HF 1/2" Electric Impact Thoughts?

[strnjss]

I saw that the harbor freight 1/2" electric impact is on sale for $39.99, and was wondering what people thought about it?

Is it a good impact? It says it puts out 240 ft/lbs, which I don't think is very much (or is it?)

I have a really cheap air one, but it's a huge pain to break out my compressor if I need an impact.

I figure for $40, maybe this would be worth it, but I don't want to blow $40 if it's going to be a useless paperweight.

I appreciate any opinions you all have.

Or if you have any better electric impacts you know of for under $100, let me know too!

 

[SCscoutguy]

There are several reviews of it in the HF review thread. To me is the the absolute best HF purchase I have ever made. I have a Milwaukee corded impact that the HF one puts it to shame.

 

[Kirbot]

My brother have one that I've used a few times.
It's not very powerful, but it sure is convenient, well worth the price in my opinion.
Especially if you use one of their 20% off coupons you can find online.

 

[ADaughen]

I bought one to help bust some difficult nuts loose since my A/C isn't beefy enough.

My two foot 1/2" breaker bar does better.

For quick on/off it gets the job done, but those difficult bolts still require a breaker.

Still, $40 is cheaper than a capable A/C and a proper air impact.

 

[LEVE]

I favor it over my air impact gun. It's powerful enough for removing wheels as well as crankshaft bolts. That's good enough for me. I also used it building the garage and decks for driving large lag screws and bolts.

IMHO, it's a very good product for the price.

 

[pipsters]

I saw that the harbor freight 1/2" electric impact is on sale for $39.99, and was wondering what people thought about it?

Is it a good impact? It says it puts out 240 ft/lbs, which I don't think is very much (or is it?)

I have a really cheap air one, but it's a huge pain to break out my compressor if I need an impact.

I figure for $40, maybe this would be worth it, but I don't want to blow $40 if it's going to be a useless paperweight.

I appreciate any opinions you all have.

Or if you have any better electric impacts you know of for under $100, let me know too!

For $32 + tax ($40 + 20% off) I don't see how you can go wrong, air is nice but like you said kinda inconvenient some times, in fact if the sale is still on thru Tuesday I might go get one too.

 

[NJHandyGuy]

There are several reviews of it in the HF review thread. To me is the the absolute best HF purchase I have ever made. I have a Milwaukee corded impact that the HF one puts it to shame.

Really i returned mine. it was okay for the first 16 lugnuts but then i could feel the clutches starting to slip i had to takte of the left side tires with my ir gun

bad batch maybe???

for that reason i regret buying it

 

[Boost Creep]

i'm happy with mine so far. seems to do a decent job

 

[Chris_PT]

Im going to buy it and try it out. I am not hard on tools and am OCD about all my tools (from HF tools to Snap-on.....They all get the same treatment).

I can see it lasting a while in my box.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

I invested in one of these guns before I had an air gun and it works okay. the only thing that i really questioned on mine was if it really made 240ft-lbs. worth the money only for the convinience over air guns.

 

[rodm1]

I had an older one and used it for years for tire removal until it broke. I whose happy with it but if you have an air compressor go with that much better.

 

[mrholeshot]

At that price if you get a few years use it was worth it. I'd get the etended warranty

 

[strnjss]

Thanks for all the opinions, I went out an hour away to my closest HF today and picked one up along with a free multimeter (this one doesn't have the lead warning sticker! haha), free 6 piece screwdrivers, and almost free flashlight (they forgot to give it to me despite me giving them the coupon and them ringing it up for $0).

They wouldn't do the $39.99 coupon with the 20% off though, it was one or the other, and either way it was still $39.99. Still not a bad price!

It seems pretty decent on first impression. WAY bigger than I was expecting from the pictures.

In my hand it feels really strong, had to hold in between my feet to make it 'hammer'.

I haven't tried it on any fasteners yet, but I'm already pretty sure it's more powerful than my air one. I guess time will tell how good this thing really is!

 

[dulmer]

Ive had one for a couple of years...not the most powerful, but very handy

 

[dj spanners]

looks identical (barring the rocker switch) to my old black&decker wonder if b&d sold the tooling to the chinese once they discontinued this model,

 

[rayzor32]

I bought one and it sucked, its noisy and couldn't even take my lugnuts off that were torqued 100 ft lbs, I took it back.

 

[strnjss]

looks identical (barring the rocker switch) to my old black&decker wonder if b&d sold the tooling to the chinese once they discontinued this model,

You're right, that looks exactly the same! It's probably the same chinese factory pumping them out too

I bought one and it sucked, its noisy and couldn't even take my lugnuts off that were torqued 100 ft lbs, I took it back.

I think the power of these impacts must vary widely. From what I've read of people here, and on HF review site, some people say they're powerful, and zip off anything, while others like you seem to have gotten some weak ones. They probably keep their costs way down by just selling whatever pops out of the factory whether or not they are up to spec.

 

[Bustedwheel]

I bought one and it sucked, its noisy and couldn't even take my lugnuts off that were torqued 100 ft lbs, I took it back.

Have the same problem. My lugs are torqued to 88 ft lbs, and it won't remove them. Got it about a month ago. Sending it back. I also bought the torque limiting bars for lug nuts, and it won't crank them fully. had finish it with a regular torque wrench. I'll stop short of saying save your money and buy something else as others seem to be OK with it, but definitely save your receipt.