Air Impacts are DEAD

[Skin]

I'd like to see one of these 25+ year old impacts you guys are keeping around keep up with the new brushless electric impacts. The miliwaukee heavy duty 18v does 700-1100 ftlbs. The 1/2" Snap-on of 25 years ago was HALF that, and that was new. Not to mention air tools don't have much improvement left, while electrics have been getting smaller, more powerful, longer lasting, and cheaper every year.

Please show me this magical high torque 1/2" impact that is even remotely close to a 2135 or 2235. They're all huge, even the DeWalt 899, which is one of the most compact, is quite a bit larger than the brick MG725.

Food for thought, this brand new yet to be released Milwaukee has slightly worse paper specs than a Matco MT2220, is far louder, over an inch longer, and weighs more than twice as much.

Cordless are limited by the same rules that limit air, and that's how big you make the impact mechanism. Until someone designs something completely new (beyond the motor) they will always play second fiddle to pneumatics since the latter will be ruling, at a minimum, in form factor for the foreseeable future. Both will be bloating their hammer mechanisms to add torque which is why you don't see anything leaps and bounds better than the (going on) 6 year old IR W7150.

 

[TK-421]

I'd like to see one of these 25+ year old impacts you guys are keeping around keep up with the new brushless electric impacts. The miliwaukee heavy duty 18v does 700-1100 ftlbs. The 1/2" Snap-on of 25 years ago was HALF that, and that was new. Not to mention air tools don't have much improvement left, while electrics have been getting smaller, more powerful, longer lasting, and cheaper every year.

Face it guys, air hand tools are going the way of the VCR, carburetor, incandescent bulbs, etc. The folks that grew up with them are going to hold out, because it's all they know (or stubbornness) but eventually they'll be used for nostalgia, novelty, or very specific reasons. Not for general everyday use.

Air will always be needed in a shop, but it'll only be used when AIR is needed, and not to covert it to another energy; I.e., you'll always need to sandblast, paint, blow, weld, pressurize, etc. but if you want to turn, saw, grind, or drill something, that'll use electricity.

I don't see air going anywhere, it's cheaper than electric by far, if you've already got the other equipment, which you would have if you're painting, sand blasting, and stuff like that. They're also a lot lighter, and can be made more compact because they don't have a battery pack hanging off of them.

Electric and air both have their place, and one isn't going to replace the other.

 

[PJNJ]

I think that cordless and air impacts complement each other in some ways. And air impacts are not dead as the OP would have you believe. I have an Aircat 1150 and Astro Pneumatic 1/2 Nano. I also picked up a Ryobi 1/2 300 ft. lbs. impact last year (the new model).

I bought a 60 gallon air compressor years ago and the price to power ratio of the Aircat is hard to beat. I know I have to factor in the price of the air compressor but it was about $500 fifteen years ago and I have also purchased and used other tool like ratchets, die grinders, air hammers, blow guns, etc. And I haven't had to replace any batteries.


They (air and cordless impacts) all work well but the Astro gets into places that the others can't. For instance doing some work on the rear suspension of a '96 Corvette - nothing else but the Astro fit and it got the job done. Or getting a crank bolt off without removing the fans and radiator. It's compact and powerful. I don't think it's utility, size factor, and price will be beat in the near future.

As for the cordless impact, I really like that I can take it with me easily. Used it to change daughter's flat tire a few months ago and it was great.

Right now I have both and will continue to use both for the foreseeable future.

Air is dead, long live Air.

 

[PJNJ]

Please show me this magical high torque 1/2" impact that is even remotely close to a 2135 or 2235. They're all huge, even the DeWalt 899, which is one of the most compact, is quite a bit larger than the brick MG725.

Food for thought, this brand new yet to be released Milwaukee has slightly worse paper specs than a Matco MT2220, is far louder, over an inch longer, and weighs more than twice as much.

Cordless are limited by the same rules that limit air, and that's how big you make the impact mechanism. Until someone designs something completely new (beyond the motor) they will always play second fiddle to pneumatics since the latter will be ruling, at a minimum, in form factor for the foreseeable future. Both will be bloating their hammer mechanisms to add torque which is why you don't see anything leaps and bounds better than the (going on) 6 year old IR W7150.

I don't see air going anywhere, it's cheaper than electric by far, if you've already got the other equipment, which you would have if you're painting, sand blasting, and stuff like that. They're also a lot lighter, and can be made more compact because they don't have a battery pack hanging off of them.

Electric and air both have their place, and one isn't going to replace the other.

 

[rayh91]

If I didn't work at a shop with a good supply of air, I would of ditched my air impacts. I don't see that changing any time soon.

 

[Ign]

The exact topic aside, a LOT of people here are misinformed (or still living in the nicad/NiMH era) about how long today's batteries last before needing to be replaced and how long they hold a charge and how often they need to be used (there's really no rules on the latter).

Anyway I gotta go warm up my carbureted vehicle for 20 minutes before heading to work and repeatedly mess around with the manual choke.....

 

[Loscaldazar]

I'd like to see one of these 25+ year old impacts you guys are keeping around keep up with the new brushless electric impacts. The miliwaukee heavy duty 18v does 700-1100 ftlbs. The 1/2" Snap-on of 25 years ago was HALF that, and that was new. Not to mention air tools don't have much improvement left, while electrics have been getting smaller, more powerful, longer lasting, and cheaper every year.

Face it guys, air hand tools are going the way of the VCR, carburetor, incandescent bulbs, etc. The folks that grew up with them are going to hold out, because it's all they know (or stubbornness) but eventually they'll be used for nostalgia, novelty, or very specific reasons. Not for general everyday use.

Air will always be needed in a shop, but it'll only be used when AIR is needed, and not to covert it to another energy; I.e., you'll always need to sandblast, paint, blow, weld, pressurize, etc. but if you want to turn, saw, grind, or drill something, that'll use electricity.

No one was saying air tools from 25 years ago are just as good as modern impacts. They were saying the air tools will easily last that long.

Air tools don't have much improvement only because 1/2 drive impacts are already pushing the boundaries of what a 1/2" drive anvil can physically take. Electronic impacts will soon run into that boundary too. You just can only put so much torque through a 1/2" anvil before it will fail.

Air tools also don't spark or arc like electric. Air tools will always be used, but eventually, yes, they will be used less and less. Doesn't mean they're better than air right now though.

 

[Beefbuzz]

After I got my Makita XWT08Z LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless, I gave my air impact away. It is literally that amazing.

If you want even more power the Makita XWT07Z is basically the same but has a 3/4 drive anvil and raises the takeoff torque about 100lbs to 1250ft/lbs.

Since they are brushless, there is no arcing either.

 

[Ed_EOD]

The 25 year reference was directed to the "I've had my air impact for ** years and never had an issue" crowd.

I never said they were better overall right now, but they will soon surpass air in nearly every way except for a few very specific uses. If you look at the companies that produce both air and electric tools, where is their R&D focus going? How many improvements have they made with air vs battery power over the past 10 years? Please list the air impact innovations (not slight improvements) over the past 10 years. Now think 10 years from now where we will be. Battery technology is making huge gains all the time, more power, lighter, more storage, no memory, faster charging, cheaper, smaller, etc. The only place I can see air impacts going to make any real gains is higher air pressure.

20 years ago electric impacts were a mostly worthless novelty, 20 years from now air impacts will be mentioned only in "back in my day" stories.

 

[PJNJ]

The 25 year reference was directed to the "I've had my air impact for ** years and never had an issue" crowd.

I never said they were better overall right now, but they will soon surpass air in nearly every way except for a few very specific uses. If you look at the companies that produce both air and electric tools, where is their R&D focus going? How many improvements have they made with air vs battery power over the past 10 years? Please list the air impact innovations (not slight improvements) over the past 10 years. Now think 10 years from now where we will be. Battery technology is making huge gains all the time, more power, lighter, more storage, no memory, faster charging, cheaper, smaller, etc. The only place I can see air impacts going to make any real gains is higher air pressure.

20 years ago electric impacts were a mostly worthless novelty, 20 years from now air impacts will be mentioned only in "back in my day" stories.

Thought the whole concept of this thread was that air impacts are dead now not 10 or 20 years from now. Post back at the 10 and then the 20 year interval and we'll see. Me, I'm not a psychic.

 

[Skin]

That really isn't an argument though. Companies are focused on cordless more than pneumatics for many reasons, the least of which is because its "better". Its also blatently obvious that cordless is playing catch-up to pneumatics so of course they're going to improve drastically but as I've already pointed out certain tools have kind of already hit a peak (high torque impact ratings).

If I had a power tool company I can think of a few primary reasons why i'd want to focus on cordless.
-Caters to everyone not just those with an air compressor-means wider available market.
-Plastic plastic plastic...CHEAP! More profit.
-Wang Dong electronic components means more breakages means more sales.
-Platform upgrade syndrome, like the icrApple marketing team they can refresh their product doing minimal changes making people feel obligated to buy more whether they need it or not. What version of "Fuel" are they on, 5? 6? Anway...

Notice a trend? Its far and away profit driven. Pneumatics is a fixed and saturated market, cordless isn't nearly so and its much easier to institute planned obsolescence.

 

[md21722]

It's to maintain/expand market segment and revenue through continuous innovation.

Introduce a new model, get people to buy it.

A lot of people don't like air lines & they're also "take anywhere". Can't use air tools to the pick a part.

Industry still uses pneumatic tools, and you can use air tools in more hazardous conditions.

 

[d.mcfarland]

At our manufacturing facility we only just cordless drills and sawzalls. Just not much need otherwise. In the shop there is always air close by due to hard wired lines and hose reels mounted overhead. Air is king.

 

[Mr_B]

While battery impacts are getting better they still big, nano size air impact and air wrench is still king in the shop for real world confined space use plus they far cheaper initial purchase with less service issues for a more powerful tool.
I have a 18v impact and a small 10.8v for light duty speedy work and times where airline a pain or not available but 90% of time I using nano ns.1600f 1/2 air as fits everywhere and got the torque get almost everything done ...

 

[md21722]

While battery impacts are getting better they still big, nano size air impact and air wrench is still king in the shop for real world confined space use plus they far cheaper initial purchase with less service issues for a more powerful tool.
I have a 18v impact and a small 10.8v for light duty speedy work and times where airline a pain or not available but 90% of time I using nano ns.1600f 1/2 air as fits everywhere and got the torque get almost everything done ...

Pretty much says it all.

While the innovation in cordless tools is at a faster rate, pneumatics are still going through some innovation in terms of size/performance. Other brands may still offer bricks but they are built tough and should last longer. I am not a 100% fan of Real Tool Reviews as I think they miss some tests, but if you look at what Dan found when he opened up a Snappy & Milwaukee...

 

[bixxjs]

I'm thinking about getting a cordless impact,but I'm worried about longevity.I've had my 1/2 drive ingersoll Rand for over 20 years,if it can't undo a fastener then out comes the grinder or oxycetalene torch.

 

[md21722]

I'm thinking about getting a cordless impact,but I'm worried about longevity.I've had my 1/2 drive ingersoll Rand for over 20 years,if it can't undo a fastener then out comes the grinder or oxycetalene torch.

Think about WHY you'd want to use it. Sure they're all the rage. But will it do the job better/faster than what you have today? Think about life before and after smart phones as a comparison. Air will always have a place just as cell phone free zones will.... ;-) Some people don't even have TV because they prefer reading books. From a pro standpoint, fatigue, injury, and productivity are the key points.

 

[Chris_L]

Weight is the only thing holding them back. Once battery tech is up to snuff in 5-10 years air tools will be on the out. Long way to go still.

 

[md21722]

I can't wait to see what cordless die grinders & stuff like that looks like. And how much we will spend on batteries versus the compressor that is always there supplying power to our tools... Until they make them smaller and lighter than air, with long life batteries, air will be around. We know air is done when we have cordless tools to refill our tires as fast as an air chuck can do it.

 

[WhiskeyRanger]

That really isn't an argument though. Companies are focused on cordless more than pneumatics for many reasons, the least of which is because its "better". Its also blatently obvious that cordless is playing catch-up to pneumatics so of course they're going to improve drastically but as I've already pointed out certain tools have kind of already hit a peak (high torque impact ratings).

If I had a power tool company I can think of a few primary reasons why i'd want to focus on cordless.
-Caters to everyone not just those with an air compressor-means wider available market.
-Plastic plastic plastic...CHEAP! More profit.
-Wang Dong electronic components means more breakages means more sales.
-Platform upgrade syndrome, like the icrApple marketing team they can refresh their product doing minimal changes making people feel obligated to buy more whether they need it or not. What version of "Fuel" are they on, 5? 6? Anway...

Notice a trend? Its far and away profit driven. Pneumatics is a fixed and saturated market, cordless isn't nearly so and its much easier to institute planned obsolescence.

My plastic icrapple Wang dong DeWalt cordless drill is almost 25 years old and still going strong.

 

[67King]

I have a cabinet full of unused pneumatic tools.......impact, ratchet, oscillating tool, etc. I actually rarely use corded saws, anymore, either.

Li-ion batteries do not drain from sitting. So the concern of it running down from lack of use is pretty outdated.

Form factor.......well, my M12 impacts are a whole lot smaller than my pneumatic one. Not as powerful, for sure. Ratchets abotu the same. But wow, there is one problem with the form factor of pneumatics. And it is about 50 feet long and an inch in diameter. That infernal air hose. Not only getting in the way while I'm using it, but dragging through dirt, oil, water, etc. Nevermind the walking on and tripping on from other folks when it is out.

Air is great for the bead blaster and bodywork types of things (DA, paint). But I use a breaker bar and an M12 nowadays in lieu of a pneumatic impact. And I do have an 18V Hitachi that is good for I believe 350 lb-ft I use for some things like taking off wheels. But generally, the cordless ones are so much easier to deal with that that's almost all I use.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Air will always be around in a professional shop. I don't see my fuel taking off stubborn crank bolts or tightening lug nuts with torque sticks. At least they used to not be recommend for torque sticks

 

[Bdgjr215]

Most guys on this forum think as mechanics/auto techs ,but what hasn't been mentioned yet is nail and staple guns.I don't see many guys reinvesting in battery power for those.

 

[Eric29]

A battery powered tool isn't going to have the power to break nuts free on suspension systems that have gone through 10+ years of winters in the Northeast. Even if it did, between heating bolts and running the impact, I'm not sure that I would have enough batteries to keep the work going.

If I torch a bolt and then reach for an impact, then heat some more and again reach for an impact, why should I add the weight of a battery to my lift? It just doesn't make sense for everyone - so no, not DEAD.

Air will always be around in a professional shop. I don't see my fuel taking off stubborn crank bolts or tightening lug nuts with torque sticks. At least they used to not be recommend for torque sticks

 

[arms1970]

Now you tell me! Here after I am spending $$$ on a new air compressor along with regulator, filter, and a line kit. Should I drop my stock in Ingersol Rand? LOL. I'm glad that you are happy with it. Just as long as the battery holds out.

Still got to run die grinders, sanders, and air hammers.

 

[WhiskeyRanger]

I think some people are confusing the term "air impact" with "air compressor."

 

[Ign]

Those who who don't suffer from ignorance about batteries or the capabilities of the latest cordless impacts are just taking the thread title too literally either because it hurt their feelings or they like to argue (both of which occur regularly on GJ).

I don't think OP was saying air is literally 100% irrelevant. He was saying that for him air IMPACTS are now virtually irrelevant.

I understand 'cause I'm in the same boat. I have a drawer of air tools I rarely touch. I'm thinking of selling my air ratchets, can't remember the last time I used them. Air impacts, VERY rarely and if I do it's the Nano for the size.

You can tell me I'm wrong but you'd be the one who is wrong before you even open your mouth if you want to tell me what works for me in MY shop.

 

[KMdef9]

This thread would have gone in a completely different direction if the OP titled it "Air tools are DEAD for me", lol.

Anyone who thinks air is dead for the market because they no longer use them has poor logic. Just because YOU don't use them anymore doesn't mean others don't need the non-stop compact power they have to offer. If you have retired your air tools for electric, you never NEEDED the air tools to begin with. Also, this statement coming from a home-owner/weekend warrior holds even less strength. Most don't have the need for such traits, so yes, cordless works better for them. But for professionals, air is far from being replaced.

People seem to think that just because cordless has improved their product more than air has in recent years, means air is on its way out. Wrong again, cordless is still playing catch up. Don't get me wrong, they're closing the gap, but the gap is still there and there's still a ways to go before it's closed.

Am I the only one who barely feels the air hose when walking it around the car? Wrap the hose in my hand when I grab the air tool when walking around/over to the car and don't even notice it's there. Also, am I the only one who watches where they walk? An air hose isn't that much of an inconvenience. Certainly not enough of one to sacrifice the befits of air.

On the battery lasting all day, brushless/li don't last all week, let alone claims of 2 weeks under heavy use. If they last that long for you, you don't use them as much as I do. I don't loosen trim screws or little lug nuts that are only torqued to 100ft/lbs.

Can't quote the person, but someone said electric is getting cheaper. Please prove this, last I saw the brand new Milwaukee Fuel line everyone raves about is the most expensive set to date.

$430:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauke...ench-with-Friction-Ring-Kit-2763-22/204410433

Versus air, $280:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LV9Y1FE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

You could buy a compressor from HF ($150) with the left over money. I'd have no problem wagering you replace those batteries before that compressor (under heavy use).

 

[kythri]

This thread would have gone in a completely different direction if the OP titled it "Air tools are DEAD for me", lol.

Agreed. The content of the post was certainly was NOT worded to suggest that it was merely a personal observation, but more of a blanket statement on the environment at large.

Hence:

You can tell me I'm wrong but you'd be the one who is wrong before you even open your mouth if you want to tell me what works for me in MY shop.

That's kind of why people were responding in the way they were.

Can't quote the person, but someone said electric is getting cheaper. Please prove this, last I saw the brand new Milwaukee Fuel line everyone raves about is the most expensive set to date.

$430:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauke...ench-with-Friction-Ring-Kit-2763-22/204410433

Versus air, $280:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LV9Y1FE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

You could buy a compressor from HF ($150) with the left over money. I'd have no problem wagering you replace those batteries before that compressor (under heavy use).

In the OP's defense, he's referring to the mid-torque tool.

I believe that's bare-tool only, so using Home Depot as a reference:

$189
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauke...ith-Friction-Ring-Tool-Only-2861-20/300955651

$149
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-5-0Ah-Starter-Kit-48-59-1850/205794132

So, you're looking at $338, nearly $100 cheaper.

 

[dnschmidt]

I think a lot of people here have missed my point. Specifically, this new model, I believe will turn the tide from air IMPACT WRENCHES to cordless IMPACT WRENCHES. The reason I say that is that this is the first (of what will be many more to come from other manufacturers) 1/2" drive cordless impact with the size, weight and close to power of air impact wrenches. Will it do everything a 1250 Aircat will do, hell no, but how often do you need 1200 ft-lb of torque? We lived with the I-R 231 impact as the industry standard for 30 years and this new Milwaukee impact will outperform the 231. Also, NOT EVERYBODY LIVES IN THE RUSTBELT. I did for 41 years (Pittsburgh) and then got the hell out of there. Next to Lasik eye surgery that was the best move of my life. It is virtually certain that if I were a professional auto mechanic here in Phoenix that the only time I MIGHT need to use my Aircat would be for a crank bolt. Anything else this new cordless will easily handle. Guys, this is just progress, nobody has insulted your sister here.

 

[DakotaMan]

Weight is the only thing holding them back. Once battery tech is up to snuff in 5-10 years air tools will be on the out. Long way to go still.

It's hard for me to imagine a scenario where a cordless impact is lighter or equally as light as an equivalent air tool.

 

[WhiskeyRanger]

This thread would have gone in a completely different direction if the OP titled it "Air tools are DEAD for me", lol.

Anyone who thinks air is dead for the market because they no longer use them has poor logic. Just because YOU don't use them anymore doesn't mean others don't need the non-stop compact power they have to offer. If you have retired your air tools for electric, you never NEEDED the air tools to begin with. Also, this statement coming from a home-owner/weekend warrior holds even less strength. Most don't have the need for such traits, so yes, cordless works better for them. But for professionals, air is far from being replaced.

People seem to think that just because cordless has improved their product more than air has in recent years, means air is on its way out. Wrong again, cordless is still playing catch up. Don't get me wrong, they're closing the gap, but the gap is still there and there's still a ways to go before it's closed.

Am I the only one who barely feels the air hose when walking it around the car? Wrap the hose in my hand when I grab the air tool when walking around/over to the car and don't even notice it's there. Also, am I the only one who watches where they walk? An air hose isn't that much of an inconvenience. Certainly not enough of one to sacrifice the befits of air.

On the battery lasting all day, brushless/li don't last all week, let alone claims of 2 weeks under heavy use. If they last that long for you, you don't use them as much as I do. I don't loosen trim screws or little lug nuts that are only torqued to 100ft/lbs.

Can't quote the person, but someone said electric is getting cheaper. Please prove this, last I saw the brand new Milwaukee Fuel line everyone raves about is the most expensive set to date.

$430:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauke...ench-with-Friction-Ring-Kit-2763-22/204410433

Versus air, $280:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LV9Y1FE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

You could buy a compressor from HF ($150) with the left over money. I'd have no problem wagering you replace those batteries before that compressor (under heavy use).

The thread title said IMPACT not tools. The DeWalt 899 is $229, $50 cheaper than air. Once you buy the hoses, fittings, and oil for the air tool, you could buy a replacement battery in addition to the two or three you could buy for the cost of an air compressor.

 

[Ign]

snip

You could buy a compressor from HF ($150) with the left over money. I'd have no problem wagering you replace those batteries before that compressor (under heavy use).

That's a bet I'd take. A $150 HF compressor under heavy use will seize a piston before an M18 battery will stop acceptably charging and discharging.

Anyway what's really funny is thread is titled "Air Impacts are DEAD"

Everyone bringing up inflators, die grinders etc you're not even on topic with the OP's original premise.

 

[Sticks McGee]

I wrench for a living...I live in the rust belt lol. Here is my take on all of this:

I got into battery stuff several years ago. The technology has come a LOOOONG way. My lights I use at work and home now are all rechargeable LED (flashlights, etc) I have a snap-on screw gun and it uses the same batteries as my cordless ratchet and my work/flashlight (14.4 v lithium ion) The battery life is incredibly long between charges. I use these all daily and may have to put a battery on a charger every three weeks. My 3/8" impact is a Mac BWP138 (325 ft lbs) and my 1/2" is a Mac BWP050 (725 FT LB) both run on the 20 v lithium ion batteries. I have a fleet I take care of (35 trucks) and the huge advantage to having the 1/2 is pulling wheels in the warehouse for putting on tires or changing a set of brake pads without pulling the truck off line and over to the shop. The 1/2 I use at least 4 out of the 5 days in the week for pulling wheels off. I can easily got two weeks before having to swap batteries. The 3/8 gets used much less often and easily a month goes by or more on the battery life. I have used the 1/2 for pulling wheels on my bigger trucks (33mm nuts torqued to 485 ft. lb) but it's mainly my sprinters as this is the majority of my fleet. These torque to 175 ft lb. One interesting thing I have found is occasionally I get 1 or two that won't break loose. If these are in my shop I grab my 3/8 air gun (snap-on MG325) and it takes them right off. It is rated at 325 ft. lbs (ofcourse I run my shop air at 160psi)

Most times if I am pulling suspension stuff I use my 1/2" air (Ingersol 2135ti). The cordless ratchet is a snap-on CTR725 that is rated 30 ft. lb and 350 rpm versus my air Snap-on FAR25a rated at 25 ft lb and 200 rpm. The air one feels much stronger and much faster but 99% of the time I reach for the cordless. A couple weeks ago I used it a ton while doing an oil cooler on a sprinter. It was nice being able to get into tight places and not have the hose to deal with.

Any of these will work in most situations for me and are strong and reliable. The convenience of the battery stuff working in the warehouse outside of the shop is a huge plus. I am not ready to retire any of them at this point.

 

[Ign]

I wrench for a living...I live in the rust belt lol. Here is my take on all of this:

I got into battery stuff several years ago. The technology has come a LOOOONG way. My lights I use at work and home now are all rechargeable LED (flashlights, etc) I have a snap-on screw gun and it uses the same batteries as my cordless ratchet and my work/flashlight (14.4 v lithium ion) The battery life is incredibly long between charges. I use these all daily and may have to put a battery on a charger every three weeks. My 3/8" impact is a Mac BWP138 (325 ft lbs) and my 1/2" is a Mac BWP050 (725 FT LB) both run on the 20 v lithium ion batteries. I have a fleet I take care of (35 trucks) and the huge advantage to having the 1/2 is pulling wheels in the warehouse for putting on tires or changing a set of brake pads without pulling the truck off line and over to the shop. The 1/2 I use at least 4 out of the 5 days in the week for pulling wheels off. I can easily got two weeks before having to swap batteries. The 3/8 gets used much less often and easily a month goes by or more on the battery life. I have used the 1/2 for pulling wheels on my bigger trucks (33mm nuts torqued to 485 ft. lb) but it's mainly my sprinters as this is the majority of my fleet. These torque to 175 ft lb. One interesting thing I have found is occasionally I get 1 or two that won't break loose. If these are in my shop I grab my 3/8 air gun (snap-on MG325) and it takes them right off. It is rated at 325 ft. lbs (ofcourse I run my shop air at 160psi)

Most times if I am pulling suspension stuff I use my 1/2" air (Ingersol 2135ti). The cordless ratchet is a snap-on CTR725 that is rated 30 ft. lb and 350 rpm versus my air Snap-on FAR25a rated at 25 ft lb and 200 rpm. The air one feels much stronger and much faster but 99% of the time I reach for the cordless. A couple weeks ago I used it a ton while doing an oil cooler on a sprinter. It was nice being able to get into tight places and not have the hose to deal with.

Any of these will work in most situations for me and are strong and reliable. The convenience of the battery stuff working in the warehouse outside of the shop is a huge plus. I am not ready to retire any of them at this point.

No, no. You must be mistaken. You wrench for a living in the rust belt and you like cordless. No no. You're just severely confused it would seem. The thread says so.

We must send you to therapists who will help you understand your misunderstanding

 

[kwschumm]

The exact topic aside, a LOT of people here are misinformed (or still living in the nicad/NiMH era) about how long today's batteries last before needing to be replaced and how long they hold a charge and how often they need to be used (there's really no rules on the latter).

Anyway I gotta go warm up my carbureted vehicle for 20 minutes before heading to work and repeatedly mess around with the manual choke.....

Battery technology is improving but it still *****. OEM lithium ion batteries in my Dell and Lenovo laptops start decaying in the first month and after 12-18 months are down to maybe 50% of life. To me that is major suckage when it costs $100 or more for an OEM battery. Aftermarket replacement batteries are much worse. And then there is the explosion factor....

 

[Ign]

Battery technology is improving but it still *****. OEM lithium ion batteries in my Dell and Lenovo laptops start decaying in the first month and after 12-18 months are down to maybe 50% of life. To me that is major suckage when it costs $100 or more for an OEM battery. Aftermarket replacement batteries are much worse. And then there is the explosion factor....

Uh huh. And Dell and Lenovo have zero to do with M18 power tools in the shop. I don't even care if the cells are the same, we're talking very different draw rates, useage and total capacities......unless your laptops are running 5 and 9 amp hour batteries at 18V.

This is like saying the newest Ford Ranger can't tow 11k pounds so trucks are still evolving.

I don't doubt your data and experience, it just has very little bearing on cordless tools in actual use. I'm still using M18 batteries from 2008 that work fine in my tools. Has life shortened? Probably. But an impact is heavy but sporadic draw. A laptop is constant, low draw.

 

[L.Cheapo]

Already Own:

Air Compressor and Accessories
Air Impacts

Don't Own:

Milwaukee Tools/Batteries

Don't Intend to Buy:

Milwaukee Tools/Batteries

Life Status of Air Impacts:

Alive and Well

Couldn't agree more. For me, cordless *****. I do not now, nor will I ever own a cordless impact. The noise they make alone is enough for me to never own one. I have a compressor. I will always have a compressor. It is used for many things, impacting is just one of them.

I may go months without needing to use an impact. When I do, I need it to work NOW, not in an hour when the battery is charged. And no, I'm not leaving batteries in a charger unattended for months at a time. I don't trust them enough.

Perhaps I'm a Luddite, but I'm not giving up my air impact.

 

[Ign]

Battery technology is improving but it still *****. OEM lithium ion batteries in my Dell and Lenovo laptops start decaying in the first month and after 12-18 months are down to maybe 50% of life. To me that is major suckage when it costs $100 or more for an OEM battery. Aftermarket replacement batteries are much worse. And then there is the explosion factor....

Furthermore the form factor of cordless tools means parallels to laptops are mostly irrelevant. Right now my Iphone doesn't hardly hold a charge all day when it used to be able to do so. It's a PITA 'cause then I'm tethered to a cord or a Milwaukee cordless tool with USB output late in the day charging my phone again.

But if my Iphone had an external battery and I could just slip on a new one by depressing two tabs, that'd be awesome. Same is true for laptops (and I do realize some allow this). But a power tool does not lose any data when it shuts down. It does not have to reboot. I just slip on a new battery (I have dozens) and return right to work.

My comments about battery technology were all the fallacies here:
1) batteries have a memory, let them sit fully charged or discharged too long and you'll have to replace them. Not so.
2) batteries won't hold a charge after months of no use. Not so.
3) batteries die every couple years and must be replaced. Not so. It's VERY rare for a modern li-ion battery to outright die in the first ~5 years. Loads of M12, M18, and M28 batteries in my shop are my experience base for that.
4)I have to leave my batteries on the charger or they'll be dead when I go to use them. Not so. Most Milwaukee batteries will easily hold 3 of 4 bars for at least 3 months, and that's conservative.

 

[WhiskeyRanger]

I'm kind of surprised at all the people who don't own a cordless drill or other tools. My cordless impact is actually my least used tool. Between my drill, sawzall, 1/4 impact, Skil saw, angle grinder, new drill and impact, leaf blower, and weed whip, there are always batteries being charged or already charged and ready to go for my 1/2" impact. Even before I had most of that stuff, keeping a battery on the charger wasn't an issue. Lithiums don't self discharge like the nicads used to, contrary what many folks here seem to believe.