Cordless Impact Wrench

T_Bone · Oct 12, 2009

Time too look for a cordless impact wrench. Anyone bought one that's worth a darn?

Uses:
For automating my trailers landing gear. Maybe 5 times a year. 20k Bulldog landing gear, but boy does she roll hard under full load. If I used the trailer more. I'd change over too hydraulics and be done with it.

Changing flats on the road. I keep good tires on at all times. Been a few years since my last flat.

I'm thinking a cheap HF or my existing Milwaukee 1/2", 18v cordless. I'd hate to mess up my good Milwaukee.

T_Bone

Mathias NY · Oct 12, 2009

I know one guy who bought the HF model, then gave it to his kids to play with because it was useless.

I know 3 other people who bought 18v DeWalt models and are very happy with them.

Good luck.

TimMiller · Oct 12, 2009

I have a Dewalt that works great, but thats in the same price range of yours. Only thing i have noticed is as the battery runs down, you lose torque, it still makes the impact sound but its not torqued all the way.

keh · Oct 12, 2009

Glad you brought that up, I have been thinking about the same thing.

There are 2 HF cordless wrenchs, an 18 volt which claims 140 foot pounds of torque, and a 19.2 which has something over 200 ft. pounds.
Both just come with one battery, another battery costs about $60.

Question: How many foot pounds does it take to remove a car tire? Will one battery charge remove AND reinstall a car wheel?

For comparison, a Snap-on impact develops 400 foot pounds or so, but costs in the $4-500 range, I think, but comes with 2 batteries.

KEH

kito169 · Oct 12, 2009

I have been using a Snapon 1/2" for 2 years. I use it nearly every day on big trucks and trailers with no problems. It is rated at 450 ft. lbs. torgue, I believe it. I talked the tool truck guy down to $400. Right after I bought it I found an I-R rated the same for $325 on Tooltopia, but haven't found it since. I also have a 3/8" Snap-on that is great too. I bought them both about the same time. The 1/2" will remove lug nuts on my one ton dually pick up with no problem. The only lugs it won't remove are on the big trucks and trailers, 18 wheelers.I know Snap-on is expensive but what is it worth to change a flat in the rain at night? The batteries last a good 5 hours. Rick

IaGary · Oct 12, 2009

If I would've had a electric impact when I was a kid I would of had the whole tractor apart when dad came home.

The way it was I only had the carb off.

Gary

Anonymous-0 · Oct 12, 2009

I hear you there Gary ,,lol . My dad had to hide tools when I was a kid ,,took everything in sight apart . I still do ! The Snap on 1/2 inch wins hands down. I have an IR 1/2 ,,don't come close . I use the Snap on all day everyday . Have the 3/8 inch also ,what a beast ! I put my air impacts away for all but the really big stuff . snap on is pricey ,,but well worth it . The Harbor freight one works well enough to change one tire , but would not run the leveling jacks on my camper .

Lou from Wi. · Oct 12, 2009

Be leary of H.f. Dont last long (maybe 1st try ,then kapoot) Just our experience.
LOU.

Bkpigs · Oct 12, 2009

I am a fan of Milwaukee. Worth every cent.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 12, 2009

I spent 900 dollars on 3/8 and 1/2 snap-on cordless 6 months ago. Alot of money but they get used daily. I see buying another pair to keep in the service truck. ( construction co) One of my best tools I bought in recent years!

Anonymous-0 · Oct 12, 2009

I have a Bosch which has worked great..Cant recomend it because I have not had it that long.
It sure works nice in any application.It is small and works like it should. Others may have something against a Bosch, but for me it works.

Dutchman · Oct 12, 2009

I got one , that's 24 volts and 250 ft lbs .. if I reminder right ... Boy do I love it .. if it fully charge it will twist off old 1/2 bolts ... and handy ... don't have to drag a line or cord ...
had a flat and takes the nuts loose real nice ..
Check your ft lbs , when you buy ... there is a lot of different...

Mark

Dutchman · Oct 12, 2009

I got one , that's 24 volts and 250 ft lbs .. if I reminder right ... Boy do I love it .. if it fully charge it will twist off old 1/2 bolts ... and handy ... don't have to drag a line or cord ...
had a flat and takes the nuts loose real nice ..
Check your ft lbs , when you buy ... there is a lot of different...

Mark

T_Bone · Oct 12, 2009

Hi KEH,

Well my F350 torques at 160ft/lbs so I would need something more than that.

I"ve just been looking, I can get a Milwaukee 1/2" rated 450ft/lbs, 18v, $170 (tool only).

This would use the same battery"s as my Milwaukee 1/2" drill would use.

T_Bone

TimV · Oct 12, 2009

Love my Dewalt 18V, but got it quite reasonable used. Got several mechanic friends that swear by their Snap-ons, but happened to notice they look suspiciously identical to the Milwaukee ones except the batteries won't interchange--almost like they planned it that way!

Lamar Fudd · Oct 12, 2009

Not sure how your landing gear is made. I'd be leery of the impact hammering on what is likely a rack of teeth. If you could find a cordless 1/2" drill, the speed should be slow enuf to do the job and there'd be no hammering effect.

Dairy Farmer in WI · Oct 12, 2009

John Deere acculy has a good one but you pay for the name. i got mine cheap at a yard sale with an extra battery. also seen a really nice snap-on that i would like. its the biggest one they make thats still 1/2 inch drive but it has all the torq ya need. that john deere is pretty good though
DF in WI

Hobo,NC · Oct 12, 2009

(quoted from post at 23:15:14 10/12/09) Time too look for a cordless impact wrench. Anyone bought one that's worth a darn?

Uses:
For automating my trailers landing gear. Maybe 5 times a year. 20k Bulldog landing gear, but boy does she roll hard under full load. If I used the trailer more. I'd change over too hydraulics and be done with it.

Changing flats on the road. I keep good tires on at all times. Been a few years since my last flat.

I'm thinking a cheap HF or my existing Milwaukee 1/2", 18v cordless. I'd hate to mess up my good Milwaukee.

T_Bone

Any one that depends on a air are electric impact to do a final tightening on a wheel is going to some day have a customer come back with a loose wheel,,, that's not good.

You can go with a cheaper tool and break the lugs by hand if need B,,, no extra work cuzz you need the pull bar to do the final tightening.

I keep a elcheapo craftsman around to run the nuts off and on and bar the lug nuts by hand for the final tightening.

Batteries last a long time,,, way longer than if used in a drill.

Snap-on are not worth the extra money,,, they now do not make their own air are battery tools,,, why cuzz when they made them they were junk so they outsource them now,,, if someone has a good'n its probably made in china

msb · Oct 12, 2009

Ingersol Rand--highest torque rating in the industry.1/2"--350 ft. lbs.

Liked it so much I bought a 3/8" too.

e · Oct 12, 2009

I got a Milwaukee 28v a few years back. Now I wonder why I bothered buying a 3/8 and 1/2 snapon air impacts. Very very much worth the investment.

Mark - IN. · Oct 12, 2009

If you had told me 10 years ago that cordless powered hand tools were here to stay, I'd have told you that you were nuts. Stuff out there today is amazing. When I'm working in power plants, to make it easier then dragging 30 amp power cords sometimes, the tool guys will laugh and toss me a 36 volt Hilti and i have to admit, amazing. Simply amazing. Just amazing. I have no idea what they go for because for my own use, I've got 30 amp extension cords to catch my feet in and trip me, and that's good enough until I trip and break something but good, which I haven't yet. I like tempting fate, it makes the days more interesting. Grin.

Good luck T_Bone, and always nice to hear from you.

Mark

Anonymous-0 · Oct 13, 2009

Spendy but worth it. They had a promotion when they first came out, buy one tool and 2 batts and get a second tool free. The 28V will change a truck(not pickup) tire, tractor duals, etc.

I had a batt go bad. Milwaukee was no help--wanted me to send the batts to California. Went to Acme tools--a large midwest Milwaukee dealer-- and they GAVE me two new batts.

Heavy and expensive, but POWERFUL and worth every penny if you use often enough to justify it.

Have had Dewalt 18V also. Milwaukee V28 is a REAL impact. The Dewalt is simply a cordless wrench.

gatorhide · Oct 13, 2009

...Hi T_Bone, I bought a 1/2" cordless impact from Pep-Boys. about a year or more ago.

...It's 24 volt and is rated @ 170 ft. lbs.

...[u:75137d9aba]Today, the same 24 volt impact is rated @ 200 ft. lbs[/u:75137d9aba].

...Made in China and has the brand name of Goodyear.

Cordless Impact Wrench

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