Which do you use more 3/8 or 1/2 impact?

[Toymeister]

I have a chance to get a 3/8 IT 2155 which is good for 250 pounds. This got me to thinking do I need a 1/2 impact for much of anything for regular auto maintenance? The 3/8 is so much lighter.

Maybe I am just late to the party and 3/8 is the standard but most often at the tire places I see IR 1/2 impacts...

 

[Tronyadorable]

Neither. I don't believe in impacts.I'm a breaker bar/torque wrench kinda guy.

 

[Fedwrench]

To remove wheels, I use an IR 2125timax which is a 1/2 drive impact in a 3/8 size body. It has more than enough power to remove my fleet vehicle wheels but, is lightweight even at the end of a long day.

 

[SASORacing]

I only use 1/2 with my Mac air impact that has a flip socket for lugnuts, otherwise 3/8ths is smaller and more practical for everything sub 19mm!

 

[JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN]

I mainly use my 3/8 snap on air and cordless impacts, then breaker bar/torque wrench. I typically only bust out my snappy 1/2 when something is being stubborn, other than that it's overkill power.

 

[mikehaugen]

I mostly use my 2135ti at work, and my 231ha at home. I also have a 212 3/8" at work but use the 1/2" more.

Sorry if this is off topic, but I really like the 212 because it is so small, it just doesn't have the balls that I would like sometimes. Is the 2115 or the 2155 that the op mentioned a big improvement? How much bigger (size wise) is it?

 

[MattPersman]

What kind of maint are we doing? Home stuff like a few tire rotations? I would personally get a good 1/2 impact to start with and this is only if you have a decent compressor and all that already. If you don't have any of this I would suggest cordless 1/2 like Milwaukee fuel and I say the Milwaukee because they have the best warranty and being home use you may only use it a handful of times a year.

 

[Ricky112]

I work in a garage and while I love my IR 3/8'' to death and would recommend it to anyone.. I've done struts, engine/****** mounts, brakes, control arms.. you name it! but when it comes to tires it's 1/2"

 

[stearn786]

I work on Chryslers in NY. I need the 1/2" most of the time, because we are not good at bolts. Or nuts. Or any kind of fastener really. A good day is only the 1/2" impact. Most days it's the impact plus the torch. Some days it's both of those plus a drill bit and a tap. I often fantasize about working on cars in states that don't salt the roads.

I use the 3/8" more than the 1/2" on my 1998 Accord tho

 

[dudutzu905]

mini 1/2", the size of a 3/8" with the power of a weak 1/2"

 

[ATC]

3/8's electric impact. I can't put it down! If it fits, I use it!

 

[toolslut6.0]

I'd use my 3/8 all the time if I could but I need more torque a lot of times. So I'd say buy a 1/2 stubby Chicago. They run well and have more torque than most 3/8s truck brands and are smaller to. A guy I work with just got one and I'm very jealous. Just depends on what you work on I guess. Some people can get away with a very torqy 3/8s but some need the half inch for power.

 

[Canadian Charlie]

I only have 1/2" guns so I voted on the half inchers

 

[DodgeMech]

Snapon mg31/325...3/8 gun with the power of most 1/2 inch ones

 

[GSteg]

3/8" for the most part.

 

[Boredmechanic]

My 1/2 set used to be my go to set. Now its a 700$ drawer weight.

 

[diggerrick]

Until this year I overwhelming used 1/2". Now that I have the M18 Fuel 3/8", that is my go-to for anything it is capable of.

 

[Karl_B]

My IR 2112 is still my go-to, but I think it's an outdated 3/8" at this point.

 

[firebox40dash5]

3/8's electric impact. I can't put it down! If it fits, I use it!

Until this year I overwhelming used 1/2". Now that I have the M18 Fuel 3/8", that is my go-to for anything it is capable of.

I used to use the 2115 a lot, but these days, if the Fuel gun won't do it, I usually just jump right to the 2135. The 2115 is still a good gun though... but I'd probably still buy a 1/2" first. The tons of extra power comes in handy more often IMO.

 

[wagzilla]

To me it's simple whatever I'm working on it doesn't come off in the first 20 seconds I move to the next bigger gun!

James

 

[pblanton]

For impact, I'm a 1/2" kinda guy, but I don't use impact much. Mostly just on wheels.

 

[bcradio]

3/8 almost exclusively now (that is if I'm not already using my 1/4 impact wrench). On the very rare occasion it won't take something off, then I move up to 1/2. I do all tires with 3/8 too.

You will want both eventually.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

My cordless is 1/2" and I use that as a primary. If I need to go with air I try my mg325 first just because it is lighter and smaller than my mg725

 

[stikman56]

On this job I find myself using the 3/8" cordless most of the time right now. When we get set up so we can do heavier work on the coaches, it'll be 1/2" and 3/4" quite a bit.

 

[AndrewV]

3/8 is for most work. Caliper bolts, shocks/struts unless it's a northern car, align work, most external engine work, bell housing, drive shaft work.
1/2 for lugs, rusty ****, trans out put shafts, axel nuts.

Make 1/2 my pay on aligns. May differ for others.

3/4 when i have to do diesle work.

 

[CobraRed]

I almost never use my 3/8", although now-a-days they pack a similar punch as the 1/2" impacts of old.
Maybe i just have more 1/2" impact sockets which sways me that way.

 

[BK13]

To me it's simple whatever I'm working on it doesn't come off in the first 20 seconds I move to the next bigger gun!

James

That won't work, it's way too sensible...

 

[Tarheelgarage]

Since getting the M18 Fuel setup in both 3/8 and 1/2; that's mostly what I use now. The 3/8' is the main stay.

 

[Brad.Sandman94]

What..... No 3/4 Why I outta..
1/2 is my plan b gun to breaker bars now.

 

[sberry]

I use 1/2 but if I was automotive daily and under the hood it would be 3/8. Just don't need another layer of tooling.

 

[NorthSea92]

1/2 be it the cordless or air, everything here seizes and the 3/8 only really comes out for clutches, engine work and brakes on small cars. Recently bought the M18 3/8 impact and its not much use unless I'm rebuilding things or taking off under trays.

 

[dr_clyde]

I use 1/2", because if I need an impact wrench to remove a fastener, its large enough or seized enough that I need 1/2" drive.

 

[StillCrazy]

Well you've gotten a lot of great answers. I carry everything from 1/4 to 1" on my truck and use them all for different ag applications but I will second the reviews on the Milwaukee fuel 18 guns. The 1/2 has incredible torque and the 3/8 is my go to for anything it will handle. I was frankly amazed when a friend of mine recommended these electrics.



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[durallymax]

I use my compact Fuel M18 3/8" and Fuel M12 3/8" the most. I don't own any 1/4" stuff and don't think I would use it. I always prefer to use the 3/8 before the 1/2" because it fits in tighter spots and is nicer to use.

When I need it I break out the 1/2. I usually grab the high torque fuel M18 first because I don't have the air hose out all of the time. I haven't run into something the Milwaukee couldn't remove that my MG725 could remove. When those two can't touch it I break out the IR2145TiMAX 3/4" gun.

 

[wyo george]

At home I use my 3/8 more. At work my most common is a 1" impact with a 2-9/16 socket

 

[that-guy]

I only have a Craftsman 1/2 air impact and cordless impact, and if something is stubborn, I usually just get the breaker bar and that does the job, then zip it off real quick with the impact. otherwise, I stick to my handtools

 

[cheechi]

Well I have both 3/8 and 1/2 air impact guns and I use the 1/2 much more often, but recently I use my 3/8 M12 more often than any. So really it balances out.

 

[xbeatles4x]

I am in the exact same position as OP. I am torn between getting the Milwaukee 2654 and and the 2655B. One is 3/8 the other is 1/2. One does 200ft lb and the other does 210ftlb. I currently have no impact anything.

All else being equal why would I pick 3/8 vs 1/2 on those two devices if they are the exact same size and weight.

I plan to use either one on general car work for personal use. Like fixing my moms suspension on her car.... Nothing that would need more than 200ft lb. Portability and fitting in weird spots is what I am after. If I ever did I would get the uber big milwaukee 2763.

 

[GSteg]

All else being equal why would I pick 3/8 vs 1/2 on those two devices if they are the exact same size and weight.

Because the impact is more suitable for 3/8" duty. 200 ft-lbs may sound like a lot, but it's be a hit-and-miss on bolts torqued to 100 ft-lbs or more from the factory.

The 1/2" is great if you already have a bunch of 1/2" sockets.

 

[durallymax]

I am in the exact same position as OP. I am torn between getting the Milwaukee 2654 and and the 2655B. One is 3/8 the other is 1/2. One does 200ft lb and the other does 210ftlb. I currently have no impact anything.

All else being equal why would I pick 3/8 vs 1/2 on those two devices if they are the exact same size and weight.

I plan to use either one on general car work for personal use. Like fixing my moms suspension on her car.... Nothing that would need more than 200ft lb. Portability and fitting in weird spots is what I am after. If I ever did I would get the uber big milwaukee 2763.

Buy the 3/8 for that size impact. Sockets are much more compact than 1/2" sockets. When you decide you need 1/2 buy the big fuel gun.