Does anyone make a 3/8" or 1/4" CORDED impact gun?

[shannos]

I'd like the small size, but don't need cordless necessarily. I use them so infrequently the batteries fail and are expensive to replace. I'd just as soon have a corded tool. But I don't see anything smaller than 1/2" drive in corded impact guns...

 

[4xdog]

There are plenty of compact 3/8" *air* impact tools.

 

[RKA]

Or just put a reducer on the 1/2” gun. I don’t think I recall seeing a 3/8” corded. But I do like the idea of an air powered gun and there is always a used for a small compressor! But if you don’t have an air compressor, that’s another expense you have to justify.

 

[Jason280]

Lithium batteries are far more reliable than you think, I wouldn't even consider a corded impact in any size...

 

[Danglerb]

Just another perversity of the world, corded tools are lots larger and often less powerful until you get to monster size.

Trick to longer Lion battery life is not to store them fully charged, try to keep them between 20 and 80%.

 

[The Cobbler]

I wondered how many posts it would take to bring up "Buy cordless"

 

[jonesg]

Lithium batteries are far more reliable than you think, I wouldn't even consider a corded impact in any size...

I had a 120v impact, gave it away the day I got a milwaukee M18.
the 120v impact had no power.

 

[shannos]

There are plenty of compact 3/8" *air* impact tools.

Yes there are. And not ONE electric?

 

[shannos]

Or just put a reducer on the 1/2” gun. I don’t think I recall seeing a 3/8” corded. But I do like the idea of an air powered gun and there is always a used for a small compressor! But if you don’t have an air compressor, that’s another expense you have to justify.

Putting a reducer on my 1/2" impact gun will make it smaller, how exactly? And yes, I have plenty of air tools and air compressors and electric tools.

 

[shannos]

I wondered how many posts it would take to bring up "Buy cordless"

The very first f%(1nG one! WTF? I'll buy a Bosch FREAK at some point. And then in a few years that battery pack will be obsolete and I'll be forced to buy ANOTHER tool while my corded tools just keep on working!

 

[shannos]

Lithium batteries are far more reliable than you think, I wouldn't even consider a corded impact in any size...

Then you shouldn't buy one. How does this answer my question, exactly? Electric tools kick ***, can sit in a drawer for 30 years and STILL WORK just as the day they were new! Try that with your fancy *** cordless tool in a few years when the batteries are obsolete. (see also 12v, 18v, 24v, 36v and nicad/nimh/lithium. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.)

 

[X1 Mike]

Sorry you don't like the answers and truthfully it drives me a bit nuts when people suggest something that you specifically say you don't want but the unfortunate fact is you are a target market of one. I just don't think you are going to find one that size, personally I have never seen one.

 

[liliysdad]

No, no one makes one because no one would buy one....

 

[shawhite]

Wouldn’t be too hard to convert a cordless one to corded. I could probably even house the step down transformer and rectifying circuit in the handle.

 

[shannos]

No, no one makes one because no one would buy one....

poppycock.

 

[dimichele]

Wouldn’t be too hard to convert a cordless too to corded. I could probably even house the step down transformer and rectifying circuit in the handle.

It would be even easier if you run it off the car battery.

 

[BrandoJames]

If you have a corded drill or driver with a relatively small footprint, you might try a Makita socket adapter set. Link below.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072J5RNMK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[PBCampbell]

Makita used to make a 1/4 inch corded impact driver.

 

[liliysdad]

poppycock.

You really think if there was a demand, they wouldn't be out there?

Cordless advances make something like this completely obsolete.

 

[m6z]

Re: Does anyone make a 3/8" or 1/4" CORDED impact gun?

I've got an old 1/2 corded DeWalt impact. It's very large and doesn't have much power.

345 ft-lbs to be exact. I bought it more than 10 years ago. Today that purchase doesn't make sense with all of the smaller, lighter and more powerful battery options.

Air powered is really your only alternative.

Fwiw my old *** nicad stuff still works just fine. Original batteries too.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[u2slow]

If you have a corded drill or driver with a relatively small footprint, you might try a Makita socket adapter set. Link below.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072J5RNMK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Same. I used unbranded versions of these when all I had were drills (corded or battery).

 

[Mr_B]

Makita TD0101F 110v
it hex type so need a square drive adaptor .

modern air impacts is the best for small size to power ratio, control, cost & long term durability .
unique tools like air nut spinners interesting time savers ...
When truly need cordless it great, when in a shop with a power and air few feet away turning your back on modern air tools cost you in $ and work efficiency .
I use both as both have advantages pending on exact task and work environment .

 

[DugT]

I'd guess that smaller impact wrenches are scarce because it is usually easy and fast enough to work with small fasteners with hand tools. Rather than getting a smaller AC impact driver, why not just get a longer wrench? With the leverage of a long wrench, humans are powerful tools. I'm assuming you want this tool for occasional use, not all day or everyday. I got a 25" Pittsburgh Pro breaker bar for $20 and it makes it real easy to loosen 100 ft lb lug nuts so it is probably overkill for you. It could last several centuries with no need for batteries or a power cord.

 

[BrandoJames]

Rather than getting a smaller AC impact driver, why not just get a longer wrench? With the leverage of a long wrench, humans are powerful tools

The problem is when you have several small fasteners to remove, not just one. I recently did some work on my mum's Camry. In order to remove her front skid plate, I had to spin off over half a dozen 10mm bolts with a Snap-on Dual 80 flex. It took a while, even with a top-of-the-line hand ratchet.

 

[DugT]

The problem is when you have several small fasteners to remove, not just one. I recently did some work on my mum's Camry. In order to remove her front skid plate, I had to spin off over half a dozen 10mm bolts with a Snap-on Dual 80 flex. It took a while, even with a top-of-the-line hand ratchet.

For that I would use my AC impact wrench. I got AC because I will only use it where there is AC. I might have gotten a battery powered impact wrench if I knew they were powerful enough to remove lug nuts.

Another option is loosen all of the bolts with a long wrench and then use a socket and a drill driver to spin them out.

 

[liliysdad]

For that I would use my AC impact wrench. I got AC because I will only use it where there is AC. I might have gotten a battery powered impact wrench if I knew they were powerful enough to remove lug nuts.

Another option is loosen all of the bolts with a long wrench and then use a socket and a drill driver to spin them out.

Of course they are powerful enough. Even my Mid-Torque DeWalt will spin lugnuts off without issue.

So many folks think cordless now is the same as cordless 20, 10, even 5 years ago. While advances in cordless tech hasn't made corded and air tools obsolete, its sure made them a lot less relevant.

 

[crbnfbr]

The very first f%(1nG one! WTF? I'll buy a Bosch FREAK at some point. And then in a few years that battery pack will be obsolete and I'll be forced to buy ANOTHER tool while my corded tools just keep on working!

I can't speak for other brands but Bosch's battery system has been the same for over 10 years. I got my first Bosch lithium drill back in 08 or 09 and I can still use brand new packs in it. In fact, one of the original 1.3ah batteries still works to this day and the other one I rebuilt with 3ah cells for $25.

 

[PNWguy]

I have never heard of a small 120v impact gun.

In that size, I think your choices are cordless, pneumatic or the original cordless (looks like a fat screwdriver you hit with a hammer).

I feel your pain on cordless tools. I have a bunch of M12 and M18, but tend to not buy anything cordless unless I use it frequently - if I'm not going to wear it out before the battery tech is dead, I don't want it.

 

[DugT]

Battery powered are perfect except for the battery management problem and the possibility of the batteries becoming obsolete. AC powered are perfect except for the line cord. I think battery power is great for frequent users, especially if they are working away from a source of AC. I like my drill driver for those applications. Since I only use my impact driver infrequently and only in my garage wear there are several outlets, I'd rather have a line cord than have to deal with battery management and then have to throw the perfectly good tool away when the battery becomes obsolete. By the way, that happened with my first drill driver.

I might use power tools less than anyone else in this forum so my experience and situation might be quite different than that of most people here but my experience and situation mayber common amongst people searching for direction.

 

[BrandoJames]

I think battery power is great for frequent users, especially if they are working away from a source of AC.

Dug, I used to be right where you are. But I finally bought a cordless 12V Makita Drill/Impact Driver set earlier this summer. As a home gamer, I was worried about the battery life. Yet after a month of non-use, I pulled my Makita driver out yesterday to remove a vacuum cleaner cover. The battery still had four bars--I didn't even have to put it on the charger. It spinned five long screws out of the vacuum cleaner case like a boss. I was surprised & impressed.

The guys here have been telling me for a long time that battery technology for cordless tools has improved dramatically. They're right.

 

[DugT]

Dug, I used to be right where you are. But I finally bought a cordless 12V Makita Drill/Impact Driver set earlier this summer. As a home gamer, I was worried about the battery life. Yet after a month of non-use, I pulled my Makita driver out yesterday to remove a vacuum cleaner cover. The battery still had four bars--I didn't even have to put it on the charger. It spinned five long screws out of the vacuum cleaner case like a boss. I was surprised & impressed.

The guys here have been telling me for a long time that battery technology for cordless tools has improved dramatically. They're right.

Your 12V Makita Drill/Impact Driver set has a Lithium-Ion battery. They are excellent at holding a charge for months. Their weakness is, "The typical estimated life of a Lithium-Ion battery is about two to three years or 300 to 500 charge cycles, whichever occurs first." They are expensive to replace, someone like me who uses an impact drive just a few times per year would not get their money's worth out of a Lithium-Ion battery. Lithium batteries are great for things that get used a lot like phones and iPads. They are also great if you need a high power and low weight ratio like for things that fly like drones and remote control airplanes.

My drill driver uses NI-MH batteries which are bigger and heavier but they last about 5 years if you don't let them discharge too much and replacements cost half as much.

 

[liliysdad]

Li-Ion batteries, at least the DeWalt and Milwaukee versions I have experience with, last considerably longer than 3-5 years. Even if they didn't, both are have been using the same footprint for a long time.

Even if I had to buy all new tools and batteries every 9 or 10 years, it would be worth it. Easily.

 

[Bighead38]

The problem is when you have several small fasteners to remove, not just one. I recently did some work on my mum's Camry. In order to remove her front skid plate, I had to spin off over half a dozen 10mm bolts with a Snap-on Dual 80 flex. It took a while, even with a top-of-the-line hand ratchet.

When I have a lot of smaller nuts I’ll use a t bar when doing them by hand. So much faster than a ratchet.

I have this in all three drive sizes and use them all the time.

https://cloud1.shopsite.com/donofish/product116.html

 

[AngryBeaver]

What year is this? 2020 right?


I still have milwaukee batteries from 2007 that are 1) Lithium ion 2) still work.

So much for every 2-3 years huh?

BTW, since you aren't listening and want to be stuck under that rock you are living under, Milwaukee hasn't changed their battery platform in over 20 years.

Thant literally means batteries made now fit tools made 20 years ago.

Buy some no name store brand, sure. you're up the creek without a paddle. but theres this wonderful thing called rebuilding batteries if the need arises for 1/3 of what a new one costs...


There are plenty of corded tools in the smaller sizes. that cord is an airline.

If there was a demand for an itty bitty corded impact, someone would make one. The fact that no one makes one should tell you that.

Good luck in your endeavor.

 

[DugT]

When I have a lot of smaller nuts I’ll use a t bar when doing them by hand. So much faster than a ratchet.

I have this in all three drive sizes and use them all the time.

https://cloud1.shopsite.com/donofish/product116.html

That looks like an excellent solution.

I've been considering getting the type of T driver that has a big plastic handle but I like your solution better. Then I realized I already have a good enough solution in my toolbox.

https://www.acehardware.com/departments/tools/hand-tools/ratchets/2435139?gclid=Cj0KCQjw3s_4BRDPARIsAJsyoLMnTocfIt3iWsPMYcf9ImLau0zNf6qOk3P1VxyPHKHawE5bNgEBYHkaArNLEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

You can get a lot of leverage with it to loosen a bolt and then turn it 90 degrees and spin it.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

Yes there are. And not ONE electric?

Unfortunately I think no, I used to work on power tools before they became disposable and Milwaukee and occasionally dewalt made some good stuff, Bosch and Makita consistently did. I have a ~25 year old Milwaukee 1/2" 120VAC impact wrench that still works great, every 10 years I crack it open and scoop out the old grease and put new stuff in. It will still use the same receptacle in another 25 years when Milwaukee has gone through a couple more battery format changes forcing replacement of what could have been good tools. These outstanding torque numbers generated by the latest greatest lithium power impacts reminds me a lot of my "6.0 HP" vacuum. You can slap any number on the box you want as long as the tool could theoretically achieve something close. They never state how many hours of running the toy it takes to get the advertised torque number and for good reason.

If someone built a good 3/8" 120VAC impact wrench, I would buy it.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

Milwaukee hasn't changed their battery platform in over 20 years.

This is completely false.

Milwaukee fucked over 10's of thousands of contractors and many more with their short lived V-18 and V-28 experiments LED than 20 years ago.

 

[Danglerb]

Could be some kind of technical reason like amount of power a small AC motor can produce vs a small DC motor.

 

[like2wheel]

Could be some kind of technical reason like amount of power a small AC motor can produce vs a small DC motor.

I'm betting on this being a major reason.

 

[liliysdad]

This is completely false.

Milwaukee fucked over 10's of thousands of contractors and many more with their short lived V-18 and V-28 experiments LED than 20 years ago.

You can buy v18 Li-Ion batteries brand new from Milwaukee at this very moment....