Impact. Cordless vs Air

[BHH]

Looking to get a Impact wrench / gun and I am wondering if I should go with an Air one or a 18V cordless one.

It will be a Snap-On and I know that both are very powerful.

What are the upside and downside of both? I know that the cordless one is way more expensive, but it is all said and done no need for hose and compressor.

Thanks!

 

[Thedroid]

I really like the 3/8 cordless i picked up a few months ago. Plenty of power, good battery life, and all around one of the best tools I've ever bought. Very useful and convenient.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

Battery power has limited use. (Power/Time/Space)

 

[sabercatt]

i have both 3/8 and 1/2 snap on cordless impacts, and rarely ever pull out an air powered impact. Battery life is excellent and the power is very good. Way easier than dragging around a hose for 99% of the things I do. The only air impact I typically use is my 3/4, but those are for much larger jobs. Not sure what your going to be using it for, but I'm sure you'll be happy with the cordless.

 

[BHH]

I really like the 3/8 cordless i picked up a few months ago. Plenty of power, good battery life, and all around one of the best tools I've ever bought. Very useful and convenient.

Does the 14V have enough power to change a set of tires or would you need the 18V 1/2" ?

(that is probably a retarded question)

 

[greasemonkey44]

i have both and they both have thier uses
if i had to do without, id be without cordless if that helps
cordless is great, but heavy cumbersome and limited run times

 

[wannab20hatch]

I love my snap on 3/8 cordless impact. I've used it to remove lug nuts before mostly on cars. Trucks and suvs I get out the 1/2. I use my cordless stuff so much I actually sold my air impacts.

 

[472scout]

If you're not going to be using your cordless every week or so I would go with air.

 

[BHH]

I just need to know if the 3/8" would be able to remove the lug nuts on a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Thanks for all the replies so far, seems like cordless has come a long way.

 

[Thedroid]

It removes them on my car, but I would prefer the 1/2 for lug nuts.

 

[Hammer1963]

Does the 14V have enough power to change a set of tires or would you need the 18V 1/2" ?

(that is probably a retarded question)

Both the 14.4 volt Snap-on and the 14.4 volt Matco 3/8" impacts will change tires all day long. I actually have one of each and they are both great tools. This is an investment you'll be glad you made.

 

[LGMechanical]

I use the 18v makita 3/8 impact wrench rated at 155lbs. I go for the air impact for anything tighter than that.

 

[ECP]

I have the Blue Point 3/8" 14.4v impact. Snap-On site says it delivers 140ft/lbs. I tried breaking a lugnut loose when I first got it just to see if it could..... and it can't.

It's great for me in my trade (collision). It'll do bumper bolts, seat belts, doors, seats etc all day and takes a good beating.... but for tires or bed bolts; I reach for my MG725 (810ft/lbs).

If you're doing tires alot, and can afford it... IMO get the S-O 18v 1/2".

 

[Danglerb]

Its convenient sometimes not to fire up the air compressor, but I can't see doing much with cars or trucks without some kind of air compressor and air tools.

 

[BHH]

So if the 14.4 is rated up to 150ft/lbs and the Jeeps should only be tightened to 110ft/lbs than it should have no problem taking them off right?

 

[dankicksass]

Bosch 18v and IR Titanium.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

i like air just for the fact that i've never had a battery last as long as i think it should.

 

[Black89LX]

I like snap-on's 3/8 impact a lot more than the 1/2 for a couple reasons. the 1/2" is so big and I find that you have to use an extension most of the time as it does not fit where an air powered 1/2 will. also the 1/2 lithium is junk in my book. we have both at my school and we are starting to have problems with the lithium powered batteries. they will turn really slow when you pull the trigger with no restriction and once you put a load on it the gun does not even hammer... you have to hit the battery and then it will work. it happens on both the drill or impact gun. we havent had our snap-on rep take a look at it yet and I dont know if this is a common problem but all of our 18V lithium batteries do it now. (battery power can be at full and it still does it)

so if you decide on the 1/2" go with the non lithium battery. the 3/8 is plenty strong for most projects.

 

[shampoop]

Electric is good for small stuff. The larger the size, the more limited the advantages become. My electric impact driver is awesome because of the convenience, speed, and extremely fine power control. I can do things much faster and don't have to worry about stripping or breaking anything.

The giant half inch ones I think are only really good for times where using an air compressor really doesn't work, or if you don't have space for one, etc. I dislike the weight and bulk of them. Plus the ones with as much power as air guns are very expensive and large.

 

[sberry]

I have 2 battery units, they have their place but in the shop for tire/wheel work and most other things air,,, likely a CP or IR these days but you can regulate air and with experience you can learn feel for torque, the battery ones are quick and its hard to tell how hard they are really hitting.

 

[ert01]

I have the 18v makita with the 1/2" drive and lithium batteries and I LOVE it for working on my jeep. Rarely do I come across a bolt it won't budge. It does almost everything and is a very small and light impact. For anything that needs more power I use my big breaker bar.

I do have a 1/2" and a 3/4" drive IR air impacts and I find that I just don't use them anymore. They just collect dust nowadays.

 

[cundifc]

I have both the 3/8 and 1/2. The 1/2 gun will do lug nuts on my f450 shop truck. Hardly ever use the air impact anymore because I don't work in a shop and the compressor on my truck is a pain in the ***. Got to start it up, make sure it has gas which it never does, get a hose and all that. Snap on cordless all the way

 

[ephotrod]

If i was to only have one I would go with air for several reasons:
1. A compressor can be used for many tools, clean and air up tires
2. Overall cost over the useful life of the tool is lower with air
3. The size makes a difference and air is fairly smaller

Josh

 

[nitropowered]

Another suggestion is the Milwaukee M18 1/2" 450ft/lbs

 

[muibubbles]

both. i have a blue point 14v 3/8 use for everything on the car. 1/2 HF air for the big daddy things.

cant remember if the 14v is good enough for lugs, i always a breaker bar for rims...

 

[cundifc]

both. i have a blue point 14v 3/8 use for everything on the car. 1/2 HF air for the big daddy things.

cant remember if the 14v is good enough for lugs, i always a breaker bar for rims...

The so 3/8 should do small cars lugs

 

[shampoop]

So if the 14.4 is rated up to 150ft/lbs and the Jeeps should only be tightened to 110ft/lbs than it should have no problem taking them off right?

No. If you just torqued them recently, then yes it will be able to remove them. But the longer the lug nuts stay on the vehicle the more and more force will be required to remove them. Also, deep sockets, wheel lock keys, and extensions reduce the amount of torque that actually reaches the fastener.

So the simple answer is sometimes, but it's definitely not guaranteed. Even my 3/8" IR titanium air impact gun is rated at 300 ft/lbs and still sometimes cannot remove standard 19 and 21mm lug nuts for one reason or another.

 

[aloxdaddy99]

I have the 26v Milwaukee 1/2" and love it. I use it to take the lugs off of my GMC Sierra with no problems. The battery life is pretty long. I can rotate my tires without having to worry about changing a battery.

 

[472scout]

These DIY guys always talking about buying a cordless just for lug nuts I don't get. Is it really worth 4 or 500 dollars just to save yourself 15 minutes a couple times a year? Especially the ones that already have air tools. How many times have we seen batteries fail in 2-3 years and usually just after the warranty expires? IF the batteries were guaranteed to last 7-10 years than maybe. Now the guys that use cordless every week I can understand, but I suspect that an awful lot of these cordless are just sitting on a bench for weeks and months at a time. Maybe I'm strange but I would think dropping that $500 in an IRA or against the mortgage makes a hell of a lot more sense. Soapbox off.

 

[Marlin]

Check out the link below.

 

[LGMechanical]

Check out the link below.

780lbs? Can't be.

 

[Marlin]

780lbs? Can't be.

Sure can, I've seen it / run it.

 

[BHH]

These DIY guys always talking about buying a cordless just for lug nuts I don't get. Is it really worth 4 or 500 dollars just to save yourself 15 minutes a couple times a year? Especially the ones that already have air tools. How many times have we seen batteries fail in 2-3 years and usually just after the warranty expires? IF the batteries were guaranteed to last 7-10 years than maybe. Now the guys that use cordless every week I can understand, but I suspect that an awful lot of these cordless are just sitting on a bench for weeks and months at a time. Maybe I'm strange but I would think dropping that $500 in an IRA or against the mortgage makes a hell of a lot more sense. Soapbox off.

Not just for lug nuts. But want to be able to use it for that along with all the other things. Why buy two tools when you can do everything with 1?

 

[cundifc]

780lbs? Can't be.

How can they get that much power out of a battery? I bet that thing will be 700 bucks.

 

[Trey T]

I highly recommend "big box" brand 1/2" or 3/8" impact 18V as the batteries are a lot cheaper and more available online.

Get Lithium-Ion battery only.

 

[ert01]

These DIY guys always talking about buying a cordless just for lug nuts I don't get. Is it really worth 4 or 500 dollars just to save yourself 15 minutes a couple times a year? Especially the ones that already have air tools. How many times have we seen batteries fail in 2-3 years and usually just after the warranty expires? IF the batteries were guaranteed to last 7-10 years than maybe. Now the guys that use cordless every week I can understand, but I suspect that an awful lot of these cordless are just sitting on a bench for weeks and months at a time. Maybe I'm strange but I would think dropping that $500 in an IRA or against the mortgage makes a hell of a lot more sense. Soapbox off.

A few times a year? My wheels come off my jeep probably 3 times a month at a minimum. There are weekends where they go on and off 3 times in that one weekend.

The beauty of having a cordless impact is that you use the batteries and charger you already have for your cordless tool set. Dewalt, makita, Milwaukee... They all make great cordless tools and impacts. (just not the hex drive... Get a proper 1/2" drive.Those hex ones are useless except for doing self tapping screws at work).

I'm not saying air impacts ****. I still have mine. But for me when I'm crawling around under my jeep, having a tangled hose is not fun.

Plus I can take the cordless set with me on the trail. It makes trail repairs sooooo much faster.

 

[TimeWarpF100]

I have snap-on 1/4, 3/8 1/2 impacts. They just sit in drawer because I do not like them.
The newest Matco 1/2" cordless does 725 ft lbs costs around 600.00

Bar NONE the Ingersoll Rand impacts are in a league of their own. 30yrs ago working in a Mine the IR products had over 1500ft lbs in a 1" impact. more than double its next competitor.

For lug nuts you need a 1/2" drive unit as when coming off it takes much more torque to break them loose. Typical lug nuts today in 1/2" stud are 100lbs with f250 trucks 140lbs.

If price is a concern buy a good air impact but for being usefull the Matco and Ingersoll Rand cordless are very nice. Remember Snap-on now has factories across the pond for a big majority of their stuff.

Actually bought 5 items from the Matco guy a few days ago and 3 of them said China or Taiwan! Its all about money for them now and they could care less how long it lasts or how well it works.

 

[472scout]

A few times a year? My wheels come off my jeep probably 3 times a month at a minimum. There are weekends where they go on and off 3 times in that one weekend.

The beauty of having a cordless impact is that you use the batteries and charger you already have for your cordless tool set. Dewalt, makita, Milwaukee... They all make great cordless tools and impacts. (just not the hex drive... Get a proper 1/2" drive.Those hex ones are useless except for doing self tapping screws at work).

I'm not saying air impacts ****. I still have mine. But for me when I'm crawling around under my jeep, having a tangled hose is not fun.

Plus I can take the cordless set with me on the trail. It makes trail repairs sooooo much faster.

Yeah in your case I agree. Like I said if you're using it every week it has merit. In fact I was in the same boat as you, working on off road rigs all the time, out on the trail, plus going to the pick and pull once, twice a week.

 

[hyisbm]

it really depends on your situation. Those who really like their cordless are probably using them every day. Batteries are always on the charger plugged in from the get-go. Hearing everyone talk of how great these cordless tools are makes me want to pick up a set but then I think about it and wonder how often I even use my tools. Especially battery-operated ones. I'm actually concerned they are not being used enough and one day the batteries are just going to take a **** from it. I have to remember to charge my current cordless tools the night before or in the morning if I plan on using it. Whereas My air compressor is always full and ready to go if and when I need it. Also, although I have a basic set of tools for the car, I'm not going to take half my toolbox so I can do repairs on the side of the road.

 

[GSteg]

Check out the link below.

I'm a big fan of IR tools, but I have a hard time believing it's as powerful as the 2135timax. I still have the older IR cordless gun (2530K I believe?) and it was suppose to be the most powerful cordless impact at the time, or so the ad said. That thing struggled with bolts torqued to a little more than 100ftlbs. What's worse is I suggested a friend to buy one because he was tired of lugging around hoses and firing up his compressor just to rotate tires. His gun ended up not being powerful either so now both of our IR cordless guns are just sitting on the shelf. We ended up buying the Snap On CT6855 and it's been an awesome gun.

I would not hesitate to buy another IR air tool, but I'm very weary of the cordless stuff. This new W7150 looks tempting, but I don't want to end up buying another impact if the experience mirrors my first one.