameters are more important to you.
My opinions:
Portability: Cordless is better
Durability: Pneumatic is better
Strength: Pneumatic is better (with rare exceptions)
Convenience: Cordless
Mitigating circumstances:
Cordless can go where there's a battery without an air compressor.
Pneumatic can go anywhere there's an air compressor without an electricity source.
The strength of your cordless depends on the condition of your battery.
The strength of your pneumatic depends on the condition of your air supply.
There are too many undefined parameters to say one is "better" than the other. If you've got a good air source in your shop, or a good portable air compressor, pneumatic has an advantage for you. If you have a dozen good batteries and several chargers compatible with brand x, you are ideally suited to use a brand x cordless impact.
Now that I'm at the end, I'll give the short answer.
Get both.
I have a Milwaukee M10 screwdriver, 18v Makita Impact driver, Snapon 18v 1/2 impact wrench. Each has its own purpose. The M10 is for doing interior work, installing accessories. Makita is for 10mm-14mm fasteners on things like valve covers, brake master cylinders, strut bars, door latches, intake manifold. Snap on 18v is mainly for doing wheels. It is great when I have to put wheel locks on used cars that I have already finished inspecting. Instead of pulling the car back in the shop to use a air fun I just zip em on with the 18v & a torque stick saves bunch of time.
csargents1546
Well-known member
For the lighter stuff on trucks, I use a m12 3/8 impact. very convient do not have to drag the hose out for every little thing.
RCStocker
Well-known member
One of my son's who is 40 desided to get another cordless drill because he wanted an cordless impact. We must have 15 cordless drills. I like Miluwakee and wanted to keep them all the same to have fewer chargers and batteries.
Well at Christmas. lowe's had a half price sale on the Porta Cable Drill- impact and flash light with one battery. Normal price was $150 and he got if for $75. Thinking that they are mid streem I gave it a work out.
The impact driver has guts and took the nut off of an ond 1980's strap that held the gas tank on. We were having a dickens of a time getting it off. We put the impact on it and it Zipped right off. We have given it a work out and it has been great. It would not be good for larger work but for the smaller things it is great. I have driven about a thousand screws with it. and I have removed lug nuts on my trailers and boat axels. They have a line of other tools for under $50 that go with the 18 volt tool. The batters were on sale and we got 3 more for $25 each.
The drill is not as smooth as my top brands but it works well and will punch all the holes you can use in a small shop and it will not cost you an arm and a leg.
I ordered the grinder that gowes with it. I wanted to see how that worked. I was making an Amazon order and the grinder only cost me $40. That is the price of a cheap lunch for 2.
Well I put a wire wheel on it and started wiring the rust off of 2 trailers and and many other things I wanted to repain. It has worked great and runs smooth. I have electric hand grinders of all sizes but some times you want to do something where there is no power. Like cutting a fence post off or the long bolt that stickes out and you are 1200 feet form the neares power supply.
For the money they can't be beat. I ordered 3 more sets form Amazon at $110 per set and gave them to my grandsons.
I never though I would want one but when you make a free service call in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere and nowhere it was sure handy to have. The batteries hold up a good length of time which supprised me. The battery life depends on what you are driving and for how long.
I keep in the box on my pickup. It comes in handy. I have an inverter and a solar panel to charge the batteries if I need to.
Cordless tools have thier place. I like my electric impact but when in my shop on the farm I grab my air tools.
If you are doing comercial work I would go with Milwaukee any day. Hard to beat for quality and price. They make the worlds best electric drills bar none.
I do things the old way all the time and when my sons get me to change I wonder why I did not do it sooner. LOL I still shoot free throughs under hand. LOL
Well at Christmas. lowe's had a half price sale on the Porta Cable Drill- impact and flash light with one battery. Normal price was $150 and he got if for $75. Thinking that they are mid streem I gave it a work out.
The impact driver has guts and took the nut off of an ond 1980's strap that held the gas tank on. We were having a dickens of a time getting it off. We put the impact on it and it Zipped right off. We have given it a work out and it has been great. It would not be good for larger work but for the smaller things it is great. I have driven about a thousand screws with it. and I have removed lug nuts on my trailers and boat axels. They have a line of other tools for under $50 that go with the 18 volt tool. The batters were on sale and we got 3 more for $25 each.
The drill is not as smooth as my top brands but it works well and will punch all the holes you can use in a small shop and it will not cost you an arm and a leg.
I ordered the grinder that gowes with it. I wanted to see how that worked. I was making an Amazon order and the grinder only cost me $40. That is the price of a cheap lunch for 2.
Well I put a wire wheel on it and started wiring the rust off of 2 trailers and and many other things I wanted to repain. It has worked great and runs smooth. I have electric hand grinders of all sizes but some times you want to do something where there is no power. Like cutting a fence post off or the long bolt that stickes out and you are 1200 feet form the neares power supply.
For the money they can't be beat. I ordered 3 more sets form Amazon at $110 per set and gave them to my grandsons.
I never though I would want one but when you make a free service call in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere and nowhere it was sure handy to have. The batteries hold up a good length of time which supprised me. The battery life depends on what you are driving and for how long.
I keep in the box on my pickup. It comes in handy. I have an inverter and a solar panel to charge the batteries if I need to.
Cordless tools have thier place. I like my electric impact but when in my shop on the farm I grab my air tools.
If you are doing comercial work I would go with Milwaukee any day. Hard to beat for quality and price. They make the worlds best electric drills bar none.
I do things the old way all the time and when my sons get me to change I wonder why I did not do it sooner. LOL I still shoot free throughs under hand. LOL
DiscoBerry
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2010
- Messages
- 84
I have a craftsman 19.2 volt 1/2 impact its rated at 200 ft lbs. It does most lug nuts assuming the batteries charged. I use it daily in a shop and for the price its impossible to beat. I think a 3/8 is in my future for lighter dissasembley and tight spaces. It doesnt compare to a air powerd impact power wise its just nice not having to get the air hose out and it does 80% of the stuff. Its also nice for changing tires and things away from the garage.
Dick in Wisconsin
Well-known member
I've been using the Craftsman 19.2 C3 cordless impact for three or four years on the race car. Works great. So far I have only the Ni-Cad batteries. They work fine. Charge in a reasonable amount of time, last reasonable time. If the batteries have a good charge I put the lug nuts on the race car, and when I torgue them 90# ... they don't move.
I love the rest of the Craftsman C3 series of cordless tools. Only weak one is the leaf blower. The hedge trimmer is awesome!
I love my cordless impact guns. I rarely use my air guns, and I have PLENTY! I don't get to work on my cars as much as I use to, but when I do, I get the job done quicker. No need to wait for the compressor to charge up just for a few tough bolts that I cannot remove with a regular ratchet. 
mrpowderkeg
Well-known member
Yes and no, for general work, yes, for heavy large stuff no. I have not found a nut or bolt that my Milwaukee M18 will not remove, from 2 1/2 ton farm trucks to engines. BUT I try to use my tools to the limits of their design, and not any farther. I don't see it removing the bolts on heavy equipment cutting edges or anything like that. That is reserved to my monster air impact and 175 psi compressor.
I can tear down a 460 ford with it and only use 1/4 of a charge on the battery, that's all the head bolts balancer bolts, intake, water pump etc... The bolts either come out or snap off, mostly come off.
I have a friend who is a tech at a ford dealership, I guess the torque to yield bolts on the diesel engines are a real ****** to get out, and his snap on cordless impact will not do it. I offered to let him borrow my milwaukee to see if it would out perform whatever impact he has, he has serious doubts it would work. So far this hasn't happened, I want to see if it would do the job.
I can tear down a 460 ford with it and only use 1/4 of a charge on the battery, that's all the head bolts balancer bolts, intake, water pump etc... The bolts either come out or snap off, mostly come off.
I have a friend who is a tech at a ford dealership, I guess the torque to yield bolts on the diesel engines are a real ****** to get out, and his snap on cordless impact will not do it. I offered to let him borrow my milwaukee to see if it would out perform whatever impact he has, he has serious doubts it would work. So far this hasn't happened, I want to see if it would do the job.
rockchucker
Well-known member
I use this one...
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GA5HNY/?tag=atomicindus08-20
It only goes to 325 lb/ft of Torque though. Sometimes I have to get out my Air to break the tough ones loose.
As far as a smaller Gun for removing Bolts or driving Screws this little guy comes in pretty handy...
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007ML7FJO/?tag=atomicindus08-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GA5HNY/?tag=atomicindus08-20
It only goes to 325 lb/ft of Torque though. Sometimes I have to get out my Air to break the tough ones loose.
As far as a smaller Gun for removing Bolts or driving Screws this little guy comes in pretty handy...
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007ML7FJO/?tag=atomicindus08-20
jzt
Well-known member
The W7150 rock my socks.
elguappo
Well-known member
I have been very satisfied with my Craftsman C3 with the Li-Ion battery.
So helpfull at the wrecking yard, pulling shocks and lugs.
For $100 for the impact, and $80 for a battery that I can also use in my small impact driver or sawzall, it cannot be beat.
So helpfull at the wrecking yard, pulling shocks and lugs.
For $100 for the impact, and $80 for a battery that I can also use in my small impact driver or sawzall, it cannot be beat.
stingray1966
Well-known member
The best 1/2" cordless impact for the money is Milwaukee's M18 at under $400. Its what i use at home and is probably the second strongest cordless out there behind the IR W7150
08-23-2012 03:13 PM/QUOTE]
I with you on the milwaukee 1/2 impact thats one nice gun I like it so much I went and got the milwaukee 3/8 drive cordless ratchet and I now use that more that my air ratchet milwaukee is my go to tool now
dsmnickk90
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- Sep 24, 2011
- Messages
- 711
I am looking to get a cordless family going. I want all my tools to share the same battery and it looks like no one can really compete with the M18 line. What is the weight like on their tools?
bigbearcraig
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- May 26, 2012
- Messages
- 129
I have both air and cordless in 3/8 & 1/2 Dr. I really like having both versions, but if I could only one type of pwr it would be air.
jethro29
Well-known member
i use them daily,i have three snappy 6850's,one at work,one in my home shop and one in my service truck.they are priceless and i love them.no,the don't have the power of a GOOD quality air gun. but i take off axle nuts with them,lugnuts,flywheel bolts,ect.i can do ninety percent of what i need to do with one.
shoturtle
Well-known member
It depends, Bosch has a large family as well. And depending on what you are getting one brand may have better tools in that area you need. But the milwaukee has a very good m18 line up. Can not go wrong with them. Saw the Bosch seems a bit nicer with their jigsaw, saw saw, band band. Milwaukee has the fuel hammer drill and regular drill and 1/4 compact impactor that are very good.
Rotary hammer the Bosch is super nice with the brush motor, bosch and hilti makes the best pro grade rotory hammers.
Rotary hammer the Bosch is super nice with the brush motor, bosch and hilti makes the best pro grade rotory hammers.
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dsmnickk90
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Id pretty much stick with drill impact driver recip saw grinder and impact wrench
My 18V Milwakuee is so heavy (V18, older not the new M18) and my DeWalt 3/8" 12V is too weak to break lug nuts so I am looking forward to air. I know my pancake compressor will be the next problem, it never ends around here. Perhaps I should be done with it and just get an M18 or the new IR 
shoturtle
Well-known member
Grinder, the Bosch was nicer. But with just those requirement get the one that feels best for you. That is pretty simple and most of the big brands has it covered.
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richfinn
Well-known member
My 18V Milwakuee is so heavy (V18, older not the new M18) and my DeWalt 3/8" 12V is too weak to break lug nuts so I am looking forward to air. I know my pancake compressor will be the next problem, it never ends around here. Perhaps I should be done with it and just get an M18 or the new IR
I dont have access to a decent air supply (mobile), so I bought the older IRW360 about 5 years ago. I have to break the odd fastener loose with a breaker bar but for the most part I dont really miss it. I also use a 10v 1/4 hex impact which has replaced my little air ratchet.
If I didn,t have to inflate tyres or have a blow gun for cleaning stuff I wouldn,t even have a compressor.
toolaholic
Well-known member
I have a cordless Milwaukee 0883 V18 1/2 drive impact wrench. It'll remove the lug nuts from my Dakota R/T. My corded Milwaukee 9072-22,however, is st least twice as strong. No air impacts for me cept for my dinky IR 1/4 drive stubby air ratchet. My compressor is a PC 2541S 4.3 gallon oil lubed compressor.
Step up to the W7150. I owned the W360 and it's no contest when it comes to power. It's just like having an air gun with you, but in cordless form. My Snap On CT6850 (with lithium) is powerful and will take off axle nuts, few crank pulley bolts, and every lug nut minus 18-wheelers, yet the W7150 trumps it. I have a 2135Qtimax and a couple Snap On MG725, but the W7150 keeps up with them no problem.
But if someone wants just a single battery/charger, then you can't do much better than Milwaukee or even Bosch. They have almost everything under the sun.
richfinn
Well-known member
I will probably wait till the hype dies down a bit and then get a W7150 when the price drops a little, My W360 is still good for now
va aviator
Active member
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- Feb 4, 2012
- Messages
- 44
I have a Ryobi 18V cordless I use with my NiCd collection. It's not the most powerful thing in the world but it is great for zipping wheels on and off and if you have a fastener that's really not wanting to move it's great for just beating on it to soften it up if nothing else.
Need4racin
Banned
Rigid 14 volt Impact Driver with charger
How can I tell via pic what drive size this one is? It's from someone's for sale ad.
redwrench60
Well-known member
That looks like an impact driver not an impact wrench. It has a 1/4" hex chuck to accept power driver bits not square drive sockets.