Impact Driver

[Jmellc]

This is my 1/2 impact. It zips off my trucks lug nuts, Dad even used it to remove bushhog blades he was struggling to get free with a breaker bar.

And yes I use it to remove my lawnmower blades twice a year, and then use my 1/4 drive Bosch impact to drive them back on. I think I paid about $100 a couple years ago and it was worth the small investment, given that a similar Bosch tool only that would fit my battery system was about $270 at the time.

RYOBI ONE+ 18V Cordless 1/2 in. Impact Wrench Kit with 4.0 Ah Battery and Charger PCL265K1 - The Home Depot

Give a strong addition to your workstation with RYOBI ONE LITHIUMION CORDLESS IMPACT WRENCH KIT with Battery and charger.

www.homedepot.com

This is my 1/2 impact. It zips off my trucks lug nuts, Dad even used it to remove bushhog blades he was struggling to get free with a breaker bar.

And yes I use it to remove my lawnmower blades twice a year, and then use my 1/4 drive Bosch impact to drive them back on. I think I paid about $100 a couple years ago and it was worth the small investment, given that a similar Bosch tool only that would fit my battery system was about $270 at the time.

RYOBI ONE+ 18V Cordless 1/2 in. Impact Wrench Kit with 4.0 Ah Battery and Charger PCL265K1 - The Home Depot

Give a strong addition to your workstation with RYOBI ONE LITHIUMION CORDLESS IMPACT WRENCH KIT with Battery and charger.

www.homedepot.com

I ordered it as soon as I saw your post. Should get it tomorrow. If it works, I praise you. If not, it's all your fault.

 

[mike93lx]

I use my 1/4” impact driver a lot, I have a couple them but my fave is my 10ish year old Dewalt. One of the best tools I have ever owned.

I loved my 10 year old dewalt until I got new dewalt hydraulic impact.

The old one is now dead to me

 

[richfinn]

I have a Milwaukee m12 impact driver and an M18 mid torque impact wrench, both great tools. but I use them very differently.

The M12 is basically a small powerful screwdriver great for vehicle interiors/building furniture/dealing with lots of repetitive screwing tasks

The M18 is a fairly powerful but lightweight impact wrench for lug nuts/suspension bolts/engine pulleys/flywheel bolts

One other thing I use the M18 for regularly is freeing off seized up hardware, just soak plenty of your favorite penetrating oil onto the rusty mess turn the gun down to setting number 1 or 2 work it back and forth and it will eventually shake stuff free. (I can't tell you how many times it's saved me from drilling and tapping rotted out battery hold down bolts, but it's definitely worth having both).

 

[BombShelter]

I use my Makita 1/4" Impacts on everything first. Lug nuts can be a pain and I'll move up to a DeWalt 1/2" when needed. I break adapters once in a while with the 1/4" but who cares they're cheap. I'm a big fan of PB Blaster on anything that seems really stuck but the little impacts can be nice just to get some vibrations going to loosen the nut.

There should be a lot of sales coming up in the next month for most of these tools.

 

[joel63]

I bought my Matco off the truck back in 2012 and use them every day for almost everything. Many bolts, nuts under the hood can be handled by a .25" impact. I'm not talking alternator, water pump, power steering ****, but 10mm coil bolts, valve cover bolts, firewall and fender well bolts and battery clamps. The usefulness of this tool is a 10 on the professional level.
I do real work.
Zim

What ever works without abuse is right tool.

 

[fourjeepin]

I ordered it as soon as I saw your post. Should get it tomorrow. If it works, I praise you. If not, it's all your fault.

I recommend an adapter so you can run the Ryobi tools with your Ridgid batteries. Or Just stick with one battery platform.

 

[lund]

I used an adaptor.

1/4 hex to 1/2 or 3/8 drive adaptors do not work well. Most impacts will twist something like that into a pretzel and break it if significant torque is required. It is beyond the torsional strength of steel for the 1/4 hex cross-section. You also lose a good amount of the torque in the deformation process too making it more likely you hammer too long when it starts to yield and it will irreversibly twist and then break. Plus when the adaptor breaks, it can get stuck in the quick release chuck and you will have fun getting it out. I know all this because i used to use 1/4 hex for 3/8 and 1/2 auto applications before buying an impact with a 3/8 anvil (sometimes use with a 3/8 to 1/2 impact adaptor). The 3/8 anvil is way better for automotive use relative to the 1/4 hex. It is still compact and can fit in places, and transfers much more torque to stuck fasteners (I live in the rust belt) for higer torque work like suspension and exhaust system work. It was a big improvement to drop the 1/4 hex driver from automotive work. At first I thought I could avoid getting essentially the same thing as 1/4 hex with a 3/8 anvil. But at least in my case (DIY with a lot of car work), I use it enough where I have no regrets. It works well enough where now I only rarely use my 1/2 air impact + portable compressor (works fine and very compact but a pain to setup for brief uses).

 

[bornbadbob]

1/4 hex to 1/2 or 3/8 drive do not work well. Most impacts will twist something like that into a pretzel and break it. You lose a good amount of the torque in the deformation too. Plus when the adaptor breaks, it can get stuck in the quick release chuck and you will have fun getting it out. I know all this because i used to use 1/4 hex for 3/8 and 1/2 auto applications before buying an impact with a 3/8 anvil (sometimes use with a 3/8 to 1/2 impact adaptor). The 3/8 anvil is way better. It is still compact and can fit in places and gets much better torque for stuck fasteners (I live in the rust belt).

I just use the adapter to runs the nuts/bolts down . Tightens necessary after

 

[seber]

I used a 1/2" corded impact for lawn tractors for years. Getting underneath with a block and ratchet is stupidly difficult. Not to mention trying to keep the blade aligned with the shaft detents while holding the block and turning the wrench. You can pick up corded impacts at at yard sales and flea markets for twenty to forty dollars all day long. Plenty of torque for the purpose.

 

[Jmellc]

I used it this week, works like a charm. Nuts zipped right off. But getting socket on & off is an issue. Have to tap it on with a hammer & pry it off with a pry bar. Anyone else seen this issue?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I used it this week, works like a charm. Nuts zipped right off. But getting socket on & off is an issue. Have to tap it on with a hammer & pry it off with a pry bar. Anyone else seen this issue?

I've had the same issue. It gets better with use but still a bit of a pain.

 

[mike93lx]

I used it this week, works like a charm. Nuts zipped right off. But getting socket on & off is an issue. Have to tap it on with a hammer & pry it off with a pry bar. Anyone else seen this issue?

Probably just a tight hog ring that needs to get used a bit.

You could install a short extension then run sockets off that