Brushless driver/impact suggestions

[engineer2]

Any reason to avoid the "tool truck" brands (SO, Mac, Matco, etc.)?

Do any of the tools truck brands actually manufacture their own cordless power tools?

If I were starting anew I would look at:
How many other types of tools do they make that would be useful to me?
How many types of tools do they make that use the same battery system?
What is the likelihood of the batteries being available 10 years from now?
Price and availability of batteries, chargers, parts?
Tool test ratings and user reviews.
I used to consider availability, but you can order any tool online for a good price and get it quickly.

Be aware many brands have consumer-grade models (i.e. plastic gearboxes) and industrial/professional models (metal gearboxes, better specs). I assume most GJ'er s are more than occasional users and would lean towards the higher-end models.

I would look at the big three (Makita, Milwaukee, DeWalt) and the littler three (Ryobi, Bosch, Rigid), and possibly other brands depending on what you like.

 

[Metalio]

Heres an Amazon review of the M18 Fuel 3/8" Impact Wrench...Pretty much all you need to know...

March 1, 2016 It's like holding the 4th of July in your hand.


The best tactical 3/8” impact wrench American dollars can buy. Tactical you ask? Heck yeah, bro. Like anything worth its tactical weight in para-cord, this baby has black grip on it and an LED light. Stubborn bolt threatening you? Shine the LED light in its face to disorient it and hit that sun-uv-a-gun with 210 pounds of American twisting torque. Penetrating oil? Penetrating oil is for communists. If it don’t turn the first time, you’re not turning hard enough. Man up.
The body of the wrench is red so it won’t show the good ‘ol American blood you’ll bleed when busting knuckles working on your ’71 Hemi Cuda…cause the only thing we work on are muscle cars, Apache helos, and the Statue of Liberty. Work on a Prius with this thing and you’ll likely flip the car over or twist it completely in half. Heck, the motor in this tool is bigger than the motor in the Prius. This impact gun does the quarter mile in 9.8 seconds…without nitrous.
Tactical weapon or drag racer, which is it? It’s both. Don’t try to pigeon-hole this tool. This is America. It can be whatever it wants and as much as it wants.
That’s right, it also has a belt clip. Boom, now you’re a gunslinger. Billy the Kid who? More like Milford Waukee. A Million Ways to Die in the West? More like A Million Ways to Travel Back to the Wild West in a Time Machine and Totally Kick ****.....and then jump on a steamer ship and head over to Germany and put your size 12 USA-made Red Wings up Hitler's Spundloch. Salute! You just prevented WWII, my friend.
You wanna talk about batteries? These same batteries are on the International Space station. That’s right, that big solar-paneled American Flag floating in outer-********-space runs on these batteries. “International” Space Station you ask? Yeah, we all know “International” means, “Get out the way non-USA countries, Merica is here and we’re conquering space.” Put a flag in it. Those aren’t shooting stars, that’s American confetti falling to earth.
Chuck Norris and Ronda Rousey made a baby that was raised by grizzly bears and bald eagles. That baby invented this tool. 'Nuf said.

Below that it should have a disclamer: *proudly made in the "people's' republic of China", any references to "America", "American" or "USA" are for marketing purposes only

 

[928'er]

I just crack them loose with a torque wrench/QUOTE]

That's just wrong....

 

[Chuck_V]

Below that it should have a disclamer: *proudly made in the "people's' republic of China", any references to "America", "American" or "USA" are for marketing purposes only

From what I can find, the large majority of handheld power tools are made in China or at the very least from "globally sourced components". Some brands advertise USA assembly, the extent to which that improves the quality of the end product is debatable.

As much as possible, the tools I buy are intended to last a lifetime, but I don't think it's reasonable to expect the same from any battery powered tool. It is nice to see that some of the battery packs can be rebuilt with individual components, which will allow for continued use even once the manufacturer stops supporting that lineup. Whether the rest of the tool will still be usable at that point is, again, up for debate.

Still in the air for which direction I'll go, it's tough to sort actual facts from just brand-loyalty jargon.

 

[sk farmer]

Still in the air for which direction I'll go, it's tough to sort actual facts from just brand-loyalty jargon.

that is why i said what i did. most people will just flap on about their favorite brand. i mentioned things that are important and should be considered when making a purchase. i know there are more but that is a good start.


i mentioned the brand i chose once because it is fair to know what i picked. you may pick something different and that is your choice as a consumer but it needs to be your choice. too many people swoop in without giving you any reason why they chose it or even why you should choose it other than it is brand "x".

 

[crewchief888]

Any reason to avoid the "tool truck" brands (SO, Mac, Matco, etc.)?

initial cost, and a 1 year warranty from SO...

co-worker bought a SO 3/8" dr impact, both batteries died in just over a year.

my Milwaukee's are going strong after 4 years....

 

[American Locomotive]

The Mac is a good choice, they have glass filled nylon body's that stand up to automotive fluids better than the big 3. The 3/8 drive is more powerful than the Milwaukee or the DeWalt version. The impact driver, I think is smaller than the Milwaukee but just as powerful. I walk past them, every time I get on the Mac truck.

The only thing comparable is IR.(ingersoll-Rand) But their big 1/2 impact is still the brushed version. Compare 2 or 3 brands in person first, before you buy or order online

All of the tools from every major power tool manufacturer use glass filled plastics for the bodies.

However, they all (including Snap-On, MAC, etc..) use the same garbage rubber jackets that get all soft and disgusting when in contact with oil.

 

[WittHay]

All of the tools from every major power tool manufacturer use glass filled plastics for the bodies.

However, they all (including Snap-On, MAC, etc..) use the same garbage rubber jackets that get all soft and disgusting when in contact with oil.

Not going to argue with you because I baby my Milwaukee cordless, they don't get covered in hydraulic oil. I don't own any Mac cordless but they look and feel different than the DeWalt I own

I handled the Mac 3/8 cordless today and it seems like a quality impact rated at 325. The IR 3/8 is 365 and the Milwaukee is 210

 

[American Locomotive]

We have Milwaukee fuels at work where the rubber molding on the handle basically turned to a soft goo and started peeling off. It felt disgusting to use the tool. Same thing happens to our Snap On tools as well. The rubber just doesn't hold up, and it boggles my mind they insist on putting it on tools designed for oily and greasy environments.

 

[mzbk2l]

I have all Dewalt 20v & Flex 60v, as do most of my coworkers. One of them decided to start buying Mac stuff as he could use his existing batteries and chargers. He ended up returning all of it for tool truck credit as not a single one of them could remove or torque a fastener to their advertised torque. (We put 1" bolts in a vise and used a torque wrench to tighten nuts on them, then tested the tools against that.)

Personally, based on watching that experience, I'd avoid the Mac electric tools. Our Mac tools guy also carries Dewalt (for about 150% the cost of Amazon), and our Matco guy carries Milwaukee.

I have Dewalt:
- leaf blower
- chainsaw
- grinder (60v Flex)
- grease gun
- 1/2" drive hi torque impact
- 3/8" impact
- 1/4" impact
- drill driver
- spot light
- work light

Mostly buy from Amazon, although Home Depot often has them for the same price.

I did use my dad's RIGID 1/4" drive last time I visited him and felt like it had noticeably more torque than my DeWalt.

 

[dan360]

At work I use Milwaukee FUEL but at home I've got old beater nicad Snap-ons circa 2007.

Just bought my dad some Ryobi green--the 5 piece or whatever set that's always on sale at the Homeless Despot. He's happy with them, and honestly I'm a might bit impressed with them, too.