Best Hand Impact Driver

[kwoswalt99]

That's just the broaching chips, lots of bit sockets are made that way.

 

[B_Bimmer]

I'm not talking about the rounded corners. You should be able to see in the pics the piece is cracked up inside and has 4 hollow cavities that go all the way through to the bit end. It's not a solid piece of metal.

That's just residual metal from the broaching process. Most all sockets used to have it just left in before we got more concerned with how the inside looks versus how they function.

 

[WWheeler]

Well, I guess maybe it's not so bad afterall. After my boy showed it to me I showed him one of mine and we decided it was junk. We even joked that it felt so much lighter and looked like we could step on it and break it. We just tossed it in the junk drawer and it was all but forgotten about until today.

 

[555]

I've got two Vessels that are a little over 40 years old. The only problem I've had was losing bits. I've never broken one. I did have a Snap On which broke, the male shaft that holds the socket head snapped in half. I'm assuming it was an anomaly due to a undetected fracture in the steel. I purchased a Koken to replace the Snap On. I have not used it enough to evaluate. I thought I would like the rubber covered handle, but that is not the case. I have three other impacts that are unknown. They were all bought on the road and all of them came from independent motorcycle shops in plain boxes. They all work have worked fine. I guess time will tell on the "no names". When I was doing my tool box inventory, I noticed every one of these impacts had the same model number leading me to believe that they are all made by the same company.
Regards,
John

 

[MN_Runner]

I always just drill em out. Only time I ever use them is for removing the Phillips screws that Nissan uses for the injector caps which I replace afterwards with Allen head

I used to drill them out prior to owning this tool. Drilling took me good 30 minutes and you have to watch for over-drill. With the hand impact tool, it is only 3 second job. A lot of my friends have Honda cars so I do them for free but generally ask them to contribute toward my tool fund.

This is what I had before prior to buying a Mac Tools set. Do not get this Craftsman because the bits are too soft and they are no good after one or two punch.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-impa...gclid=CO3w1rPv2NACFRCRaQodVNsD2Q&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[kwoswalt99]

I used to drill them out prior to owning this tool. Drilling took me good 30 minutes and you have to watch for over-drill. With the hand impact tool, it is only 3 second job. A lot of my friends have Honda cars so I do them for free but generally ask them to contribute toward my tool fund.

This is what I had before prior to buying a Mac Tools set. Do not get this Craftsman because the bits are too soft and they are no good after one or two punch.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-impa...gclid=CO3w1rPv2NACFRCRaQodVNsD2Q&gclsrc=aw.ds

I don't believe them about the 200 ft# rating. I could barely get 90 out of mine.

 

[davethorik]

I have an old K-D USA 3/8 that my dad gave me. It didn't come with bits and I don't have a great assortment, I basically only use it for philips screws on my Kawasaki.

I just did the brakes on my 2011 Accord earlier this summer, on the newer Hondas there are 2 screws on each front rotor and 1 on each rear. My Milwaukee M18 impact got 5 of them out, the 6th wasn't budging, got it out with a drill and cold chisel.

Edit: I never put the screws back in. Basically, all they do is hold the rotors on the car on the assembly line before the rims are put on.

 

[drsung]

I have a USA Lisle one that has worked pretty well for me. I have only used it in old 3 Wheeler projects though.

 

[CooperS7777]

I had a cheap-o 3/8" unit from Parts Unlimited or another vendor I snagged years back just to fill an order. I needed one last week to get the valley cover off my 416ci LS blower motor, and it blew right apart the first wack I took at it.

Luckily a friend had a Snap-On unit I could borrow, and it worked beautifully. It has since been added to my Christmas List!

 

[BajaBound]

I recently bought the craftsman in the blister pack, it is USA made.

 

[SantaAna12]

Japanese but, Koken Attack Driver has the best ergonomics and also comes with decent bits. The latter is arguably more important than the impact driver itself. The Snap-On set is also very good but is huge money.

^+1. The Koken comes with the 5/16 bit adapter too.

I own the KD, the Snap On, and the Koken. They are all good tools. The KD I used for many years, and if the slack was taken out, and if you didn't ask too much of it, it worked fine. I bought the Snap On off Craigslist....could not pass it up. It is a solid tool. The Koken I bought last year at Advance Auto of all places (35% off before they jacked up their prices).
The Koken is a step above the SO IMO. The handle is--as Skin points out--huge and molded to your hand. It is heavier and more substantial than the SO, but I could not speak to actual torque transferred. I will say this: the Koken attack driver came in a red metal box, with four solid impact bits, the 5/16 adapter, and it hits HARD. But again, they are all good tools. I do a fair amount of work on boats, and like motorcycles, this is on the required tool list.

Lastly, I broke three SO bits in ten minutes....as Skin and Hiball point out....the warranty is for the bits.

 

[oldtools]

I have 1 HF, 1 Lisle, 2 Proto, 1 MAC, and 3 Snap-On. Of course the SO feel the nicest and the HF feel the worst. Gave away the HF and Lisle. Just bought another SO for 50 cents at the flee market yesterday.

 

[DeliveryGuy]

The Snap On Pit120 can be found quite cheap on ebay. I got mine in a kit, 208EPIT, for about $100 Canadian. If I had to by a set new, I would get the Koken one.

 

[ricleh]

I have heard that Vessel one is as good as Koken or better. Anyone has experience with this?

I have both of them. I prefer the Koken personally, but both are excellent tools.

 

[winlinmac]

I hear Craftsman, Proto, and Matco are all made under the same roof.

Vessel is another option, eBay has a bunch of them the last time I checked

 

[hemifalcon]

If you have an air hammer you could try using a screw knocker (aka old man).



ATI540 is an example part number.

Awesome.. I found some of these in what appears to be unused condition and never saw one before.. thanks for the share!!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[losvre]

I have both of them. I prefer the Koken personally, but both are excellent tools.

Hello Ricleh,

Thank you for the feedback.

Is yours like the first or second picture below? Also, what is that you like most, way it feel, effectiveness based on experience, etc.?

View media item 65732
View media item 65733

All the best

 

[6PTsocket]

Hello Ricleh,

Thank you for the feedback.

Is yours like the first or second picture below? Also, what is that you like most, way it feel, effectiveness based on experience, etc.?

View media item 65732
View media item 65733

All the best

I don't know what brand is on that one in the blue box, but that is the generic one that I have. That thing has been around forever. I assummed it was just some cheap Chinese import.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[ssdave]

Had a cheap import one for years, it worked but not well. Got a KD set in a box I bought and it was a massive improvement. Still use it today. Got a Snap-on in a set of Snap-on tools I bought and it is excellent also.

There was a great improvement going to a quality one over one of the $10 import sets.

 

[thegreatone]

I bought one if these and used it quite a bit and have had no issues.

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/989/32614/Tusk-Impact-Driver

 

[cmanningjr]

Hello Ricleh,



Thank you for the feedback.



Is yours like the first or second picture below? Also, what is that you like most, way it feel, effectiveness based on experience, etc.?



View media item 65732


View media item 65733




All the best

I have one that looks like the one on the bottom.. it has more bits with it though.. No name on it.. works well when I've used it..


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[M6erfan]

That bottom driver looks like a Vessel 2500, can pick them up cheap on eBay...

 

[losvre]

That bottom driver looks like a Vessel 2500, can pick them up cheap on eBay...

Your are M6erfan, however I was wondering which of the two Vessels Ricleh was referring when compared the Koken to Vessel.

Thanks

Sent from my HTC Desire 620 using Tapatalk

 

[ricleh]

Hello Ricleh,

Thank you for the feedback.

Is yours like the first or second picture below? Also, what is that you like most, way it feel, effectiveness based on experience, etc.?

View media item 65732
View media item 65733

All the best

Here is a picture of my manual impact drivers

From left to right they are:
Walden
KD 1141
Lisle
Craftsman 947634
Koken AG318A Attack Driver
Vessel 2400

And a couple of the Anex 1903-N mini impact drivers.

All of these impact drivers have worked well for me. I just like the feel of the Koken best.

 

[losvre]

Here is a picture of my manual impact drivers

From left to right they are:
Walden
KD 1141
Lisle
Craftsman 947634
Koken AG318A Attack Driver
Vessel 2400

And a couple of the Anex 1903-N mini impact drivers.

All of these impact drivers have worked well for me. I just like the feel of the Koken best.

Wow, that is like a gun collection!

Thank you very much for taking the time to comment.

I will now have to make a decision I suppose[emoji4]

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[tym]

I just picked up the Craftsman 1/2" drive hand impact for $26. There is no COO on the tool, but the packaging states "made in USA of US and global components." Haven't used it yet but looks to be solidly built. Who is the OEM for these?

 

[losvre]

Any photos?

Sent from my SM-A510F using Tapatalk

 

[Empty Pockets]

I bought mine years ago, new, from the local Montgomery Wards. It's served me well, over the years

 

[itsvegas]

i also use this alot on bikes and love the snap on! theyre not bad pricey used at least and the bits are quality!

 

[M6erfan]

I just picked up the Craftsman 1/2" drive hand impact for $26. There is no COO on the tool, but the pending states "made in USA of US and global components." Haven't used it yet but looks to be solidly built. Who is the OEM for these?

Lisle, I believe. At least they used to be

 

[tym]

Any photos?

Sent from my SM-A510F using Tapatalk

It looks just like what's in Post #38.

 

[losvre]

No idea of this specific one. I could only guess China or Taiwan given the price.

 

[SHOOTIST357]

I know this is an old post--but it has all the info here for hand impacts.... So I have a few of them and today I noticed That my identical set of K-d ones have different model numbers. Anybody know the difference between a KD 1141 and 2060? I may pull them apart to clean and lube and see if there are internal differences. Also have what appears to be an unmarked KD.

 

[JradM]

I don't have the answers to you KD questions, but in keeping with the rest of the post - I have the Williams and I think it works great.

I bought the Tekon first - didn't work worth a darn. Like no twisting at all - just hammer it and slowly flatten your screw. Piece of junk.

After that experience I ponied up for the Williams. No more problems, it does what I want every time. Has a good feel to it.

My only complaints are:

1) black oxide finish can rust, I would prefer chrome.
2) the retaining ring around the handle has sharp ends where it was cut. You'll want to file/sand them off a bit or risk cutting your hand.

I don't have any functional complaints.

Williams BMHD-30 $52.18 Canada $33 USA

 

[SHOOTIST357]

Yeah there's no COO stamp on this Craftsman driver. Perhaps it said on the blister pack it came in? I don't know as we didn't keep the package and it didn't come in any case or anything to keep it all together.

Like I said, we never used it because the adapter to it was unlike anything I'd seen before. I don't know if that's a defect or intentionally made that way for some reason, but it's sure not like any of my others. It's hollow all the way through and just looked unsafe to me.

Mine is older and says MADE IN USA right on the body.

 

[Al Borland]

Older Craftsmans were made by Lisle in the good ol' US of A.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I have a Tekton one I purchased for work it’s pretty good. At home I’ve got a Great Neck, Buffalo and something like a Texas Star or something like that. All from the pawn shop except the Tekton. All seem to be ok but I want to buy the Snap-on eventually I just didn’t want to buy it from them right now because as a Subaru tech you really don’t need it a whole lot but I do work on other things sometimes too and need it. Most of the guys at my shop have Matco which is probably rebranded by someone else I’m sure.

 

[driftpin]

Three I have in one location, there are others elsewhere.

Top chrome one has no markings, probably a Vessel, after seeing one posted above/earlier.

Middle is a K-D, I have two of these, the oldest one I bought new 50 years ago, and it's saved me much frustration over those years. I found a duplicate somewhere, years ago, and bought it because I wanted a back-up if anything ever happened to mine.

Third (bottom) is a made in USA Craftsman.

I would much-rather use an impact driver than doing drilling.

 

[bobg03]

I have one that is 20+ years old, it came from NAPA. Hasn't failed me yet.

 

[seber]

I have heard that Vessel one is as good as Koken or better. Anyone has experience with this?

Thanks

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I've been using a Vessel 2500 for 45 years. It has never given me a problem. Back then it was $10 off the Snap-on truck.