Cordless impact for automotive use!!!!!!

[donhd04]

Which cordless impact is best for automotive use. I have read some of the other threads and came to no conclusions. please help.

 

[Bo Heck]

I have the Milwaukee M18 high torque 1/2" drive impact that is very strong for a cordless. I'm very satisfied with it. Great for when I don't have access to air.

 

[Roots]

Which cordless impact is best for automotive use. I have read some of the other threads and came to no conclusions. please help.

There's no conclusion, because there's a lot of personal preference. Just to start, how do you define best? Pure performance, Warranty, Customer Service, Performance/Cost, Shininess? Bosch, Hilti, Snap On, Matco, and IR all produce excellent-premium battery impacts. If you're not using it each day, I'd just stick with Milwaukee or Dewalt.

 

[mrholeshot]

It also depends on what part of the car you are working on

 

[Fedwrench]

The problem is you need more than one. If you're looking for a light duty 3/8 impact for upper engine work and trim, I'm very happy with my new Dewalt 12vmax. I've also had great service from the 14.4 volt Makita, and the Snap on.
If you want to use a cordless impact to remove lug nuts, the Snap on Ct4850 or whatever the current version is without equal.
Then you need to look at things like weight, battery sharing, ergonomics, speed and power. Sorry, there isn't one magic cordless impact that is everything to everyone. Have fun looking though,

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

The problem is you need more than one. If you're looking for a light duty 3/8 impact for upper engine work and trim, I'm very happy with my new Dewalt 12vmax. I've also had great service from the 14.4 volt Makita, and the Snap on.
If you want to use a cordless impact to remove lug nuts, the Snap on Ct4850 or whatever the current version is without equal.
Then you need to look at things like weight, battery sharing, ergonomics, speed and power. Sorry, there isn't one magic cordless impact that is everything to everyone. Have fun looking though,

Part number or link the Dewalt 12vmax?

 

[joshthedieseltech]

cheap HF gun $109 for home will do just fine, mine lasted 3 years, charger took a **** and it is discontinued.

as for work, thats the Ct4850HO

 

[rsieracki]

i just got the 3 tool m12 combo by milwaukee... with a small impact for "light work" its rated around 100 ftlb. i plan on getting the m18 3/8 and 1/2 2pc set, usually around 475on amazon once i save up(eventually the m18 drill/saw/sawzall/etc set also)... perhaps selling my impact guns and airtools will help offset that... i have a home garage im not a pro

 

[gnx547]

I have the IR 3/8 impact, but the batteries do not last long after a full charge.

 

[donhd04]

i just got the 3 tool m12 combo by milwaukee... with a small impact for "light work" its rated around 100 ftlb. i plan on getting the m18 3/8 and 1/2 2pc set, usually around 475on amazon once i save up(eventually the m18 drill/saw/sawzall/etc set also)... perhaps selling my impact guns and airtools will help offset that... i have a home garage im not a pro

Well im no pro either and I have been looking at the M18 or the M28 milwaulkee 1/2 in. im not so worried about the small stuff, its the lugs and suspension stuff im interested in. in into offroading and the polaris rzr 4 seater so im using it for multi use for vehichles and offroading. Probably use it more like 2 or 3 times a week.

 

[I can fix anything]

I have the IR 3/8 impact, but the batteries do not last long after a full charge.

They don't take a fall very well either. I saw a student knock one off the trunk of a car, and it busted the case. I dropped my makita from much higher many times and it was fine. I havn't dropped the snap on yet, but it won't be long

 

[Up And Down]

im not so worried about the small stuff, its the lugs and suspension stuff im interested in.

Snap-On CT6850 FTW.

 

[Big Vic]

I got the Makita 18v lithion impact it has replaced my snap on air rachet all together. Its the best cordless impact ive used it has 155lbs ft of torque, 30min charge time, and works for a long time before batteries run out heres a link.http://makitausa.com/en-us/Modules/Tools/ToolDetails.aspx?ID=26269 Only bad thing is the batteries cast about 100$

 

[I can fix anything]

I got the Makita 18v lithion impact it has replaced my snap on air rachet all together. Its the best cordless impact ive used it has 155lbs ft of torque heres a link.http://makitausa.com/en-us/Modules/Tools/ToolDetails.aspx?ID=26269

Yea we have that one too. Very nice gun, better than the IR or Bosch we have.

 

[Big Vic]

Yea we have that one too. Very nice gun, better than the IR or Bosch we have.

tell me about it a friend of mine had an IR and it fell and broke needless to say he wasn't to happy about a month later he bit the bullet and bought a Makita he was very happy with it.

 

[pdizzleinmt]

I got the Makita 18v lithion impact it has replaced my snap on air rachet all together. Its the best cordless impact ive used it has 155lbs ft of torque, 30min charge time, and works for a long time before batteries run out heres a link.http://makitausa.com/en-us/Modules/Tools/ToolDetails.aspx?ID=26269 Only bad thing is the batteries cast about 100$

just bought that one yesterday and so far i like it alot.

 

[dirtrider]

Since you asked what is the "best" impact gun I think most people hold the Snapon gun in very high regard if not the best.

 

[Daniel Kinder]

snap on's 3/8 CT4410 230 ft. lbs bolt break away torque, 150 ft. lbs forward torque, or the 1/2'' CT6850 that has 618 ft. lbs bolt break away torque, 400 ft. lbs forward torque. And have a choice of green-orange or the original red.

Plus you can also get the set or individual 1/2'' drive torque extensions that are torque limited for 65ft. lbs-80ft. lbs-100ft. lbs-120ft. lbs and 140ft. lbs and have a perfect combo to go with the CT6850.

Just my two cents

 

[donhd04]

so far we seem to be agreeing on the snap on and the makita models. would you all say that either one would be a good choice and hard to go wrong with?

 

[Aklass]

I say Hilti SIW 18T-A Its not a snap on, but it comes with lithium batteries, and I bet you it will take a fall and outlast snap-on's

 

[Marauder470]

How much are you planning on spending?

 

[slayer6x6]

Another vote for the Snappy...

 

[dodge610]

I just purchased the Craftsman C3 19.2 volt cordless impact just picked it up today i am quite pleased with it has all the power i need for the jobs i am using it on and its not overly priced for what you get.

 

[earthtech]

Plus for the makita, have several all work well and are used often on my excavators, etc. They have been dropped, used in the dirt, gotten wet and have never missed a beat.

 

[donhd04]

How much are you planning on spending?

350 average, no more than 400.

 

[Aklass]

That puts hilti and bosch out of the picture, I now recommend milwaukee's m18 since it has the most torque and is a reputable brand

 

[donhd04]

That puts hilti and bosch out of the picture, I now recommend milwaukee's m18 since it has the most torque and is a reputable brand

im leaning more towards the milwaulkee brand at this point, but im considering the M28 instead of the M18.

Any Pros or Cons.

thanks for everyones input, i can always trust my fellow GarageJournal members for the most honest opinions and guidance.

 

[donhd04]

Plus for the makita, have several all work well and are used often on my excavators, etc. They have been dropped, used in the dirt, gotten wet and have never missed a beat.

I haven't given up on Makita either, i plan on doing a little research on them as well.

Thanks for the input

 

[jammer1001]

I recently bought the Dewalt 3/8 and 1/2 impact from my mac dealer and there working great! besides I really like the warranty .....

 

[TAMPAGT07]

I recently bought the Dewalt 3/8 and 1/2 impact from my mac dealer and there working great! besides I really like the warranty .....

I picked up a Dewalt 14.4 v 1/2 impact a while back off of Craigslist for $100. It is small and light but will not rip off the lugs when they are overtorqued. That's why I also carry a 15" breaker bar.

I would recommend it..

 

[diesel research]

I'm pretty sure the answer is "no", but is there another compact impact close to comparable to the snapon 3/8" cordless?

The m18 is not in same class in real world use, not sure about the makita? I mean the m18 depends on hammering to derive a lot more of it's "rated" power, where the snap on gun could run to a higher torque w/o even hammering or struggling. That was as tested side by side. The m18 was smaller/lighter/cheaper, but in use definitely did not have the same power level, although I think it was technically rated higher? I cannot recall if the snap on impact had the proper 14.4volt battery or the common upgraded 18v battery. All I can recall is using my company provided milwaukee and a contractor told me to step aside and let him show me something, with his fancy snap on gun. He was right, the motto was right.

Hope makita has something with much more guts than the m18, closer to the snappy power? I know the price gap starts to narrow quite a bit.

 

[Aklass]

im leaning more towards the milwaulkee brand at this point, but im considering the M28 instead of the M18.

Any Pros or Cons.

thanks for everyones input, i can always trust my fellow GarageJournal members for the most honest opinions and guidance.

The M28 impact is wrated for less torque than the M18, but apparently it does a lot more hammering than snapon to get that torque, because it was made for industrial use and not automotive