Which size impact?

[consti2tion]

I know the OP has probably made their decision but I picked up the Dewalt 12v Extreme 1/2" DCF901B for free with the purchase of the 12v drill and driver kit awhile back. That little 1/2" impact has been the most impressive battery powered impact I have ever used honestly. It's a beast in a compact form. Here they have it at lowes for 149.00 and you get a charger, 3 amp battery and 5 amp battery. Wish that would have been the deal I got, the larger batteries are a life saver.

 

[bubinga]

I have the DCF923 3/8" low torque and the DCF891 1/2" mid torque.

I still have the older mid torque, DCF 894. I was looking at the new mid torque DCF 891.
I just got the Ridgid high torque R86212
with 2 batteries and charger for $229.00 at home Depot.
I think with the Ridgid high torque and the older DCF 894 It's probably good enough.
I have a 3/8" DeWalt too, I think it's the DCF 890 IIRC.

 

[dchawk81]

I have the "high torque" M18. It's not taken lug nuts off cars several times. Stuff that the air gun zipped off without much fuss.

I use the 2767 to remove semi lugs torqued to 500 with an actual 1 inch drive breakaway torque wrench so....

 

[VolvoRyan]

Watch the TTC: 3/8" vs. 1/2" impacts isn't really a thing. In stubby/mid-torques, they're basically the same guns.

The M12 impact is an an awesome tool for the same reason all the M12 stuff shines: smaller battery footprint makes a more compact tool.

I did front struts (and ran the spring compressor) on the XC90 with the M12 using the newer 3ah compact battery. I did the whole job with the one battery in the M12 impact, from zipping off the wheel screws at the start, to running them back down afterwards.

The M12 isn't what I'd call a "standalone" battery platform. It won't do everything. If you have M12 batteries, the 3/8" or 1/2" impact should be in your collection. The two put out the same numbers, more or less. I went with the 1/2" because all of my special tools for older Volvos are half inch.

-Ryan

 

[Sumboodie]

I use the 2767 to remove semi lugs torqued to 500 with an actual 1 inch drive breakaway torque wrench so....

Mine has never been able to remove those. Shoot, even my 1" air gun won't at times and I need to heat them.

 

[dchawk81]

Mine has never been able to remove those. Shoot, even my 1" air gun won't at times and I need to heat them.

Hmmm. Interesting. Are they being overtightened and then rust welded even more, particularly on steel wheels?

I have all aluminum wheels, lube the threads, torque them to 500, and have hubcaps and lug nut covers on all 3 axles, so they don't get corroded.

Either one of my 1 inch air guns can bust through the ones that get corroded though. One is the Aircat D handle and the other is the Harbor Freight pistol grip.

 

[Luciferi]

the dcf 923 will take the crank bolt off a Toyota 4age. A half charged powerstack couldn't do it but when I swapped to a charged 5ah it zipped right off. Not sure how it compares to hondas since this the first toyota i have worked on.

 

[bryant 24]

how many torque is it regarding the “mid-torque” ，350nm or above？

Stubby or MId-Torque, which as time has progressed, is now what used to be considered a high-torque. I think it all depends upon whether you're doing work above or below. For anything above the Stubby is more than enough. If you're getting into ball joints, brake calipers and suspension parts the Mid-Torque is the way to go. You already have a strong air impact so for the limited amount of jobs that you need it a high-torque isn't gaining you much and the additional weight is a PIA.

 

[Benny Franklin]

Here's what I've found working on everything from chain saws to construction equipment. Get a stubby 3/8 and a high torque 1/2 (or a stubby 1/2 and a high torque 3/4 since most of my impact sockets are 1/2 or bigger)

The mid torque will cover most things, but when you need a stubby or a big bubba, nothing else will do.

But most of my work is in the field, where I don't have a compressor large enough for high volume air tools

 

[bubinga]

Probably the mid range. The big high output Milwaukee (2767.) is heavy and unwieldy. I had previously been using the mid range Milwaukee M18 the most, but find that the more compact Dewalt atomic covers most of that range, from a practical standpoint. I just acquired the 3/8” Atomic to replace / supplant the 3/8 Milwauke. Didn’t really need it but I liked the 1/2 “ version, so why not?….

The Milwaukee impacts are all the current model, so they’re not some obsolete junkers.

If I was starting fresh, the last purchase would probabl be a High Torque, since a good breaker bar with a piece of pipe can handle what an air impact can’t (given a long enough pipe).

The first would be the Atomic, either 1/2” or 3/8”, depending on what sockets I already have.

I also have a M12 high speed ratchet and a Dewalt 12v extreme extended 3/8 drive ratchet, but, frankly, don’t find them essential.

I don’t think I have used my air impacts for over a year.

What model number DeWalt impacts do you have?

 

[jonesg]

m12 fuel stubby gets a ton more use than my big heavy m18.
lugnuts are no problem.

 

[M635_Guy]

I have both the M18 Mid Gen2 and the Stubby, both in 1/2". My recommendation is the Mid Gen2. It's a little bigger and heavier, but asks no questions on just about anything I've done.

Semi-lugs, F250 suspension or maybe the Honda Crank bolt might give it trouble, but I kinda doubt it. Big, high-torque stuff with rust is probably where the fun ends. I had the previous Mid, which is why I got the Stubby - that Mid was too big for a lot of places. The Gen2 gets just about anywhere the Stubby does.

As an example, I was pulling the caliper off the family Mazda3. The Stubby was an easy fit:


That's a pretty tight spot, and I wondered if the Mid Gen2 would work:

No worries at all.

If I had to keep one, it would be an immediate and easy call for the Mid.

I'm sure the OP has long-ago made his decision, but the only thing I'd add to this is the M18 chargers will also charge M12 batteries, which I greatly appreciate.

 

[finn]

What model number DeWalt impacts do you have?

Dewalt DCF 921 and 923, plus the 12v DCF 503E extended 3/8 drive ratchet.

Milwaukee 2854, 2962, and 2863 impacts., plus the 12v fuel High Speer ratchet, that I seem to have misplaced so I don’t recall the model number.

I think the 2863 is the 2767 high torque, but with a security chip installed.

I have been using the 3/8 drive Dewalt DCF 923 the most things lately. Did have to bring out the M18 2863 for some heavily rusted strut rods on the 66 Mustang project, though. I suspect the 2962 may have done the job, but it’s good to exercise the heavy guns sometimes.