Good impact wrench?

[WannFly]

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

On that note, may be don’t get an impact, because the list of honeydo-list keeps getting longer

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[txj2go]

I’d suggest adding a set of torque sticks and a good torque wrench.

Torque wrench is a good idea. Torque sticks work with air powered impact wrenches but not with cordless tools because the cordless tools impact so much faster.

 

[txj2go]

I did a whole lot of research right before Christmas and bought myself a DeWalt mid torque 1/2" drive DCF921. The first thing I did was buzz off a couple of lug nuts and it does that easily. It might hammer for a second then the nut comes off.

I found 2 youtube channels that do real reviews- https://www.youtube.com/@Shoptoolreviews/videos and https://www.youtube.com/@TorqueTestChannel/videos. There are a lot of people making videos but these 2 channels are the ones that do real tests and provide reliable information.

In doing my research I found that models become obsolete and get replaced every few years. If you have a Milwaukee that is more than 2 years old there is probably a DeWalt that will put it to shame, but not long before a Milwaukee will come out to beat it. There are different categories- mid torque, high torque, etc. and one brand might have the best mid torque while another brand has the best high torque. Generally 18V will be what you want but Milwaukee has a 12V that challenges the other mid torques. In general though there are good models available from a lot of brands. Even the Walmart HyperTough models tested very well. However virtually all of the brands on Amazon that you never heard of are not good.

My father owned a repair shop for over 60 years, we always used CP air tools there. I don't know how the various current impact tools with the overhyped names like Earthquake compare. We also exclusively used SnapOn chrome sockets. We used them a lot and I only remember one or two sockets damaged in 6 years. But if you buy Autozone sockets and use them on an impact everyday I can't guarantee you will get the same result. I've been using USA Craftsman tools with hand ratchets but I did buy a new set of 1/2" drive Gearwrench impact sockets to use with my new impact. I have my original SnapOn tools but typically don't use them these days because I decided they were too valuable to risk losing.

 

[Grey24Rubi]

In my younger years I did bargain basement cheap stuff enough times to learn cheap or inexpensive, more often than not, ended up costing me more in the long run. For some people it works out ok and they don't have any problems I guess I'm not that guy so I stick with the buy once cry once method.

 

[RatZero]

I'm deep into the Milwaukee rabbit hole but the two tools that really get work done on my Jeep are the M18 Fuel Gen2 1/2-inch Impact and M12 Fuel 3/8-inch Ratchet. Those two can handle pretty much everything on the exterior/underside of the Jeep.

 

[AmericanPatriot100]

Torque test channel is a good one! They put those tools through their paces!

 

[GCMWillys]

Torque wrench is a good idea. Torque sticks work with air powered impact wrenches but not with cordless tools because the cordless tools impact so much faster.

Thanks. I didn’t know that about the cordless impacts. I’ve got the DCF961 and some sticks. Measuring with the wrench , they were close to dead accurate.

 

[rcitone]

I started with the DeWalt XR system so have continued with that.
I have the big impact, a smaller 150ftlb for tire swaps and the 1/2”-3/8” ratchet.

Is that a packout wall mount? How you secured it?

 

[Birdcatcher]

Buy what you can afford to complete the job at hand, provided you save money vs. paying someone else to do it for you.
Invest in the next “better” option if you plan to re-use the “gear” or tools time and again. Accumulating stuff (hoarding) and toys is expensive and very cost prohibitive to transport in the long run if needed (due to a life changing event in your life, hope no one has to go though it)

 

[Terrymo]

Buy what you can afford to complete the job at hand, provided you save money vs. paying someone else to do it for you.
Invest in the next “better” option if you plan to re-use the “gear” or tools time and again. Accumulating stuff (hoarding) and toys is expensive and very cost prohibitive to transport in the long run if needed (due to a life changing event in your life, hope no one has to go though it)

I’ll respectfully disagree. If I added up all the tools I bought just to complete a job that later broke, I could own a toolbox full of Snap-on. Good tools are a lifetime investment the will pay you back many times over in savings and helping friends. Just me opinion which nobody asked for.

 

[Zandcwhite]

I’ll respectfully disagree. If I added up all the tools I bought just to complete a job that later broke, I could own a toolbox full of Snap-on. Good tools are a lifetime investment the will pay you back many times over in savings and helping friends. Just me opinion which nobody asked for.

Yes and no. Things like power tools should absolutely be from a reputable brand. Things like sockets or chisels or pry bars are cheap enough to replace. I definitely wouldn't buy overpriced snap on tools for my trail set that may well get lost in a mud hole because you never seem to break in a place where it is clean, flat, and dry on the trail. If my husky or crescent socket rolls under a boulder I'll just replace it. If it was a snap on I might feel included to do a bunch of extra work to fish/dig it out.

 

[Birdcatcher]

I’ll respectfully disagree. If I added up all the tools I bought just to complete a job that later broke, I could own a toolbox full of Snap-on. Good tools are a lifetime investment the will pay you back many times over in savings and helping friends. Just me opinion which nobody asked for.

snap-on (in my opinion) is the JLUR 392 of tools.
I am a Milwaukee guy and own new power tools that I’ve never used (and plan to buy more) when the feeling kicks in
Please don’t accumulate debt and you’ll be fine.

 

[Birdcatcher]

suggestions from real experience -
Get a 1/2 inch drive impact.
Get a 3/8 inch power ratchet.
Invest in good impact rated sockets, extensions and adapters.

they look beautiful sitting in the fancy rolling tool box

 

[Jtphoto]

Is that a packout wall mount? How you secured it?

Yes Pack out Wall/floor mount.
Bolted to a piece of plywood and strapped to the factory trail rail system but you can strap them to the floor D rings.

 

[Terrymo]

snap-on (in my opinion) is the JLUR 392 of tools.
I am a Milwaukee guy and own new power tools that I’ve never used (and plan to buy more) when the feeling kicks in
Please don’t accumulate debt and you’ll be fine.

OK…mine are used and if I stop using something, I gift it to someone who will.

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