Corded electric impact wrench?

[Elkins45]

Are they worth buying for general mechanic stuff? Most of the ones I’m seeing are 7.5 amp (120v) units.

Is the Milwaukee ($200) worth $70 more than the Craftsman ($130)? Are either worth buying or do you really need an air powered one?

 

[zzyzzx]

Is Harbor Freight broken?

CHICAGO ELECTRIC POWER TOOLS 7 Amp, 1/2 in. Impact​

$29.99
https://www.harborfreight.com/autom...n-impact-wrench-with-rocker-switch-61173.html


How often are you going to use it?

 

[14.1 Grms]

I have a big Milwaukee corded impact. Cannot remember the last time I got it out, battery tools mostly made it irrelevant.

Air impact is only useful if you've got a good compressor to back it up, otherwise they're just annoying.

Probably better off just getting a HF battery impact.

 

[Lubener]

It's worked well for me. Black and Decker, bought many years ago.

 

[tcp71]

I have an ancient makita that works well. not super powerful, but has come in very useful.

 

[Elkins45]

Is Harbor Freight broken?

CHICAGO ELECTRIC POWER TOOLS 7 Amp, 1/2 in. Impact​

$29.99
https://www.harborfreight.com/autom...n-impact-wrench-with-rocker-switch-61173.html


How often are you going to use it?

I saw that, but it feels too much like just throwing away $30. Like it would break the instant the 30 day warranty expired.

 

[zzyzzx]

I saw that, but it feels too much like just throwing away $30. Like it would break the instant the 30 day warranty expired.

1. The reviews are good.
2. I've owned one for years.
3. It removes crankshaft pulley bolts just fine (disclosure: I don't own a Honda, but it did work on a 1995 Ford Escort and 2000 Toyota Camry 5S-FE).
4. I mostly use it when doing things like tire rotations (only to remove the lug nuts).

 

[JavierH19]

Yes. they're great for cracking lugs off in the garage and that's what almost all will used for periodically so they'll last a long time. I keep one at home but i use pneumatic ones at my shop here. Strongest one I have is a 1" Ingersoll rand.

 

[dnewton3]

I got a monster one off Amazon; some no-name brand I don't recall. It's a beast. I rarely use it as I have a battery impact also, but when I need to break loose the big stuff, the corded unit is my go-to.

 

[Nukeman7]

Are they worth buying for general mechanic stuff? Most of the ones I’m seeing are 7.5 amp (120v) units.

Is the Milwaukee ($200) worth $70 more than the Craftsman ($130)? Are either worth buying or do you really need an air powered one?

The corded Impact wrenches are pretty much useless compared to a decent battery powered or pneumatic unit. They are way too heavy and inconvenient for the limited torque that it produces. If you want to try out a battery powered impact gun without a large cash investment, Harbor Freight has a Hercules deal where you get the basic $70 impact wrench for free if you buy the 20V, 5 Ah battery and charger for $99.98.

 

[TheOilWizard]

Are they worth buying for general mechanic stuff? Most of the ones I’m seeing are 7.5 amp (120v) units.

Is the Milwaukee ($200) worth $70 more than the Craftsman ($130)? Are either worth buying or do you really need an air powered one?

I don't think they are worth buying nowadays. The issue is that the corded impacts are older legacy models -- all new technology and innovation is being funneled on cordless. So not only do you get a corded impact, but it's older tech and probably less power, larger, heavier, etc.

 

[oldcodger]

I have the corded HF Chicago myself. 5 year old. No complaints. Makes rotating tires or removing for a flat repair easier.

 

[skyactiv]

Before going dumb buying a Craftsman for $130, it's probably the same thing as the Porter Cable in a different wrapper you can buy on Amazon for $80. It's under the same manufacture umbrella.

Amazon.com

One thing that sucks with corded impacts in my experience is that they continue to spin several revolutions after cracking a nut or bolt off.

 

[fdcg27]

I've had a corded impact for years and for occasional use it works fine. I would get tired of dragging around a cord after a while if I used it much, but then an air hose would get old as well.
I've mainly used it to loosen lug nuts but did use it to crack loose a Honda crankshaft bolt.
I don't even remember brand or exactly when I bought it, but for my needs it's been fine.

 

[jkasch]

Same experience on the corded HF. Just fine for lug nuts. Haven't tried a crank pulley.

 

[Elkins45]

1. The reviews are good.
2. I've owned one for years.
3. It removes crankshaft pulley bolts just fine (disclosure: I don't own a Honda, but it did work on a 1995 Ford Escort and 2000 Toyota Camry 5S-FE).
4. I mostly use it when doing things like tire rotations (only to remove the lug nuts).

That convinced me. I would mostly use it for lug nuts.

 

[Elkins45]

I don't think they are worth buying nowadays. The issue is that the corded impacts are older legacy models -- all new technology and innovation is being funneled on cordless. So not only do you get a corded impact, but it's older tech and probably less power, larger, heavier, etc.

Would a corded model really be heavier than one with a giant 18v battery hanging off the bottom?

 

[Nukeman7]

Would a corded model really be heavier than one with a giant 18v battery hanging off the bottom?

Yes, the Craftsman corded model is 8.5 lbs. and the HF Hercules cordless with the largest 20V battery is 4.76 lbs. Not only that, the corded impacts are twice as large and quite unwieldy for undercarraige/chassis work.

The corded Craftsman is rated at 450 ft/lbs. (max) while the HF Hercules cordless is 500 ft/lbs. (max breakaway torque), so the power difference is negligible.

 

[facility1]

Menards in Elizabeth Kentucky has a Performax 8.5 amp 1/2 corded (25 ft cord),,440 max ft lbs impact,for $69.99 with rebate,2 year guarantee,, looks like a good tool,better warranty than harbor freight.

 

[Carmudgeon]

I think the corded electric units are (were) a good compromise for those who don't have a compressor or air tool setup, and don't necessarily use them often. Their biggest constraint is physical size.

I've rented them from the local rental place to do some suspension work for something like $6/day, but that was years ago.

If I were to do it today, I'd buy the HF unit, which is about half the cost it used to be, before any coupons.

I'm in the Ridgid cordless system, but something similar would be $200+.