Amarkel
Member
I recently got my hands on Chicago Pneumatic’s line of cordless tools, not bad stuff! Here is a quick review of the 3/8 impack/drill/light kit. This is one of my first tool reviews, so and comments would be appreciated:
Chicago Pneumatic’s CP8738K (K stands for kit) bundles together a 3/8” impact wrench (CP8738), 3/8 chuck drill(CP8335) and LED light (CP8005) along with two battery packs and charger. The tools come in a well made, red case that screams, “look at me, I bought a new tool.”
The grips and surfaces of the tools were made for the automotive technician and not a guy on a construction site wearing thick gloves. The control surfaces are covered in a soft rubber material that is also used on OXO kitchen tools. These surfaces are easy to clean, and do not have ridges that could trap greasy debris like some cordless tools. The nose of the gun and drill are made of the same hard Magnesium alloy that they use on the CP7740.
All of the tools in the kit have a high quality fit and finish. The plastics (or composites) used appear to be robust and strong. The overall black and silver color scheme says that it is a professional mechanic’s tool, not a carpenter’s or electrician’s tool.
The batteries have a rubberized coating on the bottom that can prevent a lot of damage caused by the battery inadvertently striking the vehicle.
The charger is well made. The contacts are protected with a sliding cover. The lights are easy to understand. Also, the charger has a “refresh” button that can recondition the battery over a 24-hour period. But, I wish the manual would explain the function a little better. According to Chicago Pneumatic, Ni-Cd batteries have a memory effect, if they are recharged before they are fully discharged. The apparent symptom is that the battery "remembers" the point in its charge cycle where the recharging began, and during subsequent use there is a sudden drop in voltage at that point, as if the battery had been discharged.
During the Refresh process, the battery is slowly and completely discharged, and then recharged. This process is initiated by pressing and holding the refresh button for 3 seconds (until it beeps) and will take 24 hours to complete.
After asking CP, I found out It is suggested to do this process every 3 months or each 1000 discharge cycles. If the refresh feature is used too often it may damage the battery pack, and it is suggested to use the refresh function only when there is a significant decline in battery performance.
CP is building a line that has the automotive technician in mind.
The max torque from the CP8738 is 95-ft-lbs, according to Chicago Pneumatic. The unloaded “free speed” is 2,400 RPMs.
The specs for the drill are average for a drill of this price class. It is part of a total system that uses the same battery packs.
The 12volt CP battery packs on paper may seem two or more volts shy of the competition, but the 1.7 Amp Hour (Ah) (2.4 Ah for Li-ion) rating is what really matters. The CP batteries packs have a small footprint, but are taller than most packs with similar voltages.
The CP8738 was designed with the automotive technician in mind. The weight and balance of the CP8738 is just right for me. Yes, it is heavier than an air powered 3/8” impact, but when one is connected to an air hose it cancels any advantage.
I used the CP8738 for brake work most of the time. The short nose to tail length made it great for going after caliper pins and bolts, 95 ft-lbs is enough to remove and install any reasonably sized brake system fastener.
The impact and the drill have an LED light on the bases of their noses that illuminate the work area. While not blinding, it is nice to have when starting a fastener. Also, the light can be controlled independently with light pressure on the trigger.
The battery life of the tools is impressive. I really was never put in a position where I was constantly swapping half charged battery packs to finish a job. You will be impressed.
The LED light is well made and lasts forever on a fresh pack. It has 16 ultra bright LEDs instead of incandescent or halogen bulbs.
I would recommend the Chicago Pneumatic CP8738. When you think of cordless tools, Chicago Pneumatic might not be the first brand name that comes to mind. But the CP8738 kit proves they have done their homework and this tool kit is a winner. Best of all, when you first bring these tools to your shop, you’ll never have the feeling that a drywall contractor will try to take them. They are serious automotive professional tools.