Why go cordless for automotive?

[vinnythestick]

As an elevator mechanic, I need tools that I can carry with me whether to the pit, the motor room, the car (the car is the box that everybody steps into... most consider it to be the elevator) or any of the floors in between. So it's pretty obvious why a person with my job would need cordless tools, but why would an automotive mechanic need anything cordless?

Just looking for your points of view.

 

[gagreen]

I'm an aviation mechanic. When I can get away with using cordless I will, but most the time I need an air drill. The problem with a hose or a cord is it getting in the way. It's a pain to drag a cord around. Access to a plug in is another. You also never know if your going to have to do a job on the road or outside of the hangar or garage. I don't know why anyone would want a corded electrical tool as a mechanic.

 

[jim1987]

Less hassle looking for an outlet or running extension chords, then putting the chord away, less space id assume and no tripping hazard or getting tangled. Plus if the power goes out, youd be screwed. No reason to have both because thatd take up a lot of space.

Edit: time is money. Less time messing with outlets/extension chords = job gets done faster

 

[ihateminimumwage]

It's a pain dragging an airline into a tight space where it rubs or gets hung up on everything.

 

[Zapp Branigan]

...I don't know why anyone would want a corded electrical tool as a mechanic.

I use mine to stir the silver roof coating for my shop.

 

[vinnythestick]

Thanks for your replies. I guess I assumed in those professions that they'd always bring the cars (or birds) to the shop, I should know better.

It seems the problems are the same. Either use a cordless tool that may not be tough enough for the job, or deal with a corded tool and the hassle of finding an outlet or dragging the cords around.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

It seems the problems are the same. Either use a cordless tool that may not be tough enough for the job, or deal with a corded tool and the hassle of finding an outlet or dragging the cords around.

That sums it up. Total convenience until they can't break something loose.

 

[nicksnothereman]

As an elevator mechanic, I need tools that I can carry with me whether to the pit, the motor room, the car (the car is the box that everybody steps into... most consider it to be the elevator) or any of the floors in between. So it's pretty obvious why a person with my job would need cordless tools, but why would an automotive mechanic need anything cordless?

Just looking for your points of view.

You mean cordless electric? Probably so it expends less energy vs. personal elbow grease.

I didn't use a cordless drill until I got an 18v for around $2.50, now I see a purpose! But with automotive stuff, I really wouldn't spend the money for anything that requires to me replace the battery eventually even if it had the torque because it almost necessitates buying an extra battery for when the primary runs out of juice. Also, might be "space issues" with a lot of fasteners. I guess that's why people use those "cordless ratchets" but...huge money low torque bro.

Some guys just use technology for the sake of technology but don't point that out to them because they can get butthurt about it (doesn't apply specifically on here though, applies everywhere).

 

[Jrsixx]

I use my M12 impact driver and 1/4" ratchet every day. Much easier to take out to the lot to do something than hand tools. Yes sometimes they can't break something lose, but that's why I have ratchets. Also working inside a car, dirty floors=dirty air hose=dirty car= pissed off customer.

 

[RedF]

I didn't see the use of cordless power tools (beyond a drill) for quite some time, for the same reasoning the OP said, I have access to air and electrical pretty much everywhere I work.

I finally decided I'd give a Milwaukee M12 fuel 3/8 impact a try. Now even if I have air at my fingertips, I'll go for the cordless most of the time. I'm looking to expand my selection of cordless tools. It's so nice to not have to drag an airline behind you, including into vehicle interiors.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I am old school and run everything off air. I do find myself wanting a cordless impact gun for convenience. If I don't have the compressor aired up or can't get a car inside, using a cordless impact would be worth it. They are also nice to take on the road for security or to the junk yard. I will probably end up with a CT7850, but like the W7150. The little buggers are still pricey, but the reviews are good on both.

 

[retfr8flyr]

Once I got my Milwaukee M12 and M18 tools, I just never reach for an air tool anymore. I have upgraded them to the new Fuel versions and they are unbelievable. The new M18 Fuel High torque impact wrench has 1,100 lbs of torque. That will handle anything I will ever run into. The M12 Fuel tools are so compact and powerful, they will handle 80% of the work you will do.

 

[DodgeMech]

air tools will still have a use, to me anyway, for prolly the next 2-5 years...cuz the big cordless impacts are getting stronger and stronger, yes...but, they still can't do what my ir 232 can...and that's a low end air gun

 

[RedneckWelder]

Sheer convenience. Dragging that air line or electrical cord behind you is aggravating when it gets hung up, and it can get in the way when trying to get into position on awkward fasteners.

The battery life and longevity is also getting to be rather good, where in the past it wasn't so great. Even my el cheapo Porter Cable tools have good battery life, and those are cheap nicads. The lithium tools of today have great batteries.

And to go along with the great batteries, the motors and such inside these tools are also pretty good. High torque, high power motors make for strong cordless tools

While the cordless my not replace air tools at this point, the 1/2 and 3/8 cordless guns from companies like Milwaukee, Snap On, and IR are great for a lot of tasks in the shop.

They are also excellent for junkyard runs where you don't have access to a compressor or electrics and previously would have to do all the work by hand.

 

[Matt_C]

Because I can't find a long enough extension to go 60 miles from home

 

[Packard V8]

Absolutely no question battery-powered tools are more convenient and no question batteries are getting better. Convenience and keeping up with the latest/greatest always tramples cost-effective and good-enough.

Today, paying big bucks for a smartphone and $100-200 a month contract and $1500 for a TV and another $100-200 a month for cable has gone from being a luxury to a necessity. Not that long ago, that kind of money would have put one in a new car or an apartment. Today, no one willingly goes without the smartphone/cable/internet in his pocket, even if it means less car/house.

Same with power tools. Today, you can't give away used corded tools or air tools. Techs and homies with like-new are tossing them and paying the bucks for each new generation of battery-powered.

I know of an assembly plant where the techs sitting at a bench with a string of electrical outlets complained so much about having to used AC-powered tools with a cord, the company finally gave up and bought battery-powered tools. Their costs went up 10X, because the AC tools literally never wore out. Now, they're having to buy a pallet-load of batteries every month. Also, the batteries and tools seem to "evaporate" 10X faster than did the AC tools.

jack vines

 

[stroked80z28]

As an elevator mechanic

Which local are you working out of? I am a service mechanic working out of local 19.

 

[wafrederick]

Under the dash work,cordless is the way to go.I use my Milwaukee 12 volt impact driver a lot for this application for the small screws including the 7mm/9/32 headed screws.

 

[bowlofturtle]

Also... On interior work, the air hose can dirty up the interior.

 

[Fedwrench]

Because Time is Money and any manual tool use should be replaced with power tools whenever possible.

Todays cordless tools offer techs freedom, speed, mobility, and increased productivity.

 

[GSteg]

I will probably end up with a CT7850, but like the W7150. The little buggers are still pricey, but the reviews are good on both.

I'll save you the trouble and suggest you skip the CT7850. I had one and and it was quite disappointing. It's a step down from the older gun IMO. The gun to get is either the Milwaukee Fuel or the W7150.

 

[GSteg]

air tools will still have a use, to me anyway, for prolly the next 2-5 years...cuz the big cordless impacts are getting stronger and stronger, yes...but, they still can't do what my ir 232 can...and that's a low end air gun

You'd be surprised. The top cordless impacts are actually more powerful than the IR 232 gun. In fact, they hang with the higher end air guns (MG725, 2135timax, etc). The only negative is the weight and physical size. You won't be able to get them into an engine bay, but for everything else, they're great.

My buddy has a small shop with lots of cars parked on the driveway, but they're too far away for any air tool to reach. By the time he adds on enough air hoses, there's not enough pressure. Cordless tools work great in these situations.

 

[vinnythestick]

Which local are you working out of? I am a service mechanic working out of local 19.

I'm currently local 3 ibew in NYC, but looking to change to local 1 iuec

Sent from my Z992 using Tapatalk

 

[stroked80z28]

I'm currently local 3 ibew in NYC, but looking to change to local 1 iuec

Sent from my Z992 using Tapatalk

So that means that you do maintenance, but not new equipment? I know New York is different, what work is claimed by electricians and what work is claimed by elevator men?

 

[vinnythestick]

Im in the modernization dept. Basically means we do everything except new construction. We don't really involve electricians unless we need new mainline or AC wire pulled into the motor room

Sent from my Z992 using Tapatalk

 

[larryforce]

air tools will still have a use, to me anyway, for prolly the next 2-5 years...cuz the big cordless impacts are getting stronger and stronger, yes...but, they still can't do what my ir 232 can...and that's a low end air gun

I have been using my milwuake 2673 for the last 6 weeks or so, and I have found that it is just as strong as my snap on mg725 @ 120psi. I have only had one nut that it wouldn't take off, but then again niether could the 3/4 inch IR impact.

 

[Adam.C]

For a home shop user, doing simple repairs the advantage of cordless over air is you don't have to pump up the compressor for 5 minutes, no need to hear that noise.

Lacking a large fabulous shop, I'll work in the drive way, street, a neighbors driveway etc, so even when I have air, I may not always use it.

 

[Revere Cycles]

I just picked up my first cordless impact wrench today. Wow, what a difference! My shop is on the second floor of an industrial building, and I do most of my work in the ground floor loading dock. Previously, I would have to bring the compressor down, along with my air tools. Now things are much easier.

 

[trpearcy]

I think they're nice for the repetitive stuff like interior and electrical work. Sometimes an air tool just makes too much noise to be using it inside a car/truck for extended periods of time.
I will say though that impacts are one thing that are nice for roadside work and junkyard runs, but for in shop work they don't usually make much sense to me.

 

[motofool33]

ive got about 800$ into my makita 18v set, by picking up the first 5 piece set fo about 180$ used then bought 4 other tools bare no charger no extra batteries for around 100$ each, and then 2 spare batteries i have an enitre bag of tools, 1/2" impact, 3/8" impact, hammerdrill, sawzall, skil saw, vacume for cleanup, die grinder, Radio that uses the batteries also. battery recharged in about 15 mins i have 4 batteries, can use multiple tools and just rotate the batteries. dont need power can be in the middle of a parking lot/ field whwereever and ive got power tools at my dispoal. and for not alot of money.

i leave the 1/2" impact in my truck box incase of the need to change a tire it blasts off them wheel lugs like swiss cheese.

 

[MRunabout]

There was a point in time that we weren't allowed to work on personal vehicles at my shop whether it be our day off, lunch hour, dead with no cars for hours or after work hours so buying cordless tools beat buying a 60+ gallon compressor plus air tools for the house.

 

[DodgeMech]

I have been using my milwuake 2673 for the last 6 weeks or so, and I have found that it is just as strong as my snap on mg725 @ 120psi. I have only had one nut that it wouldn't take off, but then again niether could the 3/4 inch IR impact.

hmmm...and does the battery last long enough to R&R 32 lug nuts that were previously hit by an air gun up to around 120 ft/lb's?

if so, i guess my inner cheap bastardness has kicked in...i bought my 232-c from a member on this site a couple years ago for 70 bucks and have absolutely got my money's worth out of it...but i don't know about sinking 600 bucks or more on either the snap on or IR gun...and if i did go with the IR, i'd get it through the matco truck...just for the convenience of warranty

 

[MLB0611]

hmmm...and does the battery last long enough to R&R 32 lug nuts that were previously hit by an air gun up to around 120 ft/lb's?

if so, i guess my inner cheap bastardness has kicked in...i bought my 232-c from a member on this site a couple years ago for 70 bucks and have absolutely got my money's worth out of it...but i don't know about sinking 600 bucks or more on either the snap on or IR gun...and if i did go with the IR, i'd get it through the matco truck...just for the convenience of warranty

The IR will do 32 lugs nuts on E vans all day long on a single charge, BTDT. FYI and torqued to way more than 120 Ft/lbs from the last tech. I never pull out my old 2135TI unless my batteries are all dead.

 

[DodgeMech]

interesting...

maybe i'll wind up getting the snap on added into my EC plan in a month or so...damned site making me spend all my money

 

[92integra]

dodge mech dont get the snap on the ir has like twice the power of that **** box

 

[DodgeMech]

dodge mech dont get the snap on the ir has like twice the power of that **** box

true as that may be, i can pay for the snapoff over the course of 3 years...whereas the IR through matco would be like 70 a week for 10 weeks...hell i'll prolly wind up with neither anyway...my air/electric tool drawer is too damned full already

 

[Skin]

The only negative is the weight and physical size. You won't be able to get them into an engine bay, but for everything else, they're great.

That's not the only negative. Noise is a big one. I have yet to find a cordless impact that isn't deafening while impacting. Even the smaller 12v impact wrenches are jackhammer loud (or seem so when in tight quarters). Pneumatics are much quieter in comparison and just another reason why I could never migrate completely.

 

[92integra]

you will be disappointed with the snap on gun especially with its price tag! spend like half that on a Milwaukee fuel kit with 2 batteries.... most people buy snap on cause it's the best and in this case it is not so don't do it

 

[92integra]

o and why i love cordless is that that thing will go anywhere most of us don't drive a service truck with a compressor as a personal vehicle but with cordless you dont have to throw that **** in the car and go fix some ****

 

[86k10]

That's not the only negative. Noise is a big one. I have yet to find a cordless impact that isn't deafening while impacting. Even the smaller 12v impact wrenches are jackhammer loud (or seem so when in tight quarters). Pneumatics are much quieter in comparison and just another reason why I could never migrate completely.

If I am using my 3/8 SO cordless for more than a bolt or two, I will grab my hearing protection because it does hurt. They are loud, I do like the cordless ratchet, it is nice and quiet compared to a air ratchet.