Thinking about buying a cordless 3/4" impact wrench

I have the Harbor Freight corded version, I keep it behind my seat and have an extension cord in one of the bed cubbies. So far so good.

 

I love my craftsman 1/2" and it's got plenty of power and I beat the crap out of it and she's been thrown once or twice. Quick charge time and never failed me

 

The DeWalt one I linked has the small specs (actually slightly higher torque) as the IR and it's cheaper.

 

He won't blow a fuse, but the system will shut off. I believe there's a circuit breaker inline that gets reset when you re-push the power-outlet button on the dash.

I've used my truck's oem inverter to power a 7 1/4" circular saw, heat gun, etc. All of the tools require a LOT more than 400w, so they barely run, and occasionally do pop the circuit breaker. I recently installed a 1000W inverter that's hooked up to my AUX battery and that one gives me a lot more power (when I need it).

IMO, a wired impact gun connected to the truck's OEM inverter will be utterly useless. I don't think this setup will do any damage to either the truck or the tool, but you won't be getting any lug nuts loose with it.

I have lots of 12V (and some 18V) Milwaukee cordless tools and am a big fan of them. The warranties are great, the tools work perfect (zero issues with any I've had) and take serious abuse, and I've yet to kill a battery (which are cheap to begin with if buying online).

I do keep a M12 (12v) Milwaukee impact gun in the truck, but it's not powerful enough to loosen lug nuts. The M18 (18v) variant should handle them no problem. Similar solutions are available from other big-name brands (Makita, DeWalt, etc.) and even some lesser-known ones (Rigid, Ryobi, etc.).

Pick a tool brand you like and stick with it so that your battery "investments" can be used across various tools.

// edit - $60 for this M18 1/4" impact -

$53 Milwaukee 2656-20 M18 18V 1/4" Lithium Ion Hex Impact Driver with 1500" Pounds of Torque and LED Lighting Array (Battery Not Included, Power Tool Only)

https://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-26...85979409&sr=8-1&keywords=milwaukee+m18+impact ; 183ft/lb is more than enough for lug nuts (usually in the 90-100 ft/lb range);

Or get this higher-end model for $190 -

$340 Milwaukee 2763-20 M18 Fuel 1/2" High Torque Impact Wrench with Friction Ring (Bare Tool)

https://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-To...85979454&sr=8-2&keywords=milwaukee+m18+impact ; 700 ft/lb

 

When you buy into a cordless line, look at everything the company has to offer that runs that same battery pack. You may not use the impact driver much, but would you use a drill more often? Saw? Die grinder? Bosch has a cordless vaccum that honestly gets most of the battery use as opposed to my drill and impact driver.

 

If you really want badass go snap on. I've broken bolts driving them in concrete with one of those a few times

 

I have a 3/8 and 1/2 Milwaukee fuel m18. The 3/8 alone is strong enough to snap studs. The 1/2 is over kill but great for those situations you need it. I am a heavy diesel mechanic and use the 3/8 everyday with no issues.

 

Those are very nice, but around me HOME DEPOT does not carry the fuel IMPACTS. But I've used them and they had pretty good recharge time to the best of my memory.

 

I just bought a Ryobi 18v 1/2in a few days ago, minor usage so far, no problem with lug nuts. Curious to see if it will get the axle nut off when I get my replacement CV in. Went with the Ryobi as it was only 100bucks and will only use it a few times a month. LI Battery, so no worry there.

 

http://www.sears.com/ingersoll-rand-20v-cordless-impact-wrench-kit-w7150/p-00934071000P

The best.....I've used them all. When it says 1100 #'s breaking torque....it's the only one that left us thinking they weren't kidding. My DeWalt batteries lasted about a week in the field, doing a full set of 1 1/16" nuts just kills them. Don't even think of anything bigger. Then the guts broke. All in all, I got maybe 2 weeks use out of it. Milwaukee was pretty good, but needed help on stubborn bolts. I've heard Snap On is pretty good also but is a rebadged other make.

or this...

$600 Milwaukee 2763-22 M18 1/2" Inch Impact Wrench

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GFUA7FC/ref=psdc_552820_t1_B00GFUA6O4

not this...

DEWALT 20V MAX XR Impact Wrench Kit, Brushless, High Torque, Detent Anvil, 1/2" (DCF899P1)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X52TWA4/ref=dp_cerb_1
I like my DeWalt tools but this was a waste of money.

 

Waste of money. Even the next impact wrenches I've seen from Milwaukee at work are still useless to break free stuck lugs.

You can get a 24" breaker bar for like $40 to break them free. Then use any impact driver to do it quick or just use a regular ratchet.

 

Got the same one. I use it on every project.

 

Agreed.

I appreciate that wired tools will never become antiquated like the constantly evolving cordless battery standards, its just a pain in the ass schleping extension cords around and shooing cords out of the way. I mean, I have a Milwaukee corded drill that has enough torque to break your damn wrist but hardly ever use it simply because I never need that much torque. Might be more beneficial for those spinning 6" hole saws or masonry bits but those types of tasks are 1% of what I do.

 

If this is the Chicago Electric thing they still sell, I've got one that's about a decade old. Works great. Batteries last about 5 minutes, but buy three or four and you're good to go. Perfect for quick tire changes and junk like that.

 

^^^ that for the same reason.. batteries are interchangeable and I always have a few in the charger and a few on tools charged... which reminds me, I'm supposed to be fixing something ....with my Dewalt drill. I''m not sure how well they will work on a rusty lug nut tho..... You can charge the Dewalt in the truck bed because Toyota Tacoma. It's got a 1.5A charger. Should work fine..... I use a 4.5 amp phone charger in the ciggy lighter. Charges my phone in like 30 minutes.

 

It had no problem with the axle nut on my old 4Runner and the Ryobi. If it is like the 4Runner (and I bet it is) There is a little bit of metal hammered into the nut as a safety you have to hammer back out first, otherwise it came right off with the right socket, though not much rust in FL, it was 10+ years old at that point.

 

Alot of the higher end or fuel stuff is kept behind the pro desk, instead of in the open on shelves.

 

Yep, corded from the truck outlet won't do much at all, Milwaukee is great and has a amazing line of 180 tools, but if you don't care about what other tools are available it doesn't matter as long as you buy a good brand, dewalt, milwaukee, mikita are my top picks, though honestly ryobi would likely be fine if this is all you need.

 

Wait... you throw tools?? That's not good bro... I "used" to do that AND hammers... ended up in the hospital after one of my temper tantrums..... intensive care (ICU) for a 5 day time out. God bless my wife... I should have died according to the docs. WTF do they know?... putting on grounded tin foil hat as I type....

 

Yeah sounds like you have the previous model C3 (200Ft Lbs) I believe they have NiCad batteries as well. I think mine it's a TTI Product as it looks similar to the Ryobi of the same class.