Thoughts on cordless impact guns

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I have and use the older version of the 3/8" gun, the w5130 daily. It is my go to for interior work and fixing cars out in the parking lot when needed.

Did you previously use the w5130 before going to the w5132? If so, how do they compare? Worth upgrading?

I'm sorry, I have not used the W5130, I do know of it though. I bought the W7150 when it first came out to put into the role of what I thought would be my "everything" gun. Boy was I wrong. You sneeze on the trigger and it has too much torque for everyday applications. Plus the weight, holy ****. Try using that all day laying on your back or above your head!

I bought the Milwaukee 2654-22CT which was rated at 210 ft lbs and had three torque settings. I had bought this when I had to do the head gaskets on my GM 3400 to speed up the process. I loved it. But you realize that 200 ft lbs isn't much when you add extensions... so after a few years of service I handed it down to my brother and got the W5132. I love it. The torque settings it has surpass the Milwaukee hands down and it's got PLENTY of torque for most anything you'll come across in the day. I keep it on hand tight or wrench tight for the most part honestly. It does a great job for hand tight doing 10mm bolts under the hood for say bolts that hold coolant overflow tanks or any other small things like that. It's got plenty of torque for wheels as well, it's just a great all around. But I love it for the hand and wrench tight settings. No need to pull the trigger slow or pray that you don't over torque. I find for interior work I use my 1/4" cordless IR 12v ratchet, but I have used an impact a few times. I'd say if you have the money or even better if you can sell off the W5130, go ahead and upgrade. But as a head to head comparison, I can't give you that. Oh, and the light is AWESOME!

 

[D1005]

I have a Ryobi and love it. Why Ryobi? Because when I bought my first battery powered powered drill years ago, I happened to pick Ryobi 18v. So I stick with tools that take the same battery. Batteries fail long before the tool does. Pick a brand with lots of tool selections, then stick with it.

 

[Diddler]

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'll second this statement. I have both of these as well as the Milwaukee 3/8s and they are awesome tools. The 2763 is a freaking beast, both in size and capacity. The 2861 is powerful enough to almost make you give up your 1/2 " air wrench, and compact enough to fit in a lot of tight spaces. All of mine are brushless and very easy on the batteries. Love these tools.

 

[Diddler]

If Milwaukee or DeWalt or something less Chinese, like Metabo, appeals to you more than Ridgid, then by all means stock up.

Ridgid is Ryobi, and isn't Ryobi Chinese? Not knocking Ridgid, know a lot of people happy with them. Just can't hang your patriotic hat on that brand.

 

[Diddler]

I kept some new spare batteries in the refrigerator and when I wanted to use them, it would not charge.

Were the batteries fresh out of the fridge when you tried to charge them? Li-ons won't charge if too cold or too hot.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Ridgid is Ryobi, and isn't Ryobi Chinese? Not knocking Ridgid, know a lot of people happy with them. Just can't hang your patriotic hat on that brand.

I didn't write that clearly; I'm sorry. Ridgid is Chinese-manufactured, as are all the others most of us own. Metabo is German (although even they are now manufacturing some of their cheapest models in China).

 

[fourjeepin]

I have a Ryobi and love it. Why Ryobi? Because when I bought my first battery powered powered drill years ago, I happened to pick Ryobi 18v. So I stick with tools that take the same battery. Batteries fail long before the tool does. Pick a brand with lots of tool selections, then stick with it.

I like the selection Ryobi has and the prices are very reasonable. I recently added a couple of their tools (hedge trimmer + 18ga trim nailer) to my Ridgid lineup. Only problem is I only have one 2amp/hour Ryobi battery so just this week I finished an adapter. One 4amp hour battery will trim all of my bushes

 

[BK13]

Has anyone found a comparison video between the IR and Milwaukee mid-torque impact wrenches?


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[Ole Slewfoot]

One thing I like about using the Milwaukee high torque, for most ordinary automotive fasteners, it barely needs to hammer if at all, reducing my noise exposure.

 

[lucky3]

I had the iron w7150 but sold it for the fuel Milwaukee. I like it better, and the batteries are a lot cheaper. I just bought the mid torque Milwaukee and it's great. It will do 90% of my stuff, I haven't broke out the big one since. I have did a lot of lug nuts and I've did suspension stuff with it and no problem. The mid torque is what I would get to start out. Plus u can't beat a 5yr toolike warranty and 3yr battery warranty.

 

[DFB]

The new mid torque release may be the goldilocks of just right in Milwaukee lineup yet but dunno. I can hardly wait to try one out. Many times the compact wrench just isn't enough and the high torque well lets just say its a big 'un indeed!

Though the new IR units look very good with the different torque setting in that same mid class of tool and I could easily consider one.

 

[speed bump]

Well, I guess that's my point. Is there anything about a drill that's going to be inadequate for the job five years from now? I have corded drills that are over 60 years old. They work great. I don't have to throw them out every six years, which I appreciate. My drill press was made in 1973 and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

That's.a bit of an apples and oranges comparison. Just because they work doesn't​ make them good. You might not have to throw them out but sometimes the speed and capabilities upgrade that you get from a newer tool make it worthwhile. Case in point my Craftsman C3 tools were okay when I bought them in 2005 but they were definitely limited. In 2010 I bought a Hitachi 10.8v impact driver with li-ion batteries and it was 90% of the Craftsman tools for 1/2 the weight and comparable battery life. This year I got a DeWalt 20v brushes impact driver and​ it is almost the same weight and size (main difference is battery pack size) as the 10.8v Hitachi with several times the power, it has 3 torque settings which means I can either get full power or completely manageable power, and the batteries charge faster and last an incredible amount of time. Now, I still have some of those Craftsman tools and the they still work but I have been giving them away because they aren't half the tool my newer tools are and I expect I will be doing the same thing with the DeWalt tools in 5-10 years.

As far as the original subject Milwaukee or DeWalt brush less tools would be my favorite choices if you are after performance first. The Craftsman or Ryobi make a popular cheap choice if value is your first priority.