3/8 impact tool strategy

[Hohn]

I’m finally getting impacts sorted out. I have Astro Nanos, wright standards, and maybe some deeps later if I ever find a need. So I’m good on sockets for now.

But I’m struggling a bit to settle on an impact gun strategy. I have plenty of air available and I’m on Makita LXT for cordless.

I’m biased towards air tools. I guess I’m an old head, but air tools are light, reliable and require a drop of oil to last seemingly forever.

But my makita cordless 1/2” gets a good bit of use. It’s super handy to just have a grab and go option.

To me, 3/8” drive exists for light/quick grab-and-go type stuff.

Since nothing in 3/8 is super high torque in my use, I’m thinking about getting the smallest/lightest impact possible.

To me, that means the Makita LXT subcompact 3/8. It is TINY.

But since I’ll need an air option too, I’m thinking about something like the aircat 1355xl. It’s a very slim and lightweight 3/8 air gun. I love the Aircat guns.

The Astro nano is a great little gun (I have it in 1/2”) but it’s laid out more for being short than skinny. If had times where being skinny is more beneficial.

What are you guys using for 3/8 impact guns?

 

[MJD1]

I use the 20v DeWalt atomic. Supposedly 400 or so breakaway torque. Nice and compact and lightweight. As for torque ratings I believe if you cut the ratings in half that's a realistic number

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have a 3/8 Pneumatic from Cman, when it was still Sears. I also have a Dewalt 20V, forget the model number.

 

[M635_Guy]

The Milwuaikee Mid Gen2 (and more recently the new Stubby Gen2) is so short in profile I don't feel like I'm missing anything despite both being 1/2" - all the impact stuff I have is 1/2" and despite a Mini and a Mazda3 that are pretty tight, it's never been a problem.

 

[Hohn]

I use the 20v DeWalt atomic. Supposedly 400 or so breakaway torque. Nice and compact and lightweight. As for torque ratings I believe if you cut the ratings in half that's a realistic number

You might have missed that I’m on the Makita battery platform.

 

[Hal]

Chicago Pneumatic, don’t remember the model, and a Blue Point butterfly wrench.

 

[nicks78camaro]

I don't have one but maybe this?

3/8" Nano Flex-Head Angle Impact Wrench - 400ft/lb | Astro Pneumatic Tools

• An industry first true flex-head impact wrench and with our shortest length yet at 3.34" • Patented design features innovative dual air intake motor ...

www.astrotools.com

 

[Hohn]

I don't have one but maybe this?

3/8" Nano Flex-Head Angle Impact Wrench - 400ft/lb | Astro Pneumatic Tools

• An industry first true flex-head impact wrench and with our shortest length yet at 3.34" • Patented design features innovative dual air intake motor ...

www.astrotools.com

I forgot about that one! That is definitely a contender for the air option.

 

[Hohn]

Chicago Pneumatic, don’t remember the model, and a Blue Point butterfly wrench.

How useful it a butterfly under the hood?

I’ve always kind of thought of them as bench tools for transmission work and such.

 

[Gebirgekind]

I've got the Makita subcompact (XWT12) and it's pretty capable, slim, and lightweight. It's decent for general assembly/disassembly in the engine bay but it does come up on its limits pretty readily. I'm thinking of upgrading to the XWT16, almost twice the torque but actually shorter in length than the subcompact and only a little fatter; specs show it a little over a pound heavier though so it depends on your priorities. I think for a "do-it-most" 3/8 impact the XWT16 is probably golden, the XWT12 is more specialized as a lightweight but capable tool.

When I bought the subcompact it was the only 3/8 Makita offered, it's nice to have some more options now.

 

[BroncoAZ]

You might have missed that I’m on the Makita battery platform.

You asked what people are using.

i’m on Milwaukee and recently got the M12 3/8” stubby at 550 ft/lb in a small form factor.

 

[MJD1]

You might have missed that I’m on the Makita battery platform.

I didn't miss anything. You asked what we were using for 3/8" guns, ( which isn't a " gun" but an impact wrench).

 

[oldwino]

I use my Aircat most of the time (guess I’m old school too). If I don’t feel up to firing the compressor I normally use a 3/8 adapter on my 1/4” M18 Milwaukee. If you have that in Makita it will do 99% of your needs

 

[BigMike62]

I just bought a Bauer 20v at HF for $30 and using a Dewalt 20v adapter. We'll see how it holds up.

 

[dnschmidt]

I have a lot of 3/8" air impacts. Two Aircats and one I-R and a couple of butterfly impacts. I haven't even looked for them in 10 years. I have the Milwaukee 1/4" impact and both the gen 1 and gen 2 Stubby impacts and the DeWalt Atomic 3/8" impact and three of the gen 1 Milwaukee compact impacts that top out at 200 ft-lb. If you're dead set on air, I'd go with the right angle ASTRO shown above. Any conventional 3/8" air impact simply isn't needed anymore because the cordless are just as small and just as powerful as the air and that's simply a fact. The one air tool of a similar type that I find really different and therefore useful is the SP-Air impacting ratchet as it can get into places no other power tool can. Air tools have become specialty items having no cordless equivalents like mini die grinders and air hammers. In autobody this would include straight line sanders like the Hutchins Hustler and the National Detroit Mud Hog. To quote DyIan "THE TIMES THEY ARE A'CHANGING."

 

[Hohn]

I didn't miss anything. You asked what we were using for 3/8" guns, ( which isn't a " gun" but an impact wrench).

Ah! My fault, I need to go reread my own post.

So, if I said instead what do you think *I* should do, what would you say?

 

[Hal]

How useful it a butterfly under the hood?

I’ve always kind of thought of them as bench tools for transmission work and such.

I don’t use it a lot now. For a long time it was my go to for farm machinery work, never used it a lot on cars. Now I mostly put an adapter on one of my half inch guns, Astro Nano, or Ryobi cordless.

Like you said, the butterfly is great for tear down work, where everything is easily accessible. Pistol grip is better if you are reaching around stuff,or using extensions.

 

[Steve_P]

I have one of the small Aircat 1/2 pneumatic guns (edit: 1055-TH) and haven't used it since I bought a 3/8 DeWalt cordless - it replaced it. The only time I use an air powered gun now is the rare occasion where the 1/2 mid torque cordless won't do the job and the big 1/2 air guns need to come out. So, basically what dnschmidt said. Since you're on the Makita platform, just buy their cordless 3/8 impact.

Butterfly impacts? Wow. I remember seeing them 30-40 years ago, but I can't imagine they get used much anymore outside of someone that bought one in 1990 and still uses it. Yes, I know, this is GJ, so here comes "I use them every day working on my...."

 

[MJD1]

Ah! My fault, I need to go reread my own post.

So, if I said instead what do you think *I* should do, what would you say?

I use a snap on 3/8" air quite a bit. My main use for the 3/8" is with a 15/16" socket to change out alternator pulleys where I'm usually away from using air . The cordless will break away most 12 mm or 1/2" bolts, but usually if I have a fair amount I use 1/2" drive

 

[pbon]

If you like air, keep using it. Smaller and lighter guns with as much or more power than battery. I have air but use battery (Milwaukee). If you want battery, buy a smaller Makita since you like and have that battery platform.

I prefer having just one battery platform so I can share batteries and also have 3 properties to divide tools and batteries among. At a 4th property, it is all Ryobi, though I will often bring some of my personal Milwaukee since my collection is pretty big and having the ideal tool helps.

Others don’t mind having 3 or 4 brands of battery tools. Maybe they work just in one location or have a lot of space to line up all the chargers or don’t use the tools much so everything is stored away, or want the best tool for each job and have found that no single platform offers that.

 

[Hohn]

I use a snap on 3/8" air quite a bit. My main use for the 3/8" is with a 15/16" socket to change out alternator pulleys where I'm usually away from using air . The cordless will break away most 12 mm or 1/2" bolts, but usually if I have a fair amount I use 1/2" drive

Thank you. I’m sorry my OP wasn’t clearer, I appreciate your patience.

 

[liliysdad]

I don't even have my 60 gallon compressor turned on anymore. Cordless just makes everything easier. About the only time I use air is for cutoff wheels. I don't even use it to air tires up much anymore since I got a cordless inflator.

 

[finn]

I have one of the small Aircat 1/2 pneumatic guns (edit: 1055-TH) and haven't used it since I bought a 3/8 DeWalt cordless - it replaced it. The only time I use an air powered gun now is the rare occasion where the 1/2 mid torque cordless won't do the job and the big 1/2 air guns need to come out. So, basically what dnschmidt said. Since you're on the Makita platform, just buy their cordless 3/8 impact.

Butterfly impacts? Wow. I remember seeing them 30-40 years ago, but I can't imagine they get used much anymore outside of someone that bought one in 1990 and still uses it. Yes, I know, this is GJ, so here comes "I use them every day working on my...."

I I bought a butterfly impact in 1990 or sp. used it a couple times and put it away until last year.

Used it once again, then put it away again.

Mostly I think I have seen them on bench es / work stations on assembly lines.

 

[bcradio]

Ah! My fault, I need to go reread my own post.

So, if I said instead what do you think *I* should do, what would you say?

Add another battery platform... Milwaukee

 

[Hohn]

Add another battery platform... Milwaukee

Nonstarter. Milwaukee is a great platform, but nowhere near good enough to justify proliferation.

 

[vwpieces]

 

[Pontiac787]

I’d be torn between the 1828 and and the long handled version (1838). To me, the long handle may get you into more areas.

 

[bornbadbob]

Snap on 3/8 impact wrench, love it, light, balanced and fairly powerful for 3/8. I have both DeWalt and Milwaukee impact drivers too. Of those two, I much prefer the DeWalt. It will be a sad day when that one expires.

 

[KnurledNut]

My strategy is old school.

 

[dnschmidt]

No Nut, if you were truly "old school" you would be using air. That Makita looks "well used" but you can't claim "old school." Now that adjustable wrench on the other hand meets the criteria. Have you never heard of the Pliers Wrench?

 

[Roert42]

I have and IR 15QMAX. Really nice for disassembly work, it's quiet too. Not too powerful through, they claim 475 ft/lbs.
I also have a beater Kobalt 3/8ths impact that makes about 4 ft/lbs and the switch is a POS.

No electric 3/8 though.
Mostly I just use the 3/8 if I have a lot of bolts that need done otherwise I just do it by hand. Not really a power thing. So I don't mind the air because I know I'll be there a while so not a big deal to drag out the hose.


I have the largest Milwaukee 1/2" they made, as of four or 5 years ago. They claim over 1500 ft/lbs. That's what I use for bigger seized of stuff. Very rarely have I not been able to either get something loose or break it off with this thing. Grade 8 suspension bolts seized into a leaf spring eye is about it.

When I decide to get something more powerful it'll be at least 3/4", I see no value in a 1/2" air impact using this.

 

[KnurledNut]

No Nut, if you were truly "old school" you would be using air. That Makita looks "well used" but you can't claim "old school." Now that adjustable wrench on the other hand meets the criteria. Have you never heard of the Pliers Wrench?

Life is better having adjustables AND pliers wrenches!
They both have their benefits.
Equally important to me!

And don’t worry, I got old school air too.

 

[dchawk81]

Ah! My fault, I need to go reread my own post.

So, if I said instead what do you think *I* should do, what would you say?

I would say it's your money so it's up to you to decide, because I hate when people tell me what I should spend my money on.



Other than that I say if you want cordless get a Makita something or other and if you want air get a whatever.

Kinda doesn't matter.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I really like my M12 2454 3/8" (not stubby). Definitely "garb and go".

I use it a lot with a 3/8" to 1/4" hex adapter.

 

[engineer2]

I'm considering a 3/8" drive Makita impact as well. It would fill in between the XDT16 1/4" hex driver and "The Beast" XWT08.
Makita is not big on 3/8" drive. Looks like LXT choices are:
XWT16 Nut-Busting Torque 370 ft.lbs
XWT12 Nut-Busting Torque 230 ft.lbs

 

[Hohn]

Well I finally settled on the Makita XWT16. It’s not super powerful, but then again, I don’t find crazy power particularly necessary (or even desirable) in 3/8 drive.

I had a prior model Makita 1/2 drive that has the same 240lb-ft rating, which is an honest rating. I had no issues with fasteners up to M16 with that older model. It would happily do every lug nut I own.

So I figured the newer 3/8 model with the same power is also sufficiently powerful, plus it’s a 4sp now and has more gimmicks, I mean features.


I nearly went with another Astro Nano air gun, but the supershort pancake design has a drawback— you can’t see the tip of a standard socket. It’s true, that when you want to reach in a tight space, that pancake design is a lifesaver.

But all the other times, narrower/longer gun is much easier to use IME. And I didn’t want to add an extension to a pancake gun just for visibility, that seemed silly, not to mention losing power.

The Makita gets me back to the familiar narrow-but-not-too-long design I really like about the Makita that I think is especially appropriate to 3/8 drive where you’re mostly using 17mm or less sockets, primarily 12mm and 14mm on Japanese cars.

Basically, I had a similar version of the XWT16 in 1/2” and I know it really worked for me (right up until it was stolen).


I’ll still want a 3/8 air option so I haven’t settle on that yet, but definitely something more compact and less powerful. On the big end, something like an Aircat 1355xl, but I really like what SP Air has to offer here, as it’s short like a pancake but also very slim at under 2” diameter.



These SP guns have incredible triggers also, and I love having that level of control. Only rated 94lb-ft, but it’s perfect for what I’d want a little gun like this to do.

 

[dnschmidt]

Hon, their impacting ratchet goes up to 50 ft-lb and is very small. I repeat that you should check this out prior to making any decisions.

 

[AEAdam]

Sounds like you got a plan. I would have suggested that exact gun, not because I have that one, but I have found the smaller, battery, low torque guns to be really helpful for the reasons we've already discussed previously.

My opinion: Air is good under a car, in a wheel well, not so good in an engine bay. The hose gets in the way. I abandoned air tools some time ago.

I want the smallest guns I can get. I don't own Snap On 14V, but I'd like to for this reason. SUGGEST: instead of air, think about this Makita XLT02Z. Torque is pretty low, but it runs on your batteries.

 

[engineer2]

I inquired on the Makita USA website about 3/8 drive LXT impacts. Someone from Makita called me the next day which was surprising. They have 3 models, but one is older.

 

[Hohn]

Sounds like you got a plan. I would have suggested that exact gun, not because I have that one, but I have found the smaller, battery, low torque guns to be really helpful for the reasons we've already discussed previously.

My opinion: Air is good under a car, in a wheel well, not so good in an engine bay. The hose gets in the way. I abandoned air tools some time ago.

I want the smallest guns I can get. I don't own Snap On 14V, but I'd like to for this reason. SUGGEST: instead of air, think about this Makita XLT02Z. Torque is pretty low, but it runs on your batteries.

I have their ratchet, which mostly does what this^^ does, given the modest torque of each. I don’t mind a bit of manual assistance on a power ratchet.

And I have the incredible Astro 1128. If you try one, you might go back to air tools under hood.. I have a 1/4 flexzilla whip on mine because it sips air and the air hose almost disappears.