Good impact wrench?

[munkeymike]

I have a really heavy duty DeWalt 20v 1/2 impact wrench for really stuck on stuff, a light duty DeWalt 20v 1/2 impact wrench for speed and a 3/8 electric ratchet for hard to reach spots. IMO DeWalt and Milwaukee are the top two for most people. Buy whatever color you like and will stick to.

Even though i have a ton of tools, I try really hard to only use hand tools when working on cars though. It's too easy to break something with power tools.

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[SadRobot]

I have a really heavy duty DeWalt 20v 1/2 impact wrench for really stuck on stuff, a light duty DeWalt 20v 1/2 impact wrench for speed and a 3/8 electric ratchet for hard to reach spots. IMO DeWalt and Milwaukee are the top two for most people. Buy whatever color you like and will stick to.

Even though i have a ton of tools, I try really hard to only use hand tools when working on cars though. It's too easy to break something with power tools.

I usually end up using hand tools most of the time. Fun story.... when I was replacing my shocks I tried to save time and use a cheapo ratcheting wrench after I broke the bolts loose. Well the thing turned so fast that it backed itself between the bolt and the tire. I could not get it into forward again because the lever was on the back of the wrench and now stuck against the tire.

I think it might have been the dumbest thing I did on that install. I switched to hand tools for the rest of the job.

 

[WannFly]

whatever you buy, you are investing in the system, especially the battery system. stick to one.

I use Dewalt because I already had a bunch of batteries. Just used to 1/2 inch one to change tires, I also have 2 other impacts.

The stubby one comes in handy in tight spaces I think I am gonna buy a stubby-stubby one too

 

[Zandcwhite]

I’ve used a lot of them, Snap on, DEWALT, Ryobi, Milwaukee, etc…. They all will get the job done, but I settled on Milwaukee….. mainly because I have so many of their tools, I only want to carry one charger…..Just be careful with the Mac Daddy ( M18), it’s really powerful on setting 4….If not careful when tightening you’ll end up with the nut or the head of the bolt inside the socket when you pull it away and you won’t feel a thing…..don’t ask me how I know, you all know the answer to that already……

The dewalt 20v 1/2" (dcf899 iirc) will do the same. I thought I was just snugging the UCA bolts in place before torquing with the wrench, until the bolt came out in 2 pieces. My company uses dewalt so the access to batteries made the choice for me.

 

[Zandcwhite]

My feeling is that you spend on tools accordingly with your planned use (abuse) of them. If you're only going to use for one project or only for emergency trail use, it should be the cheapest but just good enough to call disposable (e.g. cheapest Harbor Freight models). If you're the type that regularly changes suspension lifts and helps friends fix their junk, then you probably are not asking for guidance here and already own top quality stuff (e.g. Milwaukee, Festool).

For occasional but reliable use, I think midrange brands and models are the right fit. I decided to go with Ryobi and have not regretted it. The One+ 18V line has been very reliable and plenty of power for me. On really stuck bolts I prefer to use a breaker bar to carefully loosen it without breaking it.

As for sockets, I did go top quality with the Tekton 87-piece 1/2" set (SID92407). Great tools.

I really don't like the idea of the cheapest junk you can buy for emergency trail use. The Last thing I want in an emergency is unreliable throw away tools. That's like recommending a hipoint for home defense. No you don't need a staccato, but you NEED reliability.

 

[21JLURDG]

I really don't like the idea of the cheapest junk you can buy for emergency trail use. The Last thing I want in an emergency is unreliable throw away tools. That's like recommending a hipoint for home defense. No you don't need a staccato, but you NEED reliability.

I like reliability. But for that I go with simple instead of expensive. I don't need an impact wrench to fix my vehicle and I will switch to hand tools if my power tools fail.

 

[Zandcwhite]

I like reliability. But for that I go with simple instead of expensive. I don't need an impact wrench to fix my vehicle and I will switch to hand tools if my power tools fail.

It's a $60k plus rig, I can afford a $300 impact. Then there's the time savings that quickly pays for itself. If I'm breakng out tools on the trail it's already a frustrating/stressful situation. The last thing I need is my cheap tools to shit the bed and add to it.

 

[21JLURDG]

It's a $60k plus rig, I can afford a $300 impact. Then there's the time savings that quickly pays for itself. If I'm breakng out tools on the trail it's already a frustrating/stressful situation. The last thing I need is my cheap tools to shit the bed and add to it.

I get it. Why put a $200 light bar when a $5000 light bar will light up the desert so much better. Why carry a $50 GMRS radio when a $500 HAM radio will do more than GMRS. But now it's $90k+ plus vehicle. I'm not disputing getting quality items--just that it's not needed for every person.

I have a friend that carried a full set of Milwaukee power tools, Tekton sockets, Gearwrench torque wrench, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2" drives, sledge hammer, etc. and knew how to use them. Everybody loved it when he was around when something broke. But I bet he added 200 lbs. to his JT.

 

[Boatbuilder88]

Do your research on cordless tools, pick one brand and stick with it. Batteries are expensive and it is more economical if you can use/share them with multiple cordless tools. You can't go wrong with any of the big name brands. I chose Dewalt.

 

[AmericanPatriot100]

Long story short. Get whatever you feel will work best for you and your application.

As many folks have stated it really depends on who you want to give your money to. I had a snap on impact it broke after 2 days I had to wait a whole week to get a refund and for the tool guys to come around the shop again before I could use a battery operated gun. As soon as Cornwell came I got the full Milwaukee set. And never had an issue and always was able to get a loaner or replacement when something broke. After I became a truck driver for a big company I didn’t need my tools and I was completely over working on vehicles. I didn’t even do my own maintenance for 5 years after I stopped being a mechanic. Then I got tired of my oil filter housing getting broken on my 3.6 grand Cherokee so I started DIYing again and got some cheap craftsman stuff and it has been great for the last year. I also use purely Pittsburgh or icon for everything else because it’s lifetime warranty no questions asked.

 

[Birdcatcher]

All automatic tools(special reference to electric, brushless, lithium) are good. Get what you need. They helps reduce fatigue and encourage you to to work on your toys, home , everything!
You will be be a hero in your girlfriends/ wifey eyes and still have energy to end the day with a happy note

 

[Zandcwhite]

I get it. Why put a $200 light bar when a $5000 light bar will light up the desert so much better. Why carry a $50 GMRS radio when a $500 HAM radio will do more than GMRS. But now it's $90k+ plus vehicle. I'm not disputing getting quality items--just that it's not needed for every person.

I have a friend that carried a full set of Milwaukee power tools, Tekton sockets, Gearwrench torque wrench, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2" drives, sledge hammer, etc. and knew how to use them. Everybody loved it when he was around when something broke. But I bet he added 200 lbs. to his JT.

It's not like the harbor freight garbage is free, or even that cheap anymore. $150 and questionable reliability vs $300 from a quality name brand? And the harbor freight comes with 1 battery. Odds are most of us already own some form of battery power tools. As someone else suggested your buying the system. Even if you only want the impact for occasional emergency use. But whatever brand you've already got for your cordless drill, etc at home and now you've got at least enough batteries to work while 1 is on the charger (the $150 harbor freight comes with a single battery).

 

[Rotsam]

I’d go with Milwaukee or Dewalt and plan on staying in the family for battery interoperability. I use Dewalt, but if I were starting from scratch I’d probably switch to Milwaukee (grass is always greener).

I get the most use out of my 1/2” even though it’s way overkill for smaller fasteners, I have a 1/2” socket set that goes down to 8mm. If I were just buying one, I’d start beefy.

 

[WontonJLUR]

Once you get the impact sorted, you need an electric ratchet.

I’d keep the electric ratchet over all others if I could only keep one

 

[Zandcwhite]

I’d go with Milwaukee or Dewalt and plan on staying in the family for battery interoperability. I use Dewalt, but if I were starting from scratch I’d probably switch to Milwaukee (grass is always greener).

I get the most use out of my 1/2” even though it’s way overkill for smaller fasteners, I have a 1/2” socket set that goes down to 8mm. If I were just buying one, I’d start beefy.

My complaint about the Milwaukee tools is weight. Sure you could get the m12 for small tools like screw/impact drivers but then you lose the battery compatibility. Dewalt has a massive catalog and even their 60v line has smart batteries that automatically switch the cell arrangement for 20v tools and 3x the ampacity. If I can't use all of my batteries in the tools I'm not interested. If I'm running something where the weight isn't as big a deal like the chainsaw or skill saw the 60v/20v 9Ah batteries last a long ass time. If it's something like a screw gin I'll be carrying around all day the little 2Ah batteries weigh almost nothing.

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