School me on impact drivers.

[SKAutomotive]

I want the best.

 

[DirtRoad]

No such thing

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

for like mazda and honda brake rotors?

 

[SKAutomotive]

Well, I will be doing that on the side, but for anything similar to those situations.

 

[Holt]

Milwaukee-Bosch- Makita you will not go wrong with either.

 

[SKAutomotive]

Milwaukee-Bosch- Makita you will not go wrong with either.

I think you misunderstand what I am looking for.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=674820&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[cundifc]

Could you hit one of those with an air hammer?

 

[SKAutomotive]

Better be able to for that price.

 

[mark52621]

Snap on makes the only one that works. All of the other brands I've used just lead to frustration.

 

[duneslider]

I have a Husky one someone gave me years ago and it works great. Can't say I have seen one thatis better than another though.

 

[ImportTuner]

Koken makes a great impact driver .. and a lot cheaper than Snap On ..

 

[SKAutomotive]

Snap on makes the only one that works. All of the other brands I've used just lead to frustration.

Unfortunately, I have been finding that too. I usually only need one whack on the SO version.

 

[kythri]

My Lisle works great. Made easy work of those stupid brake rotor screws on an Acura Legend.

 

[SKAutomotive]

I just looked up the Lisle, looks identical to the Husky we bought today to do brakes on a Civic. Damn thing didn't work at all. Borrowed a friend's Snappy and took it off in one shot.

 

[diesel research]

Could you hit one of those with an air hammer?

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=675907&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

http://www.braketools.com/brake-free.html

http://www.tooltopia.com/thexton-482.aspx

http://www.browntool.com/Default.as...1&Level=a&SortField=ProductName,ProductNumber


http://www.wivco.com/shake_n_break.htm

http://www.skygeek.com/aircraft-tool-supply-at540a-screw-knocker-10-in.html

 

[Conductor562]

Proto makes a nice one:

You can get the at Toolup and other places for $48

 

[kythri]

I just looked up the Lisle, looks identical to the Husky we bought today to do brakes on a Civic. Damn thing didn't work at all. Borrowed a friend's Snappy and took it off in one shot.

I don't know how the Snap-on one works, but the Lisle has a forward and reverse on it. Is it possible that you were tightening instead of loosening?

 

[SKAutomotive]

I adjusted it to loosen. I am wondering if the SO works so much better because it has a one piece socket bit and these others seem to use a bit that fits into a hex drive on top of the actual socket that rides on the driver.

 

[Bull]

I bought a vintage USA-made BluePoint one at the flea market for $5. I'm not being provocative, but really wondering if it will work less well than an expensive Snappy for $250 (part of that price being for the included bits, of course).

 

[SKAutomotive]

I bought a vintage USA-made BluePoint one at the flea market for $5. I'm not being provocative, but really wondering if it will work less well than an expensive Snappy for $250 (part of that price being for the included bits, of course).

Does the one you got come with socket bits or like the above named ones, has one socket with a hex cutout for bits?

 

[Skin]

Snap on makes the only one that works.

Sorry but you're just on the koolaid. The Lisle one works just fine for brake rotor screws. The only thing that leads to frustration is junk bits.

I adjusted it to loosen. I am wondering if the SO works so much better because it has a one piece socket bit and these others seem to use a bit that fits into a hex drive on top of the actual socket that rides on the driver.

Unless they've changed the design all of my older ones are designed the exact same way as the Snap-On, with the core being a square drive. Point is you can use either the bits via the adapter or stick bit sockets directly on. No need to buy the $60 snap-on version for that.

 

[Bull]

Does the one you got come with socket bits or like the above named ones, has one socket with a hex cutout for bits?

Well, to be honest it came with no bits, just the tool itself. 3/8 drive for whatever you want to use i.e. socket or 3/8 drive bit. I've only ever used it with impact sockets on bolts. But if I did use it with bits, side by side with the Snappy, would the Snappy just kick its old ***?

 

[SKAutomotive]

Well, to be honest it came with no bits, just the tool itself. I've only ever used it with impact sockets on bolts. But if I did use it with bits, side by side with the Snappy, would the Snappy just kick its old ***?

I don't think the driver itself is what makes the Snappy better, I think it's the bits. So to answer your question, no I don't think the Snappy would kick it's *** based on that.

Nevermind I see you said 3/8 on an edit.

 

[diesel research]

just get the pneumatic screw knocker and be done.

 

[Rezeppa]

Proto makes a nice one:

You can get the at Toolup and other places for $48

I have this impact driver it works great. I use it for stubborn Philips 3 heads on Takeuchi skid steer cab screws.

 

[lwlobo]

My Matco rocks, great bits, almost always loosens the fastener on the first hit. I'm sure the snap on is great, but it's definitely not the only working impact driver out there.

 

[Thunderbisciut]

I've got a Vessel 2500. You see them on Ebay all the time for around $5-10, which is a good price considering they sell for about $80 new. They were also sold under the Zomax name, but I've only seen one of those for sale. They have about 5 other models, rubber gripped, thin with long shanks, etc.

I've also used the Craftsman which looks exactly like the Proto pictured above. Neither have ever let me down.

 

[CJinPA]

I just bought the proto set at zoro tools.com for less than $40. Haven't used it yet but can't see why the snap on is that much better. Sure they use a dedicated socket bit for each size but I don't understand how that's really different than putting a bit in the driver. Aren't you essentially making the same thing?

 

[refried]

I have the Snap-On set and have been very happy with it, I've had it for at least 25 years and have broken some bits but the driver is still in great shape and works great. I do have another Impact driver that may have come from NAPA? that's useless, I have no idea why I have it or if I even do anymore, It's a waste of time using that one.
I have no idea what I paid for the Snap-On model, If I needed a tool, I bought it and worried about the price later, If it made my job easier and will last a lifetime it was worth the price.

 

[wornoutoldman]

You can find the SO set on ebay under a hundred bucks with regularity.

 

[padronanniversary]

I got a almost new SO on CL for $50. Just got to be patient. I see them come up every few months

 

[mvptrukin]

Well, to be honest it came with no bits, just the tool itself. 3/8 drive for whatever you want to use i.e. socket or 3/8 drive bit. I've only ever used it with impact sockets on bolts. But if I did use it with bits, side by side with the Snappy, would the Snappy just kick its old ***?

SO sold them in the '70's (and maybe B4) labeled with the SO name with a chrome like finish and then sometime in the '80's switched to labeling them with the Blue Point name with a black oxide finish--that is when I bought mine. Now they are back with the SO name--does having the Blue Point name on them make them different?---IMO No-same item # and same repair parts but maybe warranty. They can be hard on the chrome bit sockets (like sold in the set) so I use 3/8" drive impact bit holder sockets for 1/4" & 5/16" bits ( Wiha).
If you don't have air or a cordless impact they might still be useful but mine sits unused. They work by compressing a spring and then the hammer hit releases the stored energy and shocks the fastener. If I was to buy one today it wouldn't be from SO--this thread discusses many cheaper alternatives:
www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=177270&highlight=impact+driver

 

[yogitech]

I got the SO set linked to above for $30 at a pawn shop!! Works great, even better after looking up the price on the truck...

 

[SMKS]

Snap on makes the only one that works. All of the other brands I've used just lead to frustration.

Hmmm....not my experience.

I have a cheap Taiwanese one I bought at O'Reilly auto parts years ago and it's worked great for me.

 

[Dave455]

I've owned a couple of Taiwanese ones and broke both of 'em! Snap on one looks nice, and I'd be surprised if it didn't work well, but I've currently got a Koken and it's superb! Used it loads on stuff like brake drum and disc (rotor) screws that really get baked in and it's been great!

 

[Steve_P]

I have a taiwan one that I bought from HF in the late 80s. It's been used hundreds of times and still works fine. Williams also sells a US mfg one.

 

[86k10]

I have the Craftsman one and it works fine for what it is. I have bought a complete set of replacement bits for it. Just depends on how much you want to spend and how much you use it. I have had mine for about 10 years. I mainly use it now on marker/clearance lights.

 

[TheGrooveking]

Snap On hah, they wish they could make one like my Buffalo.




I do have a Buffalo that I found in my Dad's tools, I have Proto 3/8" &1/2" for back up though.

TheGrooveking

 

[sdguy55]

I bought just the snap on driver and not the kit. It's not that expensive if you go that route cause you just buy the bits you need and not ones you will never use

 

[johnnybentwrench]

I found a SO at a garage sale and it has saved me and my neighbors a lot. I would find a used SO