craftsman c3 impact drivers

[vandezand]

ive been looking for a cordless impact because i live in an apartment and do have electricity in my garage so a compressor and impact are out of the question. I found the craftsman c3 series for about 80 bucks and i was wondering if anybody has any experience with these

 

[6-Speed]

The C3 series are nice tools ... especially when paired with the Li-Ion batteries. I have the impact driver and 1/2" impact wrench; they both work great.

 

[dmeadow]

I've got one that I've used for years. I take it to the racetrack with me and it is fine for spinning off lug nuts that have no more than 50 lbs on them. I don't think you'll find a cordless that really has much more torque without spending a lot more.

Did you mean you do NOT have electricity in your garage? If not, you can get a cheap corded HF impact with a huge amount of torque.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

I've been using the C3 Impact at the race track and in the garage since it came out. Two or three years I think. I have only Ni-Cad batteries. I torque the wheels to 90#. Unless the battery is close to discharge, the C3 impact takes them to 90# or more.

I really, really like it and highly recommend the impact and the entire series of C3 cordless tools.

 

[vandezand]

I've got one that I've used for years. I take it to the racetrack with me and it is fine for spinning off lug nuts that have no more than 50 lbs on them. I don't think you'll find a cordless that really has much more torque without spending a lot more.

Did you mean you do NOT have electricity in your garage? If not, you can get a cheap corded HF impact with a huge amount of torque.

Yeah, i do not have electricity in my garage

 

[vandezand]

do the batteries last a while? ive heard of some people only taking off one tire then they need to recharge the battery. Is there a big difference power wise in the Li ion vs the Nicad battery?

 

[6-Speed]

My 1/2" C3 impact will zip off lug nuts torqued to 80lb-ft before I can release the trigger.

 

[6-Speed]

do the batteries last a while? ive heard of some people only taking off one tire then they need to recharge the battery. Is there a big difference power wise in the Li ion vs the Nicad battery?

Depends on what you run with the battery. A fully charged compact Li-Ion battery will do a complete tire rotation and still indicate green. But if you run the C3 vacuum or leaf blower continuously, they don't last for more than 5 to 6 minutes. Sears just recently offered a new high capacity XCP Li-Ion battery with 4 Amp-hr capacity.

 

[GSteg]

do the batteries last a while? ive heard of some people only taking off one tire then they need to recharge the battery. Is there a big difference power wise in the Li ion vs the Nicad battery?

If they can only remove one wheel, then it means they probably have a dying NICAD battery.

The Lithium battery doesn't really give it more torque. Same power, but its much more consistent. Battery voltage does not drop off as quickly as Nicad, making the tool more useful for the duration of the battery life.

 

[Danglerb]

My first C3 I bought maybe 11 months ago, $92 incl tax for the kit with nicad and charger, plus I found the inflator on a crazy sale price of $19.99 and its what I use the most. First time I think I topped up 7 or 9 tires before it needed a recharge, but I use it too infrequently I think an a month or so ago I was only able to top up 3 tires (to be fair I have 3 extra cars that have OLD tires and get rarely driven, so top up was 18 to 20 psi to 35 psi.), but Sears replaced it after some fuss with a new one, and back to good charges so far.

LiIon is easily twice as good, and no weird memory issues. Cheapest way I've seen to upgrade which requires both the battery and the newer charger is the $49 drill kit that was on black Friday. I will update, but waiting on a deal and issues with the battery again.

 

[allinon72]

The impact is a very good value. I have one for sale in the classifieds with a lithium battery

 

[TDWendt]

Just got one today. Can't wait to use it, been wAnting to Get a 1/2in cordless for a while. I'll get the lithium-ion batteries/charger this summer.

 

[NineFingerFury]

I have the 1/2" and replaced the CV on my Honda Accord no problem. I love it! I used the Li-Ion battery.

 

[dodge610]

I have had one for a couple years and I love it. I also bought the quad charger so I always have 4 fully charged batterys available also have a lot of the other attachments all of them work great.

 

[Tunger]

I have the 1/4" driver, 3/8 and 1/2 impacts, and a drill, all used professionally in a shop for the last year. I keep threatening to upgrade to dewalt or milwaukee but the c3 is dependable and just won't quit. They are not the most powerful, but for the money they are great.

 

[shoturtle]

The C3 are good tools, good torque for a small unit. With the Li Ion battery they are better if you do not use them as often. Quicker to charge. But the Li Ion kits are a bit more money the the Nicad ones. The C3 can take either battery sears sells.

 

[volvo92906]

I have a C3 with the Ni-Cad battery and I was wanting a cordless impact for a while. My plan was to keep it in the car for emergency use, or helping people I see with flats.. (Happens a lot around here). I found it at Sears and it was less than 100 bucks so I jumped on it... I can do tire rotations with it but I only torque my wheels to 100# and I usually need to break them with a breaker bar... I charge it right before I use it so it has the power. It can run the lugs back up to around 100#, but doesnt take em off... I use one of those scissor jacks that comes with cars, with a 3/4" socket to raise the vehicle, and it works well for it.

I have had better luck with the big Dewalt and Snap-On impacts.... Those are what made me want a cordless one. The price of those had me looking at the Sears brand though..

 

[Super Sport]

I bought a brand new impact wrench with a NiCad battery and wasn't terribly impressed. I got a deal on a Lithium battery and noticed a huge difference. I highly recommend buying a lithium battery.

I have several C3 tools including both the impact driver and the impact wrench, and have been very happy with all of them.

 

[GSteg]

Lithium is the way to go for the C3. Yes it cost more, but its worth it. Craftsman Nicad are not the best of batteries out there, but their lithium is decent.

 

[TDWendt]

The impact did very well, throughly impressed. It was nice not having to fire up the compressor drag the hose out ect ect..... Only took off and put back on one wheel but it did good even with the 125ftlbs torqued lug nuts, didn't struggle one but.



Best part....wife told me to buy it, and I didn't even ask. just told her the price and she said go for it.

 

[redburgess]

I have the NiCad batteries for mine and I can rotate the tires on my truck with one fully charged battery with the wheels tourqed to 140