Thoughts on cordless impact guns

[1LargeDog]

I am looking at buying a cordless impact wrench and I am getting kind of overwhelmed by what is available out there and the wide range of prices. What I am looking for is a 1/2" drive 18-20v cordless with the most bang for the best possible price. Torque, power, longevity, quality etc. I would like to know the type/brand of tool you may be using and any pros/cons you can add. I am not looking for the top of the line model or the cheapest but one that will do occasional garage service such as lug nut removal/install and the occasional suspension stuff.

Thanks!

 

[tjohnsonr10]

Get a craftsman c3 19.2v impact and don't even bother searching or anything else. I think I was $175 all in including tax and the 2 year warranty.

I use this thing professionally and it is an incredible tool for the money.

Stop your search now and go ahead and pick one up.

 

[gdocktor3]

Bought a 20v Dewalt dcf899b last year and even though I'm not a mechanic by trade, it's the best tool purchase I've made in a long time. I'm impressed each time I use it.

 

[TheSasquatch]

I have an older snap on nicad and its been a really good gun, have had to get the batterys rebuilt but they are going on 7 years old now so not to bad.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

 

[brawls43]

I've got two of the C3 craftsman ones. Mine's about 4-5 years old. I got it for doing lug nuts at races, which is does okay. I think the most recent model has even better torque, which would be nice. Overall I'm really happy with it, and picked up a 3/8" drive version also, which is handy for being lazy when taking stuff apart.

 

[allstarrme]

Get the Dewalt 899 with the hog ring end. I have the mac branded version and it's great, as well as the 3/8 and 1/4 versions.

I traded in my Snap-on gun towards it and would do it again. Nothing else is even worth considering.

 

[jobo1004]

I've currently got the small milwaukee fuel 1/2" impact along with the big one. If I were buying today, I'd look seriously at their new mid-torque model. Nice compromise on weight, size and power.

http://toolguyd.com/milwaukee-m18-fuel-mid-torque-impact-wrenches/

 

[Thumper68]

I picked up the Ridgid last year and have had a good chance to put it threw its paces and would buy again if needed.

I have done a video on it.

 

[1LargeDog]

I've currently got the small milwaukee fuel 1/2" impact along with the big one. If I were buying today, I'd look seriously at their new mid-torque model. Nice compromise on weight, size and power.

http://toolguyd.com/milwaukee-m18-fuel-mid-torque-impact-wrenches/

I like that mid-torque model from Milwaukee as well as the Dewalt 899. I like the mid model a little more though. Might make a nice Fathers day gift for me.....

 

[WittHay]

1/2" Cordless choices can be narrowed down to compact or larger high-torque. Compact will work on non-rusty cars. High-torque is needed for pickups and larger/rusty fasteners

Also depends on if you wan't to invest in a cordless system. ie. drill, impact drivers, saws

For reference, a Milwaukee Fuel compact around 200 ft lbs torque with a 17mm socket will remove Volkswagen lug nuts no problem, but it won.t remove fasteners on a John Deere machine with a 18mm socket

 

[48RON54]

I'll be the third to say the craftsman one

We have the Milwaukee 1/2" impact at work. It works awesome too, but its noticeably heavier and larger.

 

[brawls43]

Part of why I went Craftsman is I had other C3 tools at my shop. At home I have cheap Ryobi, so if I was doing it again, I'd probably try their's. If I didn't have any, I'd consider Milwaukee, they have some nice tools. And Rigid's battery replacement would be tempting as well.

 

[scissorman]

Ingersol Rand W7150 hands down the best I've seen and not too expensive.

 

[a52-830]

i recently moved my C3 stuff out for the kids to use when they are home, and went for the M18 milwaukee fuel stuff.

much better, although more expensive. the non-fuel M18 stuff is a lot closer to the C3 in price, but i think still a better deal.

my concern with putting more money in the C3 stuff is twofold: i didnt see anything new coming out in quite a while, and i have concerns about the C3 stuff remaining supported.

nice thing about the milwaukee is that the batteries are interchangeable between the higher end fuel stuff and lower end stuff, so you can get the cheaper things for non-critical uses.

 

[bcradio]

Get the mid torque impact... you'll love it

 

[ptgarcia]

Hard to pass up the C3 at $139

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-c3-1...SellerId=Sears&prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

 

[Cope]

Bought a 20v Dewalt dcf899b last year and even though I'm not a mechanic by trade, it's the best tool purchase I've made in a long time. I'm impressed each time I use it.

I second that.

 

[rsanter]

I have the dewalt 18v
I bought the bare tool as I already have plenty of the batteries.
I think I paid $99 on sale for the bare tool

Bob

 

[regguy1]

Ingersol Rand W7150 hands down the best I've seen and not too expensive.

The IR W7150 is probably the most powerful, it weighs 8.7 lbs. the Milwaukee is also a strong gun but it weighs 15 lbs. I have the IR W7150 20V and it is a powerhouse. Go on Amazon and you can read reviews.

 

[Jack Olsen]

No one will convince me there's a better choice than the Ridgid -- unless another company steps up and agrees to replace your batteries for free for the rest of the tool's life. The lifespan of a Li-Ion battery is not very long, and manufacturers excel at tricking you into buying a new tool and battery when the old ones die.

 

[928'er]

Get a craftsman c3 19.2v impact and don't even bother searching or anything else. I think I was $175 all in including tax and the 2 year warranty.

I use this thing professionally and it is an incredible tool for the money.

Stop your search now and go ahead and pick one up.

The Craftsman C3 (along with Milwaukee, Ridgid, AEG, Homelite and Ryobi) is made by TTI.

The Craftsman C3 is, essentially, a relabeled Ryobi (altough the batteries have a different form factor and are not interchaneable).

If you're leaning towards the Craftsman C3, I'd recommend buying the the Ryobi One+ version instead. Lots of other tools using the same battery system - and they're likely to be around a lot longer than Sears....

And, it remains to be seen how long Stanley/Black & Decker will continue to support the C3 line in direct competition with its Dewalt, Porter Cable, and Black & Decker cordless tools.

 

[WhiskeyRanger]

DeWalt dcf899.

 

[a52-830]

Hard to pass up the C3 at $139

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-c3-1...SellerId=Sears&prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

This cordless impact wrench can deliver 300 ft.-lbs. of torque with the help of a 0-3,000 RPM motor.

also note that this is a sale price, it is regularly 179$ (of course, it is likely always on sale at some price, i dont know if 139$ is good or bad for it.)

milwaukee 2663:

http://www.cpomilwaukee.com/milwauk...ion-impact-wrench/miln2663-21,default,pd.html

2663-21 delivers 450 ft-lbs. of torque. A variable speed trigger provides control between 0 to 1,900 RPM and 0 to 2,200 IPM.

159$

"new low price"

 

[wsurf4me]

I have the Milwaukee M18 Fuel high torque 1/2" impact. I have taken things apart that a 3' cheater bar wouldn't touch. I haven't used my air impact since getting it.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

I have the c3 impact that I use on my own stuff. it's taken off everything I've used it for so far, but I do live in the south and don't deal with the rust.

I actually just picked up a second one of the 300 ft/lb guns today for $50. came with the li-ion batt and a charger, couldn't pass it up.

 

[rustbucket5]

i have the M18 high and mid torque guns. for a professional having both i think is the way to go because the mid will do 95% of all the fasteners but for that 5% you need the big boy. you can use the high torque model as a main impact (i did for a year) its just heavy and big and is overkill most of the time. i bought the mid torque bar tool for 260$ in canada

 

[theoldwizard1]

The lifespan of a Li-Ion battery is not very long, ...

Okay, I am no "expert" but that is NOT what I have heard ! Lifespan is as good as or better than NiCad or NiMH.

To me the biggest benefit of Li-Ion is that they have a MUCH SLOWER self discharge rate.

 

[Bdgjr215]

I bought The Milwaukee mid torque and I am very impressed!

 

[bcradio]

Okay, I am no "expert" but that is NOT what I have heard ! Lifespan is as good as or better than NiCad or NiMH.

To me the biggest benefit of Li-Ion is that they have a MUCH SLOWER self discharge rate.

I agree here and again it's all relative. A lithium ion battery should last a good 15 years easy. To some people that may not be long, but to me that's a pretty good run for a battery. By the time the 15 years have passed I think tool and Battery Technology has changed enough that it's worth it to upgrade at that time

 

[JohnnyK8]

I really like the C3 Craftsman too. I certainly need my air tool once in a while (4x4 suspension stuff) but that baby does a great job.


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[M6erfan]

I looked at the Craftsman C3 too, on paper it looks good. I passed because I was concerned about future support due to Sears seemingly circling the drain...

I went Bosch. Expensive, but very nice

 

[paulsomlo]

The IR W7150 is probably the most powerful, it weighs 8.7 lbs. the Milwaukee is also a strong gun but it weighs 15 lbs. I have the IR W7150 20V and it is a powerhouse. Go on Amazon and you can read reviews.

That doesn't seem right - I would bet the IR and the Milwaukee are close in weight. I have the W7150, it's strong but heavy. If you're looking to buy just one impact, I would look at either the Milwaukee Mid Torque (2861) or the IR equivalent (W5152).

 

[1LargeDog]

Wow, plenty of responses. Thank you all. I have some thinking to do now. I really like the Milwaukee mid series as well as the Dewalt 899. That IR W5152 is another nice alternative. I am leaning with the mid series right now and if the right sale price comes along ill pull the trigger. Same with the other two models.

 

[ckblum]

I have the M18 Fuel in the hi-torque 1/2 and the 3/8 impact. I've **** kicked them good over the last year, working in a heavy equipment shop and doing field service work. They hold up great and they kick Snap-On's *** as far as reliability goes. Guy at my work had to send his 3/8 in 2-3 months into having it, and just sent his 1/2 in after less than a year of use. We both bought our sets around the same time. As far as power of the Snappy vs the Milwaukee it's too close to compare, both have more jam than my air impact IR 2135Ti. I rarely fire up the compressor on the truck unless I need to bust out the 3/4 or die grinders but my M18 is close in power to some of our 3/4 guns in the shop.

 

[gdocktor3]

Wow, plenty of responses. Thank you all. I have some thinking to do now. I really like the Milwaukee mid series as well as the Dewalt 899. That IR W5152 is another nice alternative. I am leaning with the mid series right now and if the right sale price comes along ill pull the trigger. Same with the other two models.

My thought before making my decision was - these things aren't cheap, so why spend X amount for a 300 ft lb impact wrench when I can spend a little bit more and get 700 ft lbs from the Dewalt. I'd be pretty upset if I pulled my brand new impact out of the box, put it on a nut annnnnd it did nothing... I haven't touched my pneumatic 1/2" impact since buying the Dewalt.

With that said, I know a very respectable mechanic who owns and maintains a fleet of tractor trailers uses the Craftsman C3 impact wrench and loves it. I'm not saying he's removing big rig lug nuts with it, (very few cordless impacts will for that matter), but for everything else he's using the C3 to get err done.

 

[1LargeDog]

No one will convince me there's a better choice than the Ridgid -- unless another company steps up and agrees to replace your batteries for free for the rest of the tool's life. The lifespan of a Li-Ion battery is not very long, and manufacturers excel at tricking you into buying a new tool and battery when the old ones die.

Wow, just checked out the Ridgid. The kit only costs 149 bucks with that lifetime warranty. At that price I cannot not try it out. Plenty of good reviews too. Best price on that Milwaukee was 379.

 

[doogdoog]

No one will convince me there's a better choice than the Ridgid -- unless another company steps up and agrees to replace your batteries for free for the rest of the tool's life. The lifespan of a Li-Ion battery is not very long, and manufacturers excel at tricking you into buying a new tool and battery when the old ones die.

Yes, I agree with what he says and the weakest link is the battery. A lot of times you could get a new tool with batteries than just buying a battery. I kept some new spare batteries in the refrigerator and when I wanted to use them, it would not charge. It seems that with little usage and charging, the battery will not last long. Yep, Rigid has a great warranty especially for free battery replacement.

 

[SweetD]

I'm being honest here, I bought the Ryobi 1+ 1/2" impact driver, and a couple of times it has failed to release nuts that I assumed it would handle. It's a nice unit, and I'm just a weekend warrior. But I've had to break out the "manual" breaker bar a couple of times when the Ryobi wouldn't bust the nut...

 

[53chevy5]

Our shop had Craftsman, Snap ON, Dewalt 20 v and Milwaukee Fuel. Right now there is one Snap On left, and every one else switched to Milwaukee. All the models were 3/8 with a hog ring. Craftsman had no power, Dewalt had ok power but the brushes didn't last in the oily environment. Milwaukee had the most power by far of the all mentioned and the best warranty. 5 yr tool and 3 yr battery.

 

[Sanny81]

Im also in the market for a cordless impact, does anyone have experience with the new Kobalt 24v models? I see they dropped down to $199 for the kit right now at Lowes

https://lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-24-Volt-Max-Volt-1-2-in-Drive-Cordless-Impact-Wrench/1000061641