Impact driver 1/2" square adaptors. Max torrque??

[uart]

This thread concerns those 1/4" hex driver to 1/2" (or 3/8") square adaptors, like this type of thing: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000YQ341C/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Looking at some recent threads here I see that some people mostly use their (electric) impact driver as an impact wrench using one of these adaptors.

I was just wondering how much torque that the poor little 1/4 hex part can actually handle. I know that newer impact drivers themselves are getting more torque capable, but just question what kind of limit the 1/4" hex shank could generally handle.

 

[bobcatdan]

If it is a quality bit, it should hold up just fine. The drive size makes no difference on what the impact can put out. So if a 1/4" adapter doesn't break then the 1/2" shouldn't either.

 

[uart]

So if a 1/4" adapter doesn't break.

Yep, that's the question. How much torque can a 1/4" hex shank take before twisting or breaking?

 

[AP514]

ask Dewalt ?

 

[uart]

ask Dewalt ?

At this point I'm just looking for other people's experience with these things.

Is there anyone here who successfully uses an adaptor like this to bust loose wheel nuts for example?

 

[franzdom]

That shaft is definitely torque limiting, not worried about it breaking though.
My M12 Fuel hex driver is only rated to 100 lb-ft or so, I don't think it's going to take lug nuts off with this adapter. I doubt you are going to be able to do it with pretty much any driver with that adapter.

 

[PBCampbell]

I have taken lug nuts off but I was just goofing around. I doubt these have the power to seriously damage the attachments they're designed to use. I do question using an impact driver when one should be using an impact wrench though. The impact driver was just adequate on relatively clean lugs and I would think will wear quickly doing that type of work regularly.

 

[Larch]

I have a rigid and a craftsman 1/4" impact driver that I use a 3/8" adapter on. I have a few different brands of said adapters, stanley being one. I have not twisted one yet, I don't believe there is enough torque to do it. The Rigid has around 100 fpt and the craftsman is just a little less, not enough to feel the difference. That is what it is rated, I have a hard time believing that there is that much. But anyhow, I would not worry about twisting a bit, these little impact driver are great for light duty work but anything that is rusted on requires the impact gun, or a socket and ratchet.

 

[Ruger_556]

They actually hang on pretty good. I've only broken one

 

[Darius6t9]

I have broken a few of those adapters. But still running on my last purchase of them which is a dewalt. Still running strong so far. As for taking off lugnuts that depends on the driver. My dewalt driver I use (I know, shouldn't use it for that. But it is the most versatile one for what I do.) will not remove lugnuts. I'm pretty sure it has some to do with the adapter. Since my driver is rated at about 124 ft-lbs. I use mine mostly with the 1/4" shank to 1/4" square drive adapter though. Only use 3/8" and 1/2" adapters when I already have the bolts/nuts loose and just need to get them on/off quicker.

 

[uart]

Thanks for the feedback on their usage.

I bought a couple of those adaptors when I got my first impact driver just a few months ago, but haven't used it (the adaptor that is) very much. When I first got it tried it out (with the 1/2" adaptor) on my car's lug nuts but they wouldn't budge, so I haven't tried it on much since then. It didn't really feel like the right tool for the job anyway.

I have used the impact a fair bit with nut driver (setter) bits though, these are hex shank so they fit straight in. I like using these better than using the adaptor but I've only got up to 13mm maximum in these, so the adaptor was really just in case I need the larger sizes.

 

[littletoes]

I would say those type of tiny adaptors are made for "nut runners", not impact drivers. I couldn't imagine using them to bust lug-nuts loose, without breaking them fairly soon.

Right tool for the job comes to mind... Good Luck!

 

[56FordGuy]

I've broken two of the Milwaukee 1/4" to 1/2" drive adapters on my Fuel impact driver removing 3/8" lag bolts.

 

[DeliveryGuy]

I've only broken one of those 1/2" Dewalt adapters in 6 years of using them every day. I've broken several no-name (non impact?) ones, though. All I use them for is assembling garage doors, so, 5/16 and 3/8 bolts, and 5/16"x1-1/2" wood lag screws with the Dewalt 20v impact driver. I change the tires on the company car with this driver, too. 100 ft-lbs wheel lugs are no problem for those little adapters.

 

[rcjoy]

The DeWalt 1/2" adapter is suppose to be rated to 2000 in-lb, or about 166 ft-lb, which is surprisingly high.

 

[rider9195]

I have used all the DeWalt adapters for my impact drivers (1/4, 3/8, 1/2) on my Porter Cable 18V driver and my new Milwaukee M18 driver (non fuel version).

They all have held up great for the amount I use them. Especially the 1/4". I use it daily at work and school.

 

[bobbycos]

i got the HF set , 1/4 3/8 1/2, and use them as nut runners and have had good luck with them so far

i would check into the Dewalt when i go back to either HD or Lowes

 

[firebox40dash5]

I broke several Dewalts and a couple Milwaukee Shockwaves with my old Makita brushless, I think it was rated 120 ft. lbs. or so? Usually doing something dumb like lug nuts and just hammering away, but at least a couple broke doing light work afterwards.

IMO good for maybe occasional use or for stuff like the GM hubcaps with a big hex you'd have in 1/2" but low torque. Much else and you're better off with a real square drive gun. On top of breaking you really lose a ton of torque flexing that hex shaft.

 

[Voi]

I've only broken one of those 1/2" Dewalt adapters in 6 years of using them every day. I've broken several no-name (non impact?) ones, though. All I use them for is assembling garage doors, so, 5/16 and 3/8 bolts, and 5/16"x1-1/2" wood lag screws with the Dewalt 20v impact driver.

Just curious but why do you use a socket with an adapter vs. a magnetic nut driver like this?

Are there too many types of hex head sizes with all the different fasteners involved in hanging a garage door, meaning too many nut drivers to carry and keep track of?

I driven a lot of lags both ways and prefer to use the nut driver whenever possible.

 

[devoncoolman]

I have a 3/8 battery impact so no worries there. But my buddies at work use dewalt 18v 1/4 impact drivers and those guys have broken all sorts on adapters including snap-on. So yes they break. But i believe they break because they sit there and hammer on something when it wont come instead of stoping and loosening it by hand. I believe the constant impacting is what breaks them. So if u use them i would try to refrain from sitting and hammering on it for long periods of time.

 

[DeliveryGuy]

Just curious but why do you use a socket with an adapter vs. a magnetic nut driver like this?

Are there too many types of hex head sizes with all the different fasteners involved in hanging a garage door, meaning too many nut drivers to carry and keep track of?

I driven a lot of lags both ways and prefer to use the nut driver whenever possible.

Yeah, I use the magnetic nut driver bits, too. But, they can't fully replace sockets, because they can't spin a nut down onto bolt without bottoming out way too soon. Nutsetters bigger than 1/2" are very rare. So, I need sockets for 9/16" and up hex bolts.

A typical install for me uses 5/16, 3/8 or 7/16 nutdriver bits for self drilling screws, 7/16 and 1/2 sockets for nuts and bolts.