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Hand Impact Driver Recommendations

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DadsTools

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I'm looking for some reasonably priced recommendations for a manual hand impact driver, one with a 3/8" drive stud and another in 1/2" drive (or I could use one with a drive adapter). I have a 3/8 and 1/2 I obtained at a yard sale a while back that have a "No. 2500" on both (no brand or COO), but to engage the internal cam you'd have to smash it with a 2lb mallet with a swing starting back over your shoulder! I can't even get the cam to engage by holding the anvil against the edge of the bench and leaning my entire weight into it--someone and something has to get hurt. I saw a Tool Time youtube video where the fellow used one applying only a reasonable striking force with a larger ball pein. It's only for DIY, and it may only get used a couple times a year, so I'm not looking to invest a lot.

What make would you recommend? Is the HF stuff good enough? Thanks!
 
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jobo1004

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Dave455

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My current favourite is a KoKen.

I have the 4112N in 1/2” drive, but 3/8 are available.

Not sure if they tick the box for “reasonably priced” where you are, but for me they are a lot less costly than, say, Snap On.

Cheaper option probably a Vessel, but I’ve got one of those and the KoKen is much better.

Got a cheapo “Made in Taiwan” that I was given, but frankly it’s rubbish and I don’t use it. Newer Taiwanese might be better.

Personally I don’t take risks with impact tools any more, and if I was buying another I’d pay up for the KoKen, however infrequently I was going to use it.

2C9CBB1F-54C4-4065-84BF-BFD6DE5B0B8F.jpeg
 
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dogdog

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dependents if you want it as a show tool... I have two or three sears craftsman ones (one is over 20 yo) and they are full metal body, and excellent quality, I think it's either OEM or Lisle tools. rebrand.. saying that , the HF one I think is also good especially you don't beat with it every day.. cheaper @$10 instead. They seems to have the recent new Quinn one at a bit more.
 
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Bannik254

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Have the Koken 4112G, works well on slotted and phillips screws and smaller fasteners. Tried using it for some really stubborn allen heads, thinking the downward jarring and impact would be the ticket, the over-molding tears your hands up, talking crazy rug burn. If I had to do it again, I would have gotten the 4112N instead.
 
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driftpin

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Vessel

KD

The one I use the most. I use it all the time, I work on motorcycles. I have two of these. I recommend 1/2" drive. Be sure to buy impact tips in multiples. I can recommend these:

VIM Tools Impact-8 Impact Quality S2 Bit Set - 8 Piece​

  • S2 High Alloy Steel bits, the strongest hardest bits available
  • 4 Phillips and 4 flat tip
  • Heat treated, R/C 56-62
  • Comes in a plastic holder High quality drive bits fit virtually all hand impact drive tools.
  • 5/16 shank bits
VIM Impact tips.png

Craftsman

Impact drivers-no-name.Vessel-KD-Craftsman.jpg
 
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Desertskyy

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I have had a Vessel impact driver for more than 35 years. I just used it the other day working on getting a few stuck bolts out on a trailer.

My wife asked what it was. I explained that it is to remove frozen screw/bolts/fasteners etc. and that you hit it with a hammer. I told her that it may not be used for years and may just sit in my tool box but when I need to use one it becomes priceless for getting the job done.
 
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WWheeler

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driftpin said:
Vessel

KD

The one I use the most. I use it all the time, I work on motorcycles. I have two of these. I recommend 1/2" drive. Be sure to buy impact tips in multiples. I can recommend these:

VIM Tools Impact-8 Impact Quality S2 Bit Set - 8 Piece​

  • S2 High Alloy Steel bits, the strongest hardest bits available
  • 4 Phillips and 4 flat tip
  • Heat treated, R/C 56-62
  • Comes in a plastic holder High quality drive bits fit virtually all hand impact drive tools.
  • 5/16 shank bits
VIM Impact tips.png

Craftsman

Impact drivers-no-name.Vessel-KD-Craftsman.jpg
Click to expand...

IIRC Vessel makes a good set of hand impact bits also that fit JIS better than VIM. Just sayin, might want to keep in mind especially if you're working on rice burners,
 
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garfieldzzz

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+1 for the KoKen 4112G. Worked fine for me so far, also with allen bits from Wera. Losend lately a oil drain plug which was about to strip with no issue and a 1 lbs hammer.
 
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Iridium rand

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Have an old KD at work and a gearwrench, pretty much all of them I’ve ever used worked the same, the gearwrench is like a polished chrome finish (not actually chrome I’m sure, impact tools generally don’t do that), much more pleasant to the touch Than the matte black coatings they usually have.

also recommend the vim bits, but they’re still a consumable especially the slotted bits you are going to break them occasionally if the screws are tight enough to require an impact
 
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boom_bap

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I’ve been eyeballing these too, was told the snap on is worth the extra. I wonder how it compares to lisle at double the cost.

I see the snapon 1/2 at 85 and lisle at 36. Maybe crazy expensive was looking at the set with bits.
 
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DadsTools

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Lots of good suggestions, thanks.

Can any of you good folks comment on how much striking force it takes to engage the inner cams on the units you favor? As I mentioned, the ones I have need heavy mallet + gorilla force to engage. It can't be like John Henry driving railroad spikes like the ones I have now that I mentioned in my OP. Thanks.
 
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JradM

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Williams. I had a Tekton that sucked (just slowly mashed screws without turning), then bought the Williams. Night and day difference. It actually turns.

Williams is also probably a lot more affordable than most of the options mentioned here. Mine works great, so I've never felt the need to "upgrade".
 
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Bockscar

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DadsTools said:
Lots of good suggestions, thanks.

Can any of you good folks comment on how much striking force it takes to engage the inner cams on the units you favor? As I mentioned, the ones I have need heavy mallet + gorilla force to engage. It can't be like John Henry driving railroad spikes like the ones I have now that I mentioned in my OP. Thanks.
Click to expand...
I don't know if soaking them in Transmission fluid might help loosen them up.....shouldn't be that hard.....you should be able to move it up and down with your hand pretty easily
 
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BlakeTheCarGuy

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Lisle is pretty good. I’ve had really good luck with my Tekton one. I’ve used it a lot for stuck rotors and stuff it does excellent and until it fails I’m not upgrading. I’ve got some vintage ones but I’m scared to use them cause I don’t want to ruin them lol.
 
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Steve_P

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I have an ancient HF Taiwan one that's a Vessel copy- works great. It's beat up, but still works fine, and 35 years old so I purchased a Lisle to replace it. I didn't like the Lisle as you have to "reset" the selector after every strike. WTF? Major design flaw! My Taiwan one doesn't require that. So I caved and purchased a Koken with the rubber grip; it's awesome, selector switch stays engaged, totally worth the $
 
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dnschmidt

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I have H. K. Porter, TOPTUL and Astro Pneumatic. Can't tell any difference between them. They are pretty simple tools. For Phillips screws I use a Vessel Impacta.
 
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driftpin

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My KD has been fixing stuck fasteners for > 50 years now, bought new, and still does the job. I use a good heavy ball pein hammer. Once in awhile I'll use a baby sledge. I've found that the 'chubby' body sometimes provides me with enough force to not need to strike it. I bought it out of a MI Yamaha dealership tool display case, after getting a referral from one of the guys who seemed to know what he was doing, and not just there to make a sale. He had educated me on some bone-headed mistakes when I was attempting to learn how to service my own ride.
 
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Indexmill

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A couple of "must do's" for hand impacts to work well:

  • Make freaking SURE that it is working in the desired direction!
  • Use the CORRECT bit for the fastener
  • Use at least a 3 lb hand sledge; no puny ball peins
  • Hold the driver square to the fastener, and as tight as you can against the fastener
  • Give it a good, swift, single smack with the little sledge
You fastener is loose (or tight).

The old Tiawan ones work just fine forever if you follow these rules.
 
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JradM

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Indexmill said:
Use at least a 3 lb hand sledge; no puny ball peins
Click to expand...

I use my big Nupla rubber deadblow. Probably amounts to the same thing (you want weight and momentum), but I’m curious now what hammer people are using. I figured the rubber face of the Nupla would keep my impact driver pretty.
 
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RTM

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I used a drilling hammer in the past. Once I got my dead blow hammers, I prefer them.
 
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D

DadsTools

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Well, guys, after much consideration, I decided to follow the recommendations for the Koken, broke down and shelled out the money. I bought the AG112A kit having the 1/2" 4112G with the rubber handle. Oh my, what a tool--does everything an impact driver is supposed to do with smooth and easy operation. There's not the slightest comparison to those old pieces of trash I mentioned in my OP. And you don't have to slam it with giant Thor mallets either. If anyone reading this thread is trying to decide what to get, I have to add my vote to the Koken crowd. No point in fighting with junk or roiling the dice. when it comes to these impact drivers. Spend the money--you'll be glad you did.

Thanks again guys for your suggestions!
 
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Smeeg

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Jun 20, 2022
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I broke a craftsmen specifically the adapter from 1/2” to 5/16”
Anyone know we’re to get just that adapter piece been meaning to source one
 
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