Decent Electric Impact?

[kythri]

Want to pick up something decent but inexpensive for my Dad. He's got a good air compressor and air tools, but wants something electric for wheel swaps, so he doesn't have to dink around with the compressor and hose.

Anything really serious will use air, so an uber-powerful electric equivalent is not needed.

Most of the retail-available guns that I see appear to be the same thing, just rebadged/re-colored, which is unsurprising.

The HF gun is $50, not counting a 20% off coupon, so that's my initial thought, given the intended use of the thing, but I'm certainly open to other ideas.

Thanks!

 

[rockwithjason]

i have never used the hf version but i do have an 18v dewalt 1/2 in impact. it is my go to for wheel swaps and anything else i can use it on. it seems to me that i paid about 200 for it. i believe they have a corded version of it too.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

I've got a C-Man corded that I break out once and a while...It works like a champ..I bought it used on CL for $35, and was in great condition...

 

[split150]

Craftsman 1/2" 19.2v C3 cordless impact here for the medium to heavy stuff, works well and usually on sale around this time of year. I think mine was $150-160 with charger and 2 batteries (not lith-ion) when I got it last year. Any of the other tools from the Craftsman C3 line will also work with the battery, so plenty of ways for add on tools later. For the smaller stuff, I have a Hitachi lith-ion 18v with the hex-to-square drive adapter that's super light.

 

[GSteg]

You can get the Craftsman C3 19.2V for under $100 nowadays, but they're Nicad. It's a great gun for the money and will take off properly torqued lug nuts.

 

[kythri]

Hrmm - he and I are both invested in the Ryobi One+ 18V stuff, and they have an impact gun - likely identical to the C3 gun, given the rest of the C3/One+ overlap.

I might have to check that out.

Any other suggestions for corded stuff? I do know that he's commented about preferring a corded version for this kind of thing.

 

[Ign]

Want to pick up something decent but inexpensive for my Dad. He's got a good air compressor and air tools, but wants something electric for wheel swaps, so he doesn't have to dink around with the compressor and hose.

Anything really serious will use air, so an uber-powerful electric equivalent is not needed.

Most of the retail-available guns that I see appear to be the same thing, just rebadged/re-colored, which is unsurprising.

The HF gun is $50, not counting a 20% off coupon, so that's my initial thought, given the intended use of the thing, but I'm certainly open to other ideas.

Thanks!

I used the Northern version years ago which looked identical to the HF at the time; as you said, unsurprising.

It was fine for the money, I never wanted it to last a long time. A friend borrowed it for building a house and I haven't seen it for years, never cared to ask for it back b/c I have so little use for such a thing. None of the corded electric impacts are great so I'd get the HF and save the $$.

 

[scaron]

i have a milwaukee 9072-20 and it is a beast!! but it'll run you around $150.

 

[bigbearcraig]

I have the Ryobi 1/2 cordless impact with the lithium batteries. It is rated at 200 ft. lbs., but my guess is the actual usable torque is closer to 125 ft. lbs. I have had no problems with mine, and a decent gun for the money, but make sure you don't need more power than it will deliver. On my one car the wheels are torqued at 100 ft. lbs. and it does fine with those, but my other car the wheels are torqued at 150 ft. lbs. and the wrench will not removes those.