Impact wrench recommendations?

[saturdaymechanic]

Looking to get my first one.

I would use it for home DIY jobs such as taking off the wheels when changing brakes/oil etc. I remember when we built my brother's deck, I could have used one (his buddy had one, loved it). Basically add it to my garage and tool collection.

Been reading about the different models and features. I want a cordless one, not sure if I like the rocker switch (thoughts on this?) looking for enough torque to handle DIY jobs in my garage. (I will get an impact driver at a later date)

I have the 18v Dewalt system with the older nicd batteries, but would upgrade to the new lithium batteries. (question: can I substitue new lithium 18v batteries in my Dewalt tool?)

Asking for your recommendations:

Hitachi WR18DL (great reviews so far)

Dewalt DC820KA (questionable power and the older batteries. Also not sure about the pin that needs to be depressed to release the socket)

Makita

I love the Ingersol-Rand 20V, just too steep at $400.

Thanks GJ!

Any other models you would recommend?

 

[itguy08]

I'm partial to Milwaukee so I'd go with this to start off:

http://www.toolbarn.com/milwaukee-2652-22.html

Comes with the high capacity batteries so you'd be all set for any future tools. The batteries alone are worth over $200 in that kit.

You could also upgrade at a later date to the high torque unit :
http://www.toolbarn.com/milwaukee-2662-20.html

That thing makes some serious power!

 

[Dubbydoo]

I'm in the same boat looking for a good impact gun not sure guns with 200flbs or less would be good enough though for working on cars. I may bite the bullet and get the newer IR gun

 

[saturdaymechanic]

The Milwaukee high torque one looks good. I really like the new IR 20v one.

After further reading, it seems the Dewalt may not have enough torque for the lug nuts.

What about the Hitachi? Thoughts?

 

[shampoop]

Cheap 20ish gallon air compressor and a harbor freight impact gun. Cheap, powerful, and versatile. Can add on many different tools.

GOOD electric impacts are expensive, the batteries don't have that long of a lifespan no matter how often you use them, and the tools are bulkier and heavier than air tools.

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

I have the Bosch 18v impact and have nothing but praise for it. I believe it claims 500ft/lb torque and I use it for everything I had used my 2135Ti for previously and it has never disappointed.

I'd probably look past the Hitachi, per the specs on Amazon it only has 162.5ft/lb torque and IMO would be a little weak for general usage.

I'd look between the Milwaukee, Bosch, IR, or one of the newer Snap-On guns. I'd probably look past anything with less than 400ft/lb torque unless you're looking for a compact bodied impact.

 

[Danglerb]

Nothing touches the Craftsman C3 on the budget end, good batteries and it seems to take off lug nuts fine. IR seems like the top model for torque, and maybe Milwaukee in the middle.

I have air and a HF Earthquake, so no need for me to go beyond the C3 yet.

 

[itguy08]

Nothing touches the Craftsman C3 on the budget end, good batteries and it seems to take off lug nuts fine. IR seems like the top model for torque, and maybe Milwaukee in the middle.

If you have any future plans for an 18v system, I'd go with the Ryobi. They have the same specs and are almost the same tool as they are both made by TTI.

I've got a bunch of the C3 tools and would not do it again as Sears seems to be trimming the line. They are discontinuing a bunch of the tools (fan, inflator, stapler, paint sprayer, spiral saw, etc) and not releasing new tools. As my C3 stuff dies, I'm replacing it with M18 Milwaukee tools.

 

[Danglerb]

I'm doing the opposite, when the C3 stuff gets clearanced I plan to buy more of them cheap.

Then I plan to skip a generation of cordless until the brushless stuff gets reasonable.

 

[saturdaymechanic]

I see Milwaukee gets alot of support here. I have had only Dewalt and Craftsman power tools, some passed down from my father.

What is the model number of the Bosch one that is recommended? Milwaukee? There seems to be multiples of each.

Here's a question: can I use the new lithium batteries in my 18v drill that came with the nicd ones?

Thanks for the advice GJ. Looks like it's between the Milwaukee, Bosch or the IR (the price may hold me back)

 

[pipsters]

If all you are looking to do is take of lug nuts you don't need to spend $200+ to do that. Any regular old 1/2" impact will do that, in fact the newer generation 1/4" impact drivers can even do that...

 

[saturdaymechanic]

Taking off the wheels would be the main job, but I can see other times when I could have used one.

I'm a DIY home garage guy, but I'm also a tool guy. Who doesn't love new tools?

I like the freedom of cordless, I don't have a compressor. In the end, I want a bad *** impact...that I can afford and reasonably justify it's use.

I do appreciate the replies fellas, I'm still looking.

 

[Subyroo651]

I have the DC820 with Lithium-Ion and have used it for Automotive work.
Most times it was " I'll try it with this but have the breaker bar near by"
I works great for speeding up assembly and disassembly but doesn't have enough torque to bust tough things loose. Lug nuts can be a chore for it unless they were torqued to spec. Another downside is the size of the unit, the upper part is nice small and compact which is great but its offset by the relative bulk of the battery. So its no good for tight spots ether..

So don't make my mistake, get a smaller 3/8 battery impact if you want for underhood work but for anything else just go with Air. I m doing that now after a year of battery frustration.

If it must be battery still, then check out the Ingersoll Rand W7150(Lots of opinions but still the best battery 1/2") or W5130(1/2"Compact) & W5120(3/8" Compact)

 

[Dubbydoo]

I have the DC820 with Lithium-Ion and have used it for Automotive work.
Most times it was " I'll try it with this but have the breaker bar near by"
I works great for speeding up assembly and disassembly but doesn't have enough torque to bust tough things loose. Lug nuts can be a chore for it unless they were torqued to spec. Another downside is the size of the unit, the upper part is nice small and compact which is great but its offset by the relative bulk of the battery. So its no good for tight spots ether..

So don't make my mistake, get a smaller 3/8 battery impact if you want for underhood work but for anything else just go with Air. I m doing that now after a year of battery frustration.

If it must be battery still, then check out the Ingersoll Rand W7150(Lots of opinions but still the best battery 1/2") or W5130(1/2"Compact) & W5120(3/8" Compact)

but is the W5130 with only 190flbs enough for under hood work? I also do alot of suspension work.

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

If all you are looking to do is take of lug nuts you don't need to spend $200+ to do that. Any regular old 1/2" impact will do that, in fact the newer generation 1/4" impact drivers can even do that...

I'm not sure about impact drivers; I've got a Hitachi 18V lithium impact driver and while it'll pull the lug nuts off my fourwheeler without issue, I'm not sure it would do much for car or truck lug nuts that haven't been loosened in a while.

Unless the portability of having a battery is a major requirement, you might want to look at some of the corded 1/2" impacts. Significantly more power, less expensive, and you don't need to worry about warranty and support for batteries.

 

[Subyroo651]

but is the W5130 with only 190flbs enough for under hood work? I also do alot of suspension work.

I would think so yes, even my DC820 does well under the hood in places where there is enough room to use it. You might want to check out the thread here on the forthcoming Milwaukee Fuel Impacts..

I would say the W5130 is comparable to the DC820 but slightly better I m sure.
The W7150 is substantially larger but it is in a whole other league, it makes mad torque.

 

[#1SomeGuy]

Almost all 18v dewalt tools are interchangeble, so you can use some of it.

I have the dw823 3/8" for under hood work that does a great job on smaller stuff and then a dw059 for lugs and bigger stuff. Its not a substitute for the air impact but when swapping tires it does the job no problem.

 

[firebox40dash5]

I'm not sure about impact drivers; I've got a Hitachi 18V lithium impact driver and while it'll pull the lug nuts off my fourwheeler without issue, I'm not sure it would do much for car or truck lug nuts that haven't been loosened in a while.

I occassionally use my Makita BL for it, when I have to. It'll do non-rusty car lugs no problem. If they're rusty, or crazy torqued like an 8-lug, it's not so hot, and no matter what it better have a full battery.

Still, can't beat it for versatility. +1 on the corded 1/2" idea, especially if paired with a cordless impact driver. Too many places I can't even get a 1/2" air impact into, let alone a cordless or huge corded one, to want one for my only option.

 

[saturdaymechanic]

I think it may be the Milwaukee M18 2663-20. The specs say it has 450 ft/lbs. It has a nice weight and feel in hand.

Since I'm also looking for an impact driver, I may just go with the M18 system with red lithium batteries. We'll see.

Thanks again for the replies.

 

[itguy08]

Cool. Let us know how you like it - it may be my next addition to my M18 arsenal. Only other thing I could suggest is if you get a kit, make sure it has the XC batteries. I got them when I got the M18 Fuel Hammerdrill and the batteries alone in the kit are worth over $200....

 

[5mall5nail5]

I have Craftsman C3 and love them. I don't care if an inflation tool or a fan is eliminated... they're stupid to begin with! They aren't removing them from their line because they're trimming the line down to nothing, they're removing them because they're silly.

 

[shoturtle]

how much do you want to spend for an Li Ion impact gun. They get very expensive pass 300ft/lb torque

This is the bosch big boy 18v impactor made by the swiss, with 500ft/lb torque

http://www.cpotools.com/bosch-iwht1...id=bosch-cordless-impact-drivers-and-wrenches

 

[itguy08]

I have Craftsman C3 and love them. I don't care if an inflation tool or a fan is eliminated... they're stupid to begin with! They aren't removing them from their line because they're trimming the line down to nothing, they're removing them because they're silly.

It's more than an inflation tool or fan. They have eliminated:
1 full size high power drill (I had one and it was great)
2 Spiral saw
3 wet/dry vacuum
4 lights - I've got an awesome c3 fluorescent
5 the 4 port charger - got that too and it rocks
6 paint sprayer
7 stapler
8 radio
9 others I can't remember

The strange thing is that the c3 is the same as Ryobi One and all those are still available there.

 

[GSteg]

The C3 wet/dry vacuum is still available.

They also discontinued the chemical sprayer, which was something I really wanted. The fan was not too bad, but I went with a Ryobi. They've fixed all the flaws of the older model. Another tool to go was the cordless planer.

 

[itguy08]

The C3 wet/dry vacuum is still available.

Did not know that. When I went to sears and searched on C3 it didn't come up.

 

[saturdaymechanic]

how much do you want to spend for an Li Ion impact gun. They get very expensive pass 300ft/lb torque

This is the bosch big boy 18v impactor made by the swiss, with 500ft/lb torque

http://www.cpotools.com/bosch-iwht1...id=bosch-cordless-impact-drivers-and-wrenches

Bosch is up there on my list as well. In fact their 18v system is.

But the one thing I don't like is the high torque wrench is so damn big. The Milwaukee is more compact with some serious power.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

I have the 18v smaller Dewalt listed in the original post. Absolutely love it, but it won't do you any good breaking lugs loose. It's made my life easier, but still have to crack them with a breaker bar before zipping them off.

 

[LarrynKy]

I bought myself for Xmas the new Craftsman 1/4" bit electric impact. It was $70. I am tiring of all the cost of batteries and thought I would try this. I am usually around electric anyway and wouldn't find it inconvenient. It is advertised at 1,500 in/lbs. I will try it on Dec 25th!

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

Craftsman C3 Impact wrench. I use it on the race car all the time. lots of off/on with the lug nuts. Even my 7y/o Ni-Cad batteries last a reasonaable amount of time. I have lots of the other tools too and like almost all of them. One of the best is the hedge trimmer. The leaf blower hasn't proven itself yet. I probably have ten or twelve C3 19.2volt tools. The whole system is great. I'm a regularly using hobbyist.

 

[GSteg]

Did not know that. When I went to sears and searched on C3 it didn't come up.

Just search "Craftsman C3 vacuum"

I have one and it's great. Runtime isn't great with the older lithium, but it rocks with the new 4.0AH battery.

 

[cheechi]

Bosch is up there on my list as well. In fact their 18v system is.

This might be helpful
Bosch haven't brought their brushless to market yet but if you want to wait, it's going to be pretty worth it. I have their current impact driver and it pulls my car's lugs off.

paint sprayer
...
The strange thing is that the c3 is the same as Ryobi One and all those are still available there.

Is the paint sprayer the same as the current Ryobi 18v? Do you have experience with it and if so, what is it good for? Been thinking of getting the Ryobi, sometimes I need better than a rattle can but haven't needed enough to get a whole paint setup yet.

 

[itguy08]

Is the paint sprayer the same as the current Ryobi 18v? Do you have experience with it and if so, what is it good for? Been thinking of getting the Ryobi, sometimes I need better than a rattle can but haven't needed enough to get a whole paint setup yet.

I do not have either version. Missed out on the Craftsman before they discontinued it.

 

[the1nonlyjl]

Looking to get my first one.

I would use it for home DIY jobs such as taking off the wheels when changing brakes/oil etc. I remember when we built my brother's deck, I could have used one (his buddy had one, loved it). Basically add it to my garage and tool collection.

Been reading about the different models and features. I want a cordless one, not sure if I like the rocker switch (thoughts on this?) looking for enough torque to handle DIY jobs in my garage. (I will get an impact driver at a later date)

I have the 18v Dewalt system with the older nicd batteries, but would upgrade to the new lithium batteries. (question: can I substitue new lithium 18v batteries in my Dewalt tool?)

Asking for your recommendations:

Hitachi WR18DL (great reviews so far)

Dewalt DC820KA (questionable power and the older batteries. Also not sure about the pin that needs to be depressed to release the socket)

Makita

I love the Ingersol-Rand 20V, just too steep at $400.

Thanks GJ!

Any other models you would recommend?

Ir, Bosch, and Milwaukee...not necessary to invest soo much $$$ based on what you are looking for. Those are for commercial use...I mean every day. Muscle out the torque doesnt mean sh*t. You driving in rig truck on road all day playing in traffic? if no...For home use, I say craftsman impact wrench with latest batteries...the 4.0 amp ones... You are all good or kobalt with 300 lbs. It busted the suspensions of my dodge ram like a piece of cake. So your call. If you are mainly gonna do tyre changes, I would go with either cman or kobalt.

 

[shoturtle]

+1 on what pathfinderdude said.

If you are using it around the house, you really do not need a 300ft/lb torque inpact wrench in the 400+ dollar range. It is way over kill, and if you are not careful, you will rip off the heads of some fastener if you are not paying attention.

 

[saturdaymechanic]

Great suggestions fellas. I also want an impact driver, so I would want to keep it in the same system.

I will check out the CMan C3 and Kobalt. I also see I can pick up the bare tool driver cheap once I have a system. The Milwaukee 2650-20 is around $100 bare tool. Do I need all that power? Probably not, but why not for the just in case?

If the main job is taking off wheels for brake/oil jobs and a stubborn fastener for the just in case times (like my driver side strut top nut last summer), what ft/lbs range should I be looking for? We have an Altima and a Murano at home.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[shoturtle]

Well if you want to have an impact driver the cheap way, go to lowes an get the 1/2 inch to 1/4 driver adapter form dewalt. It is like 15 dollars. I have it for my 1/2 impact wrench. And it make the unit into a drver as well.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001BZ9YZU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

But for what you are looking to do, you do not need a 400 dollar wrench. A good wrench with 200ft/lb is all you really need. And they are much more compact and lighter then the +300ft/lb units. And save you good sum of money as well.

 

[cheechi]

If the main job is taking off wheels for brake/oil jobs and a stubborn fastener for the just in case times (like my driver side strut top nut last summer), what ft/lbs range should I be looking for? We have an Altima and a Murano at home

roughly in the 100-200 ft-lb range, but more specifically you could look up the lug torque spec and add 50% to the top of it, again that's a rough estimate to count on breaking it free. My Bosch 25618 with a square adapter breaks the lugs off my 92 Sentra & 98 Frontier. I don't live where it gets cold enough for them to really rust though.

To the people who recommend not spending as much, fine with me. Lots of people recommend the Ryobi 18v impacts.

 

[shoturtle]

I have the slightly more powerfull Bosch 24618-1 with 133ft/lb of torque and it brakes my VW and BMW lugs without issues. And they are rated at 90 and 100ft/lb. And with the dewalt impact driver adapter, it has now issues driving any thing I need it to around the house. But I love the fact the thing is so compact, that it gets into places other larger 18v impactor will not get into, and 12v impactor just do not match the power.

But in the 100-200ft/lb range there are allot of good Li Ion impactor out there. Hitachi, makita are other brands to consider as well as the C3, kolbalt, and rigid.

 

[theknurl]

i have no battery powered tools*
CP 1/2" air impact 425 lb/ft
CP 3/8" air impact ? lb/ft

Swench Wrenches by Curtiss-Wright
Mod. 500 1/2" 500 lb/ft
Mod. 750 3/4" 800 lb/ft

*vibrators are toys

 

[cheechi]

*vibrators are toys

Even there, cordless just isn't as powerful as corded. Upgrade to the Hitachi.