1/2 inch vs 3/4 cordless impact

[jims5600]

Interested in buying a new cordless impact, mostly for use on my pickup truck
and riding tractor (blades) Don't know what size to pick. I know from experience
that the tractor blades are on really tight. Not looking for anything real expensive

 

[cptbarkey]

Unless you work on heavy equipment, 1/2 will do everything you need. I have a 3/4 gearwrench set that is gathering dust, its more of a novelty.

 

[shortyb]

Unless you work on heavy equipment, 1/2 will do everything you need. I have a 3/4 gearwrench set that is gathering dust, its more of a novelty.

This. All of my impact stuff is 1/2" and never found a need for 3/4". My full size Makita 1/2" with a 5Ah battery loosened all 10 wheels worth of the lugs on my neighbor's Freightliner the other day with ease.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Yep, the 3/4 inch version is for working on CATs. There is also a range of torque amounts with the 1/2 inch equipment you need to pay attention to. There are various tests on YouTube with torque vs impact time. Torque climbs with Ugga Duggas and there are graphs created for each model.

 

[jetman]

Harbor Freight "Ultra" 1/2" drive
On its medium setting torques to about 300 ft/lbs

 

[pudge]

1/2 inch is all you'll probably ever need, had a friend who was a chevy mechanic and had some 3/4 stuff, he said it was more of a paper weight than anything

 

[jcy]

I am also shopping for an impact wrench, and just recently got stuck in the ryobi battery tool ecosystem
Home depot has a promotion now where the el cheapo 1/2" 18V impact wrench (not brushless) is free if you buy a $150 tool kit bundle which has a circ saw, a drill and a couple of batteries, charger plus bag.

It's my understanding that ryobi is the house brand for home depot, which is considered inferior but what a deal. $150 for the wrench, drill, circ saw, 2 batteries, a charger and bag for $150

 

[Jmoney7269]

I have a snap on 1/2 in cordless that goes with me on all trips. Ive had it for a decade and its great. But for daily use I still prefer air at 150psi. My 3/8 air snappy will take off stuff that the 1/2 cordless cant.

 

[RyanY]

The 1/2" mid torque (~600 lb ft) units will cover 99% of the jobs on regular vehicles, but if you ever encounter a Honda crank bolt you will need the big daddy (11-1200 lb ft).

 

[Rand]

you wont need 3/4 on anything that isnt industrial. or commercial

riding mower blades arent that tight its just the access
my m12 impact (250ft-lb) will take off the blades on a deere 261 rotary mower.

Do you already have a brand and batteries?

if not
the ryobi high torque is an unbeatable value.

 

[AdmiralYoda]

3/4" is for working on heavy duty vehicles. Think construction equipment and 18-wheelers. Even still Milwaukee, Dewalt, and Ingersoll-Rand make 1/2" that have 1,500lbs of "nut busting" torque.

If 1,500 lbs of torque wont take a nut off it will just snap the bolt.

And FYI those things are big and heavy. 95% of the time the medium duty ~700-800lb ones will take off anything you need. More compact and easier to handle.

 

[altaylar]

1/2 is the way to go unless you know you need something else

 

[jims5600]

Thanks for all the replies,good advise given, will persue a 1/2 impact