Are they still owned in Japan? If so, none of that surprises me at all. I've been to Japan many times and I love it, but it is like stepping back into 1977 sometimes...
1/2 cordless impact- Platform question
- Thread starter Marc Voorhees
- Start date
Everybody forgets about Makita. I mean I don't, but there may be a reason for that...
My FIL runs a small lumber shop and carries Makita tools, he has been using them for decades now and swears by them. HIs brother owns an electrical contracting company and all his personal tools are Makita as well (guess who he buys them from?). They got me in and I have yet to be disappointed. I've gotten a couple of the tools so hot I couldn't hold them and they never lost power. Every one of them just works.
On top of what's shown I have a cordless radio, trimmer, and blower and a corded router and circular saw. Never a hitch.
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Cruzan80
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Not sure why people use this as prevailing wisdom. I get so much more mileage out of the brands that are starting to die off. Pick up a bunch of batteries and tools cheap. The only downside is I know they aren't coming out with more options, but I don't really care. I have probably 10+ Nextec batteries, and almost all the tools, Most of the PC lineup as well, less batteries for them (6?). But if they serve the purpose you need, why bother jumping ship and paying premiums for "in-brands"?
I ma a DIY guy and mostly need the cordless options for working around the property. Less worried about "in-shop" work, as I have most of them in corded/air as backups.
OP
Marc Voorhees
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I mean, this is fair, but I am not going to toss everything out, but perhaps as I upgrade in time I will pick something else. Milwaukee is attractive.
Soj ust to follow up on This thread, I ended up not getting a 1/2 impact driver at all, I did however pick up a 3/8 Bauer impact driver from harbor freight.
Honestly, so far, it has done almost everything I have asked of it, except 1 lug nut that I struggles with a 2' breaker bar as well.
Do it believe its stated stats for breaking force etc? Is it something I would buy lots and lots of Into the future? Is it something I will but again if it breaks? No.
Does it do the job I asked of it? So far so good!
It is a good bridge through to a new tool system I think. I didn't want to lock myself on to something else with a big purchase (M18 mid torque was 450!!!!)
Will be able to take some more time and in a year or three when I assume things will start dying off in my current ecosystem I will change over more
bubinga
Well-known member
I just had Home Depot ship one of those to my brother in Colorado.
$159.00 at Home Depot right now.
Good to know it's working well for you.
Reviews on YouTube are good too.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-...-Ah-Battery-and-Charger-R86011KSB2N/316087389
Dakotadadv8
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Dewalt cordless impact wrench midsize, almost bought Milwaukee but already have Dewalt batteries.
Regardless of battery will buy either the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1/2 in. Impact Wrench with Friction Ring Kit With Two 5.0 Ah Batteries, TTI Hong Kong company ownership. The SO USA 18 V 1/2" Drive MonsterLithium Cordless Impact Wrench Kit (Red) looks great, COO USA, twice as expensive. $=quality.
Regardless of battery will buy either the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1/2 in. Impact Wrench with Friction Ring Kit With Two 5.0 Ah Batteries, TTI Hong Kong company ownership. The SO USA 18 V 1/2" Drive MonsterLithium Cordless Impact Wrench Kit (Red) looks great, COO USA, twice as expensive. $=quality.
I'm sure it's fine, and it will continue to serve you well. The only problem will be when it isn't a battery platform any more. I don't trust HF, Lowe's, HD or any retailer to keep a battery platform alive. If you spent a small enough amount of money that you won't mind being orphaned, then you're fine. For me, I was very unhappy at that scenario, but I can see going for minimal investment too.
Rigid is a bit of a tweener - I trust them more than Kobalt, etc., but not so much that I'd invest beyond one tool...
bubinga
Well-known member
Should be ok for his home garage car repairs.
Xcursion88
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Power wise? Its fairly close.
If you're going to use it a lot....
The SO is by far the better tool.
If you want to grease them up you literally have to take off half the fasteners in the county to get to the grease area on the Milwaukee.
The SO...4 fasteners. Done.
SO also offers deals periodically giving away extra batteries, gun on sale, etc.
I can tell you this...
We have some impressive guns in the shop and the rare time we get a lugnut that won't budge with any of the air guns...before we get out the 3/4 or 1" drive stuff we use the electric SO gun.
That thing is extremely powerful. It's a heavy ***** alright but Schwarzenegger strong!!
Haven't met a stubborn bolt/lugnut/axle nut yet that SO loses to. It's record so far is undefeated.
I'm in the rust belt so that's saying something
I wasn't implying it wouldn't be
I'm probably over-sensitive to the battery-orphaning and interchangeability thing, and for sure Flex/Kobalt/HF etc. make some absolutely capable tools.
Draftpick1
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K
and the Ridgid beat the Milwaukee in this class of impactThose guys are a bunch of hacks
engineer2
Well-known member
Yes, family owned. They are bigger in other parts of the world. I think US marketing is a little weak even with over 350 people on staff in the US. I imagine their hands are tied by corporate.
"Masahiko Goto is 73, he's been the Chairman of the Board and Representative Director of Makita since 2013. There are 2 older and 9 younger executives at Makita. The oldest executive at Makita Corp. is Akiyoshi Morita, 78, who is the Independent Director."
Message from Management | Makita Corporation Global Site
Makita develops the power tool including rechargeable, the wood working machine, the air tool, and the gardening tool by a high quality as the comprehensive manufacturer of the power tool, and is helping the residence making with person's living in all parts of the world.
www.makita.biz
bubinga
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Are you saying you have the DeWalt mid torque I have one of those actually really haven't used it yet. I bought the kit with the 3/8 drive mid torque, and a half inch drive mid torque. However just to test it I put a 3/8 impact socket on the 3/8 gun and it pulled a few,
(I assume properly torqued, a respected garage was the last one to put the wheels on)
lug nuts off my 01 Grand Prix with no problem
bubinga
Well-known member
(Didn't mean to sound defensive...I wasn't implying it wouldn't be
I'm probably over-sensitive to the battery-orphaning and interchangeability thing, and for sure Flex/Kobalt/HF etc. make some absolutely capable tools.
)Well half of my decision was good reviews and recommendations and such ++++YouTube videos etc. the other half I have to admit was the price point.
I want nothing but the best for him,
(plus he has to discuss all those kind of purchases with his wife, I kind of feel she "rules the roost"
which I feel a little bit bad for but I guess I can understand they have to watch their money too,)
So I wanted to get him something like this because he probably wouldn't have bought it on his own and it was for his birthday)
however my financial resources are somewhat limited too, so I couldn't comfortably drop 400 or 450, or more, for top of the line Ingersoll Rand or snap-on.
I did get him a metabo hpt wh18dbfl2qb 1/4" impact driver a while back, that being the case I was looking at the mid torque Metabo HTP impact wrench but I like the reviews and the specifications of the rigid mid torque better.
(They said the rigid mid torque and the Milwaukee fuel, are both made by the same company and the torque specs are very very close to one another)
Again I feel the reviews are very favorable for that tool, and he is very happy with it however in hindsight, at this point I would have preferred to pay a little more and get something with the same battery platform......... maybe a Ridgid kit with the mid torque Impact wrench, and the 1/4" impact driver.
(IIRC, that kit was around $200.00 or so. )
(Heck all along he was even driving screws with a regular drill with a clutch...... I told him no,
you have to get an impact driver
I said once you use an impact driver you won't want to use the drill any longer)
"Flex/Kobalt/HF etc. make some absolutely capable tools."
Flex you say? Don't think I really looked into them as far as off-brands, my research indicates people are happy with, I guess it's proprietary Walmart, Hart brand.
(Didn't mean to sound defensive...
I think you made a good decision. I think it's a lot harder to go wrong with this kind of thing than was true five or ten years ago. It's just a matter of what is or isn't important to you. For me, I like that I have more batteries than tools and I still have a diversity of options for battery depending on what I'm doing. I'm extremely happy with my Milwaukee stuff, but have zero issues with DeWalut, RIGID, Ryobi, Hitatchi, etc. in terms of "family of tools with platform longevity."
And 100% agree with you on impact drivers. I love my Surge so much I gave one to my eldest spawn as a apartment-warming gift and got an extra for myself.
Lowe's has Flex as a new store-brand (sorta like RIGID for HD I guess), and it falls in with Kobalt and others as tools I wonder whether batteries and updated tools will exist.
bubinga
Well-known member
Oh rigid actually beat the Milwaukee. Yeah I saw they were pretty much neck and neck I didn't realize Ridgid was slightly stronger.
Damn, $450.00
Now you're into Ingersoll Rand territory price wise.
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Marc Voorhees
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I really likes the Ingersoll Rand stuff I looked at. It is just hair curling expensive for just the home user
Dakotadadv8
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Yes I have the DeWalt mid torque works great with lug nuts and truck suspension. SO 1/2 cordless would be a great addition as a primary. 2 is 1, 1 is none. If no electricity is available SO breaker bar, 24 and 36.
I just picked up a Bosch Profactor 1/2” impact. Got the gun, 8ah battery and charger starter kit, 2 extra 2ah batteries, a ball cap and a crappy canvas bag for $250 from the Bosch Lowes rep. Before this I had and old air impact, Goodyear branded, some Sams combo kit deal I got years ago that worked, but was inadequate for some suspension stuff. Got a deal on the Kobalt 1000 ft lb air impact, and it handled my needs fine but I have a small 26 gal compressor, so I know I am not getting full power out of my air tools. I wanted a good strong impact, as sometimes those axle nuts are right at the edge of my air capability. This Bosch deal made the most sense to me financially, and I am right up there with the high torque M18 gun now, so i am happy.
Wrench97
Well-known member
I had dewalt at work, they kind of turned me off when they switched to 20v and of course all mine were 18v....
Batteries didn't seem to last long before they started short cycling and the 1/2' impact was not impressive it was however probably one of the first ones out. I of course went to the most expensive route and picked up a 1/2" Snap On 18v along with the 3/8" impacts no complains except for cost of the batteries and the tools, I still have them and use them occasionally at home. Have since switched to Milwaukee for work tools, they are addictive I now have the 1/2" 18v drill, high torque 1/2" 18v impact, compact 1/2" 18v impact, 18v 4.5" angle grinder, 12v 3/8 impact, 12v 1/4" impact, 12v 3/8" & 1/4" ratchets, couple of lights in both 12v & 18v. The kicker is I needed a hedge trimmer at home looked at Milwaukee bare tool but went for the Ryobi 18v model with a battery and charger wick was cheaper it works fine for what I need and now the the wife came home with a 18v Ryobi weed wacker cause she says the Echo is too heavy for her to use............................. I figure this will last about 2 weeks and I'll have a spare weed wacker I won't use...............................
Batteries didn't seem to last long before they started short cycling and the 1/2' impact was not impressive it was however probably one of the first ones out. I of course went to the most expensive route and picked up a 1/2" Snap On 18v along with the 3/8" impacts no complains except for cost of the batteries and the tools, I still have them and use them occasionally at home. Have since switched to Milwaukee for work tools, they are addictive I now have the 1/2" 18v drill, high torque 1/2" 18v impact, compact 1/2" 18v impact, 18v 4.5" angle grinder, 12v 3/8 impact, 12v 1/4" impact, 12v 3/8" & 1/4" ratchets, couple of lights in both 12v & 18v. The kicker is I needed a hedge trimmer at home looked at Milwaukee bare tool but went for the Ryobi 18v model with a battery and charger wick was cheaper it works fine for what I need and now the the wife came home with a 18v Ryobi weed wacker cause she says the Echo is too heavy for her to use............................. I figure this will last about 2 weeks and I'll have a spare weed wacker I won't use...............................
I like just one platform since it is simpler and I can have more batteries. I also need automotive, carpentry, demolition, and outdoor do a wide platform is best. Milwaukee or Ryobi. I went with Milwaukee since I do a lot of auto work and wanted more than 300 lbs from my impact, and I had the money.
anndel
Well-known member
I would stay with Porter Cable until the batteries die off then switch OR sell them all on Craigslist then use the money to get the Milwaukee 2767 + battery + charger.