3/8 impact

[SnapOn88]

Still on the lookout for a nice 3/8cordless impact i have my mind set on the one from matco MPTL144IW . Does anyone have one of these or used one how are they ? The only thing im concerned about is weight i wanna make sure it doesnt weight 10 lbs. lol . I have arthritis in my hands thats why im concerned about how heavy it is i just wanna make sure its not a brick with a battery on it .

 

[TNToy]

I've been meaning to start a post on this unit for a while...

http://www.matcotools.com/Catalog/toolcatalog.jsp?cattype=T&cat=2348&page=3&#50771

It's worth every penny.

For reference, I was previously using a 12V Makita:

It lives at home now, and I use the Matco at work. For a 3/8" electric gun, it's a monster. If you actually torque the lugnuts to spec, it'll remove them easily. Once you've dropped the subframe out of a car (you'll need an air impact for the suspension and subframe bolts) you can swap an entire engine out with this thing.

I now routinely install upper engine mounts without ever having to grab an air hose. The Makita wasn't nearly powerful enough for this task.

I'd say (with a fresh battery) that the 100 ft/lbs rating is pretty accurate. Like I said, it'll baaaarely remove a lugnut torqued to a 90 ft/lb spec. It has to rap on it for about 2 seconds to do it. But that's a huge improvement over the Makita, which was only good for about 30 pounds of torque.

The Matco weighs about the same amount as an average 14.4V cordless drill. I's not too bad.

 

[SnapOn88]

Ok sounds like the makita is a hands down good gun but seeing i have a credit with the matco guy i may give the matco a try . Hope fully its not to weak but it sounds decent enough they rate it at 100ft lbs. but who knows

 

[Stanger]

It seems that Makita only has a 1/2" version of their better impact. I would imagine their lithium ion 1/2" is a nice gun but it isn't offered in 3/8" as far as I can tell. Since you have credit with Matco and TNT gives it a good review I would try it.
Grant

 

[ColdDuckTime]

So, who actually makes it?

 

[ericthewrench]

I have the Matco 3/8" and really liked it at first but after about 1-1/2 years of owning it both batteries are just about dead, they will only last long enough to remove about a dozen bolts now. My Matco rep cannot warranty them because the warranty is only 1 year. I use the gun almost every day but only for a short time. I used to get 3-4 days use out of 1 battery, now I cannot get 1 day out of both. I would not buy one again but maybe I just got a bad one.

 

[kartracer55]

I have a DeWalt 18v with a 1/2 to 3/8 adapter. I use it every weekend at the track, and for most fasteners is decent. I don't believe it is nearly as powerful as its 135ftlbs rating states, but Ive been using it for over a year now and its decent. If they offered the gun with a 3/8 anvil it would be great, but for some reason, they insist on sticking a 1/2 drive anvil in the same body that is used for a 14.4v 3/8 gun. Whats ideal about this setup is that the batteries are interchangeable with my drill.

Jim

 

[chad s]

I would not buy one again but maybe I just got a bad one.

Thats just the nature of re-chargable batteries. A year and a half of everyday use on them is probably about normal.