nmantas
Well-known member
I have read so many threads about people that are cordless impact shopping. Many times the advice from professional wrenchers was something like this: “I use my midtorque or 3/8" 95% of the time”. While I feel this is a true statement and well-intended advice, I also think sometimes it is missing context for the recipient of the advice. Folks want a cordless impact for one or more of different reasons: power/portability/lack of air/speed/size&weight/etc.
I think DIY’ers would rate power much higher than a pro that already has access to shop air and an air impact in a drawer OR a buddy in the next stall that has a gun that has more balls that you could easily borrow for a few minutes for those 5% of situations where you need the power. When you do it as a profession, you use these tools all day long and weight and size might be more important but a DIY is working on stuff two days a month and is really not worried about the weight getting to them while they do the single job on a given weekend. The DIY also needs the power to take anything off because they might not have access to anything else and are reduced to laying on their back with a breaker bar that can only move a few degrees because their working on jackstands and not a lift. I would feel let down if I bought a midtorque and hit those 5% of situations where high torque was needed and was reduced to struggling instead of easily taking fasteners off.
I’m not shopping for an impact but I think this class of tool, which can be a major investment for many, should have some situational context for both the thread starter seeking advice and the kind folks giving it.
I think DIY’ers would rate power much higher than a pro that already has access to shop air and an air impact in a drawer OR a buddy in the next stall that has a gun that has more balls that you could easily borrow for a few minutes for those 5% of situations where you need the power. When you do it as a profession, you use these tools all day long and weight and size might be more important but a DIY is working on stuff two days a month and is really not worried about the weight getting to them while they do the single job on a given weekend. The DIY also needs the power to take anything off because they might not have access to anything else and are reduced to laying on their back with a breaker bar that can only move a few degrees because their working on jackstands and not a lift. I would feel let down if I bought a midtorque and hit those 5% of situations where high torque was needed and was reduced to struggling instead of easily taking fasteners off.
I’m not shopping for an impact but I think this class of tool, which can be a major investment for many, should have some situational context for both the thread starter seeking advice and the kind folks giving it.

(I didn't have an impact-rated u-joint extension at the time)