mooman
Well-known member
Without breaking the bank, what's a good recomendation for a good hand impact driver for the weekend warrior?
Hand Impact Drivers
- Thread starter mooman
- Start date
wantedabiggergarage
Member Emeritus
Sears sells them for around $25, and they sell replacement bits (a lot of places don't sell the bits seperately).
Home depot sells them for I think (been a long tme) around $20.
I don't know what HF sells them for, but if your getting it for one project, they may be a place to look. I went to Sears due to the replacement bits (yes they will fit more then one brand, I just wanted to pick up an extra bit at the sametime) and I found out I find it more useful then I expected.
Home depot sells them for I think (been a long tme) around $20.
I don't know what HF sells them for, but if your getting it for one project, they may be a place to look. I went to Sears due to the replacement bits (yes they will fit more then one brand, I just wanted to pick up an extra bit at the sametime) and I found out I find it more useful then I expected.
cruiser808
Well-known member
+1. Extremely sturdy and a favorite tool at our local body shops.
Kurt4440
Well-known member
The Craftsman impact driver I have is about 25 years old. It has not let me down once and the access to replacement bits at a local store is convienient.
jdcompman
Well-known member
+1 on the craftsman one
yogitech
Well-known member
Or.. maybe a Lisle- http://www.ntxtools.com/network-tool-warehouse/LIS-29200.html
nate379
Banned
I have had that Sears unit in the link for 6-7 years and I don't think I have ever even used it.
Marty256
Well-known member
Wesley:
BFHammer
Seriously select the correct bit, set the driver for right hand or left hand thread and smack the back of the tool with a hammer while keeping pressure on the fastener with the other hand. Once it breaks loose use a screw driver or what ever to back out the fastener.
BFHammer
Seriously select the correct bit, set the driver for right hand or left hand thread and smack the back of the tool with a hammer while keeping pressure on the fastener with the other hand. Once it breaks loose use a screw driver or what ever to back out the fastener.
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nate379
Banned
Yup. I find it;s usually faster and easier to just weld a nut on the stuck screw and use an air gun.
That seems like a lot of extra work, I have one of the snap on 3/8 impacts with most of the snap on impact bits and it by far is one of the best tools i own. I use it daily for servicing valves on hydraulic jacks and would be lost without it. Would be impossible to the weld/grind letalone purchase a new fastner method and come out financially ahead for me. I suppose it depends on your application.
wantedabiggergarage
Member Emeritus
Welding would never have worked in some area's where I have had to use it. Replacing flooring and those old thresholds under doors, that filled up with gunk and rusted. Automotive hasn't been my only use, just the one that taught me about the tool.
Where I see the hand impact used a lot are the two screws that sometimes are used on brake rotors. Using an air impact I think carries a big risk of damaging the screw. With the hand impact the same instant you have the rotating force your have the whack of the hammer seating the bit. Seems to work great, so I wouldn't change without a good reason.
Some of the hand impacts are one direction only, so look at what you buy.
Some of the hand impacts are one direction only, so look at what you buy.
rsanter
Well-known member
I have a spare Cman version that I can let go of
I have had my other Cman one for several years and it works very well
one note I will make is that the 'bits' are not lifetime from Cman
bob
I have had my other Cman one for several years and it works very well
one note I will make is that the 'bits' are not lifetime from Cman
bob
I chose the 3/8 version account i already had a slew of 3/8 snap on bits. Not to mention clearance is sometimes a issue for me. Theres not much size difference between 3/8 and 1/2 but enough on some applications. I have yet to have my impact fail me, the bits? Ive broken a select few but a overall good experience for the hell i put them thru. On a side not, whenever possible i whack the top of stubborn valve bolts with a hammer and a appropriate size punch prior to using my impact. I can hear my grandfather now " you got to swell those threads boy" i hate to admit it but sometimes whenever i forget and grab my impact and it doesnt break free within a couple shots i always grab a big punch and and "swell the threads" and it ALWAYS works with the first impact strike. Amazing...
volvo420coupe
Well-known member
As a honda tech I use the hell out of mine, it is a lisle brand, no complaints, I like thats its 3/8 drive but 99% of the time I'm using the included 5/16 bit adaptor with a #3 philips bit, and no an air impact will not work as good as these for removing the brake rotor screws, you really do need the hammering force to prevent camout.
On a related note, I was wondering if as the end starts to mushroom out, are we supposed to dress it with a grinding wheel like our punches and chisels? I have used mine so much it has a pretty impressive mushroom effect going on.
On a related note, I was wondering if as the end starts to mushroom out, are we supposed to dress it with a grinding wheel like our punches and chisels? I have used mine so much it has a pretty impressive mushroom effect going on.
jdcompman
Well-known member
Yep that's the one I have. Great tool. After I let my friend use mine, he was so impressed, he decided to go out and buy one as well. For myself, it's been indispensible for restoring my father's 1970 Honda CB450 motorcycle.
That's the difference between an impact wrench and an impact driver. Anytime you need positive engagement to the fastener (e.g. a phillips head), use an impact driver, not an impact wrench.
An impact wrench was tried when trying to remove the oil filter cover plate on the Honda CB450, which I might add, had been sitting in my father's garage for over 30 years. Some of the fasteners were really stuck on there. Here's what it did to those screws (all stripped):
The Craftsman impact driver took all the crankcase cover screws out without stripping any of them. After the oil filter cover plate screws were drilled and extracted, they were replaced with hex bolts. If you notice in the picture, there are a LOT of phillips head screws used on this motorcycle.
The Craftsman one in the link is reversable. Just twist ccw and hold before hitting with a hammer to loosen, or twist cw and hold before hitting with a hammer to tighten.
It depends on what you're going to use it on. I personally will stick with the 1/2" for an impact driver. The torque that it delivers is proportional to the impact force it receives when struck with a hammer, so if you want less torque, just don't hit it as hard. If you're mainly going to be using it on screws, the attachable head accepts all 1/4" impact bits; the smallest I have is a P1 bit. As far as sizing for sockets, the smallest 1/2" drive impact socket I have is 12mm. 3/8" drive will let you go smaller than that. You could also get a 1/2" to 3/8" impact adapter so you could use smaller sized impact sockets if you needed that.
Todd.Brock
Well-known member
I bought mine for 15 at Oreillys about 2 months ago. Performance accessory brand maybe?? Came in a grey gase with 4 bits. Works great for the old honda im working on Those screws are about a buck a piece from the dealer btw... I know, I have bought way too many of them...
Those philips headed screws in old Jap bikes are made from some kind of recycled cheese, cos they sure as hell aren't steel. Do yourself a favour and sling them all over the nearest fence and replace them with stainles allen heads. Over here at least, its standard practice to strip them and sling them if you come across them still on a bike, even if the motor hasn't (and isn't about to be ) opened.
*edit* those hand impact drivers are an essential part of a bikers toolbox IMO.
*edit* those hand impact drivers are an essential part of a bikers toolbox IMO.
Rusty Kustoms
Well-known member
I have a cheap one I bought years ago, I think it was like $6. I have used it alot and have never had a problem with it. When it mushrooms I just dress it with a grinder.
wantedabiggergarage
Member Emeritus
3/8" or 1/2", in my view, start with the first you find in your budget. This is a tool where you will either end up with both (bargain hunting), or place an adapter going the other way with it.
I've got an old imported one and it works great. I never could figure out how it works on the inside though (the mechanics of it).
The only problem is that sometimes I hit it so hard (pushing ithe body in) that the adjustment mechanism twists and switches directions! It surprised the heck out of me the first time it happened.
Joe Mamma
The only problem is that sometimes I hit it so hard (pushing ithe body in) that the adjustment mechanism twists and switches directions! It surprised the heck out of me the first time it happened.
Joe Mamma
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MAD
Well-known member
I have the Craftsman hand impact driver and it works well.
The Craftsman hand impact driver and bits are made by Lisle.
The Craftsman hand impact driver and bits are made by Lisle.